Thursday, November 1, 2012

soul food: just a band's 'sorry for the delay'

i posted just a band's awesome track probably for lovers a little while ago, and now the full-length album sorry for the delay has been released. it's all kinds of refreshing goodness.




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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

shad k: it ain't over

oh, shad. how i love you. this is awesome.


from the album 'melancholy and infinite shadness'

download.
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Monday, October 29, 2012

[VIDEO] k'naan: the story of country, god, or the girl



i have yet to wax poetic about this album, as i have about previous k'naan albums, singles, collaborations, etc. i think i'm still trying to wrap my mind around it. but i'm digging this mini documentary about his process and his journey. it's especially interesting that k'naan's trip to somalia resulted in a change in his songwriting that is more reflective, inward-looking and is 'the most intimate music' he's made to date.




here is the video for hurt me tomorrow. 




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Friday, October 19, 2012

afrika21 mixtape~ fela kuti + ginger baker: live! remixed


(Photo Credit: David Corio)
In celebration of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s birthday, life, legacy and music Society HAE has teamed up with Nigerian hip hop collective and production company Str8buttah to release “Fela Kuti + Ginger Baker: LIVE! Remixed.”   The DocuMixtape combines snippets of rare interviews with Fela, Ginger Baker and Fela’s musicians with sound bites and remixes of the live recordings from his 1971 “LIVE!” album, which featured The Africa70 Band and Ginger Baker.  Original soundscapes by Teck-zilla of Str8buttah are also present on the DocuMixtape's featured tracks.

“Fela Kuti + Ginger Baker: LIVE! Remixed,” is part of Society HAE's AFRIKA21 mixtape series celebrating The Continent's creative thinkers in the fields of music and art.  




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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

new video: 'lucifer (no doubt) by nneka

here's the new video from one of my favorite tracks from soul is heavy: lucifer (no doubt). i love me some nneka


her north american tour starts today.

Philadelphia, PA - Nneka @ World Cafe Live
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 8:00pm

New York, NY - Nneka @ Joe's Pub (The Public Theater)
Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 7:00pm

New York, NY - Nneka @ Joe's Pub (The Public Theater)
Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 9:30pm

Brooklyn, NY - Nneka @ Littlefield NYC
Friday, October 19, 2012 at 8:00pm

Boston, MA - Nneka @ The Red Room @ Cafe 939
Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 8:00pm

Montreal, QC, Canada - Nneka @ Theatre Corona
Monday, October 22, 2012 at 8:00pm

Toronto, ON - Nneka at Virgin Mobile Mod Club
Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 8:00pm

Ann Arbor, MI - Nneka @ The Ark
Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 8:00pm

Chicago, IL - Nneka @ Lincoln Hall
Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 9:00pm in CDT

Vancouver, BC - Nneka @ The Rio Theatre
Sunday, October 28, 2012 at 7:30pm in PDT

Seattle, WA - Nneka @ Tractor
Monday, October 29, 2012 at 9:00pm in PDT

Portland, OR - Nneka @ Doug Fir Lounge
Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 9:00pm in PDT

San Francisco, CA - Nneka @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall
Friday, November 2, 2012 at 9:00pm

Los Angeles, CA - Nneka @ Hotel Cafe
Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 7:00pm in PDT


and, here's what came out of our time with nneka earlier this year.

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soul food: kae sun's 'ship and the globe'


ghanaian-canadian artist kae sun is back with ship and the globe, the first video from his forthcoming album afriye. 


the video is beautifully shot and the track showcases kae sun's growth as an artist. i'm really looking forward to hearing the rest of the album.
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new music: 'long gone' by kenna

it's been a minute since we've heard from ethiopian-american artist kenna


here is his latest track long gone, from his forth coming album songs of flight.





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new groove: 'probably for lovers' by just a band

and now...the first in a list of holy-crap-i'm-late-on-this-but-i-have-to-post!

check out the the latest single from "africa's super-nerdy art/music collective" just a band. it's from their forthcoming album sorry for the delay. i love the entire feel of this infectious track.  






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Friday, October 5, 2012

new k'naan: 'country, god, or the girl'


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COUNTRY, GOD OR THE GIRL:
K'NAAN's new album, Country, God Or The Girl is set to release on October 16, 2012. 
The deluxe album includes 16 tracks, featuring special guests Bono, Mark Foster, Keith Richards, will.i.am, and Nas. 
The album also includes the hit singles, "Is Anybody Out There?" ft. Nelly Furtado, and "Hurt Me Tomorrow". 


K'NAAN FALL 2012 TOUR
STARTS OCTOBER 21ST:
10/21 - St. Louis, MO - Kaufman Park RNR
10/26 - Austin, TX - Beauty Ballroom
10/28 - New Orleans, LA - Voodoo Festival
10/30 - Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live
11/1 - New York, NY - Highline Ballroom
11/3 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
11/4 - Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair
11/7 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
11/8 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
11/10 - Englewood, CO - The Gothic Theatre
11/11 - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
11/13 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
11/14 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
11/16 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
11/17 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubador
11/18 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up

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Visit the official K'NAAN Store HERE to purchase tickets for the upcoming fall tour and grab the new album, Country, God, or the Girl while saving on ticketing fees. You can also add the official albumTshirt at a special discounted price.
All tickets purchased will be available at WILL CALL the night of the show. CD's will ship to arrive no later than album release date, October 16th. Digital album's will be delivered in high quality MP3 (320 KBPS). 

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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

the awesome: 'buffer slow' by shad k


bonus track 'buffer slow' from shad k's awesome birthday EP, melancholy and the infinite shadness. this is totally my favorite. the neneh cherry sample! so awesome.






