The Red Bull Soundclash was one of the radest music events to happen to Joburg. How many of you can say you've seen Tumi Molekane with his shirt off? Exactly. It was that kind of night. This week, the Tumi and the Volume frontman released a new joint called Candle (which you can download HERE) that is his own take and rejig of an Abdullah Ibrahim song. To paraphrase a friend's remarks upon hearing the song: jazz and hip hop don't always (have to) mix. But you be the judge. In the meantime, here's a throwback from the Red Bull Soundclash. Here, Tumi and The Volume cover The Spice Girls' Wanna Be (sorry about the audio issues but shout out to fabkash5 for even uploading it):
Listen, man. First of all, if you're upset that there's a nekkid guy on theblagg, please come back next post. Ha! For real, though, P-Square have been doing their thing for the longest time. A while ago, the twins released one of The Ordinary Girl's favourite songs, Chop My Money. The song features Mr May D and Akon, which isn't surprising seeing that they are signed to his Konvict Music Nigeria imprint. Peep the jam below.
For a while, I thought the brothas were singing "20 Naira in my name" which sent AfriPOP! Mag's Phiona Okumu into serious LOL action. According to AfriPOP!, P-Square now have a deal with Universal Music to distribute their music in South Africa so you can't complain that you like their music but can't support them because the CDs aren't available in South Africa. For now, peep P-Square's Beautiful Onyinye remix featuring Rick Ross, uh!
88-Keys' The Death Of Adam has a really special spot in our lives. Dude and I bumped it for what seemed, in a good way, like an eternity. Dirty Peaches is one of the first places we encountered J*Davey and we instantly fell in love. Enjoy the throwback if you are already familiar and if not then you're welcome.
Brook D'Leau and Jack Davey
Here's Quicksand, a joint Dude appreciates with incredible intensity:
As you might have noticed by now, some of us are dreading being where we are so we're making the experience better by sharing the music we're playing in our heads. That's enough of me speaking in riddles. You all know how much The Ordinary Girl adores Robyn. Oh, you don't? Well sometimes it's hard to share the fembots I love with the world.
Anyway, one of my favourite joints from this striking Swede is Dancehall Queen. I love it so much I dream I am actually the singer and the real dancehall queen who gets another shout out on the mic and that Robyn will tell everyone the truth one day. Talk about OTT! Ok, so here's the video to that jam. How amazeballs is it?
And just because I like you all so much I found this video of Robyn and Diplo and another guy (excuse my ignorance) in studio. What they are saying is not always audible but it's not all that important as it's how they act that makes me all certified mushy inside. Check it out.
And one more thing just because I like AKeys and a lot of the people I speak to regularly generally don't, decide for yourself who performed Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart better.
Ok, ok, ok, I admit, Dude has to drag me away from my mac so I don't put Willow Smith's Whip My Hair on repeat. Who knew a 9-year-old had such flava? Yes, she's really young. And yes her dress sense makes you do a double take - especially when you hear that a stylist put that whole get up together. But imagine what you would have looked like had your mother allowed you to wear whatever came into your 9-year-old imagination?
And sure, there are mixed feelings about Jada and the Fresh Prince's parenting skills but whose to say the "norm" in their family isn't early superstardom? Whose to say RocNation's newest signee isn't another version of the Rihanna formula - minus the fist fights in cars? Whose to say Willow, whose website says Whip My Hair is about "liberating yourself", is wrong for being a player in a game so grown?
And I am definately not mad at the braid-made heart shape. Willow can keep that Cassey-inspired shave but I'd like to see young black girls being so expressive with their hair. I read that in an interview with Ryan Seacrest Willow recently said: "You can't be afraid to be yourself, and you can't let anyone tell you that that's wrong … lots of people don't act like themselves, so they're not happy." Love that!
Here is the brand spanking new video to accompany my jam, Whip My hair:
PS: We know the Rihanna comparison's are rife - especially because word has it they have the same stylist - but why does Willow's zip say RiRi at the 00:11 mark?
Yes they are back. N*E*R*D* is dropping their fourth album on June 15 and their first single called "Hot 'n Fun" features Nelly Furtado (one of the many artists that T.O.G. and Dude don't agree on). "Hot 'n Fun" is a fun dance record which will probably be a smash in the club. I can already see DJ Milkshake mixing it in with some Timbaland joint while bobbing his head crazy in his pink and black Air Yeezy's. Ahem... I digress. "Hot 'n Fun" is exactly what its title suggests and has the potential to be a mainstream hit for this niche-fan-based-band. Have a listen, and tell us what you think.
The Ordinary Girl already said she wasn't feeling this track but is a cameo by her baby, Knight, enough to save the video? Is anyone else getting the feeling that Kelis is channeling Janet circa Velvet Rope times? No? Just me then... as you were.
