Burial (Beautiful song... really well directed... watch full screen)
Black and Blue (Starring the UK version of "The Dude")
Silvia
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
06 - Little Brother
MVRemix: To start off, just for the record, how did you come up with the name Little Brother?
Phonte: The name Little Brother was just, um, it just means, the artists we grew up listening to, you know, I'm saying the Tribe, De La, Public Enemy, you know what I'm saying… They were like our big brothers in the game, now they got a little brother following in their footsteps and carrying on the tradition of good music.
There is hardly a soul in the triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) who doesn't know Little Brother. Phonte, Big Pooh, 9th Wonder, the whole Justus League, these are the guys that taught me about hip hop. As my appreciation for these guys grew, I worked backwards to get an appreciation for their 'Big Brothers' like A Tribe called Quest. The influence is obvious. Maybe that song "Still lives through" sounds familiar... maybe a bit like this...
I feel like these guys are my big brothers. That may sound a bit... off, but if you know me you might know why. These guys represent the city I came from. They make me proud to be from Durham. They are incredibly talented and their music has been the gateway to exposing me to other incredible artists. These guys have also given me incredible strength... knowing how hard they work to make their dream come true. Hip hop is their passion.. it's their life... and they do it well. Making a life out of hip hop is not easy. The 'rap game' is brutal and those with the most talent don't necessarily make it to the top. But they turn that struggle into rhymes, put it to fabulous beats, and let it continue to fuel them instead of holding them back. I think we can all take a lesson from that.
Link for the 'Lovin' It' music video
You make me step my game up!
"Roflcopter"... "Lollerskates"
Phonte: The name Little Brother was just, um, it just means, the artists we grew up listening to, you know, I'm saying the Tribe, De La, Public Enemy, you know what I'm saying… They were like our big brothers in the game, now they got a little brother following in their footsteps and carrying on the tradition of good music.
There is hardly a soul in the triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) who doesn't know Little Brother. Phonte, Big Pooh, 9th Wonder, the whole Justus League, these are the guys that taught me about hip hop. As my appreciation for these guys grew, I worked backwards to get an appreciation for their 'Big Brothers' like A Tribe called Quest. The influence is obvious. Maybe that song "Still lives through" sounds familiar... maybe a bit like this...
I feel like these guys are my big brothers. That may sound a bit... off, but if you know me you might know why. These guys represent the city I came from. They make me proud to be from Durham. They are incredibly talented and their music has been the gateway to exposing me to other incredible artists. These guys have also given me incredible strength... knowing how hard they work to make their dream come true. Hip hop is their passion.. it's their life... and they do it well. Making a life out of hip hop is not easy. The 'rap game' is brutal and those with the most talent don't necessarily make it to the top. But they turn that struggle into rhymes, put it to fabulous beats, and let it continue to fuel them instead of holding them back. I think we can all take a lesson from that.
Link for the 'Lovin' It' music video
You make me step my game up!
"Roflcopter"... "Lollerskates"
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
05 - Céu
.... is my GIRL.
She is from São Paulo, Brazil and was introduced to me by those crazy Brazilians at the University of Hawai'i in the file sharing bonanza that happened aboard all our cruises. I was given almost a gig of Brazilian tunes and was able to single her out as exceptional pretty early on.
Her name in Portuguese means "sky" or "heaven" (similar to spanish, "cielo") and she represents a heavenly mix of styles. This interview in Reuters details her influences a bit:
Q: Your music pays tribute to a lot of rhythms that have roots in Africa and the Black culture, be it Samba or Reggae.
A: I have a passion for Black culture, from Jazz divas to Afro beat. Everything comes from Africa.....
Q: You picked up a Bob Marley song "Concrete Jungle" and put it on your first CD. Wasn't that scary?
A: I am a fan of Jamaican music from the 70's... It's also a lyric that reflects our reality in Sao Paulo, it's a Kingston-Sao Paulo connection in a way.
Q: You lived in the United States for a year in 1998/1999, how did that influence you?
A: I came here to learn about another culture, to study music, to be embedded in the culture of Jazz, the music of the streets. New York has a lot of that. I started listening to artists that I wasn't aware of, like Erykah Badu, Lauren Hill, singers and songwriters that put their toes into hip hop. Until then, I only listened to Brazilian music.
A rock solid combination if you ask me.
I know all the words to her songs. Well I sort of don't... because it's in Portuguese... but I have listened to her so much that I can sing the Portuguese (as best as I know how...)
