It's Time

I'm out, but Soul Psychadelicyde is not dead, it's reborn:
 

Soulpsycho.wordpress.com

One More Post in the Meantime * Blogger Still Might F_ck it Up

Why Stones Throw isn't as cool anymore:
so here is the story of my night, the night of the CMJ showcase for stones throw. a zillion openers and headliner madlib. 8pm -2am. in the email invite they strongly recommend that we get there early, as space was reserved. you know the usual robotic message.

I invited a friend from high school I haven't seen in a while. She drove in from Westchester, and I headed downtown with the trusty old Metrocard after work. I got there at 8ish, because I DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT IN LINE (IN THE COLD). (AND IN HEELS).
I didn't know what to expect, so when I arrived at 8ish and saw no one around I was suspicious, but happy that I would find a seat. No one stopped me at the door, which again seemed strange for a CMJ RSVP event. I chilled there for at least half an hour, enough time to sip my diet coke and read a lone magazine from the table in front of me. More people poured in, most of them looking like they were there for the "showcase." Later my friend texted me from the line, saying it was long and not moving.

THEN we hear an annoucement, something like, "we got this night started off wrong. everybody has to go outside and wait in line. we're really sorry, but come get your gift bags and please wait outside."
I think the fact that I was alone helped me be so vocal- I immediately stood up and yelled "what the fuck." Then walked over to the DJ booth, saw that Egon was the one who made this baffling announcement.

Me: Excuse me. So, you're saying that I have to go outside and wait in line? Even though I'm already here, and I came here early because the email told me to?
Egon: Yeah this place really messed up. They just started the night wrong. You can grab a gift bag.
Me: (looking over at the floor where the gift bags were a few seconds ago) It's a long line, and it's cold.
Egon: You RSVP'd right?
Me: Yes
Egon: Then you're good.
(Egon noticing how pissed I am, says with puppy eyes) I'm really really sorry. It's the bar, they didn't check people coming in. I'm so sorry.
My internal thoughts: WHY ISNT [name redacted] HOOKING ME UP? WHY ISNT MADLIB PASSING ME THE BLUNT INSTEAD OF EGON KICKING ME OUT OF THIS BAR?
Me: I forgive you.

Then I went over to the place where the gift bags were, and they told me they had CDs and Tshirts left. I took a CD and asked if they have women's shirts. Of course they did not. I asked for the smallest Men's size. That was a Large. I asked to see it, to see if I would wanna cut it up and sew it back to fit me. Plain black front, boring CMJ lineup on the back. No thanks.

Then I had two choices- I could either wait outside in the long line for who knows how long, or hang with my friend in one of the many surrounding warm bars. Also, I kept thinking that there were so many headliners and Madlib wouldn't be around until after midnight (I drank tons of caffeine to stay up for it but the plan backfired.) Also it was a Wednesday (work tomorrow) and the last time I saw him, Erykah Badu showed up. So there's no way they could top that. Not with the Arabian Prince and James Pants.

I got too fucked up to go back to the show. Besides I felt a little embarrassed after making a scene (standing and screaming what the fuck). I realize this is snobby of me; I'm just not used to waiting in lines for shows after my short time 'working in the music business.' And Egon did act sincerely apologetic and it really wasn't the fault of Stones Throw. I should know that after 'working in the music business' these things happen. But it was just another straw.... and he reminded me of every other man boy who's disappointed me.

The upside to my night was that I met Donny Goines! He was kicked out at the same time; we were all punished for arriving too early. Approaching someone and asking them if they are who they are is not something I would normally do, but this is the guy that sends us bloggers about 6 videos per week of himself rhyming up a storm. So recognizing him wasn't difficult. Great minds think alike, Game recognize Game, you know: Neither of us was trying to stick around after that. Both loving Stones Throw but hating bullshit.

Hey Blogger: F_ck You, I'm Out

For reasons I cannot understand, my post from a few weeks ago was removed. It disappeared; it is no where in Blogger. This pissed me off, but I re-posted a slightly updated version with a different title, (“WTF”) last week. And that one disappeared too. So confused.

Maybe I set off some alarm on an automatic scanning program or something, maybe some language that was bad enough that they felt the need to delete it forever, and that they didn’t need to warn me or explain either. I know the standard legal warning (Thanks Tuff City! Wink) but this time I got nothing. I also think it’s a possibility that it’s just some problem with my computer or the publishing function… Or a blogospherewide attempt to stop us from offering free downloads. I would repost again, but I’m sure it will disappear again.

So I’m gonna be really lazy. They can’t get me for this. I’m not linking to anything, because maybe that has something to do with "the disappearing" so I trust you can find these things yourselves. I recommend you do; that's the point, BLOGGER.

Here’s a list of what I talked about in the deleted post:

*The Bird and The Bee
*Stacy Epps- The Awakening
*Gilles Peterson- Brownswood Bubblers Three
*J Davey-The Beauty of Distortion
*Jazmine Sullivan- Fearless
*Little Jackie- The Stoop
*Jesse Boykins III - new album coming, called The Beauty Created

So I’m maybe changing to Wordpress or Typepad. I’ll keep you updated when I do.
And while I’m being lazy, just listing things, here’s a little more from my current rotation:

*Johnson & Jonson
I’ve underestimated Blu as a rapper. And that’s almost impossible, I already loved him. This is very different than Below the Heavens but it’s also extremely good.
*The Mighty Underdogs- Droppin Science Fiction
Amazing. Def Jux snagged this collab between Lateef the Truth Speaker and Gift of Gab with production by Headnodic.
*Blue Sky Black Death ft Jean Grae- The Evil Jeanius
“Away With Me” is the song that kills me. There’s always one.
*St. Germain- Tourist
*Largo Pro- Main Source

Laura Zepam Is Surprisingly Active / #10 Common & N.E.R.D. at Roseland

As usual, I missed the opening act Chester French. But I’ve heard good things. I didn't know what to expect from this show; I didn’t even know I had tickets until yesterday. I knew the Neptunes produced Common’s upcoming album (Invisible Summer), and I heard the first single “Announcements” which is bangin'. So with that new album in mind, I thought maybe the Neptunes and Common would be performing together somehow. I guess it’s a crazy idea; I should have known Pharrell and that big ego he carries would need at least 40 minutes on stage by himself. I know, I’m a hater, especially when the reason behind the hate is Pharrell’s overconfidence. And he has a reason for the overconfidence: he’s just really feeling the love of the fans, which is a good thing.

