FROM AFROS TO SHELLTOES BLOG » Music

Zo! This Could Be The Night feat. Eric Roberson Darien Brockington Rapper Big Pooh

Edward M. Garnes, Jr. — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:29:15 +0000

Fresh from our play cousin Phonte (The Foreign Exchange) From Afros To Shelltoes hits you upside the head with a new exclusive. This funky single comes courtesy of multi-instrumentalist ZO! whose album Sunstorm rises July 27, 2010 on The Foreign Exchange Music imprint. The joint features Grammy nominated soulman Eric Roberson, choir boy crooner Darien Brockington, and spit fire specialist Rapper Big Pooh.

Listern Here For Zo!\’s This Could Be The Night

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Pickin Cotton:Why Black Artists Still Aint Free

Edward M. Garnes, Jr. — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:49:59 +0000

Young black girls need less Nicki Minaj and more Nikki Giovanni.

Pickin’ Cotton: Why Black Artists Still Aint Free

By: Edward M. Garnes, Jr.

With mega churches more concerned with tax returns than spiritual bankruptcy, absentee parents content on living second childhoods instead of raising competent adults, and ego driven leaders jockeying for a seat at Master’s table, it’s easy to understand why shallow billboard hits are all pretense and no power.

Click Here to read the full story @theloop21.com:

http://theloop21.com/society/pickin-cotton-why-black-artists-still-aint-free

Blue Aint The Only Color Of Jazz Ode To Richard Pryor

Little Brother Second Chances feat Bilal Darien Brockington

Edward M. Garnes, Jr. — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:15:01 +0000

With Little Brother spittin’, Bilal lending his heavenly falsetto, and Darien Brockington crooning like a southern minister of music, this latest joint from the end of an era release Left Back almost seems unfair in a musical generation laced with more swag than real talent. The late night groove is another blue collar ballad for those who know all about dollar menu dates, ride or die women, and do right brothers trying to piece meal love in an imperfect world.

Listen to Little Brother’s “Second Chances” feat Bilal & Darien Brockington here:

http://afrostoshelltoes.com/littlebrothersecondchances.mp3

YahZarah The Ballad Of Purple Saint James Album Sampler

Edward M. Garnes, Jr. — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:40:49 +0000

From Afros To Shelltoes is your good music hook up. Straight from our play cousin Phonte & The Foreign Exchange Music is a sampler ($ free 99) of YahZarah’s joint The Ballad of Purple Saint James. We control our own musical destinies. Support indie music and rock this in your ipod, living room, and mid- sized sedan. Good music lives. You just have to have ears to hear it!!

download here:

http://www.theforeignexchangemusic.com/yahzarah-BPSJ_sampler.zip

Peace & Sweet Tea

Ed Garnes

Lamenting Little Brother Curtain Call

Edward M. Garnes, Jr. — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:26:03 +0000

Lamenting Little Brother’s Curtain Call

By Edward M. Garnes, Jr.

Phonte, Ed, Big Pooh photo: shannonmccollum.com

“First the Fat Boys break up now this…there is nothing to believe in anymore.”—Chris Rock’s character Bony T in the movie Boomerang

Channeling a pop cultural phrase from Eddie Murphy’s cult classic Boomerang is the best way to sum up the end of another hip hop era. And while I often crammed to understand the befuddlement of classic hip hop separations during my youth, like Leaders Of The New School and A Tribe Called Quest, the grown ass man in me now understands every artist must define themselves for themselves.

For selfish reasons, every fan, who rocked Little Brother to alleviate the consternation of an anal retentive boss, ward off the residue of an ignit’ ex, or inspire another down payment on a deferred dream, wants the musical journey to never end. But fo’ real fo’ real, we should allow artists the luxury of evolution. With the odds unfairly stacked against two cool cats whose tight wordplay, blue collar worldview, and anti hip pop stance was often lost on radio programmers, Little Brother succeeding in winning a prize much greater than awards copped from any stamp of approval society; our hearts.

Peep the new joint “Curtain Call” from Little Brother’s final release Left Back.

Click Here For Little Brother ‘s Curtain Call

Edward M. Garnes, Jr. is a sweet tea drinking hip hop head whose social commentary appears on Little Brother’s critically release Get Back. The founder for From Afros To Shelltoes, Garnes is an award winning writer, activist, and counselor co-signed by dead prez, Dr. Cornel West, and grandma’s the world over.

