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Laiya's World: My Top 10 Philly/A-Philly-Ated Albums Of The Year
So, it's almost the end of the year. Before you bust your brain open trying to think of the perfect gift for your loved one, why not give the gift that keeps on giving? What am I talking about, you ask? How about one or more of the 10 Best Philly/A-Philly-Ated Albums of the Year? And my list has something for everyone!
(In no specific order)
1
Creative Ambassador Nikki Jean may not be a Philly native, but I'm sure she'll agree that her years spent in the Philadelphia music scene definitely helped mold her as a singer/songwriter. Pennies In A Jar is Nikki's debut CD, and it sets her apart from anyone else on this list with her mixture of soul, pop and folk.
2
Eric Roberson. Another "A-Philly-Ated" singer/songwriter who has been in the game for some time now. This New Jersey native's initial claim to fame as a songwriter can be heard on some of your favorite albums from 112, MusiqSoulchild, Carl Thomas, Dwele and more, but his catalog of at least 7 studio albums includes a mix of the most beautiful ballads and blends of house and soul music. If you don't believe me (or if you really do) check him out for yourself. Please!
3
Are we sure Marsha is from London? Because her soul is pure Philly! This Creative Ambassador had one of the most anticipated solo releases since Lauryn Hill, and she didn't disappoint! From her honest and blatant ballad "I Hope She Cheats On You With A Basketball Player" to her beautiful ballad that turned into a poignant video "Far Away," she somehow manages to put our love stories into the words we couldn't find. Now that's talent!
4
Isn't it time we got some love advice from a couple living the example of some good lovin'? Well, Kindred gave us a 4th chance to get to know love in that fantasy way (it's there 4th studio album), but more importantly, in that practical way. Aja and Fatin Danzler, married and parents of 6 children, continue to not only sing about love, but to be true examples that love (and hard work as Aja would say) can indeed conquer all!
5
What do I need to say about The Roots album besides, "You don't have it yet? What's wrong with you?" The Roots continue to move us with there 11th studio album. I believe that entitles them to the title of the most releases from any hip hop group (don't hold me to it, unless its right). I consider them hip hop's fine wine, they just get better with age.
6
Oh you didn't know that The Roots released two albums this year? Well that's what I'm here for! Usually when a project is "produced" by The Roots, it really means that it has been touched by the combination of band leader Questlove and keyboardist / Grammy Award winning producer / Creative Ambassador James Poyser. This is The Roots' second collaboration album with a music legend (the first Al Green). For the last decade, Ms. Betty has been using her talents for teaching. She has been the vocal coach on American Idol for quite some time now, along with some notable private sessions for voices like Joss Stone and Jennifer Lopez, but this is her time to shine!
7
Common has put his work in as an "A-Philly-ate". He has done countless records and shows with The Roots, as well as appearing with Jill Scott and Marsha Ambrosius on other projects. He is truly an artist we can depend on for a quality album, and one of our favorite reflections of the evolution of hip hop. Just when we think that we've heard our favorite Common album, he puts another in the ring.
8
Calling yourself "The Greatest Rapper Never" takes a certain type of ego/candidness that only Dice Raw can exude. Why do I say that? Well, Dice has quietly be refining his MC skills since he was scooped up by The Roots at the age of 16. Unlike most, he didn't run when his solo debut (Reclaiming The Dead, released in 2000) didn't meet sales expectations. He wrote instead! For the last few years, Dice has been at the helm of most of The Roots projects, as well as writing and conceptualizing songs for Jill Scott, John Legend, Young Jeezey and more. Is he really just that good? Listen for yourself!
9
Meek Mills. All this talk and not even a debut studio album yet! However, he has managed to catch the ear of TI and Rick Ross. Oh and did I mention his debut mix cd (narrated and mixed by Philly's own DJ Drama) has already sold 300,000 copies digitally? Meek is making the most out of what some would think is his last chance of chasing his dreams. It feels like its just the beginning.
And, Questlove's pick for Philly Album of the Year:
Drum roll please...
10
Is it just me, or is Jill Scott always in my head? Every time she puts a new album out, it feels like at least half of the songs are a reflection of my life or how I feel. Get out of my head, Jill! Wait. Actually, I take that back, because no one can sing what I feel, like Jill. And, this album doesn't disappoint. As we evolve, so does Jill. Jill gives us the true story of a real woman, and there is so much more to tell! This album is perfection. 'Nuff said!
Thanksgiving Concert With Jazmine Sullivan, Bilal, Jeff Bradshaw, Jaguar Wright, Eric Roberson & More — November 24
After you fill up on turkey, you are going to want to head down to South Philly—because it's about to go down musically on Synder Street.
