Akua Naru's "The Block"

Akua Naru's "The Block"

Akua Naru is sort of flying under the radar these days. She's been featured on Okayplayer and she has a rich voice and a monster presence on stage.

However, this Philly native has found her livelihood in Europe. Her summer concert tour schedule is almost exclusively in and around central Europe with stops in Belgium, Romania and Germany, where she currently resides.

I peeped her performance while visiting Budapest at the end of May. The show was hot! I mean, the energy was off the scale. She rocked the mic w/some call and response and an amazing band and the audience was all about it.

Hip hoppers, the lady's got skills, check it out for yourself. kfox.

Okayplayer's Complete Guide To SXSW 2014

Okayplayer's Complete Guide To SXSW 2014

There's been a lot of talk about this year's SXSW festivities in Austin. So a big thanks to Okayplayer for coming to the rescue to sift through the sounds and bring us this curated guide.

You don't have to travel to the festival to enjoy the fruits of the festival. Here's a chance to discover some new music and expand your listening palette.

Okayplayer's Complete Guide To SXSW 2014

Let's dive right in hip hoppers. kfox.

Getting Up-to-Date on Indy Hip Hop Music

In my effort to sort of get up-to-date on indy hip hop music, I've been quickly perusing several sites. Of course, I've been reviewing email messages along w/tweets to @IndyHipHopWorld.

Here are the sites that I've checked out:
Audible Treats
Terrorbird

But I also bounced over to (using the Pulse app on the iPad):
SoulBounce
OkayPlayer
Word Is Bond
Wax Poetics
We've Got Jazz
Indie Hip Hop Blog
The Couch Sessions

Finally, the college kids are really good at spotting good, new music, so I popped over to see the CMJ (College Music Journal) hip hop chart. Here's the CMJ Hip Hop Top 10:

Shabazz Palaces (image borrowed from analoggiant.blogspot.com)

      ARTIST "Title" (label)
1.   SHABAZZ PALACES "Black Up" (Sub Pop)
2.   GRIEVES "Together/Apart" (Rhymesayers)
3.   ANIMAL FARM "Culture Shock" (Focused Noise)
4.   WILEY "100 Percent Publishing" (Big Dada)
5.   WUGAZI "13 Chambers" (Self Released)
6.   PLAYDOUGH "Hotdoggin'" (Writer Dye)
7.   THEOPHILUS LONDON "Timez Are Weird These Days" (Reprise)
8.   SOLE AND THE SKYRIDER BAND "Hello Cruel World" (Fake Four)
9.   HAIL MARY MALLON "Are You Gonna Eat That?" (Rhymesayers)
10. POTLUCK "Rhymes And Resin: (Suburban Noize)


Alright hip hoppers, there's homework to do, so get to gettin. kfox.

VIDEO: P.O.S. at Flushing Meadows

So many things to like about P.O.S. I love his style of delivery - laid back and matter of fact. I like how he doesn't chase the beats. It works for him. I'm not the rocker, but there's a rocker in me. I love how P.O.S. starts out in one direction, then at some point, he goes off in another direction.

I say all that though it's all demonstrated in this video clip of P.O.S. @ Flushing Meadows. I peeped this one while carousing over at Okayplayer.

Be careful on those boards, kids ... kfox.

The Roots Summer Tour Schedule 2009

So I am trying to keep up w/The Roots. I need to get in where I fit in. Only problem is that on Ticketmaster, I see a Roots performance at the House of Blues in Cleveland on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, but that's not what's on the sked that is below. Will check and provide clarity as soon as I can:


The Roots Summer Tour Schedule 2009 (from the Okayplayer Forum)

** PLEASE NOTE: All events listed as "The Roots Jam Session" are not full Roots shows. They are Jam Sessions featuring various members of The Roots and a slew of special guests.***


Tuesday 5/26/09 NYC Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom

Saturday 5/30/09 San Francisco Roots perform at Davies Symphony Hall as part of SF Jazz Spring Festival

Tuesday 6/2/09 NYC Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom

Saturday 6/6/09 PHILLY ROOTS PICNIC


Wednesday 6/10/09 Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom

Saturday 6/13/09 LONDON ROOTS perform at Meltdown Festival at Royal Festival Hall w/ Ornette Coleman

Tuesday 6/16/09 NYC Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom

Tuesday 6/23/09 NYC Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom

Saturday 6/27/09 Chicago Roots perform at Rock The Bells @ First Midwest Bank Ampitheater

