The Black Album Tribute

I'm not the biggest Jay-Z fan on the scene but I have to give him credit for making the Black Album.

This is one of his top three in my opinion and the main reason is its a grown man hip hop album. He came out swinging from the intro with his mother to the classic line on December. 4th " they say they never really miss you till you dead or your gone so on that note I'm leaving after the song". That line let me know that this was his opus the defining album from his catalog.

The other highlights that made this a noteworthy piece from his catalog include Change Clothes which let the youngsters know it was time put the throwback jerseys up and put on some real pieces if you're trying to be on your grown man flow. Public Service Announcement interlude let us know that he was kicking it with the hottest  chick in the game Beyoncé.

The two tracks that really set this joint off were Threats aided by a ridiculous 9th Wonder beat and Ced the Entertainer giving a hit man's account of how to put in that work. 99 Problems where Rick Rubin went as hard as you can on a beat with Jay just absolutely wilding on the verses.

All producers came with it Pharrell, DJ Quik, Timbaland, 9th Wonder, and Just Blaze..

Thanks  for the real grown man guide to hip hop 

Love in Flying Colors Review

I anxiously awaited the release of Foreign Exchange's new album "Love in Flying Colors". I was smart enough to pre-order the cd and received a signed copy.  Here are my thoughts if you really want to experience a musical eargasm this is your chance from smooth grooves, vocal arrangements, and just a feel good vibe your ears will thank you. Creative, Original, Innovative, and Talent these are a few of the words to describe the songs. I suggest you open your ears for the solid musical production and for those who doubt Phonte Coleman he can hold his own singing...

Love in Flying Colors 4/5 stars..

Poetic Samples

I have never shared my poems but what the hell here are a couple samples:

              Stolen Moments

A moment that you didn’t expect to be so beautiful and  special

A moment you didn’t even realize until it was over

A moment I had to steal from you because you are so busy

A moment I felt you needed to have for the experience it brings

A moment I needed to have so I could fill my emptiness for you

A moment where the energy and vibe do most of the work

A moment when you look back at your inner soul smiles

A moment that seems to last forever

A moment I can’t wait for to happen again

A stolen moment for you and I

                            Mind Ignorance

Evolution of time runs through your mind

Traveling through Spaces and Places you never thought reachable

Dropping situations of good times, and bad with events such as

Wars, Hunger, Homelessness, Recessions, and lives lost

As the mind tries to process this it starts to reject it saying   not possible

An attitude forms blinders to what’s really going on

So your mind now not knowing or caring follows the formula E=Ignorance Squared

Otherwise known as Mind Ignorance

As Badu so stated I'm an artist so I'm sensitive about my shit.lol..Enjoy!!!

Heart or Eyes

I was listening to Use Your Heart by SWV and was wondering which is the preferred method of pursuing someone your heart or eyes. I know some will say your heart  because it will never lead you astray but come on if it looks good its got to be good for ya. The heart can sometimes let your feelings have too much of a vote in this selection. Easy on the eyes means easy on the mind and if they keep themselves together looks won't fade just get better with time. The heart is the soul of the body it keeps the blood flowing giving you life and why hold the heart up from doing its job. You have to let the eyes do their thing guide you through the world with beauty.

So let me know which you prefer and if you agree with my side the Eyes have it.....

Funny How Time Flies

It's the end of the weekend I heard Funny How Time Flies by Janet Jackson tonight how fitting on the eve of going back to work. The song brought back memories of lab school days, Hanging in South Shore and weekends in DC.  I can remember listening to new order, depeche mode and culture club thinking it would last forever. The DC weekends of real hip-hop, go-go and of course reggae mon (ring the alarm). So savor tonight for tomorrow it's grind time.....

Saturday Music Flow

The Saturday almost done but Before I let go like Frankie Beverly and Maze I have a few thoughts. No matter how great a Saturday is music is always a big factor whether it was old soul while you cleaned up or some real deep house to get you ready to hit the streets. Music is my life like Labelle so beautifully sang and its the main ingredient in the recipe for a great Saturday night.

As this Saturday night winds down do me a solid and point towards the sky let someone above know music soothed your soul tonight!!!

Day 2-Blog Challenge Friday

It's Friday!!! The one day we all look forward to and a day that has a few songs attached to it. I remember seeing Thank God It's Friday with Donna Summer and thinking can't wait to be an adult. Friday is always special from elementary school dances to high school football games to drunken college parties. As you age Friday becomes even more important it's the Xmas eve of the week followed by the gift of two days off...

Enjoy your Friday!!

Blog Challenge Day 1- I Love Music

I have gotten serious about my blogging so I've entered into a challenge to blog at least once a day for  the next thirty days. Today is Day 1 and the topic is love of music.


I love music for many reasons but most of all for the cosmic feeling I get when hearing the right song. The beat does it job combined with the right voice can take me to a place I don't want to leave all my worries gone all I want is to live in this moment forever. Here is a list of a few artist who give me a lift to this place.

Sade
Billie Holiday
Stevie Wonder
John Coltrane
Miles Davis
House Music
Chaka Kahn
Marvin Gaye
80s Music
90s Hip Hop

So who takes you there???

Tribute to Mom

           

Ava Marie by Aaron Neville, Hello by Lionel Ritchie, and Angel by Anita Baker are three of he songs that come to mind when thinking of you since you made your way home on this day last year. I know our musical tastes were different but that doesn't mean yours were not lost on me. I will always remember taking the day off from work in 2004 and taking you to see the movie Ray. I just knew you'd fall asleep but I looked over and there you were bobbing your head and singing along with every song. That was one of my favorite memories of you Mom. I learned many many things from you and I thank you for exposing us to many different things which led me to having a variety of musical tastes.

Mom I miss hearing you humming a song, dancing in the kitchen, telling me to cut that noise down but I can't thank you enough for being my Mom...Love you..Miss you ..

Tonight I will do a little dance to a song from Ray in your honor....

I'm Back!!!!

   



I'm back took a long break which at one point I lost my direction but then I got it back with the Resurrection to quote Common.  The blog will focus on bringing you music, concert reviews and my views on the industry. So here are some of the artist I have in heavy rotation:

Gregory Porter
Jose James
Quadron
Mayer Hawthorne
Blu and Exile
Foreign Exchange
Amel Larrieux
Freddie Joachim
Brand New Heavies

So next time bring your eardrums because I got something to flow through them down to your soul!!!!