Lil Darrell and Superstar Studios present their annual Thanksgiving jam session, hosted by comedian Lawrence "Hawk" Killebrew. Jazmine Sullivan, Jaguar Wright, Eric Roberson and Jeff Bradshaw and Brass Heaven are performing, with special appearances by Bilal, Winslow Dynasty, Kindred the Family Soul and more. This is a show you won't want to miss.
We'll be there, so stay tuned for our recap of the show.
Insider tip: Tickets are $10 at the door.
Event Details
Thanksgiving Concert With Jazmine Sullivan, Bilal, Jaguar Wright, Eric Roberson, Jeff Bradshaw And Brass Heaven, Kindred The Family Soul & More
Thursday, November 24
8:30 p.m. Doors open
9:00 p.m. Show
Yesha Fellowship Hall
2301 Snyder Avenue
Just Announced: The Roots Mural Project
The Mural Arts Program announced today that they are commissioning a new mural depicting Philadelphia hip-hop band and icons The Roots.
At the press conference today to announce the larger-than-life Roots mural and project were:
- Jane Golden of the Mural Arts Program
- Mayor Michael A. Nutter
- The Roots members Black Thought and Kamal Gray
- South Street District Rep Joette Adams
- Donna Frisby-Greenwood of the Knight Foundation
The Roots: Larger Than Life
The GRAMMY Award-winning band got its start back in 1987 when Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter met at Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). At the time, they honed their talents in school and by playing on sidewalks along South Street - so it's only fitting that South Street is the future home of the mural honoring the legendary Roots crew.
The mural is expected to be completed by July 2012. Multimedia elements such as video, online interaction, on-site activation, with city-wide engagement through paint days, pop-up studios, a strong curriculum for a youth arts component called Roots 101 and much more will be incorporated into this project.
Black Thought on the mural, "This is like a dream come true." He continues, "I felt like we finally arrived when we got to be ambassadors [...] and to perform at Fourth of July. [...] We're proud Philadelphians."
For more info on the mural, go here.
Insider tip: You can catch The Roots playing every week night as the house band on NBC's “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” They will release their thirteenth studio album, Undun, on December 6.
Calling All Artists
The Mural Arts Program is is doing a request for proposals from artists and artist teams if you're interested in working on the mural. Deadline is November 21. For more info, go here.
Laiya's World: Boyz II Men Celebrates 20 Years
Four Grammy Awards. 60 million records sold. Named by RIAA as the most most commercially successful R&B group of all time and by Billboard Magazine as the most successful group of the 90s. And now, they're celebrating 20 years since they came onto the scene. I'm talking about Boyz II Men.
It's so hard to believe that Boyz II Men entered our lives 20 years ago. Sometimes it feels like it was yesterday when we first met. So, I want to take you back to the song that really started their record-breaking success.
At this point, they were boys, and we had no idea how fast they would turn into men. And, what made Boyz II Men even more special was that they were Philly boys! They were reminiscent of some of the greatest groups out of Philly whose looks were clean cut with roots that were firmly planted in their neighborhood.
According to their schoolmate, Questlove of the Roots (who you can catch banging on the drums in the above mentioned video), Boyz II Men exemplified a professional singing group as they massacred all other acts during high school talent shows at CAPA (Creative And Performing Arts High School). CAPA boasts successful alumni like Christian McBride, Fatin Danzler (one half of Kindred the Family Soul), Bilal, Black Thought, Questlove and Jazmine Sullivan, just to name a few.
If you had any kind of graduation between 1992-1993, that was definitely your graduation song. Do you remember when Whitley Gilbert aka Jasmine Guy started an acapella version of "End of the Road," as Philly's own Patti Labelle and the rest of the Different World cast as they said goodbye to years of great television during their series finale?
Although "End Of the Road" was one of the biggest commercial hits by a group to date, for some of us "real" Boyz II Men fans, there were quite a few songs on that Cooleyhighharmony album that gave us the impression that these "boyz" were quickly becoming men.
I don’t know about you, but there were a few songs from that album that made it to my slow jam mixtape--especially with songs like, "Please Don't Go."
And, songs like "Uhh Ahh."
Twenty years later and their music still has the perfect combination of sexiness and romance with voices that fit together like the greatest and most complex puzzle. I remember feeling like the existence of Boyz II Men and Jodeci provided the perfect balance in R&B music.
In honor of Boyz II Men 's 20 years of providing us with their cooleyhighharmonies, here is the song that started their journey. Over 20 years ao Mike, Shawn, Wanya, and Nate cornered Michael Bivins coming off stage with BBD, and they wowed him with what has become my favorite version of "Can You Stand The Rain"—and if you haven't heard it, I promise it will become your favorite too!