Like this song Lenda...
Or Malemolencia....
As i'm sure you can tell her band is pretty amazing too. So in the event that you need to do any woo-ing in the near future I suggest you brush up on your Samba, pick up a bottle of Casa Valduga Merlot, feature this Brazilian vixen on your mp3 player of choice, and let the games begin (reorrrr!!)
She is from São Paulo, Brazil and was introduced to me by those crazy Brazilians at the University of Hawai'i in the file sharing bonanza that happened aboard all our cruises. I was given almost a gig of Brazilian tunes and was able to single her out as exceptional pretty early on.
Her name in Portuguese means "sky" or "heaven" (similar to spanish, "cielo") and she represents a heavenly mix of styles. This interview in Reuters details her influences a bit:
Q: Your music pays tribute to a lot of rhythms that have roots in Africa and the Black culture, be it Samba or Reggae.
A: I have a passion for Black culture, from Jazz divas to Afro beat. Everything comes from Africa.....
Q: You picked up a Bob Marley song "Concrete Jungle" and put it on your first CD. Wasn't that scary?
A: I am a fan of Jamaican music from the 70's... It's also a lyric that reflects our reality in Sao Paulo, it's a Kingston-Sao Paulo connection in a way.
Q: You lived in the United States for a year in 1998/1999, how did that influence you?
A: I came here to learn about another culture, to study music, to be embedded in the culture of Jazz, the music of the streets. New York has a lot of that. I started listening to artists that I wasn't aware of, like Erykah Badu, Lauren Hill, singers and songwriters that put their toes into hip hop. Until then, I only listened to Brazilian music.
A rock solid combination if you ask me.
I know all the words to her songs. Well I sort of don't... because it's in Portuguese... but I have listened to her so much that I can sing the Portuguese (as best as I know how...)
Like this song Lenda...
Or Malemolencia....
As i'm sure you can tell her band is pretty amazing too. So in the event that you need to do any woo-ing in the near future I suggest you brush up on your Samba, pick up a bottle of Casa Valduga Merlot, feature this Brazilian vixen on your mp3 player of choice, and let the games begin (reorrrr!!)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
04 - Ok Go
I love these guys, creative lot they are. What brings me to them today? I will share a story....
I'm working in my office on this rainy Sunday afternoon and in the wake of graduation i've been left a bit blue. The last of the masters students who have been great friends have finished and moved on. The last of my undergraduate friends have graduated and are moving on. The last of my close friends in the area will leave at the end of the month. The friends that have already moved on have luckily been good about coming back (can't wait to be writing at the beach with Mrs. Waugh-and-a-half) but today I am stuck feeling a bit sorry for myself.
As the music is always shuffling as I am on my nerd grind, what should pop up but a song by Ok Go - Crash the party. It's rebellious and fun and it made me smile. Then I thought, you know what.. a lot of things about these guys make me smile. Most notably, their music videos.
Perhaps you're familiar with this wildly popular treadmill production:
Here it goes again (fast forward to 20 seconds in-the other video that I couldn't embed has 51 Million views)
In searching for this video, it led me to THIS JEM (a spot-on remake by some high school kids)
As I looked for their other videos, I came across their newest video from their album 'Of the Blue Color of the Sky' and it is UNBELIEVABLE. Think Scotty Smalls's Erector Set domino contraption on crack.
Now this foray into the abyss of internet distractions may seem counter productive, but I would argue otherwise. After attending the lecture by one Jorge Cham, creator of PHD Comics, I feel okay taking time for mental health. If you were to graph my productivity it would resemble a roller coaster at Busch Gardens and let's just say I spent the entire last week going uphill. But despite everything... the long days, the long weeks, the thinning social life (an unfortunate casualty of higher education) you still gotta find things that make you smile. Between Ok Go and the dizzying spiral of web queries following as a result of this blog entry my face now looks like this:
:D
... and I am rejuvenated and ready to return to conquering my spreadsheets!
I'm working in my office on this rainy Sunday afternoon and in the wake of graduation i've been left a bit blue. The last of the masters students who have been great friends have finished and moved on. The last of my undergraduate friends have graduated and are moving on. The last of my close friends in the area will leave at the end of the month. The friends that have already moved on have luckily been good about coming back (can't wait to be writing at the beach with Mrs. Waugh-and-a-half) but today I am stuck feeling a bit sorry for myself.
