September 2007 Archives
Eric Roberson Live Part II
Eric Roberson at SOB's (9.25.07)
Eric Roberson Live
Eric Roberson at the Temple Bar, Los Angeles (9.6.07)
What Not to Watch: The War
15 hours of World War II documentary and no Latino faces to represent the estimated half a million who served in that great war. This was and continues to be the concern of Latino activists with Ken Burns' new documentary, The War.
Everything But the Burden: Appropriating Amy Winehouse Strikes Again
My best friend hasn't listenened to a note of Amy Winehouse for unease at her freewheeling Black iconographical abuse. I, long charmed by the voice, tried not to pay her egregiousness much mind but this photo shoot has jolted me from my self-sedated stupor. Winehouse has traded in blackness since America was introduced to her on, Back to Black, which was good, very good, but NOT novel just 90's Lauryn Hill with cynicism, exceptional self-awareness, deprecation, and whiteness (ding! ding! ding!) standing in for righteous Black earth motherhood. Winehouse seems determined to be interred ASAP but that doesn't give her a pass. Check the styling and, non-Blacks, take note to how you too can accessorize yourself with Blackness and fast track yourself to stardom. I think another viewing of Bamboozled is in order.
Jay-Z: Infantilized Player
According to the Grey Lady, Shawn Carter will continue to do what he does best, that is, instantiate ignorance through deftly spun yarns of selling yayo buttressed by his mythologized and much drawn upon Bed-stuy biography and swallowed whole thanks to an Ace of Spades overtopped Riedel flute of cultural currency. Fake is indeed the new real.
Brother Jacques: Bringing Gwoka Back
Saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart, former D'Angelo and Roy Hargrove sideman
Old to the New
Renee Neufville with her parents after the BAMcafé show (9.14.07)
Renee Neufville, the dark skinned half of nineties R&B duo Zhané, looks to be launching a comeback (as is her light skinned counterpart Jean Baylor). After a successful spell with the Roy Hargrove soul/funk outfit, RH Factor, Neufville has been hard at work on new material, which she debuted at at free show last Friday in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
Mya's New Joint is Decidely not Jumpin'
"Ridin'" - Mya (2007)
Live from Bedford-Stuyvesant: Black Rock Invades Restoration Plaza
Yohimbe Sampson of G*A*M*E* Rebellion at Restoration Plaza (9.15.07)
Chucklin'
The Onion does it again...
The other day my evening commute was a tad less taxing. Having secured a seat without bowing elderlies or blocking out pregnant ladies, NYC style, I had piece of mind and, thanks to the picture and caption at left from the Onion, mirth-a-plenty. The insightful editors over there called to attention Hollywood's reliance on he, of "give us free," for far too many continental Hollywood roles, which still, in my opinion, is better than blacking up already chestnut brown Forest Whitaker or making Danny Glover rehash his trusty South African accent. With all the unemployed or underemployed non-white actors, it doesn't make sense to keep casting the same few industry approved negroes. Let's spread the paucity and try and make some more inroads for thespians to come.
Feeding off the love of the 'land: Stevie Wonder at the Greek Theatre
Stevie Wonder w/ daughter, Aisha Morris, at the Greek Theatre (9.5.07)
