NEW AMERYKAH PART 2: RETURN OF THE ANKH--An Interview with Ms. Badu

PART DEUX:  3-30-10 is upon us, so Erykah Badu's New Amerykah Part Two:  Return Of The Ankh is in stores.  Her video for the first single "Window Seat" is already stirring controversy for it's vivid depiction of Erykah, in all of her nude glory, being gunned down at the same location that JFK was more than four decades ago.  Read the following interview to gain more insight into her feelings on the guerrilla techniques used for the conception and filming of the video in Dallas.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/0330quickbadu.1f733ed77.html

Q: To start, what can you tell me about the thought process behind the video for “Window Seat”?


EB: It was filmed Saturday (March 13) before St. Patrick’s Day. It was a pretty spontaneous thing. The song “Window Seat” is about liberating yourself from layers and layers of skin or demons that are a hindrance to your growth or freedom, or evolution. I wanted to do something that said just that, so I started to think about shedding, nudity, taking things off in a very artful way. I am from the theater, and this is just a part of expression to us, a part of art. And I saw a video by a group called Matt and Kim, and it was filmed in Times Square. And I thought it was the bravest, most liberating thing I’ve ever seen two people do. And I wanted to dedicate this contagious act of liberation and freedom to them. I hoped it would become something contagious that people would want to do in some way or another.

Q: And what was the thinking on the location and the Kennedy element to it?

A: Times Square is the most monumental place in New York, and when I was thinking of monumental places, the grassy knoll was the most monumental place in Dallas I could think of. I tied it in a way that compared that assassination to the character assassination one would go through after showing his or her self completely. That’s exactly the action that I wanted to display.

Q: And I take it you knew that there would be a similar real-life reaction when the video was released?

A: Yeah. I knew that would happen, so as soon as the thought came to my mind, I decided to assassinate myself as a gesture. Because it was going to happen anyway. The video is a prediction of what is happening now.

Q: Tell me about the logistics of filming. Was it really nudity, or was there trickery involved?

A: Oh no, it was straight guerilla cam. I got out of the car and I went for it. A day before, I took the same path alone to see where I was going and to see where the “x” spot was. And we only had one shot to get it right, and I decided to go at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. I told the cameraman that I would meet him there, and when he saw me pull up, he started. We had to speed the music up because we wanted the effect to be slow-motion.

Q: So, it all happened a lot faster than it seems, but there was still time for people to realize what was going on. Were you afraid of the immediate reactions from folks?

A: Yes. I was petrified, period. The whole thing was frightening. The whole idea was frightening. Not being in love with my body, not being secure about being vulnerable, the police coming to take me to jail. I’m breastfeeding right now. Anything I could think of, I did. But those little things diminished as I thought about the big picture. And, as I started to walk, I confronted a lot of fears, and I hoped that it would encourage others to do the same thing in their own way.

Q: Are you afraid of any ramifications now, since the city of Dallas has come out with a statement referring to their disapproval of “guerilla filmmaking”?

A: No. That fear left when I fell to the ground. With the death of that part of me, a lot of those fears died as well. I had a paradigm shift, of sorts.

Q: So, this was meaningful for you in a more important way than just making a video or stunting?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you have anything else to say to the folks who aren’t having a positive reaction to this?

A: Sure, I would like to say that it was a protest to awaken a term called “groupthink.” It’s a term that was coined in 1952. It’s the recognition of a state of being for humans. It’s human nature for a person to be afraid to express his or her self in fear of being ostracized by the group or general consensus. A lot of times people are judged unfairly because of that. I think about the Salem witch trials; I think about the assassination of Christ, I think about the character assassination of artists and celebrities on blog sites. I think about all of these things as groupthink. And when I fall to the ground in the video, the word groupthink spills out of my head, because I was assassinated by groupthink. …

When I told my mother what I wanted to do, she was not 100 percent confident that it was the right thing, but she was supportive. I shared it with my family and made sure I told them that this act is not in any way a reflection of who they all are. It’s who I am. They said I had their support. I have young children whom I was considerate of and I told them what I was doing. My 5-year-old said, “OK, Mommy, can I have some more pudding?” My 12-year-old said, “It’s all right because I can explain to everyone that my mother is a wonderful person and she’s just having fun.” After hearing that, I took myself a lot less seriously.

Q: Did you consider the children in the plaza that day?

