Two years since his previous effort Gutter Rainbows hit stores, Brooklyn rhymer Talib Kweli drops off his fifth solo album Prisoner of Conscious. With an array of featured guests, a magnitude of rhythmically responsive instrumental backdrops and more subject matters than a book of short stories, the 15 track lyrical get down is a tempo frenzy of intellectual poetry.
If the thought alone sounded like a dream, the realisation of the finished product has created a euphoric, fantasy like feeling. The music world - for the first time in some years - stood waiting for with baited breath for the release of an empirical album which has avoided the now accustomed 'week early leak.' In a dream collaboration for our time, Kanye West, who captivated the world with his incredible music as well as his eccentric behaviour, comes together with a man who has gone beyond any other rapper's heights in music and business. Jay-Z, the last of a few living legends, shares more than a recording booth with Mr West as they unite to re-invigorate the somewhat lost joys within music. In an age where it's become the norm to constantly drone about what's missing in music as well as spend hours on YouTube denouncing the newest fad, Hip Hop's two insurance policies aim to lay at ease the notion of music's current offering being devoid of soul and heart.
Ever wondered how A Tribe Called Quest got together? Or, what Phife was talking about in Electric Relaxation when he dropped the line "buss off on your couch, now you got Seaman's Furniture" ? Or even why everything fell apart after Beats, Rhymes & Life? Well Michael Rapaport takes us on a journey through the world of Ali Shaheed, Q-Tip, Jarobi & Phife Dawg from the beginning, middle & to what could be seen as the end. Full of content, context and opinions, this is perfect for any music lover who wonders what made and soon led to break A Tribe Called Quest.
It’s usually a disaster waiting to happen when we see these hybrid projects of rock mixed with hip-hop artists. Ever since “Rock This Way”, artists have been wanting to cross these two worlds together, and at times it works but more often than not it’s like Eddie Murphy collaborating with Rick James: Two people great at their fields, but when together, shit sucks.
Luckily for the Blakroc project, you have not only talented hip-hoppers like Mos Def (who can pretty much cater to any style of music anyways) but you also have the members of The Black Keys at the helm, who have Hip Hop sensibilities (especially since Danger Mouse produced their last album, Attack and Release.)
You’ll know her voice from Q-Tip’s latest album The Renaissance, featuring on party favourite “Manwomanboogie.” You might even recall her performances on Def Poetry Jam. Actually, 27-year old California-born poet, MTV2 presenter, visual artist and rapper Amanda Seales - better known as headstrong go-getter Amanda Diva - initially made her name as a music journalist for the likes of AllHipHop.com and XXL. Now on the other end of the dictaphone, Ms Diva speaks to SoulCulture about art, putting down the pen to pick up the mic and why her new (and free) EP Spandex, Rhymes and Soul proves she’s a credible artist.
