slowFlow Productions

It's Time for a Nü Revolution

2011-04-28T08:40:00.003-04:00

What it is, folks? Long time no blog, and so much has happened! I got to rock and roll with a hardcore notable, break bread with a jazz bass god, and talk in length about all things music with folks akin to the Queen of Sheba... well, kind of. I'll talk to you now about the latter event.

Some time around 1998, I was introduced to a French-speaking set of soul (and actual) sisters that went by the name Les Nubians. Hint: both Ss are silent, so it's pronounced "Lay New-bee-YEN." I was a lot younger at that time, and toilet humor was my forte. So, while I used to jokingly refer to them as The Lesbians (sorry, I still chuckle as I type), I really dug their debut lp, Princesses Nubiennes. I gave the joint nuff burn on my radio show, even though I didn't understand a word of what they were saying! The breakout single, "Makeda," was about the Queen of Sheba, and her spirit, which lives within them. Tré cool.

Les Nubs dropped another full-length, One Step Forward, half a decade later that was still great, but received far less exposure. Well, third time's the charm, as they go for the hat trick with this month's release. Their vibe is none less spiritual and positive, but more hyped than the chill/lounge vibe found on "Makeda." I was able to chat at length with Hélène about the album, her and sister Célia's love of music, their childhood in the war-torn African nation of Chad, and much more. The product of that discussion was picked up by Okayplayer.com. You can peep the Les Nubians interview here. Images, of course, by my mellow, Scotty Stewart.

The nü album, Nü Revolution, is on some truly inspirational, uplifting, get-inside-your-spirit type vibe. It's breezy and refreshing. It translates the vibe felt when these two ladies walk into a room. The photo studio Scotty shot them in maintained an aura of positivity throughout the length of the shoot that is somewhat hard to explain. I'm glad that they made this job easier by creating music to represent that. Here's the title cut:

Les Nubians - Nü Revolution

Another banger off of the lp features Eric Roberson. I'm a partial fan of this dude. I've heard tunes of his I really liked, and others, the complete opposite. I'm glad I'm on the really-like fence with him on this track, as he kicks the williebobo in the club.

Les Nubians - Déjà Vu (Already You) f. Eric Roberson

I mentioned earlier that the Grammy-nominated debut release featured a breakout single, "Makeda." Well, the follow-up to that was a cover of another African queen's tune. Les Nubians covered the Sade classic, "Sweetest Taboo," putting a twist on it by singing in their native tongue, and changing the focus from that of a lover to their love of music. ?uesto and the boys freaq'd the remix, with the Top 5 candidate, Tariq Trotter, dropping a hot eight bars... plus a hidden treat from the debut. Check:

Les Nubians - Tabou (The Roots rmx)

Of course, there is the first joint that got me reintroduced to the sisters a couple months back. Here is the remix of the tune they put out on an EP version of Nü, which dropped late last year:

Les Nubians - Veuillez Veiller Sur Vos Rêves (J. Period rmx) f. John Banzaï

The song's title translates literally to "Please be sure to protect or watch over your dreams," but the figurative, loose translation they went with is: Do not let your dreams fall asleep. I love that concept, as no matter our age, we always have to have dreams. We are truly sleeping on ourselves if we allow them to become tarnished. Let's wake up our sleepy dreams, and make them come true! Hélène did. Here's what she had to say about that:

I think that one of my dreams was, I wanted to travel. One of my dreams was, like, okay, when I grow up, I will be flying a lot. I will be traveling a lot. I'll be speaking other languages. I'll be able, like, to meet the whole world. And that was, like, a very important, y'know, thing to me; to travel. And, wow! I guess I cherished my dream [laughs] because, it's working! I'm traveling. I'm on planes. [laughs] I mean, I had the real opportunity to meet all those different cultures around the world, and in such a beautiful manner, which is in music. I think that I really fulfilled this one, this dream.

