BEATS and RANTS

Happy Mama's Day Night

Since I'm blogging this at night and it is was Mother's Day, I figured a picture of a sleeping baby with a mother's hand caressing its head would be fitting for this post.

It goes without saying . . .

Props to all of the mothers out there who are holding it down and taking care of their children.

You are appreciated . . .

Hip-Hop Songs For Mamas

Gyptian -- "Mama" (Music Video)

This is a sad "Mama" song, but the message is still clear -- "Thank you Mama for your guidance."
The song is by a reggae crooner named Gyptian. Check it out.

Holla!

Monday Music Fiasco

Below are a bevy of links to audio and music videos that I'm currently checking out at the moment. Start clickety-clicking!

Lupe Fiasco -- "Paris, Tokyo" (Music Video)

Ryan Lesile -- Diamond Girl (Music Video)

Keanthony Dillard -- "I Ain't Tryna" (Audio)
** Remember "Take Me Higher" by Cruna? This is him!!! He's performing under his real name now and I hope this time, Keanthony gets another shot to show off his soulful voice.

Vast Aire -- "Mecca And The Ox" [Produced by Pete Rock] (Audio)

Busta Rhymes -- "Don’t Touch Me (Throw da Water on 'Em)" (Audio)

Marsha Ambrosius (featuring The Game) -- "What's Going On" (Audio)

Lyfe Jennings -- "Never Never Land" (Music Video)

Ray J (featuring Yung Berg) -- "Sexy Can I" (Alternative Video)

Janet Jackson -- "Can't B Good" (Audio)
**Radio is bumping the bouncy feel-good track "LUV," but I'm in love with the Ne-Yo-penned ballad, "This Can't B Good." On the song, Janet catches feelings after having a one-night stand. The track leaves me nostalgic for the '87 "Control" Janet.

The Roots (Featuring Wale & Chrisette Michele) -- "Rising Down" (Audio)

Keyshia Cole -- "Heaven Sent" (Music Video)

Kanye West -- "Barry Bonds" (Unofficial Music Video)

Gorilla Zoe -- "Juice Box" (Music Video)


**Hat Tips: YouTube, Nah Right, The Rap Up, Baller Status, MySpace, WorldStar HipHop and Soulbounce.

Holla!

Two Loves

I know I'm late on this . . .

Two influential people recently passed away, and I want to honor them.

Can we please have a moment of silence for B-boy legend Frosty Freeze and Cedella Marley, the mother of the late Bob Marley.

Frosty Freeze (1964-2008)

Break-dancing pioneer Frosty Freeze (real name Wayne Frost) died on April 3 in New York at the age of 44 after a long illness. A member of the influential break-dancing troupe Rock Steady Crew, he was known for his acrobatic style of dancing and was the creator of a move called the "Suicide," in which one flips in the air and lands on their back.

He was featured in a bevy of music videos and films including the groundbreaking 1983 documentary Style Wars and the equally influential flick, Wild Style. But Freeze will be best remembered for his brief appearance in the 1983 movie Flashdance, which introduced break-dancing into the mainstream.

The Almighty hip-hop blogger Jay Smooth has posted a heartfelt tribute to Frosty Freeze and spoke to a few people who knew Freeze.

And this video right HERE, made me cry. It's a wonderful tribute to Frosty Freeze -- a true b-boy pioneer. No doubt.

And I want to say, thank you Frosty Freeze. Because it was your performance in Flashdance that made me take up the art of break-dancing. Although I stopped after a couple of years, that street scene in Flashdance will be forever etched into my memory.

Rest In Power, Frosty Freeze. I know you up there in heaven teaching God how to do the windmill. Ha! Ha!

Cedella Marley Booker (1926-2008)

Cedella Booker (aka Mother B), the mother of reggae legend Bob Marley, passed away at her Miami home of natural causes on April 8. She was 81. The matriarch of the Marley Family, Cedella was also a recording artist and penned a memoir about her son titled Bob Marley, My Son.

"Since a young child, my grandmother showed me the meaning of love, life and laughter," said Cedella Marley, oldest daughter to the late Bob Marley. "She embodied them everyday, all the time. I will miss her and keep the gifts she has given me close to my heart forever."

Adds Chris Blackwell, who signed Bob Marley to his label Island Records in 1971: "Cedella was one of the most powerful women I've ever known. She served as the matriarch of the entire Marley Family, ensuring that Bob's rich legacy would survive to touch and motivate each generation. We will all miss her energy and drive."

Rest In Power, Cedella.




Holla!

Daily Rotation

Swipe this from my man Rizoh at The Rap Up.

There were only a few strong '08 rap releases worthy of major spins on my iPod. I've heard the rest and I wasn't impressed (even Guilty Simpson's Ode to the Ghetto disappointed me). But here's my list of CDs that have grabbed my attention.

Snoop Dogg -- Ego Trippin' (*h/t Real Talk NY)
*His best album since Doggystyle?

Raheem DeVaughn -- Love Behind the Melody
*Grown folks music, right here.

Del the Funky Homosapien -- Eleventh Hour
*Trippy hip-hop music mixed with Del's abstract flows -- thumbs up!

Lizz Wright -- The Orchard
*Beautiful, touching, heart-warming. Her disc is a Hallmark card set to bluesy-soul music. And the Grammy goes to . . .

Black Spade -- To Serve with Love
*Inspiring hip-hop music -- when was the last time you heard that? There are a few duds on the disc, but it's still a noteworthy effort.

Akrobatik -- Absolute Value
*Another street-approved, banging rap disc. This will probably finished in my top-10 year-end list.

Alegbra Blessett -- Purpose
*Not to take anything away from Erykah Badu and her new LP, "New Amerykah, Part I," but Alegbra's disc "Purpose" is by far one of the best R&B albums of 2008. It's unfortunate that she is not getting the recognition, marketing and promotion she deserves to get her music heard by a wider audience.

What about you? What have you been bumping lately?

Holla!