So word is already out about Bilal's new album slated for an early 2010 release. Today, we have some footage of Bilal performing a new song that may appear on the LP. The song is entitled "Levels." The clip was captured at the recent Plug Research/Vtech CMJ showcase (we'll be milking content from this one for a minute). Enjoy "Levels," and be on the lookout for more new music form Bilal in the coming months. Video shot by B+ and Eric Coleman.
Out Da Box TV was on hand at last week's Plug Research CMJ showcase, Can I Get You High?, featuring Bilal, Shafiq, Blu & Exile, Pharoahe Monch, and more. They put together this 15 minute vid featuring interviews, performance clips, and backstage footage with Pharoahe Monch, Bilal, Blu, Exile, Shafiq Husayn, John Robinson, Invincible, One Be Lo, DJ Spinna, DJ Boogie Blind and Mr Complex.
If you missed out on the epic CMJ show that went down last Wednesday at BLVD, we've got you with some high quality audio of the show's highlights. OKP had the pleasure of being one of the presenters for Plug Research and VTech's show, Can I Get You High?, which featured Bilal w/ 6 piece band, Exile ft. Blu, Shafiq Husayn w/ live band, Pharoahe Monch on hosting duties, and DJ sets by Large Professor, J Rocc, DJ Spinna and Blu Jemz. The order of events on the podcast below is as such: an intro acapella from Pharoahe Monch, Exile live on the MPC, then a short set w/ Blu announcing the upcoming new Blu/Exile album while performing a new song, moving onto an exclusive DJ set w/ Large Professor, then a classic record-for-record set from both J Rocc and Dj Spinna. Video footage from the show will come later in the week. Check the audio below, and check here for more of Mike Park's photos from the night.
New Yorkers, get ready, it's CMJ week, where musical showcases take-over our beautiful city. With today's Okayplayer CMJ mega-post we can help you parse through the mayhem and pick the choicest events. OKP has the privilege of supporting 3 incredible CMJ events this year. Last night's Plug Research event with Blu & Exile, Shafiq Husayn, and Bilal was OFF the hook! With only 2 events left, TONIGHT, catch the Audible Treats showcase, with Souls Of Mischief, Tanya Morgan, Trinity, Kam Moye, Oddisee, Finale, Jern Eye, Truthlive and DJ Keelay. Finally, shut it all down with the closing CMJ party, Okay Africa!, a showcase full of amazing music from the African diaspora, featuring Sierra Leone superstars Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew, Blitz The Ambassador, Jahdan Blakkamoore, IyaDedE, and DJ Zakee Kuduro. Even without the coveted CMJ badge, you can still attend all three events for some small dollars at the door. Trust us, they'll be worth every cent. See after the jump for the 2 official flyers to the events left, and click the links above for more info on these events.
As promised, OKP's putting you on to another MUST ATTEND CMJ showcase going down in NY next week. This one will be put on by our friends over at Plug Research & Vtech, who want to know, 'Can I Get You High?' If your answer is yes, then come through to Crash Mansion in NYC on October 21st to watch Bilal (with a 6 piece band), Exile featuring Blu, Shafiq Husayn featuring Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Thundercat, with Pharoahe Monch hosting and live DJ sets from J.Rocc and DJ Spinna, Large Professor and Blu Jemz. Many special guests will be on hand as well. I'd pay just about any price for this one, but now you can get advanced tix for just $10. As an OKP special, the 10th person to email okayplayercontest@gmail.com right now will get a free pair of tickets to the show.
To start the day off we've got some good news from our friends over at Plug Research. Bilal will be releasing his new album via PR in early 2010. His first official LP since his critically acclaimed 01 album, 1st Born Second. The new album will be entirely produced by Bilal, with the exception of some production by Shafiq (Sa-Ra) and Nottz, which means you can expect more collabos like this one. Bilal had this to say of the announcement: "I'm just excited to put out a new record without having to conform to major label standards... before there was always this pressure of, 'What's going to be the first single -- what are people going to get?' I never really saw making music like that." Word is that 9 of the 12 songs are completed already. Find out more over at Billboard.
Sa-Ra member, Shafiq Husayn, dropped his long awaited solo debut today, Shafiq En' A-Free-Ka. If you've been paying attention to the material leaked from the project so far, you need no convincing on this buy. To celebrate the album's release, here is a single-only remix to Shafiq's song "Cheeba" featuring Bilal, with Nottz on the production. Shafiq En' A-Free-Ka is in stores now, go get it via iTunes or Amazon.
Any fellas in NYC looking for a date should have been camped outside of the garden last night. That's where Maxwell brought his show, gracing NYC with this performance. Common was on the bill as well, with Bilal holding down the intro. Courtesy of The Life Files, here's a HQ recap of the night.
NYC: It's time to kick off your summer the right way. The rain is finally starting to clear up so go get that special someone and head over to the Blue Note for two intimate performances by Bilal. The man definitely puts his all into every performance so catch him tonight and/or tomorrow night for some of that good soul.
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