This is really good music, y'all. Good to the point that I'm actually urging everyone to cop this disc, and get it in your life. It's truly time for a Nü Revolution, one in which C-rap does not dominate. We need soldiers in this fight, armed with the goodness this joint is providing. Live love. Peace.

I just can't explain this $#!t at all (C-rap must die, pt. I)

2011-02-05T03:44:00.006-05:00

I'm an old head. Yes, I am. I'm a true, old head. I recall what seemed like not too long ago, I referred to others as old heads; I am now one, myself. Not that I am "up there" in age. But, I am waaay up there in mentality.

I believe it began with the fact that I was usually the youngest person I hung out with. I was the youngest person in my crew in elementary, high school, and college. As I got older, the gap in age of heads I chilled with also grew. I'm not sure why; that's just how it seemed to work out. As a result, I think I've always acted older than my own years.

Of late, I've been feeling like a real live old head due to my listening to the radio. I say that because it's starting to seem like I'm having a one-person version of the restaurant scene of I Think I Love My Wife, where they're all talking about how disgusted they are with what passes for "urban music" these days.

Unless you've banned the radio, television, and all print media from your life...

...you're likely familiar with Nicki Minaj and Drake. While they both are dope on the mic in their own way, I have similar issues with them, that my old head-ism is compelling me to share. I'll start by breaking it down with three words: y'all can't sing! This whole muted, minimalist beats with the super voice processing in the studio is mad wack. It's one thing if you're gonna throw a couple notes in on a bar or two for emphasis, or even add some flair to a hook. But, these fools are putting out entire songs of this "singing" foolinish! Teddy Riley knows he can't sing. You don't ever hear him putting out a solo record, or even hear his dry voice on a track. No, that brother be steady on the vocoder, blowing into that talkbox tube, Troutman-style.

But, Onika and Aubrey really be acting like they can sing, for real. I stress the term "acting," as that's what they both started out doing. This is no newsflash, but Drake gained his first notoriety playing in the Canadian teen soap series Degrassi. And Nicki went to NYC's LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, majoring in drama... go figure. Now, they both put their dramatic skills to the test regularly, acting like they can sing on Billboard chart-topper after chart-topper. These two halfwits also got so full of themselves that they got twarried (I'm trying to coin a new Twitter trend; see my last post). Yeah, they posted back and forth to each other on their respective Twitter pages, frontin' like they got hitched; a self-inflicted twumor (I'll get something to stick) that lasted no longer than their ability to harmonize on the same song together. They both also put out mixtapes that are waaay hotter than their respective debut releases, though Nicki brought much more shame to their camp than Drake with her pop-hop attempt of a rap album. Pathetic.

Another old-headism I've been displaying lies in another artist. If you recall, He-Man and most other superheroes' biggest beef was when their adversaries used their powers, however strong, for evil. Let's say I'm Captain Radio and we'll call Chris Brown the Good Record Potential Destroyer. Yes, he lumped up his ex-boo something serious. I mean, the boy was straight crumping on her neckback, for real. And as messed up as that was, it doesn't mean he is not talented. I mean, we all wish R. Kelly didn't have such a heavy bladder, but "I Believe I Can Fly" still gets me all choked up!

Now, the youngin's latest track that's been getting its fair share of constant payola-funded spins is "No B.S.," a little ditty that seems harmless enough to start. Smooth, mid-tempo, almost hypnotic rhythm and ultra-catchy melody. Nice, to set the mood. No, wait, what did he just say?

It's 3:00 in the morning / You know I'm horny / So, won't you come over my place / And put a smile on my face

What the efff, dude?! I know Marvin was blunt when he tried to Get It On. Yes, Teddy all but threatened his woman's life if she didn't turn 'em off (i.e., the lights). But, when you go so far as to mention the word condom in your "slow jam," you need to reevaluate some $#!t.

You already know what time it is / Reach up in the dresser where them condoms is

And the stupid dummy is using improper grammar to boot!!

Yes, I am an old head. I like old ass music, and new music that sounds old. I chill with people twice my age like it's nothing. I'm okay with that. I'm also okay with the idea of living to get old! We can only choose one alternative to getting old... and I'm not ready to cash in my chips yet... I got a hot hand to play!

So, to keep in the good vibrations of old-headism, I'll share this banger from stic.man (of dead prez)'s 2008 debut solo lp, Manhood (Deluxe Edition). Note: the tune is only on the deluxe/re-release of the lp, which was only released as a digital download. The fell-good track features Young Noble of the 2Pac-famed Outlawz, and will probably stay one of my favorite tunes... ever:

stic.man - My S.W.A.G. Is Up f. Young Noble

My pride is up, my spirit it up; add it up. My S.W.A.G. is up! Bump this one, and pay them haters no mind.

I'm about to jet, but my old @$$ wanted to wish y'all all a happy not-so-new year. I have some more of my published writing to share, too; soon come!

Rockin' robin

2010-12-30T00:53:00.001-05:00

Okay, I did it. I bit the bullet, and finally did it. I'm a little disappointed in myself... just a little bit. But, it's been done. Facebook is still the devil, now. Don't get it twisted! But, with receipt of the confirmation message from @Biz Stone and the @Twitter Team ("Welcome to the flock!" it read), I have now joined the birds who have been rockin' in the treetops all day long, tweedle deedle tweetin' and a-tweetin' along. I am officially a Twit.

I guess it was inevitable. I mean, if you look at the template design I chose for this blog when I started it up in September, you'll see the birds in the upper righthand corner... I was bound to "join the flock" some time, huh? Twitter. I just can't believe it, y'all.

While this may seem like a "so what" moment to you, this is pretty major for me. When it comes to social media, I'm like your weird uncle who still mails at least one letter per month to Paramount Pictures asking when are they gonna finally release Forrest Gump on Laserdisc. What I'm saying is I can be resistant to change.

But this time, I'm also ready to change, folks. I've committed myself to making slowFlowOnline.com a bigger and better presence in 2011. Part of me doing that is getting the name out there, through media... socially. :: big sigh ::

So, go ahead. Follow me, you Twits. I'm @slowFlowOnline on Twitter. You can view my recent Tweets via the widget off to the right, beneath the blog archives. Damn, I feel like an old head for real, talking about $#!t and not knowing whether I'm using the correct terminology! LOL

Now, no matter how much my wife, friends, family members, and co-workers try, I'm not reading any psalms from the Book of Face anytime soon... as I mentioned, FB is still the devil. But for the time being, you can just say I'm flying with Hell's Angels, so follow me inna town, and a-follow me inna country... as I get my Tweet on. Reason why you should ah follow me? Cuz yu love me!

The MF'n Life, eh?

2010-12-21T23:51:00.008-05:00

No, I didn't select this title so that I could drop F-bombs on the low. I'm talking aboot the bombshell firecracker Canuck that goes by the name Melanie Fiona. She's sexy as hell, can sing her @$$ off, and if she could recite verbatim Rev. Brown's sermon from the Sexual Chocolate scene of Coming To America, she'd be half as dope as my wife is (I love you, baby).

Anyway, I linked up with her dope @$$ last year, on the brink of her burgeoning popularity... circa August 2009. This was quite a bit earlier than her debut release, The Bridge, dropped in the States; just before "It Kills Me" hit the airwaves, but just after "Give It To Me Right" had her catching ears of neck-rollin' pigeons from T-Dot to Texas. I saw her tear the stage down at Water Street Music Hall here in Rochester, which gave me good reason to dub her a modern-day Anna Mae Bullock. Melanie, showing a glimpse of her GT background, performed what would become my favorite from the release, that I'll share here:

Melanie Fiona - "Ay Yo"

She also performed...

a cover of Dr. West's heartbreak hit in a most creative way. Fiona, along with ?uestlove and some other session musicians, pulled off a remix EP of one-take, stripped down, organic versions of her tunes, and a couple covers. Here's one:

Melanie Fiona - "Heartless (Illadelphonics Live rmx)" f. The Illadelphonics

I tell you, I get to writing and sometimes get lost in a thought. I almost forgot the main reason why I started this post! I need more sleep. Okay, MF'n Melanie Fiona has been hard at work on her sophomore release, tentatively titled The MF Life. There is a lead-off single that I felt the need to share with y'all:

Melanie Fiona - "Gone & Never Coming Back"

Melanie knows ballads are where she makes the most impact, and she doesn't disappoint here. She also didn't disappoint during the :30 minutes plus I got to kick it with her for the feature that me and Scotty did for Verbicide Magazine. You can check out the feature here. Comment below and tell me what you think!

I cannot bring up the nation's unofficial capital without mentioning Mr. International, di one call Kardinal Offishall. Kardi has been holding his city on his back (out loud and proud, as opposed to the subliminal messages of his fellow T-Dotter, Drake) since 19-how long. The slept-on but dope 2008 Not 4 Sale featured this track, in which Kardi played both eMCee and producer on this collab with another Canuck:

Kardinal Offishall - "Family Tree (Still Eyerize)" f. Glenn Lewis

Damn, now I gotta get on the other Offishall/Lewis banger that I used to love playing on my show. This one was the title cut to his never-officially-released-but-I-still-got-a-copy follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2002 debut. Easy, Mr. Lewis, mi say eazaaay:

Glenn Lewis - "Back For More" f. Kardinal Offishall

One more, then I'm gone... promise! This is not a Canuck, nor does he have any links to Canada, but the Salaam Remi (one of my favorites on the boards)-produced title cut from his debut lp had the R&B charts and clubs a-frenzy this summer. The half Mexican/Black, San Pedro, CA native Miguel released All I Want Is You a few weeks ago, and this is the follow-up single to the smash debut:

Miguel - "Sure Thing"

I haven't heard the entire joint yet, but will keep y'all posted once I have a minute to check it out.

All this yappin'... I feel like I gotta scream Wrap It Up, B. on myself! A'ight, mi gone... soon come back, though.

Tell 'Em Chali Sent Ya

2010-12-04T13:00:00.009-05:00

I was re-reading my Faithful/Priceless post, and noticed that towards the end, I mentioned a late night out, as me and Scotty had just wrapped another interview/shoot. That was on 9.15. Well, the fruits of our labor have finally seen the light of day!

Yes, I take some of the blame for it being two and a half months before publication, but not all of it. I admit I was struggling getting this piece completed. Usually when I write, the piece will simply fall into place as I move it along. For some reason, though, I had a block whenever I sat down to attempt banging this one out.

It would be six weeks from the time that I interviewed former underground Hip Hop set Jurassic 5 notable Chali 2na before I submitted the completed work!

tunes available after the jump...

Either way, it was sent in to Okayplayer.com on 11.1, and ready to go as Scotty had already submitted his images. I'm not gonna say I don't know why it sat in the inbox of OKP staff for a month before it went live on the site. I'm just gonna say that such may or may not have been the case; with the leverage given to the former!

Well, the Chali 2na interview is up now, and available for your viewing and reading pleasure. I mention in the piece that the dude is truly real. Yes, I know that "truly real" is a weird paradox. But, I've not met too many industry heads that were as down to earth as the one Charles Stewart. It's always fun to interview someone where it stops being so much question/answer and more of a conversation, which we did for the better part of an hour.

