"A LIL' DOSE OF THE 'HYPNOTIC'!!"

I'm riding home in probably the slowest train in NYC. There's a lady with smelly hair to my left playing solitaire on her iPOD, and I'm trying so SO hard to distract myself from the numerous local stops this 'express' train has decided to take. WHY DIDNT I JUST TAKE A CAB?!! *yawn*

Then my 'random' set playlist delivers a cut that throws me back 11 months. 

*Insert soap opera-like bad 'dream sequence' here*

I had just come off the 'R' train, making my way to the red line heading home... my iPOD on AS USUAL on full blast. I see a crowd gathering at some spectacle. I'm tired, hungry, but it catches my attention, and as i curiously pull the plugs from my ears, I am hit with  the punching chords of a tuba.

Like a moth to a flame, I am drawn towards the sounds as well. I have absolutely no say in the matter. Finally able to wiggle my way through a sea of stretched necks, I stand there and watch 9 young men in their mid-to-late twenties, wearing nothing but 'wife-beaters', jeans and a whole lot of attitude, play what became later one of my favorite songs, 'WAR'!! Very soon the last chords play out, wind instruments drop off the lips, a thunderous applause explodes and there is a 'hustler' style call for CD sales.  I stand fixated... in awe . . . These guys were UNBELIEVABLE.

Of course I bought the CD, and this encounter led to a little friendship with the Tuba player in the group. He once hooked me up with free tickets to a 'sold out' show they had at 'Joe's Pub', and I at some point gave him an ASA CD which he said he LOVED!!!

There is something uplifting about the 'Hypnotic' horns like a spiritual upliftment. They have found a way to infuse the best part of jazz with a growing 'Hip-Hop' movement.

With 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, a tuba and a drummer the brass ensemble usually play without added amplifiers, but their sounds bellow across any crowded street, underground subway or stage.

Profiled by various print media (including the NY Times) as the group to 'watch out for' and having performed and recorded with many high profile artistes including Mos Def, Tony Allen Maxwell, Erykah Badu, the Chicago natives are the center of attraction at many concerts and jazz festivals across the globe... NO JOKE!!

9 brothers (8 by blood and one adopted by love), originally from Chicago are sons of the legendary 'Sun Ra' Arkestra trumpet player, Phil Cohran, so music is in their blood. It used to happen, that you came out the subway or crossed a busy street in NYC and the odds of catching a 'Hypnotic' jam session was pretty high... but as their books keep filling up (they are over-booked, especially for Europe) and hardly ever in the country these days, I have not seen them around for almost 4 months. Plus I kind of lost contact with Tycho the Tuba player.

However, the other day, I making home from an exhausting shoot, come off the 'S' train in Time Square station and I hear faint sounds of a rhythm so familiar. "I know that sound... Could it be them?" 

I kid you not, I followed the sound around like a mad woman, or rather, a hound dog on a hunt, high off a scent. I meander through the maze-like, grimey subway and I finally stand atop a staircase... right above their heads, as the huff and puff those melodies into the air. I soooo wanted to go down and watch them... even if for five minutes, then catch them during their break and ask "where the heck have you guys been? Ive missed you!!" But like a shy girl who spots her ex-boyfriend before he does her, and not feeling 'hot enough' for the encounter, i turned around with a smile and headed towards the 'Red Line'. 

Its just good to know their still around... and as the train doors close, I search for their album off my IPod and click my other favorite song of theirs, "BALICKY BONE"

ENJOY!!!

p.s. I was told that these boys were invited to play at this year's FELABRATION just recently concluded in Lagos, Nigeria. I hope they were able to make it and the audience was able to appreciate the the spirit in their music.

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - "BALIKY BONE" (LIVE at Columbus Circle & Times Square)

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - 'WAR'

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble jamming with Mos Def (jamming in their dressing room before a show)

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - "SANKOFA" (on stage performing their Tony Allen collabo with their mum dancing)

"I FEEL ALRIGHT Music"

My blogging has been quite sporadic in the recent. Apologies will be dished out in mailed cards to each and everyone of you the soonest... SCREW IT!!! You're gonna have to deal with a goddamn mass apology *gives mean face* ;-)

Truth is, I had been under pressure to deliver a first cut of a documentary I have been shooting for almost 3/4months in 3days. HOW THE HECK IS THAT HUMANLY POSSIBLE. Only going through the BLEEDING footage would take three days. But as all good 'thrillers' go, theres is ALWAYS an added conflict. Such was my case as... ofcourse. I had to chop up miles of footage in just two days and courier to Nigera with only 3days allowed to be dedicated to transport, when all courier services were giving me an earliest delivery date of 4 days. WHAT THE HECK!!

To make matters worse, when i FINALLY find a loop hole, which I admit was achieved through devious means (hey! You gotta do what you Gotta Do.. DONT JUDGE ME :-(  ) and my package is merrily on its way to Abuja, Nigeria, I decided to track it online only to find out my 'precious' package is on its way to... wait for it. . . 'ABIDJAN', COTE D'IVOIRE!!!!!! Are you kidding me? Are you FREAKING KIDDING ME!! ARE ALL THE F*CKING COURIER gODS OUT TO GET ME? PLUS (okay Ill stop with CAPS now) the Nigeria angle remains BLOWING (sorry) up my phone tryna find out when it gonna get there.. "It MUST get here LATEESSST Friday", said in the thickest Nigerian accent.. phew!! 

Anyway, status Update... Its 10am in NYC and about 4pm in Nigeria (they are 6 hours ahead) DHL tracking site says its now in Abuja, and the contacts in Nigeria have admitted to hearing it has been delivered and is somewhere in the building. SOMEWHERE IN THE BUILDING? Oh well... thats THEIR problem. Im not gonna think about it anymore, MY thriller movie is running end credits.

Anyway through the vicissitudes of my life, there should be no excuse for not fulfilling my obligation to blog and help in updating your iPOD. Even NYC rats have days when the garbage man makes his runs early and on time, leaving them with no trash to seductively roll around in.. Oh well!!

So on to today's music. I stayed up till about 5am the other day searching for downloads of old classic Nigerian music I heard while growing up. You know the ones that take you back to time where things could have not been better. Before the responsibility of bills, children, nagging wife, inattentive husband, car notes, McCain, Sarah Palin, bills (didnt i already say that? Oh well you know what I mean).

Like Ive said a million times, I was pommelled with music growing up from the 'parental units', Back then i thought it was a chore, but now I believe it was a blessing to be put in such an eclectic musical environment. I tell you this, my children WILL run the same course. They'll probably be complaining on the phone, internet (or whatever other contraption is invented by then) to their friends how uncool their parents are for forcing them to listening to Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Tupac, Biggie, Slick Rick, Outkast, Big Daddy kane, while they'd rather listen to some guy that raps/sings/rap-sings :-? about killing his wife and driving state wide with her dead in the trunk (oh wait! Eminem already did that). But I WILL do it! Curse words et al. They need to appreciate HipHop music as much as Soul, R&B, Jazz, Blues, Rock and Country (eerrrr..maybe to much of the last).

Anyway, back on course ( I can TAAAALLLK), Im gonna post some songs that immediately throw me back and open my heart to sunshine and fondness. There are alot of classic cuts I'm still trying to get, so if anyone has any ideas where I can download old Nigerian classics (e.g Tunji Oyelana, Bright Chimezie, Christie Essien, Felix Liberty, Sonny Okosun, Chris Okotie etc PLEASE send a link)

Ill start with one that would have driven me to sell my ass on the street in order to get that sh*t on my iPOD. I have it now.. Dont ask what I did to get *Kemi covers head in shame*

I had to call my dad to ask for the name. Ahhhhhh... Nelly Uchendu!! How could I forget the almost chilling background voices singing, 

            If you want to marry a husband/Never you marry a waka about/

            If you marry a waka about oh/Tomorrow trouble, Trouble... TROOUUBLE"

The cautionary tale speaks of a young woman attracted to 'bling' and the 'highlife' who marries this man who is handsome with "a moto/ a very BIG moto/With aircondition and Fridge oh"

You have to understand, for the time when this song was recorded, having aircondition and fridge in your 'moto' is the equivalent of today's cars being able to gear up and head into space at will.

