K’NAAN’s sophomore album, Troubadour will be out in January 09 but his first single, featuring Chubb Rock is out on itunes this week.

In addition to Chubb Rock, Troubadour will welcome special guests, Damian Marley, Mos Def, Vernon Reid, Adam Levin & James Valentine of Maroon 5.

Growing up in war-torn Somalia, K’NAAN has seen more gun violence and tougher streets than your average gangster rapper could ever imagine, yet he chooses to use his experience to spread peace with his eloquent and thought-provoking lyrics. This juxtaposition offers a refreshing body of work to the contemporary hip-hop world. In 2006, K’NAAN took home the Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy) for Best Rap Recording and most recently received “Newcomer of the Year” honors at the BBC’s Radio 3 Awards, a showcase assembled to honor the very best in “world music.”

K’NAAN’s fall 2009 outing comes on the heels of his summer tour where he was seen taking the stage at the major US festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, All Points West and Outside Lands. Over the course of the last two years K’NAAN has played over 350 shows spanning five continents, recorded and released his debut outing, The Dusty Foot Philosopher. He has had the privilege of sharing the stage – as well as recording with – artists such as Mos Def, Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Talib Kweli, Amadou and Miriam and many more. These artists have publicly celebrated the relevance of his political poetry, live performance and purpose-driven mission.

K’NAAN’s upcoming new album, Troubadour is armed with classic beats, live instrumentation and innovative rhymes. On it the artist carves a new path filled with eloquent and thought-provoking lyrics in the tradition of great folk singers and protest songs.

You can find additional info and images here: Giant Step

This is a post from Dred Scott.

i was to travel to italy for two days and was looking for an appropriate book to read and on my way to barnard college from the 96th st express stop – sometimes i like to walk instead of taking the local the extra 20 blocks – when i happened upon an old edition of a moveable feast and thought, ‘well, i’m not going to paris, but…’
turning it over and reading, ‘…candor that amazed the literary world…’
i had not read this very famous book and it was only $2, so i picked it up. and like the other book of his i had read (the spanish civil war one), i found the prose clunky and forced and the dialogue not the way people actually talk to one another.  unless, that is, people in the twenties talked to each other in long, run-on sentences.  i don’t think so.  d.h. lawrence didn’t write like that.  but i appreciated his efforts to recount the mundane and ordinary in a somewhat romanticized way.  that’s what i try to do in my dispatches. i just prefer the way bukowski did it.  or hamsun.  except i liked him a whole lot less when i found out he was a big nazi sympathizer.  so i will relate my brief (48 hours) visit to the great city of rome with the great specter of tatie hanging over me.  i should warn you in advance, however, i did not go to the track or fish or watch men fish or make love every day or hob-nob with famous literary figures.  but i did eat.

‘do you have your ticket?’
‘uh, yeah.’
‘what about your i.d., your phone charger, your laptop, your laptop charger.  i’m just saying is all because if we have to come back for something i got to charge you extra.  you wouldn’t believe what people forget on their way to the airport.’
‘uh, yeah.  i think i’m good to go. thanks.’
‘just making sure is all.  you know.  you locked your door?  turned off the stove?’
‘dude, you’re making me nervous.’
‘oh, sorry.  i get that sometimes.  we’re going to newark, right?’
‘yes, please.’

and we go along in silence.  except for the faint sound of opera i can now here coming out of the speakers behind me.  (note: i think here hemingway would insert some detail about which opera it was or who was singing it – i won’t front.  opera is not something i know a great deal about.)

a truck cuts in front of us.  on the back of it in big letters, U.S.A IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT GET THE F*** OUT!  and it makes me laugh out loud.
‘did that say what i think it said?’ he says.
‘yeah,’ i say, ‘pretty ignorant, huh?’
‘what the fuck?!  those people come to this country and get health services and then complain about it?  this is the best place to live on earth!’
‘yes, but our job as citizens is to make sure our leaders are representing us.  questioning authority is an important part of a good democracy.  besides everyone comes from somewhere.’
‘yeah? well where they come from you get your hand chopped off for stealing a piece of fruit.  i been in two wars.  been shot, stabbed and blown up.  i fought for their freedom and all they can do is complain.  you know, people are dying to get into this country.  mexicans in trucks and shipping containers, doing whatever they can to get here and they just sponge off the system bleeding us dry.’
now he has adjusted his rearview mirror so he’s looking directly at me.  there’s nothing i can really say so i just look out the window trying to avoid eye contact as he mutters and i catch about every fifth word,
‘…fucking….go back……native americans…..blood suckers…’
i know.  ‘native americans.’  not sure what that was all about. but he is getting pretty worked up and we are now weaving in and out of the traffic on 3rd ave under the bqe.  i’m getting a little nervous again so i say,
‘hey man.  can we change the subject?’
nothing.  then,
‘yeah…….sure.’

