Archive for January, 2008

01.31
08

Janet Jackson Embraces “Discipline” On Next Album

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janet jackson Janet Jackson spouts philosophical about her upcoming album titled Discipline. The set, due Feb. 26 is a new direction for Jackson as she strives to connect to a younger audience through the use of producers such as her man Jermaine Dupri, Rodney Jerkins and “it” boy Ne-Yo.

Jackson, whose last album, 20 Y.O., was widely considered to be a commercial flop, claims the set is autobiographical, down to the title’s inspiration.

“Well, I guess if I go back to the beginning I see a little girl, 10-years-old, who’s appearing on `Good Times’ and sets her own alarm clock to wake up at 5:30 AM in order to be at work by 7,” Jackson reminisced. “Then I think about a 15-year-old starting to make records. For the next 25 years, she makes an album every two or three years without fail. Going a little deeper, she learns that the music most connected to her heart has a rhythmic and harmonic complexity that requires work. That means hours and hours trying to compose lyrics and melodies that ring true; hours and hours in the studio layering the vocals that contain the different voices she hears inside her head. Then, of course, the months she spends planning and executing world tours, one after another.”

The seeming pity-party turned out to be nothing of the sort when she claimed she saw this all as “a blessing.”

“Funny, but my first big album also had a one-word title—Control. I was naïve in thinking that I could control every aspect of my life. The only one who really has control is God. But it took discipline—the discipline of thought, the discipline of action, the discipline of creating music—to make me see that. Finally, discipline has to do with faith. I have faith that a gentle but steady discipline will let me continue to grow as an artist and a woman.”

Bleck! Hopefully the new music will be more interesting than these overthought, rehearsed responses.

01.29
08

Saul Williams Announces Dates For “The Tar Spangled Banner Tour”

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Saul Williams has just announced the destinations for his upcoming thirty-stop tour. The two-month jaunt will support his recent release The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! and kicks off March 12th at Austin’s SXSW. Most importantly, the trek dubbed “The Tar Spangled Banner Tour” will offer both live musical performances as well as spoken word events in select cities.

“The Niggytardust concept sets me free to do more on stage with costume, etc. than one might expect from a regular Saul Williams show,” the poet said. “It allows me to put my theatre training to use. I’ve also thought long and hard about all the discussion surrounding racial epithets etc. and chose this title as a means of furthering the dialogue while also showing how creativity will outlive and outshine hatred of any kind.”

You can visit www.niggytardust.com.where, like the recent RadioHead release, you have the choice to pay or download the tracks for free. All versions are 100% DRM free and include a PDF with artwork and lyrics.

Saul Williams Tour Dates
MARCH
12 SXSW, Austin, TX*
13 SXSW, Austin, TX*
17 Plaza Club, Vancouver BC*
18 Aladdin, Portland, OR*
19 Neumo’s, Seattle WA*
21 Slims, San Francisco, CA*
22 Club Mercy, Santa Barbara, CA*
24 Casbah, San Diego, CA*
25 Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA*
26 Clubhouse, Tempe, AZ*
27 Chandler Gilbert Community College, Phoenix, AZ?
28 Estrella Mountain Community College, Phoenix, AZ?
29 Launchpad, Albuquerque, NM*
31 The Loft, Dallas, TX*

APRIL
01 Warehouse Live Studio, Houston, TX*
03 The Parish, New Orleans, LA*
04 The Loft, Atlanta. GA*
06 Ramshead, Annapolis, MD*
07 930 Club, Washington, DC*
08 Paradise, Boston, MA*
09 Irving Plaza, NY, NY*
11 Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA*
12 Iron Horse, Northampton, MA*
13 La Tulipe, Montreal, QC*
14 Mod Club, Toronto, ONT*
16 Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI*
17 Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH*
18 Martyrs, Chicago, IL*
19 Varsity Theatre, Minneapolis, MN*
21 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO*
22 Belly Up, Aspen, CO*
23 Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, UT*

* Musical performance
? Spoken word performance

http://niggytardust.com/

http://www.myspace.com/saulwilliams

01.28
08

Making The Band Returns – New Audio From Danity Kane & MTB4

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Making The Band 4, Season 2 kicks off tonight with Danity Kane and last year’s unnamed quintet along with additional MTB4 finalist Donnie Klang.