Nelly's voice should not be confused with the 'chipmunk' sounding background singers. Miss Uchendu is like a nightingale riding the palmwine guitar riffs. I especially love that the download I got still has the scratchy vinyl sound. It just COMPLETES the feeling.

Ofcourse this girl in the song's story ends in tragedy. Nelly tells us that this 'white knight' is actually a 

               "Wayo Number ONE, A drunkard, a Gambler

                 a father of MANY children, a Thief and a Rogue oh

                 Money dubbler, and a Smuggler, maker of Counterfeit oh..."

Hmmmm...Obviously a 'jack-of-all-trades! I dont know what Nelly was bitching about. In todays's economy, is PAYS to be multi-faceted in your ability to bring home the doe. 

However, not only was he an 'economist', but

                    "The man nah boxer before/wey dey practise on him wife oh

                     When him drunk oh... 

                  Ahhhh 'IGGAAAADAM' (sound efx of him beating his wife) on 'im wife oh

                   When he vex oh...

                   Ahhhhhhh.. 'IGBAAADAAMM' on 'im wife oh

                  Even when he tire oh

                   Ahhhhhhannnn, 'IGBAAAADDAAAAMM' on him wife oh

Okay, so i draw the line on wife battery. :-)

Nelly is a expert story-teller on the song. Backed by Sonny Oti and his Group, "Late Night Husband" is a blissful 15:21min journey. Enjoy it.. You wont regret it!!

NELLY UCHEDU (with Sonny Oti and his Group) - "Late Night Husband"                   

	Sonny Oti & his Group w. Nelly Uchendu - Late Nite Husband
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Above is one of my FAVORITE song of  yesteryears. If anyone has a link where I could download this song I'd be ESTATIC!! Another homorous story telling song, tells of Bright's  journey to the 'white man's' land for the first time in 1974.  He doesnt like their food, so he brings along his own and when they (white man) witness him eating his 'African Dishes' (by hand, i might add), specifically the cassava meal called Eba with Ogbono soup, its so strange, they think he's performing 'Magic tricks' HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!

Wait.. it doesnt end there... When he tells them he isn't performing Magic Tricks, they then report him to the police, insisting that "The Black man wey dey here is committing SUICIDE"

I Just LOOOOOOVE this song. The beat, the melody, the lyrics all come together for a perfect 'touch down'. Even if your not Nigerian, or African, you CAN'T help but find the melody contagious. I almost want to get up from my laptop (its playing as i write this) and do the wicked shuffle, like Mr. Chimezie's background dancer to the left (0:32mins- 0:34mins). HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA... PRICELESS!!!   BRIGHT CHIMEZIE - "African STYLE"

OSIBISA - "Woyaya"

"HOW BOUT A LIL' LILY TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR DAY?"

Its getting cold in NYC. I knew it would happen eventually... I mean, it IS supposed to happen once a year, but I thought in exchange for us unappreciative inhabitants of the earth pointing a bazooka and blowing a gigantic hole through the ozone layer, Mother Nature would be disorientated with her weather schedule and keep the warmth for just a while longer... at least till January :-)

I joke.. I Joke... I kid.. I kid.. and DO understand the importance of the season (huh?)... you just can't force me to like it :-(

Coupled with my disdain for the weather change, I am SWAMPED with work and need some cheer, smiles and sunshine. Since I can't get the last from the universe (this is the last time I b*tch about the weather.. I PROMISE), I decided to turn to music to open up the sunny flood gates.

What to play... What to play... Ahhhhhh... Heeeeerrrrr.... *Kemi clicks play*

I LOVE Lily Allen for three main reasons; She is funny, she is rude (and unapologetically so), and she remains cute doing it.

Through her myriad of troubles, stemming mostly from alcohol abuse, Lily has always told it as it is and never sugar coated her addiction. She's quoted in 'Time Out new York", as saying, “When you walk into your dressing room every night and there are 40 beers, it's difficult not to drink them all, you know?”  

I can TOTALLY relate Lily... Its not as if they're gonna drink themselves?!! Drink the liquid content and help speed up the recycle process... you know... i can dig it (straight face)?!! 

What I also dig about Lily is the fact that her East London accent remains even when she's singing. Most times artistes even with the thickest foreign accents lose them when singing and suddenly just sound AMERICAN...but Lily's 'cockney' remains as potent as ever.

For your merriment today Im gonna put up two of my favorite songs which happen to be her two best breakout singles as well.

The first is my favorite, the calypso influenced 'LDN' which is her second single off her platinum album, "Alright, Still...". Not only do i love the song, I love the concept of the video. Basically we have Ms. Allen dressed in an elaborate ball gown, strangely accessorized with sneakers for footwear and happily skipping through the streets of London (LDN) on her way to meet up with her boyfriend. She's so happy and blinded by love that she sees only good and is totally oblivious to all the bad happening around her.

                      "When you look with your eyes /Everything seems nice 

                        But if you look twice /you can see it's all lies..."

Walking down the street she sees an old woman struggling with shopping bags and a young boy kindly comes over to help her... what's really happening is the boy is mugging the old lady. Along the way, she also spots,

                        "...A fella looking dapper, and he's sittin with a slapper 

                        Then I see it's a pimp and his crack whore..."

I couldnt have written that piece more eloquently myself :-/   Incase I didn't mention, Ms. Allen swears more that a ship full of sailors forced into confessional.... But i LUURRRVVVEEE IT and she's unrepentative as well; "the truth is I don't want to be in their f*cking stupid magazines and daily f*ck rags . Infact I hate it , i dont want to be a celebrity, I am a singer, I write songs, thats it .”

Tell'em gurrrlll... who says because you sell 2million CDs, you automatically become a role model (straight face again). You should be allowed to drink copious amounts of alcohol before a show, show up three hours late, stumble over your dress and forget the lyrics during your performance... Its YOUR RIGHT, DAMMIT!!! 

Anyway, ENJOY the videos to 'LND' and 'SMILE' (another hilarious video where she makes an Ex's (a DJ) life a living hell. He comes to her for comfort while unbeknownst to him, she doses him with laxatives, gets thugs to beat him up, and scratches his entire vinyl collection just before a gig... THIS WOMAN IS MY IDOL!! :-)

Lily Allen - 'LDN'

Lily Allen - "Smile"

"I JUST CANT GET YOU OUTTA MY HEAD"

Ive decided to put myself into song rehab 'cos this is killing. I didnt intend to blog today but sh*t is getting way ridiculous now. I'm sure most of you know what I'm talking about... You hear song once and you just can't get the damn thing outta your head... Or like me, you extend the torture by frantically searching for the song without rest and when you eventually do, you got that damn thing on loop... LITERALLY!!!

Thats the place I'm in with The Dream's "Playing In Her Hair". First of all, I am NOT a DREAM fan. I just thought I'd just put that disclaimer out there before we go further into this f*ckery that is my addiction. I'm averse to his constant need for repetition in his lyrics e.g Umbrella..ella..ella..ella.. or the word 'aye.. aye...aye' (re:'Shorty Is Da Sh*t') I think he does this for the Palin-like brains listening to his music. I personally might not be a fan, but THE DREAM has done very well for himself not only recently as a recording artist, but as a song writer, penning hits like Mariah's  'Touch My Body', Rihanna's 'Umbrella' (ofcourse), J Holiday's 'Bed' to name a few, and of course the subject of todays post, off his personal album LOVE HATE release December 2007.