Behind The Screen With Maori: Thunder Soul - The True Story Of Conrad Johnson & The Kashmere Stage Band
On Monday night in University City, a sold-out crowd of Philadelphia cinephiles had the good fortune of previewing Thunder Soul: The True Story of Conrad Johnson & The Kashmere Stage Band at the Rave Theater. The film, a moving and lovingly-executed documentary, tells the story of Conrad “Prof” Johnson and one of the greatest funk ensembles ever assembled, which was comprised of 38 musicians who released 8 records—all while in high school.
From 1968 to 1977, the Kashmere High School Stage Band, nicknamed “The Thunder Soul,” won a record number of titles in numerous competitions, often breaking the color barrier, for their innovative funk arrangements. They made history when they won the top honors at the prestigious All-American High School Stage Band Festival amidst an atmosphere of racial hostility. Johnson’s goal was to use music to raise the morale of the young people he taught at Kashmere High School in Houston, Texas’ Fifth Ward.
Johnson had been a professional musician in the big bands of the 1940s. He was a go-to saxophone player in Houston. After marrying and starting a family, he wanted to stay close to the nest and made a decision to enter teaching. Johnson joined the faculty at Kashmere in the 1960s. He willed the energy of the young people from twiddling their thumbs and getting involved in potential street nonsense and directed them into expressing themselves creatively, which ultimately had a positive effect on the entire school. Training in the band gave the students discipline that they carried with them into their adult lives. When they return to form an alumni ensemble for a reunion concert, they are all thriving and model citizens—doctors, lawyers, and teachers.
Prof recorded the band each year and was a father figure to most members. He had strict discipline and rehearsed them like professional musicians. They played gigs—bar mitzvahs, proms, etc.—to raise the money to keep the program going. They weren’t the marching band. Johnson realized he needed to harness the energy of the kids who would unwind by playing funk tracks instead of practicing the de rigueur rigidly arranged jazz compositions from the 1930s and 1940s. Prof, in his 50s at the time, wondered what this music was that they were playing.
“He was interested in their personal expression,” says Mark Landsman, the film’s director.
Thunder Soul had its premiere at the 2010 SXSW Film Festival. Landsman first heard about the band on NPR after Stones Throw Records released Texas Thunder Soul in 2006. He recalls hearing a “wall of funk” and was blown away. He couldn’t believe they were high school students and set out to find them. Landsman googled every Conrad Johnson he could find and started calling them. The first one he called turned out to be Prof’s son. Initially he thought about a fictional film until he heard about the reunion that was being planned by some of his former students. Over 30 of the students come back to Houston 35 years later, from all over the world, and reunite to do a tribute concert. Still fly at 92 years old when the film was shot in 2008, Johnson appears beatific and sanguine and one can almost feel the love his students have for him.
Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx signed on as executive producer in part inspired by his own high school music education. In an interview in the NY Daily News he says that music education played a big part in preparing him for his career.
“It’s a right to have access to music education. It’s part of our national legacy,” Landsman said in an interview with PBS.
At the first rehearsal the band is a bit rusty—will they do it? Will they be able to live up to Prof’s legacy? You have to see the film to find out.
Check out the trailer here.
On The Reel: Throwback Video - Boyz II Men Celebrate Their 20th Anniversary
Last Saturday, September 17, marked Boyz II Men's 20th anniversary. Boyz II Men celebrated their anniversary by returning to their hometown for a special concert at the Temple Performing Arts Center with a 34-piece orchestra, Broad Street Sinfonia.
The Grammy winning group is the biggest selling R&B group of all time with over 60 million recordings sold. Our video pick is a throwback video from the beginning of their careers.
Watch "End of the Road" below.
Local radio personality Tiffany Bacon did a review of their anniversary concert. Make sure you check out the 4:00 mark to see their performance from Saturday.
On The Reel: Video - Behind The Scenes With The Roots, Eddie Levert Of The O'Jays And Shawn Stockman Of Boyz II Men
Our Music Insider Laiya went behind the scenes with The Roots, Eddie Levert of The O'Jays and Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men to capture some of the rehearsal for Wawa Welcome America's Fourth of July Jam.
Check out Questlove, Captain Kirk and James Poyser of The Roots, along with Eddie Levert and Shawn Stockman, as they go through the process of collaborating.
Watch the behind the scenes footage below.
DJ Jazzy Jeff Is Back For More - This Time With Songstress Ayah And A New Classic Soul Project
GRAMMY Award winning producer DJ Jazzy Jeff paired up with Canadian singer Ayah for a new music project - Back For More.
