Mos Def with Video

Thanks to Chago aka Chug-a-lugs aka Sam.i.am, I bring you video of the aforementioned Mos Def single Casa Bey.

Mos Def, It's a New Joint!!

Thanks to the kind folks at Flavorpill via RcrdLbl, I just got a sneak peek at Mos Def's new song Casa Bey.

I'm still digesting it, but take a listen and let us know what you think. Caveat - it's audio only. Sorry video junkies, just pretend the foto is moving and rhyming.

I've Been Very, Very Naughty! NSFW

Nearly a year it's been since I last dedicated a keystroke to Rebel Music. In that time there's been so many rebels and so much music that I haven't shared with you...I think I should be spanked!

For lack of the proper venue and a really good safe word, I give you Spankrock which consists of MC Spankrock, rapper-singer Amanda Blank and a cadre of producers. Spankrock is outta Philadelphia, has toured and performed with the likes of MIA and Santogold (my faves!!). I think the MC, Naeem Juwan, is from Baltimore (go Bmore careful!) and is a member of the BBC, Baltimore Bass Connection, if that still exists. If he pronounces the word you as "yew," it's for sure. Not so new on the scene, Spankrock's been around the block in more ways than you can imagine for a few years now. I first came across them a while ago and was taken aback by one of their more racy videos...you know I've got delicate sensibilities. I give you said video for "Loose" right about now!!

The Beautiful Things in Life Are Free-Sigur Ros

I've recently taken up with a partner to produce our own vision of what film should look like as fresh juice*strong coffee media. We've been running around working ourselves silly in production of a documentary and in pre-production of a commercial spec. On top of all that, I was recently awarded a grant to work on yet another documentary with another collaborator/friend of mine (YAY!). While I love to be busy and feel validated, there are only so many hours in a day and just the other morning I awoke to a battered body that felt as if it had been through a meat grinder. Stress levels are high and the hours for rest have been low.

As a result, I'm just that much more jaded, my patience just a bit thinner so when I received an email with a link to the new Sigur Ros video Gobbledigook I had no other choice but to stop and think. Sigur Ros out of Iceland proves that surreal, ethereal music still exists in this loud, obnoxious, power hungry world. Maybe it’s too much so for some, but everyone needs a bit of this from time to time. I know I sure did.

This video for the song Svefn-G-Englar is from an older album. There aren’t any hot models, it’s just people who normally wouldn’t get a second look presented beautifully. They remind us that no matter how fast the world seems to be spinning things aren’t so bad and that even if you don’t have the money, the house, the car, the looks, the boy or the girl, joy is within your reach if you want it.

A Reefur Smoking Pooch? No, it's Collie Buddz!

To be honest when I first heard about this cat I had to ask a couple times. Quite a name for a kid born Colin Harper in Nawlins (for the uninitiated, it's New Orleans), Louisiana. He was raised in Bermuda and apparently the Caribbean breezes seeped into his system because he is currently causing a sensation on the reggae scene.

I looked him up and his music is part roots and part dancehall meaning some of his songs are either one or the other. Like Matisyahu or the more rootsy Soldiers of Jah Army (more about them in an upcoming post), some folks may be a bit put-off by a white boy performing reggae, but at least he does the genre some justice. Did I mention he's also pretty hot? Here's Come Around off his eponymous album, Collie Buddz.

This one's for you, January!

Hmm...What to Say about Janelle Monae

Sometimes I come across artists with great promise, artists whose music I may really enjoy, but there's something about them that just doesn't quite jibe. Such is the case with newbie Janelle Monae. It's hard to articulate what it is, that thing. Take for example, the fact that she's got the support of Outkast's Big Boi (yay!!). She's also got the backing of Sean P-Doody Combs (boo!!).

She's out of Atlanta and has been featured on Outkast's soundtrack for their 2006 film Idlewild. Though her movements come across as self-conscious and stilted, she's got a great voice and interesting styling. I like the idea of her, but somehow the package as a whole doesn't sit well with me. Here are Voilet Stars, Happy Hunting! (not the official video, obvs) and her performance of Sincerely Jane which reflect this dichotomy. What do you think?

Wanna Fite??

Today was my day off so I watched quite a bit of Current TV which makes me pretty happy when it's not depressing the crap outta me. In addition to my eye-opening experience with Roots Manuva, I came across a strange little pod about this Brooklyn-based musician named Tim Fite. His music is quite a mish mash of influences and his videos feature his quirky artwork. I can't really say too much more about him other than see for yourself and make up your own mind.