Music Mondays – Outkast – “Liberation”

Tags

1998, Andre 3000, Andre Benjamin, Andre Patton, Antonio M. Reid (exec.), Aquemini, Atlanta, Babyface (exec.), Big Boi, Big Rube, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Cee Lo, Cee-Lo Goodie, Cee-Lo Green, David "Mr. DJ" Sheats, Donny Mathis, Erica Abi Wright, Erykah Badu, Georgia, Goodie Mob, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, Jamahr "Backbone" Williams, Joi Gilliam, Key Yemaya Walker, Khujo, LaFace/Arista, Mr. DJ Sheats, music, Music Mondays, neo soul, Organized Noize, OutKast, Raekwon, Ruben Bailey, September 29, Slick Rick, Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, Whild Peach, Witchdoctor

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Blue Lines Blog: A missed era – FunkJazz Kafé

Tags

1994, 1996, Blue Lines, Caron Wheeler, Cee Lo, Centennial Olympics, De La Soul, Dionne Farris, Erykah, FunkJazz Kafé, Goodie Mob, House Of Blues, Joi, Key Yemaya Walker, Omar, OutKast, Society Of Soul, The Tabernacle

Atlanta – as I thought to write this, I realize that there are not many things that I miss, or wish to experience again. I do understand that in experience I find growth, but as I stumbled across the trailer for a documentary about the FunkJazz Kafé that premiered during this years’ National Black Arts Festival, in Atlanta, I can sincerely say that that is a time and experience that I can say I miss, and would love to experience again. I can also state that it is an era, that cannot be recreated. (Video follows)

It was the late 90’s, music still had a fresh appeal to it, you still had your Tribes, De La, Outkast, Common Sense coming into his own, Goodie Mob, Joi, Erykah, Society of Soul. These ideas and concepts if love were just that, ideas. And, the city was fresh from the 1996 Centennial Olympics games. I was back “home,” from Connecticut, starting something new after two years in a trouble institution.

I was young with aspirations of writing a book, with the only inspiration was that it would essentially be a “love” story to Hip-Hop, and Hip-Hop would serve as its backdrop (my how that changed) , and settled into the magnificent scene, that locally was highlighted through a festival called FunkJazz Kafé. Though, there was a period that their reached briefly extended outside of Atlanta, this inclusive festival, not only highlighted local or transplanted acts, but also granted a forum for independent film, art, expression…all advertised under a singular collective umbrella.

What I Learned Sundays (Monday) LATE – 7/10/11 x “Best Of You”

Tags

Adidas Originals Lenox Square, Best Of You, Blue Lines, Foo Fighters, George Clinton, Goodie Mob, Joi, Joi Gilliam, Joss Stone, Key Yemaya Walker, Lenox Mall, Lucy Pearl, Myla Watson, Myla Wyndham, OutKast, Raphael Saadiq, Tower Records, What I Learned Sundays

“I hope you get everything you are looking for,” she said as we embraced and said “goodbye,” for the first and last time. Her embrace and heart was warm as I left my ride waiting so that I could walk her to the metro station. The Lower East Side, was so alive this night. Looking at this belleza, I hated that our night was ending prematurely…for many reasons, just not the right reasons.

Our eyes both full of melancholy, but for markedly different reasons. Earlier that evening we had met for the first time. Very cute, young, idealistic, still looking for something…someone. Us, no mutual connections, just very new friends…coupled with tertiary relationships.

So the night was very cool, dinner, laughs, karaoke (I sang different songs), and as it became quite apparent the direction that it was headed in, my friend and my “new” friends left to allow for a new friend today. Ending with “Californication,” we sat side by side (the most comfortable position for a woman, trust me I used to study this stuff), she mouthed the words of my song, as she had all night. Thus creating conflict in my heart.

For the sake of this story, it’s too easy for me to be “good,” especially when I know I should. Before my last HUGE decision, I knew that unless I was that man, I’d have to stand down…and though left sitting, karaoke-ing with this beautiful young woman, the realization came…

Earlier that night, the conversation progressed from photos of a young couple. The comment was made, “she has so much going for her, and he doesn’t.” Supported by, granted I was at dinner with 3 women, “when we’re young it’s all about romance, and we can change him, when we’re older, it’s about whether he’s on our level.”

So with that, we return to the “realization,” if you are looking for something, you barely know me, however you see something in me…I can’t spoil you, hurt you, or use you and tarnish your thoughts of men. I’d rather you wished it happen, but be smart enough to know that those few fleeting hours, that one hug are not enough to base a future on. So your melancholy eyes, saw this man walk away, likely for the first and last time, I walked away with melancholy eyes knowing, I wanted something temporary, something fleeting, but I would be wrong to do that with you.

