Common recently released his latest project “Black America Again” check out the visual directed by Ava Duvernay.
Ava Duvernay directs short film for Common’s Black America Again
Video
Reply
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Common’s ‘Black America Again’ is Unapologetic Rap
Common at AAHH! Fest – (Photo Credit: Eddy “Precise” Lamarre)
Common has created yet another masterpiece with “Black America Again” The project starts off with a rousing introduction on the song “Joy and Peace “. It sounds like an opening prayer as Bilal’s layered vocals fill the track towards the end. There is a strong political message throughout the project speaking to politicians and citizens to take responsibility for the change that is necessary. Common has not veered away from what has kept him relevant in the industry for over 2 decades. He is a lyricist with a conscious who uses his platform for change.
The song “Black America Again” is an impassioned poem/song that pays respect to Trayvon Martin and any and every injustice that continues to be an issue in the Black community. The song points a finger but it doesn’t absolve anyone of their actions. “We hold these truths to be self evident all men and women are created equal including Black Americans” Stevie Wonders blends in toward of the latter part of the track singing “We are re-writing the Black American story.”
“Love Star” (feat Marsha Ambrosious and PJ) along with “Red Wine” (feat Syd and Elena) give the ladies what they expect from Common. Both songs convey that smooth Chicago vibe that is ever present in his work. “Pyramids” is the song for the emcees, and a few of the verses and acrobatics that you hear in this joint can explain why Common is in many Top 5 discussions. In one verse he spits “Shift the paradigm with a pair a rhymes” That lyric in itself speaks volumes to who Common understands himself to be and what he is here to do.
There is an honesty and authenticity that lives in this project. It’s fluid. Every lyric, drum, horn and interlude is purposeful. It manages to deliver a well needed message without sounding like a sermon. “Black America Again” is Unapologetically Black and undeniably hip hop.
Buy/Listen to ‘Speak Life’ by Precise
Radio legend Herb Kent “The Cool Gent” dies at 88
Precise and Herb Kent “The Cool Gent”
The iconic radio legend Herb Kent passed away in Chicago at the age of 88. Kent’s leendary career has spanned over four decades and his voice has become synonymous with Sunday afternoons in Chicago radio. Herb Kent helped launch the careers of such R&B artists as The Temptations, Minnie Riperton, Curtis Mayfield, and Smokey Robinson. During the turbulent ‘60s, Herb was a prominent voice of Civil Rights era using his broadcast platform. In 1995, Herb was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. His radio home V103 released a statement concerning his passing.
“Herb Kent passed away on Saturday evening. No words can express our great sense of loss. Herb was an iconic talent, who for nearly 70 years entertained millions of listeners in Chicagoland and around the world. His passion for radio and work ethic was second-to-none as Herb worked to the very end, by hosting what unexpectedly was his final V103 broadcast on Saturday morning.
Herb leaves a legacy of thousands of entertainers he helped boost, community causes he impacted, and as a former instructor at Chicago State University, sharing his encyclopedic knowledge with hundreds of students.
We are so thankful for the privilege of working alongside such an historic figure as Herb Kent for the past 27 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with Herb’s family, friends, and loved ones.”
We spoke with radio personality Mike Love of Soul 106.3 in Chicago about what Herb Kent means to Black radio and radio in general.
Mike Love, Herb Kent, George Daniels and Steve Silk Hurley – Photo courtesy of Mike Love
“Losing Herb Kent for us old school radio jocks and fans of old school radio is like losing your favorite artist…Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Prince. He’s absolutely irreplaceble. He was an iconic personality from a time when Black radio was everything to black people. His physical presence will be missed but his influence will live forever. He said.
Buy/Listen to “Speak Life” by Precise
‘Birth of a Nation’ – I walked out feeling everything but happiness
Photo Credit: Instagram @thebirthofanation
Birth of a Nation was not going to be on my list of must see movies. I made a judgement off of emotion and loyalty to the women in my life that I would not go and see it, based on the information that was exposed about the films writer and director Nate Parker. It felt like the right thing to do. A woman committed suicide for many reasons we do not know, but this specific situation had to add to her agony. I feel for her and her family and anyone who is enduring the type of pain that would cause them to take their own life.
Ultimately as the movie moved closer to release I examined my position. I could not allow my emotion from experiencing a film that is so important to who we are. So on the same day that the first Black president was raising funds for the election down the street from Kanye’s Saint Pablo tour I decided to go and see the film with no reservations.