so we roll along in awkward silence and as we cross the verrazano bridge i think he might stop at the top and throw me off so i say,
’so, do you like classical music?’
‘yeah!  it’s the best for road rage.’
‘for sure.  i want to kill everyone when i’m driving.’  (note: probably not what i said exactly.  hemingway was friends with a mercenary soldier guy in feast. i’m just acting macho for the story. there will be those who have driven with me, however, who will dispute this and insist i do indeed want to kill everyone when i am driving.)
‘yeah, me too,’ he laughs. ‘you know after 1am they play the top-notch stuff.’
and we make it over the bridge so i stop talking.

we continue in still more awkward silence until we come to the other side of the goethal’s bridge where there is a fat racoon lumbering full speed against traffic up the side of the span we have just descended.
‘wow,’ i say.
‘yeah,’ he says.  ‘must’ve took a wrong turn.’
‘man. one time there was a racoon in the tree next to my house trying to jump on the fire escape and get into an open window.  right there on 17th st.’
‘oh yeah.  they’ll just come right in the tent and go straight into your duffel bag.’
‘i know.  i’ve camped some in california and you have to tie your food up in the trees or the bears will just come right in.  people get killed.’
he chuckles at the thought of this and i imagine this guy rolling around with a bear in his tent.  gutting it with a big knife, eating it and wearing the fur.

we arrive at the airport.  i leave him a good tip and say,
‘hey, i’m sorry if i seemed rude.  i didn’t mean to-’
‘what?  never. no way.  it’s cool.’
‘thanks for your service. i’m sorry it had to come to that.’
‘hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.’

i was so looking forward to hanging out in the international terminal.  free wi-fi.  probably some good food.  overpriced, but good.  alitalia is now being run by delta and delta sucks, so naturally there was no wi-fi and no edible food items.  fortunately, i ran into three jazzmen on their way to a gig off the coast of portugal and that more than passed the time.  one of them i had played with but the other two i knew only be name.  (note:  h. hung out with gertrude stein in feast so here i should mention that it was marty ehrlich and pheeroan akleff and james zoeller.)  we talked mostly about politics.  specifically, whether or not bloomberg should be allowed to run for a third term.

the plane was an old 767 that groaned, rattled and creaked during take off.  i was sure we weren’t going fast enough to get airborne, but we took off without incident.  i was the only one seated in the exit row and after a totally forgettable meal (i honestly can’t remember what it was), i popped an ambien and settled down in the window seat.  as i drifted off i could hear the wind whistling through the exit door i was leaned up against and i couldn’t stop imagining it flying off and sucking me out with it.  so i moved over to the aisle, double checked my seat belt and crashed.

my driver, santo, was a young man, sharply dressed and handsome.  i sat in the front seat with him and we chatted easily all the way into town – a long trip made longer by the bad traffic. it was weird to think of santo as a roman.  but that is what he is.  born and raised in rome.

rome does not reveal itself a little at a time like other cities where you sense the suburbs and the increasing density.  we turned and suddenly the colleseo loomed large and breathtaking, the road we were on circling it almost completely. we were in rome and it seemed to come from out of nowhere.  and i felt that thing about traveling that forces you to confront your smallness.  your place in the cosmos which is nowhere and the significance of your existence which will likely be nothing.  what you make of the moment you are here is totally you own.

we traverse the piazza venezia and head up the via del corso off of which is my hotel on the piazza san silvestro. (note: that sounds exotic. i can see why hemingway named every street and cafe he passed.)

i was hungry. so after i settled into my room i took a walk.  within half a block i came across a fruit stand.  it was only 11am and fruit sounded great right then so i got a cup of pineapple that was so great i got a cup of mango right after.  i crossed the piazza and went into a cafe and got an espresso that came with four silver dollar size pizzas that were very tasty.  there were three policemen standing next to me laughing and eating sandwiches with no crust. cops always make me nervous so i went around the corner and found a small cafeteria-style restaurant that was just opening.  i hadn’t picked up a phrase book and had no time to practice my italian (of which i knew zero) so i was glad i could point.  peas with pancetta and a steamed piece of salmon.  i sat alone in an empty room in the back.  it was delicious.  i left the restaurant and walked around.  picked up some presents.  found my way back to the hotel and took a nap.

i was supposed to be at the museo borghese at 4pm but my wake up call never happened and the cell santo had given me from the people i was working for rang at 4:45.
‘dred, where are you?’
‘in my room.  what time is it?’
‘almost 5.’
’shit! my wake up call didn’t happen. sorry.’
‘it’s ok.  we’re running behind. just get here when you can.’
so i dressed quickly and found a cab up to the gig.

