Live From Planet Earth

NY / Lounge Around at Zion, Saturday

2012-05-01T05:00:00.003-04:00

NY / Lounge Around at Zion

2012-04-26T12:00:00.001-04:00

For the Love of the Cuff [ep] / Live from Planet Earth volume 1.1

2011-12-21T10:01:00.001-05:00

{liberatormagazine.com exclusive feature}

For the Love of the Cuff EP / Live from Planet Earth volume 1.1
by Nia I’man Smith

Brothas and Sistas, It is with great sadness that I report the cold pimp slap of winter is officially upon us. Between landlords that lock up the thermostat because your adjusting it “makes the gas bill go up” and the shame that comes with trying to weatherproof your windows using saran wrap, winter is surely the season that finds most folks looking for alternate sources of heat. So while I personally maintain a strict "anti-cuff" policy, in the spirit of realizing that everybody isn’t satisfied with just their degrees keeping them warm on these cold ass nights, we present to you the For the Love of the Cuff EP: Live from Planet Earth volume 1.1.

Guaranteed to get you and your seasonal boo hotter than a good space heater, we've carefully compiled over TWO hours of the best Cognac fueled old school and bump and grind new school slow jams for all your cuffing needs. So download the A-Side and the B-Side, stuff that comforter in the back of the closet, pull out the bearskin rug, and if you end up going half on a baby as a result of some Tyrone Davis or Tiombe Lockhart, just promise that you’ll name her (or him) Nia. It's only fair.

A-Side (download)

01. Ain’t Nothin I can Do: Tyrone Davis
02. Butterfly: Herbie Hancock
03. Creepin: Stevie Wonder
04. Devika [Goddess Chant}: Lonnie Liston Smith & the Cosmic Echoes
05. Do It Again: New Birth
06. Everlasting Love: Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
07. Getting It On: Leroy Hutson
08. Gimme a Little Action: Sylvia
09. Holiday: Leon Ware
10. I Love You More and More: Tom Brock
11. I Too Am Wanting: Syreeta
12. It’s Your Love: Ethel Beatty
13. I Want More, More, and Then Some : Nina Simone
14. It's Your Love: Ethel Beatty
15. Let Me Love You: Michael Henderson
16. Let Me Ride: Windy City
17. Listen to My Song: Darondo
18. Raunchy Rita: Elvin Jones and Richard Davis
19. That’s All Right With Me: Esther Phillips
20. Tunji: John Coltrane
21. When I Found You: Patrice Rushen
22. Wild and Peaceful: Kool & The Gang

B-Side (download)

01. Alone With An Angel: Georgia Anne Muldrow
02. Bass Head Jazz: Cee-Lo Green
03. Billie Jean: Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme
04. Day: Quadron
05. DIRTYLAPDANCER: The Mag-Nif
06. Electric Man : Prince
07. Everyday: Jamiroqui
08. Finer Things: J*Davey
09. Gloria (Zodiac Lovers): Adrian Younge
10. Hey: King
11. I Said: Full Crate &Mar
12. Love Song #1: Me’Shell N’degeOcello
13. Off The Late Night: Diamond District
14. The Panties: Mara Hruby
15. Return of the Caribbean Cowboy: Nicky Lars
16. Seconds: Little Dragon (Syd The Kid Remix)
17. Sex (I’m A): Lovage
18. She Needs Me: Jamie Lidell
19. Sexy Suzy on a Sunday: Tiombe Lockhart
20. Sweat: Peter Hadar
21. Take You High: Glenn Lewis
22. The Girl of My Dreams: Coultrain
23. Wait: The Tao Of Slick

LA / Live From Planet Earth: The Los Angeles Sessions Begin

2011-12-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

rsvp/info livefromplanetearth.org

Live From Planet Earth, L.A.
Saturday, December 3.

Art in NYC / African American Art Collective's "Visions of a Community"

2011-02-23T12:01:00.000-05:00

The closing reception for our "Visions of a Community" group showcase (check out pictures from opening night), in partnership with Salt Space and the African American Art Collective in New York, is on Friday, February 25.

From 5-7pm there will be an Artist Reception for artists, performers and journalists to set up, relax, exchange contacts, do a couple of interviews, take portraits, etc. From 7-9pm the gallery will open to the public for viewing. From 9-10pm there will be a selection of live poetry and from 10-12pm there will be live music with DJ Desim on the tables.

Here's a few short video features that ESPN did on the event.

