Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Friday, April 23, 2010
Janelle Monae featuring Big Boi - "Tightrope" (video)
by today's Urban Chameleon contributor Q's Newz
Sheesh!... there was a rapid fire succession of video premieres that I wanted to cover but I simply could not get to them all --- well I could have, but I opted to interact with actual human beings as the week wore on instead. So here I am, a little late, finally getting around to doing a post on the new one from Janelle Monae.
The R&B girls really put it down on the video front last week what with Kelis' Eurodance mysticism, Erykah's controversial naked late night R&B, and Janelle's James Brown-ian funk party all racking up YouTube hits with a quickness. The ladies more than made up for the double disappointment from a pair of dud Usher videos and a weak one from Janet.
"Tightrope" opens with Miz Monae delivering the first verse in her uh, "suite" at the Palace of The Dogs, an asylum where dancing is considered subversive behavior and strictly forbidden. As the video progresses, J. Mo meets up with her similarly hot-footed homies before spending the rest of the clip executing choreography that would make the Godfather of Soul proud. The vid is a rapid-pace mix of retro cool tuxes, naked ankles, and some serious jaw-dropping gliding not only from the crew of spandex-tight dancers, but from Money Monae herself --- was I the last to know that homegirl could put it down like that? Not content to simply be a highly stylized dance performance, the video also features a subplot involving 'Nelley being pursued by two mirror faced grim reapers who apparently want it to be "lights out!" for her and her happy feet.
What's interesting about "Tightrope" is that it looks and feels equally modern as it does authentically retro. Sure there is a definite back in the day vibe about the whole affair, but it doesn't seem as time warp stuck as say, Raphael Saadiq and that whole 60's R&B thing that he has been doing for a couple of albums now. What will be interesting to see is how Janelle's image evolves as this schtick grows old with audiences rather quickly and she runs the risk of pigeonholing herself if she stays with it for too long. In the meantime, she can take pride in one-upping an artist who is supposed to excel at these types of choreography-heavy videos as he is too busy singing about "boobies" and re-hiring the one trick pony lighting director from "Yeah!". Grade: A
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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Erykah Badu bares all in her new video: WINDOW SEAT
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Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The Asian Usher
by today's Urban Chameleon contributor Q'sNewz
I know it's been weighing heavily on your mind and you can't sleep cuz you don't have the answer: "Gee golly, does Korea have its very own version of Usher? I wonder..." Well, your sleepless nights are over cuz I've come with answers, my friends. Read on...
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The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c He's Singin' In Korean Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care reform
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Kanye + Gaga= Controversial Dave La Chapelle Photo Shoot
Urban Chameleon news
And the King Kong image is BLack I mean back. It's like a Black hair movie, every few years one comes out. Remember Lebron and Gisele on the cover of Vogue?
Boy did this bring about some major controversy with Lebron portraying the stereotyped, animalistic black man, white-woman-obsessed beast. However, the difference between Vogue and LaChapelle is that you expect controversy from LaChapelle. If you know LaChapelle's work you would know it kind of wouldn't be a LaChapelle photo if it weren’t provocative and controversial. Now whether or whether not the images are always successful is another question. What do you think?
Personally I would have found it more interesting if Gaga was carrying Kanye...
for more images visit www.lachapellestudio.com
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Saturday, December 12, 2009
Singer Brandy Reemerges As Rapper-Bran' Nu
Urban Chameleon news
Brandy (you know Ray J's sister) is back but as a rapper and calls herself Bran' Nu.
Bran' Nu told MTV that she has been rapping for a while. "I was rapping as a hobby, just something I did for my friends, just played around on videos and stuff like that," she said. She posted some of her videos on YouTube and when Timbaland saw one of them, he immediately called her. "He was like, 'Yo you have to do this. You have to come to the studio next week. We got to really get in and just see how you sound.'" Timbaland was impressed and decided to feature her rapping on his album, and gave her the rap alias, Bran' Nu. Timbaland's stamp of approval is a big deal.
read full article and watch Bran'Nu perform with Timbaland at yahoo.com
see below Brandy rapping before she became Bran' Nu
click here for: How the Urban Chameleon Came to be
Brandy (you know Ray J's sister) is back but as a rapper and calls herself Bran' Nu.