“I hope you get everything you are looking for,” I in turn, truly hope that you get what you are looking for, without the hurt, the pain, and path that I took…I hope we meet Again, but we are lucky, we can still be friends. If I touched you, with nothing to offer, I would have left you in a place you didn’t deserve to be in…therefore I traded my immediate gratification, since my sordid heart lies elsewhere, for you romantic health…because your heart doesn’t lie HERE yet.

Now onto the original/edited composition of this week’s edition. The portion, influenced by Joi Gilliam.

I know that this is late. I had a ton of ideas for W.I.L.S. and it wasn’t until I read this post by one of my favorite artists, Joi Gilliam (her work, vocals on Outkast, Goodie Mob, Raphael Saadiq, Lucy Pearl, Joss Stone, George Clinton, etc.). She said:
Ladies like to be taken out on dates. I promise you, they do. Still. The real ones. The courting kind. 🙂 Dates are sweet. Thoughtful. Romantic. Healing. Sexy. And, they scream “I appreciate you so much that I took the time to plan a day we could enjoy together.” Take note, fellas. No matter the weather in your neck of the woods, take your lady on a date today. 🙂

To which I made my comment, and she replied.

@blue take ’em anyway. they REALLY need it. 😉

Why is this striking? Because YOU need to let me be him for you, or figure out why YOU won’t let me go, when I did so with YOU. So I thought what a great starting point for this week’s post, about the previous week. It also played into another thought that had been sitting in my mind this last week, but how did I tackle this idea…I slept on it. I guess I learned that when the body needs rest, it takes it.
Focusing back on the above post, I’ll admit, my thoughts last night better suited my writing this, however, as I sit in front of this screen right now, I feel that I play a public game, with something/one that I should be speaking directly to. And unfortunately as my life changes, so do opportunities, hopes and wishes of days, weeks, and months ago. So with that said…what I learned:

This Should Be In Your Playlist:Music I Like – Artist Joi Gilliam & HotHeavy&Bad Download Link

Tags

Aaliyah, Angie Stone, Atlanta, Big Gipp, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Bridgeport, Coko, Connecticut, Da 5 Foota, Dallas Austin, Dawn Robinson, Devon Lee, Dungeon Family, Earwax Records, En Vogue, Erykah Badu, F.Y.E., Freedom, Freedom (Theme From Panther), Freeworld Records, Georgia, Goodie Mob, HotHeavy&Bad, Jefferson Street Joe Gilliam, Jill Scott, Joi, Joi Gilliam, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia, Keypsiia Walker, Kriss Kross, Lisa Lopes, Lucy Pearl, Mario Van Peebles, Mary J. Blige, MC Lyte, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Monica, Music I Like, OutKast, Pal's Lounge, Panther, Pastor Troy, Patra, Pittsburgh Steelers, Queen Latifah, Raphael Sadiq, Rowdy Records, Salt-N-Pepa, Sam Goody's, Star Kitty’s Revenge, Sunshine & The Rain, SWV, Tennessee, Tennessee Slim Is The Bomb, The Amoeba Cleansing Syndrome, The Pendulum Vibe, This Should Be In Your Playlist, TLC, Trumball, xXx, Yin Yang Cafe, Yo Yo

It took quite some time to gather the right thoughts to make this post. Joi Gilliam, Joi…Joi is virtually the best artist that for some reason the masses has not heard of. Now what do I mean by that? You’ve heard her music often, but you may have not known it. Not to compare her, or to say that she created a music movement, but before you (music listening public) had Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, etc., there was Joi.
In 1994, before I left Atlanta and Georgia I first heard the Tennessee born daughter of Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback “Jefferson Street” Joe Gilliam, Joi’s, classic, “Sunshine& The Rain,” on community radio in Atlanta (“urban” radio stations here would not play Hip-Hop, nor anything thing that was not a national R&B standard, therefore Atlanta natives Outkast, and non-MTV songs by TLC, or Kriss Kross (given for effect) would not make it to local radio). As I often discovered with independent radio, I would find a new song, but it was highly unlikely I would find out who the artists was. Armed with this tape recorded song, I pumped this unknown artist all the way from Atlanta to New York and Connecticut.

