OK-PLAYER OF THE WEEK, NOW SHOWING ON YOUR TV,
3 REVIEWS, 3 CONTESTS, 2 TOURS, ONLY 1 HUB!
KANGRADUATIONS, ‘YE!
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kanye West and 50 Cent are the American Dream. While taking very separate paths, their talent, vision, determination, and hard work have steered them to the top. While we all stay entertained, it takes someone like Greg Tate to attempt to peel away the outer shell of “Black Popular Culture” in the context of “American Darwinism.” Way to spoil the fun, Greg! But for real, can’t say I agree with all that (Kan CAN rap) but there are some interesting (and infallible) perspectives in there. What say you? In the mean time, we have to give it up to Kanye for straight killing it.
ON YOUR TV: Okayplayer’s special edition of the UnderGRIND premieres TODAY on Music Choice. Hosted by Talib Kweli, this edition features videos from Common, Jean Grae, Hezekiah, and Kwe himself. Also today, Martin Luther and the cast of Across The Universe performed on Good Morning America and The Oprah Winfrey Show. ML is sure to not disappoint in his silver screen debut which opens in theaters nationwide on 9/21.
REVIEWS: The reviews are in on Ben Harper’s Lifeline, Aesop Rock’s None Shall Pass, and Dilated Peoples The Release Party DVD/CD. They’re all stellar so get to clicking!
CONTESTS: To win the aforementioned Ben Harper CD along with other goodies, click here. The winner will be announced Monday. Fill out the form for your chance to scoop this Limited Edition Red Zune from Common then read Candace L’s write up of Danny Hoch’s latest play “‘Till The Break of Dawn.” NYC area peeps will learn why winning tickets is a good idea.
ON TOUR: Our peoples at 2K Sports have put together another killer BOUNCE tour this time featuring Common and Q-Tip who have been rumored to be starting a group together called The Standard. The tour kicks off next week in Milwaukee before wrapping up in Los Angeles in October and will also feature 88-Keys and Percee P as the openers. This is the third annual BOUNCE Tour where the first featured The Roots and the second A Tribe Called Quest. The Roots kicked off the VH1 Hip Hop Honors Tour featuring Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, and Skillz yesterday in San Francisco to RAVE reviews.
THANK YOU HUB: These last few Roots shows have been the first since the retirement of the outfit’s OG bass player, Leonard “Hub” Hubbard. In his place are Owen Biddle and Tuba Gooding Jr. We miss you HUB!
Next week, El Keter and Blogarhythms return. Before sliding into the weekend, we leave you with the full 9 minute 23 second version of Michael Jackson’s video for The Way You Make Me Feel. Isn’t that nice…..
PEACE
- okpdan