A: I didn’t think about them until I saw them, and in my mind I tried to telepathically communicate my good intent to them. That’s all I could do, and I hoped they wouldn’t be traumatized. The people that got caught in the shot seemed as if they didn’t even see me. There were a couple of people, and a guy picking up clothes. It all happened so fast. Of course they saw the camera, so they knew we were shooting something. But it was a great day for me.

Q: So, no regrets?

A: No regrets. Move forward from here.

"A THUG CHANGES, THEN LOVE CHANGES, AND BEST FRIENDS BECOME STRANGERS"

THIS LINE FROM NAS MAY SUM UP WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE STRAINED RELATIONSHIP AMONGST LITTLE BROTHER CREW MEMBERS PHONTE, BIG POOH, AND 9TH WONDER.  THE TWO EMCEES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEST OF FRIENDS WITH UBER-PRODUCER 9TH WONDER, BUT THE CHEMISTRY WAS UNDENIABLE.  NO RESENTMENT OR UNDERLYING PAIN COULD BE VIEWED WHEN LISTENING TO UNDERGROUND CLASSICS SUCH AS THE LISTENING, CHITTLIN CIRCUIT 1.5, OR THE MINSTREL SHOW (AS WELL AS A MULTITUDE OF JUSTUS LEAGUE JOINTS).  IT SEEMS THAT THE RELATIONSHIP STARTED TO SOUR BEHIND THE SCENES, EVEN THOUGH OUTSIDE EARS COULDN'T TELL WITH THOSE SOULFUL CHOPPED SAMPLES AND DOPE LYRICS.  IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THOUGH THERE ARE SOME HURT FEELINGS ON ALL SIDES.  EARLIER TODAY THERE WAS AN APPARENT TWITTER WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN 9TH AND PHONTE.  PHONTE EVEN POSTED A VIDEO AFTERWARDS ON THIS SUNNY DAY DOWN IN NC:  http://vimeo.com/10490580

I HOPE THAT THE OLIVE BRANCH THAT PHONTE EXTENDS AT THE END OF THE VIDEO WILL START THE HEALING PROCESS.  NOT TRYING TO SOUND LIKE THE HOOD DR. PHIL, BUT WHATEVER UNDERLYING ISSUES THEY ALL HAVE, AS GROWN MEN THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.  MAYBE I'M BEING SELFISH BECAUSE I CAN IDENTIFY WITH LITTLE BROTHER AS A GROUP MORE THAN ANY CONTEMPORARY HIP HOP GROUP (OR ANY TYPE OF MUSIC FOR THAT MATTER).  I SEE A PIECE OF MYSELF WHEN I HEAR PHONTE OR POOH SPIT AN ILL LYRIC, OR HEAR 9TH CHOP A SAMPLE INTO AN AURAL MASTERPIECE.  ANYONE OUT THERE FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS ISSUE, AND I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED AS INFORMATION COMES MY DIRECTION.

PEACE AND LOVE!!!!
WISDOM

ERYKAH BADU----"WINDOW SEAT"

                                                                  
                                                                              

HERE IS THE VIDEO  FOR "WINDOW SEAT" BY ERYKAH BADU.  HER NEW ALBUM "NEW AMERYKAH PART 2:  RETURN OF THE ANKH" WILL BE HITTING STORES ON 3-30-10, SO PLEASE GO OUT AND SUPPORT THIS VERY DOPE AND COMPELLING ARTIST (EMPHASIS ON THE WORD "ARTIST").  SHE IS A TRUE ARTIST INDEED.  I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING ERYKAH BADU A FEW YEARS AGO AT AFRAM, AND SHE  WAS ONE OF THE MOST DOWN TO EARTH PEOPLE YOU COULD EVER MEET.  SHE TOOK THE TIME TO PERSONNALLY TALK TO AS MANY FANS AS POSSIBLE WELL AFTER THE SHOW WAS OVER, AND MY TEENAGED CHILDREN STILL APPRECIATE THAT TO THIS DAY, ESPECIALLY MY OLDEST, WHO JUST TURNED 18 ON THURSDAY (HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN ADRIENNE).  OK, ENOUGH OF THE RAMBLINGS OF A 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN (LOL---JOKES),  ENJOY THE VIDEO, ESPECIALLY HER, OOPS, THE END...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fld7YmVpymY!!!

