Keeping you on ...
10 ALBUMS YOU MUST HAVE IN YOUR COLLECTION Volume: 3 Issue : 5
THE WRITE TRACK
With LCG ...
For the open minded, culturally sophisticated,urban professional. HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW NETWORK TARGETING AFRICAN AMERICANS, CENTRIC?
Vanilla Wafer Cake
DID YOU SEE GOOD HAIR?
THERE IS STILL TIME TO PLACE YOUR HOLIDAY ORDERS WITH ESSENCE OF HONEY
A Note from LCG ... GUEST CONTRIBUTOR K SMALLS
BIO: Korey “Kris” Smallwood is a writer/director who grew up traveling the world, and is the co-founder and CEO of Precise Minds Inc., a film production company based out of Chicago, Il. Film may be his calling, but he also has a deep love for writing, travel (can’t shake that military-brat wanderlust), food of all kinds, music, sneakers, and all things New York City. Bruce Lee movies and classy, sassy women are some of his favorite things. Reality shows are not. Just so you know. CONTRIBUTION: 25th Anniversary of Def Jam and CoContributed to Slept on Albums. WHAT HE’S LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW: Only Built For Cuban Links II: Raekwon, BLACKsummer’s night: Maxwell, Esperanza: Esperanza Spalding, Blueprint 3: Jay-Z and Glamorous Life: Sheila E.
We are now at the countdown, 24 days until Christmas, and have you started your Christmas shopping yet? A few hot items this season that you may want to consider if you are looking for gifts are the Nintendo Wii that is interactive and can be used by kids and adults alike. Since the temperatures are getting colder scarfs make great gifts because they are both fashionable and practical ( J Crew has some great ones). Last but not least, consider an Itunes Gift card. Who doesn’t like music, and if that’s absolutely the case, one can purchase a movie, a book or even a sermon. For gift wrapping made easy and eco friendly, instead of throwing away money this year on wrapping paper that goes in the garbage Christmas morning, purchase reusable bags. One more thing that everyone is talking about is flu season. Here are a couple of things that I do when I feel sickness arising. First and foremost, always wash your hands and if there is no soap and water available pick up a package of wet ones or hand sanitizer. Next, I ramp up my Vitamin C intake which can be gotten from juice (If you live in Atlanta Ardens Garden is wonderful) or always have handy a couple of packets of Emergen-C (typically found in the vitamin section). My last recommendation is to consume ginger which helps strengthen your immune system. I drink a concoction of honey, lemon and ginger with hot water. Ginger brew is a good alternative. I hope these tips will help you get through flu season. While this holiday season is upon us, take time to reflect or even pray for all the things and people that you are thankful for. Later this month you can anticipate our wrap up issue with our favorites from 2009. LCG WHAT I’M LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW: The Vault Vol 1.5: Eric Roberson, To Whom It May Concern: Choklate, Room For Improvement Mixtape: Drake, Sing If You Want It: Omar and The Light: Deborah Jordan.
Special Thanks to JAG Quetions, Comments or Suggestions, Email us at thewritetracklcg@gmail.com
DECEMBER 09
CONTENTS 8&9 DID YOU SLEEP ON THESE ALBUMS . . . Whether old or new if you don’t have these records in your collection, it’s time to wake up.
6
HONEY SPOTLIGHT . . . Introducing Gritz and Jelly Butter and Deborah Jordan.
7 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN . . . Have you heard Choklate’s newest project?