by then i was hungry again and was wondering what the food might be at the event even though i would not likely have time to eat any of it.  soundcheck and rehearsal went smoothly.  the piano was in fine shape so i practiced a bit and before i knew it, i was at the cocktail party having a campari drink that tasted like fruit juice and enjoying hors d’oevres that were molto bene.  dinner was served during which i did my usual mix of jazz, classical and rock tunes plus all the italian songs i knew:  santa lucia, a clemente sonatina, the theme from the godfather, the tarantella and bella ciao.  this last tune is an italian anti-fascist song of the resistance during the second world war.  yes, there was a resistance in italy.  apparently, the mayor of rome was to come to this aids research fund-raiser but was a no show.  well two newspapers printed in headlines that the playing of this song was a snub aimed back at the mayor for not coming. i don’t know why he should be offended (if he even was – my italian friends tell me the papers are full of shit mostly, anyway.  sounds familiar.).  the mayor may be a conservative but i doubt he is pro-fascist.  although that is the party of berlusconi and one could make a very good argument his style of governing is a neo-corporate-proto-fascist dictatorship. coincidentally, thousands of people took to the streets the next day to protest his policies (education cuts among them) so it was a politically charged environment already.  i only hope the work amfar is doing there will not be effected.

the after party.  loud.  i made friends with a talented (and hilarious) actor who had bit of weed.  so i got some rolling papers from one of the bartenders and we got high in the garden next to some very old and naked statues.  we hung around for a bit but i started feeling tired and a little drunk.  i didn’t know campari was alcohol. it’s red for fuck’s sake.  so i said my goodbyes and tried to walk back to the hotel.  i got very lost and having all the bread i got paid for the gig in my pocket decided to grab a taxi.  rome hardly seems like the kind of place where you could get mugged, but you never know.  it was late and there were no people on the streets.

i slept late.  dressed and went straight to my fruit stand.  back across the piazza for an espresso (no little pizzas this time) then went down along the via tritone to find the gagosian gallery a friend had told me i must go and see.

it was a beautiful round high space with just five paintings in it.  very large paintings, all of a colorful figure with an oversized (by that i mean exaggerated) erect prick.  something about the artist’s ‘meditations on war, time, presence, failure and possibility.’

it turns out the gallery was near the spanish steps so i walked up there and on the way ducked into a cafe for a limoncello and a sandwich of ham and cheese.  that’s all it was – on white bread with the crust cut off – but it was amazing.  down the steps and along this street where every store was a famous designer and i noticed there were no cars.  it was saturday and most of the area where i was staying is closed to auto traffic.  cool.  and the romans were out.  and dressed well.  and walking slowly.  i passed a basquiat show but didn’t go in.  it was very crowded and i had just seen his stuff in the brooklyn art museum near my house.  come to think of it, take a basquiat figure.  add a bunch of color.  a big dick sticking way out.  and you’ve got that other guy.  baselitz. i did check out his other stuff when i got back to my room and he is an awesome painter.

after a nap, i headed out to meet the people from amfar for dinner at st. ana’s – a little, overstuffed, basement restaurant off the piazza del populo down by the river.  the appetizer course was served family style – mortadella, tuna, shrimp, proscuitto, cheeses and everyone got a charred artichoke.  during this course we were all treated to the story about the reappearance of a pesky fistula on duncan’s ass and how glad he was to be in italy where there would likely be a bidet in his room.  i then told of my fascination with the automated japanese ass-washer toilets and the women at the table considered how it was possible that all japanese women were not chronically yeast infected.  the water must not come from the toilet bowl itself but from another separate line we all concluded. everyone was raving about the cacio e pepe so that is what i had and it was sublime.  hard to believe it’s only three ingredients.  during the pasta course there were more tales of mirth and hilarity.  like the one alex told of getting shoved back into a rapidly rotating revolving door by fernanda and nearly being decapitated.  good times.

after dinner we went across the street to the hotel locana and i almost got lured into accompanying the contest fernanda and duncan were having trying to remember every song from mame. but the piano was so wrecked all i could really do was play a boogie.  i don’t know any songs from mame anyway.  more good times.  i left my new friends to meet a pianist friend of mine who had just moved to rome from milano.  we were to meet at the fontana de trevi at 1am.

roberto showed up at the very surreal scene of the fontana de trevi with his girlfriend and another friend named roberto.  they took me to a very nice jazz club called gregory’s.  the band had finished but we sat in nice chairs and had some beer.  talking and smoking.
‘it sounds good in here, but the piano is not so good,’ roberto says.
‘that’s too bad,’ i say.
both roberto’s were coming to new york in a couple of weeks and i discover the other roberto – he is a drummer – needs a place to stay for a week so i offer my basement studio and tell him he can stay as long as he needs.
‘i can give you some money, dred,’ he says.
‘we’ll work something out.  can you cook?’
and the two roberto’s exchange knowing looks and roberto’s girlfriend is looking down shaking her head from side to side.  like i have opened some big can of worms.
‘what?’ i say.
smiling humbly, roberto the drummer says,
‘dred, i am a very good cook.’
and everyone laughs.

