Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Concert Review: Lupe Fiasco @ Temple University Homecoming 09’
The music blaring out of the overtly loud speakers hushed. The fog rose. The equipment crew that worked as if they were not receiving a Friday pay stub vanished and the lights dimmed. Within seconds the rupture of the crowd could be heard in stadiums all throughout Malaysia. The darkness filled the packed Liacouras stadium and the concert goers anxiously awaited the arrival of Mr. Wasulu Muhammad Jaco, better known to hip-hop lovers as the never dull, nothing short of hype --Lupe Fiasco.
The aviators, black v-neck t-shirt, khakis, and black acid wash jean jacket came out with a distinctiveness that shouted cocky. A walk that sang I’m here, and an energy that by now, after two highly-praised albums, and one Grammy, screamed I’m not going anywhere.
To me he never gets old. Four Lupe Fiasco concerts later and I’m still hooked. I still get a rush that hours later I can’t shake and days after I’m still reminiscing about.
Tonight is no different.
The bright lights flare and the Chicago native opens the show with “The Cool” the 10th track off his 2006 debut Food and Liquor.
He begins to warm up and by the time he spits his verse from the “Everyone Nose (remix)” he as well as the crowd were…well, hype.
In the mist of tracks from Food and Liquor and The Cool he gives us a taste of his new album L.A.S.E.R.S (Love Always Shines Everytime Remember 2 Smile) --“Shining Down” which is already my classic and “Fire,” which he continued to bring.
Tonight, like previous nights I’ve seen him, he lectures much and rambles a bit. Expressing love for Philadelphia, reflections on his success and questions about war.
He sets the stage for “Little Weapon” with Philadelphia resident Nikki Jean.
After the song wraps he goes on with his war lecture, and I’m thinking: play "Streets on Fire," just play it.
“Tonightttttttt……”
I go crazy.
He does as instructed and track 11, my favorite track on The Cool emerges lyrically from his mouth and instrumentally from his Dj, drummer, and guitarist.
I love it.
With his one and I mean only “one,” for the ladies as he too exclaimed, (playing “Paris, Tokyo”) he stayed focused, keeping it real and the crowd hype with an ending of “Superstar” and “Day Dreamin’”.
With the absence of some of his classics and my personal all time anthems (“Real,” “Pressure,” “American Terrorist,” “He Say She Say,” “Sunshine”) his performance was like always: classic. At 27 he has the energy of a 5-year-old and in Philly he fosters the same love as though he were in the Chi.
He can’t stand still, he doesn’t miss a beat, and he gives the crowd even more than they’ve expected.
His fusion of hip-hop and rock is classic. His performances’, priceless. His Fiasco, necessary.
Definitely a must see.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Continuing my adoration...
Review: BLACKsummer'snight --Maxwell
The sun has finally settled. The hot steam outside has emerged into a smooth cool breeze and the fast pace of the day has finally come to a slow and steady jog. It is at this moment I find the time to slip into my car and begin the hour long journey home, my ears anticipating this weeks latest delivery: the rebirth of Maxwell, in his 4th studio album BLACKsummer’s night.
The black disc emerges and not to long after, my drums are filled with real ones: the sound of steady heart beats accompanied by Maxwell’s soft and sensual voice. With “Bad Habits” the opening track of the album, Maxwell explains his addiction to a love that encompasses and controls him in every way but simultaneously drowns him and leaves him lost. The track delivers an intensity from his soul-fused genre that by far hasn’t been heard all summer.
By “Cold” the second track on the disc, I hear an explosion of drums, guitars, and trumpets all adding to the soft but intense feeling that Maxwell begins to offer in this collection . He utilizes every sound imaginable, turning natural sounds into music: heart beats, chimes, organs, horns, and strings; creating a sound that is alluring and distinct.
