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Think about it.

Every year I work at a conference called The Student Diversity Leadership Conference.  One of the homegirls on the staff, Priyanka, co-produced this here documentary.
Lots of up and coming talent on here and an appearance by The Cool Kids.
Watch , enjoy, share, discuss, and think.

Director's Cut from Midori McSwain on Vimeo.

A Lesson in "Gangsta"

Did a lot of running arund so I'm playing catch up.

Yesterday, was the birthday of legend Ice Cube. 

People can say what they want about "old" vs "new" Ice Cube.  Bottom line though, he laid the foundation for a great many of the cats in  Hip Hop.

I guess this is some kind of Dutch documentary on him from around 1991.  You can agree or disagree with his views...but at the end of the day, respect is in order.  Some live footage of him alongside Yo-Yo too!

And finally, no other than the late, great Tupac Shakur, who was born today!

Here he is sitting with Bill Bellamy gettin his interview on.  Also, Dr. Dre steps in, and they talk about the music they created.

Special shout outs to Geronimo and Femi Kuti.  Holla!

What a day it is!

Man it sure is a nice day outside...This calls for some feel good tracks for the Gemini babies today!

Happy birthday to:

Dean Martin!  One part of the Rat Pack.  Legendary entertainer.  Here he is singing with fellow Gemini, Gladys Knight, along with the Pips of course. 

Next...L.A. Reid!  This is man is a straight up LEGEND in the game of music.  He's put some of the most legendary people in the game such as:  Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher, Ciara, Outkast, Dido, Avril Lavigne, Pink, Kanye West, Young Jeezy, Rihanna, Ne-Yo, The Killers, and Fall Out Boy!
But before he was running a label and masterminding the industry, he was a member of a little group with Babyface Edmonds called The Deele.  Here is one of their Jams, Two Occassions.  If I'm correct, Reid is tthe guy singing in the 2nd verse, with a perm that is from out of this world! lol.
By the way, when people say "That's my jam!", THIS is a prime example of what they might mean.

Next, LEGENDARY poetess, Nikki Giovanni.  I mean...I don't even know what to say about this woman.  She's just off the chain.
Here's one of her most famous pieces, Ego Trippin.  This version is from the Blackalicious album, Nia.

And finally.  PRINCE.  Nuff said. 
Just read his bio.  He's written so many songs for people, put so many people in the game, it's not even funny, and plays so many instruments that he really doesn't need a band when making an album!
Unfortunately, the Purple One himself has restricted just about any and all of his songs and videos from being streamed on youtube.  Kinda upsetting for fans, but hey...he's makin sure to keep his money right, so I can't be mad at him for that.
SO, I decided to put these two vids up.  A little interview with The Twinz, 2 back up singers of his (who supposedly he dated AT THE SAME TIME!).  This is kinda funny to me, cause the lady doin the interview wants Prince so bad it's not even funny.
And finally some scenes from his film Under The Cherry Moon cut to a Chris  Issac track, Wicked Games.
Watch as Prince gets his sensual seduction on. 
Ladies...hold on to your drawls.

Better late than never!

This is a mad late post in the day cause I had so much isht to do.
As soon as possible, PLEASE go see Darfur Now.  VERY powerful movie.  Extremely important to know what's goin on in other parts of the world.  If one person isn't free, then we all aren't free.

On to the bidness at hand...

Happy birthday to Gladys Knight!
I mean really...she's a legend.  What else is there to say?!
Peep the bio.  I only posted the first 2 segments, you'll have to find the rest on youtube.

Happy Birthday to
Prince Buster!  Ska music legend from Jamaica!
This is a pretty funny song.  Peep it!

And extra special love sent to Betty Shabazz. 

Holla!

Special interruption- RIP Jimmy McGriff

I just learned a few minutes ago that the great jazz organ player Jimmy McGriff died this past Saturday.
He has a great discography, and has been sampled by many people, especially during the early 90s.  Some of the folks who have sampled him include: A Tribe Called Quest, Chemical Brothers, Ice Cube, Cypress Hill, Black Sheep, Del The Funkee Homosapien, and Ugly Duckling.
Here is is Jimmy himself droppin some game on how to win over an audience...