Though Chali initially popularized his name by getting his graf game up, the moniker was bestowed upon him by the same person who gave him his government name:

I just had to totally embrace the "tuna" thing. My father gave me that name when I was like eight, seven. I'm a junior, I'm the IV. His nickname in the streets when he was a youngster was "Pee Wee." He ain't wanna call me Lil' Pee Wee! Shit naw, I was like, I wasn't gonna answer to that! [laughs] But, he started calling me Tuna from the Star-Kist commercials and shit. Charlie Tuna, ha ha! Tell 'em Charlie sent ya. It was a family thing at first. Then he started calling me that shit in front of friends, and it just stuck. When I left the Chi, I thought I had escaped that shit. But, I started getting serious about the eMCeeing and shit, and I was just like, you know what? I'm just gonna embrace it as a whole. Because I started taggin' "2na" at the crib. That's where that whole shit came from.

That's the story on the name. Now, the tunes... I can't front. Before I met duke, I was not really a fan! I used to (and still do a little) poke fun at the way he rhymes, making my voice as deep as it can go, and robotic-ly scatting gibberish that happens to rhyme. I had to eat my giberred words when I finally listened to his debut lp, Fish Outta Water, as it's pretty dope! And while I haven't peeped it yet, I'm told that his pre-release mixtape Fish Market, pt. 2 is packed with mad heat in anticipation of his upcoming sophomore joint, due in 2011. Here are two of my favorites from FOW:

Chali 2na - "So Crazy"

Chali 2na - "When Will I See You Again" f. Elzhi

Chali and his little/"big" brother Laid Law ripped the performance of "So Crazy" during their stop at The Club at Water Street, when we caught up with them in September. Very fresh.

Oh, and don't forget to check out the Baby Loves Hip Hop presents: Dino 5 children's story CD that he was a part of. If you have children, or need a stocking stuffer for young'ns in your realm, this is a really cool, family appropriate disc that you may likely not grow too exhausted of. Translation: if you want to kill Dora and her little Spanish-singin' @$$, cop this disc!

That's about it for the Chali 2na scene. Leave comments; let me know how you feel about the piece. I've got much more to rock 'n roll out on you fools, too. Y'all stay up.

ghosTown Productions

2010-12-01T00:59:00.006-05:00

So, I've been told that my blog has become somewhat of a desert-like ghost town of sorts. My bad, sons! I logged in to begin this post, and was shocked to see the date of the last post was over two months ago. Yeah, pretty wack, indeed.

Even though this is a bit of a "filler" post, it's still something! I say it's filler because it's not going to contain too much new content, and it's a "hold y'all over" until my next post, in which I have some jurassic news to share.

The last post contained a bunch of songs that were supposed to be able to be streamed on my site. I understand that not everyone has been able to hear all of the content. So, I've made them available in another format. The tunes are available below (and hopefully, this time they'll all work!):

Faith Evans - "Maybe"

Faith Evans - "Way You Move" f. Snoop Dogg

Kelly Price - "Tired"

Eric Benét - "Sometimes I Cry"

Check out my last post for full descriptions of each tune, and why I decided to share them with you all.

Now, while I was trolling online, searching for a better player to incorporate onto my site, I came across a bad ass tune of all phEMcees getting it in! These broads are Brits, and they are spitting pretty serious. I like how most UK Hip Hop has that gritty, electro funk with just a touch of yaad-style [read: Jamaican-influenced] twang to it. Here is a Youtube clip of it featuring... well, there are so many of them on the track, and the video keeps track of who's who. Pay attention:

And while we deh pon di UK ting, I'll throw in a likkle jingle from a dude who got me open on the UK Hip Hop scene back in 2003, Dizzee Rascal. Di bwoy is nutz! But, when you get past the accent and process the lyrics, he's got some $#!t to say. His award-winning debut lp, Boy in da Corner, is put in the "Best Album of All Time" list by several sources, solidifying that even though you may not have heard of di one call Dizzee Ras, maybe you should see what the hype is about. This was his debut single from ...Corner:

Dizzee Rascal - "Fix Up, Look Sharp"

That's it for the time being, family. We'll chat just now...