Luckily, Joi’s work was released and I remember walking into the Sam Goody’s F.Y.E. concept store in Trumbull mall and seeing the new release wall, and Joi had her entire placement of her debut, The Pendulum Vibe, there. Not knowing that this was the artist I had been bumping, I was always inclined to try out new music, even without having heard it (I returned home after my 2 years in Bridgeport with over 1K CD’s of music, all catalogued in a notebook). Well I picked the CD up, and saw the title “Sunshine & The Rain,” I felt like I had won the lottery, first I had a full length album of an incredible artist that I only had previously had a partial taped song, and a real artist was given the opportunity to put her work out. I walked around that store, until our group left clutching the $18.99 compact disc until it was time to check out. I dropped the disc into my Sony Discman on the way back to campus, and had my first true magical experience with her music. My life was changed. I own, 3 copies of the album, and have purchased copies for friends before it went out of print.

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Esthero & Goodie Mob – “The World I Know [Country Livin’ Version]”

Tags

Big Gipp, Blue Lines, Breath From Another, Cee Lo, Cee-Lo Green, Esthero, Goodie Mob, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Key Yemaya Walker, Slam, T-Mo

Remix from the 1998 film Slam. The original was used in the movie, the remix appeared on the soundtrack. I think that hearing the the small portion of the song in the movie led to me purchasing one of the best albums ever made Esthero’s “Breath From Another.”

[Esthero]
The world I know.. is a world too slow
Don’t move fast enough.. keep your head low
The world I know.. is a world much too slow!
Can’t move fast enough chi-ild
You better stay on the low child!

[T-Mo]
Uhh, my eyes are a glare
Uhh, I’m lookin up at this world from a stare
and really don’t know which way I’ma turn
I could get burned upon contact
I’m makin a bad decision, to get my pockets fattened one day
Support the very thang, that supported me, my family
Gave me love, yes we struggle, and some do hustle
And forced to fly knuckle, for a better future in this game
Do yours thang, get yours cheese, and work to be free

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Goodie Mob feat Outkast – “Sole Sunday”

Tags

Al Pacino, Any Given Sunday, Bigg Gipp, Blue Lines, Football Signing Day, Goodie Mob, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Key Yemaya Walker, OutKast, Soul Sunday

I thought this was appropriate for Football National Signing Day.

[Al Pacino]
I’ll fight for you ’til the day I die

[Gipp]
Yeah.. yeah.. yo
Gipp keep it slow poke, hang out the side with no rope
Sit in the tub, flick the remote and soak
Pull up, jump out, and then I strut for em
And if anybody got problems, I’ma cut for em
In this atmosphere now you can disappear smoke thick
Shells bail like tailbacks lookin for hoes
Drag my ass down the air like I care
Scar that ass, leave your shirt open like an arab
Makin money off these breakdown slabs
We got this zone, get your own
Better move on before your folk get split, you won’t forget
The DF put it down, now get down, or sit down

[OutKast]
Sunday mornin, makes me feel
so Godly, pardon me, if I shake your soul..

