Brazilian Graffiti Fire: Pixação by Joao Wainer + Roberto T. Oliveira (Documentary Review)

“Covering buildings throughout São Paulo, pixação is a style of graffiti native to Brazil and known for its simple, angular lines. In this episode of Cool Hunting Video, we tour the city streets with Joao Wainer, photographer and co-director of a documentary on the subject, who fills us in on the culture and history.” –CoolHunting.com

Pixação is a documentary that I first caught up with when it was first screened in Paris in July in 2009 at the Cartier Foundation.  It was later to be showed in October 2009 during the 33^rd International Film Festival in Sao Paulo.  This one hour plus film was directed by Joao Wainer and Roberto T. Oliveira, with commentaries by Wainer and endeavours to decipher the motivation, circumstances and environment of graffistas in Sao Paulo who have developed a unique form of graffiti in Brazil since the 80s: the pixação. Read more

Album Review: Raheem Devaughn – The Love & War Masterpeace

Soul is Passion and Love. Soul is a Message. That is why Soul is Power. That is where Raheem DeVaughn is Soul.  Empowering his third album The Love And War Masterpeace with a dual vision, Raheem pens reality with neo-soul’s ink and takes a firm stance: in our world let there be love, for our world let there be outspoken social awareness.

The team for this LP is flamboyant and numerous, featuring producers Kenny Dope (who produced most of this LP), Ne-Yo, the Stereotypes, Ronnie “Lil Ronnie” Jackson, Ivan “Orthodox” Barias, Carvin “Ransom” Haggins, Big Bob, Symfoniz and Jerry Jukes Vine and spoken interludes as introductions to tracks by the mighty scholar Dr Cornel West.

The featuring artists extend a celestial line-up of R&B, Hip Hop and Raggae suns: Ludacris, Wale, Malik Yusef, Damian Marley. For the gospel soul-stirring track “Nobody Wins A War” no less than Jill Scott, Bilal, Anthony Hamilton, Algerbra, Chrisette Michele,  Shelby Johnsson, Ledisi, Citizen Cope, Dwele, Chico DeBarge and Rudy Currence lend their voices. Read more

José James – Black Magic (Album Review)

Black Magic is José James‘ second album, released on Brownswood Recordings and includes collaborations by an impressive set of out-wordly beat makers such as Flying Lotus, DJ Mitsu the Beats, Benga, Moodyman, BiLo, Taylor McFerrin and remix creatives Simbad and Joy Orbinson, also featuring Jordana De Lovely, a talented up and coming NYC based vocalist and songwriter. Read more

Obituary: Goodbye Teddy Pendergrass (March 26, 1950 – January 13, 2010)

Teddy Pendergrass : March 26, 1950 – January 13, 2010

Theodore DeReese “Teddy” Pendergrass, was born in 1950 – and within a couple of decades was Quiet-ly Storm-ing the air waves and record studios with his deep, refined and raw soulful voice.

It was as a drummer that Teddy Pendergrass started his ascent (with The Cadillacs).  When Melvin offered him to join Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, he became lead singer; they were soon signed with Gamble & Huff records (1972).  From then on, the electrifying magnetism of his voice took us over (‘I Miss You’, ‘Bad Luck’, ‘Wake Up Everybody’, ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’). Read more

Souls Of Mischief – Montezuma’s Revenge (Album Review)

Souls of Mischief are back with an incandescent bluster. Montezuma’s Revenge, released on Hiero and produced by sizzling mighty Prince Paul (De La Soul, Stetsasonic, Tha Gravediggas) – with cover art work by artist Steven Lopez – is shaking Hip Hop continents, from Oakland to Africa and back again.

Nine years on from their last album (Trilogy) the brazen mark of their attainment is clear: phenomenal lyrical delivery, breath-taking syncopated confidence, wonder-working rhythms and commanding Hip Hop story telling presence.  Read more

3 weeks on from World AIDS Day, “A Condom Is [Still] A Girl’s Best Friend”

“A condom is a girl’s best friend”.

And a man’s, agreed? This is the [translated] title of the French ad that has appeared on billboards in Paris since the summer 2009. It is part of the yearly renewed Aids campaign, a continual effort to raise awareness and to promote ’safe sex’. While it seems the need to entertain extends to all matters, so that even awareness about Aids must be inviting and playful, the statistics are a sober reminder that HIV is all but that. Read more

R. Kelly – Untitled [Album Review]

Originally scheduled for release in 2008 under the name 12 Play, 4th Quarter then scrapped due to an early leak, R Kelly’s generous 15 track album, Untitled, is finally out – and will lead you directly to R’s love nest. Read more

EVENT REVIEW: We Want Miles: le Jazz face à sa légende (Paris)

Standing in the queue for the museum of the Cité de la Musique’s wide hall, the air that should have been chilling is more than warm. It’s Love. It’s Miles Davis love.

From 16 of October until 17 of January, the exhibition We Want Miles celebrates Miles Davis‘ genius, inspiration and prolific work. Numerous shy, rare, and previously unseen artefacts support this retrospective of one of the most influential and vanguard musicians, thanks to the generosity, involvement and documents of Miles Davis Properties. In addition to the exhibition are a season of film screenings and concerts – the first days of the concert series was opened by the bands of Jimmy Cobb, Joe Lovano and Wayne Shorter. Now that’s a celebration. Read more