Rapper Del the Funky Homosapien, Kid Koala, and Dan the Automator form the mythical hip-hop group Deltron 3030. I thought that their career together was a one hit wonder and I rejoiced when I heard their interview on NPR. They have returned to the rap scene and I started fistpumping on the freeway.
Deltron 3030 was the self titled concept album released in 2000 about life in the year 3030. One of my favorite albums of all time, it is a creative masterpiece that changed the focus of hip-hop at a time when the majority of rappers only spoke about trifling materialism. The beats on 3030 were great (many were taken from contemporary French composer William Sheller) and its sci-fi lyrics touched on a new frontier of hip-hop. Deltron Zero, the album’s main character and Del’s alter ego, exists marauding through a dystopian universe.
Deltron 3030 Event II, the group's second album, has been about 9 years in the making. It takes place in the year 3040 and is a continuation of our protagonist’s commentary on life in the next millenium. Not much good has happened since the year 3030. Our hero faces a more disillusioned world than ever but manages to keep the listener engaged by weaving his engaging futuristic stories together.
The gems on the album are Talent Supercedes, Pay the Price, and Do You Remember. Both albums are on the playlist below.
This post is about the dank band, Skank. They have been putting out their good vibed reggae and mellow rock for over twenty years. They were never my favorite band when I lived in Brazil but I seem to like them more and more. Skank is from Belo Horizonte, which is Brazil’s third largest city. Fortunately, when I listen to them, I often think about an epic journey that I took with Gator to BH. However, Gator and I did not make the pilgrimage in honor of Skank. We went to pay our radical friends a visit and we quickly discovered that BH is one of Brazil’s most fun and wild cities. Our mates Thiago, Luiz, Matheus, Marcio and their amazing families showed us o melhor da cidade! Our highlights included amazing family meals (a churrasco and an epic feijoada), epic Acai, enjoying um basiado na praca do papa, and a few over the top nights on the town. My only regret is that we got our asses kicked playing footy at a local field. I should have expected nothing less from Brazil. Unfortunately, Skank’s music also reminds me of that fateful ass whooping. Sometimes music can be bittersweet.
I have a
confession to make. I think that Rick
James is one of the funkiest musicians of all time.
My
brother Moose has been bumping his jams for years. However, I never really liked him until last
week. When I thought of Rick James, I
thought of the mythical song “Super Freak,” which I have heard about 10,000
times and I think really sucks.
However,
one song I do love is Rick James’ 1981 classic, “Give It to Me Baby.” I know that most of the readers have already
heard the song before because it has been featured in a few movies. Back in the day, it reached #1 on the R&B
charts. However, I would like to use my
bully pulpit (JamandaHalf) to implore you to give it another listen. It is truly funky.
The
first song on the playlist is “Give It to Me Baby” followed by a recording of Rick’s
epic concert in Long Beach from 1981. If
I could go back in time, I would, if only just to go to that show. It was a true party complete with a tribute
to the late, great, Bob Marley, who had just passed away. "You paid too much money to come in here and sit on your ass!... Raise your left hand, raise it up high. Now pretend its the KKK and smack the shit out of it! Now keep the groove up!"
Kjel (pronounced “Kel”) Keast and Isaac C are two musicians from the south of England. When this duo teams up, Kjel picks up the acoustic guitar and carries the choruses. Isaac adopts a more central role taking responsibility for the verses. Both Isaac and Kjel have separate projects and have only played together on a handful of occasions. Recently, Kjel has spent his time playing solo gigs and bouncing around a number of bands, while Isaac has recorded a mixtape and just released a single entitled “Getaway” on iTunes. Both are sick musicians but they are very different. And I think their contrast is what makes their joint project so special.
When the two get together, they cook up something quite pleasing. Isaac provides the main course of a great voice, conscious lyrics, and a polished flow. Kjel garnishes Isaac's verses with felicitous guitar rhythms and light, sweet vocals. The two styles stand in sharp contrast although when they come together they do so in surprising harmony. It is a zesty and refreshing combination to hear some rap without a thumping baseline.
I interviewed the garnisher, Kjel, a few weeks back and he enlightened me on a few topics.
Who are you and what do you do?
Me, myself, I was born in Cornwall, England. So that makes me Cornish, English. I'm a singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, engineer... So, you're a music freak?
Well...yea...I like to get involved with it as much as I can. I sing and I play the electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, I do sound engineering...but now I am playing a bunch with my acoustic guitar. It depends on my mood. But I'm definitely a musician. That is what I do. On my Facebook it says 'musician slash entertainer.' What are your musical goals?
If I sold out shows around the world I wouldn't complain. But I would be happy if I could live off playing my own music. To write music that makes me happy and makes other people happy. Music connects on many different emotional levels and music makes people feel like nothing else really can. How did you start working with Isaac?
I saw Isaac in this YouTube video, which features Isaac C with Michael Collings, a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent. I know what I like and it is really hard to stand out in England because there is a lot of talent and I heard the song and I was like, 'this guy is really good. I loved his tone, style and everything.' So I saw that he had collaborated with a bunch of people and I sent him a message basically saying, 'hi, you don't know me but I'm a musician and live close by. Would you want to meet up some time and play some music or do a song?'
And then I went to Turkey for a few months and when I got back I sent him another message. It was a little bit iffy, we were gonna meet up and didn't. Then one day we did. Isaac told me that he wanted to play some of his songs from his mixtape in an acoustic setting and asked me if I might be able to do it with him. And I said 'yea definitely.' I took the songs home, listened to them, wrote all the chords for all the songs in one night and I sent it to him the next day and he loved it. That was the second time that we had ever met. We met a third time to practice and the fourth time we met was in the studio to record. [I wanted to switch topics so I decided to ask...] And what do you do when you are not playing music?
I enjoy being with my friends and having a good time, playing some football, a bit of sport, a bit of health...whatever. Vegetables?
[pause] A few.... A couple?
Well I like fruit more than vegetables. I just bought some bananas the other day. I like strawberries, grapes, pears, apples... What about Brussels sprout, or cabbage?
Naaaaaawwww. No. I could eat a fruit salad....but I couldn't eat a vegetable salad. I guess I don't really like all vegetables....I do eat some vegetables, I just don't eat every vegetable. Especially not in salad form?
Well I love onions! I love onions....I don't mind a few carrots....But I cant really do cucumbers. No green and leafy, ewwwuuuggghhh. Did you know, that cucumbers are actually fruit, technically.
Is it? Is a cucumber like a tomato? But you wouldn't have a cucumber in a fruit salad, would you?
We shot the shit for a good while, laughing about this and about that, but the bottom line is that Kjel and Isaac's project is good. It is refreshing and new. Kinda like taking a bite out of a fresh fruit...maybe even a cool cucumber.
Both Isaac and Kjel are currently running around trying to make a name for themselves. However, I feel like, together they have struck gold. I hope they realize it too. The duo plan to head into the studio in June to finish the album…and we will be waiting.
In the mean time here is a sample of what Kjel and Isaac do.
Romania’s music is good vibes. Most of it can be roughly categorized
as gypsy folk music, radical classical, crappy poppy club, or some sort of
amalgamation.
The folk gypsy music is world renowned and characterized by
traditional instruments such as the caboza
and the tarogato and reputed for its high energy. The country also produced many great
classical composers during its time as part of the Ottoman Empire. However, today homegrown pop stars such as
Alexandra Stan dominate the radio while artists like Nicolae Guta and the
Mahala Rai Banda bridge the gap between old and new by fusing club and dance
music with more traditional sounds. One thing's for sure Romanians must dance well!
Today,
we accompany the light speed traveling Vagabros to Ecuador. Ecuadorian music is a representation of the
country’s ethnic and regional diversity. The country's African, Andean, Spanish and indigenous communities have influenced its radical music. In a typical song, light guitar picking and irie flutes might accompany lovesick lyrics or songs about condors. Ecuador's music, with a more Spanish vibe, features flamenco style guitar and percussion with vocals
reminiscent of great Mexican ranchero ballads.
Don't forgot to Like us on Facebook for your chance to win a free month of Spotify Premium! As well, follow us and the Vagabrothers on Twitter.
Once again, I find myself blown away by all the sweet music that there is in the world. Not only does Oman have a great flag but they also have amazing music. Oman sits on the Arabian Sea and borders Yemen,
Saudi Arabia, and The United Arab Emirates. As we are learning, musical heritage is an expression of traditional culture, sociopolitical
history and regional location. Regional instruments, neighboring
countries, and countries with political ties to the sultanate (e.g. Zanzibar)
have shaped Omani music. Music, dance and art play an important role in the lives of Omanis.
Today we accompany the Vagabrothers to Australia! Before last week, I knew
little Aussie music. I thought all Aussie music was ACDC,
Silverchair, Men at Work, and Xavier Rudd. I was way off the mark and took great pleasure in researching this country's rich musical culture. Thanks to the help (and great musical taste) of my friend Jay Donnell, we at JamandaHalf were able to construct a playlist, which I believe does justice to this radical island continent. Aussies
are renowned travelers and their music reflects this interaction with other
cultures and types of music. I have even
included a song by Wadhom, a French band, because they rock the didgeridoo sooooo hard that
they merit a spot on the playlist.
Life is
a soundtrack and we at Jamandahalf are proud to provide the Vagabrothers with the soundtrack for their future adventures.
