Archive » October 2007

Soul On Film

Lenny Kravitz Cast In First Movie Role

Lenny Kravitz is planning some major moves in '08. Not only does he have a new album, It's Time For A Love Revolution, on the way in February, but he will also make his acting debut in the motion picture, Push. Kravitz has been cast in the movie adaptation of the bestseller by Sapphire as a male nurse. That's definitely some outside-of-the-box casting, but it just may work. Hey, if I were in the hospital I wouldn't mind Lenny Kravitz giving me a sponge bath.

Butta  |  10/31/2007 at 5:30 PM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Soul-Poll

SOUL-POLL: What '90s Soundtrack Was The Best?

Our first Soul-Poll generated a huge response and a surprising result, and this new one may just stir up another lively debate. This time around we're asking you all to dig in the crates with us and take a hip trip way back to the '90s to let us know what was the best movie soundtrack from the decade.

We had a lot to choose from, but we narrowed the selection down to four of the tightest overall soundtracks: Boomerang, The Bodyguard, Waiting to Exhale and Love Jones. These four discs were in heavy rotation during the decade alongside episodes of Martin, Tommy Hilfiger gear, baby doll dresses and Bill Clinton. Good luck on trying to find a hot soundtrack with original music nowadays, but if you're feeling nostalgic like we are then go ahead and dust off your Doc Martens and have your say about these classics after the bounce.

Read more...

Butta  |  10/31/2007 at 3:00 PM  |  Comments (13)  |  Permalink

Video SoulBounce

See Eric Roberson In Concert!

Remember that Eric Roberson live concert webcast that I hipped y'all to a couple weeks ago? Well, the good people at FabChannel.com have POSTED THE COMPLETE CONCERT online, and I am in Erro heaven right about now. It would only be right for me to share the wealth. By the way, I'm not responsible if anyone gets fired for breaking out into a sudden soul clap while watching this. Just blame Erro for being too funky.

Butta  |  10/31/2007 at 2:00 PM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Man vs. Machine

Man Vs. Machine (Part 1): T-Pain is Trying to Destroy Me!

Welcome to the first installment of "Man vs. Machine" in which I, SoulBounce HNIC, listen to one hour of mainstream urban radio per week and document my "findings" along with the type of commentary that only your friendly SB editors can provide. Perhaps by the end of this experiment, I will have:

• Learned what all the kids are listening to.
• Reconciled all the trash I talk here on SoulBounce.
• Slit my wrists.

Let the chicanery begin!

My personal purgatory this past Monday evening begins with the requisite ten minutes of commercials, that have been "ethnicized" to make ads for Pizza Hut, Clearasil and Geico more palatable to the target audience, obvs.

6:56   The Dream's "Shawty is a Ten" feat. Fabulous. This is my first time hearing this. It sounds like Chris Brown, T-Pain, and Bow Wow are multiplying. Oh, and it's awful!

7:00  Seems I've stumbled upon a countdown of sorts. Top 7 at 7? Oh great. Make me proud, DC. Not. OMG, are they giving out Chris Brown and Bow Wow tix? It's like Christmas, my birthday and Yom Kippur all wrapped in one!

Read more...

nOvaMatic  |  10/31/2007 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments (5)  |  Permalink

Bounce-Worthy

Bounce-Worthy: Jua

Originally from Chicago, Jua has called Washington, DC home for the past 5 years. His earnest and mature debut, Anticipation, was officially released earlier this month, showcasing not only a smooth vocal prowess, but a deftness as a capable songwriter. Jua has been performing since the fourth grade and now pursues his craft full time.

If you happen to be in the neighborhood 11/28, he'll be performing at Busboys and Poets to celebrate his official entry into the burgeoning culture of DC soul. Us born-and-bred folks are happy to have him.

Jua: "Push It Further"


Jua [Official] [Myspace]
Anticipation [Itunes]

nOvaMatic  |  10/31/2007 at 11:00 AM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Morning Soul

Morning Soul: Happy Halloween From Tamia's 'Imagination'

• LL Cool J breaks it down about Def Jam and a certain someone's conflict of interest. [H&P]
• Thirteen years after their last album, Arrested Development is back with a new release. [SP]
• Ne-Yo is still insisting that he is straight. We get it, dude--you like cherries, not bananas. Can we move on now, please? [Killed That]
• Peep the American Gangster soundtrack track list. No Jay-Z. [A Hot Mess]

Butta  |  10/31/2007 at 7:00 AM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Free Music, Rap Snacks

Free Remixes From Guru And Solar

Guru and Solar are hooking their fans up something lovely with a couple of free remixes courtesy of their record company, 7 Grand Records. And while you're nodding your head to these cuts, don't forget that Jazzmatazz Vol. 4 is in stores now, but it also needs to be in your CD collection. Enjoy! 

Guru feat. Common - "State of Clarity" (Remix)

Gym Class Heroes feat. Guru - "Cupid's Chokehold" (Remix) 

Guru [Official] [MySpace]
7 Grand Records [Official]

Butta  |  10/30/2007 at 7:00 PM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Free Music, Mid-Day Hook-Up

What He Say His Name Is?