ON THE COVER Look What’s Nside P.4 P.4 P.5 P.6 P.6 P.7 P.7 P.7 P.8 P.9
Good Hair What’s New 25th Anniversary of Def Jam Gritz and Jelly Butter Deborah Jordan GodChild Transition To Whom It May Concern Did You Sleep On These Albums Did You Sleep on These Albums Continued
Vanilla Wafer Cake by Essence of Honey essenceofh@aol.com
THE WRITE TRACK December 2009 Volume 3 Issue 5
A REEL GOOD TIME
Good Hair
What is Good Hair? A phrase that is often used in the black community, Chris Rocks’ documentary takes an in-depth look into the controversial topic. Whether you view “good hair” as a certain texture, a certain length, or a particular kind of manageability, most people want something other than what they have. With society being the definers of beauty, its no wonder why African American women spend a ton of money maintaining their locks. Take the Dark and Lovely commercials for example, or lets say Pantene, where all the models have shiny, bouncy hair that look picture perfect. Whether you are a product junkie, a weaveaholic or addicted to “the creamy crack” (relaxer), the results are in the numbers, bringing in a whopping 9 billion dollars a year, the hair industry is profitable. The starting point of the feature had Rock thinking about his own daughters and as they grew how they would view their own hair. Next an exploration of the biggest black hair show being held every year in Atlanta, the infamous Bronner Brothers was showcased. The black hair business extends beyond the United States, and a trip by Rock to India whose biggest export is hair, was thought provoking. Part of their culture involves a religious ceremony where hair is sacrificed in exchange for a blessing. Other avenues for removing hair include, cutting while watching a movie and cutting while one is sleeping, generally in 10 to 14 inch increments. The fuss over hair makes you wonder how many woman can sing India Arie’s “ I Am Not My Hair” and truly mean it. All this talk about hair products peeked my interest into seeking new information about a hair business started in my family more than sixty years ago. My great Aunt and her husband who was a chemist, developed a line of hair products in their New York City basement, calling the company Bernels. This mail-order business serviced customers all over the country and Africa. Unfortunately, they had no children to pass the business on to and the formulas have disappeared over time. Who knows if they had stayed in business they could have been in direct competition with the North Carolina based Dudleys. Automatically, this movie will draw African American women but commentary by Al Sharpton, and other men may be enough to send the guys to the theater with their ladies.
CENTRIC Created as an underlying direct competition for TV-one, the Cathy Hughes/Comcast joint venture, Viacom emerges with the brand new Centric Network. Targeting African Americans ages 25-54, Viacom is looking at the station as a complement to BET. Initial programming includes music videos, reruns of the 80’s drama Miami Vice and if you’re up in the middle of the night, you may catch the prank driven Played by Fame, hosted by former BET personality Al Shearer aka Hits. This launch has some wondering where this leaves Bob Johnson and if he missed his opportunity, or if there is enough room for yet another urban centered station. Centric replaced the company based BET J on my television dial but is it gone forever? Check your local listings to see what’s playing in your city.
RECAP OF THE 2009 SOULTRAIN AWARDS After a two year hiatus, the Soultrain Awards were held in Atlanta, November 3, 2009. Almost a month later the TV airing left a lot to be desired. Running on both BET and Centric Networks, Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson were the hosts. The singing wasn’t all that great, the best sounds came from Johnny Gill, Chrisette Michele and Robin Thicke. The nights honorees were Chaka Khan and Charlie Wilson. It was very clear that the show was taped in Atlanta, with appearances by The Atlanta Housewives, Keisha Knight Pullam and Ludacris. Boys 2 Men performed minus two members and the long awaited kiss between Toni Braxton and Trey Songz that caught a lot of media attention, was over publicized. Puzzled by the entire show, it appeared that the showing was more of an endorsement for the new network rather than an awards show.
SAVI URBAN MARKET The best thing about the newly opened Savi Urban Market if you live in Atlanta’s Inman Park or one of the surrounding areas is a break from the hustle and bustle of your local Publix or Kroger. Days when you need something simple like eggs for a recipe, can be expedited by stopping by this market. However, simple may not be the best term to describe the upscale grocer that houses organic products. On a recent visit, a bottle of water, a quart of milk, and bag of chips cost $7.95. With prices like this it’s high for me to do all my shopping but great in a pinch. The market also caters to people looking for a quick meal on the go with their prepared food section. You may see rotisserie chicken, a roasted vegetable pasta, macaroni and cheese, seasoned potatoes, or a bread pudding. With the recent addition of a sandwich menu and the option of adding a cup of soup makes those cold Atlanta days a little warmer.