i woke up like a shot.  i had been hardly dozing since it got light.  in that restless zone of knowing the call is coming but not fully trusting it to come.  i must’ve actually slept for a second because i was suddenly wide awake - sure it was noon and my flight was long gone.  i threw on some pants and a shirt and padded down to the lobby in my bare feet.  it was 8:15 and santo was standing there next to the front desk.
’sorry.  i didn’t get my wake up call,’ glaring at the clerk who appeared not to give a shit.
‘no problem.  we have plenty of time. i’ll wait outside.’
‘thanks.’

it didn’t take me long to get packed up and i was out on the street giving my bag to santo.
‘let me just go down to this fruit stand real quick,’ i say.
’sure.  no problem.’
‘do you want something?’
‘no.  thank you.’

santo and i drive out of town.  he wants to come to new york sometime so i give him my email and tell him to let me know.  he drives fast and we get to the airport in under half an hour.  again i can’t believe how rural and normal everything seems on the way.  like rome was some fantasy land – romeworld.  i say goodbye to santo.  i have a lot of time to kill so i find a cafeteria next to the gate and get a salad of tomato, fresh (and i mean fresh) mozzarella, radicchio, frisee and kidney bean with a tiny bottle of valpolicella.  i find a seat facing the windows and start writing.  the planes land and take-off in the near distance.  thick groves of trees line the far end of the air field.  and the clouds roll on by.

Tonight:
rockwood music hall
the dred scott trio
ben rubin, bass
dan rieser, drums

‘Blending pop, bop, pulse, and clatter, they get to a place that swings on its own terms. And they entertain as well.’   Village Voice

dredscott

I waited weeks for this show…..That era! The Golden Days of Hip Hop - late 80’s early 90’s- yeah I was like 10!! Whatever…….. I was DJ’ing on the radio in Atlanta in the early 90’s and I was able to play all that dope vinyl that came out of East Coast and W.Coast.. I was like a kid in a candy store and when I went last night to see 2 of my favorite legendary classic groups from back in the day- Black Moon and Smif N Wessun. Not only did they rock their classics ‘ Enta Da Stage’ and ‘Da Shinin’- beginning to end but….They rocked with a live band! I knew pretty much all the musicians……Chris Rob on keys, Anu Sun on Drums, Leron Thomas on trumpet and the bass player- well I didn’t know him and don’t remember his name but he was wicked - the combination of those players/musicians was ridiculous!

I gave Leron Thomas his first gig in NY at Joe’s Pub a few years back when nobody would book him…..Now he’s blown up….. I booked an Anu Sun- Tribe Called Quest Tribute that was sick back at Joe’s Pub too….So many great shows went down when I booked the Late Night Series 2003-2005….

Ok- so back to last night- a historic time in Hip Hop….It took place at The Knitting Factory…..Shouts to Peter Agoston for the guestlist action….. I went with my girl Sharon Carpenter(BET)- we got there mad early but- it was all good because we listened to Mr. Walt (Da Beatminerz) throw down classics one by one party jams!!! He built up to the climax- the anticipation and suspense was crazy!!! There was a back drop of memorabilia from Duck Down, Da Beatminerz, Evil Dee, Black Moon, Smif N Wessun like Source covers, Ego Trip, etc; I can’t tell you how nostalgic I felt and how much reminiscing I did….Was reminded of my b-girl days and the Hip Hop head I was - Wait!! Still am but there’s nothing like that feeling……Anymore….

So Mr. Walt is amping the crowd with the Wu-Tang, Nas, Snoop, MOP, Pharcyde, EPMD, Biz Markie, Gang Starr, Eric B and Rakim, Pete Rock and C.L Smooth, Tribe- you get the picture……then……DJ EVIL DEE comes to the stage- gets his musical selecting ready- grabs the mic- pumps the crowd- at this point- everyone’s twisted– going crazy - The Knit is packed….Like a sea of people with not a hole or space anywhere- it was heating up- getting hot as hell but everyone is mad lovely having fun and the vibe beautiful! This is Hip Hop at its ESSENCE- In its GLORY!

At this point- about 11PM Tek and Steele of Smif N Wessun ‘Enta Da Stage’- no pun intended. The audience is jumping up and down and chanting all the lyrics….There was so much energy….Steele is in bright yellow gear- first off- they’re fully dressed in thick jackets, hats, etc; by the 3rd song - most of it was off!!! Steele is looking good! Damn- they both are……..OMG- then Buckshot sneaks up on stage with his backpack, funky shades and a mic! He got busy!!! Ok so we didn’t have 5FT - something about him being locked up! Damn- couldn’t he wait- but– Buckshot held it down- He represented to the fullest….. Dru Ha joined him on stage and chanted blasted out on the mic too giving that extra Rah Rah!!! Dru Ha is legend in himself- started Duck Down w/ Buckshot and pretty much runs everything.