Sunday 6/28/09 Detroit Roots perform at Rock The Bells @ DTE Energy Ampitheater

Tuesday 6/30/09 Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom

Thursday 7/2/09 Minneapolis Roots perform at First Avenue

Friday 7/3/09 Milwaukee Roots perform at Milwaukee Summerfest


Sunday 7/5/09 Burlington, VT Roots perform at Festival at Burlington Waterfront Park

Tuesday 7/7/09 Las Vegas Roots perform at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Outdoor Pool

Sunday 7/12/09 Baltimore / DC Roots perform at Rock The Bells @ Merriweather Post

Tuesday 7/14/09 NYC Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom

Saturday 7/18/09 Boston, MA Roots perform at Rock The Bells @ Comcast Center

Sunday 7/19/09 New York, NY Roots perform at Rock The Bells @ Jones Ampitheater

Tuesday 7/21/09 NYC Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom

Tuesday 7/28/09 NYC Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom

Saturday 8/1/09 Montreal, CAN Roots perform @ Osheaga Music Festival

Sunday 8/2/09 Grand Bend Ontario Roots perform @ Cutting Edge MusicFestival

Tuesday 8/4/09 NYC Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom

Saturday 8/8/09 Los Angeles, CA Roots perform at Rock The Bells @ Glen Helen Ampitheater

Sunday 8/9/09 San Francisco, CA Roots perform at Rock The Bells @ Shoreline Ampitheater

Monday 8/10/09 NYC Roots Jam session @ Highline Ballroom



** For tix to The Roots Jam Sessions @ The Highline Ballroom, ($10 ADV/ $12 Doors), visit http://www.ticketweb.com or call 866.468.7619

And now you are up to day hip hoppers ... kfox
**image borrowed from Netmix

Mr. Lif "What About Us"

Don't you hate being left out? Being invisible? Mr. Lif comes correct on this track. Is he angry? that's not important, he's doing what rap music started out doing. He's talking about the disenfranchised; those who can't speak for themselves. This is the socially conscious hip hop that is missing from terrestial radio.

Now the beats are not so unique on "What About Us" and just as I'm getting into the track, it's over. But he's got the hook and he's got the message.

Check out this extended interview w/Mr. Lif on Okayplayer. There's a link to "What About Us" at the end of the article.

What ya think hip hoppers, are the days of socially conscious hip hop over? kfox.

Video: Zion I "Geek to the Beat"

There's nothing like a video to take my focus off the lyrics. This video by Zion I is the perfect example of my theory. This vid has a bit of weirdness to it. It's one of those videos where there is no apparent connection, at least not from my first, second and third views of the video.

Still I like that it is not the same ole, same ole. Can you take a peek and let me know what you think? That would be nice hip hoppers. kfox.


Zion I "Geek To The Beat" from Okayplayer on Vimeo.

The Roots Tour 2009 :: take 2

I wrote a blog post a few weeks ago about The Roots Tour schedule. They are on it. They've posted a nice little note on the Okayplayer website with an update about their tour schedule.

Here' s the post:

• Okayplayer :: The Roots Tour Schedule
  

Also, check out this interview w/?uesto on National Public Radio's "Tell Me More".

• Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson interview on NPR's "Tell Me More"

Have you all had a chance to see The Roots on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon"? If so, what do you think so far?

Okay hip hoppers ... I'm giving you the leads, but are you following? kfox.
**image borrowed from Urban Daily

John Forte + Talib Kweli "Homecoming"

Okay, so I am a bit late on this one. This vid has been out for a few weeks. I spotted it on Okayplayer. Let me tell you, you will always find something fresh and new to you on Okayplayer.

Some of you may know the story on John Forte. That is not the focus of this post, so homework hip hoppers.

At any rate, Forte is right at home on the mic w/Talib Kweli. Nice. This video is kinda cool. I'm liking that Forte is using his Blackberry to spit his lyrics. Talib goes w/the traditional notebook paper.


"Homecoming" John Forte + Talib Kweli from The ICU on Vimeo.

The video quality was super clean. I like that too. Let me know what you think of this one hip hoppers. Give a little feedback every now and then, ah-ight? kfox.

You Won't Need a Reminder About The Knux

I don't know what has taken me so long to write about The Knux because now it looks as if I am jumping on the bandwagon. Nothing wrong w/that, as in, 'better late than never'.