My brother tells me I have an unwavering nack for making people hate nice songs as I'll play them OVER, and OVER, and OVER, and OVER, and OVER again till everyone's had enough of it.

Right now as I write this I have the bleeding song playing. Ofcourse It's played out at least 5times during the composition of this piece, but what do i do?  ...I just click right back to my iTUNES page and double click that baby once again;

                "Before the Sex pop-off, she rub my back, rub my back, rub my back

                 She never gone for long she be right back/be right back/Shorty be right back

                 And She keeps a bag full of goodies/Her Loves baked up like Pillsbury Cookies

                 It aint about the Benz or the money/She's my bee/I'm her Honey

                DAMN, thats my homie/ And she's got Me Playing In Her Hair... aye..aye"

MAKEEEE ITTTT STOOOOOPPP!!! I'M WILLING TO DO ANYTHING... ANYTHING... ANYTHING... But not till after I hear it for ONE LAST TIME :-? *Kemi's eye-balls roll back as she scratches her arm like a 'feen'*

The Dream - "Playing In Her Hair"

And for (not so random) added amusement...

Kylie Minogue - "Can't Get You Out of My Head"

"THE 'Black Moses' TAKES STAGE FOR THE FINAL TIME"

I'm siting upright in bed, trying to finish a script I'm working on, and intermittently checking on my FaceBook page. I have my iPOD connected to my Laptop playing on 'random'. I love doing this when I'm working cos it surprises me with gems i have but haven't heard in a while. This tends to happen a lot when you have over 8,000 songs on your iPOD.

Today's random 'surprise' gem doesn't disappoint. Its hard to get it wrong on a beautiful Sunday morning... Life is good, its warm in NYC and there's this soft yet massive sunlight beam flooding in on me through my bedroom window. I turn my face to the right to feel the rays evenly on all parts of my face and through the window i notice for the first time that I can see the rooftops of beautiful manhattan buildings for at least 10 blocks down. They look so different with the sun dancing against them. 

Suddenly soft piano chords trickle through my ear phones, and i smile... i know this one... I LOVE this one... It reminds me of my father. I can visualize him in his house coat leaning back in his chair, eyes glistening with a faraway look in his eyes, smile on his face, and right hand slowly folding invisible air over and over, along to the beat.... Thats when he isn't playing his 'air- piano'. He LOVES this song, He especially LOVES this artist... He has made it that if anything was to happen to him (my dad, GOD FORBID), i wouldnt be able to listen to this particular artist. If i dared, I probably break down sobbing, cos it brings the above vision.

I'm singing to it down and making the same body movements my dad does, 

                                       "IIIIIIIIIIIIII stand accuuuuuuuuuuused
                                        Of looooooooovin' you, Too much!

                                        And i hope,
                                        I hope it's not a criiiiiiime, 

                                       'Cause if it is,I'm GUILTY!
                                        Of lovin' you, you, you.

This has to be one of the GREATEST love songs ever written. It encapsulates the feeling of loving someone that belongs to another person. The frustration of toiling to keep your feelings hidden until you reach that point where you don't give a DAMN anymore who knows,

                                       "I know, I know, You belong to another.

                                        I... I may not stand a ghost of a chance.
                                       I'LL STAND ON TOP OF MT. EVEREST,
                                       And PROUDLY tell the world that I LOVE ya.
                                       Oh yes I will...

                                      Because I...  I just can't... I can't help my self
                                      I'm a victim of circumstance..."

Words are just Words, but have them interpreted by one of the GREATEST artists and music arrangers ever born (in my opinion) and ITS A WRAP. If the pain this man is able to translate doesnt break your heart by the end bar of this song ('I Stand Accused'), your simply not human!

I have been an Isaac Hayes fan ever since i was able to say the words, NO! My dad made sure of this. It was played on vinyl when we were at home on the loudest, in the car on our way to Ikoyi Club on Sunday mornings, on the way back, on the journey to school (cos that was the tape the driver found Monday after in the deck), sometimes the journey back home as well.

'THE BLACK MOSES'... my dad would hail, screaming to the speakers as Isaac does one of his solo piano 'wonders' during a break down in the song, 'Something'. 

Isaac had a way of taking a song, not written by him, and turning it inside out, upside down until when he delivered it back for your enjoyment, you wonder if this was the same song (e.g. "The Look of Love") written by the great Burt Bacharach, performed by everyone from the Dusty Springfield to Gladys Knight. 

However, no other version of "The Look of Love" has been able to inspire an entire hiphop generation like Mr. Hayes' did, with its complex vocal and instrumental arrangements. Its almost like it starts off as one song and ends as an entire different one. Sometimes, in the middle of a song, he stops singing only to break into an instrumental with a solid orchestra backing, heavy horns screaming, the organ and deep bass vocals... and then... as if it never happened, he resumes singing... JUST LIKE THAT.

A CLASSIC  'Isaac' signature, making songs at times a long 15mins 'experience'.. for just one cut (FELA style).

HipHop artists like Jay-Z ('Can I Live'), Wu-Tang ('I Can't Go to Sleep), Ashanti ('Rain on Me'), Snoop (G'Zs Up, Hoes Down'), Smiff N' Wessun ('Stand Strong') - (just naming a few) all sampled Isaac's CLASSIC  "The Look of Love" and many other cuts have been sampled as well.

A formidable force in the STAX movement, Isaac helped build STAX records to the soul music 'Power-house' it is remembered as in the history books today. He wrote songs and built the careers of many, but things were never the same for Isaac after parting ways with STAX records over financial disputes. Unfortunately the LEGEND passed away August 10th 2008 after battling bankruptcy, and other legal and health issues. His wife found him unconscious next to a still running tread-mill. Isaac was in the process of making another album.

He might have taken bowed out the stage for the final time in physical form, but the 'Black Moses' lives on in his music and this blog post. 

Please enjoy the cuts "I Stand Accused", "The Look of Love", "One Woman" -   and as you do, remember to make make 'soft air folds' with your right hand, and play the 'air-guitar' when appropriate... Its only right, you do it RIGHT ;-)

(p.s. when listening to 'The Look of Love', look out for my ABSOLUTE favorite part. It comes between 1:29 - 2:00mins. If while listening to it, your heart doesn't absolutely burst with Joy, I don't know what will.)

Isaac Hayes - "I Stand Accused"

Isaac Hayes - "The Look of Love"

Isaac Hayes - "One Woman"

" Out the Neo-Soul Basement of... "

Sorry I haven't been on here for a bit. Been trying to keep them darn balls motion in the air. But life is GREAT and I'm LOVING being in it.

Straight into today's business; as an offering unto the altar of Soul music, we pay a visit to the Neo-Soul basement to see what who's jam session we're able to witness. I'm a BIG soul music fan and all its variations - this happens to include neo-Soul as well. I know alot of people we're reluctant to jump on this new bandwagon driven by proponents like Raphael Saadiq, Angie Stone, Erykah Badu, Maxwell, D'angelo, but it eventually cut on and birthed other artists like Jill Scott, Dwele, Raheem Devaughn, Musiq... just to name a few.  It still has not crossed mainstream, except maybe with Lauryn Hill's breakthorugh MONSTER hit album; The MisEducation of Lauryn Hill. 

In this post, I'm going steer away from the big guns in this genre... except maybe D'angelo. D' deserves honorary mention, just for being the GENIUS that he is. Alternatively, Im highlighting the new boys making waves underground in the independent circuit. You might have come across a couple of names, some might be fresh hits for you, however ALL should make your iPOD. 