Saul Williams, MC, beat poet, and star of acclaimed indie movie "Slam," will be releasing a new album entitled The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust. His character Niggy first made his appearance in Williams' book Dead Emcee Scrolls in 2006. Niggy Tardust, like David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust androgynous alien character, is separated from society not because he is far from his alien home, but because he is Black and into all matters of street corner thuggery.

And get this, who's producer on this brilliantly titled album? Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.

Wow.

I have no idea what's in store, but I can already imagine Radiohead-esque haunting melodies mixed with some Mos Def-ness à la The New Danger. Should be interesting to say the least...

The best part? You can download it for FREE via the official Niggy Tardust website beginning 11/1/07.

Saul Williams [Official] [MySpace]

Soul Bounce  |  10/30/2007 at 4:00 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

Video SoulBounce

John Legend Frolicks And Fights In Bed In New Video

John Legend's latest video has popped up online and how happy am I that it's for the cut "Another Again." This is one of my personal faves from Once Again, and the video is a nice complement to the track. And let me find out John has been working out. (Call me!)

Butta  |  10/30/2007 at 3:00 PM  |  Comments (4)  |  Permalink

BlogBeat

BlogBeat: On Black Music...

"It's also necessary to stress that rock music evolved from black music; some would argue that rock music is simply music that has been "stolen"/ appropriated from blacks. No wonder the music often appeals to us; hell it came from us!  At the same time, today, the culture associated with rock music is overwhelmingly white; I think that bands like "The Rolling Stones", "INXS", and "The Strokes", are "fiercely white" and male-oriented too, in terms of their image, and their following, and for that reason I think it's difficult for black folks who have a strong black identity to be fans of these bands - even if the music sounds good..." [Racial Realist]

nOvaMatic  |  10/30/2007 at 2:00 PM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Interviews

SoulBounce Chats With Dr. Donda West

Dr. Donda West is many things. She's an accomplished professor, a world traveler, and, most recently, a published author. However, all those things are secondary to what brings her the most joy in life: being Kanye West's mother. I recently had the opportunity to meet and interview Dr. West, author of the book Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar, and what was most evident throughout our conversation was that she is her baby boy's biggest cheerleader--besides himself, of course. Dr. West and I discussed a variety of topics including her inspiration for writing the book, how she deals with all of the gossip and chatter about her son, her thoughts on the state of hip-hop today, and she even has some advice for parents whose children are interested in rockin' the mic.

And while you wait for Kanye's literary debut, Thank You And You're Welcome!, to drop, I strongly urge you to pick up a copy of his mother's book to gain some valuable insight into Dr. Donda West's life and how she shaped her son into the man he is. Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar is available at bookstores nationwide.
 

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Click here to download the interview

Butta  |  10/30/2007 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

Media Watch, SoulTube

Did You Catch Musiq Soulchild on 'The Game' Last Night?

I, like you, probs, was expecting either a heartfelt serenade or full-on performance. Sadly, all we got was Musiq Soulchild "rehearsing" behind the scenes by his lonesome. As in most sitcoms that feature a guest appearance by a popular artist, his lines were few and injected with enough wit to carry the scene. Let's hope he makes a return before Luvanmusiq runs out of steam.

But enough of that. Did ya'll see Melanie climb up in the bed with Malik and start begging for it? OMFG!

Musiq Soulchild: "Teach Me (Maurice Joshua Remix)"

nOvaMatic  |  10/30/2007 at 11:00 AM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

Releases

Don't Be Afraid, It's Only New Music

New music in stores today:

Alice Smith For Lovers, Dreamers & Me
Barry White An Evening With Barry White (Live)
BeBe Winans Cherch
Chic Best Of Chic: Live
Jonathan Butler Live In South Africa
Kool & The Gang Ladies Night: Greatest Hits Live
Mario Go
Othello Alive at the Assembly Line
The Away Team Training Day
Will Downing After Tonight

[AMG]

Butta  |  10/30/2007 at 10:30 AM  |  Comments (1)  |  Permalink

Morning Soul

Morning Soul: Remembering Jam Master Jay

• Jam Master Jay died five years ago today. Take a look inside the studio where he practically lived and ultimately died. [MTV]
• See Jay Smooth break it down about "Why Albums Used to Matter" and lick a 12-inch record all in one video. [ill doctrine]
• Wyclef and his daughter are down with GAP and Project Red [Wooohah!]
• The Cool Kids are "Soul Fashioned" in Chicago. [Fader]

Butta  |  10/30/2007 at 7:00 AM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Rap Snacks, Video SoulBounce

"These drunk and hot girls..."

There are fans, and there are fans. Check out this footage of what went down backstage at a recent Common show. A few questions:

1. Where exactly did he perform that she was able to drink that much? Not that she was sloppy drunk or anything, but according to her "That ain't just the liquor talking", so there was enough liquor involved for her to mention it, right?
2. Did she look at him through the camera and ask "Are you smiling?" Again, was it VSOP or Paul Masson?
   
3. How'd she get back there in the first place? Awkward! Lonnie looked on-guard, just in case she got a little too Glenn Close for comfort.
   

[Hat Tip: Kanye]

nOvaMatic  |  10/29/2007 at 4:00 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink