(Above: Damian Marley and Nas perform at the Beaumont Club in Kansas City, Mo. on June 26, 2009.) By Joel Francis The Daily Record When the rapper Nas and reggae artist Damian Marley, youngest son of Bob Marley, first teamed up five years ago, the result was solid, but not spectacular. “Road to Zion” was [...]
Posts Tagged ‘hip hop’
Nas and Damian Marley – “Distant Relatives”
Posted in Album review, tagged Afrika Bambaataa, Amadou and Miriam, Bob Marley, Chuck D, Damian Marley, Distant Relatives, Fugees, Gang Starr, Guru, hip hop, Joss Stone, K'Naan, KRS-One, Lauryn Hill, Lil Wayne, Nas, Public Enemy, reggae, Road to Zion, Run-DMC, Shabba Ranks, Sly and Robbie, Stephen Marley, The Roots, Welcome to Jamrock, Yellowman on June 4, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Review: Lupe Fiasco
Posted in Concert review, Kansas City Star, tagged Chicago rappers, Hearts of Darkness, hip hop, Kick Push, Les Izmore, Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D., Neptunes, Radiohead, Touch the Sky, Windy City on April 21, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
(Above: “Shining Down” was one of several new songs Lupe Fiasco performed at his recent concert at the Midland Theater in Kansas City, Mo.) By Joel Francis The Kansas City Star Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco’s Kansas City debut promised to touch the sky, but left many fans hanging in midair. While Fiasco’s 65-minute set was [...]
Reggae, rock, hip-hop, pop: It’s all Michael Franti
Posted in band feature, Cover story, Kansas City Star, tagged Arrowhead Stadium, Bono, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, hip hop, John Mayer, Michael Franti, political music, reggae, Say Hey I Love You, Sly and Robbie, Spearhead, U2, William S. Burroughs, world travel, Zoo TV on March 22, 2010 | 1 Comment »
(Above: Released last summer, “Say Hey (I Love You)” is the biggest hit in Michael Franti and Spearhead’s 16-year career.) By Joel Francis The Kansas City Star Michael Franti’s first trip beyond the borders of the United States came when his family spent a year in Canada. Seeing his homeland from the outside opened his [...]
Professor Griff discusses the past – and future – of Public Enemy
Posted in band feature, tagged Asher Roth, Bomb Squad, Can-I-Bus, Chuck D, Dead Prez, Flavor Flav, hip hop, Immortal Technique, Jermaine Dupri, KRS-One, Nelly, Professor Griff, Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine, rap music, Snoop Dogg, Spectrum City, Terminator X, The Roots, Wize Intelligent on January 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
(Above: The title says it all: “Professor Griff drops knowledge.”) By Joel Francis The Daily Record Onstage, Professor Griff, minister of information for the veteran rap group Public Enemy, rarely smiles. Griff rarely takes center stage, but sets the tone of the show by marshalling the S1Ws, Public Enemy’s uniformed faux-security force, through their militant [...]
Review Roundup – Rakim, Dodos, Naomi Shelton, Blakroc and Daptone Gold
Posted in Album review, tagged A Tribe Called Quest, Antibalas, Bettye LaVette, Black Keys, Charles Bradley, Damon Dash, Daptone Records, Dodos, Dr. Dre, Eric B and Rakim, gospel, hip hop, indie rock, Jay-Z, Lee Fields, Lou Rawls, Ludacris, Menahan Street Band, Mos Def, Naomi Shelton, Otis Redding, Pharoahe Monch, Q-Tip, Rakim, Roc-a-fella, Sam Cooke, Sharon Jones, soul music, The Shins, Vampire Weekend, Wilson Pickett, world music, Wu-Tang Clan on January 25, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
(Above: The title song from Naomi Shelton’s debut album.) By Joel Francis The Daily Record The first month of 2010 is almost in the history books. Fortunately, there’s still time to take one last look at some overlooked releases from the final quarter of 2009. The Dodos – “Time to Die” The Dodos third album [...]
KC’s MCs throw down this weekend
Posted in Kansas City music scene, Kansas City Star, tagged 8 Mile, Back To Rockville, battle mc, freestyle, Hearts of Darkness, hip hop, Kartoon, Les Izmore, mc battle, Vertigone on January 22, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
(Above: Supernatural takes on Juice in one of the most famous MC battles of all time.) By Joel Francis The Kansas City Star Practice is vital but when it comes to rapping, nothing improves skills like a live, trial-by-fire MC battle. This weekend, several rappers will have a chance to compete for money. The third [...]
Open wide for Mouth
Posted in band feature, Kansas City music scene, tagged Adrian Belew, Bootsy Collins, David Rizer, Everette DeVan, Heat Index, hip hop, Jaco Pastorius, James Jamerson, jazz, Jeremy Anderson, King Crimson, local music scene, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Mouth, Phantom, progressive rock, Reach, Return to Forever, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Steely Dan, Stephen Gunn, Wakarusa Music Festival, Zach Rizer on January 15, 2010 | 7 Comments »
(Above: Mouth gets “Gnarly” at the Jackpot Saloon.) By Joel Francis The Daily Record Fans wanting to pigeonhole Mouth’s music, do so at their own risk. The three-piece Kansas City band combines elements of funk, jazz, pop, hip hop, electronica and progressive rock in their unique, dance-friendly instrumental songs. “People have tried to make us [...]
Review: Snoop Dogg with Method Man and Redman
Posted in Concert review, Kansas City Star, tagged '90s rap, Back To Rockville, Death Row Records, Devin the Dude, Dr. Dre, gansta rap, Gin and Juice, hip hop, Lady of Rage, Method Man, Redman, Snoop Dogg, Wu-Tang Clan on November 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
(Above: Snoop Dogg performs a medley of old hits on Nov. 6 at Harrah’s Voodoo Lounge in Kansas City, Mo.) By Joel Francis The Kansas City Star The revue that brought rappers Snoop Dogg, Method Man and Redman to the Voodoo Lounge on Friday was called the “Wonderland High School Tour.” The promoters should have [...]
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