Author Archives: Lacezilla
Questlove and D’Angelo Hold Brooklyn Bowl In The Palms Of Their Hands
“I feel like a groupie,” confessed Action Bronson to a heavy-hitting music mag EIC last night at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg. Overhearing similar awe-struck conversations from music-aficionados, hipsters, and VIPs was commonplace during the D’Angelo and Questlove two-man show, and in addition to Bronson, Jean Grae, Nelson George, Chromeo, Robert Glasper, Hannibal Buress, A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed, Kevin Liles, and Bilal were all there to bask in the sonic glory.
With the help of his nurturing pal Quest, the low-profile soul singer and multi-instrumentalist cultivated the neo-soul nostalgia that we all love. As exemplified in the clip of their encore, “Lady,” songs like “Cosmic Slop,” “The Line,” and “Alright” had the crowd gleefully singing along. Oh, and thank you, Universe, the album is almost finished.
10 Moments That Made The Beyoncé’s “Life Is But A Dream” Documentary Tolerable
Life Is But A Dream premiered on HBO Saturday night, and while many will gain a newfound appreciation for the singer, others might make an argument that the “documentary” fell flat. Somewhere between concert performances, archival footage, MacBook Pro selfies, and lo-fi video clips, some enjoyable personal and quirky moments presented themselves. Love her or hate her, we’re all paying attention.
OS REWIND: Beyoncé Covers VOGUE
OS REWIND: Oprah “Next Chapter” With Beyoncé
Written In The Stars: Examining Where Lupe Fiasco’s Erratic Behavior May Stem From
31 years ago today, Wasalu “Lupe” Jaco was born. Talent notwithstanding, the Chicago rapper is often accused of being too outspoken and having tantrums, and his volatile behavior has undoubtedly affected his once-budding career and public perception. But where does this shit come from?
According to astrology, the birth chart – a visual representation of the positioning of the sun, moon and other planetary objects at the time and geographical location of a person’s birth – can often provide a road map for personality, and our boy Wasalu has a very interesting chart, y’all. Whether or not you believe astrological findings to be realistic, the following top-line information is definitely eye opening. Having studied astrology in college, it’s become a hobby to evaluate birth charts of both friends and celebrities, and I invite you to explore these still-relevant ancient concepts. Keep nature/nurture in mind, though – it would be irresponsible to not mention that the MC’s upbringing and life experiences also impact who he his today as well.
Hip Hop’s Love Affair With Florence Welch
Last week, Florence + The Machine front-woman Florence Welch attended Kendrick Lamar’s Hammersmith Apollo show in London. Rumored to have then traveled home from the concert like a commoner on the underground tube, it’s said that the singer was heard belting out parts of Mr. Duckworth’s “Backseat Freestyle” for those within earshot.
It’s no secret that Florence is a fan of hip hop and equally admired by some of our favorite artists, but what can we expect from her and the rap elite, collabo-wise, in 2013? Let’s take a look back and see just how long this mutual romance has been brewing, shall we?
Boom Clap Bachelors – Tiden Flyver (Kendrick Lamar “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” Sample)
I teach yoga, and I love hip hop. But just because I’d enjoy hearing some Meek or Jeezy during a fast-clip Vinyasa class doesn’t mean that my students would appreciate rap’s excessive profanity, misogynist themes and R-rated content in their ears as they endeavor to physically turn-up and clear their heads. I might be numb to all that delightful savagery, but are they?
The argument can be made that if a student is truly practicing yoga, song lyrics – whether they fall in line with yogic teachings or not – shouldn’t necessarily distract or bother them, but any mindful yoga instructor will face being conflicted about what songs to play in their classes at one point or another regardless. Erring on the side of caution, I started compiling a playlist of hip hop-sample origin songs to use in my classes; still nodding at the melodies, vocal snippets, and drum-patterns we know and love, I can safely be on my rap shit while not offending anyone in a class.
