Category Archives: Music News

Daily News: Digital Baby Badu, Maxie at Essence, and J Hud Gives Me Fever

02 Monday Feb 2009

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones, Music News

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donnie-cd-coverthumbnailYesterday, me and thousands of other Twitzens witnessed what the good folks over at Soul Bounce cleverly termed the analog girl giving birth to digital baby. Erykah Badu and Jay Electronica welcomed their daughter into the world at 1:30pm and live tweeted the entire experience. Erykah announced early yesterday morning that she was in labor and Jay took over from there, keeping us abreast of her dilation, contractions, and all the other pleasantries that come along with bringing crumbsnatchers into the world. As you probably would have guessed, she gave birth at home with a midwife. Jay said it was the best day of his life. Made me misty.

I’m anxiously awaiting a name which I hope they will also share with us first. Erykah joked after the birth that they had chosen Twitty Milk. Well, we think it was a joke.

I felt as if I was there. You would have been too if you were on Twitter. I’m sayin.

I was estactic to hear last week that Maxwell would be headlining the Essence Music Festival in July. I better have an album in my hand by then!

When I got a gander at the rest of the lineup, I promptly began making arrangements to be there. When everything is finalized, I’ll be SCREAMING it from the rooftops.

Why?

I’ll be seeing Al Green, Anita Baker, John Legend, Brand New Heavies (!!!), Robin Thicke, En Vogue, Teena Marie, Eric Benet, Janelle Monae, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Zap Mama, Lalah Hathaway, oh and Beyonce and Solange.

Finally, in case you didn’t watch the Super Bowl preliminaries yesterday, I just had to share Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of the Start Spangled Banner. In case you’ve been living under a rock, this is her first performance since the tragedy that struck her family which would have taken most people out (including me). She looking absolutely beautiful and the strength of her voice and spirit literally sent chills up and down my spine and brought tears to my eyes. Honestly, I can’t think of a better performance since Whitney Houston in Super Bowl XXV back in 1991.

Bless America and Jennifer. Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Especially you, Mike Tomlin.

Highly Anticipated Albums 2009: Update

23 Friday Jan 2009

Posted by in Upcoming Album Releases

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Just sharing some news on the 2009 album releases homefront.

I did say I would shut this whole shit down if we didn’t get an album from D’Angelo  this year. It’s looking increasingly like my side eye might finally get a rest after nine long years. (Thanks Fresh!)

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Billboard is reporting  that the forthcoming album will be called “James River” (I can dig it!) and will include collabos with Raphael Saadiq, Roy Hargrove, Cee-Lo Green, Mark Ronson, and….HWSNBN!!! If and when that happens, I’ll do nothing else for the foreseeable future but listen to that track on repeat 24/7.

The album doesn’t yet have a release date other than a vague, “this summer” which doesn’t put my side eye palpitations totally at rest. Sorta like putting a ring on it with no definitive date on the horizon.

He’s also planning  to tour here and in Europe. Again, I’ll believe it when I see some dates and venues announced and an increase in Ramen noodle sales in order to be able to afford the tickets. But I do actually have hope!

Now on to an artist who leaves me with absolutely no doubt that his album will be in our waiting hands this summer: Eric Roberson.

He said at the concert the other night that the album is about 95% done. He expects to record for another month and it’s a wrap!

The other night he performed another new song, which I hope makes the album. The very sexy, yet funky, “The Power That Kisses Hold”

If this is any indication of what we’re about to see on “The Newness” or “Music Fan,” we’re in for a musical treat…as if there was any doubt.

Highly Anticipated Albums for 2009…And A Wish List!

06 Tuesday Jan 2009

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones, Upcoming Album Releases

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You’ll remember at the end of my post on albums I was anticipating in 2008, I stated that I would start keeping vigil for albums from certain artist the second 2009 rolled in.

Light a candle and let the vigil begin!

We had a plethora of good music last year, particularly in the last half of the year. 2009 promises to deliver some very heavy hitters. However, promises is the key word. Music lovers, that’s why we have to use our collective energy and wish upon a star that these albums see the light of day.

Let’s start off with a list of  albums that I’m anticipating that actually have release dates….whatever that means.