I was hella impressed when Dru jumped into the crowd….Stage Dived I should say– Moshed and then Crowd Surfed. Damn I wish I had my camera….Both Shaz and I left our cameras at home….So many moments!!!

Dru Ha Crowd Surfed for almost an entire song— I think it was ‘Buck Em Down’ if I’m not mistaken…. When they went into ‘How Many MC’s must get Dissed’ is when Havoc jumped up on stage….Havoc- Was not expecting that-

Back to Smif N Wessun- when they did ‘Sound Bwoy’- all the W.Indian crew started getting rowdy- pumping their fists, doing the sing a long- Booyaka was being screamed out throughout the entire song…..

The band was smoking…. Evil Dee would come off the decks and be the maestro! Was like conducting an orchestra- it was great to see Dee like that….

At this point it’s close to 1am and the crowd is still amped in fact even more- tons of energy- it’s hot, we’re sardines packed to the gills and we want more! They ended the show with the 2 all time classic joints….. ‘Let’s Git It On’ and ‘Who Got Da Props’. OMG!!!

That’s all I can say…

I’m still recovering…..I’m still so high!!!! A natural high of course:-=)
Forget to mention that Travis from Gym Class Heroes jumped up on stage for a song too……

Was great to see some heads I hadn’t seen in ages like Ace Lover, Cynical, Tamir Brown, Frank Torro, Timani and others….

The Knitting Factory is closing its doors end of Dec…Talk about end of an era too!!!! I will be chilling at The Knit for the last few memorable classic shows!!! Can’t believe it’s over! I mean they’re moving to a new spot in Williamsburg but will they be supporting Hip Hop the same!!!

ACTRESS NIA LONG AND FUNNY MAN CHRIS SPENCER JOIN FORCES TO HOST BET J’S FIRST EVER VIRTUAL AWARDS PREMIERING

ON NOVEMBER 25 AT 8:30 P.M. ET/7:30 P.M. CT

Virtual Awards Brings 16 Unique Nominee Categories Honoring Today’s Best In Music and Entertainment

WASHINGTON DC — November 5, 2008 — BET J bridges the worlds of music and virtual reality to bring viewers its first ever awards show, the BET J VIRTUAL AWARDS, slated to premiere on BET J on Tuesday, November 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET, followed by an encore online broadcast at 10:00 p.m. ET on BET.com.   Hosted by critically-acclaimed actress Nia Long and comedian Chris Spencer, the “virtual” broadcast will feature red-hot performances from Washington DC , New York and Atlanta hotspots – all from a stunning, ground-breaking virtual environment!

The BET J VIRTUAL AWARDS perfectly blends the “traditional” awards show with today’s cutting edge technology.  The star-studded special will showcase an esteemed lineup of 16 nominee categories that pay homage and accolades to today’s music newcomers and veterans, as well as other celebrities making unprecedented moves in film.

BET J also gives viewers an opportunity to showcase their own musical talent by performing their own rendition of one of the five nominated songs in the special user-generated “My Time Online” category.  Beginning Wednesday, November 5 – Tuesday, November 25, viewers can log onto BET to upload their videos which will be judged by a celebrity panel of judges.  The winner will be presented with their own BET J VIRTUAL AWARDS statuette and have their acceptance speech air during the awards show.

BET J will also air programming specials leading up to the highly-anticipated premiere of the first-ever virtual awards show.  The VIRTUAL AWARDS RED CARPET SPECIAL hosted by Claudia Jordan and Tears Shears Beauty icon Derek J bring viewers behind-the-scenes awards show footage, celebrity glam, and the red carpet hits and misses through colorful and hilarious commentary premieres online on Wednesday, November 25 at 5:00 p.m.*, followed by an 8:00 p.m.* broadcast premiere.  BET J’s flagship SOUL SESSIONS will also feature a special episode honoring the VIRTUAL AWARDS nominees, and will include the nominees’ music videos in a specially-created virtual environment to premiere on Wednesday, November 10 at 6:00 p.m.*

Created by Bart Phillips and directed by Jonathan X, BET J’s first ever VIRTUAL AWARDS is executively produced by Paxton Baker, Executive Vice President of BET J and President & General Manager of BET Digital Networks and BET Event Productions, and Bart Phillips, Sunseeker Media; and produced by Tami Willis-Arasli, Vice President of BET J Production and Junia Joseph, Sunseeker Media.

