Three Little Birds

“Rise Up This Morning
Smile With The Rising Sun
Three Little Birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Swinging Sweet Songs
Of Melodies Pure and True
Saying…This is my message to you”

Barack Obama is now the President-elect of the United States of America.

Outkast’s Big Boi to Perform in Ballet

From an Article in the Wall Street Journal

The classical art of ballet gets a contemporary makeover on Thursday, when the Atlanta Ballet unveils “big,” a collaboration between the ballet and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, half of the hip-hop duo OutKast. With a cast of 80 and live music from Big Boi and other hip-hop artists, the 90-minute story of a young Big Boi’s travels juxtaposes classical and modern music. “We’re opening with Verdi and then we have a very popular Big Boi song, ‘Morris Brown.’ Right away, the contrasts will be startling,” says Lauri Stallings, the choreographer of “big.” Six Atlanta shows of “big” are planned, wrapping up April 13.

This looks amazing.

Choreography by Lauri Stallings

April 10-13, 2008
6 performances only at the Fabulous Fox Theatre

Joining Big Boi and Atlanta Ballet’s exquisite dancers onstage will be talented voices such as Sleepy Brown, Janelle Monáe, Joi Gilliam, Scar, Big Rube, Rock D, and members of the musical group Konkrete. Don’t miss out on this daring performance that is sure to tantalize the senses and leave you wanting more!  Audiences can expect to hear some of these artists’, as well as Big Boi’s, most popular hits:

- “Morris Brown” from the Idlewild soundtrack

- “Church” and “The Rooster” from Speakerboxxx

- “Bombs Over Baghdad” from Stankonia

- “Kryptonite” from Big Boi Presents…Got Purp? Vol. 2

- Sleepy Brown’s “I Can’t Wait” featuring Big Boi from his Mr. Brown album

- Janelle Monáe’s “Sincerely Jane” and “Metropolis” from the newly released Metropolis album

Buy Tickets HERE! 

History Channel Special on MLK

Don’t forget to watch the 2-hour History Channel Special on MLK this Sunday, April 6th 8/7c. 
http://www.history.com/minisites/king

And make sure to check out the John Legend MLK tribute video:  http://post.aetvn.com/THC/Tamir5/Movie4.htm

TIME:LINE – In Stores Now

Nicolay & Kay: Time:Line – In Stores Now.

The Music of Obama-mania

Barack The Magnificent — Mighty SparrowAs the Democratic primary election drags on, it is now clear that Obamania will have to continue to push on and prove that its not just some temporary fad.

As an Obama fan, I’m continually fascinated and impressed not only the spirit and furvor that his campaign has generate, but also the cultural expressions that are extensions of that. We’ve all seen Will.i.am’s first musical tribute to Obama, and sure rappers shout out Obama all the time in songs (shout out to Kay, “Rap’s Barack Obama”), but here are some songs that prove how far Obamamania really goes.

I love it all!

Black History Month Podcast

Happy Leap Year! This Friday, the last day of Black History Month for 2008, we bring you the very first Diseducation Podcast by Diseducation.com founder, Vasco Bridges. Brought to you by our friends from RappersIKnow.com

DISEDUCATION presents: Black History Month Podcast hosted by Vasco Bridges

Black History Month Podcast hosted by Vasco B. “

1. “The Experience” – Goodie Mob
2. “Inner City Blues” – Grover Washington Jr. (Vasco Commentary)
3. “The Jazz (We Got)” – A Tribe Called Quest
4. “And Then There Was The Blues ” – The Crusaders (Vasco Commentary)
5. “Young Gifted and Black” – Nina Simone
6. “Say it Loud! (I’m Black and I’m Proud” – James Brown
7. “Fight the Power” – Isley Brothers
8. “Blackenized” – Hank Ballard
9. “Compared to What” – Les McCann and Eddie Harris (Vasco Commentary)
10. “Rough Crossing” – Boys Choir of Harlem
11. “I Will Get There” – Boyz II Men
12. “Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now” – McFadden and Whitehead
13. “Smiley Faces” – Gnarls Barkley

DOWNLOAD HERE

Free Download — 5th Child

The DISEDUCATION team is proud to feature 5th Child.

Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, the heart of the deep south, Stephen Brown is a growing artist in the true sense of the word. Symbolically named “5th Child” he has a goal to bring conscious, thought-provoking lyrics back to southern hip-hop. From recording karaoke machine mixtapes with his brother, 5th has evolved to independently release his first solo album, and performs steadily with his live band in the New Orleans area as he pursues a degree at Loyola. 5th Child has risen from the crunkness of his surroundings, bringing political awareness, black consciousness, and raw lyricism to the Crescent City and the Magnolia State. True Love, 5th Child’s debut album, is already taking over stereos and i-Pods in Houston, Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans, and of course Mississippi.

Check the video of one of his powerful song “HIP HOP”

FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD

Song:“Piece of Mind”
By: 5th Child

Click Here to download the song

“Piece of Mind” takes 5th Child’s solid lyricism over a beat first popularized by Talib Kweli. Listen to it and bob your head, but after one verse you realize that Stephen is serious about his lyrics. He mixes poetic commentary with soulful production, giving listeners an alternative to the run-of-the-mill radio hype. Enjoy the track, and let us know what you think.

Download It Now!