The MTV “reality” series sees all three acts living together while completing new albums, scheduled to drop in the weeks to follow. The set will lead the way on March 11th, with Danity Kane releasing their second set on March 18th. Klang will reveal his debut sometime in the spring. Below is the schedule for this season’s shows along with the new singles below. Both new tracks will be available on iTunes tomorrow.

Show Airdates…
1st Episode: TONIGHT (Monday)
2nd Episode: February 4th (Monday)
3rd Episode: February 11th (Monday)
4th Episode: February 18th (Monday)
5th Episode: February 25th (Monday)
6th Episode: March 3rd (Monday)
7th Episode: March 10th (Monday)
8th Episode: March 17th (Monday)
9th Episode: March 22nd (Saturday)
10th Episode: March 22nd (Saturday) (Live on MTV)
*All episodes air 10PM ET/PT on MTV

AUDIO: Danity Kane – “Damaged”
Real|Windows

Making The Band 4 Quintet – “Got Me Going” Real|Windows

01.25
08

Upcoming Releases: Fat Joe – The Elephant In The Room

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Keep an eye out for the upcoming, and eighth, album from the big South Bronx native Fat Joe.

Set for a March 2008 release, The Elephant In The Room plays host to guests such as Diddy, Lil Wayne, J. Holiday and Rick Ross. The set, which Joey Crack describes as “gangsta,” features the usual lyrical style and the kind of beats you’d expect from the likes of DJ Premier, Cool & Dre and more obvious names. The album has already won points due to Crack’s decision to exclude the track “Party All The Time,” a remake of the god awful 1985 Rick James-produced Eddie Murphy track.

If you haven’t already, enjoy the video for the lead single “I Won’t Tell” featuring J. Holiday and see how many of Fat Joe’s cameo-making hip-hop buddies you can count.

01.24
08

New Artist – Razah

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Jamaican-born soul singer Razah has a rough sounding name, but loves to write and sing about women.

“When I make my records I try to make timeless music and songs that uplift people,” he says. “I was raised by a single mom so I believe in writing music that celebrates women.”

The crooner mixes soulful R&B with reggae undertones. Now as a new artist on Def Jam, he’s about to release his self-titled debut album that features the lead single “Rain.” Check it out below and look for the album in the Spring.

Razah – “Rain” Windows|Real

01.23
08

Lil’ Kim Leaves Atlantic For The Indie Path

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Lil’ Kim has decided to go independent and has left Atlantic Records, her label for several years.

There are rumors that her yet-to-be-untitled album will be released under Capitol Music Group’s independent arm, Imperial Records.

Originally slated for February, the set is now tentatively scheduled for an April or May release.

01.23
08

Underground Spotlight: Blue Scholars Tour

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The indie group is going on tour with Cali underground legends the Hieroglyphics. Check below for a partial list of upcoming dates.

Blue Scholars Tour information:
JAN.25.2008 SOLD OUT
Blue Scholars
Western Washington University
The Viking Union – Multipurpose Room
Bellingham, WA 98225
7:15pm :: All Ages :: $14/18
with: Common Market, Dyme Def

JAN.26.2008
Blue Scholars
Western Washington University
The Viking Union – Multipurpose Room
Bellingham, WA 98225
7:15pm :: All Ages :: $14/18
with: D. Black

JAN.31.2008
Blue Scholars
Evergreen State College
College Recreation Center – 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW
Olympia, WA 98505
7:00pm :: All Ages :: $10/15
Middle East Film Fest, Arab Summit

FEB.1.2008
Blue Scholars
Lewis and Clark College
Evans Auditorium – 0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd
Portland, OR 97219
8:00pm :: All Ages

FEB.2.2008
Blue Scholars
WOW Hall
291 W. 8th
Eugene, OR 97401
8:30 PM :: All :: $10/12
with: Animal Farm

FEB.6.2008
Blue Scholars
Media Club
695 Cambie St.
Vancouver, BC 0
9:00 PM :: 19+ :: $10/12
with: The Seed, Paper Chase

FEB.8.2008
Blue Scholars
Sugar Nightclub
858 Yates Street
Victoria, BC 0
19+ :: $12

FEB.9.2008
Blue Scholars
Native Sons Hall
411 Anderton Avenue
Courtenay, BC 0
All Ages :: $15

FEB.15.2008
Blue Scholars
The Mercury Lounge
217 E. Houston St.
New York, NY 10002
21+ :: $10
with: Kidz in the Hall, Cause

FEB.16.2008
Blue Scholars
Cornell University
Bailey Hall
529 Willard Straight Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
All Ages

FEB.21.2008
Blue Scholars
University of Utah Union Ballroom
200 South Central Campus Drive
200 South Union Room 234
Salt Lake City, UT 94112
All Ages
with: Hieroglyphics, Swollen Members

FEB.22.2008
Blue Scholars
The Black Sheep
2106 E. Platte Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
9:00 PM :: All Ages :: $15
with: Hieroglyphics

FEB.23.2008
Blue Scholars
Belly Up
450 South Galena Street
Aspen, CO 81611
8:00 PM :: All Ages :: $22 / 24
with: Hieroglyphics

FEB.24.2008
Blue Scholars
Marquis Theatre
2009 Larimer Street
Denver, CO 80202
8:00 PM :: All Ages :: $15
with: Hieroglyphics

FEB.25.2008
Blue Scholars
Fox Theatre & Cafe
1135 13th St.
Boulder, CO 80302
TBA :: All Ages :: $20 / 22.5
with: Hieroglyphics

FEB.26.2008
Blue Scholars
Sandbar Vail
2161 North Frontge Road
Vail, CO 0
9:00 PM :: 21+ :: $18/20
with: Hieroglyphics

FEB.27.2008
Blue Scholars
Sherpa and Yeti’s
320 South Main Street
Breckenridge, CO 80424
9:00 PM :: 21+ :: $18/20
with: Hieroglyphics

FEB.28.2008
Blue Scholars
Aggie Theatre
204 South College Ave.
Ft. Collins, CO 80524
8:00 PM :: All :: $15
with: Hieroglyphics,

MARCH.1.2008
Blue Scholars
Middlebury College
McCullough Student Center Social Space
Middlebury, VT 5753
All Ages :: $5

MARCH.8.2008
Blue Scholars
Oberlin College
Dionysus Night Club
Oberlin, OH 0
18+ :: $5

APRIL.5.2008
Blue Scholars
Grinnell College
Gardner Lounge
Director of the Forum
Grinnell, IA 50112
8:00 PM :: All Ages

www.bluescholars.com

01.22
08

Usher’s Father Passes Away At Atlanta Hospital

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UsherUsher’s father, Usher Raymond III, has passed away according to People.com.

The elder Mr. Raymond died at an Atlanta hospital this past Friday from unknown causes.

The superstar’s father was fortunate to see the birth of his grandson, the fifth Usher Raymond, back in November.

The funeral is scheduled to be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Taylor Funeral Home chapel.

Usher has made no comment.

01.22
08

New Video: Gorilla Zoe – “Tryna Make A Jug”

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Gorilla Zoe – “Tryna Make A Jug” featuring Big Gee

01.21
08

New Video – NYCE – “Cold World”

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NYCE – Cold World

Download this video

www.nycedafuture.com
www.myspace.com/nycedafuture