Here's a real interesting story as told to by ?uestlove about the late great Dilla and the creation of the beat for Black Star's "Little Brother." The story originated on the boards but was transcribed including some audio samples by FWMJ. It's a real good read and not only shows Dilla's genius, but also his humility. Click here to read the full story.
This morning, as I was checking my inbox I was shocked to find an email from ?uesto detailing the horrifying tourbus crash that The Roots experienced last night in Paris. Thankfully, everyone is okay. To give you an idea about the severity of the situation, we are talking a Euro tourbus, which means a tall double-decker bus with a full lounge and bathroom on the 1st level, and all the sleeping bunks up top. I spent a few tours through Europe with The Roots sleeping up top as the bus careened through the French countryside, worrying that an accident just like this one could occur. How would we get out of the bus if it crashed? You OKP vets may remember when one of The Roots' buses crashed during the Okayplayer Tour in 2000, where again, luckily, everyone was alright. Read ?uestlove's email after the jump for the full play-by-play of last night's experience, including all the frightening details.
?uestlove sits down with JumpoffTV to talk about the change he feels Obama will bring. The video is from the Obama fundraiser Okayplayer and ?uesto hosted at Sutra Lounge in NYC back in September. ?uesto educates the people on some of the stances Obama has taken that will directly affect some of the often ignored people in our country.
Nelson George has clearly been a busy bee since this year's VH1 Hip Hop Honors. He hit me up earlier this week with this great little short called "A Barber's Tale," above, featuring Reg E Cathey who you might know from The Wire and Oz, and the film Everyday People (also produced by Nelson George). Additionally, George has got his own TV series entitled Soul Citiesdebuting tonight on VH1 Soul. The first edition is Soul Cities: Philadelphia, so you know we HAD to mention this. Tonight's episode will feature our own ?uestlove, Gamble & Huff, Labelle, Jazmine Sullivan, and Kindred. It airs at 9pm on VH1 Soul so set those DVRs!
I know I was at a loss for words last night after the news finally sunk in. As most of you here are aware, ?uestlove has been doing his part in Obama's grass roots campaigning from the beginning. In this video, ?uesto gives his emotional response to Barack Obama being elected President of the United States and warns agains the dangers of feeling complacent as the real work has really yet to begin.
I know, I know, you're sick of the whole rappers-4-prez schtick. I mean first there was Murs, and then there was this (well, uh, ?uesto IS the prez, of OKP anyways). Now we've got Mos Def declaring the policies he would enact were he to be chosen President of the United States, and I for one am feeling what he's talking about! Health care for everyone, better education, housing, breakfast for all children, and most importantly, a moratorium on the term "shortie" for (at least) the next hundred years. Hootie hoot.
"Give it up for ?uestlove holdin' it down on the milli's, y'all. Playing the drums AND doing all those milli's at the same time..." - Black Thought last night at the Fillmore in Miami.
As you can see from this PSA done in Norfolk, Virginia, both ?uesto and
Black Thought get it. They get that this election is a critical moment
in our Nation's history, and they get that the outcome will determine
OUR futures. They are even taking time out of their North American
tour with Gym Class Heroes to do video drops, radio interviews, to register voters, and to continue campaigning
while on the road. So listen up, and GO REGISTER TO VOTE today. Check the Declare Yourself site for State-by-State voter registration deadlines to find out when you can register until. You
can do it right now, just click VoteForChange.com. Your voice counts, your vote
counts.
In the 2nd and final part of ?uestlove's interview with Karmaloop Tv ?uesto gets political. He speaks on his official role with the Obama campaign, the grass-roots work he has put in, and clears up a few voting misconceptions.
