Category Archives: Upcoming Album Releases

Music News: Get Ready for Black Radio Part Deux

01 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones, Music News, Upcoming Album Releases

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Two months before the release of Robert Glasper’s Grammy award-winning album, Black Radio, I saw the track listing and declared it a winner.

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Before I proceed, if you don’t have this album or have never heard of Robert Glasper (actually put someone on the other day who hadn’t), please get familiar post-haste.  He is one of the premier artists redefining jazz right now. Black Radio is simply a phenomenal album blending jazz, hip-hop and R&B fluidly. On vocals, you have some of the best voices of our time: Lalah Hathaway, Meshell Ndegeocello, Erykah Badu, Ledisi, Bilal, and Stokely (of Mint Condition).

If you didn’t think it could get any better than that, Eric Roberson shared this today on Facebook:

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This is the possible collaboration list for part two of the album, Black Radio II. This go round, in addition to frequent collaborator Bilal, looks like we may hear the likes of Faith, Jill Scott, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Dwele,  Common, Eric Roberson, and Anthony Hamilton over the smooth sounds of Robert and the band. I was a bit surprised to see “R Kelz” on the list but regardless of how some may still feel about him, it’s sure to be a dope track.

If you’re not hype yet, these tweets might just do it for you:

 

 

 

I am already stoked about this project and have already declared it worthy of another Grammy nod before even hearing the first note. As soon as I get more info on a release date, I’ll likely tweet it first so connect with me there!

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B-Day: September 14, 2010

21 Wednesday Jul 2010

Posted by in Music News, Upcoming Album Releases

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Bilal, if you’re listening, we need this image on a t-shirt.

I know you think my throwback is cute and all.


But this B-ollower, as he likes to call his tweeple, is ready for an upgrade just in time for the new album.

This has been covered all over the innanets, but judging from some of the comments I’m seeing on my YouTube videos, some of ya’ll are still not woke.

Bilal fans and stans, you’ve waited not so patiently for nine years for an official project and the time has finally come. It’s official, Airtight’s Revenge will in fact see the light of day.  September 14, it will be in stores and online everywhere for your purchasing pleasure.

Here is the tracklisting:

1. Cake & Eat It Too – Produced by Bilal / Steve Mckie [watch it live]
2. Restart – Produced by Bilal / Steve Mckie
3. All Matter – Produced by Bilal / Steve Mckie
4. Flying – Produced by Bilal / Nottz
5. Levels – Produced by Bilal  / Shafiq Husayn [watch it live]
6. Little One – Produced by Conley “Tone” Whitfield
7. Move On – Produced by Bilal  & Steve Mckie
8. Robots – Produced by Bilal  [watch it live]
9. The Dollar – Produced by Bilal  / Steve Mckie
10. Who Are You – Produced by Bilal  / Steve Mckie
11. Think It Over – Produced by 88 Keys

There were snippets from the entire album posted on the internets a few weeks ago but most outlets have removed them. Completely understandable. Bilal and Plug Research aren’t taking any chances with this one. I don’t think the fans can take another Love for Sale debacle.

Since my interests these days are taking me in the direction of the fusion of new media and music promotion, I’m excited at the way he using social media to promote the album and interact with his fan base. He joined Twitter earlier this year and already has 10K followers. I expect that to grow exponentially once the album is released and he reclaims his spot as one of THE best to touch the mike.

He actually talks to his fans and doesn’t just use the tool as a one way  “buymyshitcometomyshow” broadcast medium.  He shows that he actually reads what people are saying to him by retweeting.  He crowdsources by asking questions such as what we think about him touring with a particular artist.  He shares photo and video from shows. He’s planning tweetups in cities where he is touring. It’s all very authentic. In short, he’s doing it right.

Bravo, B. Bravo.

Mark your calendars for September 14.

DC area tweeps, you’ll be happy to know that an album release show has already been set for September 19th at the Birchmere. Tickets will be on sale via Ticketmaster on July 23rd. It will sell out.

Meanwhile, take a listen to this great conversation between Bilal and Gilles Peterson.  As Giles plays tracks from the new album, which Bilal says he took the Frank Zappa approach in creating, they talk about the new music; what he’s been up to these past nine years; the lost album; record industry rule 4080; what’s poppin in his iPod; and how DC is the bestest fan base ever.

