Music

I told myself I wasn’t going to write about Nas’ new album . . . but how can I not, I mean, it’s Nas. After his first album I fell in love . . . but then he changed (typical guy). There were of course little glimpses of his former self sprinkled throughout his subsequent releases . . . and like a complicated relationship I clung to the good (Memory Lane, The World is Yours, One Mic, etc.) trying to ignore all the bad (and yes, some of it: You Owe Me, Oochie Wally Remix, Zone Out, etc. was really bad)… A few of you sent me cuts from his new album “Nas” (thank goodness he went with this title)– and all I can say is that I’m hopefully optimistic. I figure I’ll spend a day to digest it and get back to you. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I’ve written about Enstru-mental before (they did that awesome Obama shirt) and I’m loving some of their newest releases. I thought this shirt was especially apropos considering the topic of this post!

Great, now I’m going to have Oochie Wally stuck in my head all day!

Also, on a side note, I spent half of my morning checking out Marcus Troy’s blog (thanks for the e-mail)… I’m still scratching my head at the Obama Obama a-milli freestyle….

Amp Live of Zion I has done it again. I can’t stop listening to his Rainydayz remixes, available for free at 1776. He’s truly my favorite MC out right now… his beats are SICK!!

The album itself has some history:
After a cease and desist put the breaks on Amplive’s Radiohead In Rainbows remix project, the online music community reasonably wondered if the tracks would ever see the light of day. Well, here they are. While the Oakland producer/DJ acknowledges that he probably should have contacted Radiohead (who were not involved in the project) to seek approval prior to making his interpretations available to the public, an agreement has been reached between all involved parties and Amplive has been granted permission to release Rainydayz Remixes for free to the general public. Effective immediately, the eight-track record is available here.
Rainydayz Remixes is composed exclusively of source material pulled from In Rainbows, re-envisioned by Amplive and complimented by vocal work from Too $hort, MC Zumbi of Zion I, Chali2na of Jurassic 5, Codany Holiday, and Del The Funky Homosapien.

After all the drama, Amp recorded a little thanks to his fans on YouTube… what a cutie! (Sorry, I still don’t know how to embed YouTube on my site… html is always a work-in-progress for me!)

I would tell you my favorite track, but quiet honestly I’m obsessed with the whole album. Amp Live and Zumbi of Zion I are doing amazing things out there in the Bay! Enjoy!

This week has truly been a roller coaster. A week of reconnecting with old inspirations, taking on new responsibilities and true vindication.
Plus, have you ever had a pile of things on your desk so high that you literally can’t see over it when you sit down?

Needless to say, I’m looking forward to this weekend so I can catch my breath and collect my thoughts (and watch the Patriots!!)

My mental fatigue is preventing me from coming up with a good transition into today’s designer, the extremely talented Annie Thompson.

With degrees in both Fashion and Fine Art, Annie Thompson has successfully fused her passions for 25 years.
Her artistic approach to her clothing is evident, using thread as her paintbrush to create many “limited edition” garments. These are timeless pieces with significant staying power, unparalleled in today’s fashion industry.

When she isn’t drawing, cutting or sewing, Annie can often be found (late at night) in her studio painting her day’s creative thoughts, frustrations and encounters. Motivated by the commotion of urban life she will often photograph pieces of the city, which she will later use as inspiration in her paintings. “I try to achieve an abstract aesthetic by using happy and vibrant colours, repetition and patterns, and by adding depth and dimension to everyday objects,” states Annie.

I love her edgy cuts and use of color. Speaking of edgy and colorful… I miss Outkast. I’ve had this song in my head all week. Random, I know.

We only truly get to know people when we peel away all the layers. The fancy clothes, the make-up, the false confidence, the mask that most people wear every day… I was just thinking about the people I know. About how you can see people every day and feel like you don’t truly know them… and about how other people who you haven’t seen in years, and who live miles and miles away, can feel so close. Random, I know.

Speaking of peeling away layers, you should definitely check out Peel, a great label from Vancouver designer Megan Berks. I especially love her Fall & Holiday 2007 collection as its inspired by “daydreams of drama and romance,” three of my favorite things!

******

Just a couple notes: be sure to check out the “Socialites“section of the site for the best steals and deals that come my way.

Also, I would be remiss to leave out the fact that Jay-Z’s new album is absolutely ridiculous. Its amazing. The first album I can honestly say I love since Stankonia. Literally every song is hot. Ok I’m done… but please be sure to check it out. You can’t find it on iTunes…

Jay-Z pulled American Gangster from the popular iTunes Music Store. Jay stated “as movies are not sold scene by scene, this collection will not be sold as individual singles.” However, the album is available for digital download, in its entirety, at Rocafella.com, Amazon.com and Rhapsody.com.Those who pre-ordered and paid for the entire album from iTunes, however, were still able to download it. (from, of all places, Wikipedia)

I’ll admit, at first I thought he was full of it… but after one full listen I’m hooked (much like the heroin addicts he raps about….)

A lot of people have dual personalities. Your “work self” and your “real self.” I found this to be true when I was working at a law firm. My “work self” wore cashmere twin-sets and talked about the Red Sox (boring), the housing market in Boston (”Well, Tucker and I are not in the Market right now… but are looking to get back into the market when the time is right…) (by the way, there is/was no “Tucker” but had I been dating one, my firm credibility points would have doubled), and of course everyone was planning weddings.
“What did you do this weekend?” was best answered with: “My boyfriend and I took in a show,” rather than explaining that I went to a Dead Prez concert. Anyway, those days have long since passed and luckily I have found a job where the line between my work self and my real self is much less rigid.
Despite that, I still have my “work bags” and my “weekend bags” . . . I love my black Coach work bag, but on the weekends I just want something comfortable, something I can throw my life into and go. For that I’ve recently discovered Cecilia Jane Bags. I love her Nappy Solider Bag and the Spirit bag with the cool handle. Designer Simonair, hailing from St. Thomas, has been sewing since she was thirteen years old. She not only has great offerings on her site, but will gladly create a custom bag for you as well!

Also, The Grouch and Zion I released a new album this week which is amazing!! Zion I is by far my favorite group… I love Zion’s flow. Definitely check this album out… (they have a few free downloads on myspace.com!)

Sophistafunk, aristocats
Distinguished stars, clean up your acts
Pull up your pants, ladies and gents
Please, act like you got some sense
You know what I really wanna know?
Where do all the good girls go..?*

Behold a Lady

Its your lucky day! If you’re truly wondering where all the good girls go to get the most gorgeous skirts on the market today… look no further- Sofistafunk is it. Seriously… their take on causal elegance is nothing short of perfection. Each classy design features clean lines, subtle details and a spark of originality from the creative mother- daughter design team (move over House of Dereon).
Sofistafunk‘s styles are created using vintage fabrics and vintage reprints. To keep the collection unique, each piece is hand finished to assure a one of a kind feel.
Even the style names are playful and refreshing… from “The Interview” to “A Walk in the Park” to my personal favorite “Antique Shopping” these ladies know how to convey their sense of style. Plus, not only are these women are cool (take my word for it…) now is the perfect time to revamp your wardrobe with some new fall fashions! Definitely an excuse to splurge!
Also be sure to check out their adorable girls section as well!

Just Face it…

Back in the day being compared to Mariah Carey was cool. Actually, before Mariah I used to dread that “what famous person do you look like” game because there just weren’t any celebrities out there with my look…. but now with all the so-called “racially ambiguous” stars out there I was secretly hoping the Celebrity Face Recognition software on MyHeritiage.com would link me with someone else… Paula Patton… Thandie Newton perhaps? But alas… My closest “celebrity matches” were Mariah Carey, Emmy Rossum (random), and Jada Pinkett (cute, but annoying as you-know-what). This site is sooo fun and very addictive. While you’re there you can also research your ancestry and build your family tree! Fun procrastination for all!

Fashion Week?

I’m still debating whether I’m going to cover fashion week or not… there are a few shows I’d love to attend and write about, but my fear is the fashion blogging world is going to be over- saturated with coverage this year. I’m always striving to bring you something fresh… so we’ll just have to see.

One more thing….

So you all know Mos Def was arrested outside the MTV music awards for performing his politically charged song “Katrina Klap“… well my brother sent me a link to the download (courtesy of DaveyD.com) check it out here.

*From Outkast, Behold a Lady (clearly you know this… but just in case….)

If you haven’t already discovered the world of Pandora, I thought I’d give you the heads up on this fantastic music resource this weekend. Pandora is based on the The Music Genome Project™.

Each song in the Music Genome Project is analyzed using up to 400 distinct musical characteristics by a trained music analyst. These attributes capture not only the musical identity of a song, but also the many significant qualities that are relevant to understanding the musical preferences of listeners.

The Project’s database is updated on a continual basis with new releases and emerging artists…
In short, you enter the name of an artist that you love (like Zion I) and Pandora will find other artists for you (like Omni) based on some complex stuff I’m too tired to understand or get into now. The site has links to most music on iTunes (as well as a link to where you can purchase a CD)… Seriously, all you have to do is set a station, sit back, and enjoy. I’m loving it!!! (So mad McDonald’s ruined that expression).

Sorry every time I bring up McDonald’s I’m reminded of their “I’d hit it” ad…

My posts are obviously winding down as the holidays approach, but I had to tell you about Grime. Seriously my favorite hip hop album out right now AND it’s FREE to download on his site www.grimeworld.com (I don’t know how long he’ll keep it up, so I suggest you get it while you can). Straight political commentary with a sweet flow and serious beats. Enjoy, and pick up a t-shirt while you’re there.

Released momentarily from the grip of corporate America…
You know its bad when twin-sets excite you. What is a twin-set? I would have asked the same question a few weeks ago before I began shopping for conservative work clothes. As I browsed the racks of Macy’s and held up a pale pink cardigan with matching pink “shell”, a saleswoman approached and said, “That’s a lovely twin-set”. She said lovely in that way that certain women do… With Clenched teeth and extra lower lip movement for added emphasis. The “twin-set” was $74 and I put it back. Later in the day I was at TJ Maxx… and true to their slogan, I got the Maxx for the minimum… the same twin set for $19.99. I felt a small wave of excitement when I found it in my size, same brand and all… followed by a wave of dread when I realized that I was excited about a twin-set… (R: —-> clinched-teeth lovely Twin set from Polo.com)

Anyway as promised, if you click on the link at the very top (and to the left) it will whisk you away to a world as far from twin-sets as you can possibly get. The House of Nubian is hands down the best spot on the web for political t-shirts… from Malcolm, to Angela to the 1968 Olympics this site has it all… my brother own practically every tee shirt they sell. Great for father’s day shopping too!
Keeping i

n the political spirit… I was wondering what you think of Kanye West’s new song…Diamonds From Sierra Leone… at first I was excited… Kanye always kind of straddles the line between political and popular and I thought this might be the tipping point, but the lyrics are the same-old same old… for more on this, check out WhuDat.com… a nice little spot for modern day hip-hop info… (the government tags section of this site is kinda fun… Who knew Queen Latifa’s real name is Dana Owens (I know you knew AZ))?
Lastly, if Kanye doesn’t quite do it for you, you should check out West-Coast rappers Zion I. Their new album, True and Livin, is HOT… between Zion I and Tahir I’m actually starting to like music again. Anyway, time to don the twin-set…

(T-shirt above left from house of nubian… CD above right from Zionicrew.com)