*All times ET/PT

Following is a complete list of nominee categories for the BET J VIRTUAL AWARDS show:

Album of the Year:

Alicia Keys,  As I Am, J Records
Angie Stone, The Art of Love and War,  Stax / Concord Music Group
Erykah Badu, New Amerykah, Pt.1 (4th World War),  Universal Motown Records
Chaka Khan, Funk This, Burgundy Records
Lenny Kravitz, It’s Time for a Love Revolution, Virgin Records America
Raheem DeVaughn, Love Behind the Melody,  Jive Records/Zomba Label Group

Song of the Year:

American Boy, William Adans, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Spier Caleb, Estelle Swaray, Kanye West
Honey,   E. Badu , F. Baskett, Patrick Douthit, C. Mcdonald, D. Shields
Just Fine,  Phaton Alexander, Mary J. Blige, Terius “The-Dream’ Nash, Christopher Stewart
Love Revolution, Lenny Kravitz, Craig Ross
Teenage Love Affair, Josephine Bridges, Carl Hampton, Alicia Keys. Harold Lilly, Tom Nixon, Jack Splash
Woman,   Raheem Devaughn, C Thompson

Virtual Video of the Year:

Common, Drivin Me Wild
Erykah Badu, Honey
Solange, I Decided
Robin Thicke, Magic
T Pain, Can’t Believe It
Wyclef Jean, Fast Car

Soul Approved - Best New Artist:

Algebra, Kedar Entertainment
Chrisette Michele, The Island Def Jam Music Group
Estelle, Home School/Atlantic Records
Jennifer Hudson,  Arista
Solange, Geffen/Music World Entertainment
Terrence Howard, Columbia Records

Jazz Artist:

Chris Botti, Columbia Records
Harry Connick Jr., Columbia Records
Patti Austin, Rendezvous Entertainment
Stanley Clarke, Roxboro Entertainment Group
Tony Bennett, Columbia Records
Wynton Marsalis, Blue Note Records

Contemporary Jazz Artist:

Al Jarraeu, The Concord Music Group
Dianne Reeves, The Blue Note Label Group
Herbie Hancock, The Verve Music Group
Kenny G, The Concord Music Group
George Duke, BPM Records
S.M.V.-Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten, S.M.V. LLC

Best Gospel Artist:

BeBe Winans, Koch Records
Mary Mary, Columbia Records
Israel & New Breed , Integrity Media, Inc
Kirk Franklin, Fo Yo Soul/Gospo Centric/ Zomba
Marvin Sapp, Verity Records/ Zomba Gospel
Trin-I-Tee 5:7, Spirit Rising Music/Music world Entertainment

Best Caribbean Artist:

Alison Hinds, RCG/ Black Coral/ 1720 Entertainment
Elephant Man, Bad Boy Records
Fay-Ann Lyons, VP Music
Machel Montano, Ruf Rex Productions LTD. / Xtatik LTD
Morgan Heritage, VP Music
Mavado,  Greensleeves Records

Best Underground Artist:

Conya Doss, Album: Still; Song: What I’d Do; Label: Conyadoss Music
Eric Roberson,  Album Left…;   Song: Pretty Girl; Label: Blue Erro Soul
Heston,  Album: Storyteller, Song: No Way,  Label: Worldsoul Records
Liv Warfield, Album Embrace Me; Song: Groove DJ; Label: B&M
Rahsaan Patterson, Album: Wine and Spirits;  Song:  Stop Breaking My Heat; Label: Artistry Music
Vikter Duplaix; Album: Bold and Beautiful; Song: Make A Baby; Label: BBE

Male Artist of the Year:

Common, Geffen Records
John Legend, G.O.O.D Music/Columbia Records
Lenny Kravitz, Virgin Records America
Raheem DeVaughn, Jive Records/Zomba label Group
Terrence Howard, Columbia Records
Wyclef Jean,   Columbia Records

Female Artist of the Year:

Alicia Keys,  J Records
Chrisette Michele, The Island Def Jam Music Group
Estelle, Home School/Atlantic Records
Jill Scott, Hidden Beach Recordings
Ledisi, The Verve Music Group
Janet Jackson, The Island Def Jam Music Group

Live Performer of the Year:

Erykah Badu
Gnarls Barkley
Mike Phillips
The Roots
Raheem Devaughn
Wyclef Jean

Best Film:

American Gangster, Director: Ridley Scott; Producers: Brian Grazer and Ridley Scott
I Am Legend, Director: Francis Lawrence, Producers: Akiva Goldberg, David Heyman, James Lassite and Neal H. Moritz
Meet the Browns, Director: Tyler Perry and
Producer: Reuben Cannon and Tyler Perry

The Great Debaters, Director: Denzel Washington, Producers: Todd Black, Kate Forte, Joe Roth and Oprah Winfrey
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, Malcolm D. Lee and Producers: Charles Castaldi, Mary Parent and:  Scott Stuber

Best Actor:

David Man, Meet the Browns
Denzel Washington, The Great Debaters
Denzel Washington,  American Gangster
Derek Luke, Lions for Lambs
Martin Lawrence, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Will Smith, I Am Legend

Best Actress:

Angela Basset,  Meet the Browns
Halle Berry, Things We Lost In the Fire
Jill Scott, Why Did I Get Married
Jurnee Smollett, The Great Debaters
Loretta Devine, This Christmas
Ruby Dee,  American Gangsters

The Journey Award - Lifetime Achievement Recipient

ABOUT BET J

BET J, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is a sophisticated digital network infused with innovative and original programming featuring a unique mix of music, culture and style embracing the Black experience. It is the premiere destination for a multicultural audience delivering music from all genres along with movies, riveting talk, concerts and in-depth interview shows. BET J keeps viewers talking with exciting original programs such as: CARMELO’S WAY, LEADING MEN, URBAN CUISINE and REAL LIFE DIVAS, and is currently viewed in over 32 million households and growing.

