Out the blue...or should I say pink, Nicki Minaj has single handily "Booty Pop"-ped her way into the iconic lexicon of not only Rap music but now even Top 40 Pop! Now I'm NOT a full-fledged fan but I DO admit to being impressed by her marketing savy, and lyrical prowess. The gimicky voice changes, and off to the side looks, plus the swiss cheesing to the camera can be a bit annoying at times but HEY! She's still a force to be reckon with! QuestionNicki, how do you do that s#@*? I'm saving my money on this one but here's the list of song you'll be hearing being played TO DEATH on any given radio station ALL Winter!
1. 'I'm The Best' 2. 'Roman's Revenge' (feat. Eminem) 3. 'Did It On 'em' 4. 'Right Thru Me' 5. 'Fly' 6. 'Save Me' 7. 'Moment 4 Life' 8. 'Here I Am' 9. 'Dear Old Nicki' 10. 'Your Love' 11. 'Blow Ya Mind' (Deluxe Edition Bonus Track)
*I don't recommend you to "Wop" as you read this* "I came in the door, I said it before, I'm never drinkingHenny w/Patron chasers no mo'!" Okay THAT didn't happen! But if it did, it probably woulda been a BETTER night for me. Let me explain from the top. This past Wed. Feb.17th I was honored with the task of hosting NBA star forward Al Harrington's 30th B-day bash along w/nightlife guru Patty Laurent, Hollywood Chuck, & L.A. (of the Stylistics Agency). The theme was straight 80's simply because that's the EXACT year Al was born. The venue was Quo (28th St. betwn 10 & 11th), and when I arrive early (like 8:30) EVERYTHING was crispy! The 200 pound B-Boy ice sculpture (complete w/boom box and phat rope chain w/ "30" medallion), the 8 foot long graffiti "Fourty Deuce" style photo backdrop. Then the GIGANTIC radio shaped cake, and break dance (all girl) crew where all in place. Thrown in the line up of acts for the night + guests attending (Biz Markie, DJ S&S, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Teddy Ted, the Fearless Four, Scoop Lover, & so on) If I had just woke up from a deep coma I would of swore I was back in the 80's heyday! So HOW could it get any better? Well for one, some THIRSTY broads that were hovering around our table like "drink vultures"KEEP putting they DAMN coat on the booth we were sitting in! Pissing me the F@#K off! I was TRYING to be nice about, but the dance floor was about to become the coat check and their jacket woulda been the FIRST ones checked in! To top thing off that had the nerve to have an ATTITUDE with ME dawg! WHAT?!? Huh(?) is right! Second on my "awww damn it" list was THE CROWD. Some folks "got it" then some just needed to STAY in the 80's! I HATE mixing crowds w/other events planners, but big money was involved so...no explaining that. Lastly VIP stood for V (ery)I (gnorant)P (eople) on that night! Every VIP had a "crew" of folks that felt that they was VIP too, mind you in this small ass section of a VIP. Folks took the 80's theme WAY too seriously cause a 80's style fight jumped off RIGHT after the last performance on stage! LOL! Just like Union Square (the club, for those old enough to remember). Speaking of performances, that was THEE only highlight of the night for me, that and the fact that nearly everyone I invited out actually got in! Host Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, & Kane all did a DOPE job of moving the crowd! Even Fat Joe (who was stand a foot behind me in the crowd) was awestruck. For all that it was worth that made up for all the other "f@#kery" going on threw out the night. Btw I'm STILL waiting for the bottle service waitress to come to our table...2 days later! Thanks to all whom RSVP to me and came out, you're so FRESH! Here's pictures and video for you to enjoy from the safety of your home! LOL!
Not one to rest on his laurels, Spike Lee's latest endeavour is this off-Broadway play he's now producing with Culture Project
"County of Kings".
The show is set in Sunset Park, during the most influential cultural movement of our time. The birth of hip-hop; taking the audience back to the days of B-boys, tracksuits, Adidas, andBoogie Down Productions.
Written and performed by the lead actor (Brooklyn-born Puerto Rican poet) Lemon Andersen, gives a tough, yet moving biographical account of a good kid growing up in an unforgiving environment. Expect drama and occasional humor with a mix of urban poetry, to bring this coming-of-age story to life. The show will begin its run at the Public Theater on October 12th, with previews starting September 29th. ALL tickets for preview performances are $25!
For all other performances (not including opening night), a limited number of tickets will be sold for $25, cash only, at the box office.
"County of Kings" plays Tuesday through Sunday at The Public Theater’s Newman Stage, 425 Lafayette Street. For a full schedule, please visit www.countyofkingstheplay.com.
ANYBODY who claims to be a fan of Hip Hop (even a casual fan) bests be prepared for a good lashing if that don't know just WHO this MC is! Lyrically before this time Rakim returns to the present to see if Hip Hop has either caught up or surpassed him. Not only will he be releasing a new body of work, he's also performing at the well known Times Square venue B.B. King's tomorrow!
Thurs. Nov. 19th Rakim-"the Seventh Seal tour" BB King's -237 W.42nd St. near 8th ave. Doors @ 7PM $30.00 Advance $35.00 Day of Show
Wanna hear a funny story? Well a while ago a former flame of mine decided (for herself) that she wanted to "spice things up" in the bedroom department and took on the task of taking Belly Dancinglessons. (SWEET!) Of course, as you may well have guessed, I was in FULL support of this new venture. So now, by lesson two she's been instructed to practice at home with the aid of music on the recommended CD "The Best of Belly Dancing." Half way through her "act" I hear the 1st striking chords of Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin," and I start to lose it! KudosTimbaland, kudos. The way he first came across this sample may not have been as exciting as mine, but he scored even bigger points for making it one of Hip Hop's biggest hits. Sheesh, even the video got props when it debuted. With the infamous Dame Dash champaign pouring scene, the now late Pimp C, and it even featured a fresh-to-the-scene Gloria Velez in all-white slo-mo glory. One of Hype Williams' best. Now whenever I hear "Big Pimpin" I can't help but to picture her belly dancing to it. Pimp on pimpin'!
