Review - Las Supper
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- Parent Category: Onstage
by Khari Gzifa
A die hard music fan like me spends a lot of time listening to and talking about, what else...music. I was in a conversation the other day and we spoke about what most people would call the "Motown Sound" and some of the other outgrowths
of its success like Stax and Philadelphia International. What Berry Gordy and all of those incredible artists and musicians created, was and is, absolutely phenominal! I mean we are talking about the children of slavery, creating -from scratch- a musical art form that would change the art and cultural landscape of the world, forever. That’s powerful stuff. The fact that you can go almost anywhere on this planet and start singing a song like, "My Girl" and have people be able to join in with you, is a testament to the incredible Against All Odds story behind their glorious feat. With that in mind I was immediately reminded of what has to rate as one of the most mind blowing listening experiences I have had in quite some time, a project that is able to harness some of that power that I just described and package it in a way that is palatable to the masses of today.
If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and rush to the brick and mortar of your choice or your laptop and purchase the following: "Back To The Future" by Las Supper. This release by the all-star team of Hip-Hop legend Big Daddy Kane, R&B/Soul Singer extraordinaire Showtyme, and Hip-Hop Fusion Band Lifted Crew is so jammed packed with the power of those earlier releases that it demands that you hear it, and quickly.
Let me start by saying this, I don’t know whose original idea this was to put all of those parts together (I believe it was Kane though), but whoever, is a certified musical genius. The way they seamlessly blend the different styles to create something that is actually greater than the sum of its parts, is absolutely breath-taking. The secret sauce in this recipe is the combination of flavors, much like a classic mirepoix is the basis of many tasty dishes, any one of those flavors without the others might not achieve this but when the flavors are combined they create something special.
Review - Triple Beam Dreams by Kingpen Slim
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- Parent Category: Onstage
by Khari Gzifa
Let me begin by saying that I personally love hip-hop and a lot of rap as well and, as a side note, this is your cue to stop reading if you didn’t know there was a difference. Trust me it will only get more confusing for you without an appreciation for the distinction. So when I received the assignment of reviewing Triple Beam Dreams, the new release from Kingpen Slim, a relatively well known rapper in the DMV, I was excited. I had heard good things about his music and I also loved the video for his song Dead, which is featured right here in the OnStage Video Showcase.
I listened to the whole project while in the middle of conversation with a group of brothers, so it wasn’t the focal point but it provided a nice backdrop for what we were doing. The first impression I got was from someone else, who asked, “Who is that playing on the stereo, I like that track”. So before I really even took a serious listen I had already been given cues to expect good things.
One might think that with a title like Triple Beam Dreams, this album would fit squarely in the “Been there done that” model, but you would be wrong for a couple of reasons. First, let there be no mistaking; Kingpen Slim is a talented lyricist. Most of what goes under the moniker of Trap Rap or the more generic term Gangsta Rap, is not really notable for the quality of the writing. That does not apply to this album though. Kingpen Slim obviously put some thought and effort into crafting the rhymes and will make you take note of a few couplets. Second, there is a thread running through this project that suggest KPS made a real effort to stand out by doing a couple of things that not every independent artist can do, i.e. secure features from artists with international followings and use samples that do not immediately lend themselves to rap music.
Sophisticated Sunday: Black Music Month Spotlight on Levi Stephens
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- Parent Category: Onstage
By Natasha T. Brown
June 1 marked the first day of African American Music Appreciation Month (or Black Music Month) and there was no better person to kick-off this special month-long (Sophisticated Sunday) series about innovators in our region’s black music past and present than Singer/Songwriter Levi Stephens.
He’s an old soul at heart, and his music takes you on a journey through the most relevant sounds of music’s past from rock-n-roll, pop, bluegrass, country, R&B, soul and blues. “It’s your cotton field and plantation meets present day,” he likes to say. During his youth, Stephens appreciated the sounds of Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers and Donny Hathaway. In addition to soul legends, The Beatles, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix and Prince all contributed to Levi's musical style and led him to the guitar which was the final piece needed to create his sound.
Stephens plays the bass, guitar, piano and ukulele, and can arrange for three additional instruments. His set creates a nostalgic experience for any audience that appreciates good music, because his dedication and passion to keep authenticity alive and appreciated is evident.
#FashionFridays Presents - Black Alley
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- Parent Category: Onstage
Happy Memorial Day Weekend #FashionFriday Readers!
It’s been a couple of weeks since we’ve had a good interview so lets jump right into it.
Hailing from my hometown, the Metropolitan Area (DC, MD, VA) and for those who are unfamiliar, I introduce to my Fashion Fridays readers Kacey, Eric, Josh and Mack. 4 out of 7 members of the soul garage band, Black Alley. This is a very talented and stylish band. I really enjoyed interviewing them and hope my Fashion Friday readers enjoy the article and some behind the scene footage from the interview.
(Photo Courtesy of Black Alley Facebook Fan Page)