Ok — So I’m super excited as my artist HESTON has been nominated in the Underground Artist Category.

Here’s the link to vote for him directly…..  VOTE.

The last 48 hours has been a whirlwind of anticipation, amazement, exhaustion, ecstasy, nervousness, anxiety, hope and pretty much every emotion under the sun……But WE DID IT! I can’t say how exciting and proud I am to be in America. Living here and now living the dream! It really means- Anything is Possible!

I came back from Spain yesterday morning - Immigration and customs were so friendly. They shouted out ‘Welcome Back to America’. Happy to see you…. At that point I was thinking Me Too- Happy to be here but at the same time thought What If?????

Well the latter wasn’t even a possibility!!!!

GOBAMA!!!!!

During the electoral votes and coverage I was playing ‘What’s Going On’ - Marvin Gaye. I must have played it 20 times. Tears were rolling down my face- What a significant song and backdrop for everything that happened that day……

So– I was exhausted from my long trip back home after a layover in Madrid after leaving Sevilla - what was I thinking that I’d get an early night….First off - I’m in Brooklyn- Fort Greene. The minute it was proclaimed!!! The celebrations began. It was like NYE at the Millenium- turn of the Century…Wow…..It was so beautiful to witness masses of people in the streets screaming, honking horns, crying joy, dancing, partying and chanting ‘ We Have a Black President’ or ‘Our President is Black’ or No more (W)hite House……I was in the thick of it all….By myself- reflecting on the turn of events and history being made and first hand seeing something so powerful that we’ve never experienced in this lifetime. So remarkable, So Incredible, So Fantastical and so Inspiring!

It’s of course given me so much to think about in our future and where to begin planning wise and how to help with the change- move people and create opportunities….. I have never felt so encouraged, committed and devoted……A New Era!

This morning I awoke to a barrage of emails from all over the world…150 to be exact from my friends/colleagues congratulating us and cheering over the victory too….In fact……People around the world were holding victory parties, dancing, screaming and celebrating just like we were and are continuing to over the next few days…….We’ve immediately changed the way people overseas think of us….We’re in their good books now and nobody can talk shit anymore…….

I got emails from Ivory Coast, France, Belgium, Portugal, Tanzania, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, UK, Spain and the list goes on…….This is just the beginning…. I found this video from Netherlands..

This comes in fresh off the blog press from Elida of Dirty Fuzz….UK’s finest!

I drink everyday, work like a dog, play like a lunatic and rock n roll like a bitch cuz i have ONE life.

Credit crunch????….hell, bring it on!! its good for England and the world’s soul.

We are all going to hell, i say time to love, to let our hair down and not take life too seriously….or rather stop being too greedy.

I know the banks molested me since i was a fuckin college kid, and where was the govt????Where were my parents???

Fuck it…..i think this crunch is good for all of us. We will start looking inside ourselves.

So, Dirty Fuzz is back from New York (CMJ festival) and it was mad and baaaad ass. We played with  Scouting for Girls and Friendly fires, the first night and then for me, the party really began the following night when we played the OurStage party(real rawdy rock crowd)

Rock n fucken roll baby…..

I was off my guts most times but then again am better when am bad. You can all see the Dirty Fuzz cmj footage on youtube!!

I sold my soul to the devil for 2 days before i went to CMJ, so i guess i will appear on some TV show on T4 tommorrow. They hate my guts those cats………why do they pretend to love me????

I mean am a rock n roll bitch most times,  I really like to speak my mind and fuck every one else. I speak the truth cuz i believe it sets us  all free.

Go get some of our tunes on Itunes Now!!!!!!!! That is if you dig and are a rock n rolla

I will get the album out in next week for your illegal downloading pleasure. Music should be shared afterall.

Be a friend and also come and meet me on facebook(Elida Zulu) and chat about good bands etc. At the moment am liking The Muslims…….discovered them at CMJ in NY recently.

Yeeah bitches,

Live like youre gonna die and dream like youre gonna live forever!!!!!!!.

Above all, dont let anybody take away your righteous mind.

Find  it, take it back and keep it….motherf……..s

One Love.