Faithful... Priceless...

2010-09-15T01:09:00.001-04:00

I'm the youngest of three children, two girls and a boy. I've always had a special relationship with my parents' first born child, as we were both connected through our love of the arts. When we were young, it was our love of Hip Hop music and culture that fascinated us. Now, we have both realized our love of the written word.

My big sis, whom I've always playfully nicknamed Supa D, was what we will call "lost" for awhile. She has now found herself, and is enjoying the world of self-discovery. She has decided to share it with the world (wide web) via her blog: A Bed-Stuy Mommy's Diary. It's insightful, delightful, and full of things I've never known about my sister. I'm enjoying finding out about her with y'all. Be sure to check her out.

While finding out more about my sibling, I was just thinking about loyalty. It is so rewarding to be loyal to someone/thing that equally reciprocates the sentiment. Being faithful is truly priceless. I've been faithfully loyal to all of my family members, and continue to do so, as my family is growing. The image posted above was captured by our father, of whom I am a namesake. I can only attempt being loyal to his memory.

I have not been as loyal to myself in expressing my love of the arts as I was when my radio show was on the air. I recently mentioned to someone that...

putting up this blog and posting my past and future written works has thankfully given me the fill to an 18-month void. I used to have a three hour per day avenue to express my passion. Only when the solution was discovered did I realize the extent of the problem. I guess I'm in a way on the same path as Supa D.

Well, I didn't plan on getting all Socrates on y'all, but that's just where this thought process went. These deep thoughts about my show had me reminiscing about some of the songs and artists I used to play. I got wind a couple months ago that one of my favorites, Faith Evans, is getting ready to drop a new album. She has an official debut joint, but it's pretty weak. It doesn't even stand up to the bootleg single I had in rotation when my show went off the air.

Faith Evans - "Maybe"

I used to love this joint! I know it is not mastered, and the levels are off, and it even has a little hiccup/stutter in the beginning and middle of the joint! But, Faith flows just right on that track. It sounds like Neptunes on production. I doubt it will be on the new lp, or will ever be available. anywhere, for that matter But, it used to bump on my show! "I... can't... live... with... out... you... by... my... side." That's my part right there!

Well, Ms. Evans also has another buzz cut that is better than the actual debut single for the album. This one features the boss pupp.

Faith Evans - "Way You Move" f. Snoop Dogg

I really get into this joint. It's so smooth and mellow; make you shake a leg... just not a stanky one. While not too many R&B chicks are on Faith's level vocally, I'd say this former fatty comes close to blowing her out the water. I loved Kelly Price from when she first dropped "Friend of Mine" and nobody knew what she looked like. But, if you know me, you know I love the fat chicks. So, add a dope voice to a chick who be chillin' with Ashley Stewart and Lane Bryant on the Avenue, you know I'm sold!

Well, after banging out a successful run on the gospel tip (that's where her heart is), she's back to give us secular heathens some burn. But, she kind of walks the line on this one, as the joint has all the making of a gospel tune, save for the God-filled message. Either way, it's too fresh for me not to share with y'all.

Kelly Price - "Tired"

If you think you've heard something... wait until you see her perform the joint live! I've never seen someone sing so hard that I feel outta breath when the music stops! Don't watch it too many times... you'll be like me and be about to cry.

Speaking of crying, Eric Benét is about to release his new lp, too. Thank God for brothers like him and Raphael Saadiq who aren't scared to step outside the box and bring us that timeless olde skool soul with a modern twist. Benét's Lost In Time is scheduled for release this autumn, but we know how the "pushed back" CD release game goes. Here's the debut that got me open.

Eric Benét - "Sometimes I Cry"

Like I said, timeless. And while none of the tunes I've posted above are new by any means, they're what I'm feeling right now.

