Condolences to the Bilal Family

If you have been a listener of "Out the Box" at any time, you have no doubt hear the music of Mohammed Bilal (who was also a guest on the show). We offer our condolences to Mohammed and his family who are grieving the loss of Mohammed's father, Baba Rafiq, a huge figure in the Bay Area's arts scene.

Please find a note from the Bilal Family below.

All, For those of you who are hearing about this for the first time, Baba Rafiq has been in the hospital (ICU) for almost a month due to his heart condition. Rafiq's physical body is giving way. He will join the spirit world soon. For those who don’t remember, Rafiq is a pillar of the Bay Area community. With the Upper Room, he provided a space for young people to gather and explore arts, activism, and social justice. Many of the our greatest artists got their start and/or were shaped at the Upper Room- Goapele, Martin Luther, Saul Williams, Mohammed Bilal, Kimiko Joy, Will Power, Midnight Voices, Michael Franti, Ledisi, Heiro, Robert Henry Jonhson, Housing Authority, etc. Mind Motion was spinning at the Upper Room years before being on KMEL.

Now, Rafiq’s family needs your help to cover his funeral and burial costs of $5000. So far, we have raised $890. Anything that you can donate from $10 on is welcomed. We have also set up a PayPal account where folks can make a direct deposit--

https://www.paypal.com/us/cmd=_prq&id=NycORpWSuOlDw5RKkF4r6q7osFgcNqYzJgrzcA

We know that there are people all over the country that would like to pay their respect. So, in a couple of months, we will be hosting a celebration—an Upper Room Reunion. It will be in the Bay Area, in memory of Rafiq (it was one of his last wishes).

We will keep you posted. Please forward this email to others who know Rafiq and feel free to email me with any questions or contact Mohammed by cell @323.481.2144.

Graceful movement,
The Bilal Family

CD Review: Labelle: Back to Now

Well, it's been promised for a long time, but Labelle is finally back.

As a teenager, I discovered Labelle after seeing Patti in concert for the first time. As a crate digger from the cradle, I went to a used record store and bought "Chameleon", an album that would revolutionize my perspectives on all things spiritual, sexual and political. I quickly bought their discography and immersed myself in work that is as highly (if not MORE) relevant today as it was back then.

During an interview with Sarah Dash last year, she told me that Labelle reunion was actually happening...and here we are with the album in hand.

It would be idiotic to expect Labelle to pick up where they left off in 1977. They have had 30 years apart to grow and expand their individual identities. Patti has led an iconic solo career, Nona has pioneered as a singer/songwriter/producer in numerous genres and no one has made the clubs jump more than Sarah has. So how do they return "back to now"?

Well, there's a fusion of their three individual styles, an inclusion of producers (Lenny Kravitz, Gamble & Huff and Wyclef Jean) with a knack for blending nostalgia with a contemporary glint, a lyrical approach that continues to ask provoking questions about relationships, politics and culture and the mainstay throughout are the magical harmonies than only Labelle can lay down.

While Wyclef Jean produced the first single, "Roll Out", it is the Lenny Kravitz productions that most capture the Labelle fire. "Candlelight" and "Superlover" could easily be placed between any song on "Nightbirds" and you'd never notice the difference. My personal favorite, however, is the Nona Hendryx composition "System" (which was originally intended for whatever their 1978 album would have been). "System" is chillingly poignant considering that it was written almost 30 years ago...and feels as if it were written for this generation...but I guess, like all prophetic work, it was.

"Dear Rosa", produced by Hendryx", is another stand-out track: the one that actually sparked the inspiration for this project. The Labelle blend is in full effect...and it is one of the few tracks where Sarah Dash is a little hotter in the mix, and one is reminded of how essential her contribution is to the group.

Nona steps to the mike in "The Truth Will Set You Free", a gospel/rock track, that should most certainly be one of the singles issued to radio from the project.

The album closes with a 1970 recording of the group doing Cole Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets" that is nothing short of chill-bump raising: an interesting way to close this reunion project...a reminder of how Labelle got here...and how, underneath it all, the group maintains it's status as legend.