I'm going to start of with the gentleman called Raheem Devaughn. This gentleman BLEW my mind the first time I heard his underground hit single, "Guess who loves you more". Raheem had the uncanny ability to convey to ladies in a song EXACTLY what they want to hear from their men... "Lady, Lady Lady, My darling darling baby, I wanna restore your hope, forget about your past, this thing's gonna last.."  On hearing this, as a lady, you might start of 'hard to get'. I mean we ladies have heard this bull a million times before, but Rah goes on, "My love for you can never be measured, Girl I treasure your Love, and each day my love multiplies for you, Girl as long as father time is on my side, I'll always be by your side, Girl you're perfect in  my eyes, Your My joy and pride... " AND ITS A WRAAAAPPP!!! *sigh*

But we're not messing with "Guess Who Loves You More" today. That was freebie for you guys. Make sure it makes the iPod... It'll come in handy when you're girl's mad at you. SERIOUSLY!!

Rah's post for today is the song "BELIEVE"... GEntlemen... Ladies.... This song is FIIIRRREEEEE. I'm going to put my reputation on the line with this one (like its worth anything ;-0 ), and dare any guy to send this to the girl of his dreams. The one he's been trying to get... She is GOT by the final riffs, GURANTEED!!  Raheem once again breaks into the insecurities and fears in every girl's mind and puts it to ease with such prowess...

             "...with patience and understanding 

               like a teacher with a student, vice versa
               promise not to hurt you, not to leave
               not to lie, not to cheat, not to fuss
               not to stress, like the rest in your past

               Believe me I ain't like most men
               I ain't like them others
              you done dealt with in your past
              just have some FAITH
             that is ALL I ask, BELIEVE in me.."

I think what makes his pleading even more compelling is his breathless rasps as he sings over the sensual groove. Not content to just sweep you off your feet, Rah wants to knock you the f*ck out!!

  

                              "Lately I have been thinking 

                               about this crazy world,
                               being one step away from war
                               So tonight baby,
                               I want to make love to you
                               Like this world is coming to an end
                               and if we should die tonight,
                               In the next life
                               I'm gonna love you the same
                               Ain't nothin gonna change

WHERE THE HECK DOES HE GET THAT FROM? I just want MORE and MORE... I BELIEVE!! I BELIEVE!! *Kemi Screams* Anyway, RESPECT the man, listen to the song and download or buy the entire CD. You WONT regret it.. I PROMISE!!

Our second Man to look out for is your boy, Eric Roberson. This New Jersey native is an accomplished song writer who broke out on his own preaching the Neo-Soul gospel ever since 1994 with his first single "Moon". He's got AMAZING collaborations with Jill Scott, Musiq and even with Raheem Devaughn (GET THIS SONG - Love of da GAME), just to name a few. His 'live' game is amazing. I got the opportunity to watch him perform and meet him afterwards sometime last years at the New York 'Mecca' for fabulous indie/alternative music, SOBs on Houston and Varick. He has a charm that exudes even when he is not singing. In the audience to support him was his fiance, his parents, even his pastor, and he trully brought the spirit down into the house. I'm gonna post up his beautiful ballad "Pretty Girl". Its such a touching, mellow, sunshine morning kind of song. It puts you in a mental state you want to be in, with lyrics that actually speak to you. 'Pretty Girl" talks about a girl who has probably been hurt before by Love in the past and puts up walls in relationships, hiding behind her beauty. It's a beautifully executed song... Eric pleads.. "I wanna know who you REALLY are..."

Another Eric Roberson song worth of honorary mention is another gorgeous ballad called, "Too Soon".. " So girl when I say 

                          say girl lets take our time
                         Understand girl that I'm
                         I'm not offering game
                         Hopefully girl in time
                         how u and i deal with change
                         Its Too Soon to say I LOVE YOU

And FINALLY, for me the BABA of the new wave Neo-Soul game. Par alone to Raphael Saadiq, its my 'baby-daddy' D'angelo. Its really a shame with all thats gone on with him stretching from legal to health problems. Like all GENIUSes, D'angelo is missing a couple of marbles short of a complete set that should aid him in dealing with real life. I believe all geniuses of any kind have these marbles missing. Thats what makes them eccentric, 'left', it stretches to the unbelievable things they do. From Einstein to Wole Soyinka, to R. Kelly, to Van Gogh, to a friend of mine's father... Its some sort of behavioural license that handed out when they Immaculately created. Sometimes, their gift must feel like a burden to thses special class of people. 

D'angelo after shooting the "Untitled, How Does It Feel" video was hounded by women for his body and sex appeal... WHO COULD BLAME THEM? Apparently at shows, the focus turned from his music to screams for his shirt to be taken off... and what does a purist like D'angelo do when he thinks the attention is taken from his music - his gift to the world? He gains weight.. (check pic above) and goes underground.

He leaked a single sometime last year called "Really Love". Some critics proclaimed this as evidence that D'angelo was DONE as you couldnt really make his slurry words on the track. Others (like me) thought the song was CLASSIC D' and didnt care if you couldnt make out his words. The melody was AMAZING, the vocal arrangement, like 'pure honey on your tongue'. Apparently, he has gotten his act together and a new D'angelo album is 'supposedly' scheduled to be released late this year. CANT WAIT FOR IT.. lets pray for him. 

I'm posting one of my favorite songs off his sophomore album, "Send It On". D'angelo broke the 'Sophomore Curse' (not an easy feat) and delivered ANOTHER classic with the VOODOO album and this is an offering off it.. ENJOY

Raheem Devaughn - BELIEVE

Eric Roberson - PRETTY GIRL

D'Angelo - SEND IT ON

" BAAADDDDBOOOYYYY... Come Out and Plaaaayyyy... "

When BADBOY was Bad boooooyyyyyy....

When Puffy Lorded over the HOTTEST artist roster on the planet

When we knew him by only one bleeding name... 'Puffy'

When gangster rap begun earning millions and white kids started getting into it (much to the chagrin of their parents).

During the HEIGHT of the BadBoy/Deathrow beef... actually i think this brought it out to the forefront. I mean, if i was on the opposing coast and record company, the intimidation brought on by every bass 'thump' during this performance would have me running 'drive-bys' as well.

Ahhhhh . . . i rememeber when i first watched this back in 95... WHAAAAATTTT!!! Intimidation.... Only rivalled by the the Intro for the NBA's Boston Celtics, during their header with the LA lakers this year during the playoffs.

Visualize this...

There is the loud crackling of thunder, blotches of dark opening up to light, but you can only make out silhouettes. Finally, you make out puffy, head down on an alter praying over the ominous riffs of a crying acoustic guitar...

           

                        "Now i lay me down to sleep, i pray the Lord my soul to keep, 

                         And if i should die before i wake, I pray to God i die a BADBOY

                         God Bless all my people in the streets 

                         God bless my people making Hot Beats

                         God bless all my people Locked Down

                            ... I live in the EAST, and Imma DIE in the EAST"

Whaaaaaaaaaattt?? Next thing, the lights break out and a rapper jumps out of backstage doing this verse...

                          "Just... like ... Uniblab robotic kickin' flab

                            My flavor be the badder
                           chitter chatter, Madder than the Mad Hatter
                           I bet you my sh*t come out fatter
                           to turn your body into antimatter... "

At this point, i thought my heart would come out of my mouth, land on my palm and explode into bits witht he energy. I wouldn't want to be a DEATHROW toilet cleaner, let alone an artiste at this point. Sh*t don't stop there however, Puff decides to further twits in that ice-pick by bringing out not only Craig mack... but Faith Evans (U Used to Love Me), Total (Can't U See), Junior MAFIA (repped by KIM, 'Player's Anthem'), and then FINALLY the KING takes stage; The Notorious B.I.G performes 'One More Chance' to close the performance with wigglets filling the stage carrying platinum certifications and self-hype picket signs.