But I've been diggin The Knux on Imeem for sometime. I don't know when I got turned on to this brother duo, but I am hooked. They seem to have an upbeat and positive spirit despite having been displaced from their hometown of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Their first disk is called "Remind Me in 3 Days...". Nice one too. They have some fun, play around w/some non-traditional hip hop beats and they lay it down. I like their lyricism - raw and quirky.

Word has it that they gained some notoriety from the track "Bang Bang" which was featured on an episode of HBO's "Entourage", but since I am cable-less, I don't know that firsthand ... but I do believe it to be the truth.

Here are a few more resources so that you can get your Knux fix:

• "Remind Me in 3 Days..." review on Okayplayer
• The Knux on MySpace
• The Knux on Imeem

I highly recommend that you check out them out on Imeem; lots of music, videos and an extended bio.

I may or may not remind you, but hip hoppers, you don't want to miss out on a good thing. kfox.

The Metermaids Don't Need Your Change

The Metermaids have been together for roughly two years. But you'd never really know it. They do have a chemistry. When I say they, I mean the two of them Swell and Sentence; a couple of guys from N-Y-C.

Their first full length project is "Nightlife". I only had a chance to listen to two tracks. And unfortunately their style left me desiring something different, something more at least that's how I felt listening to "Feel Alive". I like it, it just seemed kind of ho hum. "Nightlife" was cool too, but it did not come off as original. I kept thinking 'I know that I've heard that sound before ... '.

They've even gone out and done a mash up of "Nightlife" and Sufjan Stevens "Illinoise" called "Nightlife in Illinoise". I did not get a chance to listen to this one. But it is on my short list.

And you too can check out the Metermaids:

• The Metermaids "Nightlife" review on Okayplayer
• Here's the title track "Nightlife" from Audible Treats
• "Feel Alive", another track from "Nightlife"
• Download "Nightlife in Illinoise"
  

So keep your change hip hoppers, and remember that you heard the Metermaids when ... ? kfox.

Spotlighting Black Milk - Yes, Again!

So when a good thing is good, I just can't get enough.

I tried to put you on to Black Milk a few weeks ago, but I'm not certain that the message came through loud and clear.

So here are a few more convincing options:

• Black Milk interview on Okayplayer
• Link to Black Milk's "Bounce"
• You Tube video of "Give the Drummer Some"
  

It's just nice to hear him do his thing w/out the assistance of ten other emcees. Nice loop on the beats too. Nothing fancy, so the focus is on the lyrics and his delivery. Me thinks you will like it. Especially the funky beats at the end of the track.

So go for it hip hoppers ... add some milk to your rotation. kfox.

The Roots are the House Band for Jimmy Fallon's Show

Wow, this announcement is crazy. The Roots have been known to go on tour, then turn around and go right back on tour. So for them, to sort, of settle down is huge.

Here is the vid of the official announcement from Jimmy Fallon:



And here is the info about Late Night with Jimmy Fallon house band as posted on Okayplayer.

The show debuts in March ... so get caught up on your sleep now hip hoppers because we have a late night jam session to attend. kfox.

The Grammy Nominations and Hip Hop

There is no week that takes place w/o some level of hip hop activity. Last week was no exception.

In this case the Grammy nominations were handed out. I did, sort of, watch the CBS ramped up edition of 'the reading of the names'. I'm crazy about B.B. King, so any excuse to see him perform on free TV is all right w/me.

Unfortunately ... it is late and I am tired. Fortunately though, I've scoured the Okayplayer webbie for an article on the hip hop highlights of the '09 Grammy nominations.

• '09 Grammy Nominations Okayplayer style
  

So much hype; hype that I always buy into. Makes me just a little bit anxious for '09. But just a little big.

Now let's see if I can dig up some 'Best of Lists' as we wind down another one.

And hip hoppers, you too are award winners! Don't let'em tell you otherwise. kfox.

MARK YOUR CALENDER for Oct. 6 - VH1Hip Hop Honors

It's the VH1 Hip Hop Honors on Monday, October 6, 2008 @ 10 p.m. Awesome except I don't have cable and I will be feenin to hear/see the show. I'm trying to figure out a remedy for that.