I like Pharrell, and I used to have a huge crush on him until I noticed how small he is in real life, and then there's his cockiness. And there's this other thing that always bothers me: he thinks he can sing falsetto. I like his voice, he can sing well and he's a great musician all around. But he cannot sing like that. We all know he can’t, and neither can Kanye. (So listen up: if you’re not D’angelo or Prince, please don’t do it. You sound weak.) There are a few exceptions, but that's my rule of thumb. Aside from maybe 8 bars of falsetto, N.E.R.D. was great. The light show was awesome until the strobe lights got too intense for me and triggered my old friend Migraine. Luckily I was able to grab a seat, and by the time Common was up, I had figured out my new camera:
Common did his thing, and Pharrell joined him for a few songs. Both NERD and Common had DJs, plus full bands of fantastic musicians. Common’s stage setup involved a fake bar with a fake bartender and fake supermodels drinking at the fake bar. The songs were separated by boring, pointless 'skits' about drinking at a bar. I don’t understand why they did that, except that maybe they just wanted some hot girls in dresses and high heels on stage, to feed Common that fire. He certainly has it in him:

I didn’t get the point of the skits, but those aside, Common delivered everything I wanted. He had crazy energy; he gave us some new songs, some freestyles, some old hits, and some remixes. But in the back of my head, I kept thinking there must be some other special guest, it can’t be just Common and Pharrell. I had high hopes of Jill Scott coming out for “8 Minutes til Sunrise.” But sure ‘nuff, The Soul Machine Cee-Lo Green strolled out on stage for one song. I don’t have photo of that song because it’s really hard to take photos while dancing, jumping and screaming. That was a new lesson for me-- now I know.

Wishes Granted

All this time, I've been publicly crying about my need for new Jean Grae, and no one told me she has an album coming out next week?!?!?! I'm disappointed that my ear isn't as close to the streets as I thought, but I'm feeling good about this mysterious release from Babygrande. Maybe because Babygrande is a UK label, and these US labels consistently disappoint me.

The production is by Blue Sky Black Death. The Evil Jeanius.

Jean Grae & Blue Sky Black Death- Shadows Forever (From Hip Hop is Read mixtape)

Such a Distraction

Before this song, John Brown (of vh1's White Rapper Show) was my favorite joke of a human being. He released this song about Sarah Palin, which sounds like a terrible idea in theory, but I've had this song seriously stuck in my head, and it is hilarious on more levels than the King of Da Burbs intended.
So John Brown, you've moved up from "joke of a human being" to "living joke /brilliant parody songwriter" in my mind. Nice job!

John Brown - Sarah Palin (I Wanna Lay Pipe)

Laura Zepam #9, Lily’s Mixes, and A Sample

I’m pretty sure I’m the first blogger to use this lyric in this context: it’s been a long time, I shouldna left you. But I have extra goodness to make up for my absence: Three 45min mixes. One for Vincent at Fufu Stew- soul, and two for the boys at Break the Crates- hip hop and reggae and other. A sample that I’ve been looking for found its way to me. More samples coming. ?uestlove leaked an unreleased Lauryn Hill song. And I wrote a lil Laura Zepam Review. I’m back in my element, surrounded by music.

Mini Laura Zepam Review #9- Brooklyn Academy at Southpaw 9/3/08
My beloved Jean Grae is still fueling the rumors of her "retirement." The thought of her retirement makes me fear for the fate of the universe, but I got to see her at Southpaw with Brooklyn Academy (I know JG got married, I think to one of those dudes? I don’t know which one) Besides being her usual hilarious brilliant self, we got more of her than I expected from a featured guest, and Brooklyn Academy was really fucking great too.

On stage, Jean said something along the lines of: “I might be done, you let me know what I should do” and suddenly I wasn’t feeling so selfish about it. If she wants to quit and do something else with her life, who am I to stop her? I’ll just be sad that there are no great female MCs for me to write about. I’ll be sad but I’ll live.

On the other hand, it’s hard to believe she’s serious, when we all know she’s all hooked up with Talib and Blacksmith. She wouldn’t be Blacksmiths’ big featured artist if she didn’t have an album coming. ...patience …

Here are the goodies. Check out my friends at Fufustew and Break the Crates.

Lily’s RALLY!!!!!!!!! Mix (for Break the Crates)

Lily’s Chilled Mix (for Break the Crates)

Lily’s Birdseed Mix (for Fufu Stew)

(Just to be clear, these are not for real mixes. I can’t mix. The cuts you hear on “Chilled” are by Rob Swift, and if you need the whole tracklist, holla, or wait for Vincent the Soul Chef to post my Birdseed.)

?uestlove: the more you leak, the more I like you <3.
Lauryn Hill- The World is a Hustle (unreleased)

Finally, the sample, for which I begged on this blog months ago, magically found its way to me:
Yamasuki- Kono Samuri (from Cherrypickings Spring 2007)