As the music is always shuffling as I am on my nerd grind, what should pop up but a song by Ok Go - Crash the party. It's rebellious and fun and it made me smile. Then I thought, you know what.. a lot of things about these guys make me smile. Most notably, their music videos.
Perhaps you're familiar with this wildly popular treadmill production:
Here it goes again (fast forward to 20 seconds in-the other video that I couldn't embed has 51 Million views)
In searching for this video, it led me to THIS JEM (a spot-on remake by some high school kids)
As I looked for their other videos, I came across their newest video from their album 'Of the Blue Color of the Sky' and it is UNBELIEVABLE. Think Scotty Smalls's Erector Set domino contraption on crack.
Now this foray into the abyss of internet distractions may seem counter productive, but I would argue otherwise. After attending the lecture by one Jorge Cham, creator of PHD Comics, I feel okay taking time for mental health. If you were to graph my productivity it would resemble a roller coaster at Busch Gardens and let's just say I spent the entire last week going uphill. But despite everything... the long days, the long weeks, the thinning social life (an unfortunate casualty of higher education) you still gotta find things that make you smile. Between Ok Go and the dizzying spiral of web queries following as a result of this blog entry my face now looks like this:
:D
... and I am rejuvenated and ready to return to conquering my spreadsheets!
Friday, May 14, 2010
03 - Emily King
I've got data compiling. So what do scientists do when compiling? Goof off!!
Emily King is my age, a 24 year old Cancer from New York City who I learned about through (and reminds me of) another 24 year old New Yorker (a certain blond Virgo). She has a beautiful, sassy, jazzy, slightly latin sound that resonates with the sound of the streets of NYC. I have been to NYC... at least a dozen times, and experienced it as both a tourist and a local and you can literally feel the city in her music. It's got soul, flavor, and toughness.
Though she's been nominated for a grammy and is associated with the likes of Alicia Keys and Biggie, she's still largely off the mainstream radar. She may not be for everyone (mainly for the ladies, but the fellas love her too), but she's got what Stephen Colbert might call "Truthiness". She sings from the heart about a real life of struggle and I respect that alot. No matter what is going on, I can find a song with a sentiment that I identify with, and sing right along with her.
Happy Friday!
Walk in My Shoes
Walk in My Shoes with Lupe Fiasco (awesome version)
U and I
Moon
Hold Me
Emily King is my age, a 24 year old Cancer from New York City who I learned about through (and reminds me of) another 24 year old New Yorker (a certain blond Virgo). She has a beautiful, sassy, jazzy, slightly latin sound that resonates with the sound of the streets of NYC. I have been to NYC... at least a dozen times, and experienced it as both a tourist and a local and you can literally feel the city in her music. It's got soul, flavor, and toughness.
Though she's been nominated for a grammy and is associated with the likes of Alicia Keys and Biggie, she's still largely off the mainstream radar. She may not be for everyone (mainly for the ladies, but the fellas love her too), but she's got what Stephen Colbert might call "Truthiness". She sings from the heart about a real life of struggle and I respect that alot. No matter what is going on, I can find a song with a sentiment that I identify with, and sing right along with her.
Happy Friday!
Walk in My Shoes
Walk in My Shoes with Lupe Fiasco (awesome version)
U and I
Moon
Hold Me
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Sampler
Some kibble for the mind, body, and soul
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
Dinosaur Feathers - I Ni Sogoma
Bon Iver - Come Talk to Me (Peter Gabriel cover, but so much more...)
So many rivers but they all reach the sea....
Blissful company goes from sea to sea
From the depths of the valley to the mountain peaks
So many stories and so many fables of how the king sings of how the wall wails
Jerusalem to the Holy Himalayas
From Mount Zion to the hills of Jamaica
All land is holy, all land is sacred
All shall leave this world completely naked
Completely naked, completely
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
Dinosaur Feathers - I Ni Sogoma
Bon Iver - Come Talk to Me (Peter Gabriel cover, but so much more...)
So many rivers but they all reach the sea....
Blissful company goes from sea to sea
From the depths of the valley to the mountain peaks
So many stories and so many fables of how the king sings of how the wall wails
Jerusalem to the Holy Himalayas
From Mount Zion to the hills of Jamaica
All land is holy, all land is sacred
All shall leave this world completely naked
Completely naked, completely
Monday, May 3, 2010
02 - Bonobo
Bonobo(n):
1) Species of monkey also known as the Pygmy Chimpanzee
2) A human and/or species of monkey that enjoys sexual activities
3) The stage name of British musician, DJ, and producer Simon Green
Yes it's all true i'm afraid. I however will discuss the latter of the definitions.