Okay, I think this is the longest drafted, wordiest post on all of blogspot! I have been trying to get this post up for over a week. But, after a late night out (did another interview/shoot with Scotty), and countless other things to keep up with in my personal life, I haven't had the time to finish. I'm just trying to stay loyal to myself; faithful to my family. Priceless.

Uncle jayt'ree + Chuckie D. = OKP

2010-09-01T23:37:00.003-04:00

Big news: the piece that me and my main man Scotty Stewart completed most recently is now posted on okayplayer. Scotty described my excitement best when he said, "Call me when you leave work and get in the car so you can scream like a woman." And I did. I've had articles, stories, and reviews published before in print and online, but OKP is a big look for me!

Chatting with the man that...

had me hating the U.S. Postal Service for years was an accomplishment. I was able to pick Chuck D.'s brain for over a half hour and laugh about the antics of his partner, Slava Slav:

You got somebody who think automatically, in order to get known, they gotta be on the bad side of the rhyme or the crime. [Rappers think] "I gotta be crazy to be noticed." One thing we always had Flav--- Flava, he's always been crazy. It ain't like we designin' somebody; I mean like, you be crazy, and then go on out there and... psssht, this mophuka is nuts since day one!

Hilarious. I didn't have the chance to talk to The Clock-Rocking One personally, but he did address me and the crowd at the show. Caution: this clip is loud as hell, and you may not be able to make out all he's saying. But, you'll know when he says his name:

You can peep the entire article, complete with both color and b&w images, over at Okayplayer.com. At the time this blog entry is posted, it's the #1 story on the flash news reel at top of the site's homepage. Yet another big look for me. I'm sure it will be replaced by some new news soon, but I'm living the champagne lyfe until then. Let's toast it up.

Local Yokels

2010-09-01T11:51:00.002-04:00

So, as I'm going through my portfolio of work to post on this new blog, I have been checking my work out from older to more recent. I had forgotten about some of the pieces I've had published in City Newspaper. This next assortment is to highlight those folks from around the way... i.e., the way of Rochester, NY.

I'll kick it off with a piece that was published circa September 2005. City gave me my second cover story with a feature on a dude named Amir Sulaiman (pronounced SOO'-lee-mon). He's a published author and poet slash dope eMCee. His spoken word is sometimes blended with music on some tracks from his three albums. He's been featured on Russell Simmons' Def Poetry on a few occasions, toured with KRS-One and Mos Def, and been called everything from teacher to terrorist. Oh, and of course, he's from the city I currently reside in. Good look for the Roc! Check out the piece from City's archives.

We also covered a piece on a funk electro...

jam band that formed at what would have been my alma mater if I hadn't been a drop out. Pia Mater, which was a five-piece at the time, has since had a lot of change up in the lineup, with only two of the five members that I interviewed still holding the foundation. Check out that archive here.

City does a "Best of Greater Rochester" annually, where the writers sound off on what they think make the Flower City a fly place to live/visit/be. Also in this issue is the Readers' Choice awards, where readers send in ballots in the weeks prior to the issue's release and vote on the best in everything from late night eatery to gas station. Since I had been a previous Critics Choice award winner twice for my radio show, it was fun to flip the script and be a critic. Here's the 2005 awards page, and this has my four contributions. The coffeehouse has been off and on with that event for years (currently off), and the morning show has had changes galore (haven't been up that early in years). But Club NV is still poppin' with G.I. and Reg, with DJ Bac-Spin is also thrown in the mix. And my Little is now way bigger than me, was a groomsman at my wedding, and has since graduated from culinary school after high school.

Okay, players... that's it for now. I'll holla more in a minute. Got some big news to share.

I'm not fancy; I live the Common Lyfe

2010-08-30T03:10:00.001-04:00

What's happening, good folk? I'm sitting here reminiscing about the summer of 2005. It was a special summer for me; it was the time I met the beautiful woman that would become my wife. That's why I'm very excited about this post.