2010 Music Wrapup iTunes Shuffle

Tags

& Bethany Cosentino, 50 Cent, 9th Wonder, Agnes, Alicia Keys, Alkaline Trio, Allie Moss, Aloe Blacc, AM, American Bang, Amerie, Ana Tijoux, And Inspectah Deck, And Rae, And Raekwon, Andre 3000, Andy Allo, Annie Lennox, Arcade Fire, Archie Bronson Outfit, Audrey Assad, Avenida 6, Avi Buffalo, B.o.B, Band Of Horses, Banda de Turistas, Basia Bulat, Battles, Beach House, Beastie Boys, Beck and Bat For Lashes, Beckah Shae, Bee Gees, Belle & Sebastian feat. Norah Jones, Best Coast, Big Boi, Bilal, Billy Lamont, Black Eyed Peas, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Blackstar, Blakroc, Blu, Bob & Gene, Bobby Vidales, Bombay Bicycle Club, Brad, Brendan James, Bring Me the Horizon, Broken Bells, Broken Social Scene, Busta Rhymes, Cam'ron & Vado, Capone-N-Noreaga, Caribou, Ceci Bastida, Cee Lo, Cee-Lo Green, ceo, Charlie Hunter feat. Norah Jones, Chasen, Cherryholmes, Child Rebel Soldier, Chino & Nacho, ChocQuibTown, Chris Brown, Christopher von Uckermann, Ciara, Citizen Cope, Clipse, Clorofila, Common, Consequence, Corinne Bailey Rae, Cory Morrow, Court Yard Hounds, Currensy, Cypress Hill, Daft Punk, Daniel Hope, Dapuntobeat, Dave Barnes, David Banner, David Banner and 9th Wonder, Dead Prez, Delta Spirit, Destinee & Paris, Diddy, Diddy-Dirty Money, Dierks Bentley, Diggy, Dirty Dozen Brass Band feat. Norah Jones, Dirty Little Rabbits, Dirty Money, DJ Center, DJ Kay Slay, DJ Mathematics Presents Meth Ghost Rae, DJ Muggs VS Ill Bill, Don Covay, Dondria, Dr Dre Ft Eminem, Dr. Dre, Dr. Dre Ft Snoop Dogg & Akon, Drag-On, Drake, Duffy, Duran Duran, Eastern Conference Champions, Eddie Vedder, El Madmo, Elton John & Leon Russell, Emika, Eminem, Eminem & Royce Da 5'9, Erykah Badu, Estelle, Fabolous, Fanfarlo, Far East Movement, Fefe Dobson, Feist, Field Music, First Aid Kit, Florence and The Machine, Foo Fighters feat. Norah Jones, Four Tet, Fran Healy, Frank Howard & The Commanders, Frazey Ford, Freeway, Frightened Rabbit, GBH, Gerardo Ortíz, Ghost, Ghostface, Ghostface Killah, GLC, Goapele, Goldfrapp, Good Old War, Goodie Mob, Gorillaz, Greg Laswell, Gurrumul, GZA, Herbie Hancock feat. Norah Jones, Hey Monday, Holly Miranda, Hot Chip, House of Heroes, Howard Shore, Inspectah Deck, Iration, Iskander, Iyaz, J King y Maximan, J. Holiday, Jack Johnson, Jadakiss, Jakob Dylan, Janelle Monae, Jay Electronica, Jay-Z, Jazmine Sullivan, Jónsi, Jeremih, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Norman, Jonathan Cohen, Jorge Drexler, Josh Groban, Josh Ritter, Josh Rouse, Joss Stone, Jukebox the Ghost, Julieta Venegas, Junip, JYJ, Kanye West, Kanye West & Jay-Z, Karina Pasian, Keith Murray, Kelis, Keri Hilson, KiD CuDi, Kidz In The Hall, King Curtis, Kings of Leon, Kristian Bezuidenhout, KRS-One & True Master, La Roux, Lady GaGa, Laura Veirs, Lee Fields, Leela James, Lil Wayne, Linkin Park, Little Brother, Little Richard, Local Natives, Lorenza Borrani, Los Claxons, Los Lobos, Love Star, Ludacris, Lupe Fiasco, Luz Rios, Lylit, M.I.A., Macy Gray, Major Lazer, Major Lazer & La Roux, Maldita Vecindad, Mariah Carey, Massive Attack, Masta Killa, Mavis Staples, Maximum Balloon, Mêlée, Medina Green, Menahan Street Band, Meth, Method Man, Metric, Michael Jackson, Michoacan, Miguel, Millionyoung, MiMi, Minus the Bear, Monica, Mos Def, Mr. Hudson, Murs & 9th Wonder, Muse, N.E.R.D., N.O.R.E., Naomi Davis & Sugarman Three, Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens, Nas, Neon Trees, New Politics, Nicki Minaj, Nneka, Norah Jones & Sasha Dobson, Norah Jones feat. Dolly Parton, Norah Jones feat. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Norah Jones feat. M. Ward, Omarion, Our Last Night, OutKast feat. Norah Jones, Ozomatli, Panoptica Orchestra, Papoose, Patty Griffin, Paty Cantu, Peter Silberman of the Antlers, Pharrell, Philip Selway, Pink Martini, Plain White T's, Plants and Animals, Polock, Public Enemy, Q-Tip, Q-Tip feat. Norah Jones, Raekwon, Ray Charles feat. Norah Jones, Ray Sharpe, Red Cafe, Redman, Reflection Eternal, Rich Hil Ft Kid Cudi, Richard Galliano, Rick Ross, Rihanna, Robert Plant, Robin Thicke, Rogue Wave, Rosa Lee Brooks, Rostam Batmanglij, Ryan Adams feat. Norah Jones, RZA, Sade, Sarah McLachlan, Scissor Sisters, Seabear, Sean Bones feat. Norah Jones, Sean Price, Semi Precious Weapons, Senator & The New Republic, Shanell, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Shout Out Louds, Sia, Skillz, Sky Sailing, Slash, Sleigh Bells, Snoop Dogg, Stacy Clark, Stefan Maass, Stefan Rath & Hans-Kristian Kjos Sorensen, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester & Karl Münchinger, Sugarman Three, Superlitio, Surfer Blood, Swedish House Mafia, T.I., Talent Couture, Talib Kweli, Talib Kweli feat. Norah Jones, The Bamboos, The Band Perry, The Bird And The Bee, The Black Keys, The Bravery, The Budos Band, The Chieftains, The Constellations, The Cool Kids, The Daktaris, The Dead Weather, The Foreign Exchange, The Gracious Few, The Head and the Heart, The High Wire, The Icemen, The Isley Brothers, The Jones Sisters, The Little Willies, The Mighty Imperials, The Minions, The National, The Poets of Rhythm, The Rescues, The Roots, The Secret Sisters, The Soft Pack, The Sylvers, The Virginmarys, The Watson Twins, Theophilus London, Timbaland, Toro Y Moi, Travis Porter, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Troy Olsen, Two Door Cinema Club, UNKLE, Usher, V.V. Brown, Vampire Weekend, Various Artists, Villagers, Vivian Green, Waka Flocka Flame, Wale, Willie Nelson feat. Norah Jones, Wintersleep, Wu Tang Vs The Beatles, Wye Oak, Yeasayer, Yelawolf, Yoav, Zac Brown Band, Zo!