DJ Jazzy Jeff, along with contributions from well-known producers James Poyser of The Roots, Pete Kuzma and Demien DeSandies, have created a soul music experience. Notable tracks on the project include Make It Last and title track, Back for More. In the popular single, Notorious, Ayah unveils her inner b-girl and lyrical flair. Back for More also features appearances from Sugar Tongue Slim (STS) and Toronto's own Tona.
The album drops today and fans are able to get free downloads of the classic soul tracks here and below.
About DJ Jazzy Jeff
Jeff Townes, also known as DJ Jazzy Jeff, is a world renowned DJ and GRAMMY Award winning producer who has represented his hometown of Philadelphia in everything that he does. In the early stages of his career, he was most notably part of a hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. Jeff also began his own production company A Touch of Jazz, which became the hotbed of the Philadelphia soul movement that included the talents of Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild and Floetry, to name a few. Get to know the Philly 360° Creative Ambassador here.
About Ayah
Ayah has already garnered a grass roots fan base of her own with the release of her last two projects, Problem Woman and 4:15. Having worked with respected MCs like Freeway, Mac Miller, Elzhi and Skyzoo, Ayah is no stranger to hip-hop either. This makes Jeff's jazzy production and classic hip-hop sound the perfect complement for Ayah's full and melodic vocals.
James’ Arts & Culture Revival: It’s Time To Rejoice and Shout!
Gospel music emerged from the hardships and triumphs of the African American community and became the foundation for almost every American-born style of music including our moody blues tunes, defiant rock ballads and even our Philly soul anthems.
Rejoice and Shoutis a vibrant and insightful documentary that explores the importance of this great American treasure.
The documentary is packed with rare audio and film clips of soul-stirring gospel music, some of which dates back to the last century. The film literally explodes with moving performances by gospel legends like Shirley Caesar and the Caravans, Mavis Staples, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Mahalia Jackson and so many other inspiring vocalists who effortlessly leap from the screen and pull the film’s audiences right into the middle of the emotion and passion of their songs. “When I’m feeling down, I find myself listening to gospel music, cause it lifts me up,” notes the film’s gospel historian Bill Carpenter. “How can I stay down, when I’m hearing such great music?”
Philly makes a cameo in this film, as Willa Ward of the Ward Singers and Ira Tucker of the Dixie Hummingbirds revisit their former stomping-ground, The Metropolitan Opera House on North Broad Street. Both singers reminisce about performing in the now-renovated venue as they watch video footage of their performances in front of packed houses of African Americans dressed in their Sunday’s finest. During her interview Willa Ward even recalls, “Mahalia Jackson could do your hair and it would last for three weeks.”
Another standout segment of this film was the knockout performance by The Swan Silvertones during the Newport Jazz Festival in the 1950’s. The Silvertones’ lead singer Claude Jeter was a pioneer of the now iconic male “falsetto” sound that is a signature of many contemporary male vocalists, including Ronald Isley, Maxwell and Bilal.
Check out the video below to see Jeter’s smooth and calculated performance of the gospel hit, Only Believe.
Rejoice and Shout is an instant classic infused with lively and uplifting music and rich with the stories and heart of gospel music. You’ll definitely want to take a trip to the Ritz at the Bourse this weekend and see for yourself!
Check out the movie’s trailer for a sneak peek.
Philly Powerhouses Win At ASCAP Awards
Philly Powerhouses Win At ASCAP Awards
Philly was well represented at the 24th Annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. The ASCAP Awards honor songwriters and publishers of the most performed ASCAP song on the 2010 R&B/Hip-Hop, Rap and Gospel charts.
Philly's own Carvin Haggins, Ivan Barias and Curt Chambers took home awards for writing credits on Jaheim's "Finding My Way Back."
Insider fact: The three powerhouses were also nominated for multiple Grammys this year for "Finding My Way Back."
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- Philly360: RT @uwishunu: 56 Hour Celebration: @The_Barnes is celebrating its opening with 56 hours of free access & activities this weekend: ht ...
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- Philly360: Video: Will Smith on the set of MIB3 http://t.co/xKfxl1h5
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- Philly360: Planning a family trip to Philly? Check out @MommyFactor's list of attractions: @TheFranklin @aampmuseum @phillyzoo http://t.co/HIQocJ31
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- Philly360: Enjoying lunch with @mommyfactor and @KyleenTheDiva at City Tavern!
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- Philly360: Have you toured the @muralarts African-American Iconic Images Collections? http://t.co/SNzJNo0g #withartphl
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