My then-girlfriend and I had our first almost-date at the 2005 Rochester MusicFest. Her and her homies had already copped their tickets, and I was headed out also, but on the grind. I had just picked up a freelance writing gig at City Newspaper, Rochester's premier newsweekly, and had my first big feature covering the event. She and I got to chop it up, and I was able to wow her with my charm and boyish good looks (she's still here, ain't she?).

Well, the introduction to the...

cover story that I penned read as such:

Soularized
slowFlow's jaythreeoh helps us sift MusicFest's crunk, R&B, and Hip Hop

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty charged up for the weekend of July 16 and 17 to roll around. If you haven't heard about it, you should've. I think it's going to be pretty big. Huge, even. No, I don't work for the promotions committee of Rochester MusicFest. No, Mayor Bill didn't slide me any dead presidents to say this. More

Along with the intro, City hooked me up to blaze two interviews: (then) newcomer Lyfe Jennings, fresh off of his newly released debut lp, and one of my favorite lyricists, Common.

At the time, I was digging on Lyfe hard (pause). I haven't felt him the same (seriously, pause) since then. But, I enjoyed hearing him squirm out of explaining if he's supposed to be a 26yo ex-con, and had been out for a couple after banging out a 10-year stretch, how is it that he did not commit the punishable offense in his early teens?! Whatever mathematics he was kicking, I still liked the album, and bumped it on my radio show. Here's the piece from City's archives, and here's a nicer copy I threw together.

From when he was begging for money, right up until he tried to take over your thoughts, I've been a huge Common fan. Well, I still am, but that last joint was not a good look, and I dug Electric Circus! It was still pretty cool chatting to the Chi-Town native. Plus I was all about that BE lp. That shit was dope on plastic! RIP Dilla. Again, here's the City archive piece, and the nicer copy.

My lovely wife just came in from a late night out w/her co-workers, celebrating a good friend's birthday. She asked if she's going to lose me to the blogosphere. "They're going to be like, 'How's your husband?' And I'll be like, 'I don't know; he's locked himself in the room to blog!'" She's so "dramatical." I don't think she'll lose me to blogging. But, I'm just getting started, so we'll see... good night, kids.

It's ya Uncle jaythreeoh on the blog tip!

2010-08-26T23:34:00.001-04:00

So, even though I was dumb ahead of my time on the radio tip for almost 14 years, I'm sooo far behind the times on creating my online presence. I don't even have a Facebook page! But, I have an excuse though: FB is the devil.

Anyway, I'm putting this up here, in the hopes that I will be updating it on a more regular basis. My most recent thing to update is the fact that a few weeks ago, me and my mans Scotty Stewart (photog extraordinaire) went to Buffalo to get an exclusive with CHUCK D. of PUBLIC ENEMY! Yes, it was supafresh to share a booth in the back of the lobby restaurant of the Adam's Mark hotel.

I chopped it up with the big homie for like a half, and...

my man Scotty got him in front of the waterfall fountain landscaping joint in front of the telly. Images and words to be seen on a wildly popular website soon. As soon as it's up, I will post the link.

I'm here listening to Dondria's debut lp. Now, I've been a Phatfffat fan since 2008, just after she got snatched up by Jermaine Dupri. Ol' girl got a really nice voice, beautiful even. But, these kidass songs ain't doing NUFFIN for showcasing her talent. It's very teenie bopper-ish. I'm not sure if I gotta get another listen, but it's not moving me on the first go'round. And I'm pretty vex about it, too... I really dig the chick. She's like one of the three Youtube channels I'm subscribed to. Damnit, JD! Okay... really??! Second to last track on the joint, and she's now spelling out, "B-E-L-I-E-V-E-R, you made me a believer." Not a good look. 'Tever.

Anyway, I'm out for now; in a minute...

WAIT...!!! Quick update, the last song of the dozen, and she redeems herself with the most beautiful song on the debut. Well did like a Baconator. I'm hungry. Okay, out.