"Visions of a Community" recap / Images & video of the African American Art Collective group exhibition

2011-02-15T12:01:00.010-05:00

We partnered with Salt Space and the African American Art Collective in New York for the "Visions of a Community" group showcase. Contact Salt Space gallery in Manhattan for visiting hours. The exhibit is on display until February 25, when we'll be throwing a closing celebration party. Stay tuned. Below are images and a video via ESPN.com (Karston aka Skinny is also a pro BMX rider) that recap the opening ceremony.

Live From Planet Earth recap / Video from the James Brown vs. Isley Brothers "Messin' Around in the Middle" Brooklyn house party

2011-02-06T12:01:00.003-05:00

{liberatormagazine.com exclusive feature}

"It was one of the best parties I've ever been to -- it's so great to be around that kind of positive energy."
-W.M.

Here's a video recap of our most recent Live From Planet Earth fundraiser. We also have pictures posted up here separately for better loading.

Live From Planet Earth recap / Pictures from the James Brown vs. Isley Brothers "Messin' Around in the Middle" Brooklyn house party

2011-02-01T12:01:00.014-05:00

{liberatormagazine.com exclusive feature}

"It was one of the best parties I've ever been to -- it's so great to be around that kind of positive energy."
-W.M.

Our most recent Live From Planet Earth fundraiser was a huge success. We raised enough to meet our budget for the next issue of The Liberator Mag (!) and met some great people from Brooklyn and beyond. Here's a photo recap of the night, courtesy of Karston Tannis and Jennifer Rivera.

Art in NYC / African American Art Collective's "Visions of a Community"

2011-01-31T12:01:00.001-05:00

We partnered with Salt Space and the African American Art Collective in New York for the "Visions of a Community" group showcase. The opening reception is Thursday, February 3 at 6pm and the exhibit runs until February 25. Here's a short video feature that ESPN did on the piece.

Live From Planet Earth / The messin' around in the middle house party: James Brown vs. The Isley Brothers

2011-01-02T12:00:00.005-05:00

info/rsvp livefromplanetearth.org

Now that the hype of New Years Eve has died down you can either keep the party going or get that do-over you need, because we're celebrating righteously in Brooklyn with James Brown and The Isley Brothers as our guides this weekend on Saturday, January 8.

We all know James Brown set foundations stood on by everyone from Public Enemy "Night Train" to Pete Rock "T.R.O.Y.", to Biggie/The Notorious BIG "Dreams", to Mary J. Blige "Everything", to Black Moon "Enta Da Stage", to En Vogue "Hold On" & "My Lovin' You're Never Gonna Get It", to Alicia Keys "Fallin", to Brandy "I Wanna Be Down", to Blackstreet "No Diggity" and, yes, even Nicki Minaj "Save Me".

But The Isley Brothers got plenty of legacy to claim as well, from Ice Cube "Today Was A Good Day", to A Tribe Called Quest "Bonita Applebum", to Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Buddah Lovers", back to Biggie again "Big Poppa", to Keith Murray "The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World" , to Da Brat "Funkdafied" , to Tupac "Bury Me A G" and, yes, even Ludacris and Trey Songz "Sex Room".

Along with performances by soul singer Nicholas Ryan Gant and delta blues/rock band The Wolfhustlers we'll be exploring all of this historical territory thoroughly, curated by our Earth-native tour guide DJ Jah Medicine. We'll also be gettin down to original hits from Sir. Brown and The Isleys all night long.

Aside from celebrating inspiration and good people right here on good, old planet Earth, the other reason we're gathering is to raise funds for the magazine. This is a house party event hosted in a huge apartment in Crown Heights, Brooklyn by two good brothers so we ask that we all respect the space and treat it like our own home. An open "bar" will be in effect with free drinks and free food from Spicy Wild Mango, but we encourage you to bring something to share as well, pot-luck family style. Complimentary copies of Liberator 9.1 will also be available.

We do ask that you kindly RSVP, since this is a limited capacity space.

//

related event: Jan 6-8
Conference for The State of African American and African Diaspora Studies at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Nicholas Ryan Gant [audios]

2010-12-01T12:01:00.039-05:00

{liberatormagazine.com exclusive feature}
{pic: d.scruggs}

Sometimes an artist's character and energy can't be properly expressed in words. Other times, not so:

"People are getting to know my music... keep me in prayer..."

And perhaps those words alone don't say much, until you hear the voice they belong to -- sharp, melodically disciplined; relevant. Only then might you really grasp the degree of humility this guy Nicholas Ryan Gant (The Liberator Magazine 9.1; Live From Planet Earth alum) has. It's that humility that leads a man like this to consistently perfect his vocal instrument -- to be in constant conversation with a greater guidance.