On my way to “Stop the World” the fifth track on the disc, Maxwell continues to fuse the acoustic sounds of guitars and the funk aspect of blues with his soft serenading voice. Pleading to stop the world in the moment when he resides with his love, leaving nothing to matter -- not even the wretched and chaotic world outside their love struck doors.
When I reach “Love You,” I’m convinced. For the non-believers he has made them believers, for the liars --honest and whole. “If you take this rib don’t let it go/ baby don’t leave or ever go, no,” are the last words to make it out of the 3 minutes and 35 second track, but by far stick the longest. You not only feel the warmth and steady energy of his voice but the passion that is nonetheless exerted through each and every instrument used.
By the end of my journey, Maxwell leaves me with the sounds of his band on “Phoenix Rising.” Using every sound imaginable at it’s finest element.
Maxwell left not to come back snapping, with loads of collaborations, or more thankfully with an impulsive computerized voice. Maxwell comes back with an authenticity that embellishes every song, every ear and every emotion. The tracks are raw and honest. Intense and engulfing. BLACKsummer’snight is real music.
Love your ears with: “Love You”
The sun has finally settled. The hot steam outside has emerged into a smooth cool breeze and the fast pace of the day has finally come to a slow and steady jog. It is at this moment I find the time to slip into my car and begin the hour long journey home, my ears anticipating this weeks latest delivery: the rebirth of Maxwell, in his 4th studio album BLACKsummer’s night.
The black disc emerges and not to long after, my drums are filled with real ones: the sound of steady heart beats accompanied by Maxwell’s soft and sensual voice. With “Bad Habits” the opening track of the album, Maxwell explains his addiction to a love that encompasses and controls him in every way but simultaneously drowns him and leaves him lost. The track delivers an intensity from his soul-fused genre that by far hasn’t been heard all summer.
By “Cold” the second track on the disc, I hear an explosion of drums, guitars, and trumpets all adding to the soft but intense feeling that Maxwell begins to offer in this collection . He utilizes every sound imaginable, turning natural sounds into music: heart beats, chimes, organs, horns, and strings; creating a sound that is alluring and distinct.
On my way to “Stop the World” the fifth track on the disc, Maxwell continues to fuse the acoustic sounds of guitars and the funk aspect of blues with his soft serenading voice. Pleading to stop the world in the moment when he resides with his love, leaving nothing to matter -- not even the wretched and chaotic world outside their love struck doors.
When I reach “Love You,” I’m convinced. For the non-believers he has made them believers, for the liars --honest and whole. “If you take this rib don’t let it go/ baby don’t leave or ever go, no,” are the last words to make it out of the 3 minutes and 35 second track, but by far stick the longest. You not only feel the warmth and steady energy of his voice but the passion that is nonetheless exerted through each and every instrument used.
By the end of my journey, Maxwell leaves me with the sounds of his band on “Phoenix Rising.” Using every sound imaginable at it’s finest element.
Maxwell left not to come back snapping, with loads of collaborations, or more thankfully with an impulsive computerized voice. Maxwell comes back with an authenticity that embellishes every song, every ear and every emotion. The tracks are raw and honest. Intense and engulfing. BLACKsummer’snight is real music.
Love your ears with: “Love You”
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Love in a Box:A love story(The night high hopes led to strange places)
So I'm sitting here, acknowledging the fact that history repeats itself in disclosed and disguised ways. Breezes right by you, and even looks at you and winks. It even blows you a kiss..and strangely, even with the wind doesn't miss.
History only has to be read once, only recited twice.
Still, I sit realizing that history has repeated itself, tonight in a more timely fashion.
It wasn't late, or didn't blow right past me even.
It was bold, assertive and oddly amusing as it crept behind me and tapped me on the shoulder.
I had no other choice but to look back at it, gaze into it's eyes with the expression that asked: "why are you here?"
"I read once, and only repeated it twice, but still you stand before me, just couldn't choose to ignore me."
His story explained the should have and could have apologies that my ears were sore from having heard for half my lifetime. I've read it time and time before but obviously I couldn't get enough.
