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It's been a little over a week since we've had D'Angelo "back," and what a week it's been. In that time it's been a downright D'Angelorama -- hundreds of videos have hit the net from his European tour, we got an expertly curated treat from Sam Champ and Okayplayer of audio from the Voodoo Tour, and now we have fan-recorded bootleg of one of his recent shows to add more fuel to our D'Angelobsession. This full concert audio of D'Angelo & The Testimony was captured during his tour stop in Paris, France at Le Zenith on Sunday, January 29th. It's not the cleanest recording as you can hear some talking and assorted sounds from the audience, but it's still the best audio we've heard come from the tour yet. Plus beggars really can't be choosers, and those of us with ravenous appetites for all things D'Angelo right now will take what we can get. And take this we will with the exclusive free download from our good friends at the Funk It blog. I'm listening to this concert now, and it sounds incredible. I can't wait for it to end so that I can listen to it again kind of incredible. I stand in amazement not just at D'Angelo who has come out of hiding and his bag on us, but also at the level of artistry being displayed by the musicians in The Testimony. There aren't enough superlatives to describe how fantastic everyone sounds. But enough from me, listen to two of the new songs -- "Ain't That Easy" and my new favorite song "Another Life" -- that D'Angelo debuted on the road below, peep the entire tracklist and tour personnel after the bounce, go and download this live recording with the quickness, and get lost for a little over two hours once you listen. If you couldn't physically see D'Angelo on his European tour, then this is truly the next best thing to being there.

D'Angelo & The Testimony: "Ain't That Easy (Live in Paris, January 29, 2012)"

D'Angelo & The Testimony: "Another Life (Live in Paris, January 29, 2012)"

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If I wasn't gonna be on a plane the next morning to be in LA, I would find my behind in NYC on the night of Tuesday, February 6th. That's because S.O.B.'s is going to be the only place to be that night with the return of the Jungle Brothers and a Native Tongues reunion on tap with DJ Red Alert on the wheels of steel. This lineup is an old school hip hop lover's dream. The legends will be out and in full effect, and if you know like I know you need to be there, too. That's why we 're giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky Bouncer to partake in the festivities. All you gotta do to be in it to win it is to enter after the bounce. Tickets are also for sale on TicketWeb. However you procure entry, this is a show you won't want to miss.

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Indianapolis is jumping with the Super Bowl in town this weekend and many television shows are on location doing remotes including Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, which has been broadcasting from Indy this week. Last night musical guest Nas brought some of his Queensbridge swagger to the stage at the Madden Bowl Bud Light Hotel where Jimmy Fallon has set up shop. Nas was on deck to perform his song "Nasty" with house band The Roots backing him up in fine fashion as they are known to do. The live arrangement was slightly different from that of the single, but it didn't take away from Nas' strong delivery or my enjoyment of his performance. You can't go wrong with this.

It seems like it was just the other day that I was talking about that talented duo The Internet (maybe because it was), but I have more news about Syd tha Kid and Matt Martians that will be music to your ears. As you know, the physical version of Purple Naked Ladies landed Tuesday. But, if you happened to pick up a copy, you probably noticed that it lacked the bonus tracks that were promised. According to the Odd Future camp, that was due to a few technical difficulties. But don't fret, for they've gone and one-upped that promise. Instead of just the promised three, they've added an additional song and packaged it on the Purple Naked Ladies 4 Bonus Songs FreEP. Now everyone can enjoy the tracks (including one that features Robin Hannibal and Coco. O). While each one featured is great, the clear winner of the bunch is the Syd tha Kid-produced "Partners In Crime." It's suprisingly sexy and romantic, especially when you think of the other songs that made the cut for PNL. Syd sings softly and seductively as she talks about her and her partner taking on the world and the space-age R&B backdrop simmers and soars. Quite simply, it's an amazing track. Take a listen to "Partners in Crime" below and head here to get your copy of the EP.

The Internet: "Partners In Crime"

If you have VH1 Soul, then you've no doubt already seen the video for Eric Benét's "Real Love," which has been in heavy rotation on the music video channel since last month. The visuals have finally hit the net and now us fans can get our fill and watch the fine crooner singing this lovely song on demand. This video is definitely worth watching a few times not only to see the beautiful Mr. Benét but also to see couples both young and old in the throes of love as they slow dance while he sings. It's all so very romantic and sweet and knowing that Eric is a newlywed and proud papa to a newborn makes it that much sweeter.

