News

El-Blogo, Common LP Details, Black Lily Philly, Dilla+Elzhi+Dwele Rep the D, Raphael Saadiq’s Old Soul, John Legend LP Details, OKPs Win Janelle Tix, JUSTICE “Stress” Video.

• Okayplayer is proud to announce our newest blog, “Bastard’s Delight” by El-P. The head of Def Jux has big things planned for his upcoming tour with Dizzee Rascal and Busdriver (Kidz In The Hall and Aesop Rock will guest on certain dates as well) so peep his first few entries and learn about his retracting laser stage, along with his ode to the pigs, and his take on how to get ahead in advertising. A bastard he may be, but his ruminations are quite delightful (although, at times, relatively sick).

• More details emerge about Common’s upcoming album Invincible Summer via an interview with Billboard. He reveals that do to scheduling conflicts Kanye is not on this album. Describing the album’s sound as feel-good summer time music, it is scheduled to be released in July. Look out for his first single “Universal Mind Control (U.M.C.)” which is set to be released later on this month. The preliminary tracklisting is at the end of the interview (notice Santogold is on the album).

• Philly, all today and this weekend we’ve got The Black Lily Film & Music Festival poppin off! Amazing films created by amazing women (for just $5 and $7!!). Tonight, hit up the jam session featuring Imani Uzuri and Maya Azucena for free. Tomorrow, celebrate with Bahamadia, Jaguar Wright, Ladybug Mecca J*Davey, Amanda Diva and more. Peep the full schedule for more.

• Now for the section of today’s news dedicated to The D. Of course you can’t talk about Detroit and not have some Dilla news. Another recently released song has hit the net, this one is called “Trucks” (good lookin Zack). Next we have a new song by Elzhi that was spotted on his myspace page called “The Transitional Joint (Baby Girl Glow)”. Fresh off of killing the hooks on your favorite songs last year (see, “Flashing Lights” and “The People”), Dwele is readying to release his third album. The album is called Sketches of a Man and is due out June 24th via RT Music Group/Koch Records. Check out his first single “I’m Cheatin.”

• Detroit, join the 1st Annual Stop The Violence Weekend brought to you with help from Grandmaster Jay, Kurtis Blow & The Pioneers of Hip Hop to address the epidemic of violence in this great city. Saturday it’s the “Hip Hop Speaks: Pioneers of Hip Hop Concert” featuring Whodini, KRS-One, Doug E Fresh, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, The Sugar Hill Gang and Kurtis Blow.

• Last night Okayplayer was treated to an early preview of Raphael Saadiq’s new album, as yet to be titled. The vintage soul-pop, true to the 1960s and recorded on authentic vintage equipment, was delightfully lush, romantic and dancey. Friends of Saadiq such as Q-Tip, Pharoahe Monch, Nile Rodgers and Nelson George all stopped by to show their support too. Read our story about the entire evening, peep the photos, and get excited for Saadiq’s newest joint.

• John Legend has been hard at work, finishing up a new album due out in September and as of yet unnamed. Read this article where Legend describes his attempt to find a new marketing strategy by seeking “non-traditional” advertising. The first single is slated to be “Green Light” featuring Andre 3000, and the second may be “It’s Over” featuring Kanye West and produced by Pharrell Williams. Peep the preliminary tracklisting at the end of the article.

• Congratulations to LeroyBumpkin, Rebel_Souljah, Nekaybaaw, latchkeykid, Natural Mystic, The Vanguard, Bombastic, johnblaze, thunda and Markiebe who each won TWO tickets to see Janelle Monae in Los Angeles on Tuesday, at the Diddy-hosted Key Club event!

• Not exactly how we want to leave you feeling before going into the weekend, but if you like edgy content and dope music, it doesn’t get much better than the new video from JUSTICE for their song “Stress,” off the † album. This should probably not be considered “work-safe,” or safe in general!

-gingerlynn, shamz & dantana