heard words
Music, photos, and news straight out of Harlem
Download: Three New Songs From Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold
Mar 7th
The Fleet Foxes front man posted the following treat to the bands facebook page Monday afternoon:
Hi, Robin here. I recorded three songs in LA a couple weeks ago with my friend Noah. One is a new song that’s a duet with my buddy Ed Droste from the amazing band Grizzly Bear, one is a solo new song, and one is a cover. Hope you enjoy!
Huzzah for free music! Of the three, the first track is the clear winner, featuring an arpeggiated Fleet Foxes style rhythm and the harmonies of Pecknold and Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste.
Check out the tracks after the jump. More >
Watch – Raekwon – Shaolin Vs Wu-Tang
Mar 7th
Raekwon, Wu-Tang’s fabled Chef has dropped a new video on the eve of his fifth solo release.
The first third of the video is done in a hand-drawn animé-style consistent with the kung-fu theme of the album.. The video then transitions to a pleasant mish-mash of video footage interspersed with the animé. All in all, it’s a great video that definitely ramps up excitement for his new album, Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang, arriving in stores and desktops tomorrow.
Check it out after the jump. More >
Listen: Timbaland Featuring Brandy “Whatever You Like”
Mar 7th
Brandy is rappin, y’all! I remember a couple years ago on one of those VH1 reality shows, Brandy was yammering on about recording a rap album. I never thought she would actually get it all together. And yet here she is with a single produced by one of the best in the game, Timbaland. Like it or not she’s making us listen.
Production-wise this is pretty standard fare for Timbaland, embellishing the track with his trademark synths. Timbo’s intro verse over brandy’s breathy vocals looped ad infinitum isn’t really interesting and if it wasn’t for the fact I so desperately wanted to hear Brandy’s verse, I would have skipped the track.
Brandy doesn’t come in until 1:27 in and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. She actually accomplishes the task of speaking in metered verse. That fact alone far exceeded my expectations. The singer sounds like an amorphous mix of Lil Kim, Foxy Brown and Nikki Minaj all rolled together in a vaguely interesting fashion. As for her potential as a rapper: Only the future can truly tell what will become of “Brand’Nu”, Brandy’s rap alter-ego. I’ll just say good for her for trying.
You can download the track after the jump. More >
WATCH: Aretha Franklin In-Depth With Wendy Williams
Mar 6th
Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin has been in the news as of late due to her mysterious health ailments and her feelings about which actress should play her in a movie. Daytime talkshow host Wendy Williams recently sat down with Franklin in her hometown of Detroit for high tea. Check out this historic interview see sides of Franklin that have rarely been seen in public.
Check out Wendy’s exclusive with Aretha Franklin after the jump. More >
WATCH: NSFW Rick Ross Feat. Wale “Make It Rain” (Remix) Teaser
Mar 5th
NSFW ALERT: This video is only 57 seconds long but contains at least as many pairs of ass cheeks and titties. That’s right, ass AND titties. You’ve been warned.
We now live in an age where even videos have trailers. And that’s exactly what Rick Ross and bringing with this clip from their yet to be released video “Make It Rain” (Remix).
I love Rick Ross for his outlandishly absurd imagery, distinct voice and bombastic yet street-orchestral “Maybach Music” production syle. Now he’s bringing one tailor-made for the strip clubs and I find myself in a place where I’m disappointed at the use gratuitous nudity yet still eager to see the video.
Check out the teaser after the jump and you’ll see what I mean. More >
Watch: Lil Wayne “6 Foot 7 Foot”
Mar 4th
Weezy F. Baby’s got a brand-new Hype Williams-directed video that hasn’t been formally released. However thanks to the piracy magic of the interwebs, I’ve got the clip for you to enjoy NOW. Supposedly the clip is, in part, inspired by the movie Inception, but I wouldn’t know, as I’m music obsessed, not movie obsessed.
That should really be enough information for you to click the more button. Lil Wayne. Hype Williams. Seriously, remember what our lives were like for that year that Weezy was locked up, and we had no stream-of-consciousness absurdist rap to keep us going? I thought so. Enjoy.
Check out the video after the jump. More >
New Music: Pharoahe Monch “Black Hand Side” feat. Styles P & Phonte’
Mar 4th
“Black Hand Side” is produced by Mike Loe & is from Pharoahe Monch’s upcoming album W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) in stores March 22nd on W.A.R. Media/Duck Down Music. I’m hoping W.A.R. actually comes out. The last time I saw Pharoahe Monch, it was in Queensbridge Park here in NYC, as part of the city’s Summerstage series of free concerts. (You can check out photos of that event here.) At that time, Monch was saying his album was supposed to be released in September. Is there a second springtime September that I’ve simply been unaware of?
All kidding aside, it’s great to get new music from a real emcee.
Check out the track after the jump. More >
Photo Gallery: Marsha Ambrosius’ Album Release Party 3/1/11
Mar 3rd
Marsha Ambrosius, one half of the now defunct baby-making neo-soul duo Floetry, hosted her album release party in Midtown Manhattan and I was lucky enough to get to attend. The event was held in the Samsung Store Columbus Circle and feature a swank atmosphere, an excellent and gratis Hennessey cocktails that made everything seem better.
Ambrosius wore a body-hugging magenta and purple-colored sequined number that showed off her newly svelte physique. Thankfully, the book was just as good as its cover. Marsha the invite-only crowd through four songs from her freshly released album “Late Nights & Early Mornings.”
She began the show with a brief introduction and launched into her revengeful urban hit “I Hope She Cheats on You (With A Basketball Player)” followed by her single “Far Away” – her ode to members of the GLBT community who have committed suicide “Far Away. She ended the set with the title track “Late Nights & Early Mornings.” I’ve got video of each song and will be posting them for you to enjoy later today. As an encore, she played her baby-making coo-fest “With You”. All in all, it was a great evening with a talented vocalist. Fans of Floetry should definitely be excited for Marsha’s solo debut.
Check out my photo gallery of the event after the jump. More >
