Robert Glasper Experiment: 'Black Radio'

After working with Robert Glasper several years ago behind his album 'Canvas', this talented composer and pianist has continued to push himself and develop his talents, taking steps outside of the traditional Jazz spectrum, and into a bold genre bending musical world. The Robert Glasper Experiment, at least in the past, seemed like more of a side project to his more "classic" (not that his trio compositions ever failed to push the envelope) Jazz albums. Even the group's name alluded to a fleeting trial. With the announcement of 'Black Radio' The Experiment (on paper at least) seems honed, focused, star-studded, and a number one priority. The game certainly changed for the quickly rising Glasper after Kanye West, Mos Def, and Lupe Fiasco joined him on stage for a freestyle jam at the Blue Note Jazz club earlier this year.

The experiment consists of: saxist Casey Benjamin, bassist Derrick Hodge, and drummer Chris Dave. Yet, Black Radio also features a jaw-dropping roll call of special guests including Erykah Badu, Bilal, Lupe Fiasco, Lalah Hathaway, Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra), KING, Ledisi, Chrisette Michele, Mos Def, Musiq Soulchild, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Stokley Williams (Mint Condition). INSANE.

'Black Radio' drops February 28 on Blue Note Records. The tracklist featuring covers and originals are below.

01 Lift Off/Mic Check (featuring Shafiq Husayn)
02 Afro Blue (featuring Erykah Badu)
03 Cherish The Day (featuring Lalah Hathaway)
04 Always Shine (featuring Lupe Fiasco & Bilal)
05 Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.) (featuring Ledisi)
06 Move Love (featuring KING)
07 Ah Yeah (featuring Musiq Soulchild & Chrisette Michele)
08 Consequence Of Jealousy (featuring Meshell Ndegeocello)
09 Why Do We Try (featuring Stokley Williams)
10 Black Radio (featuring Mos Def)
11 Letter to Hermoine (featuring Bilal)
12 Smells Like Teen Spirit

Vibe Magazine Closing

More bad news for publicists, musicians and journalists today as Daily Finance reports that "editor in chief Danyel Smith and publisher Edgar Hernandez confirmed" that Vibe magazine will be ceasing publication. No further details at this point, except that Kanye's beard still looks gray. This is all some Benjamin Button's shit. (VIA)

Welcome Home, John Forte

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JOHN FORTE and TALIB KWELI "Homecoming"

If we have one thing to thank George W. Bush for during his time as President, it's the commutation he granted rapper/producer John Forte in November, effectively releasing him from prison in December after a seven-year sentence. Forte, best known for his brilliant work with The Fugees in the 90s and two unheralded solo records (1998's Poly Sci and 2000's I, John,) was convicted on drug charges in 2000 and was sentenced to 14 years in a Pennsylvania prison. After his incarceration, celebrities and politicans (like Carly Simon (?!) and Sen. Orrin Hatch) actively campaigned on the behalf of Forte, believing that he didn't receive a fair trial. With the help of Hatch, Bush commuted Forte's prison sentence and the man has come home.

Immediately after getting released, Forte teamed up with Talib Kweli to record the appropriately-titled "Homecoming," which samples Kanye West's song of the same name. Forte wastes no time addressing his life in prison and his newfound freedom, and the accompanying video is a gritty, behind-the-scenes snapshot of his and Kweli's studio collaboration. Feels good to have you back, John. We missed you so much that we gave you an On The Blog Reel. Almost makes up for those seven years in prison, no? Video's after the jump.


"Homecoming" John Forte + Talib Kweli from The ICU on Vimeo.

Kanye Is Down With Being In His 30's, NOT Down With Benjamin Button Shit

If you aren't reading Kanye West's blog religiously, what the hell are you doing that's better? Containing more unneccessary diatribes and enthusiastic, caffeine-induced ramblings than our other favorite melodramatic icon whose blog is a goldmine, Yeezy knows how to keep us on our heels. In one of my favorite recent rants, the rapper laments the image that VIBE Magazine used on the cover of its newest issue. Kanye has very obvious patches of grey in his facial hair, leading some to speculate that (gasp!) he's getting older. 

But NOT SO FAST, says Kanye in all-caps. (Using Caps Lock, he proclaims, is like using AutoTune on his latest album: "IT'S FUN!")

"I DON'T HAVE GREY IN MY BEARD IN REAL LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M ALL DOWN WITH BEING IN MY 30's, BUT DAAAAAAAAMN!!!!!! THIS IS SOME BENJAMIN BUTTON'S SHIT!"

Kanye doesn't care about grammar, and he'll elongate his syllables as much as he wants to, thank you very much. Those restrictions would only hinder his posting, which he does very, very frequently. In fact, there are already four this morning. Gotta love artistic output. Anyway, what other artist blogs should we know about? And are they nearly as entertaining as those from Mr. West or Mr. Adams? LET US KNOOOOOOW IN THE REPLIIIIIIIIIIIIES!!!!!!!!!

Julia Nunes Is F*!@ng Adorable

I've got a new obsession, and thy name be Julia Nunes. What started out as an innocent crush has blossomed into an absolute fixation; this girl has got me smitten. After a friend forwarded me a link to her cover of Weezer's "Keep Fishin", I proceeded to watch every single video on her mega-popular YouTube channel, and I've been floored ever since. Her off-kilter voice takes the best parts of a soulful Zooey Deschanel and a childish Kimya Dawson. She makes great use of the ukelele, transforming big popular indie hits into intimate desert island/dorm-room performances. She overdubs herself with perfect harmonies and a kitschy melodica, sometimes with the help of her college roomates and whoever else feels like joining in. She's refreshingly candid and insanely charming, from her infectious smile to her quirky confessions to the camera. You simply can't knock on this girl. She's even parlayed her Internet success into a full-fledged (albeit part-time) solo career, performing her great originals with the likes of none other than Ben Folds. I've included a slew of her covers below. I strongly urge you to check the rest out -- don't blame me if you spend the whole day doing so -- because this girl is a star in the making. In the words of Maeby Funke, "marry me!"

 

Weezer "Keep Fishing"

Spoon "The Underdog"

 

Bright Eyes "The First Day Of My Life"

Way more videos of Ben Folds, The Beach Boys, and yes, Kanye covers can be found via YouTube.

New Kanye Video "Love Lockdown" - via Ellen?

Today Kanye debuted his new video for "Love Lockdown" on Ellen. Yeah, so that happened. Ellen pretty much looks confused at the end of it - sort of like "I don't know what that was, but I liked it!" Kanye don't care. Anyway - as I know our buddy Tony Bourdain would back us up on - at least he didn't debut this on Rachel Ray's show.

New Kanye Tomorrow?

Above is the cover art for Kanye West's new single, "Love Lockdown." Last night on the otherwise-dreadful VMA's, 'Ye debuted the surprisingly soulful (but rap-free) song, from his still-untitled fourth LP due in December. Rumors circulated over the weekend that we'd get our first taste of the studio version on iTunes earlier this morning, but it never hit. With the circulation of the cover art, which features a deflated red balloon and not the trademark dropout bear, all signs point to the song's official release tomorrow. You can bet that when the song drops, we'll offer our thoughts. But judging from last night's performance, the song only pushes West further into a realm of his own as an artist.