Bran' Nu told MTV that she has been rapping for a while. "I was rapping as a hobby, just something I did for my friends, just played around on videos and stuff like that," she said. She posted some of her videos on YouTube and when Timbaland saw one of them, he immediately called her. "He was like, 'Yo you have to do this. You have to come to the studio next week. We got to really get in and just see how you sound.'" Timbaland was impressed and decided to feature her rapping on his album, and gave her the rap alias, Bran' Nu. Timbaland's stamp of approval is a big deal.read full article and watch Bran'Nu perform with Timbaland at yahoo.com
see below Brandy rapping before she became Bran' Nu
click here for: How the Urban Chameleon Came to be
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
New Hip Hop Musical with Run DMC
Urban Chameleon news
PAULA WAGNER is a producer you might recognize because she did the "Mission: Impossible" movies and other Tom Cruise hits such as "The Last Samurai" and "Vanilla Sky."
PAULA WAGNER is a producer you might recognize because she did the "Mission: Impossible" movies and other Tom Cruise hits such as "The Last Samurai" and "Vanilla Sky."Now she is announcing a new original musical with hip-hop legend Run-DMC.
Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels are meeting with Paula this week in New York to observe other musical offerings on Broadway. Their inspirational story of their rise is a compelling and dramatic journey and Paula's new Chestnut Ridge Productions will oversee it.
She says Run-DMC was the first rap act to cross over and influence American music. The story of Simmons, McDaniels and their musical partner Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell (who was murdered in 2002) will be told in a unique manner.
Paula says, "I feel their story lends itself perfectly to the stage. This project has been a passion of mine for some time and I couldn't be more thrilled to be working with them."
Monday, October 5, 2009
Soul Toons
Urban Chameleon moment
Happy Monday. Sometimes you just need to start the week off with some Soul Toons to really get it going. What a talented dude.
Check out more of DeStorm's videos
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Happy Monday. Sometimes you just need to start the week off with some Soul Toons to really get it going. What a talented dude.
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Sunday, August 30, 2009
Jay Z on Bill Maher
Urban Chameleon news
Who isn't a fan of Jay Z? Bill Maher certainly is and chops it up with the ROC in one of his very few television appearances.
Since HBO has had the video removed off line I've had to search for pieces over the internet.
click here for more of the "piece"
Who isn't a fan of Jay Z? Bill Maher certainly is and chops it up with the ROC in one of his very few television appearances.
Since HBO has had the video removed off line I've had to search for pieces over the internet.
click here for more of the "piece"
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
'Soul Train' Coming to the Big Screen
Urban Chameleon news
Warner Bros. has hired Malcolm Spellman to write a feature based on the classic TV show "Soul Train."
full article here
Warner Bros. has hired Malcolm Spellman to write a feature based on the classic TV show "Soul Train."Darryl Porter and Aaron Geller of Porter/Geller Prods. will produce with Don Cornelius, the host and producer of the famed show, which ran from 1971-2006.
Spellman said that he's writing a film set in the 1980s.
"All of the hip-hop street dances you see today were born during that time period and were first seen on that show, and I remember doing all of them when I was a kid,"full article here
Whitney Houston says "Don't Call it a Comeback!"
Urban Chameleon news
Whitney Houston's voice, emotion lift new 'I Look to You'
By Steve Jones, USA TODAY
Near the end of her new album, I Look to You (* * * ½ out of four), Whitney Houstondeclares, "Don't call it a comeback/I've been here for years." She certainly sounds strong, confident and ready for the well-orchestrated return that has been building for months and fully equipped to dispel lingering concerns that she no longer has the pipes.
full article here
Whitney Houston's voice, emotion lift new 'I Look to You'By Steve Jones, USA TODAY
Near the end of her new album, I Look to You (* * * ½ out of four), Whitney Houstondeclares, "Don't call it a comeback/I've been here for years." She certainly sounds strong, confident and ready for the well-orchestrated return that has been building for months and fully equipped to dispel lingering concerns that she no longer has the pipes.
full article here
Chico DeBarge is BACK! Lawdamercy
Urban Chameleon news
Were you aware that Chico DeBarge had new album?