THE WRITE TRACK December 2009 Volume 3 Issue 5
DEF JAM... CELEBRATING 25 YEARS DEF JAM RECORDINGS In 1984, in the confines of an NYU dorm room, Rick Rubin and Russell “Rush” Simmons formed a record label. They wanted to create a brash, loud, honest kind of music, a redefinition if you will of what people were starting to call hip-hop. Little did they know that this company, Def Jam Recordings, would change music, the music business, and quite possibly the world forever. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was seven years old in 1984. I happen to have been lucky enough to say that by the time Def Jam found its’ legs, I was old enough to be along for the ride. The label created and provided the platform for hip-hop music to truly thrive in a time when it was still young and considered a fad. It’s first single, T La Rock and Jazzy Jay’s “Its Yours” (which Nas would later sample on his classic debut) set the tone for what would become an amazing string of artists who are now icons in hip hop: LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys (whose Licensed To Ill gave the culture it’s first Billboard Top 200 #1 album), Slick Rick, Public Enemy, and EPMD. Def Jam, and their ethos of allowing the artists to be themselves, is the blueprint for every other independent record label that ever created anything remotely close to hip hop music. Uptown Records, Bad Boy Entertainment, Rocafella Records, and Death Row Records all gave the world memorable music, and they all owe a debt to the house the Rick and Russell built. It’s not enough to simply say that Def Jam is important to hip-hop. DEF JAM RECORDINGS IS HIP-HOP. Today you get Ghostface, The Roots, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Nas, Method Man, and Redman music straight from Def Jam. Jay-Z became a household name after his tenure in it’s hallowed halls, even briefly becoming it’s president. Some of the hip-hop/r&b joints you’ve jammed to at the club were provided via DefSoul. They gave you comedy with Def Comedy Jam, breaking acts like Chris Tucker and Bernie Mack. Def Poetry Jam introduced a larger audience to the joy, pain, and beauty of performance poetry. Def Jam even gave us video and film directors: Hollywood filmmaker Brett Ratner got his start shooting videos, including clips for Redman, LL Cool J, and Public Enemy’s first video “Louder Than A Bomb”. He has since directed great music videos for Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, Jodeci, Wutang Clan, P. Diddy, and Madonna. He also directed a little film called Rush Hour, and the sequels that followed. Guess what record label did the soundtrack? But Def Jam’s biggest contribution to us all is that twenty-five years after it exploded onto the scene, it’s still here. It’s still relevant, and it’s become a symbol of respect, and a reminder of all the things we love about the culture. Def Jam has been a huge part of my life, from my earliest days as a military brat and hip-hop ambassador around the world to my later development as a writer and filmmaker. This label’s legacy plays a huge part in the foundation of my own company and the documentary film I am currently developing/directing, “Tougher Than Leather”, about the globalization of hip-hop culture, and how it changed the world. You can’t go to any corner of this earth and not find hip-hop’s fingerprints somewhere. Def Jam is part of the reason for that, and just like that very first single, hip-hop is still ours. THE WRITE TRACK December 2009 Volume 3 Issue 5
Honey
Spotli
GRITZ AND JELLY BUTTER
ght on
If you happen upon a performance by the Atlanta based band with the unusual name, Gritz and Jelly Butter, you will be reminded of what good music sounds like. The quartet strangely reminds me of a more soulful version of the Black Eyed Peas. They know how to get the crowd hyped with the beating of drums, pouncing on the keyboard, pulling of guitar strings and vocal capability, delivering great renditions of classic tunes. Mixing Outkast’s “So Fresh and Clean” with Erykah Badu’s “Bag Lady” is not easy but its just one of the many songs that you may have the pleasure of seeing them perform. They are Friday night regulars at Atlanta Wine Bar Vino Libro located in Glenwood Park, if you don’t have plans you may want to stop by.