And for goodness sakes, get on Twitter already. Follow Bilal….and me.

image credit: SoulBounce

New Music from Bilal Oliver: Will We Actually Get ‘Airtights Revenge’ in 2010?

08 Tuesday Dec 2009

Posted by in Let's Rock: Concert Reviews, Music News, Upcoming Album Releases

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You already know this is another artist on the short list that can bring me out of retirement.

I’d be remiss as queen bee of the Bilal Stan Association if I didn’t share with the one or two of you that still stop by (thank you!) new tracks that Mr. Oliver performed during his set here in DC over the weekend.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous about this show. Last couple of times he rolled through DC, I had to take him to task on Twitter for lackluster, “i don’t give a fuck, cut the check,”  performances. It was like watching this right here. I derive no pleasure from standing on the side of the road and watch a ten-car pileup.

I am happy to say at this show he acted like the Grammy-nominated artist I know who could blow all of these R&B cats off the stage using  only10% of his vocals. Mr. Oliver put on an amazing set that included a preview of three tracks I expect we’ll see on his upcoming album, Airtights Revenge. Check out “Levels,” “Robots,” and “Cake & Eat It Too” and let me know what you think in the comments.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about “Levels” when I first heard it and was curious about the direction of the album. However, after seeing it live, I can dig it. “Cake & Eat It Too” will definitely be popular with the fans. The beat knocks.

Levels

Cake and Eat It Too

Robots

“Since I Been Loving You” is of course a Led Zepplin cover and I don’t believe it will be on the album. However, if you don’t watch any other video, watch this one. I attribute his antics to my fly ass Bilal tee I was rocking in the front row. He saw that and knew I had been down for a minute!

So seems like 2010 will be a damn good year musically. We’ll be holding a vigil for Airtights Revenge. His manager says he only a couple tracks left to record. Look out for an interview soon over at SoulBounce where I’m sure Butta will get to the bottom of this. We’ll also be checking hard for:

Be sure to follow these artists on Twitter and via their official websites and blogs to keep up with the latest on release dates. Who knows when I’ll write here again.

Stop the Presses! Did Maxwell Tweet the Track List for The New Album?

27 Monday Apr 2009

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones, Music News, Upcoming Album Releases

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Update: The press conference went down in NYC yesterday and Butta of SoulBounce was front and center. Check out her flicks from the event.

Get ready to send some hateration and holleration her way because yes, she did meet him up close and personal!

Of course you know she has live video. Check it out!

On Saturday afternoon, while most everyone was out playing in the sunshine, very quietly, without pretense, Maxwell tweeted what appears to be the tracklist for his upcoming album, Black Summer’s Night. You should already know it will be in stores on July 7th. But I, my friends, shall be getting a sneak peek at the Essence Music Festival. Hate on haters! 🙂

According to his tweets, on Friday,  he was headed to master the album. Then the next day he just randomly tweeted several titles in a row. I was confused until I saw “Pretty Wings.” It had to be the track list!

  1. Phoenix Rise
  2. Playing Possum
  3. Help Somebody
  4. Fistful of Tears
  5. Stop the World
  6. Love You
  7. Pretty Wings
  8. Cold
  9. Bad Habits

TOO Short and sweet, yet intriguing!

For those skeptical susies out there, I can confirm without a shadow of a doubt that it really is Maxwell tweeting. Can’t say how but Viv wouldn’t steer you wrong.

So it looks like we may be able to give our collective side eyes a much-needed rest. I think it will really happen this time. Looks like we will have a lot of little Maxie’s, Baracks, Michelles, Sashas and Malias making their debuts April 2010!

Stay tuned to SoulBounce (Did they catch swine flu on Spring Break or something? Nova does have a love jones for bacon. Just sayin.) to eventually get up close and personal coverage of the press conference for the album going down at Sony tomorrow.

Also, the video for “Pretty Wings” is completed and will be streamed here.

Note: I can’t confirm that this is the order the tracks will appear on the album. I’m just listing in the order he tweeted. I personally don’t care if  it went  B, C, A, F, D. Just as long as I see something on July 7th. Mmkay?

N’Dambi Album Release Update

29 Sunday Mar 2009

Posted by in Music News, Upcoming Album Releases

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Very exciting news on the album release front!

My girl crush and hair idol, N’Dambi, recorded a brief video giving us the name and release date for her new album.

Mark your calendars. Pink Elephant will be in stores on August 25th.

Meanwhile, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and her You Tube channel for updates.