If I had to criticize anything, it would be that I wish Sarah Dash had been given more time on the mike...and that I wish there had been one more Nona Hendryx production. Aside from that, I have to say that I hope there is another Labelle album in the works...Kudos to Verve Records for bringing us this monumental album.

Teena Marie: De Ja Vu

We've had much to say about Teena Marie's work on this blogspot. She is undoubtedly one of the most underrated artists of our time, yet her following continues to grow...and more and more people find out about...and herald...her work.

This video clip from her performance at BB King's in NYC this past weekend proves why. She is an artist still in her prime who is at ease with her legendary status...and she lives in the spirit of her music...and it is pure beauty.

Terrence Howard: Shine Through It

I know this album has gotten mixed reviews, however, I don't see how anyone could miss the beauty in it. In my book, "Shine Through It" is one of the Top 10, if not THE release of the year. It is a daring exploration of roots oriented music and poetry...and one of the most honest, introspective works I've heard from any artist in quite some time. What makes it even more daring is that it is coming from an artist who could have made a blockbuster album...and instead, chose to follow his muse. Kudos to Terrence Howard.

We're Back...

Well, sort of.

It's been an interesting hiatus: re-evaluating what OTB is...and what it has been about since it's inception of November of 2006.

The podcast still lives...at times...but I thought it was important to bring it back as we approach the most important election of my generation. As an artist, there couldn't be a more crucial time to use our platform and our voice.

So...here we are. Be sure to download my interview with my friend and comrade Patsy Moore...and be sure to check our Q&A as well.

More articles and commentary will be forthcoming.

Tim

WE REMEMBER: VINCE EBO

A great voice...gone far too soon. We miss you Vince.

Flashback: Yoko Ono: Hell In Paradise

CD Review: Mid-One: Heaven Send A Synthesizer

I had the opportunity to virtually meet Mid-One through a collaboration with Tim'm West that they had been working on called "You Tell Me" (which will finally be released on Tim'm's forthcoming release). Mid-One had created the track, sung the hook and recorded the first verse for the tune and I was blown away by his lyrical depth, delivery as an MC...and his sanging (yes, sanging) ability.

So...when I got his new release, Heaven Send a Synthesizer, I knew I was in for a treat.

Mid-One has a knack for creating music with significance...with hooks that stay with you, which is what makes for incredibly memorable music. The production is experimental, yet incredibly viable with anything you hear on the radio.

There's not a track to skip on this project...My personal favorite is "Easy Come, Easy Go", but trust that they are all gems.

I'm looking forward to a full length from him...but in the meantime, click here to purchase.

Ledisi Covers Teena Marie

We're back. Some idiots reported this site as a spam site, which prevented us from posting for a few days. May the Goddess bless you...whoever you are! We include even YOU!

CD Review: Yoko Ono: Yes, I'm A Witch

Her name elicits the most volatile reactions. Say Yoko Ono and watch people wince, grab their ears, roll their eyes, and make any number of facial expressions depicting pain. I was one of them...and when I sat down and thought about it, beyond "Walking On Thin Ice", I'd never really sat down and listened.

So, in one of my whimsical moments, I purchased Yes, I'm A Witch, a reinvention project of sorts, that features remixes of 18 songs from her 30+ year career as an artist.

And I could not have been any more blown away by a project.

Listen, I'm not saying Yoko Ono has the vocal skill of a songstress, but hey...neither does Mary J. Blige and people love her. What Yoko Ono does possess is artistic vision and a knack for painting pictures with words and sounds.

What Yes, I'm A Witch does is show those of us from another generation exactly how timeless this work really has been.

You will hear it all on this project. Hip-hop, go-go, 60s techno rock, jazz fusion, experimental, cabaret: a brilliant compilation of sounds produced by people given simple acapella vocals of Yoko's work...Yoko expressing as she felt it...and the producers interpreting what they felt while listening.

If you've never listened to the work of Yoko Ono, this is a GREAT place to start. I promise it will make you hungry for more.
Dynamite cuts: "Kiss, Kiss, Kiss", "Revelations", "Sisters O Sister" and "O'Oh"