Get To Know: Lenny Kravitz

My favorite Lenny Kravitz album is 5. If you don't have 5 buy it simply because of the song Mama. I can't hear that song without crying. Yeah, I'm man enough to say that. While Lenny has always pushed the boundaries and I can consider him one of the best entertainers of my generation, this album goes back to his funk roots and the way this sounds, I think I'll have to play this and the Black Keys at the same time when I run. Okay, you already know Mr. Kravitz, but it's been a while. His upcoming album Black and White America, will release soon and if this video is any indication of what he's dropping, I'm copping. Thanks to okayplayer.com for keeping the updates rolling on all of these various projects.

Get To Know: Singa Bromfield

I recently went on one of my weekly excursions to buy a bunch of kicks to resell and standing in front of the store was a man with a guitar in classic NYC street musician style. His foot was against the wall, his guitar was held across his stomach and his fingers strummed the strings with agile movements, but it was his voice. His voice was a calming force of melodic, soulful gravity. I typically fail to find the sincerity in today's singers. Most people sound so polished and packaged that they fail to really resonate with me. In my mind I still live in a time where music was more important than the video and the sound connected you to a memory. Now musc simply ties you to a dance move and the memories are worth keeping. This man leaning against the wall played. It didn't matter if people thought he was homeless or hustling or keeping his guitar case open to just take the dough that people tossed in the box. He just played and I thought to myself, incredible.

Get to Know: Fashawn

Hip-Hop has had a black eye for so long that often emcees who drop an LP get love although they are actually pretty mediocre. Now I'm not saying that guys like Wiz, Currensy or Wale aren't dropping new age gems, but they are not quite there yet in terms of dropping classics. An album that dropped in 09, may be the best Hip-Hop album that has been made in recent years.  This is a big claim, but definitely needed.

Fashawn's name is highly regarded in circles that respect the art of the emcee, but is often overlooked when discussions of the best new emcees are dropped. I understand that longevity is the key but when Drake is hailed as the second coming, I guess it is in regard to mainstream. Fashawn at an early age has learned to weave narratives, and lines into a quilted pattern of blankets that cover the tracks like black ice on streets in the winter. The flow is a fulid slippery slope of metaphors that pull the listener into their own adolescent struggles and makes you remember your first fight, girl, failure and success. Boy Meets World is a modern classic and earns the right to be compared to Nas' Illmatic. I just hope people will actually begin mentioning this emcee more often. The Ecology will drop in 2011 and I'll be watching for it; you should do the same.

Video for Night Catches Us

Re-Getting to Know: Lauryn Hill, I have my fingers crossed

In the land of music where each day has a new release that is either strictly for the kids or just another very poorly done R&B song that is played continuously until the people know it and sing it because they have heard it so much, this is just what was needed.

Today I don't have a lot to say on this post because this track is from Lauryn Hill. I think Talib Kweli said it all when he begged Mrs. Hill to come back. This track was released this year, the time frame is not clear but in a world of manufactured soul, Mrs. Hill's voice still has the genuine sound and feel that lifts. Enough of me, click the play button and enjoy.

Get To Know... Blitz The Ambassador

Every now and then there a no words needed when telling you about a music artist. While hitting up okayplayer I ran across this video and in a way the artistic value of this music and video can't be rated. So with no further discussion take a few minutes and listen to this. It's refreshing to have an emcee utilize his voice in this manner. The hook almost reminds me of Talib's 'Just to get by'. Dope track, very dope video.

Something to Believe • Blitz the Ambassador from MVMT on Vimeo.

Austin City Limits: Gnarls Barkley

I honestly don't know when this was shot (2008 it's on the vid duh), but I am really loving what ACL is now doing with the show. If you have not taken the time to support PBS please do so. In the meantime, check out this video of Gnarls Barkley(Theivery Corp. is up next and is definitely worth the time because of the collabos but this is all about Cee-Lo especially since his 3rd solo effort is about to drop). Cee-Lo is one of the most important artists we have right now. I don't think there is a single person alive who sings with as much conviction. Danger Mouse, while reclusiveness is not a precursor to talent he sure does play the role of the shy talent to a tee. His structure on that first Gnarls album is classic and timeless. Is that the same thing? Anyway, enough of me talking check out the video.

Watch the full episode. See more Austin City Limits.

Get To Know, The Roots

On June 22nd The illadelph crew that delivered classics like "What They Do" and "You Got Me" return with an album that continues to push the boundaries sonically and lyrically. Black Thought is the most underrated emcee ever. His skill with Questlove's construction and the infamous Roots band has never, in my opinion, failed to deliver a classic. While many Hip-Hop heads make ridiculous statements like, The Roots are mainstream, the band just continued to produce at a consistently high level. As a Hip-Hop fan, it's nice to be able to grow with my music. I would look like a fool trying to listen to many of today's emcees. I'm not saying they are bad, they just fail to talk about anything worthy of discussion. If my music is going to be empty, I want the lyrics to at least entertain me.