YahZarah Why Dontcha Call Me No More

Edward M. Garnes, Jr. — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:51:23 +0000

Ed & YahZarah photo: shannonmccollum.com

“Another benefactor of the post Badu renaissance, D.C. native YahZarah packs a mighty vocal punch in her petite 5 foot and some change frame. A former background singer of Erykah Badu, her live show is a hybrid of Tina Turner’s sensuality and Parliament’s funky freedom. On her Kebo Music release Hear Me, the former Duke Ellington School of Music student unleashes her six octave range over tracks like the infectious “Blackstar”. The spirit of Minnie Riperton and Angela Bofill lives on.”—Ed Garnes circa 2002

Nearly a decade ago, as an entertainment editor with a decided bent towards all things soul, I wrote the passage above in an article co-signing the significance of a talent with enough sista girl fire to ignite a new generation of soul mammas. And now, play cousin Phonte and Nicolay of The Foreign Exchange Music give YahZarah the sonic freedom to take her rightful place amongst the greatest soul divas of our day with her upcoming release The Ballad Of Purple Saint James featuring contributions by TheRealFocus (Marsha Ambrosius, Raphael Saddiq), Nate Smith (Michael Jackson), Steve McKie (Jill Scott, Bilal), and guest appearances from Jaspects, drummer Lil’ John Roberts, and singer Darien Brockington. Courtesy of our friends at The Foreign Exchange Music, peep YahZarah’s 80′s influenced lead single here:

http://afrostoshelltoes.com/whydontchacallmenomore.mp3

“Why Dontcha Call Me No More”

Credits

Music: Nicolay

Lyrics: YahZarah and Phonte Coleman

All vocals: YahZarah

Keys and acoustic guitar: Nicolay

Drums: Lil’ John Roberts

Bass: Zo!

Electric guitar: Chris Boerner

Handclaps and tambourine: YahZarah and Phonte

Produced by Nicolay and Phonte for The Foreign Exchange Music

For more info on YahZarah and The Foreign Exchange, visit www.theforeignexchagnemusic.com.

Fela Kuti Chop N Quench Re Releases

Edward M. Garnes, Jr. — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:54:47 +0000

KNITTING FACTORY RECORDS RELEASES

FELA KUTI CHOP ‘N QUENCH BATCH

Knitting Factory records continues their musical coup with another fresh batch of Fela Kuti re-issues with the release of the Chop’ N Quench installment. Kuti, AfroBeat pioneer and Nigeria’s James Brown, was legendary for his fiery mix of art and activism. Comprised of 6 Cd’s containing 9 albums spanning 1969-1974, Chop ‘N Quench chronicles the early evolution of the AfroBeat sound as Kuti began to perfect his musical gumbo of foot stompin’ African drums, jazz, funk, salsa, and a bevy of “other world” rhythm sections. All cd’s are re-mastered and re-released in unique digi-packs with the original artwork. Get the collectors gem at Knitting Factory Records. CLICK HERE

PEEP ED GARNES AND FEMI KUTI TALK FELA, FREEDOM, AND MUSIC

http://afrostoshelltoes.com/word/2008/09/30/ed-garnes-femi-kuti-talk-musicfreedom/

Kooc D Ville Musical Tribute To Sweet Tea Ethics Dr. Cornel West

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:30:35 +0000

Culling 80′s synthesized soul, futuristic funk, and down home melodies of a modern juke joint, Kooc D. Ville, the DJ Quik of the south, has quickly emerged as a production dynamo. In this From Afros To Shelltoes exclusive, peep his musical tribute to Dr. Cornel West & Ed Garnes’ Sweet Tea Ethics movement featuring sound bites from Garnes & West’s rap session Jan 17, 2010. For more info on Sweet Tea Ethics, CLICK HERE

Review:Will Downing’s Christmas Two Step

Edward M. Garnes, Jr. — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:39:36 +0000

In the spirit of the holidays..I pulled out this joint I wrote for Creative Loafing circa 04′

Will Downing

Christmas Love And You

2004 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

Review by Edward M Garnes, Jr.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W25JHK/ref=mu_dm_alb_dp

Get ready to break out the mistletoe, snuggle with your boo, and two-step with loved ones as smooth jazz statesmen Will Downing remixes the traditional Christmas album by pouring his silky baritone over lush productions. Marrying jazz, soul and dance hall, Downing, with the all-star support of Joe Sample, Gerald Albright and Jonathan Butler, adds contemporary flare to holiday music that’s often relegated to hotel elevators.

Few have the vocal chops and suave delivery to reinvent classic material, but the debonair balladeer Downing, an ardent fan of Nat King Cole, puts an astonishingly fresh stamp on “The Christmas Song” with David Sanborn accompanying on alto sax. “The Little Drummer Boy” morphs into an island jam, “White Christmas” becomes a late-night groove with Kirk Whalum’s tender jazz riffs and a Stevie Wonder-esque harmonica solo, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” gets a salsa-tinged dance treatment. Beyond these standards, Brooklyn native Downing offers a few original tracks, including the future classic “Christmas Time After Time.”

80s Baby Breakdown:When Bobby Brown Was King

Edward M. Garnes, Jr. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:26:07 +0000

When Whitney Houston lovingly boasted that Bobby Brown was the “King of R&B,” many scoffed at the notion as others deemed it a drug induced outburst. While the merits of Houston’s claims will be debated for centuries ( legal smack downs and erratic behavior have grabbed more headlines than his music in recent years) there was a time when Bobby Brown made grown women loose their damn minds as the fresh prince of R&B.