Find out more about 5th Child

Remembering J. Dilla

On February 10, 2006 Hip Hop lost a pioneer – James Yancey aka “Jay Dee” aka “J. Dilla.”  Jay Dee died 2 years ago due to complications of Lupus.

Dilla was an innovator and helped craft hits for tons of artists including:

• Tribe Called Quest
• Q Tip
• Busta Rhymes
• Slum Village
• Erykah Badu
• Janet Jackson
• Common

And many more.

FWMJ of Hot97 and Rappersiknow.com has put together a great RIP and a recap of all Dilla’s great work.

Please Click here for the entire RIP.  

Read about Dilla, leave a comment on the Hot97 site, and listen to some of the great music that has immortalized him.

And for all you NYC folks:  There is a party in Jay Dee’s honor, with all proceeds going to the Alliance to benefit Lupus Research.  Click here for more info

ROCK BAND – Savior to American Music?

Saturday Night.

New York City.

Like every other young, single Black male I knew, I was on my way to a house party in Harlem, to dance the winter night away…but instead I came home and played videogames with some friends.

Not just any video game but one in particular that has the power to change music forever.

ROCK BAND, distributed by Harmonix, a division of MTV and the developers of the bestselling games Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution, is an interactive video game in that allows players to perform in virtual “bands” by providing up to four players with the ability to play four different instrument-based peripherals at the same time: ( guitar, bass drums, and a microphone). These instruments are used to simulate the playing of music by hitting scrolling notes on-screen (kinda like virtual sheet music for beginners).

Check out few friends working through a version of Rolling Stone’s “Gimme Shelter”

…or this photo of us last Saturday night…

*From R-to-L: Dominic of Loud Minority Records on Guitar, Vasco B. in the middle on the handclaps, Kai – the groupie turned drummer, Donwill and Von Pea from the group Tanya Morgan on Vocals

ROCK BAND WILL CHANGE THE WORLD OF MUSIC…

I haven’t loved a video game like this since Techmo Bowl on the original Nintendo. The past week I’ve sat in front of my TV by myself for hours practicing drum patterns and trying to become an expert at Nirvana’s “Bloom” like Dave Grohl or the Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” like Charlie Watts. That’s right I practice at this video game.

And herein lies the beauty in this simple game — we can get people to actually respect live music again.

Part of the degeneration of popular Black music into snippy jingles, bad cliche lyrics and unoriginal, over-sampled music is owed to the fact that at one point in time kids quit learning how to play music. In the late early 80s, thanks to the Reaganomics, money was funneled out of the public schools, and the first programs cut from those underfunded, inner-city schools was music. So kids with a passion for music making, turned to new technology that made music-creation easy: synths, drum machines, sampling devices, etc.

So fast forward to now — an entire generation of youth have no idea what the sound, feel or look of REAL instruments is like. Enter ROCK BAND to save the day. This video game has the potential for millions of kids to shun the “band nerd” label and head to band class.

The music industry is already all over it. In addition to the rivers of licensing revenue that this game will churn out, this could change the way an entire generation performs and listens to music. Artists will start making songs specifically for ROCK BAND — you won’t just listen to your favorite songs…you perform them. Just note that 4 of the 5 folks in that picture above are established, working music industry professionals. And word on the street is that mega-producer Just Blaze is a huge fan of the game, and wants to challenge my roommate one-on-one. We’re ready for you Justin!

Don’t get me wrong, my 3 hours a night playing drums on ROCK BAND isn’t going to make me Art Blakey or Max Roach. But its a start. And once the hardware is created, I can imagine this game supporting any instrument — horns, keyboard, other forms of percussion. Kids playing this game will know what it feels like to hold an instrument, and play it. The vocal monitor shows when you sing even the slightest bit off pitch (you know there are a few artists out now that can use this) and the drum pads (with real drumsticks) test hand eye-coordination to the max.

Since they aren’t teaching it in the schools, why not do it on XBox 360.

All we need to do is put some better music on it. Let’s start a petition to add some Earth Wind & Fire or Stevie Wonder maybe? Call it “Soul Band”…

MUSIC REVIEW: “Feedback” by Janet Jackson

So I just listened to the new single from Janet Jackson, entitled “Feedback.”

click here to check it out

I was put on originally by some buppie friends of mine, but also recently heard the song on Power 105 here in NYC. My friends thought it was mediocre — “head bobbing” was the adjective uesd.

Funny, because I couldn’t even find the beat. Because the track just messy: is it a darkchild sexy-sounding beat or an Amerie/DC-area gogo thing, or a Timbaland beatbox thing?

And (to quote Denzel from Mo’ Betta Blues) “The Lyrics?!? Have you listened to the Lyrics??” — probably not, as you can’t even undertand them. On top of Janet’s typical, computer adjusted, whispery delivery, it’s all just very bleh.

Does she say “my asian persuasion”?!?!? Am I missing something, or did she have some other strange plastic surgery that we don’t know about?

Janet’s last album, produced by boyfriend and “comeback creator” Jermaine Dupri, was a very poor performer, and now she is obviously ripping a page out of the Madonna, when-all-else-fails-make-a-song-for-the-gay-clubs, playbook. But even in that world, where music generally isn’t really musical, this new Janet songs sucks.

…so long story short, I’m not impressed. But she still looks sexy….if only she wasn’t following Jermaine Dupri around.