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Goodie Mob – “Beautiful Skin”

Tags

1998, Antonio M. Reid, Arista, Atlanta, Atlanta Metropolitan College, Babyface, Beautiful Skin, Beauty, Big Gipp, Black Woman, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, BMG Records, California, Cameron Gipp, Cee Lo, Cee-Lo Green, college, Conversation, Courting, Craig Love, David Whild, Dirty South, DJ Muggs, Dungeon Family, Enhanced CD, Georgia, Goodie Mob, Hip-Hop Quotable, Joi, Joi Gilliam, Kenneth B. Edmonds, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia, Keypsiia Walker, Keypsiia Yemaya Walker, Khujo, LaFace, LaFace Records, Mr. DJ, music, MW, Myla, Myla Watson, Organized Noize, Organized Noize Productions Inc, Respect, Rico Wade, Robert Barnett, Sacramento, South West Atlanta, Still Standing, SWATS, T-Mo, Thomas Burton, Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, UNC Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Willie Knighton, Willie Knighton Jr., women

[Cee-Lo]
Mmmm.. this particular song right here is..
dedicated to the black woman
And it doesn’t pertain to all black women
because some of y’all disrespect y’allself
because you don’t know who you are in the first place
This is out of common respect, for all women period
Word up, like this song, yo

Yo, I’m quite single, and occasionally I mingle
But aside from all the rest, she sparks my interest
No, ma’am, I don’t know you
Just offering the common respect I feel I owe you
Also, some conversation, companionship, common-ground and common-sense
There’s no such thing as coincidence in, me finding you here
And I really hate screaming in your ear, so some other time, OK?
I waited a day *phone rings* Hello?

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Outkast – Aquemeni

Tags

1998, A Tribe Called Quest, André "André 3000" Benjamin, Andre 3000, Andre Benjamin, Andre Patton, Antonio M. Reid, Aquarius, Aquemini, Around Lenox, Atlanta, Babyface, Big Boi, Black Star, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Brand Nubian, Busta Rhymes, David "Mr. DJ" Sheats, Donny Mathis, Drug Addiction, Dungeon Family, emancipation, Gemini, George Clinton, Goodie Mob, Gwen Stefani, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Quotable, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Janelle Monae, Jay-Z, Key Yemaya Walker, Killer Mike, Mos Def, Mr. DJ, music, neo soul, Organized Noize, OutKast, Raekwon, Sleepy Brown, Talib Kweli, The Foundation, The Love Movement, TLC, Tower Records, Vol 2: Hard Knock Life

Aquemini…I remember the night we went to Tower Records at Around Lenox for the midnight sale. Called by some, Hip-Hop’s greatest release date Jay-Z’s Vol 2: Hard Knock Life, A Tribe Called Quests The Love Movement, Brand Nubian’s The Foundation, and Mos Def & Talib Kweli’ Black Star were also released that night.

I miss Tower Records.

[Hook]
Even the sun goes down heroes eventually die.
Horoscopes often lie and sometimes “y”
nothin’ is for sure nothin’ is for certain nothin’ lasts forever
But until they close the curtain
it’s him & I Aquemini

[Big Boi]
Now is the time to get on like Spike Lee said
get on the bus go get your work
and keep your beeper chirpin’ is a must
Is you on that dust or cornstarch
familiar with that smack man
The music is like that green stuff

Hot Music Saturdays – Cee-Lo…

Tags

Cee Lo, Cee-Lo Green, Fuck You, Gnarls Barkley, Goodie Mob, New Music

New Cee-Lo – “$%@# %^$”
Yeah, you just have to listen to hear, know the song…it’s pretty hot, but not for sensitive ears.

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.