News

In The Studio w/ The Roots, Badu In DUMBO w/ VH1, 9th Wonder + Buckshot + Kidz In The Hall = Duckdown, More!

• Yesterday was a whirlwind of activity. Early in the AM I linked up with Black Thought and ?uestlove at the studio where they had a few key press engagements (in addition to some important mixing duties to attend to) including Entertainment Weekly and RollingStone. I played fly-on-the-wall and got to overhear two very in-depth interviews where Thought and ?uesto really dug into what went down during the making of Rising Down, and the meaning behind the songs. I also got to hear the album, twice over, and all I have to say is KAAA-POW!! Word is that the record is basically finished except for one verse by Common which is slated to happen this week.

• Speaking of Common, check clips from his performance at the ESPN All Star Party during Allstar Weekend in New Orleans, compliments of AllHipHop.

• After leaving The Roots at the studio I headed out to DUMBO Brooklyn to watch an intimate live performance of Erykah Badu which was being filmed for VH1 Soul Sessions. Although she was only slated to run through five songs, there was that Brooklyn magic in the air and E held it down for hours, performing around 14 songs or so with her live band (shout out to Rashad “Tumblin’ Dice” Smith on the 1s and 2s). In addition to a couple of her newest joints, including a very cool screwed down slow version of “Honey,” Erykah captivated her audience with fresh takes on old favorites like “Other Side Of The Game,” “Didn’t Cha Know,” and “Danger.” Just off a plane ride back from Nigeria where she performed for the first time, Badu’s BK performance was top notch, despite any jet-lag. And of course your girl looked absolutely gorgeous. Apparently Tom Ford agrees, as he’s tapped Lady E to serve as the face of his brand new fragrance (not yet named). We’re sure it will smell as sweet as honey. In anticipation of next Tuesday’s New Amerkyah release, watch this TV spot.

• While I was running all over the city, dantana was over at Baseline for an exclusive listening session for upcoming releases on Duckdown Records including 9th Wonder & Buckshot’s The Formula and Kidz In The Hall’s The In Crowd. Both albums are straight HEAT, proving once again that Duckdown is here to stay. More on these releases to follow as we ramp up to their street dates in April. In the mean time, tide yourself over with the free “Geniuses Need Love Too” mixtape from Kidz in the Hall.

• Pete Rock loves his fans! Yes, he’s given us his entire new album, NY’s Finest, to preview on his myspace page before we buy. Then listen to this killer freestyle with Pete Rock and Buckshot from Green Lantern’s radio show yesterday. NYC, see Pete Rock and D.C.’s Wale (featured on The Roots Rising Down) at the Highline Ballroom next Thursday.

• OkayScans Report! Following big wins at the the Grammy Awards, songstress Amy Winehouse saw a wopping 368% increase in sales landing her at #2 on this week’s Nielsen SoundScan top 200 chart. Common, Jill Scott, and Ledisi also enjoyed increases (31%, 21%, & 105% respectively) while Kanye’s Graduation saw a 74% jump pushing him over the 2 million scanned mark.

• Former featured OkayPhotographer Will Okun is blogging it up for The New York Times these days. He hipped us to his article “They Schools,” where he positions America’s education system in the context of the Dead Prez song by the same name, and looks at the inequities of the system, and the structural problems with our middle schools.

-gingerlynn