Since the submissions are slowing down, I think this may be one of the last posts on the subject. Remember, you can check out all the submissions by clicking here.
For this post, shoutouts to the following people:
Bruce Mack, Brooklyn and Jersey inna house!/Producer, composer, founder of Tricky Dilemma
1. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – 100 Days, 100 Nights: Hands down the funkiest and
groovin’est live band recording of the year! If you don’t know, don’t
ask just get…it.
2. Chaka Khan – Funk This: This is a killer record! Great to hear
Tony Maiden again! I mean come on now… after 30 some odd years and
you can only hear aging in Chaka’s lower register! “Ain’t nobody, make
me feel this way…” On the song “Disrespectful” its crazy how she
plays the background singer and features MJ. Blige in the lead role
while she sings all kinds of melodies in and around Mary J. – this
song is breathing fire and Mary sounds great!
3. Afrofraktal – Apocalypso Acronycal: This band is out there and been
out there for some time now. Straight up ‘noise funk’ – the Bomb Squad
meets the Roaches.
4. Imani Uzuri – Her Holy Water. Sister with the BIG voice delivers
uncut sugarcane! better git you a piece and chew on it! I think the
radar was just raised to high… but I didn’t do too much clubbing, so
I may have missed the fun.
5. Wyclef Jean- carnival Vol.II/Memiors of An Immigrant: Wyclef is’
the United Nations of Hip-Hop! He proved that on Vol I… Can’
t remember the last time I heard Turkish/Arabesque horns blended with a
Samba, Sizzla rappin’ over it and Minister Louis Farrakan playing solo
violin?
6. Talib Kweli – Eardrum: I’m really missing Black Star but Kweli
continues to bring it.
7. Herbie Hancock – River: The Joni Letters
8. Public Enemy – How You Sell Soul To A Soulless People Who Sold Their
Soul?
9. Brazz Tree – Spiral On: Features the amazing violinist Mazz Swift.
Don’t sleep…
10. Angie Stone – The Art Of Love & War: She is sic with Rhythm&Blues!
The most beautifullest R&B in the world… is just like this… I mean
she got me deep in 1972, listening to my older sister’s music. Before
I picked it up I was hoping for a duet with Leela James… but the one
on “Baby” with Betty Wright will suffice.
Tavia Nyong’o, Brooklyn, NY and Kenya/Cultural historian, performance studies scholar and blogger at Bluegum and Kenya Patriot
Tavia asks:” What was Black Rock in 2007?”
Bloc Party – A Weekend in the City and Kele’s cover shoot for the zine They Shoot Homos Don’t They?
Janelle Monae – that wild internet video
Black Kids – the tracks flying across the internet
The Smyrk – New Fiction EP
Otto Fischer – Urb Alt set
Saul Williams – The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! self-released album, and his wild appearance at the Box.
Cornel West’s performance at the James Brown symposium at Princeton
Imani Uzuri, North Carolina-raised, NY-based world-roaming gyspy/nomad, vocalist & composer
Kenna – Make Sure They See My Face
M.I.A. – Kala
Imani Uzuri – Her Holy Water: A Black Girl’s Rock Opera
Graham Haynes – Full Circle
Maya Azucena – Junkyard Jewel
Alice Smith – For Dreamers, Lovers and Me
Nina Simone – Remixed and Reimagined
Game Rebellion – Searching for Rick Rubin
Somi – Red Soil In My Eyes
Across the Universe Soundtrack (Martin Luther makes me weep!)
(i got soooo many other albums to go out and listen to now! what a great resource! everyone keep spreading the news!)
Maori Karmael Holmes, Philadelphia, PA/Filmmaker & director of Black Lily Film & Music Festival
Alice Smith – For Lovers, Dreamers, and Me
Imani Uzuri – Her Holy Water: A Black Girl’s Rock Opera
Kenna – Make Sure They See My Face
Me’Shell Ndegeocello – The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams
Mizzthornton, NYC/Arts lobbyist, producer, curator
Her Holy Water: A Black Girl’s Rock Opera by the inimitable Imani Uzuri *(I think Jilly from Philly was listening to this CD as she was conceiving Vol. 3)
Full Circle by the brilliant composer, cornetist Graham Haynes (So fulfilling – a literal “suite” of works…)
Howard Duffy, Brooklyn, NY/Architect and interior designer
“Lewis Hamilton is Black rock!”
Marque Gilmore, Stockholm & London/Musician, producer, event curator
ME’SHELL “The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams”
The NOISETTES “What’s The Time, Mr. Wolf”
CX KiDTRONIC “Big Girl, Skinny Girl”
BURNT SUGAR “More Than Posthuman – Rise of the Mojosexual Cotillion”
SAUL WILLIAMS “the inevitable rise and liberation of niggytardust!”
(*NOTE:
I haven’t even heard this record yet, I vote just from the album name
and especially the sales format on Saul’s website…i’m gonna pay for
it AND enjoy it even if it sucks, HA! —-> which i’m sure it won’t!
Nuff Respect to the Future of Independent Artists!)
Christa Bell, Seattle, WA/Poet, performance artist, creator of CoochieMagick
Imani Uzuri – Her Holy Water: A Black Girl’s Rock Opera
Noisettes – What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf?