*if you dont have spotify.... download it. It is sick. And free.
Brazil is arguably the most musical (and overall radical) country in the world. I lived there in 2012 and arrived during carnival. My friend and super talented artist (future Jamandahalf post pending) Lu Negrao picked me up from the airport. After a quick shower, we hit the street to start drinking beers, Brazilian style, in a small corner bar. It was the middle of Carnival. There was a group sitting in the street playing samba music with hordes of people dancing around them. From there we went to one of the most local and rootsy samba spots in the world. We danced the night away to a live band of about 15 musicians; many of whom were playing traditional Brazilian instruments. It was one of the most fun nights of my life. In Brazil music is culture.
Samba is the iconic genre of Brazilian music. However, Brazilians are responsible for spawning dozens of different styles of music e.g. Forró, Funky, Samba Rock, Bossa Nova, MPB, Choro, etc.
The playlist that follows is not a complete representation of Brazilian music but it is a small taste of how diverse and amazing it is. Jorge Ben and Seu Jorge are the kings of samba rock, Natiruts kicks irie reggae vibes, Marcel D2 fuses rap and samba, and Tim Maia brought funk music to what is already a ridiculously funky country.
*Dont forget to check out the video of the most popular “Brazilian Funky” song ever, which talks about life in Brazil's favelas around in and around Rio.
I moved to San
Sebastian, Spain in January of 2012 on the recommendation of my great friends
and Vagabrothers, Marko and Alex Ayling. I moved for the wild adventures, excitement
and new experiences. Hemingway, stories
about Spanish culture, bullfights, tapas, warm weather, and flamenco stoked my
excitement.
With
a quizzical look on his face he replied, “Pues, hijo, ya estamos en Donosti.”
That moment I realized I was on a different adventure from the one, which I had envisioned. Donostia, or Donosti for short, is the Basque name for San Sebastian. I quickly learned that natives proudly consider themselves Basque and not Spanish. They have culture, language, and history different from the other parts of Spain and they have oft been ostracized. I love the Basque Country. It is an amazing place that is as culturally and traditionally rich as it is naturally beautiful. However, here, Spanish is not cool. If you come here with a Real Madrid jersey you will probably be called a fascist. No one listens to flamenco music, bull fighting is frowned upon, and tapas have been renamed “pintxos.”
When Basques allow something Spanish
into their little world you know that is radical.[1] My favorite examples of Spanish imports are; ham
from Extremadura, wine from La Rioja[2],
and the super radical band Los Delinqüentes from Andalusia.
Los Delinqüentes, made music worthy
of Spanish adventures, life on the streets, farms, and in the plazas of
southern Spain. The band’s members came
from humble backgrounds and frequently busked in the Central
Jerez Train Station. Later, they
adopted the tick as their symbol due to its association with farm and street life.
The music, deeply rooted in flamenco and rock and roll, was crisp and
energetic. Their lyrics highlighted the tomfoolery
omnipresent Spanish plazas and in their “tick” lifestyle. The band was formed in Jerez de la
Frontera, Cadiz in 1998 by Marcos del Ojo and Miguel Benitez who were both 15
at the time. Because Los Delinqüentes
were always in the street their mentor and guitar teacher, Diego Pozo, gave
Marcos and Migue guitar lessons on the front step
of the Jerezano Movie Theater. Later
that year, Marcos y Migue incorporated Diego into the mythical band. After recording their second demo, the band
was signed to Virgin Records.
The trio, made three albums before Migue
died of a heart attack at the age 21.
Migue had the attack shortly after a series of stints in rehab. The band has since come out with three more
albums and gained a certain amount of international exposure. What
follows are just some of their JAMANDAHALFS!
[1]The
autonomous community of the Basque Country is located the northeastern corner
of Spain and is the about the size of Delaware.
The unofficially recognized Basque Country, which includes parts of
other Spanish communities and a part of France, is closer in size to New
Jersey.
[2]Basques claim that the
part of La Rioja which lies north of the Ebro River as their own.
This is GriffDawg checking in from the Basque Country-
Discovering new music is one of the raddest things around. Rediscovering music is just as cool. I love finding an album that I used to listen
to all the time but have not heard in years.
Listening to that music takes me back to a different point in my life. It helps provide me with perspective. And, most of the time, I can still sing all the words!
I recently rediscovered the album Smash by the Offspring,
which is a classic album from my childhood.
One of the reasons I stopped listening to this album was because The
Offspring started making horrible music like “Pretty Fly for a White Guy” and
other such horrible songs. After making
such horrible commercial music, I became embarrassed to listen to them. However, now enough time has passed so that
we can listen to Smash, appreciate it for what it is, and not think about how
bad of a band the Offspring became.
