It’s been a few months …
since I’ve blogged, and it’s not a good look for a writer. It’s been a trying few months, though. From working on a book proposal (which is still a work-in-progress) to just spending weeks with the family, away from the net, I needed that break to refocus and figure out my purpose. In that time, I haven’t been completely vegging though. As I attempt to get back on track here, here’s a few links to some recent work I did.
Cheeba – Shafiq Husayn feat. Bilal (Video)
Off Sa-Ra Creative Partners member Shafiq Husayn’s Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka. Props to JKim for sending.
Struggle and Pain (Video) – Perfecto
I mentioned this song in the earlier post and now there’s a visual. And yours truly makes a cameo. Ha!
Good*fella Radio & Rik Cordero
The homie A.R. and the team over at Good*Fella Radio in Jersey chopped it up with Rik Cordero, the visionary director behind many, many hip-hop videos … and a film.
Habari gani … Nzuri sana
I love it when my favorite rapping poet and reggae royalty speak my baby mom’s native tongue. As they’d say in TZ … Mzuka!
From the press release:
The Distant Relatives shocked the audience by joining K’naan on stage for his show at Irving Plaza last night in New York. The duo performed “As We Enter”, which is the lead single from their upcoming collaborative project Nas & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley are Distant Relatives (in stores May 18).
Bravo – Perfecto
As far as I’m concerned, even in this ever-crowded market for hip-hop, an independent/unsigned emcee like Perfecto stands out. I’ve been following the Inglewood, Calif. native’s progress for some months now because he’s got clever bars for days that also pack food for thought. Think Diz Gibran and Pac Div, but with an interesting twist: ‘Fecto is a Howard U alumnus, teaches third grade in Compton and co-owns Regal Tenant. In January, after making a cameo in the video for “Struggle & Pain,” I decided to add the unreleased song to my Top 10 Obama rap songs list for Allvoices.com. Now, Perfecto just sent over the first from a flurry of songs and videos that he’s putting out, and it’s my pleasure to share it.
Video: Canal Street – Raekwon
I normally wouldn’t post this video here, what with every media property that covers rap music under the sun having done so already. However, I am making the exception because this movie – what else can you call it? – is a labor of love for my roommates and their upstate N.Y. breathren, LaMarck, who came up with the concept and directed this video off OBFCL2, an album that’s been out for quite some time now. Rae and LaMarck even got on the phone with XXL to discuss the movie. Bravo.
Pretty Poet – Mad Love
Here’s a nice little spoken word joint from Pretty Poet out of Tanzania, sent my way courtesy of the song’s producer, Nairobi-based Ambrose “Dunga” Akwabi. For a refresher on him, fly over to my post on Flight808. Also, if you’re feeling this – and since Erykah Badu is inspiring a lot of folks these days here stateside – go ahead and hop over to Pretty Poet’s blog. Might find something good to read and watch over there.
Diamonds in the Rough
Nipsey Hussle in the New York Times!
Brooklyne from XXL tweeted over the link to the NY Times review of Nip’s show at S.O.B.’s the other night. You know you’ve arrived when Jon Caramanica writes about you. Shout out to Nip and June Summers, his frequent collaborator, with whom I just kicked it. He is NEXT, take my (sic) word, lol.
