News

What The Vortex?, RCMH Tonight, Pharoahe’s “Healer” Remix Live, N.E.R.D.spazzim, P.O.R.N. + Peedi Crakk, Ask Bilal, New Skillz Mixtape, & More.

• As the Erykah Badu “Vortex Tour” featuring The Roots rolls on, the whole clan heads into NYC today to play at the historic Radio City Music Hall. OKPs, jump in the roll call post as well as after party options. WTF? is a vortex anyway, you ask? According to Erykah, the definition of Vortex is as follows:

Vortex (pl. vortices) - 1. A geophysical concentration of subtle energy emanating from the earth; 2. The manifestation of Baduistical energy experienced live in concert.

Above is the latest masterpiece from EMEK Studios which will be available for purchase as both t-shirts and posters at the concerts and online. Per Erykah’s previous tour posters, these limited edition prints will he highly sought after.

• Speaking of Ms. Badu, we have a clip of Pharoahe Monch paying respect to her from our boards. Wednesday night at SOB’s in NYC Monch spit a tight verse over Badu and Madlib’s “The Healer” beat.

• Ever since seeing that Zune commercial with a N.E.R.D. song playing in the background I’ve been trying to get my hands on it. Well the song has finally leaked. It’s called “Spazz” and it’s hard as hell. Previously, the live performance of the song from Levi’s/Fader Fort at SXSW. N.E.R.D.’s album Seeing Sounds is set to drop in late June.

• Staying with the rock vibe, get a sneak listen of a rough track from P.O.R.N. and Peedi Crakk called “Rock Wit Me” compliments of us via our friends at 2dopeboyz. They also posted more of those photos from The Boom Room (check your Roots liner notes) taken by Ryan Collerd. Be sure to check out our exclusive interview with Roots Crew affiliates P.O.R.N. and Truck North.

• All of you Bilal fans out there (which should be everyone), this is your chance to get those unanswered questions you have about him answered. OKP board member sopi is about to interview Bilal and is asking for your help to come up with questions for this interview. So log on and help a fellow OKP out.

• Skillz hit us up last night saying he was going to make his new mixtape available for free download on his blog at some point today. Look out for that. Also, stay tuned for the brand new custom blog theme for Skillz, El-P, and more. ?uesto’s blog will be added next week.

• An interesting topic was brought up on the boards by Phonte as he addressed the issue of female artists often being objectified for their bodies and not being judged on the merit of their music. ‘Tay seems to take the side that “good music is good music” and there is no need for female artists “sell your a$$ to sell records.” He gets a little deeper than that so check the boards for the full story and discuss.

• Time is running out for you to enter TheSmokingSection’s “Proof Of Purchase” contest for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the OkayStore.

• Read OKP veteran aoxomoxoa’s account of his experience at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday for both the 7th Annual Jammy Awards and the Heart Of The City tour with Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z. Feel free to leave remarks here.

-shamz & dantana