                              

                          "She's sick of that song, oh how it's so long

                           Thought he worked It until I handled my biz
                           There I is; 

                           Major Payne like Damon Wayans
                           Low Down Dirty even like his brother Keenan
                           Schemin;

                          Don't leave ya girl round me
                           True player for real, ask Puff Daddy... "

Some genius (said without NO sarcasm at all, I promise) decides to steal shots of the audience, especially DeathRow peeps . . . The humiliation is PITIFUL!

Please enjoy this nostalgic journey with me. If this doesn't take you back to that period when HipHop music (albeit commercial) made you want to grow up and be a rapper, write me and curse me out ;-)

Extra added merriment for you to enjoy during the holidays:

Craig Mack - Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)

" Whaddupp Doc? "

Been awhile hasn't it. Oh yea.. it has. Been handling some existential sh*t. Anyway, i'm back again in your arreeeaaaaaaaaaa, and some good news... well... just News.... There are going to be added contributors to the blog, starting with my brother. Apparently, people actually LIKE this blog. It blows the HECk outta MY mind, but HEY... Not gonna hold it against you guys. One thing I'll ask though is you post comments ON the blog. It doesn't help if you send personal messages to me on FaceBook or send me emails. I mean, yea, its nice and they make me smile :=/... but its more about hype here DAMMIT!!! So put comments up here after the post; even if you have to put your ass up in the comments profile as 'anonymous' DO IT!!!!!

UNTO TODAY'S IPOD UPDATE LESSON

Kemmy-kems raps ruler on her teacher's desk to get the class's attention.

"Today, we'll be talking about tag-team rappers. Independent rappers that have formed a union to create some of the hottest HipHop joints. The focus of today's class will be the duo of Method Man and Redman"

Ahhhhhh... screewww it!! I DO like role playing, but not in this type of instance (would love to put a 'wink' face  here, but think it'll be misconstrued :-/).

I'm gonna post up three of my hottest Meth and Red collabo joints. I LOVE when these men come together in lyrical fusion. Not the least 'cos Method Man is one of my Top 20 rappers of all time... YES!! I just made that last sentence, BITE ME!!! I also wanted to have all of Meth's children at one point, but some (i'll refrain from descriptive curse word) beat me to it, so I have to make do with listening to is raspy, sexy voice on joints like 'M.E.T.H.O.D  MAN', or 'Brind Da Pain'
                      "I came to bring the pain hardcore from the brain
                       Let's go inside my astral plane..."

. . .  but i know he loves me, he just need time to neutralize his situation... Imma wait!!

I'll post up my hottest Meth joints another time, but today he'll have to make do sharing the limelight with the smelling armpits of the 'Funk Doc' (ooohhhhh I LOVE him too).

So I'm gonna start of with their first ever collabo... well as far as 'I' know (feel free to leave a comment if I'm wrong), HOW HIGH!! I remember watching this video round about 94/95; right about the time my Meth infatuation was burning strong - Oh MY!! *Kemi fans herself*

That video tape spent alot of time on the constant 'rewind', 'play' and 'freeze'... Poor thing!!

I havent been able to get 'this' particular version of 'How High' on my Ipod as I cant seem to find it. It uses the same beat as Wu-Tang's 'TRIUMPH'. 

Second song posted up is another Meth and Red favorite, 'Da Rockwilder' produced by acclaimed producer Rockwilder (who seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth).

Final Meth and Red track is Y.O.U off their debut collabo album 'Blackout!' The flow of both boys on this joint is AMAZING. Take time while listening to appreciate it... Its a lesson waiting to be taught.

Method Man and Redman - 'How High' original verison

Method Man and Redman - 'Da Rockwilder'

Methodman and Redman - 'Y.O.U.'

And just because i feel like f*cking with you guys today, I'll post an extra that should get 'heads' that haven't heard this in awhile pulling strands out their head . . . ENJOY!!

2Pac (feat: Daz, Kurupt, Meth, Red)

p.s. Speaking out of term for today's post, Kurupt spits FIRE in this one. And of course... so does Meth :)

" Simply Beautiful "

Im having a slow, lethargic day today... Mentally. Not sure why, today just wants me singing the hook to Monica's '93 hit single "It's just one of them daaaayyysss..."  Don't know what it is? Well, i have been extremely stressed lately; work and personal wise but i am working and fighting to get to the surface and get my spunk back. Just as I have everything leveled out, and my balls juggling and the pace I want them (that sounds wrong) i will.

I try to add personal messages to each post 'cos music for me is just not turning on the radio or pressing play on your ipod. Music is therapeutic for me and different genres and specific artistes fit certain moods or periods in my life. I usually know which songs to crank up depending on how i'm feeling. If I have a show I'm nervous about, or when i was younger and had an exam i was sweating bricks over, I'd usually just put on some Wu-tang. That ALWAYS lights a fire on my ass. I feel ready to take on WHATEVER after that. There's just something positively aggressive about it.

Today on the other hand, I made a straight cut for my Al Green collection and I'm gonna share a couple of songs off that with you today. If your feeling a little down and out, tired, frustrated, burdened... hopefully these songs'll help in the exorcism of your negative energy. Engulf your mind and body in the soothing nature of Rev. Al's voice and the cadence of the melody and chords. Sometimes you consciously just have to left it all 'flow' out, like spent water down an unclogged drain.... effortless... painless!! It might hurt coming in, but it doesn't have to hurt going out, and Rev Al's songs 'Simply Beautiful' and 'Free at Last' should help do that for you. 

I'm going to put up the 'Simply Beautiful' version featuring Queen Latifah. I think she brings something to this version that Al didnt have all by himself. Theres a soulful, sensual, jazzy tone to Latifah's voice and demeanor on the song... Luuurrrvvee it!!! ENJOY!!!

p.s. Love the lighting in the 'Simply Beautiful' video as well... check it out!! (this little one is for the filmmakers out there ;-) )

Al Green feat Queen Latifah - 'SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL'

AL Green - 'FREE AT LAST'

"...Facelift Gone WRONG"

What exactly is a 'facelift gone wrong'?  I remember sometime during the first days of Summer last year, my brother, cousin and I decided to erase the tension of the past working week by hitting up the clubs (not like we REALLY needed an excuse to).

The Meat-Packing district (high-end boutique/clubbing district for out-of-New Yorkers/non-'Sex and the City' fans) was the place to be - at least at that time. Cutting a long story short, we decided on club 'PM' and end up by a table next to this (image up North ^).