Now I recently realized that not everyone is put on to Motown’s Debarge’s younger brother Chico but he damn sure had me in college at Carnegie Mellon University with his third album Long Time No See, back when I used to think brotha’s coming out of jail was sexy. All that to say his new album Addiction has me again.
Between him and Barack, light skin'ded brotha’s are making a come back!Listen to samples here
Were you aware that Chico DeBarge had new album?Now I recently realized that not everyone is put on to Motown’s Debarge’s younger brother Chico but he damn sure had me in college at Carnegie Mellon University with his third album Long Time No See, back when I used to think brotha’s coming out of jail was sexy. All that to say his new album Addiction has me again.
Between him and Barack, light skin'ded brotha’s are making a come back!Listen to samples here
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Southwest Airline Flight Attendant Feels the Need to Bust a Rhyme
Peep how this Southwest flight attendant flipped it on the aircraft real quick
P.S. I just love the audience participation. An Urban Chameleon moment? I'll say so
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P.S. I just love the audience participation. An Urban Chameleon moment? I'll say so
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Monday, August 3, 2009
Time Out...Lil Wayne Whips it Like a Slave?
Yes you heard me right and speaking of which we've gone toooooooooooooooo far left I'm turning right. Palin 2012. SIKE! But seriously has Lil Wayne actually released a song called "Whip it like a slave" actually using Kunta Kenta as a metaphor? I can't... I just can't.
What is wrong with the young Black youth?
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What is wrong with the young Black youth?
Have your Urban Chameleon story featured by e-mailing tickles.tv@gmail.com
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Monday, July 13, 2009
Yearning For Good Music to Chill Out to and that Brings Ya Back?
Kenzo Digital, the creator of CITY OF GOD SON, which if you haven't already checked out this one of kind creation, a sound movie, starring Jay Z, Ghostface, Nas and Biggie- ya late! and must click this link first:
www.cityofgodson.com
Once you've done this you can download his latest mixtape that resurrects the meaning of good music putting you in a time machine for 2hrs to indulge in pure and authentic chilaxness.
www.cityofgodson.com
Once you've done this you can download his latest mixtape that resurrects the meaning of good music putting you in a time machine for 2hrs to indulge in pure and authentic chilaxness.
01 Nasty You - Sa-Ra
02 Say Goodbye To Love - Kenna
03 Lately [Sa-Ra Remix] - Sa Ra
04 Everbody [Feat. Kanye West & André 3000] - Fonzworth Bently
05 Ladies Sing - Sa-Ra Creative Partners
06 Gangsta Lean - Clipse
07 1nce Again - A Tribe Called Quest featuring Tammy Lucas
08 Footprints - A Tribe Called Quest
09 For My Peeps [with Red Hot Lover Tone, Notorious B.I.G.] [Remix]
10 Keep The Beat - Eric B. & Rakim
11 Life Is Like A Dice Game [Vocal]
12 Stress [Extra P Mix] - Organized Confusion
13 Mecca And The Soul Brothers - C.L. Smooth & Pete Rock
14 Wake Up
15 Gimme Yours [Remix] - AZ
16 One Plus One
17 I’ll Make U Famous [Remix] - Da Youngsta’s Illy Funkstas
18 Computer Love - Ghostface Killah
19 The Essence [Feat. Nas] [Remix]
20 Don’t Disturb This Groove - The System
21 Elevate Our Minds
22 [Soul Track]
23 Buttaflybeat - Koushik
24 Call My Name - Joe Bataan
25 Can We Try Love Again - Kool Blues
26 Can’t Hide Love [Live] - D’Angelo
27 [Soul Track 2]
28 Sweet Tears - Roy Ayers Ubiquity
29 Is That Enough
30 Black Cinderella - The Pharcyde
31 She Said - Sister Carol
click here to access link to download
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Friday, July 3, 2009
The Migraine Skank
by today's Urban Chameleon contributor
Yesterday I took my friend’s Hip Hop dance class. I was the only Black girl in the class. All the other participants where white girls who you could tell had spent hours in front of the mirror at home trying on different clothes to capture their inner b-girl swagger. Hats were tilted to the side and pants were baggy with one leg rolled up. My friend the teacher warmed us up with everything to chest isolations, head bops to the booty shake. It felt strange putting it all to an eight count but that’s today’s Hip Hop. I busted out laughing when my friend in attempt to have these girls “feel” it equated it to vibing out at a reggae club with Buju Banton. The white girls stood in utter confusion.