With the “round the way” sensitivity of lead singer Ralph Treasvant driving the New Edition machine in the 80′s, many saw Bobby Brown’s ouster from the group as career suicide. But in reality, the exodus gave him the freedom pass to blaze the musical trails of New Jack Swing– with it’s groovy architect Teddy Riley–and hip hop soul years in advance of Mary J Blige’s classic stamp on the genre.

Mega hits like “Don’t Be Cruel,” “My Prerogative,” and “Roni” aside, Brown’s most slept on classic was a simple yet tender love song entitled “Girlfriend” from his woefully forgotten solo debut King Of Stage (circa 86). Pairing a modern doo-wop aesthetic with school boy charm, the high school crush themed video and song helped land Brown a #1 hit on the Billboard R&B Charts.

It’s sometimes hard to give credit when it’s past due. I could easily use every ounce of my two degrees to prove Brown is far more R&B legend and less Eddie Kane Jr. has been, but the sweet nostalgia of the video below, which will have you hittin’ up Keisha from 9^th grade on facebook, speaks for itself.

Award winning writer, educator, counselor, and activist Edward M. Garnes, Jr. is the founder of From Afros to Shelltoes Art, Action, and Conversation, a nationally acclaimed series of cultural productions confronting the social divide between elders and hip hop heads. The 2009 Atlanta Tribune Men Of Distinction holds a B.A. in English Writing from DePauw University and a M.A. in Counseling from Michigan State University . His seminal essay, ” Sweet Tea Ethics: Black Luv, Healthcare, and Cultural Mistrust,” currently appears in Not In My Family: AIDS in the African American Community, a 2007 NAACP Image Award nominated collection edited by Gil Robertson. (www.afrostoshelltoes.com).

Fela Kuti Best Of Black President Knitting Factory Records

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:06:16 +0000

FELA KUTI’S -The Best Of The Black President Released on Knitting Factory Records

On iTunes Now

Get a free MP3 of “Water Get No Enemy”through the widget below.

The impact of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s music in Africa – and worldwide – cannot be overstated. Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, he was Africa’s musical genius, the creator of Afrobeat – a genre combining traditional African highlife, jazz, James Brown funk grooves and latin rhythms into a unique toxic mix that is wholly his own – and a revolutionary. Fela’s politically inflammatory songs laid bare the corruption, violence, and greed of the ruling regimes across the Continent and world. Arrested over a hundred times by the Nigerian government, ultimately 1000 soldiers invaded and destroyed the Kalakuta Republic – Fela’s living and performing compound that he shared with his 27 wives and his mother – sending nearly all of the inhabitants to the hospital, or worse. Despite the death of his own mother after the siege, Fela never stopped fighting the powers of imperialism, colonialism and racism with – as the legendary Fela Kuti put it – music as his weapon.

The Best of the Black President compiles thirteen of the most popular Fela compositions spanning work from all facets of his career with his bands Nigerian 70, Africa 70 and Egypt 80. With deluxe editions of The Best Of The Black President comes a 40 minute DVD, narrated by Sahr Ngaujah, interviews with Carlos Moore & Bill T jones, recorded concert footage, and excerpts from various Fela Kuti documentaries, including Music Is The Weapon.

View Outtakes from Music Is The Weapon Documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVnWnG9r8hk

The Best of the Black President signifies the rebirth of Knitting Factory Records. Earlier this year, KFR licensed the 45 album Fela Kuti catalog. Over the next 18 months, re-masers of all the Fela CDs will be re-released in unique digi-packs w/ the original artwork. Sign up for exclusives and Fela news here:

The profile for Fela will get a boost this fall as FELA! The Musical opens on Broadway at NYC’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre in November. This is a Bill T. Jones Produced power-packed Broadway show which won raves and awards in a 2008 off-Broadway run. http://www.felaonbroadway.com/

www.facebook.com/felakuti
www.twitter.com/felakuti
www.knittingfactoryrecord.com

Foreign Exchange I Wanna Know

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:09:25 +0000

To all my brothers “paper chasin” and couples riding over relationship pot holes, here is a music video with you in mind. Phonte’s genius has always been his unrivaled ability to speak to the internal conflicts and everyday blues of the average man. Peep Foreign Exchange’s latest gem “I Wanna Know” ,directed by Matt Koza, from the feel good album Leave It All Behind. Your homework assignment…tell somebody u luv em’…fo real…fo real– Ed G.

The Foreign Exchange – ”I Wanna Know” from The Foreign Exchange on Vimeo.

Sept 24 Ode To Hip Hop: Doug E Fresh Slick Rick Big Daddy Kane

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:54:11 +0000

THE COORS COLD CLASSIC WEEKEND PRESENTS

THE OFFICIAL ATLANTA CLASSIC KICK OFF PARTY & CONCERT
” THE ODE TO HIP HOP “

THURSDAY SEPT 24TH, 2009 @ OPERA

SLICK RICK, DOUG E FRESH & BIG DADDY KANE LIVE!!

LADIES FREE BEFORE 10:30!! DOORS AT 9:30!! ARRIVE EARLY!!

Stuntin Like My Daddy: Aaron Reid YEEC Reps A New Cool