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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

k'naan on 'visions of visionaries'


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Monday, July 30, 2012

soul food: 'the village' by ian kamau

beautiful brilliance from the brother, ian kamau. loving his album, one day soon, which is now available, here.


he is currently in south africa and moving up to kenya within the next week and i'm digging following his adventures on the continent via twitter.
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Thursday, April 26, 2012

soul food: leo37's 'gorgeous'

gorgeous: another dope single from leo37's fanfare EP! loooove this video!




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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

illume sessions: nneka in her own words



nneka was recently on an east african tour. while there, she stopped by kigali, had an amazing performance, hung out with the illume crew and blessed us with her 'madness'. it's an experience i will never forget.  her new album soul is heavy is out now and it is timeless and beautiful and urgent and necessary. here are part one and two of 'illume sessions ~ nneka: in her own words'





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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

do my thing ~ estelle ft. janelle monae


'when i dance i dance to the beat of a drummer you don't hear...and can't see'

two of my favorite artists collaborate on this fly new track. i highly suspect this will be my new theme song for a minute. also: very treadmill-y. love it. 


estelle's new album all of me was out yesterday, february 28th. 

[discovered via: okayplayer]

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freshness: fanfare -- leo37


i posted the preview for leo37's fanfare a little while ago and, it's now finally been released



the EP  is a collaborative effort between the emcee/producer/turntablist leo37 and producer and toronto-based mult-instrumentalist, john poon. it features guest appearances by lilian chan [vocals] (you & the night) and tim shia [drums] (fire dance, footwork, & fanfare) and album art from award-winning animator/illustrator howie shia. the result of the collaboration is an effort that is both classic and fresh and that is musically, aesthetically, stylistically refreshing.  dopeness abounds, y'all.


fanfare is available now for free download at:  www.leo37.com

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Monday, February 20, 2012

video: k'naan + nas 'nothing to lose'

during my wee hibernation this weekend, k'naan dropped his new video with nas for nothing to lose. love the whole look and feel of it.


and here's a behind-the-scenes look at the story behind their collaboration (via okayplayer).


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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

soul food: k'naan's 'is anybody out there'


k'naan's EP more beautiful than silence is finally here. check out the second single, 'is anybody out there', collaboration with nelly furtado.


and just for old time's sake, their last collaboration, which still goes hard: 'are you going away?'




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Friday, January 20, 2012

soul food: k'naan's 'nothing to lose'

while we await this:






k'naan has released this: 



i love the simplicity of this...the percussive flow...the collaboration with his idol, nas. the EP is meant to tide us over until his full-length album is released. you are indeed correct if you think i'm doing some sort of happy dance right about now.

k'naan: more beautiful than silence

1. "is anybody out there" (ft. nelly furtado)

2. "nothing to lose" (ft. nas)

3. "more beautiful than silence"

4. "better"

5. "coming to america"



via complex

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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

music for a cause: leo37's fire dance

another slice of awesome from leo37 has just been released. and this time, it benefits a cause that is near to my heart. check it:

After a fantastic international response for LEO37’s first single, Fanfare, Toronto-based artist collective, PPFHouse, is proud to present the EP’s second single/video titled: Fire Dance.  Based on the first living organism to ever be patented (the Oncomouse a.k.a. Harvard Mouse), Fire Dance discusses the widely unknown history of the 1988 mouse that could have ultimately set Cancer research ahead 10-15 years but due to Harvard’s patent, ended up doing the opposite and slowed what could have been an astonishing series of breakthroughs.  Now, at a time when the disease is more rampant then ever and after what has been a difficult year for several close friends, PPF House will be offering the single at LEO37.bandcamp.com for a pay-what-you-want price from January 16th -31st and will be donating all proceeds to Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong Foundation as a tribute to those we’ve lost as well as lend support to those currently in the fight.






The video itself was shot and recorded at the legendary Canterbury Music Company in Toronto and edited by Joyce Wong (Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival) and Lillian Chan (NFB, Red Rover, Guru Studios, Nelvana).  The song itself once again showcases the synergy between producer, John Poon’s aggressive sense of tone and time with LEO37’s equally aggressive cadences and subject matter that conjure up sensibilities of 1989 (Public Enemy, N.W.A., Paris, etc) while still being unquestionably 21st century.

Having previously been referred to as ‘one of the most original sounds in Canada.’  by Exclaim! Magazine, Fanfare serves as a reintroduction for LEO37 to the Canadian and International music scene.  Having spent the better part of the last 5 years touring (including – all self-booked -- 3 Canadian tours, Amsterdam, Ireland, 20 cities across the U.S. as well as 7 countries in Asia), and sharing stages with the likes of: Aloe Blacc, The Bad Plus, Del the Funky Homosapien, Tittsworth, Swollen Members and Tanika Charles, just to name a few, LEO37 returns boasting a few more stripes and million more reasons to stay tuned. 



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Monday, January 16, 2012

k'naan in somalia

...on preservation of dignity...


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somalia: tears for rain

tears for rain
a true story


by the UAE Red Crescent.

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Thursday, January 12, 2012

soul food: gabriel teodros' 'blossoms of fire'

seattle-based ethiopian/american afropolitan, gabriel teodros, is an artist, activist, and blogger. and a seriously dope emcee. and my future partner-in-something-that-i-am-not-certain-of-yet-but-may-lead-to-taking-over-the-world-in-some-way. 



he describes his forthcoming second album colored people's time machine as 'an examination of the history, dreams, and future of native people everywhere'. the album will be released on january 19th and is available for pre-order the album, here. in the meantime, he's released his first single, 'blossoms of fire'. check it!



video directed by:  Barni Qaasim and Shadi Rahimi. 
video inspired by: Blossoms of Fire

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

soul food: new music [soon come] from k'naan

um...you guys...?

*dance of glee*



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