However, I was put on to the latest Euro craze “The Migraine Skank,” which is what the combination was to. I love it, just at the club with a migraine skanking it out.
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Yesterday I took my friend’s Hip Hop dance class. I was the only Black girl in the class. All the other participants where white girls who you could tell had spent hours in front of the mirror at home trying on different clothes to capture their inner b-girl swagger. Hats were tilted to the side and pants were baggy with one leg rolled up. My friend the teacher warmed us up with everything to chest isolations, head bops to the booty shake. It felt strange putting it all to an eight count but that’s today’s Hip Hop. I busted out laughing when my friend in attempt to have these girls “feel” it equated it to vibing out at a reggae club with Buju Banton. The white girls stood in utter confusion.
However, I was put on to the latest Euro craze “The Migraine Skank,” which is what the combination was to. I love it, just at the club with a migraine skanking it out.
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Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Hip Hop IS Officially Dead
by today's Urban Chameleon contributor
Between watching the BET awards and the downfall of Vibe Magazine it’s confirmed for me that Hip Hop is officially over but I guess naturally it would be. If you think about it Hip Hop was always a catch 22. The rhyming used to be about getting out the ‘hood and legitimately so! But once we got out the ‘hood we have not looked back. With mainstream success we now brag about how many cars, houses, gold chains, yachts, and b*tches we have with thick thighs and fat asses over variations of Kanye and Timbaland beats. Could we have ever known the detriments of being out for self would be so discombobulating for the community? I mean this game did just start out trying to put food on the table and talk to the young Black youth.
“Remember Rappin' Duke, duh-ha, duh-ha
You never thought that hip hop would take it this far”
No we di’ in’t. The irony is that the ‘hood hasn’t changed. Same shit that was going on then is still goes on now. But you would never know for as soon as Hip Hop became a business that the rest of the world bought into why wouldn’t you get that money?
I just feel badly for children whose parents have left them with today’s rap icons as their only role models- role models who just aren’t equipped to be role models. We are a society that glamorizes and glorifies nothing but wealth so I wonder what kind of leaders the young generation will grow up to be when “this” is what defines character for them. ‘Cause we all know if the wealthy tells us to stomp that ho’ we… gonna stomp that ho’.
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PLEASE NOMINATE US FOR ALL FOUR CATEGORIES!!!
Between watching the BET awards and the downfall of Vibe Magazine it’s confirmed for me that Hip Hop is officially over but I guess naturally it would be. If you think about it Hip Hop was always a catch 22. The rhyming used to be about getting out the ‘hood and legitimately so! But once we got out the ‘hood we have not looked back. With mainstream success we now brag about how many cars, houses, gold chains, yachts, and b*tches we have with thick thighs and fat asses over variations of Kanye and Timbaland beats. Could we have ever known the detriments of being out for self would be so discombobulating for the community? I mean this game did just start out trying to put food on the table and talk to the young Black youth.
“Remember Rappin' Duke, duh-ha, duh-ha
You never thought that hip hop would take it this far”
No we di’ in’t. The irony is that the ‘hood hasn’t changed. Same shit that was going on then is still goes on now. But you would never know for as soon as Hip Hop became a business that the rest of the world bought into why wouldn’t you get that money?
I just feel badly for children whose parents have left them with today’s rap icons as their only role models- role models who just aren’t equipped to be role models. We are a society that glamorizes and glorifies nothing but wealth so I wonder what kind of leaders the young generation will grow up to be when “this” is what defines character for them. ‘Cause we all know if the wealthy tells us to stomp that ho’ we… gonna stomp that ho’.
Have your Urban Chameleon story featured by e-mailing tickles.tv@gmail.com
click here for: How The Urban Chameleon Came To Be
PLEASE NOMINATE US FOR ALL FOUR CATEGORIES!!!
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