What would the first Friday of the month be without a new mix from our resident Mixologist Keyknow? I don't even want to imagine such a thing, and thankfully our main man returns with Bulletproof Soul, another hot mix of cool tunes to set your February off just right. Featured here are both old favorites and new jams from artists such as the Robert Glasper Experiment, Conya Doss, Yuna, Jazzanova, and Sade, whose song of the same name served as the inspiration for this mix. There's not much else that needs to be said, except to tell you to listen below and find the tracklist after the bounce. As always, enjoy...

Keyknow Bulletproof Soul [Download][Subscribe in iTunes]

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Atlanta has long been a hotbed of talent, and there's a new collective of musicians from the area emerging onto the scene who go by the name of All Cows Eat Grass. They quietly released their debut project, a three-song EP entitled The M.I.L.K. EP, last October that featured a next level genre-blending mix of soul, hip hop, rock, electronica, and more. Although information on the group is scarce, with their future funk sound, it should come as no surprise that All Cows Eat Grass are from the Janelle Monáe and Jaspects camp. This will be quite evident after one listen to the EP, which has that Jaspects stamp all over it and sounds like the natural progression from The Polkadotted Stripe. If you loved that album, then you'll definitely dig what these ACEG cats are doing on this, the first in a three-part series. Listen to my two favorite songs from the EP, "We All Win" and "M.I.L.K.," which is an acronym for "make it look kool." We may not know what All Cows Eat Grass look like yet, but they definitely make it sound "kool." Invest the small sum of $2.97 into copping The M.I.L.K. EP, and look out for the second installment, the Be Kool EP, to be released on February 16th.

All Cows Eat Grass: "We All Win"

All Cows Eat Grass: "M.I.L.K."

All Cows Eat Grass [Facebook][Twitter][SoundCloud][Tumblr]
All Cows Eat Grass The M.I.L.K. EP [Amazon][iTunes]

Who isn't moved by the iconic Marvin Gaye song, "What's Going On"? Whenever I hear it, I'm ready to right all the wrongs of the world. And, while John Legend is probably busy promoting his new song from the Think Like a Man soundtrack, he still makes it a priority to inspire our youth to be as vocal about social issues as the song intends. Which is why he surprised students from Washington, DC's Duke Ellington School of the Arts while launching the What's Going On...NOW project with the Kennedy Center. What's Going On...NOW is a digital media initiative that provides a platform for youth to artistically express their views on how social issues have changed in the more than 40 years since the song was released. Young people are encouraged to submit videos, photos, poems, and music to the What's Going On...NOW website, and two participants will be selected from all submissions to win a trip to Washington, DC to attend a concert on May 3rd at the Kennedy Center featuring Legend, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and the National Symphony Orchestra. A second show has also been planned for May 4th at the KenCen. Watch John and Ellington students singing "What's Going On" at the launch event below and check out the submissions that have been sent in so far on the What's Going On...NOW website.

• Don Cornelius' untimely death should expand the conversation of African Americans and suicide. [TR]
• Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston reunited for a night out with Bobbi Kristina. [TLL]
• Yasiin Bey is plotting his return to the big screen in a prequel to Jackie Brown. [OKP]
• Dancehall artist Elephant Man was arrested in Jamaica after a woman claimed she was raped in his home. [TBB]

As an impressionable child of the '90s, TLC were sort of my Chopin "Awakening" moment -- well, minus the extra-marital affair and the "walking-in-the-ocean" deal -- but something about these three women sparked femininity and the fight for individualism within me that has yet to leave. While aware to the panther purr ways of Madonna and a certain Miss Jackson, nobody, at the time, had looked like TLC to me. They were wearing overalls, biker boots, baggy shorts, and baseball caps with bills strategically turned to the back. They were the kind of girls who looked as if they got deodorant marks on their clothes. They ate pizza and didn't count slices or calories. They weren't afraid to speak their minds and were unapologetic about it. Nonconforming yet oddly classy they were, and I loved it. Lucky for me, the '90s produced a slew of girl groups and vocalists that followed in this vein. Yet, before the Spice Girls would harvest their seeds in my growing garden of feminist/womanist ideals, the tomboy-ish party crashers known as TLC were the initial planters for that "girl power" movement, and, in personal scope, were probably the big sisters I never had.

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