The film begins with a vision, The vision is placed in folklore, religion and ancestry. Nat Turner is destined for the journey that he is on. The film then becomes another slave movie, except this time you know their will be accountability on the part of those unleashing pain and suffering on anyone with Black skin. It happens and I find myself unfulfilled as if it was not enough. Watching interactions with overseers and slaves run parallel to the interactions that Black people are having in 2016. It’s eye opening, sobering and not surprising. I’m not sure what I expected. I left the theatre feeling everything but happiness. As I walked out of the doors of the Chatham theater I felt empty, angry and sad. In the background I hear murmurings of “Look at what our ancestors went through, and we still moving backwards.” The brothers I lock eyes with are speechless. What did we just watch. What are we called to do, who can we trust?
I’m glad I decided to go see the film in spite of the controversy that surrounded it. It shook up a reality inside of me. A reality that must be addressed. What are we willing to die for? Now is the time to straighten out our backs.
Nat Turner should be honored, as a man. A man who decided it was time to do something. Now, what do we do?
-Precise
Please comment below. Let me know what you think.
Buy/Listen to “Speak Life”
Luke Cage is Hip-Hop AF!
Luke Cage – Photo Credit Instagram: @marvel
Luke Cage is a superhero, he is Black and hip-hop AF! Netflix new series is the latest binge worthy show the streaming service has offered up to the masses. Luke Cage was created by Archie Goodwin, John Romita Sr and George Tuska and is published by Marvel comics.
A portrait of a crown wearing Biggie stares ominously in the background as the story unfolds. Each season is named with a title of a song from the legendary group Gang Starr. The score is brought to you by Ali Shaheed Muhammad from A Tribe Called Quest. WuTang’s Bring the Ruckus” plays in the background as Luke Cage follows the instruction of the song.
The birth of Luke Cage and the birth of Hip Hop happen almost simultaneously. The first issue of the comic appeared in 1972. Although hip hop does not have a cemented date of birth it is well known that it was born in the 1970’s in the ghettos of New York City. The marriage of Luke Cage and hip hop makes sense. They grow together in sensibility with the worlds issues at the center of the show. The overarching theme of the series is the unlimited power of the Black man. This is a theme that was skewed with the advent of Blaxplotation films that portrayed criminals in Black skin as heroes of the community, as they peddled drugs, guns and women.
Cage represents the opposite of this and uses his strength to turn the page on the perception of who he is and who the Black Man can be. A few well placed lyrics and cameos strengthen the authenticity of this narrative. One of these cameos (no spoiler) says “There is something powerful about a Black man being bullet proof and unafraid.”
In 2016 as a Black man it would be amazing to be bulletproof considering we are being shot down with no mercy or consequence. The real superpower is developed when we realize this inner strength and move without fear. How will this Black Super Hero affect the mass? I’m not really sure, but it’s good to have the representation. One thing I do know for sure is that Luke Cage is hip-hop AF and it’s dope.
Buy/Listen to “Speak Life”
Jean Grae joins forces with Marvel for Black Panther Soundtrack
Jean Grae a Hip-Hop superhero of sorts has partnered with Marvel and released “What You Came For” The track is epic and is totally fitting for Marvel’s upcoming movie Black Panther written by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Grae sounds inspired over the Quelle Chris produced track. This dynamic duo has been churning out some creative stuff lately. I’m looking forward to see whats next.
Jean had this to say about the collaboration with Marvel “The amount of things recently that have made my heart soar are very minimal. It’s been a traumatic, gut-wrenching time. Getting the call to be a part of this project did make my heart soar. Getting a call from Marvel to do anything should do that, and it does—but it’s Black Panther, and Ta-Nehisi is writing it. I can’t think of any other artistic contribution that I would have wanted to do right now.”
Video – Convenietly Rolling by Koku Gonza
Chicago’s very own singer songwriter Koku Gonza offers up her video for her latest single “Conveniently Rolling”. The video is set inside of the Stony Island Arts Bank. The bank houses the Johnson Publishing Archive that serves as a backdrop for the video. The rhythm is arresting and colorful. The video is vibrant and electric. Press play and enjoy.
Lil Kim Kardashian; Kill White Supremecy
Well it seems like Lil Kim has made her transformation complete. If you scroll Instagram you will see someone who looks like a cousin to the Kardashian Klan. At first glance you may recognize who it is. When it finally sinks in you may find your self sad and confused.
Colorism is a real thing in this world. A 2014 study according to the World Health Organization 77 percent of Nigerian women use skin lightening products in a regular basis.