www. myspace.com/gritzandjellybutter
DEBORAH JORDAN If you have heard the song “Just a Little More” from a distinctive sounding group out of West London known as Silhouette Brown, then you probably have already heard Deborah Jordan. When producers were looking for a new vocalist to front their Silhouette Brown project released in 2005, Jordan’s transition from classical music to soul earned her the gig. Now flying solo, she debuts, The Light which encompasses her signature style that is often associated with the Nu-jazz or Broken Beat genres. Nu-jazz, a term coined in the 1990’s which represents a fusion of jazz and other musical styles is considered very experimental in nature where as broken beat which originated in West London is more electronic. Growing up in a musically inspired house and a trained flutist cultivated the foundation for her music career but it wasn’t until Jordan went to college that she realized her hobby could be a potential career. Life altering incidents can awaken ones creativity and for Jordan, it was a terrifying accident in which she was hit by a car and fully recovered that jump-started her spiritual revelation which has gotten her to this point. Follow the link to hear her sound www.myspace.com/deborahjordanmusic
THE WRITE TRACK December 2009 Volume 3 Issue 5
Please . . . Please . . . Review This Album
To Whom It May Concern
Transition Godchild With a quirky voice, Joy Jones’ Godchild radiates self expression and inner beauty. At first listen she floats in the same soundscape as European soul masters like Les Nubians and Soul Id drawing conclusions that she too is of European decent. In fact some of this sound may be influenced by the time she lived in London or her Trinidadian heritage. It’s not the head wrap alone that brings forth thoughts of an Afrocentric presence. It could be songs like “Promised Land” with the pure content and the rhythm of the conga or the very true to ones self “Beautiful”. This LA transplant delivers a soothing uncultivated debut and it’s evident with a title like Godchild, how strong the presence of a higher power has had in her life. If you’re still not convinced to buy the record fast forward to track number six, “Nomad” and even before you finish listening to the lyrically aware message, you will be hooked on the chorus instantly.
Taking the world by storm with the release of his first and second album both in 2009 proves that Leslie is both a hard worker and a song writing expert. Having the gift of creativity with words can make you a lot of money, but some artists that attempt to put their vocals in front of their words simply are not received by their listening audience. Leslie’s smooth approach and unmirrored sound is catching on, and Transition is giving us a musical fix with the club ready “Your Not My Girl” and the flirtatious, “When We Dance”. In the past year he has proven himself to be a well rounded performer and once you pick up the album you will realize that his Harvard education has come in handy.
One of our first honey spotlights, Choklate is back with her sophomore effort, To Whom it May Concern. Second albums are very instrumental in an artists career. They are either challenged with one of two things, delivering an outstanding record that can live up to the expectations set previously, or to produce a record that shows growth in writing and sound, proving that the failure of album one was a mere testament of getting your feet wet. Although first time around was a solid project, it was saturated with gratitude filled lyrics as to be expected by a newcomer. Shedding some of that content has allowed her to shift her focus on mid tempo sexy, audacious cuts like “To Whom it May Concern” and “I’m Sorry”. One obvious comparison is the visual representation of the album cover. On her self titled debut her youthfulness is evident where as To Whom it May Concern appears to be more sophisticated. With three years of reflection since the last album, the Seattle based artist has a lot to get off her chest and if you listen all the way through to the “Time Tells Intro,” you will hear the voice of our illustrious president, Barack Obama.
THE WRITE TRACK December 2009 Volume 3 Issue 5
Z-Z-Z
-Z Di d You Sleep On Th ese A lbums ?
ALBUMS Bilal: First Born Second (2001) Released when he was only 21 years old, First Born Second gave the world a look into the high octave, wild natured Bilal. Beyond the woman empowered “Soul Sistah” the album in it’s entirety can be put on repeat. A totally east coast vibe, Bilal’s delivery is a mixture of confidence and bad ass. Almost nine years after it’s debut it still tops my favorites list, and has fans wondering if there will ever be a sequel. Personal favorites are “You Are” and “When Will You Call” (which after two shows, still waiting to see live), guest appearances by Jadakiss and Dr Dre on “Fast Lane” and Mos Def and Common on “Reminisce” have you wondering why it didn’t get more radio play? Vivian Green: A Love Story (2002) Vivian Green came on the scene with a very interesting perspective and a slew of infectious songs she actually wrote. This is one record that lives up to it’s title, A Love Story told in fourteen parts. It’s a self-reflective musing on the very complicated nature of the thing we all desire most, and chronicles an actual romantic relationship she had. A lot of people missed it because of the other great albums released around the same