Sep
30

The B-Sides: Pacific Division Interview

In conjunction with my article in the last issue of LA Weekly, here’s the full text of my interview with Pacific Division. Over the next few days, check for Q&A’s from Bishop Lamont, Knux and Blu.   Q: First off, I suppose the most obvious question is about your back-story. So at the risk of being… Continue reading »

Sep
30

Otis Redding-”A Change Is Gonna Come”

It’s been an Otis Redding kind of night. This cover of the Sam Cooke classic is just breathtaking. Buy Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul Download: MP3: Otis Redding-”A Change is Gonna’ Come”

Sep
25

LA Weekly: Has the LA Hip-Hop Plague Finally Passed

No time to delve into the logistics. I’m pressed for time, already tardy for a train tunneling into the West Village.  In brief, I have a fairly massive article in today’s LA Weekly–the longest one I’ve ever written. 3,000 words, 47 commas, four hyphens and one mention of Domino’s “Getto Jam.” The piece focuses on… Continue reading »

Sep
19

LA Weekly: Like Fresh Cream-Al Green Teams With The Roots and Hip-Hop’s Greatest Al Green Samples

In advance of his show Saturday night at the Greek Theater, I interviewed Al Green for LA Weekly. Needless to say, I’ve experienced few things more surreal than talking to Al Green on the phone and hearing him spontaneously break into song. It was rather awesome. In addition, I wrote a shorter Wu-centric piece on… Continue reading »

Sep
17

The iPol Shuffle: What Should Be On Obama’s iPod From Now Until Election Day

Raekwon & Ghostface-”Shark Niggas (Biters)” Dear Senator Obama, In the words of the Gods, “[McCain] wants to use all your lines ahead of time before you got the chance to shine on all your own shit…they hear you tryin’ to say one word then here they come tryin’ to flip it on bounce on some… Continue reading »

Sep
17

90′s Nostalgia Week Becomes 90′s Nostalgia Month: Funkdoobiest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF0MoFX93G0 Sure, I could trace all this maudlin 90s nostalgia to my forthcoming LA Weekly article that addresses the history and future of Los Angeles hip-hop, but that’s just making excuses. The truth is this year’s been woefully short of really good new rap records and accordingly, I’ve spent a significant chunk of time revisiting… Continue reading »

Sep
16

Royce Da’ 5’9″-The Bar Exam 2

Boom. Via Eskay  ZIP: Royce Da’ 5’9″-The Bar Exam 2 (left-click)

Sep
16

Brightblack Morning Light-Motion To Rejoin

The less I know about Brightblack Morning Light the better. I once read an Arthur Magazine profile that painted them as the 21st Century equivalent of those zonked out, commune hippies in Easy Rider, who planted crops in the middle of a desert and entertained themselves with acid and horrific mime programming. After all, Brightblack… Continue reading »

Sep
15

Nate Dogg Suffers a Second Stroke

This is not good at all. Here’s hoping to a swift recovery, but any way you parse it, two strokes by the age of 40 usually means you aren’t long for this world. I’ve never really articulated how great I think Nate Dogg is, but for my money’s worth (all $6.54), he’s my favorite R&B… Continue reading »

Sep
15

Solillaquists of Sound, J-Live and Chali 2Na Release a Tribute Song to J Dilla, Inspired By My LA Weekly Article/Follow-Up Interview With Dilla’s Mom, Ms. Maureen Yancey

Still a little stunned by this one. I suppose we can chalk this up as some minor triumph to the power of the media, at a time when the Fourth Estate isn’t exactly going through its finest moment. I’m not in the habit of running press releases in full, but I’ll make the exception after… Continue reading »

Older posts «