January

  • 13 – Syleena Johnson, Labor Pains (already available on Itunes)
  • 13- Heather Headley, Audience of One (gospel album)
  • 20-Platinum Pied Pipers, Abundance

February

  • 10-India Arie, Testimony, Vol. 2: Love and Politics
  • 10- Muhsinah, The Oscillations: Sine (available on Itunes)

March

  • 3 – Tamia, Live in DC (CD/DVD will include three new tracks)
  • 6 – Tortured Soul, Did You Miss Me? (helllll yea!)
  • 10-Cornielle, The Birth of Cornelius
  • 17- V
  • 31-Chrisette Michele, Ephiphany Sigh.
  • Tweet, Love, Tweet (After the Dresden Soul Symphony album, I am so ready for this)
  • Kevon Edmonds

May

  • 5-Chrisette Michelle, Ephiphany

June

  • 16- Laura Izibor, Let The Truth Be Told
  • 30–Chico Debarge-Addiction

July

  • 7-Maxwell-Black Summers Night

 

August

  • 25 – N’dambi, Pink Elephant

Now there are some artists that have promised to deliver albums this year. No release dates yet of course. So we can only hope they made New Years resolutions to keep their butts in the studio 24/7 until the final track is done.

  • Prince We’re supposed to get THREE albums this year from everyone’s  favorite joy kill. We shall see. Stay tuned to his new official website and the internets for details. Update: (We got three albums, but only one of them was worth listening to. Sigh.
  • Erykah Badu (I’ve seen dates of 2/17 floating around but since I’m her close personal friend on Twitter, I seriously think she would have let me know. However, I do feel confident that we will get New Amerykah Pt 2 after the bambino drops. And hopefully another tour!)
  • Eric Roberson (I hear that he has fifty tracks already completed. Let’s get with the getting!)
  • D’Angelo (I will want to shut this whole shit down if we don’t get this album by year’s end) o_O Glad I was smart enough to say I would want to shut it down because I hear we’re not going to see the album until 2010.
  • Deborah Bond
  • Yazarah (After the Prelude she gave us, I need for her to hurry up this way again)

I won’t likely purchase these three but I will give them a listen.

  • Dr. Dre, Detox
  • Jay Z, Blueprint 3
  • Eminem, Relapse

I was scrolling through my iPod today and came up with a wish list for the artists that I hope, wish and pray are preparing to step back in front of the mic. Some of the people on this list I could have put on a separate “where are they now” post. If you’ve heard anything about when any of them will get back in the studio, please let me know in the comments.

  • Amel Larrieux (The standards album was cool and all but I’m going to need something else from her) Update: She’s been releasing a track a month, available for download on Amazon and iTunes.
  • Amerie (I got my hands on the unreleased album. Let’s see if it ever sees the light of day) Now that she’s on Def Jam, her fate, or better yet, the fate of a palatable album lies in the hands of the music gods.
  • Angela Johnson (“Presenting” others is cool but I want the next album to be all Angela)
  • Anthony David (I need NEW music from you, Acey Ducey)
  • Brand New Heavies (I know we got something in 2007 but I’m greedy!)
  • Brown Baby Girl
  • Corrine Bailey Rae
  • D’Nell
  • Darien Brockington (I hope he stops traipsing around with Little Brother and gets his own album done!)
  • Faith (The way to feed your family is with that voice. Quit the foolishness and pick the mic up!)
  • Fertile Ground
  • Georgia Ann Muldrow
  • Goapele
  • Jaguar Wright
  • Javier
  • Jazzyfatnastees (I got my hands on some unreleased music that I assume was from their third album, The World Is Coming. Good stuff. Needs to be heard.)
  • Joy Denalane (She was great on the Dresden Soul Symphony album. Let’s get on that solo material!)
  • Keite Young
  • Lizz Fields
  • Liv Warfield
  • Marie Tweek
  • Omar
  • Peven Everett
  • Ra-Re Valverde
  • Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
  • The Rebirth
  • Stephanie McKay
  • Teedra Moses (Will Young Lioness ever see the light of day?)
  • Van Hunt (after Popular was shelved, will a new album ever see the light of day?)

If you’re not familiar with any of these artists, consider this my ringing endorsement to get acquainted with their earlier projects until we get new music.

Share what albums you’re most looking forward to this year. Who needs to get their hindparts back in the studio ASAP?

I’ll be keeping this list updated so check back.