Archive » November 2007

This page contains 175 entries posted in November 2007

Rap Snacks

J.A.M. Awards Last Night in NYC

Last night at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom, some of hip hop's most notable personalities assembled under one roof to honor the memory of the late Jason Mizell AKA Jam Master Jay. The J.A.M. Awards, honoring those who have shown commitment to Jam Master Jay's vision of Justice, Arts, and Music, honored Spike Lee, Dr. Cornel West, Kanye West, Wyclef Jean, and Chuck D. who received the "Justice Award" but was unable to attend the festivities. Despite his absence, those in attendance got to be rocked by the best, including Biz Markie, EPMD, Mobb Deep, De La Soul, Dead Prez, Jim Jones, Kid Capri, Q-Tip, Lord Finesse, M.O.P., and of course JMJ cohorts Run and DMC. There was also some random tall cat representing the "West" who took to the stage who went by the name of Snoop Dogg (?). Highlights included De La Soul performing "Buddy" and Raekwon performing "Incarcerated Scarfaces," albeit without his Only Built For Cuban Links partner-in-crime Ghostface Killah. No shootings were reported thankfully during the post-award festivities, however, JMJ's murder at a Queens studio 5 years ago has yet to be solved.

Jam Master Jay Tribute Concert Hits NYC [Sucker Free MTV Blog]

ill Mami | 11/30/2007 at 8:45 PM | Leave a Comment | Permalink

SoulTube

Mary Talks Growth & Pain on Tavis

Mary J. Blige recently sat down with Tavis Smiley to talk about her forthcoming Growing Pains release. Props to Tavis for pointing out that Mary is one of the few that's been able to survive in the game for over 15 years and still be relevant without suffering overexposure or selling out. Mary was real humble in her response, without stooping to the level of defaming other entertainers.

But I'm not.

nOvaMatic | 11/30/2007 at 3:21 PM | Comments (4) | Permalink

Video SoulBounce

New Videos From Jaheim, Murs, And Tanya Morgan

After a brief holiday hiatus, the new video round-up is back and not coming wack with some treats for your eyes and ears. First up we have soul crooner Jaheim with a new video from his upcoming CD, proving once again that he's one of the most consistent cats in the game. Second in rotation is West coast MC, Murs, with a comical video for his next single. Rounding out the bunch is Ilyas and Donwill of Tanya Morgan moonlighting as ILWIL and joining with TM member Von Pea in a phat video that is straight old school.

Jaheim: "Never"

Butta | 11/30/2007 at 2:00 PM | Leave a Comment | Permalink

A Soulful Noise

The Yawn-Inducing 'Re-Thriller' Tracklist is Revealed!

The tracklisting for Michael Jackson's Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition has been revealed, and before you get all into your feelings, Akon's nasal, soul-crushing re-imagining of "Wanna Be Startin' Something" is part of the package. Yay. Also on board are Kanye West and Will.I.Am, which indicates that MJ took a look at the Billboard charts and decided that if he was going to go "typical", then he would get some guys with at least a little creative integrity. Way to go. We're more interested in the outtakes, "Carousel" and "Someone in the Dark", which sound like odd foreshadowings to some Neverland Ranch funny business. [Billboard]

nOvaMatic | 11/30/2007 at 1:30 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink

A Soulful Noise

Tweet Talks

Tweet's next CD doesn't come out for another few months, but she is already busy promoting the project. The buzz single with T.I. generated some chatter, a sampler dropped that's gotten mixed reviews, and she recently spoke with DJ Booth for a brief yet insightful interview. Check it out below to hear Tweet talk about almost retiring from the game after her last CD, record label drama, and waiting for tracks from Missy Elilott and Timbaland for the new album. (Hallelujah!)

Tweet [MySpace]

Butta | 11/30/2007 at 1:00 PM | Leave a Comment | Permalink

Mixtape Roundup

Mixtape Roundup: Your Weekly Excuse to Take an Extended Lunch

(Every Friday we'll be bringing you the hottest DJ blends, podcasts and radio shows found across the web and linking you to some new, unreleased and re-imagined tracks. Be sure to watch this space and email us more at tips@soulbounce.com!)

SOUL:

True Knowledge Radio 11/21: Musiq, India.Arie, John Legend, Maxwell [iLaw]
The Original 11/26: Boyz II Men, Amel Larrieux, Incognito, John Mayer {UCC]
Earharmonic 11/24: Chaka Khan, Isley Brothers, Eric Clapton, Donald Byrd [UCC]
ProjectVIBE 15 - Obrigado Brasil: J Dilla, Luisito Quintero, Jeff Bradshaw, Taylor McFerrin [Stylus]
Soul Music: Georgia Anne Muldrow, Hezekiah, Dionne Warwick, Aloe Blacc [1MC]
My Cherie Amour: Stevie Wonder, Dudley Perkins, Anthony Hamilton, Pharoah Monch [1MC]

nOvaMatic | 11/30/2007 at 12:00 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink

Industry & Culture

Okayplayer Music Award Nominations Announced

For the first time in its celebrated history, Okayplayer.com has started an awards program to honor artists that appeal to the OKP demographic. The 2007 Okayplayer Music Awards kicked off this week and voting is open through December 18th in 27 categories that include everything from the basic "Album of the Year" and "Video of the Year" awards to the utterly hilarious "Crazier Than A Fish With Titties" award. (Priceless!) Winners will be announced on December 20th.