NEW INTERVIEW WITH EMCEE/PRODUCER ODDISEE

http://www.beatnikonline.net/features/oddisee

Brilliant Producer, Rapper and Washington’s best-kept secret – Oddisee – is taking the world one beat at a time. Having gathered a pilgrimage of beat fanatic’s often from two distinct corners, now with a new project Traveling Man he’s ready to break bread and arouse tastes you never new you had.


First impressions count and Amir as he’d rather be known off stage is a man of no pretence. Professional and funny, it’s clear from the start this is gonna be a good afternoon.

We met in Westminster-London, perched between a frenzy of security paranoia. Romain manages to get some epic pic’s in front of iconic Big Ben without seeing blue. Then hearing Oddisee is a man of the bean we head across the river for a decent coffee.

Born to an African American mother and Sudanese father his parents divorced at a young age and he grew up in Washington with his father and step-mother. Every summer though he spent in Sudan and North Africa, a change of scenery that had a profound effect on both his personal and musical development.

“My father didn’t like me hanging around in DC when there was no school. So I spent summer visiting family in Egypt, Yemen and Sudan – I loved it.

When I turned 18 I didn’t want to go back as much ‘cos I started getting into Hip Hop and I wanted to be in the studio.”

A slap in the face of any ignoramus that blames Hip Hop and its proprietors for societies woes, it was that mix of culture that nurtured true ethics in his music whilst swaying him from inner city vices.

“I love the sheer shock in culture and Sudanese appreciation for life, like the level of happiness when these people are struggling. I love the fact that unconsciously I didn’t glorify materialism, objectifying women, guns, drugs, etc. By the time I’d get home and all my friends were getting into thug shit, I was like I actually have cousins who know how to use assault rifles and are like 13! Are you kidding me?”

“I wasn’t sacred of it. I didn’t aspire to be it! It was pathetic! I was always grateful to know to stay away.”

Oddisee didn’t just get into Hip Hop he dived deep into the sounds the genre is built on. Exploring new boundaries his albums and past releases are riddled with live instruments conquering anything from rare boom bap Hip Hop to jazzy worldly beats. A knack his hero also shared.

“My Biggest influence is J-Dilla.” He voices proudly. “That was the blueprint for me.”

But you’d probably see more similarities in his beats with say Madlib (although listening to ‘Rico Suave Bossa Nova’ you might disagree). What he does share with the Detroit legend is a distinct difference in his solo and collaboration projects. And just like you can’t pigeon hole J-Dilla there too lies his brilliance.

“I always say its human nature to characterize people. We just can’t understand things unless we put them in a box. And a lot of artists try to fight that – intentionally deviating from their sound, which isn’t natural and upsets the fans.

The solution I found is – Ok, put me in a box, as long as you put me in as many boxes as possible!”

Committed as much as to his 3 collective Hip Hop crew -Diamond District- as to his solo stuff, raising his eyebrows he lays it down some more.

“Diamond district are for my Hip Hop purist fans that can’t understand that I listen to all other kinds of music. I love that 95 raw shit, so I had to satisfy that urge. All of my fans of that will say that’s the finest thing I’ve made.”

“Then there’s a side of me that really likes progressive Hip Hop that takes chances, and my diamond district fans will say ‘I love Oddisee but that shit is wack.’ While other fans will say it’s brilliant and cutting edge. Never the two shall meet and that’s fine with me (laughs). But I love how they go out of their way to tell me.”

And although you sense Oddisee has an open dialogue with his fans and critics – something critical to his development, he also ultimately has the confidence to place the decision making in his hands. Meaning he won’t be manipulated.

“It’s a about a developed palette – anything in life from film, food and music. It’s what you’ve been exposed to in your life and what you are conditioned to.”

When it comes to his work ethic he holds a routine that deserves attention too. A true workaholic, on average he produces 15 -10 tracks in a 20 hour day. The results- some of the sickest free downloads cyberspace has ever seen.

But how does he make sure everything he makes is still as good as the last?

“A lot of my fans have concerns, like quality over quantity. But it’s my job and I treat it as such. I have to do it good or I’ll lose my job just like anyone else.

When I’m at home and in my regiment I make an album a week. I start at 9 am and I don’t stop till 10pm. ‘ A huge grin appears. ‘Its fun, it makes you want to wake up everyday!”

A regular visitor in Europe and around the states, Oddisee passes this bullish work discipline to his ridiculous passion for touring.

“I’m a minimalist when on tour. Ryan Air is the devil, so I keep my luggage with me. I’m pretty much in a new city everyday so, no one knows I wore this yesterday.”

