News

Civil Rights Remixes, Unreleased Kweli, Blacksmith Live Release, Love Thirst Video, Jill DVD Contest, Cosby Raps.

• Yesterday Okayplayer was up in the studio with The Roots and TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone to record a song for Soundtrack For A Revolution, a new project spearheaded by Blacksmith Corp founder Corey Smyth, and produced and directed by Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman. Filmed documentary style, this project will wind up as a DVD/CD package showcasing contemporary musicians performing Civil Rights era freedom songs. Derived from old spirituals and slave chants, from the labor movement and from prison songs, these are the songs of the picket lines and paddy wagons of the Civil Rights Movement. The Roots/TV on the Radio collabo sounded stunning, and featured Black Thought singing the lead vocal (many may not know but BT has a rich and beautiful singing voice). Later in the day we were treated to another session as The Blind Boys of Alabama and Soulive collaborated with Anthony Hamilton for another very moving performance and recording. We will keep you updated on the progress of this amazing project.

• In more Blacksmith news, we’ve got a brand new unreleased track from Talib Kweli entitled “Momma Can You Hear Me” which is produced by Kanye West. Take a listen.

Talib Kweli “Momma Can You Hear Me” (prod by Kanye West)

• Blacksmith Music will release Blacksmith Live At The Apollo which features performances from Talib Kweli, Jean Grae, and the Strong Arm Steady crew. The album will first be made available digitally, with a hard copy in stores February 19th. An accompanying DVD is set to follow. We’ll let you know as soon as it’s online. Peep some photos from the night c/o our boy Terrence Jennings.

• We also hear that Kweli confirms that there should be a new Reflection Eternal by the end of the year <a href=”http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=3&topic_id=165702&mesg_id=165702&page=
“>in this interview. We know this is on the Blacksmith calendar for the immediate future, but we make no promises. Kweli also tells us that he is collaborating with Res for a possible compilation album. The two are coming together under the name Idle Warship, and you can listen to some tunes on their myspace page now.

• Finally, the first lady of Blacksmith, Ms. Jean Grae, was spotted recording her video for “Love Thirst” around Brooklyn and lower Manhattan last night. Directed by Monihan Monihan, we know the vid features a cab driver… and Jean Grae. More details and flicks from the shoot to come!

• As campaigning heats up in preparation for this upcoming Tuesday (21 states hold their primaries or caucuses next week), <a href=”http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=1557593&mesg_id=1557593&page=2
“>watch this Barak Obama endorsement by none other than the purveyor of LOVE, Stevie Wonder (yes, the world is in need of love today!!). Now that Giuliani and John Edwards have dropped out of the race things are getting serious.

• Word is that Rihanna and The Time <a href=”http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=1551831&mesg_id=1551831&page=
“>are set to perform at The Grammys this year. Yes, Morris Day’s The Time. We are feeling a bit conflicted about this. On one hand, we adore The Time and are excited to see a full-on reunion show. On the other hand, coupling them with Rihanna?? A very “Grammys” thing to do. Read <a href=”http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=1551831&mesg_id=1551831&page=#1552834
“>Jihads eloquent response which we think captures much of what could be called “the decline of black popular music” today.

• Contest time! The fantabulous Jill Scott is putting out a live performance CD/DVD combo from a show recorded at Elysee Montmartre in Paris, and Okayplayer is giving away 10 copies to lucky winners! The show includes hits such as “He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)”, “Whatever” and “Golden.” We’ll be watching out for our girl at The Grammys this year where she’s nominated for a number of awards, including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best Urban/Alternative Performance and Best R&B Album for The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3.

• One of OKP’s newest favorites, Muhsinah, pops up with “<a href=”http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=1558819&mesg_id=1558819&page=
“>Scatterbrain,” a beautifully done Radiohead cover. Thanks to Brainchild for the heads up.

• Say it ain’t so… Bill Cosby to release a rap album? Ok, ok, let’s not jump to conclusions… perhaps they meant to say “spoof” rap album? Stand-up comedy record? Oy.

-gingerlynn