Butta | 11/30/2007 at 11:00 AM | Leave a Comment | Permalink

Morning Soul

Morning Soul: Booming Like An 808

Method Man gets a turn as the rapper-slash-actor du jour on Law and Order: SVU next Tuesday. [Wooohah!]
MTV sat down with Nas to get more insight into his new CD and the songs on it, such as eyebrow-raiser "The Fear of the Black Man's D---." I'm really restraining myself from further comment right now. [MTV]
Erykah Badu will headline the 2008 Barbados Jazz Festival. [EUR]
Get ready for Hi-Tek's Hi-Teknology 3 on December 11th with Estelle, Little Brother and Talib Kweli making guest apearances. [PRL]

Butta | 11/30/2007 at 10:00 AM | Leave a Comment | Permalink

Video SoulBounce

Tamia Returns From Maternity Leave With Video For 'Almost'

Why this is quite a nice surprise--a new video from Tamia! She is back with her third single for the song "Almost" from her fantastic CD, Between Friends. The track can also be found on the recently repackaged holiday version, A Gift Between Friends. The vid premiered yesterday on MySpace, and it's a very good look for Tamia. After giving birth in August, does she look incredible or what? If I didn't love her so much, I'd hate her.

Butta | 11/29/2007 at 7:44 PM | Leave a Comment | Permalink

A Soulful Noise, Media Watch

Mary J. TV Comes To YouTube

Rejoice Mary J. Blige fans and stans! Our girl has launched Mary J. TV in conjunction with YouTube. MJTV will be your one stop shop for all Mary music videos and other video exclusives in preparation for the release of Growing Pains on December 18th. Right now the channel is featuring the original video for "Just Fine," the Michael Jackson mash-up, Mary's iPod commercial, and some behind-the-scenes footage.

What would really make Mary J. TV the ultimate place to be would be the inclusion of all of her past music videos. Hopefully that's in the works.

Butta | 11/29/2007 at 6:33 PM | Leave a Comment | Permalink

Free Music, Reviews

Marsha Ambrosius Declares That 'Neo Soul Is Dead'

Marsha Ambrosius, best known as the Songstress from the group Floetry, signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath label last year and is currently working on her debut solo album set to drop in '08. When I first heard of her association with Dre I was excited yet skeptical. Excited because the good Dr. is one helluva producer and could do wonders with Marsha's voice on top of his beats, but skeptical because I recall that I had high hopes when En Vogue wild child, Dawn Robinson, linked up with Aftermath and we see how that deal went the way of the dinosaur.

But unlike Dawn, since signing with Dre, Marsha has stayed on her grind and been heard on hooks from tracks by various rappers including Busta Rhymes, Nas, and Freeway. This summer she reformed Floetry for a brief tour with Amanda Diva taking Natalie Stewart's place, much to the chagrin of fans who were expecting to see the O.G. Floacist. And now a new mixtape, Neo Soul Is Dead: The Chronic Mixtape, has hit the scene to whet listeners appetites for the full disc.

Aside from the eye-roll inducing title, it was the subtitle that really caught my attention. Marsha Ambrosius singing over beats from The Chronic? NOWAYOHMYGOD! With that combination, I knew that this mixtape was going to be pure fire. Um, not so much.

Butta | 11/29/2007 at 4:45 PM | Comments (17) | Permalink

Events

Love Uprising Tonight in L.A.

The often-imitated, never-duplicated DJ A-Ski will be blessing the wheels of steel tonight in L.A. at the Royale at the first "Love Uprising" affair. Also on hand to provide musical treats will be Drack Muse, DCee, and LotusPetal. This "Sagittarian Affair" should be a great one, and live art will be featured by Secret One. As anyone who's been to an A-Ski party can attest (myself included), come ready to dance and sweat the night away (OK, only until 2 AM) to some Afrobeat, Hip Hop, Soul, Funk, Afro-Latin, and anything else these DJs have in their crates. FYI: All but A-Ski are celebrating birthdays, so it should definitely be good times.

Unique 74 presents Love Uprising [Venue Info]

DJ A-Ski on Scion Radio [Website]

ill Mami | 11/29/2007 at 3:25 PM | Leave a Comment | Permalink

Diggin' in the Crates

Diggin' In the Crates: Total's "Sittin' Home" Remix Should've Been More Major

It's the body I keep digging up because I probably have an agenda.

If Total came out today, I wouldn't be posting about them on SoulBounce, much less be a fan. But during their brief tenure, they had a style and edge about them that keeps them in my personal rotation to this day. Their first self-titled joint is classic Bad Boy, classic 90's and classic Hip-Hop Soul. The second album, Kima, Keisha and Pam, not so much. But there were some standouts, namely "Sittin' Home" which sampled The Whitehead Brothers' "Forget I Was a G".

The remix of the track saw the debut of Shyne, who'd already elicited the ire of Biggie fans for being his ~~impostor~~ vocal twin. That plus the familiar "Diseases" sample should've made this an instant classic, but that didn't happen.

Why? This was a banger.

Total: "Sittin' Home (Bad Boy Remix)" ft. Shyne

nOvaMatic | 11/29/2007 at 2:56 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink