Posted on 09/18/2009
There are special moments in time when like-minded individuals merge their respective talents and make a significant impact on the world. Some people have tried to do the same thing through music. Take The Firm, for example, the short-lived hip-hop collective of Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown, and Nature. Then there’s Lucy Pearl, which included producer extraordinaire Raphael Saadiq, En Vogue vocalist Dawn Robinson, and A Tribe Called...

Posted on 09/18/2009
Even though Lisbon-based Cacique ’97 describes itself as an “afrobeat” collective, here the term is somewhat limiting and fails to convey the group’s ability to blend a variety of influences. To be sure, afrobeat remains the driving and unifying force throughout their album, but Brazilian and Portuguese touches allow for a more international flavor, expanding the core afrobeat sound but also highlighting the African (and sometimes afrobeat) influence already...

Posted on 09/18/2009
New York emcee, John Robinson, and Ohio producer, J Rawls, have decided to join forces and conveniently become Jay Are (think about it…think about it…get it?) As Jay Are, they decided to create an album that pays homage to Jazz music, and specifically spotlight the jazz revolution of the 1960’s. A new idea? Not quite. Am I mad about it? Absolutely not.

Posted on 09/18/2009
Braille is traveling unchartered territory. As far as Gospel rappers are concerned, who’s really paving the way? The closest person that comes to mind is Christopher Martin also known as “Play” from Kid ‘N Play and he only further proves the aforementioned concern. So, considering the odds of Christian rap replacing Southern rap as Hip-Hop’s go-to subgenre, there is a warm authenticity, Cloud Nineteen, Braille’s collaboration album with...

Posted on 09/18/2009
K’Jon has endured several challenges along his road to recognition, and he tells all on his major label debut, I Get Around, a brutally honest musical biography in which the Detroit native rises above haters like a superhero, compares the emotions of love to summer rainfall, and proclaims that he wants to live forever. The smooth and sultry production makes this record perfect for a romantic evening or down...

Posted on 09/18/2009
It’s always a bad sign when a press release spends most of the time listing the artist’s past glories (especially when most of the original DJ Food collective are long departed) before summarily asking, “So what about the music?” and brusquely giving a release schedule in response. So, what about the music then? Well, it’s a bit average. Six vaguely jazz/hip hop flavoured tracks of which little...