Badu Stuff We Can’t Link To, Black Thought The Ichiban, Amy Defies Her Hit Song, Common Gives Back/New Album.
(get a closer look at the Tel Aviv posters)
• A few days ago we were the first to post the Erykah Badu cover art for New Amerykah (2/26) which received much applause from our community and around the web. E had other plans for revealing the funky-fresh cover to the masses, which means we can’t link you to the full version anymore. However, it is still “living through your internet.”
• The above is a quote from E’s tribute to Dilla, “The Healer.” The Madlib produced track that hit the Web running this week after she premiered the song on Gilles Peterson’s Radio 1 show. Ripped versions are circulating, none of which we are allowed to link you to so we leave you with this approved snippet:
“The Healer” (snippet)
• Okayplayer also received images of three really cool hand silk screen painted concert posters (by EMEK, the same artist doing all of Badu’s illustrations) celebrating Erykah’s one night only show at the Tel Aviv Convention Center in Israel on February 2nd (peep the billboard). The posters are loaded with symbolism in a message for peace. Word on the strip (Gaza, that is) is that peeps are very hip to her music and “enchanting mystique” over there, having them excited. Even the government is involved to insure that a peaceful message gets broadcast to their young people. Erykah is excited too and seeks your input before she leaves.
• The message boards turned up this fresh video of Black Thought freestyling in the booth over the “Thought @ Work” beat. Dubbed “Tanko @ Work,” Black and Tankoshi-san are in fact the ichiban.
• Look, we were at Amy’s American debut concert over a year ago too. Despite the sad truths demonstrated in that article, there is no way we aren’t going to make reference to that fact that they tried to make her go to rehab, and she went. Like addiction, such an easy reference is simply too hard to resist.
• Rounding out the list at number two for the Okayplayer Altruist Award, Common demonstrated his love for the kids yesterday with an unexpected appearance at the Los Angeles Cares Mentoring Movement (LACMM) Launch Celebration. Moved by his mother’s insistence that he “go out and help somebody,” Common joined Susan Taylor and Sheryl Lee Ralph to support the enrichment of L.A.’s inner-city youth. Click here to read more and then turn your attention to BKyle’s post and get the ridiculously early jump on Common’s next album title.
• We leave with you cool kid Big Mell’s photos of The Cool Kids at Studio B in NYC last night. Those cats are doing it. Next week, the World Premiere of Skillz‘ music video for “Crazy World!”
bong bong,
-okpdan