Jay-Z – American Gangster
February 29, 2008 by S C
Check out the new video/single from Jay-Z, “I Know” feat Pharell off the album “American Gangster”
Following up his crossover-ridden return from retirement KINGDOM COME, Jay-Z presents a concept album, AMERICAN GANGSTER, inspired by the Ridley Scott movie of the same name. Contentwise, Jay is in his element, spinning street corner imagery and tales of the drug trade in the same spirit as the film, while, on the production end, 1970s R&B and soul samples dominate. The production team of Diddy, LV, and Sean C accounts for much of the record’s cohesion, providing six beats built on loops from the likes of Marvin Gaye, Barry White, and Rudy Love & the Love Family. Jigga finds plenty room to get jiggy on tracks like “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is),” “Party Life,” and “I Know,” a Neptunes-produced gem that sounds like a tricked-out “It Ain’t Hard to Tell.” Undoubtedly Jay’s tightest effort since 2001’s THE BLUEPRINT, AMERICAN GANGSTER features a few choice guest verses from Lil Wayne, Beanie Siegel, and Nas.
Jay-Z “I Know ” feat Pharell
New Nas!!!
February 29, 2008 by S C
DJ Khalil, Dr.Dre/Aftermath in house producer, provides a snippit off Nas’s new album, “What It Is” and chops it up with the crowd about his sampling methods. If the rest of his album is this bangin’, Nasir Jones will bring it. Till then, take a stroll down Memory Lane and cop these.
Nas - What It Is First Listen - DJ Khalil
Erykah Badu – New AmErykah Part One
February 27, 2008 by S C
Erykah Badu’s most recent full length release, “New AmErykah Part One” comes out guns-a-blazin’ and enlists the help of producers Madlib, 9th Wonder, Sa Ra Collective, Questlove of The Roots, James Poyser and J Dilla to provide the raw, synthed out, 70’s nostalgic backdrops while Badu holds her it down on the boards for a few cuts. Guest appearances by Georgia Anne Muldrow, Bilal, and Ty & Kory. Peep the “Honey” video below. Hit us up with a comment and see if you can name all the records they reference and play around with in the video. And if you get them all correct, donuts are on me. And that’s word to James Yancey.
Badu’s “Honey” video is just too sweet.
Erykah Badu - Honey
Black Republicans - Nas and Jay-Z to collaborate on “Kings Of Hip-Hop” album?
February 27, 2008 by S C
That’s the word on the street… co-signed by the New York Daily rumor mill of course. Apparently Jay-Z and Nas will be partnering up for a joint album entitled “Kings Of Rap”, which will be released in early 2009 on Jay-Z’s new label Carter Music group. Until we see that manifest itself, I hereby call a hearing amongst both Black Republicans. The open debate is on. Which debut album ‘suades your vote? “Reasonable Doubt” or “Illmatic”? Get Your Blog on!
Vs. 
Speaking of votes, this guy gets my vote for the best Running candidate ever:
Running Man - http://www.vimeo.com/714438/
Incredible! from kwest on Vimeo.
Celebrating Women in Rock for Women’s History Month
February 27, 2008 by Romy
Back in the 1980s the U.S. Congress declared March to be dedicated to Women’s History. In honour of this month, Tower.com has declared March to be Celebrating Women in Rock month. But where do we begin? Women have been rockin’ out for as long as rock n’ roll has been around – Aretha Franklin is often called the Queen of Rock, and Billie Holiday is up there too. Of course, no women in rock history is complete without the “Two J’s” – Janis and Joni. The 1970s was arguably the decade of Rock n’ Roll lead by the all-girl rock group The Runaways (see The Donnas for an updated version of this awesome band). And then of course, there’s Patti Smith and Marianne Faithfull – the month of March should be dedicated just to them!
Here at Tower.com we’re not the only one’s taking the Month of March to celebrate Women in Rock. There’s a brand new film out this month called Girls Rock where a bunch of young gals are taught to play instruments and form bands. And of course, Marion Cotillard winning an Oscar for her performance as Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose seems like the most appropriate way to start off this month of women rockin.’
This past year has been ALL about women who rock so maybe it’s a little unfair that March is the only month that we are recognizing this fact! Just look at Amy Winehouse winning all those Grammys, or M.I.A. and Feist topped almost every ‘Best of 2007’ chart and Kimya Dawson is finally getting the recognition she deserves after her songs in Juno became superhits.
But maybe you have all these albums already and need to beef up your collection by including some of the ‘Quintessential Women Who Rock’? Well, you’ve come to the right place! No collection is complete without a little Hole, Sleater-Kinney or Cibo Matto. You could check out the history of Riot Grrrls in Don’t Need You or even the dynamics of a rock n’ roll band in Gina Gershon’s awesome film Prey for Rock & Roll.
Want to read about women rocking? Check out Guitar Styles – Women in Rock or the history of all-girl bands in Riot Grrrl.
Out recently are the esteemed albums of Cat Power and Sia. Bjork always tops my favourite rockin’ ladies lists, along with The Gossip, Kinnie Starr and Tegan & Sara!
Whoever said history is boring is totally wrong this month! Just check out some of these titles and you’ll see exactly what Tower.com is talking about…
- Patti Smith - Twelve
- PJ Harvey - White Chalk
- The Runaways - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection
- Marianne Faithfull - No Regrets
- Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
- Hole - Live Through This
- Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
- Janis Joplin - Greatest Hits (Remaster)
- Joni Mitchel - Shine
- Cibo Matto - Pom Pom: The Essential Cibo Matto
- Feist - The Reminder
- Sia - Some People Have Real Problems
- Bjork - Volta
- M.I.A. - Kala
- Kimya Dawson- Remember That I Love You
- Tegan & Sara - The Con
- Cat Power - Jukebox Deluxe
- Kate Nash - Made Of Bricks
- The Gossip - Standing In The Way Of Control
- Kinnie Starr - Anything
- La Vie En Rose
- Prey for Rock and Roll
- Edgeplay - A Film About The Runaways
- Don’t Need You: The Herstory of Riot GRRRL
- Lady Sings the Blues
- Betty Blowtorch (And Her Amazing True Life Adventures)
- Coal Miner’s Daughter
