New Sounds: Laura Izibor

Dublin based songstress, Laura Izibor, releases 'Don't Stay' the new single from her forthcoming album 'Let The Truth Be Told'. Have you checked out Laura's music yet?  (www.myspace.com/lauraizibor). If you are into heart warming old school soul with lyrics from an artist who digs deep, then this will be right up your street. There are only 1o tracks too, which is the perfect number for me  (don't you hate those 22 + track albums with multiple interludes and such nonsense?) Vocally Laura sounds like a blend of Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, and dare I say it - errm, Joss Stone. But don't hold it against her. Check out the promo for the song. The album is out on May 15th.

BBC's 1-Xtra Celebrates 30 Years of Hip Hop

The Beeb's black music radio station, 1-Xtra celebrated 30 years of hip hop with a special show featuring the UK's home-grown talent doing renditions of famous US hip hop tracks. Ms Dynamite took on Lauryn Hill, Roll Deep performed a Wu Tang track, and Chipmunk performed the Sugar Hill Gang classic Rappers Delight. Check it out! 

Bringing Intelligence Back

Adieu President Obama & Michelle O! It was so nice to have you here. Jeez, what a whirlwind couple of days. But did we really expect anything else from the most powerful couple in the world? Michelle’s visit to the north London comprehensive school was the highlight for me. Can you imagine how super excited the pupils at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson school must have been when they realised that the surprise guest scheduled to speak at their school was none other than America’s First Lady? It’s the kind of 'moment' that will stick with you for life, right? I remember when one of the Capital Radio DJ’s rolled into our primary school back in the day, it was absolute pandemonium. Yeah, I know, doesn’t really compare does it, but you catch my drift. Michelle’s speech was moving to say the least. Just watching her clap excitedly while watching the young singer, or choke up while reading her emotive speech really set me up for the day. My favourite quotes:

“I never cut class. I loved getting A’s, I liked being smart. I liked being on time. I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world. You, too, with these values, can control your own destiny. You, too, can pave the way.”  

"Whether you come from a council estate or a country estate, your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude."

“For nothing in my life ever would have predicted that I would be standing here as the first African-American First Lady. I was not raised with wealth or resources or any social standing to speak of. I was raised on the South Side of Chicago — that’s the real part of Chicago.” 

I just love how the Obama's are bringing talent, tenacity and intelligence back into the public domain. Vapid & talentless ‘celebrities’ must be O’ding on their anxiety pills right about now.

A clip from the visit 

Beenie Wants A Taste of Love

Who knew that fallen rapper Flavour Flav could exert such powers of influence over his music industry peers. As atrocious as his reality show is, Flavour of Love, continues to somehow inspire others with Beenie Man being the latest star to jump on the dating show bandwagon. According to Overgroundonline, the reggae DJ is gearing up to film a pilot for his reality show tipped to be titled Girls Dem Sugar. This sounds bad. I mean, really bad. My eyes are already bleeding just conjuring the mental image of a bunch of purple headed weave-a-holic dancehall queens performing x-rated handstands in the hope of becoming Beenie's Suga. Ewww! 

   

Tonight I Had To: Turn My Sound Down Low

In case you're still recovering from American Idol contestant Megan Joy, totally desecrating Bob's 'Turn Your Lights Down Low'. Here's the far superior version from daughter in law, Lauryn Hill. There, there, you can relax now folks...

My Breakdance? 25 Years Old? Never!

“Out in the streets/you won’t survive by being weak/this is our time/walls were made for us to climb. All 80’s kiddies out there should be familiar with the lyrics of this popular chart topping street-soul ditty. Entitled ‘There’s No Stoppin Us’, the track was performed by Ollie & Jerry (Who? I hear you under 30's cry) and was the theme track to the wonderful, remarkable, super dupa cinematic classic - Breakdance. Oh how I love that film. I can recall the first time I set eyes on it clear as yesterday. It’s Catford, South London, 1984. Me, my bro and my cousin all head down to the local cinema to check out this new flick called Breakdance. It’s a scorching summer’s day. You know, one of those gorgeous, sweltering types that we used to get back in the day. So we purchase our tickets, popcorn and drinks and head towards our seats. For 90 minutes I am awestruck. I’m inspired. Heck, I think I’m in love. The film was designed to showcase and celebrate street dance, specifically breakdancing and body-popping. The storyline was typical Hollywood triumph over adversity fodder. Main protagonist Kelly or Special K as she was later christened, is an aspiring jazz dancer who befriends a couple of street dancers named Ozone and Turbo. Together they form a dance trio and aim to enter a prestigious dance competition but are vetoed by their elitist dance rivals. Okay so the storyline is as simplistic as it gets, but along the way you have many a golden screen moment. The electrifying dance sequences, the awesome soundtrack which includes the stellar soul classic Ain‘t Nobody by Rufus and Chaka Khan, and just the general tongue in cheek humour, really appealed to my pre teen self.  Oh, and did I mention that I fell in love? The supremely talented dance sensation that was Turbo (played by Michael Chambers) absolutely blew me away, and was probaly one of my first crushes (altogether now, awwww). What I also remember about that day was how hyped everyone was after the film finished and the credits rolled. Guys were rushing to the front of the cinema to show off their locking and popping skills. It was just general pandemonium but in a fun and harmless way. The film was hugely popular in the UK and was really the first time mainstream audiences were exposed to the phenomenon of breakdancing and body-popping. Although there were other films that were deemed as more authentic to the art of street dance such as Beat Street and Wildstyle, Breakdance, or Breakin’ as it was known in the States, was by far the most accessible. 

So why am I bringing it up? Well B-Dance celebrates it’s 25th anniversary next month and will be commemorated by a special edition DVD. Oh yeah, there was also a sequel Electric Boogaloo, but I wouldn’t waste my time checking it out if I were you. It’s about as watchable as Grease 2, in other words, really really bad. So what happened to the cast members? Hmmm, well let’s just say they failed to set Hollywood alight. Lucinda Dickey (Special K) has had bit parts in TV shows like Perry Mason and films like Ninja III. Similarly, Michael Chambers AKA Turbo AKA My First Crush has had parts in films like Bill & Ted’s Great Adventure and Naked Gun - woo hoo. And not to be outdone Adolfo Quinones (Ozone) has also absconded to bit part heaven. Oh well, in my eyes you will always be superstars guys. Happy quarter century. 

Now check out the B-Boy Battle

Hee Hee!

My emotions are running wild with regards to this whole Michael Jackson comeback fiasco (Michael Jackson to Play Residency at 02Arena). I’m mortified, amused, sceptical, curious and nonplussed. If I’m scared for him, I wonder how the man himself must be feeling right now? Probably quaking in his glitter spangled socks as I write this. Can’t even imagine him lasting through 5 song set, yet alone a gruelling 10 night tour (or even 30 according to some reports). Yet despite this, a teeny weeny part of me wants to go to catch a piece of history, however catastrophic it might end up being. What do you all think? Will you be the first in line to cop a ticket, or do you think it's all one big con?