Are you taking note, pack soap!

“I’ve got it down to a science. The shoes I have on our feet are the only ones I’m wearing, the pants I have on and maybe another pair. I wear layers. Rule number one, everything I bring can be worn with something else.”

Don’t confuse Oddisee’s tours as a just a chance to check the local talent and dodge food poisoning either. A savvy orchestrator of his own bookings, each date is a careful opportunity to expand his music, from choosing the city and local artist to deciding on the right month to land.

“When I started touring four years ago, I was touring through Myspace while everyone else was using booking agents. My fans would hit me up. And they helped me create a small database of all the venues and promoters details from small cites in the world. I just hit them up.”

“A year before I’d pick key cities and collaborate with artists and let my records and affiliations with these artists work. I always made sure that they booked the shows on Hip Hop nights too. Whether I was gonna be there or not there was always a crowd.”

Oddisee’s tales read like a ‘Touring for Dummies’ manual, an A&R’s wet dream. And it’s this intelligent selection of collaborations in key European cities that warmed anticipation for his music before he even stepped on a plane.

“Going back to February, and why that month. The plane tickets were cheapest. There were no other tours, there was no competition and there was nothing else for people to do. So they would come out and see me.”

How do you get paid?

“400-500 plus paying 5 Euros each. At that time I was touring by myself, with my music on a CD. People would look at me and ask how you making money from this, we’re only paying you 700 Euros. But once I convert, that’s about a thousand dollars for me and I have 18 shows.”

You can sense he’s proud and excited to share his fruitful thinking. With an attitude that resembles more the thinking of a renegade economist then a still upcoming musician.

“People didn’t get it, they thought I was on a vacation. I’m an opportunist (quote) and I like making money too!” (laughs).

Heard of the saying ’sell an Eskimo a fan’, well Oddisee will travel to give that Eskimo a fan. It’s not that easy though. This all takes hard graft, a self-assurance gifted only to world leaders and a patience that out-stretches your mother’s backhand.

“I would make sure the promoters would only be responsible for paying costs getting me from the city I was in to their city. Nothing more.

So the promoter would say ‘Wait a minute all I have to do is get you from Cologne to Munich and you you’re willing to stay in my house, on my sofa and all you want is 700 Euros’, are you serious? Like yeah you got yourself a tour!”

But certainly where others may have seen a wall, Oddisee has found either a path round it or a sledgehammer of a beat to break through.

“It was still significantly cheaper for them. It was great!”

In essence what Oddisee has done is create micro-environments for his music to flourish and succeed. While at the same time making the world a much smaller place. Not sidelined by geography, he goes where people want to listen and they will pay for that privilege. Representing the true open ground of music.

But while his business mentality is still on point, its still the energy in his fingers that has Oddisee making some of the most exciting music today. A modern architect of his own destiny, he has the answer to the current download crisis too.

“I read in Freakonomic’s about getting people to be morally obliged to pay a penalty or fee. It was a passage about a day care in Israel. That shit stuck in my head.”

By releasing numerous free projects like the Odd season series he’s attracted fans worldwide and generated trust, excitement and loyalty.

“I saw it on twitter yesterday, a fan said ‘I’ve downloaded Odd Winter, Odd Summer and Odd Autumn for free – I just bought Traveling Man’ – exactly!”

“It’s about building that trust factor with your fans. If I make you pay for it its gonna be really good.”

"I CAME TO ROCK"-----DIGGY SIMMONS IS OFFICIAL!!!!!

http://digslifeofthejetsetter.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-came-to-rock.html

Diggy is officially a spitter and jetsetter.  He signed Monday to Atlantic Records, and from the mixtape circuit he is showing why the pedigree is official!!!!! He's still a young teen, but the sky's the limit for this new generation Queens lyricist.  Truth be told, I'm impressed with the young mogul-in-waiting...

ENJOY!!!!