If ever, there was a more apt specimen of a facelift gone wrong, it would HAVE to be New York millionaire socialite, Jocelyn Wildenstein a.k.a Cat Woman. I would not want to be in the only person in a house in Lagos, Nigeria with Jocelyn as neighbour. She might come round one night to borrow sugar and knowing my luck there would be a power outage while she's standing at my opened door... NO!!! Infact, if this woman lived on my block, I would go door to door getting everyone to sign a petition insisting she wears a big ass cow-bell round her neck. That way we know when this train wreck is rounding the corner... FROM FAR!!!! Jeezzzz!!! I remember the DJ started playing the song 'Real Love' and that got me to my feet with a shriek. She turned to me and smiled... I almost wet myself. To be honest I really cant say JW is a good example of a 'facelift gone wrong' as she WANTED to look like this. Yes Folks!! Jocelyn actually went to her plastic surgeon and asked him to give her more feline features 'cos her millionaire husband was having an affair with some Russion model and she wanted to win him back by making herself look like a cat... why? Wait for it . . . because he loved animals especially Lions and tigers, and they actually kept them as pets. All i can say is, "Don't judge 'cos God loves all his little children" *Kemi sighs*

Anyway, moving away from the long preamble; Since this is a music blog we have to find a way to tie bad facelifts to... well.. MUSIC :-/

While I was on the radio, I used to have this particular theme once a month on my show called Face-Lift Sunday. I'd pull out Top 40 singles on the charts at the moment and get people to guess what song was sampled on it. For instance; Kanye West's 'Touch the Sky' with Curtis Mayfield's 'Move On Up'. Or James Brown's 'The Big Payback' with Total's 'Cant You See' (Facelift Sunday... Get It?). Anyway, it was such a hit on the waves and I looked forward to it as well. It was a lot of research and my knowledge of 'petty music' (refer to first blog) helped immensely. I'll be putting up 'Music Face-Lift' blogs every once in a while, starting today. However, todays offering is with a bit of a twist. Today's offerings are both from the same artist and both involve the 'King of Samples'.  Its the hit making teaam of jay-Z and Kanye West. Kanye (the king of samples) and Jay-Z's (kind of receiving samples) collaborations have spun numerous hits, and I think Kanye's interpretation of old school samples is simple put, INGENIOUS!!! However, the two samples im going to put up today on this post should have been left alone. I personally think anyway. Not that the samples versions weren't any good... actually they spurned HITS, but the originals were just GORGEOUS pieces of instruments laced together and should not have been touched. The remakes went nowhere near the feeling the originals give me.

First up on the block is Jay-Z's ENCORE. Yes! Yes! This was a major hit and the song plus video makes me (and im sure everyone else) want to 'take over the world', but John Holt's voice meandering through the strings and dub beat on the original "I Will" just makes you want to dance to it barefoot by the edge of the sea, with your significant other, flowers in your hair holding a cut open coconut with straw and a paper umbrella in it. It vomits sunshine, love, promise of commitment and 'who cares if countries are at war' feelings in just 3:36mins 

                           "Love you forever, aaaand Forever

                            Love You with aaaallll my heart

                            Love you Wheneeeeever, we're togeeeether

                             Love yo when we're apart..."

Ahhhhhhhh.. THATS the way music should make you feel. It hard to trap that kind of emotion on vinyl these days. Ofcourse it REALLY was originally written and sung by Paul McCartney for is late wife (it's the first song he wrote for her) but Kanye sampled John Holt's version, and i like his version better anyway.

The second is a fairly recent hit off Jay-Z last album "American Gangster". First single, "Roc Boys". Hmmm... where do i start witht his one. I STRONGLY believe they simply lifted the ENTIRE song "Make the Road by Walking" by the Menahan Street Band added simple drum loops and gave it to Jay to spit on, who prolly was like "Ooh, Thats the sh*t!".  At first, i thought it was produced by Kanye as his voice was appears on the hook, so i think, "Why didn't Kanyizzle add his characteristic flavour to this?" His enhanced flavour has always been my defence when people go after him for 'always' sampling. I go, "but he bring his own sh*t to it and it comes out AMAZING". Kanye gets off on this one though, as it was Diddy and his slew of 'Hit-Men' responsible for this. I'm not surprised! Diddy went out after the year '97 and has been living off the credit he had accumulated leading up to then. Anyway, he definitely got lazy with this one... or maybe you just can't add to perfection. 

p.s. The horns on this track are INSANE... Actually, now i understand Diddy... how could you DARE tamper with that?!!

Would love to hear your opinions... ENJOY!!

John Holt - I WILL

The Menahan Street Band - MAKE THE ROAD BY WALKING

"... Breath Easy, Homie!"

Packing for a whistle stop trip to Florida today and my mum is already driving me CRAZZZZZYYY... but i Love her (gosh! that hurt coming out..Lol)

Anyway, i have a ridiculous travel itinerary to look forward to :-/ and needed to build my "breath.. take it easy" playlist. It was either that or throw someone out the window of the plane in frustrated anger... and NO! I'm not talking about my mother *Kemi hides crossed fingers behind her back*

Two of the songs that have made the 'Breath Easy..." playlist are posted below for your listening pleasure. Put down that knife you were contemplating murdering your rambunctious co-worker with... Return to the garage that garden spade intended for the back of your nagging wife's head... Lacing your boss's with bathroom bleach will do you no good *Kemi preaches*, but the melodic chants of Buju Banton on today's classic cut, 'DESTINY' and the Late GREAT Peter Tosh's inspiring cry for Justice and a 'people' movement.... "Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to dieeee.." Lurrrrvveeee it!! ENJOY and Have a LOVELY DAY. See you when i get back to the city... PEACE!!

BUJU BANTON - Destiny

PETER TOSH - 'Equal Rights'

"... everyone is talking about crime, tell me who are the criminals"  MY PEOPLE take note of this statement.

" Gold Chains, Track Suits and those DAMN Addidas Sneakers...

Sometime over the weekend, I managed to peel myself off my computer to head down to the East Village. You see, I've have become some sort of a recluse these last couple months and alienated a whole bunch of my friends unfortunately. It's STRESSSSS!!! 'Kemi has become anti-social and prefers working, eating and sleeping BY MYSELF... in no particular order. Anyway, I'm just managing to get back my spunk so i apologise to all those in Lagos and here in NYC that have complained... Rose, Chude, Daniel and MANY MANY others... I APOLOGISE!!

But i digress...

So i peel myself off my computer (and bed) and head down to the 'Alphabet City' to hang out with my boy Nunu and another friend, Ayo who was in town. Nunu promised me portuguese wine... you know you don't have to ask me twice when alcohol is involved. So i get there, pleasant convo, lots of laughter, clinking glasses... hey it was fabulous company. Then Ayo decides to test my "ol' school" music knowledge. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! BLASPHEMY!!! Even going as far as to ask how old i was, "Lets see if your old enough to remember this one" ME? Kemmy-kems... Dj Kems a.k.a Killer-kems... You wanna take it way back, and you think i 'can't hang'? Naaahhh homie... thats a downright challenge. SO im thinking they BETTER 'come with it'... So Nunu queues up the track on iTunes. Guess what it was?  The Geto Boys'  'My mind's Playing Tricks on Me'... I was damn near insulted! So just for fuller 'show-off' effect I join the song on a couple of bars. Next thing everyone flowing along. It was fun, classic throw back, but no 'hairs standing'.  I mean, i LIVE in the Yesteryears of HipHop. My favorite songs are from the late 80's, early 90's. When I DJ i tend to live in that era, unfortunate for those that want the Top 40's in rotation. I mean, I do like me some Lil' Wayne (LOVE actually) but there is nothing like the way 'You Gots to Chill' makes you feel. Oooh remember that robotic, techno sound? I feel like doing the breaks just thinking about it;

                       "Relax your mind, let your conscience be free

                         and get down to the sounds of EPMD... "

                        

Or how bout;

                        "Turn up the bass, check out my melody, hand out a cigar

                          I'm lettin knowledge be born, and my name's the R
                         A-k-i-m not like the rest of them, I'm not on a list
                         That's what I'm sayin, I drop science like a scientist
                         My melody's in a code, the very next episode
                         Has the mic often distortin, ready to explode
                         I keep the mic in Fahrenheit, freeze MC's and make em colder
                        The listener's system is kickin like solar
                        As I memorize, advertise, like a poet
                        Keep you goin when I'm flowin, smooth enough, you know it
                        But rough that's why the middle of my story I tell E.B.
                        Nobody beats the "R", check out my melody... "

Even 50 Cent who has an ego bigger than a hippo's belly had to give it up for this one.

Or the famous one involved in the bragging war for the true birthplace of HipHop... the simple beat, the monotous piano chords, but packing enough of a lyrical punch to give MC Shan and producer Marley Marl sleepless nights;

                        "The Bridge is over.. The Bridge is over...."

 And then come the famous bars,

                        

                         "Manhattan keeps on makin it 

                           Brooklyn keeps on takin it

                           Bronx keeps creatin' it

                           and Queens keeps on FAKIN IT... "

HAAAAA!! KRS taking No prisoners. Even the 'bridge' residents couldn't deny this as a Classic Cut status. Once again i refer to 50 Cent.

I'm not gonna go into my fav era.. the early DeathRow/Dre years hits. I think ill put out a special post giving ode to that alone. *sigh*

Anyway, i digress even more. So going back to Nunu, and Ayodele (yes oh! we're STILL meant to be on that story), they switch it up and play something else. Now people I was literally quiet for about 2mins. Anyone that knows me properly knows this is a feat. I hadnt heard this song in AGES!! What baffled me more was that it hadnt made my ipod. I PRIDE myself in the fact that my IPOD is a collector's IPOD. There is NO ONE that riffles through it that doesnt go WOW and wanna keep it *'Kemi b-boy stances again, flicks collar*. Anyway, this song WASNT on there. I HAD to give it up to them... in my mind and heart though. Not aloud. I wasnt gonna give them that satisfaction. HECK NO!! 

That I get home almost midnight, thoroughly enibriated.. first thing i do is switch on the computer, download the song, and now IPOD is COMPLETE now. No more embarrassing, silent moments of shame and i will NO LONGER live in the shadow of Nunu and Ayo's 'old school' musical knowledge. 

Wanna know what the song was? How bout it's out the stables of the 'Chocolate Boy Wonder' for a clue. For you merriment click below. Only those that 'KNOW' will enjoy this blast from the past. Let the head bumping begin;

...for EXTRA love and to keep those IPODS updated (don't say i don't do anything for ya'), here's another one. Check Puba's flow on this song. You don't need a video to sell this song. Honestly, while looking to put up this post, this is the first time i've ever seen the video but LOVED the song for YEARS. Close your eyes while listening and imagine Puba at a Sunday BBQ with all your friends, a dixie cup filled with whisky in hand free-styling. You can TOTALLY visualize it. It's effortless, easy as a sunday Morning. This is how lace up a track homie! As he so aptly spits to end the cut;

"...You didn't know I was the bomb, baby
Somebody should've told you... Somebody should have told you "

" Guaranteed to Let You Back in the House..."

Only because i cant sleep... I'm sure it's mainly 'cos my adrenaline is working over-time with my new blog. I cant believe I have one. I see a new addiction developing *'Kemi fastens seat belt* Anyway, you have a double dose today.

Oh Well! I'm posting up one of my favorite songs  EVER, sung by the man William Bell. William was a big proponent of the STAX movement. My Dad is obsessed with this sound. Others under the label you might find familiar; The Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, Johnny Taylor just to name a few. I really dont know much about William Bell's career except that this song was done sometime in the 60's. He prolly was a flash in the pan, 'One-hit-wonder'; whatever you wanna call him, but this song simply ROCKS!!

Everyone and their mama has sampled it, from Jaheim's BEAUTIFUL offering "Put That Woman First", to the Alchemist produced "Worst Come to Worst" (luuurrvvveee it) for the Dilated Peoples. Others to have come across the sample are the Kanye produced "Down and Out" for Killer Cam, I know LUDACRIS messed around with it as well and a couple others i cant remember but my favorite samples have to be Dilated's and Jaheim's. Forgetting Dilated's for a moment, I think Jaheim version was the closest in emotional interpretation to the original. What i mean by this is, the original "I Forgot to be your Lover" is so powerful rekindles lost hope for me. For anyone that is jaded when it come to *shudder*   LOVE   *screws face* this is the song for you. I'm in that place now and i must say the opening lines of 

                 " Have i told youuuuuu, lately that i Love you

                    Well if I didn't darling I'm Soorrryy.."      

.. transports me to a dreamy place where all men are kind, sincere, gentle and trustworthy. HAHa! No, but seriously think about it for a second. William further stresses the point by crooning, 

                   "Did i reach out and hooollld you 

                     in my loving arms when you needed me

                     Now i realise that you need love too, 

                    and ill SPEND MY LIFE making it up to you

                    ohhhhh i Forgot To be Your Lover.. and Im sooooo sorrry.."    

 I mean... lets rewind this sh*t a second homie *sfx of sped up vinyl*  ...SPEND HIS LIFE? Dude did not hug his babe that morning (only that morning ohhh) and he is threatening to SPEND HIS LIFE making it up to her? COMEOONNNN!!! I definitely need me one of those. I hope 'it' comes with a raffle ticket where i can win even more of the 'good stuff'. For a song thats only 2:41 minutes long, it packs a MEAN emotional punch. I dare any man thats in the dog house with his wife, girl friend, 'understanding', life partner to play song/send them the link to this song and not 'get some' by the end of the day. I put good money and a house (thats not mine) on it. Especially at the end when the strings raise to the highest heavens and Mr. Bell belts over them in a pained voice,

              "...I forgot  to be your loveeeer 

                  gonna make it up to you somehow

                  ooooooh Im sorry, Im sorry baby..." 

How could you possibly stay mad to that. Do i DARE believe there's a thing like REAL LOVE? *'Kemi cradles chin in palm of hands and sighs*

For your merriment i'll include Jaheim's BEAUTIFUL version as well.  Wonderful song to forgive your man to ;-)  ENJOY!!

" The MAFIA, You Wanna Be 'em... "

My first post YAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!

Well, this is ripping on a post i put up on my facebook. Hey, its only about a day old on there, so lets pretend it baby-butt new ;-) DEAL?!!

When Lil' Kim WAS Lil' kim. Off the first Album HARCORE, and i think it was on the 'High School High' OST as well. Kim is 'making it rain on them  ho'es' on this song. I love me some Ill Nana but Foxy cant touch Kim on this with  10feet pole and lasso tied to the end of it. Kim's leaving No Room for any contention. Stealing a couple bars of the track to properly describe Kim's flow ,  "lyrically i dust them off like pledge, Hit hard like sledge-hammers, b*tch with that platinum grammar..."

Every since I heard it back in tha day, it has remained not only probably my best Kim cut, but prolly one of my best hiphop tracks ever.

Anytime i hear this song, my shoulder's slouch 'thug style', I'm aggressively bumping not just my head but entire body and wishing i was in a MAD ASS jeep bumping this isshhh LOUD with the windows rolled down in a residential area. This song is the description of my persona on a CRAZY ASS beat!!!

Fav Line:  "...While you struggle and strive, we pick which benz to drive

                        The M.A.F.I.A you wanna be 'em

                        Most of y'all Niggaz can't eat without per diem

                        I'm RICH, I'ma stay that b*tch!"

Also LOVING when the late B.I.G peaks in for a couple seconds witht he bars: "You niggas got some audacity, You sold a million now you half of me, Get off my d*ck, Kick it b*tch"

i stumbled on this version. Apparently (i never knew all these years. Thank God for YOUTUBE) the track was soooo HOT that Biggie did his own version of Lil Kim's song. But he doesnt change anything, he spits the EXACT same lyrics in this version as well. Not even bothering to change the female references, so it FABULOUS specimen for comparison. Kim KILLED it on her track, do you think Biggie reduced her version to saw dust? Personally i don't think he did, but he definitely went HARD on this one, especially the second verse, the flow is MESSY!! I have to admit... But heeeyy... only the BIG MAN could do that... Killing you on YOUR OWN track" ENJOY folks!!

And in the Beginning, there was ...

Where do i start from.... I have been flirting around with starting a blog for a while. Mainly on the encouragement of others. You see, I am a 'healthy' FaceBook user (okay i'm an addict) and i tend to use the allowance given to me for my 'status updates' as my personal blog. But the point is, if i can sum up my feelings, happenings, and mental state in less than two lines, WHY must i have a blog? PLUS, i really dont have the time anyway. My work takes way to much of my time for me to sit down and write to the whole world two page long inner thoughts. I really dont think anyone cares that much about my life.. honestly i dont. HECK!! I DONT.. and i live it everyday (he he)

However a passion of mine i'll always have time for is music. I wonder so many times aloud and in my private thoughts why i find myself in the industry i am in at the moment. Don't get me wrong, i LOVE Television/Film and i am grateful to make a successful living in it, but my first LOVE has always been music. Thats why i loved when i was on the radio. It was a WONDERFUL outlet for me.

Starting off from the very beginning when i could barely pronounce consonants, my parents have funny stories about me singing along to GREATS like Millie Jackson or Glady's Knight, or dancing to IPITOMBI or Chief Ebenezer Obey ("My baidaay is coming... mummy buy shoe for me... ) ahhhh those days. YUP! My parents were the cause of this all madness. If there was ever a house filled with music, it was MINE. You can't dust up crates dating back to even the 50's that i don't have a fairly good knowledge of. It was so bad (yes i am about to tell a story) that the kids in the next house while we were growing up were getting into the 'cool' music of our time and generation. They'd have their drums blaring from ABC's - Ayesha competing with the harmonizing strings from Andy William's, We've Only Just Begun, floating out OUR windows. Ahhhhh.. those days. I remember this one day, during the MC Hammer craze, standing out on our balcony, we asked the youngest child, the girl ( i wont mention names) to BEG her older brothers to 'borrow us' their 'cassette' so we could record it. She disappears into the house and reappears trying unsuccessfully to hide this grin and says *Kemi's heart be still as she recalls this random act of viciousness* "He says NO! That you should go and listen to your 'petty-petty music'."   WHAAAAAAAATTT??!!! How DARE you call Otis Redding 'petty' music. I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was a sad day for some Adetiba kids, ages ranging from 6 - 10 years old, who just wanted to listening to this baggy-pants guy that all the kids were raving about.  *sigh* So we just went back in and continued with the burden that was Al Green. YES!! We thought it was a burden! And the damn 'parental units' not only saw it fit to torture us with this 'screech' sounding voice from some lady called Aretha Franklin, but thought it best to open ALLLLLL the windows as well and play the damn thing on FULL BLAST for all the neighbours within a 5 mile radius to 'enjoy' as well. THOSE DAYS!!! 

The trip to school wasn't saved as well, neither was the routine weekend journey to Ikoyi Club. It was either, Bill Withers, UB40, Marvin Gaye, Bobby Womack, Curtis Mayfiled, Dionne Warwick, Peter Tosh, Dorothy Moore, Earth Wind and Fire, Ella Fitzgerald, Letta Mbulu, George Benson, James Brown, Groover Washington Jnr. , Lionel Ritchie, The Temptations, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Jimmy Cliff, Smokey Robinson, Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte, Bob Marley *Kemi runs out of breath...* but no freaking BBD.   I HATED them, OH I DID!! But i also LOVED the way Bob James's version of Jamaica Farewell made me feel on a rainy day, my mum's horrible yet calming voice when singing along to Sonya Spence's 'Leaving on a Jet-Plane', or the way my dad's eyes glistened with this far-away look when he listened to Isaac Hayes as he made floaty cris-cross motions with his imaginary maestro's baton... ahhhhh the way the beginning piano chords off 'One Woman' made me feel. (" I fight my way through the 5 o'clock rush hour... as day light slowly leaves the skkyyyyyyyyy... i open the door to that little room we call hoooommme... her loving arrrmmmsss are theeeeree to greet me, ooh her tender lips... are allows there to meet me... ")  Isaac's baritone ALWAYS makes me feel wispy and nostalgic. If anything was to happen to my dad (God Forbid) i would never be able to listen to Isaac without breaking down. Long and short of it all, I FELL INLOVE with 'petty-petty' music, and 'petty-petty' music has taught me about what GOOD music really is. REAL music. No matter what the genre, GOOD music is GOOD music, and i appreciate it. Even if there are big butt women in thongs dancing in the video (heeeeeeyyy), or white guys in cowboy hats yoddling while line dancing * :-/ *

But the underdog were not the under-trodden for much longer homies... Its started off with the acquisition of cable TV a couple months or maybe a year later. "Wow.. TLC are waaaaaayyy cool. The way the wear their convulsion inducing fluorescent baggy pants without falling over... Some one pass me a spoon"   I remember holding the boom-box to the TV and recording Bobby Brown's Humpin' Around... Those where the days. Then the compulsory list whenever one the parents were traveling. " Mummy buy Jade... Ralph Tresvant... Naughty by Nature..." It was all down hill from there.  Now the 'petty' music peddlers not only had the knowledge of petty music, but also the new SWV album that YOU want ...now what'chu gotta say bout that, homie!! *Kemi falls into her B-boy stance* But we still listened to Rufus and Chaka Khan's 'Tell Me Something Good' on the low... heeeeeeeyyyy, after may years of consistent music force feeding , your bound to eventually become an addict; 'Kemi says as she riffles through her ipod for that Brook Benton song... FOUND IT!!!  "...it's a raaaaaaiiny night in Geoooogiiaaaaaaa..." ... STOP JUDGING ME :-(

Anyway, lets round this b*tch up. IF you couldn't guess before, well bleeding know NOW. This is a MUSIC blog. Im gonna take it back for y'all, and bring it all the way down to soulsville.  Don't be fooled by the preamble, this site isn't strictly for old classic soul cuts. Heck No! For those that don't know im a HUGE hiphop fan. And when i mean HipHop, i dont just mean 'Top 40-nusery rhymey-blonde girls in mini skirts licking lollipops singing P-diddy hooks' kind of hipHop. I mean GRIMEY sh*t. Im a huge Wu-tang fan so i know more than my fair share of beats that fit the 'strictly for the jeeps' format, son!! When it comes to music think of me as your resident EVE on this blog (pit-bull in a skirt).

We're gonna take an eclectic look at the world of music. Stuff i think you should remember, stuff i think you should get into, and stuff i think you should look out for... or maybe NOT!! I will NOT however feature posts on Nigerian music except it a favourable review. Mainly because i KNOW the artists will find it extremely difficult taking constructive criticism , so dont have time for that mess. 'Kemi (yes i speak in 3rd person.. so?) doesn't have the patience to cater to anyone's sensitivities. But one or two opinions might slip while in the course of things. I can't help it, my hands (repping my mouth in this case) work faster than my brain works sometimes. So if you KNOW you can be easily offended, PLEASE make a b-line past the muthaf*cking blog and visit Perez Hilton's. A few will be straight up lifts from posts i've already made on my facebook account, but material is hard to come by so forgive me.

And OH YES!!! there WILL be 'cussing', grammatical errors, typos, abusive use of  the asterix, bracket and ellipsis symbols, and other random sh*t.  It's MY blog... DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!

And with that said and done... i'd like to welcome you to 'Kemi Adetiba's "Out the Crate" blog.

*efx of a squeaky door and a haunting voice bellows" "Come iinnn... We have been expecting Yooouuuuuuuuu..." *thunder strike and spine chilling SCREAM from no where* 

Be Worried . . . Be VERY WORRIED!!! *HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ;-)