Digable Planets Plan Reunion Tour And Album
Here’s some news that makes my heart go pitter-patter. According to Hip Hop Blog.com, New York-based alt hip-hop Digable Planets have announced plans to reunite, presumably in 2012. Butterfly, LadyBug Mecca and Cee Knowledge (formerly Doodlebug) are planning a tour and, dare I say, a comeback album. The trio took hip-hop (and music) by storm...
2011 – 54th Grammy Award Nominations Announced
The 2011 Grammy Nominations have been announced. Last night, CBS telecast the nomination show, which covers the top Grammy categories. No major surprises. Adele, Bruno Mars and Kanye West are multiple nominees, as well as Lupe Fiasco, Ledisi, and indie artist Bon Iver is also a multiple nominee, including snagging a nod for Best New...
New J*Davey Album Dropping…Next Week
The wait is over. J*DaVeY will release a new album next week. The L.A.-based duo has announced the release of New Designer Drug, the long-awaited album that will be available on November 22, 2011. It appears that NDD will be $2.99 on iTunes and the material primarily consists of tunes meant to be released through...
New Music On The Way From Robert Glasper
Jazz pianist Robert Glasper knows how to whet one’s appetite for new music. On February 28, 2012 (a little more than 3 months from now, the Robert Glasper Experiment will release Black Radio on Blue Note Records. The album, which will be Glasper’s first full-length recording since 2009, will draw from jazz, hip hop,...
Remembering Heavy D
I, like so many other people today, am stunned by the passing of rapper Heavy D. His death comes as a great shock to many who knew him and his music. He was just in town 4 weeks ago to perform at the BET Hip Hop Awards, his first performance in 15 years. He sounded...
Google Launching Music Download Service, But Will Anyone Listen?
Google has announced plans for its music download service, a full two weeks before the launch. I wish that I could say that I’m excited about this news, but I’m rather indifferent. First of all, I assume that the music download service will be connected to the current Google Music Beta, which only makes sense....
Nearing the End of The Streets
Garage/2-step act The Streets is coming to an end, but not before a final series of shows. The Mike Skinner led act Will headline the Freeze Festival which takes place October 28 -29 at London’s Battlesea Power Station, and can also be seen at The Big Reunion Festival over two weekends in November. The shows...
Remembering Vesta Williams
R&B singer/songwriter Vesta Williams has unexpectedly died, leaving friends and fans shocked. She was such a masterful, powerhouse vocalist, and sorely underrated. Her music had a profound effect on me. More than two decades ago, while my friends were all about Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, and Anita Baker, I was listening to Vesta Williams. I’m...
Kate Bush’s 50 Words For Snow
The music blogosphere has been all aflutter over the news that Kate Bush will be releasing new music in November. 50 Words for Snow will be released November 21st and will be the singer’s second release on her label Fish People and her first recording of new material since 2005′s Aerial. (Director’s Cut was released...
Bassist Peter Hook To Perform Joy Division
Just yesterday it was announced that New Order will reunite for a couple of European shows, but without original bassist Peter Hook. Well now, it appears that we know why. Hook and his band The Light are launching a North American tour next week that will take them to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. But...
And The 2011 Mercury Music Prize Goes To…
PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake is the recipient of the 2011 Mercury Music Prize. She was the first woman to win the prestigious award 10 years ago for her album Stories from the Sea and she’s now the first female artist to win twice. This was no easy feat, given that she was up against...
Remembering Nick Ashford
I woke this morning still thinking about the loss of Nickolas Ashford, one-half of the dynamic songwriting and recording team of (Nick) Ashford & (Valerie) Simpson. Ashford died yesterday due to complications from throat cancer. His death seems a bit surreal to me because just last week I had an in-depth discussion with a friend...