The album is one that can be listened from front to
back. The band captured an amazing
energy and the bottom line is that it fucking rocks.
I have a great idea, listen to Smash, grow your hair long,
scream along, rock out, and drink a Budwiser!
Screenshot from the TV broadcast. You can see Griff and I under the red arrow.
This is a blog about music. You might think that before facing six one-ton bulls and six equally gigantic castrated steers, I would have had a nice little playlist prepared for my ipod shuffle, an electic mix ready to both pump me and and cool frayed nerves. Yet in those few minutes before facing a situation which every Spanish person I talked to said I was crazy to do (to Griffdawg as well), the farthest thing from my head was listening to one of the many jamandahalfs featured in these pages.
In many ways I didn't need to. There was a beautiful cacophonous symphony all around la Calle de Santo Domingo in Pamplona that Saturday morning. Whispered prayers in a multitude of languages were joined by strangers wishing each other "suerte." People in balconies above were shouting words of encouragement to the half-crazy mozos below. TV crews snaked their way through the crowd, asking the inevitable question of why we were about to do what we were about to do, something we were all asking ourselves at that very moment. All these sounds were soon joined by a group of Brits who asked Griffdawg and I which way the bulls were going to come from, a surreal encounter not even two minutes before the bulls started their frantic run.
The sounds I'll remember most are those of the group prayers in Castellano and Euskara to the beheaded Saint Fermin, the excuse for the week-long party and the reason we were wearing red pañuelos around our necks (to empathize). There was something undeniably calming about seeing the mozos chanting to the idol seated just above the street while waving rolled-up newspapers in unison. It gave a sense of unity. The proverbial quiet before the storm briefly descended upon us right before the first rocket signaled that the bulls had been let loose. That quiet I'm sure was accompanied by screaming thoughts which were soon joined by the beating hooves of the tons of animal quickly narrowing the gap between us.
After running for a few seconds (which felt like a few hours), the streets of Pamplona were filled with very different sounds-the sounds of celebration. The city is infected by a remarkable energy during the festival, an energy which was very very loud. The rest of the day was full of bands passing through the streets, impromptu parades (my favorite was the one where everyone sang the "Spongbob Squarepants" theme song), laughter, and many bottles a-crashing. It was a feast for the ears and the soul. And being a Spanish fiesta, it was a blast.
It's a team effort this time around and Griffdawg begins a regular feature bringing in some of the funkiest cuts that he's picked up during his travels.
One of the things I love doing most when I meet people is talking to them about music. I even judge people based on what music they enjoy. However, I have discovered that musical preference is not the best identifier of personal character and that many people who like Lady Gaga are actually good people. However, when they tell me that they enjoy listening to her or to Pitbull I can’t help but feel like a need to vomit…on them.
I live right by the French and Spanish border in the Basque Country. Consequently, I am exposed to many things that are French. Lots of which are cool, like the cheese and music. Some things are less cool, like old ladies who go out in matching pink outfits with little rat dogs clothed in sweaters.
One cool French dude named Pedro (I think his name is Piere but we were in Spain …) told me to listen to the band Noir Desir. I decided to take his advice despite the fact that he was riding a unicycle. The band played French punk music from the 1980s-2010 and "Le Vent Nous Portera" (The Wind Will Carry Us) is an uncommonly mellow tune from Noir Desir and was a European hit. This jamandahalf features Manu Chao on guitar and a radical saxophone. Enjoy.
Griffdawg comes by with another in what will become a recurring series-Griffdawg's Choice Nugs. In unedited Spanish (again), he comes by with some homegrown Argentine rap. Keep em coming Griff.
Griffdawg hits us up from Brazil (where he's working at a hostel/playing soccer/looking at booty all day) to share a little Brazilian culture with us....Thanks griff. Don't work too hard now brother ;-)
I love Brazil for its vibrant culture, beautiful natural resources, fiery hot chicks, buttery waves, dope soccer, and radical music. For this post, I will discuss the latter. Music is omnipresent in Brazilian society, you hear it everywhere you go. It is very influential. I work with a guy who said he learned how to speak English by listening to Bob Marley records. I believe him, he's Rasta.
Brazilians love reggae. Reggae mimics the laid back lifestyle of the Brazilian people. One of Brazil’s most celebrated reggae contingents goes by the moniker Natiruts (Leks-Natty Roots?). The band formed in Brasilia, Brazil’s capital, in 1996 and has been sending out irie vibrations through the atmosphere ever since. Everyone loves Natiruts. I hear people listening to or just singing their music everyday. The song “Liberdade pra dentro da cabeca” is a true reggae anthem. Whenever people hear this song they join arms and burst into a huge sing-a-long. Liberdade pra dentro da cabeca harps on a common theme music as it literally translates to: freedom inside the head.