RETROSPECT FOR LIFE-----A REPRISE

Genesis of seeds planted in fertile soil

Granted permission to grow
Not planned but reap what you sow
Baggage in tow time to move forward
In retrospect sit back annd think of four words
'Lord, please forgive me...'
Deliver me and allow me to live free
Not free in in the sense of no responsibility
But giving my mind rest and tranquility
The ability to discern right from wrong
Bringing to the light my darkest song
Won't name that tune yet because it's incomplete
I may have the lyrics but there is no beat
A heart that is heavy needs to weigh its options
Before it stops beating from exposure to toxins
So rid self of any foreign particles
Turning a life into something philosophical
Pondering, wondering, imagining, hoping
Wandering, pandering, laughing, coping
Decisions that have been made you have to see to fruition
Retrospect for life is now my position

A POEM-----------"LONG-SUFFERING"

IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL OR PACKING IT ALL IN A U-HAUL

WALKING THROUGH LIFE SHACKLED OR HEEDING THAT CALL
A SMALL THING TO A GIANT IS THE PAIN THAT I FEEL
ALL THINGS BECOME DEFIANT WHEN THE RAIN IS REAL
THE REIGN WILL NEVER END FOR THE KING ON A THRONE
WHEN HE IS ABLE TO TURN A HOUSE INTO A HOME
ALONE AROUND MANY BECAUSE OF WEIGHT ON SHOULDERS
LIGHT AS FEATHERS YET HEAVY LIKE BOULDERS
THE LEVEES HAVE BROKEN BECAUSE THE PRESSURE IS TOO MUCH
NO MATTER IF THERE IS A FLOOD IT CAN NEVER BE TOO TOUGH
NEVER PLAY VICTIM BECAUSE VICTORY IS MINE
DOWNTRODDEN YOU CAN KICK HIM YET VICTORY IS IN THE MIND
MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS TAKING ME ON A JOURNEY
I TOSSED MY STRESS SO THE PAIN WOULDN'T HURT ME
I WORK LIKE A SLAVE TO BECOME A MASTER
AND I HURT NO MORE BECAUSE I BRAVED A DISASTER
HURRICANE, EARTHQUAKE, TSUNAMI, TYPHOON
THE RAIN, THE SHAKE, THE WAVE, THE MOON
I'M A STAR AND A SON TOO FAR FROM THE SUN
SUFFERING NO LONGER IS THE RISING OF THE ONE

9TH WONDER AND KHRYSIS RHYMING OVER A PREMO TRACK!!!!

                                                                  



Here's a change of pace for hip hop fans...take a listen to this new DJ Premiere track with 9thmatic and Khrysis....after taking a listen, I'm impressed...I like this joint...how about my Blogger family???

http://www.okayplayer.com/news/Audio-9thmatic-9th-Wonder-Khrysis-Its-On-prod.-DJ-Premier-.html

POETRY-----DESTINY MANIFEST

Time to move towards my destiny



Qestion comes to mind, "is the Lord testing me?"


I've failed so many pop quizzes in this lifetime


That sometimes I don't feel that I'm in my right mind


So I write rhymes to right wrongs


And listen to my heart so I can write songs...


For the right one, to the left to the left


Even though she's here she's gone, and I wept and I wept


Invisible tears but I wipe them away


And open my eyes for the beginning of a new day

RAPSODY---NOT YOUR AVERAGE LADY

Rapsody is a female emcee hailing from south of the Mason-Dixon line in good ol' NC.  She is a part of the dope crew Kooley High.  Rapsody is a rarity in today's hip hop climate:  a female with authentic lyrical finesse.  I hope she is a household name sooner than later.  Read this article regarding her prowess and rise to lyrical respect in a still male-dominated field.

http://allaboutgoodmusic.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/rapsody-the-definitive-return-of-the-b-girl/

POEM-------------THE SPOKEN GUN

Den of iniquity, sin's inequality



Pen the anthology of sons


Writing letters from cells


Brain cells wasting away


Chasing away dreams no longer in living color


Devoid of chromatic schemes


Themes seen on screens


Screams heard on wax


Wax poetic about acts prophetic


Act apologetic when pathetic


Acidic words flow from bitter tongues


Git 'ur done is the new mantra


Where guerrillas in units have replaced black panthers


Pushing mass units


Men considered eunuchs


Women no longer satisfied by phallic fallacies


Penal problems caused by 400 years of stripping


Taking manhood one man, one hood at a time


Leaving sisters to fend for self


Using assets trying to acquire wealth


Yet lacking self worth


Covering the hurt and pain


The work and strain of raising children


Lowering standards stolen by bandits


Thieves in the day, rapists in the night


White power mixed with black pride


Equals gray matter that doesn't matter any longer


Wandering through life pondering death


Survival of the unfit in urban jungles


Makes me wonder how to keep from going under


Under the knife, in front of the bullet


Pay the price when the trigger we pull it


The time is now to put down the smoking gun

Rachel Stewart: Keeping The Online Artisan Revolution Aflame | Clutch Magazine: The Digital Magazine for the Young, Contemporary Woman of Color

Check out this Clutch Magazine article on my Okayplayer sista Rachel Stewart...good read...CONGRATS MS. STEWART!!!!

