Come And Get It (2011)
Philly Gumbo’s CD of cover songs, Come and Get It, has a New Orleans feel — and that’s not just because the last track on the record is titled “Mardi Gras.” Many of the songs included on the album were originally made famous by New Orleans based artists such as The Meters (“People Say”), Taj […]
Pieces of Me (2011)
Usually, writers loathe simple sayings and well-worn clichés, but when it comes to describing the evolution of Ledisi Anibade Young, “art imitating life” is only one that fits. Since childhood, the Oakland, California transplant (by way of New Orleans) has nurtured her craft, performing in city-based productions (as part of a cabaret troupe and as Dorothy […]
4 (2011)
Sixteen Grammys, six film roles, millions in CD sales, multiple hits and global recognition as a person and performer — all before the age of 30. Beyonce has accomplished what many dream about: indisputable wealth, fame and stardom. After a while , however, success can become a double-edged sword, because as popular as this one-woman-Diva-Starter-Kit […]
Entervention (2011)
It is astounding to think how reality television has ruled the airwaves since the birth of Survivor more than a decade ago. And there are several types of reality from which viewers can choose: from those who are transformed by new wardrobe (What Not to Wear) to everyday people who are suffering with drama in […]
The Light of the Sun (2011)
Author, actress, artist extraordinaire: in the span of twelve years, a poet from North Philadelphia flipped a chance meeting with Amir “?uestlove” Thompson (of the legendary hip-hop band, The Roots) into a co-writing credit on a Grammy-Award-winning song (“You Got Me”), a Canadian tour with the legendary musical Rent and a recording contract, becoming one […]
Natalie Live (Reissue) (2011)
Our generation has produced its own set of divas—women like Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott and Mariah Carey— who manage to be both artists and entertainers by selling millions of records, packing out performance venues around the globe and evoking pandemonium just by a mention of their names. But if you want to know which […]
Unbelievable (2011)
KeKe Wyatt has been in the news as much for her off-stage life as for her music in recent years. That’s rarely a good thing. Between problems with her former labels, reports that she made unflattering remarks about Beyonce and the disintegration of her marriage, it’s easy for fans to shift their attention to the […]
The Sweetest Survivor (2011)
She’s got big dreams, Chi-Town connections, a heart for activism and a penchant for soul music and self-expression. Tarrey Torae could’ve forged a trail for herself in any avenue she chose—the Delta Sigma Theta Inc. was an NAACP president who collaborated with the likes of Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, Dr. Ben Chavis and Cornell West […]
The Life and Soul (2011)
You might think of Mama’s Gun as the greatest 70s band that never existed, but it is almost certainly the one band that US soul music fans must get to know in 2011. Brimming with funky, infectious rock and soul music, melodic tunes and the elastic vocal work of lead singer, Andy Platts, Mama’s Gun […]
Reel People Presents Golden Lady (2011)
Here’s the punch line up front: This is easily the most exciting release so far this year and certainly the best of the trio of Reel People releases by Oli Lazarus, founder of Papa Records. For nearly a decade the soulful house meets acid jazz hybrid of this UK soul label has seen a virtual […]