Check him out in these tracks. If you're in Philly, also check him out live in concert this Thursday at our "Southbound" dance party. His debut album Border Breaker is available on iTunes.

Hittin Switches EP (download)

Move f. Baye (Hueman Prophets)

{*}

Intercession

{*}

Mystery

{*}

Before The Fall

{*}

Live From Planet Earth Dakar [recap]

2010-07-31T00:01:00.010-04:00

Inspire, Educate ...

The Liberator had the opportunity to re-connect with the Pan-African Youth Collective to put on Live From Planet Earth: Dakar, the closing event of the 2nd Annual Pan-African Youth Summit held on May 29, 2010 at the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal. Under the theme: "Africa Unite: Toward a Second Wave of Liberation Struggle," the summit was a culmination of months of preparation and ideological work to ensure the summit planted a progressive seed for a new pan-African coalition -- a collective of music artists, youth activists, farm workers, students, soldiers, and cultural workers united in opposition to ethnic violence, dysfunctional capitalist institutions and neo-colonialism.

Panel Discussions
Africa: Movements of Liberation Before and After Independence
This panel focused on a class analysis of 20th century anti-colonial movements in Africa. The panel discussed the internal contradictions and pitfalls of African liberation movements in the last century. Panelists also discussed the counter-revolution against the radical nationalist governments in Africa during the 20th century.

Toward a New Wave of Popular Democratic Liberation Struggle
This panel discussed methods by which the younger generations can create a new era of popular and democratic struggles in Africa. The first part of the discussion analyzed the daily challenges faced by the popular classes of Africa in the 21st century. Next, panelist highlighted the link between imperialism and the internal difficulties of poverty and social dislocation. Finally, the panelists discussed the role of culture in creating a revolutionary consciousness among youth. This lively panel included poetry, song and intense debates between panelists and participants.

The Struggle Against Imperialism: Pan-African Movements and International Solidarity
This panel discussed the potential impact of a revolutionary pan-African movement on the international fight against imperialism and global capitalism. The discussion analyzed the Bolivarian revolution in Latin America, the peasant revolts in South Asia and the continuing significance of the Cuban Revolution. The panel also discussed the current predicament of revolutionary movements among oppressed nationalities and the working-class in the United States.

... and Celebrate

The summit was followed by the "Live From Planet Earth" after-party. The pan-African-themed party featured music from Africa and the diaspora and was an opportunity for networking and a much-deserved celebration in the spirit of the summit. One attendee commented, "That was one of the wildest parties I've ever jammed at!"

Check out the full photo gallery here.

Where Do We Go From Here?
The post-summit objectives are to establish a permanent administrative body responsible for managing the operations of the League of Revolutionary pan-Africanists; recruit new members and coordinate the next Pan-African Youth Summit. The primary function of the League will be to raise revolutionary consciousness in West African civil society. In the near future, the League will be discussing short-term campaigns including facilitating movements against foreign military bases in West Africa. If you are seeking an opportunity to support, contact them at panafricanyouth@gmail.com.

Live From Planet Earth, Dakar (PanAfrican Summit)

2010-05-04T13:02:00.013-04:00

{liberator event}

2nd Pan African Youth Summit: Dakar, Senegal
+Live From Planet Earth: Dakar ("Style de Dakar")
+May 28-29, 2010: University Cheikh Anta Diop

If you've been with us for more than a year you'll remember the first annual Pan African Youth Summit held at Howard University in February 2009.

Held in Senegal this year at University Cheikh Anta Diop, The Liberator Magazine will be more closely connected to the 2nd annual Pan African Youth Summit, specifically through a co-produced "Live From Planet Earth: Dakar" which will take place during the weekend of the summit. More info below.

Student organizers in Dakar are asking for donations to help cover some of the operational costs of the summit. In the name of transparency, a full budget is outlined here.

We are putting out a call to our online community asking for help with covering the $172.63 that organizers will spend on a venue for the Live From Planet Earth party and DJ for the night.

Donations can be made at the Pan African Youth Summit website. If you prefer to donate through The Liberator Magazine please contact us.

Africa Unite: 2nd Pan African Youth Summit 2010: Dakar, Senegal.

The Pan African Youth Summit 2010 will be held in Dakar, Senegal on May 28th, and May 29th. The theme for this year is "Africa Unite: Toward a Second Wave of Liberation Struggle". The aim of the summit is to lay the groundwork for a West African collective of music artists, youth activists, farm workers, students, soldiers, and journalists united in opposition to both domestic crony capitalism and externally imposed neo-colonial control. In order to make this gathering a success we are asking for small donations from members of the African diaspora and other concerned members of the international community who share the values of our gathering.