time, particularly Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun and the Jill Scott smash Words and Sounds Vol. 1. Glenn Lewis: World Outside My Window (2002) A Canadian with a hit single that seemed to have appeared on a movie soundtrack, we jammed to “Don’t You Forget It” all of 2002, but it was his album World Outside My Window that deserved a second play. Some compared his voice to that of Stevie Wonder but it took a move to Philly in order for him to land a record deal. Working with Floetry’s Marsh Ambroisius on song writing, the lighthearted and pure lyrics reflected on tunes like “Simple Things” erases your thoughts of another clubby R&B debut. Prior to the release, winning accolades for “The Thing To Do” seem like a great enough indicator for me that even billboard missed this opportunity. Mos Def: The Ecstatic (2009) People usually have one of two complaints about Mos Def in the last few years: they don’t like his singing or he isn’t emceeing enough on the album. It doesn’t matter what camp you claim residency in, because The Ecstatic is a sonic journey into the mind of a man who personifies “slept on”; a brilliant writer, social commentator, a pretty good actor, a man comfortable in his own skin, and a consummate artist with charm and sway to spare. This record is a music lesson and a half. If you missed it, go get it. NOW. The Foreign Exchange: Connected (2004) A long distance collaboration hence the name The Foreign Exchange produced an innovative album from Neverland producer Nicolay and Little Brothers Phonte. Never meeting until the album was unveiled, its amazing what relationships can be built over the internet. We can’t give them all the credit, they did get some help along the way from up and coming artists Darien Brockington and Yazarah. Progressive hip hop fans love this debut but if R&B is your thing, “Come Around” is a great track or pick up their follow-up, Leave it all Behind for a heavier dose. THE WRITE TRACK December 2009 Volume 3 Issue 5
Amy Winehouse: Frank (2003) This album was originally released in the UK in 2003, but didn’t officially make it to US shores until 2007, though you could find an import of it before then if you knew where to look. Overshadowed in a major way by Winehouse’s Back To Black (2006), the album is an undiscovered gem that seems to get better the more you listen to it. Thanks to Salaam Remi’s clean production, the album has a hip-hop/soul feel, but without the contrived, systematic sound that typifies most of that music today. Frank was named after the legendary artist and entertainer Frank Sinatra, a hero of Winehouse. The only reason this album is slept on is because up until 2007, most people never knew it even existed. In a lot of ways, Frank has a purity that its sequel doesn’t. Free from the burden of Amy’s head-on collision with fame and the celebrity news vultures that devoured her afterwards, Frank is a testament to an artist displaying what we all want to see and hear: real talent. Raphael Saadiq: Ray Ray (2005) Definitely an album that slipped through the cracks if you didn’t know better you may have thought The Way I See It (2008) was the follow up to Instant Vintage (2002). Saadiq went outside the box with this project almost similar to what Dre did with The Love Below. Coining himself as an artist that is not afraid to take chances, musically the beats are a lot funkier. Screaming originality with guests appearances from fellow Lucy Pearl member Joi and the less known Teedra Moses has fans overlooking the far out there tracks to focus on the hits that draw you to the album. Goapele: Closer (2001) The music industry has a very short memory, and the listening public is cursed these days with an even shorter attention span, especially for independent artists. “Closer” (not to be confused with the Columbia re-release entitled Even Closer in 2004) was released on Goapele’s own Skyblaze Recordings and is a sweet, serious musical equivalent of spending a day at the beach contemplating your life in all of its’ flawed glory. It slipped through the cracks mostly because people didn’t hear about it until Goapele signed a distribution deal with Columbia in 2004. Marvin Gaye: Here My Dear (1978) First of all, it’s Marvin Gaye. Second this record is a simmering stewpot of emotion. Real emotion. The kind of feeling and pain that much of the music categorized as soul or rhythm and blues today lacks. Here My Dear is basically a musical rendering of Gaye’s ill-fated marriage and divorce from Anna Gordy. Soul music doesn’t get any deeper, darker, or more personal than this. It was slept on way back in 1978 because of its controversy, and it’s still slept on now. Enjoy. Conya Doss: A Poem About Ms. Doss (2002) The first collection from the Cleveland, Ohio native, this album is filled with effortless sentiment. Probably falling below the radar because this album wasn’t backed by any major label, one thing you could count on was hearing these never ending hits on XM radios discontinued station, The Flow. A strong interlude whose range could be mistaken for Faith Evans proves that this girl can really sing. The album takes you on an emotional roller coaster of when love was good, to the hurt and giving it one more try. Doss also decided to go back to her northern roots with the remake of Norman Connors “Starship”. The later albums you can tell her vocal growth but none to date can compare to the first.
OK YOU CAN WAKE UP NOW! THE WRITE TRACK December 2009 Volume 3 Issue 5