BOY, talk about kindred spirits! Both artist, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and Biggie held the title of "Most Likely to Intimidate By Appearance Alone" in their respective genres of Blues and Hip Hop. When B.I.G. sung. "I'm a kick in the door..." NO one doubted him for a minute. Look at 'em, who would? Like wise for Screamin' Jay, the way he appeared,
he would have to "Hypnotize" a women with a "Spell" to love a face like his (lol).
However the two madebeautiful music when DJ Premier teamed (B.I.G.'s vocals /Jay's sample) them up together. Both songs are "big" classics in music. March 9th marked the 11th (yes, 11yrs has pasted) anniversary of his death, and we STILL miss him.
Being necessary in Hip Hop is a hard thing to maintain, yet Common manages to make this task look effortless. Recently at the Smirnoff shebang Common perform a NEW take on his hit "the Light". So just like any good blogger would do, the Minority Report tracked it down so that you too can enjoy a listen. Produced by Just Blaze, with a hook sung by former Floetry member, you will start hearing his timeless lyrics in a different "light."
Wow! I'm just realizing that this is the very first album review that I've done since the conception of the MReport has been on-line... sad face ;( Has the state of music been that bad? When I think of artist today trying to keep the art form alive, It reminds me of the plot for "Revenge of the Sith" (lol) where the "evil dark side" of music is killing off the last of an almost abandon skill (like the Jedi) who's escaped death (by label, sales, etc.) are barely heard from or seen. However there is a "New Hope." IfD'Angelo is the "Yoda of Neo-Soul", then Erykah is surely "Leia". "New AmErykah" sounds less organic in it's instrumentation then her previous releases, but my no means is it less courageous in it's attempts to take all the built up ear wax you have, and turn it into one of those calming candles she known to burn on stage. Heavily on rotation is the hypnotic, Wu-Tang-ish song "the Healer / Hip Hop" which will be the new mix tape circuits "must freestyle over" beat. Then following that would be, the jazzy blues cut "Me". Which has personal revelations that artist tend to stay away from in their lyrics , but once again Badu is willing to "Take one for the team". "Solider" is the next candidate for single release being that it's the 2nd most "commercial"(for lack of a better term...sorry) it's beat lends itself enough breathing space for a future rapped over remix by MC "Who's the hottest at the moment" (please no Lil' Wayne). The sometimes hard to follow, yet funkilious production of Sa-Ra comes across as refreshing under Erykah direction on "Master Teacher" helps me "stay woke" while I await a connecting train on my morning commute. It's chopped up, bouncy rhythm tries to educate through repetition then SWITCH...the style changes but the message remains the same. In the words of Laurence Fishburne (Spike Lee's film) School Daze "Wake UP!" Your new conscience has been downloaded. I hope America gets AmErykah. Badu I salute thee.
This is definitely one of those times where you wish cloning was legit...and you were the first candidate! Cause tonight two great Hip-Hop icons will be hosting two separate events in NYC tonight. Maybe I'll build a Time Machine tonight in hopes that that will solve my problems...No? Here's the must attend info. Maybe I'll see you at one of them.
Rolling Stone
will be talking with Mos Def at Kaufmann Concert Hall presented by the 92nd Street Y and Mos Discussing his music, films (Be Kind Rewind opening Fri.), Award nominations, and his activism with social issues. Tickets are $26; presentation starts at 8:00 PM. & Pete Rock +Wale w/9 piece GoGo Band +Torae Kid Cudi +Special guest Styles P & Lordz of the Underground Highland Ballroom Presented by LiveNDirect & Okayplayer.com Tickets are $25; concert starts at 9:00 PM.
"When the student is ready the teacher will appear" -Buddhist proverb
If Prince is remembered for any of his great musical accomplishments, the inception of the Time has to be within the top 3 of that list. Period. My first memory of even hearing about these guys was this very album you see here, my mom had in her record collection. The self-titled, 6 track, 5 minute (or more) long songs record, co-produced by the Starr Company, which was code for "Prince did it" back then. I studied very groove and lyric like it was a pop quiz I had to take the very next day. "Cool" became a personal anthem and a way of life for me. They somehow managed to take the smooth melodies of R&B and married it perfectly with the braggadocious energy of music's new conception at the time, which was Rap. I don't even think Rap at that point figured out how to be so clever at being so raunchy. The Time was the full package, killer stage show, dressed for business, they made it look easy...too easy. Now 18yrs later, after the 1st hit producing reunion ("Jerk-Out), the boys are back at it again Grammy night. And not a moment too soon, cause I think music... matter of fact, the world needs to be reminded what it is to be "cool" again.
Out the blue...or should I say pink, Nicki Minaj has single handily "Booty Pop"-ped her way into the iconic lexicon of not only Rap music but now even Top 40 Pop! Now I'm NOT a full-fledged fan but I DO admit to being impressed by her marketing savy, and lyrical prowess. The gimicky voice changes, and off to the side looks, plus the swiss cheesing to the camera can be a bit annoying at times but HEY! She's still a force to be reckon with! Question Nicki, how do you do that s#@*? I'm saving my money on this one but here's the list of song you'll be hearing being played TO DEATH on any given radio station ALL Winter!