The second vid is one of his tracks, The Bird Wave from his album "Electric Funk".  All you crate diggers, and music makers may wanna get your hands on this stuff!...

RIP to a legend.

The Birthday of Legends

Yes yes y'all.  As we continue on the Gemini tip, let's give it up to two extremely influential stars in the music universe:

First up, Bob Dylan.
This man is easily one of the  most influential  icons of music and songwriting.  His songs weren't just songs, they were poetry.  He defined an entire generation.  Be sure to peep his discography and get you some Bob ASAP! 
Keeping with the Gemini trait, this man was also extremely elusive.  When asked how he comes with these songs, he'll never really give you an answer aside from "Just from things I read in the newspaper." or "I don't know how it happens, they just come to me."
Maybe he starts his process something like this:

Anyhow, here is his 60 Minutes interview in two parts.  For those who speak Italian, you should have some fun :-)

AND! Happy Birthday to the INCOMPARABLE Patti LaBelle. Singer...Actress...Diva. Three vids.  ALL live performances.  Anyone that can sing live and sound like they are in the studio, you gotta respect that.

First track: "Lady Marmalade".  She's the original.  Don't get it twisted.  This is around sometime in the 70s.  She was prolly in her 30's then.

Second one up: "Isn't It a Shame" from her 1985 tour.  She was about 41. Pay close to around 3:53, as she re-defines "droppin it like it's hot"

And last, 2004 performance of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". At 60 years old, still rippin it. I'm not mad at those legs either.

Latin Lingo

Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Let's honor some of that Latin lingo that has also influenced much of popular culture...

Kid Frost, La Raza.  I love this song and the original sample, Viva Tirado, written by Gerald Wilson, performed by El Chicano.

Another old school jam that brings back memories, On a Sunday Afternoon by A Lighter Shade of Brown.

Look Daggers, a collab effert with underground Hip-Hop legend 2Mex of the Visionaries and Mars Volta.

One of the illest guitarists, Carlos Santana, droppin wisdom on you.

Jimi Speaks

Here is a great interview with the original members of The Jimi Hendrix Experience.  They speak on how they first formed the group, the state of music at the time, and their artistry.
Listen to this knowledge being dropped! 
It is interesting to see even in the 60's and 70's just how much commercial music was still problematic to the ears of many people.  They still had biters even then too!
When speaking on commercial,contrived music, Jimi says "Pretty soon the public won't buy those things, they'll laugh at them." 
I don't think we're there yet.
Interview followed by a lil performance.

Oh and the sound cuts out for a few seconds in the interview, but it comes right back.

BTW...no it's NOT easy to solo on a guitar with your teeth or play behind your back without looking.

UPDATE: You may have heard the interviewer mention a group called The 1910 Fruit Gum Company.

These guys are the commercial version of Rock at the time.  Notice how the dude keeps it real, in that it's all about the promotion from the record company!

What's a "dope-ass beat"?

Kanye on 60 Minutes showing em how it's done.
Sorry for that damn thing that keeps poppin up on the video.  But I had to post this, lol.

2pac- In his own words

Say what you will about the man.  We can debate all day on who was better lyrically, etc etc.  But you can't deny this man's legacy, his intelligence, and his unadulterated presence.  To this day, Tupac Amaru Shakur remains as one of the most influential artists ever.

Peep the following video.  A Texas state trooper was killed by someone who supposedly listened to his music. 

They are trying to prove that his music incites violence. 

Notice Pac's mentioning of Dan Quayle as one of the people who opposes him as an artist.  Apparently, in reference to Pac's 1st album 2pacalypse Now,  Mr. Quayle stated:

"There is absolutely no reason for a record like this to be published... It has no place in our society."

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Watch how Pac explains how he got into Hip Hop, and peep how he remained defiant even while in jail.  He makes the other lawyers look like dummies!

Now THAT's gangsta.

For more insight on Hip Hop and socio-political controversy, check THIS out.