The Roots new album is titled "How I Got Over". Any person who has been a long time listener realizes that the title has been used in previous Roots songs and is also an allusion to Mahalia Jackson.

The album is typical in its varied sound and from all of the songs I've heard it is as close to a live Roots performance than any other album except Organix. I still have Organix by the way. The latest drop from the album is The Fire featuring John Legend, which was used in the Winter Olympics. Instead of continuing to write, click play on the videos to listen. I'd like to request that if you have never bought a Roots album, this could be a great intro to the group. Visit http://www.okayplayer.com/ to keep up with the Roots and great music in general. "Before my time start to wind down like a Mayan." Classic Hip-Hop

Get To Know, k-os

YES is the fourth album from Candadian emcee K-Os. I discovered him a while back I think it was in the early part of this decade. The name of the song was crabbucket and I thought it exemplified the mentality of many of my people. There were other songs that slip my mind right now that I thought made k-os a more talented Wyclef. I even tied him to the Fugees in my mind. His ability to carry a note and drop verses made him an emcee to watch on my list. But like all things that do not have a mainstream following I forgot to tell people about him. I guess I should say tell Americans about him since he has a pretty good following every where else. I'm not forgetting this time to tell you guys to support real Hip-Hop/music. I promise you will enjoy this. Peep out the first track Zambony by clicking the link below. You can also listen to the whole Yes album here.

Invest 8 minutes for inspiration

If you haven't seen this one, invest seven minutes into this and then make sure you add Dwele's youtube page by clicking here

Get To Know: Dwele - What’s Not To Love

I tend to keep Dwele in the CD Rotation. After being introduced to Dwele when Dilla was pushing the Slum Village project in the early 2000's, I found myself waiting and waiting on anything he was dropping. There are certain artists you have to be confident in yourself with to let wifey or your lady listen too without getting jealous that they are feeling the singer too much. Dwele is one of the most underrated singers of our generation. His new CD drops soon so I want to be one of the first to say that if you haven't bought a Dwele CD treat yourself to one and as a matter of fact buy more than one. We have to support artists who are compelling, talented and maintain a high quality while dealing with the status quo.
Dwele - What’s Not To Love

Get To Know, 4Hero

4Hero is a group from across the pond. I just got onto the group through my Pandora playlist under a Janelle Monae profile. The latest effort is considered Nu Jazz, not Neo Soul which is refreshing because there seems to be a trend towards really bad music that is being accepted simply because it is different. 4hero actually is a lot more involved than a title can say. They have been around for over twenty years, but their initial club and deejay roots made them lesser known entities in the States. (I'm actually surprised I've slept on them considering their roots are in Hip-Hop culture particularly breakbeats) With this recent delve into NuJazz, featuring artists over various tracks, they should gain the opportunity to pick up a broader fan base. The track below is from the album Extensions. I guess it could be considered a BlakRoc type project with multiple artists. As far as picking up a new fan base, with their longevity in the game do they need a broader fan base? Visit the site here and check out the music by clicking the link below.

Get To Know, Big Boi

"Bring em back to Life, Back to reality." Big Boi one half of the legendary OutKast duo is back with a song titled Shutterbug. While he also just released a track with Janelle Monae, who collaborated with OutKast on the Idlewild Soundtrack, this track is all Big Boi. Bumpin isn't the word I should use for this track. Take a listen and tell me what you think.

You Should Already Know...

Mos Def. If you don't know Mos then educate yourself! I had to post this performance from Austin City Limits. If you didn't catch the show when it came on, it's been a while now, then take a few to peep out Umi Says from the Black on Both Sides LP. For those of you who don't follow music, Austin City Limits has been coming on PBS for years and Mos is basically the first Hip-Hop artist to grace the stage. While this moment went basically unnoticed and was not promoted on the mainstream sites, this was very important. This is classic hip-hop.

Get To Know, Trombone Shorty

As you begin to follow the site, you will notice that the music suggestions will be random but engaging. To follow suit on the last two music posts this one is getting to know Trombone Shorty. The N'Awlins native is laying down "Something Beautiful" The video link does not feature Lenny Kravitz but the song on the album does. Check out the video below and visit the site http://www.supafunkrock.com/ Support great music and art.

If You Have The Time

If you have a few minutes, I have to put you up on the latest track by M.I.A. You probably recall M.I.A.'s music from the hit "Paper Planes" featured on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. This track follows suit. She may be one of the most politically charged emcee's in the game right now. Peep this video... If you have the time to give to it.

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

Get to know, Theophilus London

With a name that seems like an allusion to Thelonius Monk and a shoutout to the UK Theophilus London should become hot much in the way that Kid Cudi, burst on the scene. I would say that while the styles are somewhat similar London has a better flow and a better production overall. Peep out the song Understood.