The honorees are:

• Cypress Hill
• De La Soul
• Naughty by Nature
• Slick Rick
• Too Short

Meanwhile, you can do some voting like best webbie - I want to cast my vote for Okayplayer since that's how I stay afloat.

Oh, and Mick Boogie is supposed to be droppin some crazy, awesome, ridiculous VH1 Honors Mixtape ... I'll keep you posted on that.

Nothing like salutin the old heads ... stay true hip hoppers, kfox.

New from Lauryn Hill

Okay, so while I was off in Chicago nearly sleeping @ a taping of my girl O's show, a new Lauryn Hill track leaked to the interweb.

Of course I got wind of this leak via Okayplayer. You know how they do it over there...

The song is called "World is a Hustle". And really, this song is so true to the Lauryn Hill that put out "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" - the disk that we all know and love so well. And can you believe that we are nearing the 10th anniversary of that disk? Oh, but beware the track is over 8 minutes long. But it is all good.

Check out the post for the track, a download and a link to the Rolling Stone article w/an indepth analysis of "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill". I have not read the article yet, but I do hear that it is over ten pages long ... go and get ya read on hip hoppers, kfox.

NOTE: photo courtesy of Photrazzi

What's Up W/The Blastmaster?

I know that you were asking yourself that very question and thinking: "... I remember KRS-One from back in the day ...". Yeah, those were good time; the BDP - Boogie Down Productions along w/Scott La Rock.

But KRS-One has been solo for some time now and he has always been amongst other things "The Teacha", "the Blastmaster". Schoolin the masses.

I had a chance to interview KRS-One back in the day when I worked for "The Wiz" in Cincinnati. I have a picture somewhere. I'll have to dig it up and post it.

So I was overjoyed when I saw this interview posted on Okayplayer. There's info on the long standing Stop the Violence Movement; talk about memories: remember "Self Destruction"... you gotta remember that joint ...?

Stay up hip hoppers and be on the lookout for the Blastmaster because there is always a message ... kfox

What I'm Listening to

I am often on the computer. I produce a weekly list of events that I distribute and it nearly consumes my Wednesday evenings. Love it though; my little 'community service.' So while I whittle away, I like to either watch a bit of television, usually reality TV, and/or listen to some hella good hip hop.

I've been trolling around Imeem, but I usually just go after oldies there. But the OkayPlayer webbie is looking better and better. Lots of good music, vids and just a wealth of information. They have an audio playlist on the front page that I am liking more than a little bit.

I created this screenshot to give you an idea of where the playlist is. I thought the image would be larger, but I think you can at least see the red arrow at the bottom or the image. Then the word circled in red is 'audio.' Check it out. Good stuff.

So the newest music that I actually have on my computer is:

Usher "Here I Stand"
N.E.R.D. "Seeing Sounds"
Amy Winehouse "Frank"

I am so diggin that "Frank." Just good music and original. The N.E.R.D. is cool. I like it, though it reminds me of their last project, which I also liked.

What's new to you and your playlist? Share the musical love hip hoppers ... kfox

Don't Punch Me for Bloggin About the BET Awards

I was on the fence about this post. I know it's over a week old, but that Al Green set was FYE-ur! That's fire if you can't follow my slang; I should keep it simple, right?

I could really give a hoot about who won since many of the winners were not present anyway, but the performances were ... interesting.

Since I've mentioned Al Green, I will focus on that. His musical tribute began w/Jill Scott; followed by Anthony Hamilton and then Maxwell. I enjoyed Scott and Hamilton, but where the hell did they dig up Maxwell. I absolutely LOVED his performance. He looked fly and sounded even better. Where the hell has he been ...?

Now, since the Rev. Al has taken that title, I expected a gospel set. How pleasantly surprised when he broke out w/his classic! His voice was wonderful; he had a sense of humor and everyone was enjoying his performance.

So check out this post on OkayPlayer.com with their recap and a clip of the Al Green performance.

Let's Stay Together hip hoppers ... kfox

What's New on the Musical Horizon?

I know what you're thinking ... if you want to know what's new on the musical horizon, you come to me especially if it's in the indie world of hip hop. Which is cool, but there are other genre's of music out there and good music too.

So I want to put you down with one resource that gives it to you consistently and covers all types of music. That place is Okayplayer Reviews. They will expose you to some music, for real. Besides that, you can add your two cents - and I now you have two cents to put in.

So get down w/it hip hoppers ... there's a musical world waiting to be explored. kfox