I laugh.
No.
I sigh, and realize:
That no matter which story I take the time to read. Whether it's his down the street, his down the road, or even his off the corner. The conclusion remains the same.
Different cover same book. Different singer same lyrics. Different sound same message. Different man, but the same little boy.
Him...he...his-story was the same.
Long and lame.
Damn it was a shame.
I guess my past history was to blame.
I laugh again, and just sigh because Lord knows I don't have the time to cry.
I hung up the phone without a single bye.
I closed his story that night.
With my carefully painted face, and lightly scented body. With my perfectly polished nails, and with the outfit that because of a single phone call never made it out into the night. Labeled him, he, and his story as I did the rest. Tired, simple and a mess.
Glad I got his story off my chest.
So I'm sitting here, acknowledging the fact that history repeats itself in disclosed and disguised ways. Breezes right by you, and even looks at you and winks. It even blows you a kiss..and strangely, even with the wind doesn't miss. History only has to be read once, only recited twice.
Still, I sit realizing that history has repeated itself, tonight in a more timely fashion.
It wasn't late, or didn't blow right past me even.
It was bold, assertive and oddly amusing as it crept behind me and tapped me on the shoulder.
I had no other choice but to look back at it, gaze into it's eyes with the expression that asked: "why are you here?"
"I read once, and only repeated it twice, but still you stand before me, just couldn't choose to ignore me."
His story explained the should have and could have apologies that my ears were sore from having heard for half my lifetime. I've read it time and time before but obviously I couldn't get enough.
I laugh.
No.
I sigh, and realize:
That no matter which story I take the time to read. Whether it's his down the street, his down the road, or even his off the corner. The conclusion remains the same.
Different cover same book. Different singer same lyrics. Different sound same message. Different man, but the same little boy.
Him...he...his-story was the same.
Long and lame.
Damn it was a shame.
I guess my past history was to blame.
I laugh again, and just sigh because Lord knows I don't have the time to cry.
I hung up the phone without a single bye.
I closed his story that night.
With my carefully painted face, and lightly scented body. With my perfectly polished nails, and with the outfit that because of a single phone call never made it out into the night. Labeled him, he, and his story as I did the rest. Tired, simple and a mess.
Glad I got his story off my chest.
Friday, June 19, 2009
June 19th
Today:
I wake up wiser.
I wake up out of a dream and into reality.
I wake up less disturbed and more concerned.
I wake up out of one decade and into another.
I wake up admitting my mistakes and nurturing my imperfections.
I wake up out of a long battle with lust and willing to step in a long future with love.
I wake up with a song in my heart and a smile in my mind.
I wake up in the light and out of a daze.
I wake up bold and more defined.
I wake up in control with my body and most importantly my mind.
I wake up strong and prepared to become even stronger.
I wake up a day older and years beyond my means.
I wake up focused, attentive, determined and willing to find what needs to be retrieved.
I wake up admitting what I don't know and acknowledging what I still need to find out.
I wake up encouraged to obtain what's rightfully mine and leave behind what was abused and borrowed.
I wake up free and beautiful.
Today:
I wake up.
I wake up wiser.
I wake up out of a dream and into reality.
I wake up less disturbed and more concerned.
I wake up out of one decade and into another.
I wake up admitting my mistakes and nurturing my imperfections.
I wake up out of a long battle with lust and willing to step in a long future with love.
I wake up with a song in my heart and a smile in my mind.
I wake up in the light and out of a daze.
I wake up bold and more defined.
I wake up in control with my body and most importantly my mind.
I wake up strong and prepared to become even stronger.
I wake up a day older and years beyond my means.
I wake up focused, attentive, determined and willing to find what needs to be retrieved.
I wake up admitting what I don't know and acknowledging what I still need to find out.
I wake up encouraged to obtain what's rightfully mine and leave behind what was abused and borrowed.
I wake up free and beautiful.
Today:
I wake up.
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