Rachel Stewart: Keeping The Online Artisan Revolution Aflame Clutch Magazine: The Digital Magazine for the Young, Contemporary Woman of Color

Wisdom Seeker: POEM------"DAY OF RECKONING"

Wisdom Seeker: POEM------"DAY OF RECKONING"

POEM------"DAY OF RECKONING"

Day of reckoning recognizing what's been wrecking my mind like a 5-car pile up on the Beltway,

Driving me crazy no more because I'm getting out of this automobile whose warranty will expire soon...
Warning me not to be driver and too dangerous as passenger,
I'm passing GO on life's Monopoly feeling Sorry that Uno was dealt a hand that couldn't win...
Can't mend broken heart that sin tore apart so time is upon for me to begin,
New chapter, view rapture, screw adaptin' to situations detrimental to physical, spiritual, mental...
I've been through fire with no water to douse flames on house defamed, defaced, replaced with an empty shell,
Repel the urge to expel any more negative words from mouth dirtied by vile ignorant slander that panders to the devil's evil...
Leave or let Satan invade the orifices of my mind, so I find solace instead at sun shining behind dark clouds ready to unleash downpour,
On the down-trodden, gotta get up and start plotting destination on map you tried to hide so I couldn't seek anymore...
Next tour of duty for this soldier of misfortune is to miss torture, fortunate as it may seem or be,
Be like Common's 6th album, the common outcome is uncommon valor for this valedictorian from the school of hard knocks...



© WISDOM

LITTLE BROTHER----CURTAIN CALL (PRODUCED BY KHRYSIS)

Here is the first released single from LB's last group offering Leftback, the aptly titled Curtain Call...

ENJOY!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KSRYNTvLG8&feature=player_embeddedis

POETRY----------Just A Piece Of Peace

Just a slice of solitude is all I ask

I'm not asking for much, a little bit of calm
For this savage beast, running rampant through dangerous streets
Running on concrete making beats with feet
Feeding an appetite for destruction by not following instruction
Very clear words presented in The Word
Absurd is it to want some peace
Joy to the world, some solace in this place
I face another day listening to violins
Playing songs of violence against my agitated mental
So I sketch my pain on a pad with a pencil
Why can't it all be so simple?
But it is, if we only choose that path laid forth by the Holy Trinity
Father, Son, Holy Ghost allowing me to seek divinity...

"The Anticipation Arose As Time Froze..."

Right now I'm anxiously awaiting April 20th...the release date for Leftback, the "final" Little Brother album. Most of those reading this may not know who Little Brother is, but true fans understand and realize they are one of the most slept-on groups in hip hop history, in my humble opinion. Little Brother proudly carried the torch for the post-Native Tongues music collective. I credit Quest (shout out Okayplayer) for turning my ear in the direction of NC, aka North Cakalaka. Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh, and producer 9th Wonder tapped into something that I felt was missing in hip hop, and music for that matter...SOUL...9th manipulated Fruity Loops production into a soulful landscape on which Phonte and Pooh could expose different facets of hip hop, life, love, you name it. Check the discography for proof: The Listening, the Chittlin Circuit 1.5, The Minstrel Show, And Justus For All, Separate But Equal, The Getback. You can also include Connected (Phonte's Foreign Exchange excursion that has opened other doors for his creativity) and Pooh's Sleepers as other extensions of the Little Brother voice. I can even lump in The Dream Merchant series from 9th as Little Brother music. Each album expanded and expounded on previous Little Brother music and topics. I'm not only a fan of each album, but I am someone that can relate to pretty much each topic that these positive brothers have exposed to the masses for consumption. I guess that is why I'm anticipating this Little Brother release, because I want to see what else Phonte and Pooh have to say about their experiences within the industry, what direction they are going in, what Leftback means to them. The only downside for me when it comes to LB is the absence of 9th from the equation. Even though I liked LB expanding their musical soundscape with The Getback, it was missing some of that soul that 9th brought to the table. I hope and pray that whatever differences these musical brothers have can be resolved so at some point we can hear dope music again...until that point, Leftback is what we will have...

ONE LOVE MY HIP HOP BRETHREN...

WISDOM