Bonobo is a favorite. I work, play, chill, think, everything to this music. I would feel remiss as a fan by tainting your first impression of the music with some poorly articulated explanation of why I like him so much. What I will say, is that I have A LOT of memories attached to these songs. Distinct, vivid memories. Because I often play it in the 'background', it is not until I listened to the songs later that I associate it with specific memories.
I have an aaaaaaaamazing memory associated with this song
(from the album 'Dial M for Monkey'... a nod to the chimpanzee I suppose)
And this one... I dance to. I stop what i'm doing (as long as i'm alone) and go back to my roots as a dancer and express the hell out of myself. For some reason now every time I hear this song I think of the time on the last Antarctic cruise I was up late working all by myself with my headphones in... I heard this song and just stopped what I was doing and started movin'...
(From the album Days to Come)
1) Species of monkey also known as the Pygmy Chimpanzee
2) A human and/or species of monkey that enjoys sexual activities
3) The stage name of British musician, DJ, and producer Simon Green
Yes it's all true i'm afraid. I however will discuss the latter of the definitions.
Bonobo is a favorite. I work, play, chill, think, everything to this music. I would feel remiss as a fan by tainting your first impression of the music with some poorly articulated explanation of why I like him so much. What I will say, is that I have A LOT of memories attached to these songs. Distinct, vivid memories. Because I often play it in the 'background', it is not until I listened to the songs later that I associate it with specific memories.
I have an aaaaaaaamazing memory associated with this song
(from the album 'Dial M for Monkey'... a nod to the chimpanzee I suppose)
And this one... I dance to. I stop what i'm doing (as long as i'm alone) and go back to my roots as a dancer and express the hell out of myself. For some reason now every time I hear this song I think of the time on the last Antarctic cruise I was up late working all by myself with my headphones in... I heard this song and just stopped what I was doing and started movin'...
(From the album Days to Come)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
01 - My Morning Jacket
A fantastic end to April.. a fantastic beginning to May.
April was a hell of a month for me. I faced ridiculous amounts of adversity. Ridiculous. However, I still managed to make some pretty monumental achievements and this concert was the perfect celebration of those achievements. Yesterday evening my friend Ms. Felzein and I dined outside on a blissfully warm and sunny afternoon, we attend a fabulous concert by The Jacket, painted the town while consuming an ill-advised amount of alcohol and street-cart fare, and I am confident that we walked the equivalent of 'a lap' around the entire city of Raleigh.
Time of your life, eh kid?
My Morning Jacket may not be your typical rock band. Jim James does not have a typical voice. This song "Touch me i'm going to scream part deux" was my anthem for the night... boy did I shout out the words to this song. Not because I actually thought "touch me i'm going to scream", but it alludes to some wisdom that a very good friend bestowed upon me recently. It's easy to lose perspective of your own happiness when you're feeling overwhelmed or uncertain. Instead of living for the happiness that is to come...
...seek the happiness of this moment. Here. Now.
Ohhh this feeling is wonderful, don't you ever turn it off...
................................................
PS - I also LOVE LOVE LOVE this song: Gideon. Best heard live (if you get an album, get Okonokos. It's a live recording and my personal fave)
April was a hell of a month for me. I faced ridiculous amounts of adversity. Ridiculous. However, I still managed to make some pretty monumental achievements and this concert was the perfect celebration of those achievements. Yesterday evening my friend Ms. Felzein and I dined outside on a blissfully warm and sunny afternoon, we attend a fabulous concert by The Jacket, painted the town while consuming an ill-advised amount of alcohol and street-cart fare, and I am confident that we walked the equivalent of 'a lap' around the entire city of Raleigh.
Time of your life, eh kid?
My Morning Jacket may not be your typical rock band. Jim James does not have a typical voice. This song "Touch me i'm going to scream part deux" was my anthem for the night... boy did I shout out the words to this song. Not because I actually thought "touch me i'm going to scream", but it alludes to some wisdom that a very good friend bestowed upon me recently. It's easy to lose perspective of your own happiness when you're feeling overwhelmed or uncertain. Instead of living for the happiness that is to come...
...seek the happiness of this moment. Here. Now.
Ohhh this feeling is wonderful, don't you ever turn it off...
................................................
PS - I also LOVE LOVE LOVE this song: Gideon. Best heard live (if you get an album, get Okonokos. It's a live recording and my personal fave)
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