The location of the event will be at University Cheikh Anta Diop, Restaurant des Sciences et des Facultes Techniques. We are asking for small donations from supporters in the United States and international community to help cover some of the costs for our gathering.

Live From Planet Earth: Dakar (sponsored by The Liberator Magazine)
On Friday, May 28th there will be a party featuring soulful music from around the African diaspora and continent hosted by the U.S.-based Liberator Magazine. The party will be a chance for fellowship and consciousness raising through spoken-word performance, art work, and soulful music.

Conference
On Saturday, May 29th there will be a day long conference including panel discussions, guest speakers and a concluding plenary session to form a new West African collective to coordinate the urgently needed consciousness-raising work throughout the region. A description of the panel discussions can be found near the end of this brochure.

Fundraising
To make this summit a success we are asking for support from conscious members of the African diaspora and others who share the progressive and transformative aims of the event this year. Because we are organizing this event in Africa, the costs are fairly minimal. However, at the same time many members of our collective can not afford to completely subsidize this event. Your financial support will go a long way to helping us prepare for the work ahead. Any bit will help. In the interests of transparency, a detailed budget of the costs is public on our website. Please, donate if you can. A little support will go a long way.

Donations can be made at the Pan African Youth Summit website. If you prefer to donate through The Liberator Magazine please contact us.

Eagle Nebula: "Spaceship Earth" [mp3]

2010-02-19T12:20:00.000-05:00

Eagle Nebula (Live From Planet Earth alum) passed on this funky boom-bap track recently. I've been wanting to share this for a while and the day has finally come. The album Cosmic Headphones is available for purchase from Brooklyn to Japan.

Spaceship Earth

(rightclick+download)

A Philly Style celebration [event]

2010-02-08T14:01:00.008-05:00

This Friday, February 12th Live From the Planet Earth, and the city of Philadelphia...

The Liberator Magazine presents Philly Style, the celebration.
wsg/DJ Rocdaspot
+Photography by Kalima Thomas
+Chocolate Buffet

At:
Elena's Soul
4912 Baltimore Avenue
8pm-12am
No Cover

in conjunction with/
Blake Montgomery, LLC
Sankofa Community Empowerment
YFS of ADI
Ubuntu Media
Exodus Designs
AskForMercy

The Liberator Magazine
Emerging from the urban enclaves of America, it is a publication conscious of its own potential to contribute to and help maintain life. Yet, it has become a global phenomenon, embraced worldwide: from Minneapolis, Washington D.C., New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philly; to London, Nairobi, Kampala, Dakar, and Johannesburg.The Liberator will: provide an inlet to underexposed culture and political movements around the world, while providing creative and functional analysis of mainstream culture and politics in order to help build and maintain strong, culturally rich communities. It will: ensure that the artistic, cultural and political stories of individuals and communities around the world are told and heard, analyzed and respected.

The Liberator Magazine Philly Style Issue
Philly Style is the first in a series of localized feature articles that will reflect the experiences of various locales around the globe. The function of the Philly Style Issue is to provide a brief snapshot of the Philly that is often ignored.

Liberator/Haiti fundraiser [Poet's Lounge: Jan 21]

2010-01-20T21:19:00.002-05:00

The Liberator Magazine is partnering with Inner Truth Collaborations to present a special one-year anniversary edition of Brooklyn's Poets Lounge Open Mic.

There is a $5 cover, with all proceeds benefiting The Liberator Magazine. We're also collaborating with House of Art to collect donations for Haiti throughout the evening.

Brown Sugar Bar & Restaurant
433 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn
A/C trains to Utica Avenue

Thursday January 21st
730pm-1030pm
11pm afterparty celebration

Artists performing:
Mic Blaque
Bless Roxwell
Archie the Messenger and Lyrical the Lyricist
Cavalier
Charlotte Mishel
Eden Jeffries
Faro Z
God's Queen
Gial Hamilton
(i am) isis
King Tut from Sankofa Soulz
Paragraph
Paris Alexandra
Rainmaker
Redefining Freedome
Osunyoyin
Rich Story
Sabrina/Giorgio
Soulfolk Experience
Supanova

Music by rapper and DJ Warren Britt

Hosted by the one and only Supanova

Paintings from Demostina

$5 Drink and Food Specials

Special thanks to:
Mr. Will (Food 4 Thought)
Brown Sugar Bar and Restaurant
Karia Brathwaite
Brother Mike
(i am) isis
Brown Sugar Bar and Restaurant
New Rap Order (NRO)
Rising Sol Productions
Urban Juke Joint

facebook.com/poetslounge

Dancehall Rock [Live From Planet Earth, MPLS!]