Elida Zulu
Jeff Fasano Photography

This is the most exciting times in American Life right about now– this lifetime as we know it— History is upon us and change- CHANGE- what America has needed for a very long time. The rest of the world wants it just as much as US…….President Obama!

I had to cut my trip early. I came back from Spain almost a week early for a couple reasons but more importantly- so I could really make a difference– Help with the change- Help to make that dream come true- help to see it realized! I don’t think I could have bared being out of this Country without making that difference– so I got back from Womex in Sevilla, Spain. Was highly rewarding/inspiring. Just got back and will unpack after my trip to Pennsylvania tomorrow where I join hundreds of Obama volunteers in many shifts up to the 13th hour! The Campaign for Change- Obama- in Northeast Philly! I can’t wait to make a difference….

There are so many things we can do in these last few hours…. Here is some news from our friends at ROCK THE VOTE.
Rock the Vote registered over 2 million voters this year, help us make history tomorrow with the largest youth voter turnout in history!

Election Day 2008 is here! It’s time to Rock the VOTE!

1. Make sure everyone you know that is a registered voter goes to vote! Every vote can make a difference.

2. Find your polling place and any other voting info at www.rockthevote.com/electioncenter
3. And yes, your vote will count. If you run into trouble, don’t hesitate to call Rock the Vote at 1-866-OUR-VOTE. Take a photo or video and post it at blog.rockthevote.com And if an election official tells you you’re not on the rolls, demand to vote (even if it’s with a provisional ballot) and call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

4. Document any voter disenfranchisement through Video The Vote. Find out how here: Video The Vote.

I’ve been posting my friend over at VIMBY - his personal Obama Remix Series. Zosimo Maximo’s 3rd installment.
Obama Remix 08: Obama + Vote & Live: In episode 3, the organizers of Vote & Live host a screening of two films focused on how the GOP stole the vote in 2000 and 2004.

Finally-    Independent Soul Artist Alison Crockett made a video called ‘Change The World’.

So in just 24+ hours our world will be CHANGED!

Welcome Mr. President Obama!!!!!!!

In a cultural program- the first to really elaborate on the Urban movement in France-  a mission called I KIFFE NY which happened this month– some really great events/happenings took place in several venues in NY.   It’s a wonderful thing that the French Embassy and other organizations got together to bring in great talent from France that might not ordinarily have a shot at exposure on U.S soil– they came over so that American audiences could discover and get a taste for what’s hot over there currently- and it worked!  There was so much enthusiasm and energy for I Kiffe NY that I’m sure it’s in the works to come back full force and bigger next year…..

So I helped with the promotion on the French Hip Hop which makes sense as I’m a big supporter and fan.   Boy do I love me some French Hip Hop and obviously so do hundreds of others….  CMJ French Hip Hop night here we come!

La Caution, and Wax Tailor came over from France.  Their first time to NY….  Mangu was originally part of this experience but he ended up not making it…

La Caution had performed at Joe’s Pub late night the same night at our Global Hip Hop at Drom. I heard it was great- lots of people and the crowd really got into it….. But…..at HIRO Ballroom-  the venue was thick with enthusiastic fans…

DJ Spank hosted the night and brought on REAK who warmed up the crowd and then the anticipation for Wax Tailor was massive.    Wax gave a fantastic show- a full experience of live visuals, moving images, high tech sounds/musical landscapes/journey’s and a dynamic uplifting experience….You can really tell that Wax draws his audience in through shaping his sounds/dynamics and design….His background in technology and creativity/innovation really seeped through.

Hope to bring Wax Tailor back with his full band/live experience in the Spring next year — His new album project drops in September and from what I’ve heard– it’s revolutionary!

So now it’s pretty packed up in here and the audience is singing, smiling, dancing, drinking- what more could you ask from a crowd and then Spank comes back out and says are you ready for La Caution in French and everyone is screaming—-  Here we are La Caution…..2 Brothers….2 MCs–    they have more energy than 6 MCs and their acrobatic lyrical style is superfluous.   It doesn’t matter if you can’t understand them because the language backed by their riveting beats/music is fantastic.    Lyrically they are super strong- they battle each other, the dynamics between the two of them are really entertaining and incredible to watch.  They have such a rhythm.   La Caution are stars in France so it was really a treat to see them live–   Oh got to big up their DJ  Fab.….His name says it all!!!

We ended up having La Caution join Maya Azucena at the legendary Blue Note late night after their show….It was a dream come true…..French musicians/artists rocking the Blue Note!    I hosted that night- was great energy inside and I could sense the excitement/anxiousness for La Caution to join Maya on stage….Was really great and the crowd loved it…..

International Hip Hop is really happening.  It’s a growing genre and the fans just need to hear more of it…..

I am in Spain as you read this for the World Music Conference called WOMEX. I hope to discover some new International Hip Hop so I can bring it back to NY for all of you…..