Amerigo Gazaway is a talented producer/DJ known for blending multiple genres into one enjoyable arrangement. I came across his recent single “Inner City Travelin’ Man” on twitter and was intrigued by the remix. I’m not usually a fan of attempted classic remakes, but this one adapted Marvin Gaye’s sound and vibe really nicely without diluting or over-modernizing it while seamlessly fusing Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) lyrics and vocals. I also checked out his previous work and came across an album featuring Fela Kuti and De La Soul and a really cool and funky DJ set he did for SXSW in 2013. He definitely has a good ear for sound and good taste in music. Enjoy!
Lindsey Stirling is an American violinist, dancer, and composer. She performs choreographed violin routines and fuses classic violin with pop, hip-hop, and electronic dance music. She is also involved in a lot of community engagement projects and is currently on tour. I love the innovation and creativity she puts into her work. Enjoy!
Sharaya J is a Hawaiian-born and New Jersey-raised rapper and choreographer recently signed to Missy Elliot’s label “The Goldmind Inc.” Her recent single’s “BANJI” and “Smash Up The Place” are pumping with rhythm and humor. Her style, energy, and dance skills are a real refresher in the rap scene. The term “BANJI” is an acronym “Be Authentic Never Jeopardize Individuality.” It describes the movement she wants her music and message to represent. The other ladies in the video are called the “BANJI ladies.” I’m looking forward to a lot of cool, BANJI Certified stuff coming from this artist. Enjoy!
As some of you might know, I am a Michael Jackson Scholar. Thus, I rarely share or seek any posthumous productions that come from his Estate or anyone else. However, I came across this track, which I had never heard before, and noted a heated debate from fans comparing this to a Justin Bieber version. I did some digging and was able to connect the dots. For those who are interested, here is some MJ trivia to add to your collection:
“Slave To The Rhythm” was created in the early 1990s when Michael was working on the Dangerous album. It was completed in 1998 but never released.
For the 2010 posthumous album Michael, Max Methods re-produced “Slave To The Rhythm” to give it a new electro-dance beat, but it did not make the cut for the album. It was leaked to the internet later that year and immediately disappeared.
Justin Bieber re-recorded the song as a duet with him and Michael. It was leaked in August of 2013 and Michael’s Estate is still attempting to remove the song from as many websites as possible.
At first, I could not understand how Justin Bieber could get a hold of an unreleased Michael Jackson track without the Estate’s permission, but I guess there are loop holes celebrities can jump through too. I heard a few seconds of the stolen version and it is nothing to get excited about. Honestly, I do not think anyone should be allowed to record any so-called duets with Michael’s pre-recorded vocals. It is rude and demeans his legacy. A duet with Michael was always earned. It should stay that way.
Now for the original single, which you can listen to below…until it is taken down from youtube, showcases Michael’s amazing passion and energy. I like the rhythm and I could see Michael creating a killer dance routine to it, but it would be nice to hear the original demo version with the 1990s beat too. It would have also been nice to hear all these unreleased tracks when Michael was alive to re-emphasize the fact that his musical brilliance never faded, but that discussion deserves a separate blog post. Nonetheless, it is worth a listen. Enjoy.
André 3000 is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, actor, and the other half of the hip hop duo Outkast. For the past few years he has only done features for other artists’, but every time, in my opinion, he outshines them with his rhythmic poetry. André has a way with words that are so honest and thought-provoking. I recently stumbled onto these two tracks and loved the story line in both. Enjoy.
Prince released the official video to his latest single “Breakfast Can Wait” earlier this week and it is addictive! The smooth funk and soul that accompanies his familiar appealing voice blends beautifully in this new track. The even bigger surprise is the music video that features 18 year old dancer, model, and actress, Danielle Curiel, with a killer dance sequence and a female Prince impersonator. In an interview with Pitchfork, Danielle explained that Prince e-mailed her to create a concept video for his upcoming single. Talk about lucky! I think she did a pretty clever job with this. It is nice to see real choreography and fun acting makes it’s way back to music videos. Getting back to the music, if this single is a sample of an upcoming album, we have a lot to look forward to. Enjoy!
Dagny Zenovia 