In countries like India many women are raised to believe that the more fair (white) their skin is the more beautiful they are. This encourages and feeds a billion dollars business.
America is not exempt from this practice with nose jobs and blonde wigs and weave becoming the new norm. TI’s wife Tiny changed her eye color. WOW.
White supremacy has affected the minds of people of color in such a way that many of us don’t even know why we choose what we choose. It’s been burned into our psyches that white is right. As a result we have watched Lil Kim transform into Lil Kim Kardashian.
This is not to make light ( pun intended) of the situation, however we must get real with it. This sickness called white supremacy that afflicts all of us must be cured. Enough is enough and I miss Lil Kim from Junior Mafia.
I LOVE MY SISTERS!!! DONT CHANGE!!
Buy/Listen to “Speak Life”
NEW PRECISE! ‘Speak Life’
This is the lead single from Precise’s upcoming project “Man of the Ages”
Words are powerful. The vibrations that certain words carry can affect the world. Fortunately we can be deliberate and choose our words. We can replace words like hate with love, poverty to prosperity and death to life. This song reminds us to speak life. As artists we have a responsibility to raise the vibration of the universe. So we must be deliberate and speak words of power. SPEAK LIFE!
credits
released November 30, 2015
Produced by: B.Carter
Produced by: B.Carter
Recorded and Mixed at: Bel Air Studio in Chicago
Chicago vs. Chiraq it’s not Spike Lee’s fault
The name Chiraq just kind of popped out of thin air. No one staked claim to it. Based on statistics as it relates to the deaths of soldiers in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it made sense. Chicago, which is compared to Iraq in the popular moniker, has always been riddled with violence. “Chiraq” is not some new phase that is happening because of the youth. It is in the nature of the city; it is in the nature of many cities across America.
When I first heard the term Chiraq, I didn’t like it. I knew what it meant to the city as a whole and what it means to the inner-city more specifically. The term promotes visuals of war, flying bullets, fire, fear and destruction. I was one of the individuals speaking against this moniker because I didn’t want people thinking those types of thoughts about my beloved city. Fast-forward and Chief Keef becomes the newest rap music sensation promoting a new genre of rap music called Drill. Drill comes off as a dark and eerie form of production with tales of murder, drug use and oddly enough celebration (“turnin’ up”). So, the marriage between the terms Chiraq and Drill seems natural, especially with rates of murders and shootings escalating everyday in Chicago. It truly is a war zone, not in the sense that you would say people are fighting for some political end, more in the sense that disenfranchised people and misguided and impoverished youth are at war with who they are with regards to their identity. They don’t know who they are at the core, so the thought of taking the life of someone else seems trivial and almost acceptable until it hits home.
Recently, Chicago’s violence has been especially polarizing. Tyshawn Lee, 9, was lured into an alley on his way to his grandmother’s house and killed. He was shot multiple times in the back and the head. Rumors are circulating that this is the result of something his father did. Tyshawn suffered the consequences. The same day, Kaylyn Pryor an aspiring model was shot and killed near the same neighborhood where Tyshawn was killed. The very next day, Spike Lee dropped the trailer of his newest film, Chi-raq. The internet caught fire. Many thought Spike was making light of the situation in Chicago. Spike has since made a public statement saying that this film is not making light of the current situation in Chicago. He also released an alternative, more serious trailer.
Chi-Raq movie poster – Photo credit: Lionsgate
I had to ask myself a few questions after witnessing all of the uproar directed toward Spike and the lack of action with regards to Tyshawn and Kaylyn. When is it time for us to take responsibility? When is it time for us to remove any thoughts of fear and reclaim our neighborhoods? When do we start exercising economic empowerment? These are real questions and really it’s up to us to make a move. The Black community can no longer point the finger at scapegoats and wait for saviors. It is up to us.
They call the neighborhood I grew up in “The Wild Hundreds.” There is another neighborhood called “Terror Town” and another called “Murder Town.” The list can go on. The point I’m making here is that no “name” is going to make us who we are. We make this choice as to who we are and how we are viewed.
I live in Chicago, affectionately known as Chi-town. Some people know it as Chiraq, because between the years of 2003-2012, 4,265 citizens were killed in Chicago, almost identical to the number of American soldiers who were lost at war during that time. We are at war in Chicago right now. It is a war of social standing, economics and equality. Spike Lee created a movie to shine a light on this battle zone. This battle zone exists, he did not create it, but we can fix it.
Eddy “Precise” Lamarre