Eddie C’s rare groove selections for November
My friend Ed DJs out in Banff on Thursdays at Zona’s Bistro and on Sundays at the Saltlik. He mixes a blend of house, dub, hip-hop and rare groove but is also into the mad techno, electro and jungle styles. Be sure to check out one of his nights. You will not be disappointed.
Ed has started sending out monthly rare groove selections, which I will share with you. His picks for November are:
- Harlem River Drive - Bobbi Humphrey
- The Little Rasti - Donald Byrd
- Afro Temple - Sabu Martinez
- The Baby - Blackbyrds
- September 13 - Deodato
- Up in Yonder - Ramsey Lewis
- Everybody Loves the Sunshine - Roy Ayers Ubiquity
- A Star in the Ghetto - Average White Band
- Root Down and Get It - Jimmy Smith
- Bustin Loose - Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers
Posted on November 4th, 2002 in culture, music - No Comments »
K-OS wins for best rap/hip-hop recording at UMAC 2002
As a follow-up to yesterday’s entry, Nelly Furtado did not win for best hip-hop/rap recording. Instead, K-OS won for his track Heaven Only Knows. I’ve had a listen to Exit, K-OS’ last, and first, album, and it’s pretty tight, containing a lot of energy and positivity. Check it out when you can.
Speaking of the Urban X-Posure Awards, why is “urban” synonymous with “black”? I mean, check out this flyer for UMAC 2002. Not a pale face among them even though the winner in the gospel category is a white boy from Winnipeg. Whitey just can’t get no marketing representation, yo.
Actually, this whole idea of a Canadian urban music awards is seriously flawed. Is gospel really urban? How come there are R&B/soul and hip-hop/rap categories but only one “electronic” category which lumps house, techno, jungle, etc. under one banner? Let’s look at that DJ category: all hip-hop/R&B with Baba Kahn, Baby Blue Sound Crew, and Starting From Scratch pretty much the only nominees for the past three years. While these guys might be good DJs in their own right, they’re nothing against the likes of Richie Hawtin, Kid Koala, A-Trak (1997 DMC champ) and many more who are internationally known as some of the world’s top DJ talent. And a “best promoter” category? What the fuck is with that?
If a music awards show is just a bunch of friends and record execs patting themselves on the back, then UMAC succeeded. That’s too bad, because it could be so much better.
Posted on August 1st, 2002 in culture, music - No Comments »
Nelly Furtado nominated for 2002 Urban X-Posure Awards best hip-hop/rap recording
Canada’s foremost hip-hop talent, Nelly Furtado, has been nominated for best hip-hop/rap recording at tonight’s 2002 Urban X-Posure Awards, Canada’s urban music showcase, for her track Turn Off The Lights. When I’m Like A Bird hit the airwaves, I was, like, “Man, this is a dope track. Check out that bassline.” It pleases me to see such a fine, fly rapper like Nelly get her respects.
Ahem.
As I heard on CBC this morning, the Urban X-Posure Awards is a people’s choice awards. Nelly Furtado’s name was among 26 others, most of them actual rap and hip-hop artists. How the public decided to choose her over 25 other artists who, undoubtedly, have contributed more to Canadian hip-hop is beyond me. Do they even listen to music? Do they even know what the genres “hip-hop” or “rap” even mean? Folks, the music has only been around for just over 20 years, which is more than I can say for Furtado’s fans.
Posted on July 31st, 2002 in culture, music - No Comments »
Big Willy defends Slick Rick
In the “Where are they now?” file, Will Smith AKA Fresh Prince has come to the defence of Slick Rick AKA The Ruler who is in danger of being deported from the United States because of his second-degree murder conviction 11 years ago. U.S. law requires the deportation of any non-citizen who serves more than five years in a U.S. prison. Slick Rick is probably best known for his work with Doug E. Fresh on their 1985 double-sided release “The Show”/”La Di Da Di” as well as the rap classic “Children’s Story”.
Speaking of the Fresh Prince (which we weren’t really), his DJ, Jazzy Jeff, will be releasing his first solo album, The Magnificent, in August of this year.
Posted on July 29th, 2002 in culture, music - No Comments »