2009-12-20T20:13:00.003-05:00

{official liberator magazine event}

The Liberator will be Live From Planet Earth in Minnesota, partying with DJs Omari Omari and Mix.well at Loring Pasta Bar on University Ave in Minneapolis.

This Wednesday, December 23rd, come celebrate the release of Liberator 9.1. Complimentary copies, cheap drinks, lover's rock and dancehall reggae all night long.

Nicholas Ryan Gant: "Before The Fall" [video]

2009-10-23T17:26:00.004-04:00

Live From Planet Earth Alumnus: "Before the Fall, co-written by Bilal Salaam, is the first single from the project "Border Breaker". Video directed by Matthew Henderson, after the break. Production by Slimkat78. The song deals with the struggle between spirit and the desires of the flesh. Before the fall there's a moment of clarity."

Eder Muniz.

2009-10-13T16:59:00.004-04:00

WHY?: [Eder Muniz] is a [Live From Planet Earth] alumnus. He sent over these images of a few of his newest pieces. More after the break.

Nicholas Ryan Gant: "Before The Fall" [kiotd]

2009-10-02T23:22:00.004-04:00

WHY?: True Soul singer and [Live From Planet Earth] alumnus, Nicholas Ryan Gant releases his debut album Border Breaker on iTunes October 6th. The project features production by the Muhsinah, Slimkat78 and Dre King. According to Gant, the album's mantra will be all about "redefining divine relationships". We can get with that.

Before The Fall

Keep It On The (Download)

Lunch By Nature's Teriyaki Marinade [recipe]

2009-09-24T18:30:00.007-04:00

If you were at the 13th session of [Live From Planet Earth] Brooklyn last Saturday then you've probably been dying for this. Did you try the chicken? Nira made teriyaki tofu as well for the veggie heads. Needless to say, the night was fantastic. She was kind enough to share the recipe for the marinade with us. Chea. [lunchbynature.com]

Party under the stars this Saturday in Brooklyn

2009-09-18T23:59:00.003-04:00

It's going down this Saturday. One more opportunity to party under the stars, Before The Cold Comes. No cover. Free drinks from 10pm till we run out. BYOB all night long. RSVP, ASAP.

http://livefromplanetearth.org

This video is from the last party in July, but since the September joint is at the same venue, it still applies.

Live From Planet Earth Jam Sessions?

2009-08-27T14:46:00.009-04:00

{University Of The Streets, NYC}

{liberatormagazine.com announcement}

We want to take a quick poll for our NYC Liberator folk. Would you be interested in a regular jam session in the Lower East Side? We're currently in diplomatic talks with [University Of The Streets] about doing just that. We'd be holding it down like we always do, but with a slight twist -- Jazz band, vocalists, emcees, BYOB, etc. Right in the cultural heart of downtown Manhattan.

But we need to know if there's support for this type of event. So please drop us a comment when you have a sec and let us know if this is something you'd support (or not, you won't hurt our feelings). Much appreciated!

Messiah: "In The AM" [video + mp3]

2009-08-05T16:35:00.016-04:00

In The AM

(rightclick+download)

WHY?: Ever since his [Live From Planet Earth Volume 1] contribution and those four Apollo Theatre victories in a row, we've been paying close attention to Messiah Ramkissoon (yes, that's his real name, not his ego). This video (produced + directed by LFPE partner Ron Brodie/DonoR Media) for his new track "In The AM" says much more than I can say. Messiah does a excellent job of blending his personal narrative and perspective with a bit of something that we all can feel. It's important to accept that, because once you do you'll see his gift to tell various stories in one, regardless if you personally relate to each story. And you'll really hear that the track, the chorus... are just magical.

Niles: "The One" f. Team 3 [video]

2009-08-05T16:35:00.002-04:00

WHY?: [LFPE alumnus], Niles holds down his verse on this track, shining above and beyond, and his accomplices hold him down very nicely. Emcees D-Nasty, Kween Kash, Niles, and Purple Haze, all winners from the 2nd Annual Rapathon form the group "Team 3". As winners of the popular NYC Hip Hop contest, their prize was to have their video directed by Ralph McDaniels and to have it debut on [Video Music Box] (channel 25 NYC).