Top Five Friday - Books This Year (So Far...)

1. Timba: The Sound of the Cuban Crisis by Vincenzo Perna

2. Sibusiso Mbhele and His Fish Helicopter by Koto Bolofo & Sibusiso Mbhele

3. An Unbroken Agony: Haiti, from Revolution to the Kidnapping of a President by Randall Robinson

4. Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

5. Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World by Vijay Prashad

Do the knowledge and check one or two if you get a chance. Great reading!

f.negro

Lykke Li - Little Bit

I just had to share.

Bobby Brown - Get Away


Just because I know the feeling. Nothing like a lil Bobby to get you by.

Sound Bite Sunday (part 2)

f.negro: Hi. My name is fidel and I am a new found house junkie...
HA(Housers Anonymous) attendees: Hiiiiiiiiiii fidel!!!!

Yes bloggership, I am in love with house music. This is relatively new for me, but I have been feeling the need to publicly own my passion for deep, soulful, beat heavy house! I came to house through a rather unconventional route. I first begin to listen to music that had been strongly influenced by house, namely South African Kwaito and Angolan Kuduro. Both of which are infectious and pulsating, popular dance music in their respective countries and region. I have some good friends from South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and Angola, they're truly the ones to blame for this unhealthy addiction that I have recently developed. Whenever I talk about house I feel the need to emphasize its origin in the Black community. As with most Black musical expression, house music has been appropriated and given a new face and cultural viability. Anyhow, I've chosen a couple cuts that speak to me. Whether you're a house-head or fairly new to the genre, I hope that you're able to appreciate.

• Stardust was a one-time musical collaborative effort consisting of producers Thomas Bangalter, Alan Braxe and vocalist Benjamin Diamond. The short-lived group released the immensely popular club track titled "Music Sounds Better with You" in June 1998. The song, which is based around a sample from "Fate" by Chaka Khan, was an instant smash, and many have dubbed it the greatest house song of the millennium. It was recorded in Paris by Daft House productions, of which Bangalter, one half of the popular French house duo Daft Punk, is head. The song was conceived in Rex Club, Paris, where the trio were playing a live set. Bangalter and Braxe created the instrumental, which Diamond instinctively sang the title words over. The next day they laid down the track in the studio, adding the Chaka Khan sample. Enjoy this classic! Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You



• Shaun Escoffery is a British Soul/R&B singer who collaborated with turntablists/producers DJ Spinna and Ticklah to recreate his already soulful tune, "Days Like This". DJ Spinna(born Victor Williams) a relatively underground DJ and producer is known for his experiments with hip hop, soul and funk. He has done a tremendous amount of work remixing artists such as Mary J. Blige and Stevie Wonder, but is probably most known for his contributions to the underground hip hop scene. That being said, this track comes as no surprise, but is in fact an incredible testament to his musical sensibilities. Victor "Ticklah" Axelrod is the keyboardist for afrobeat supergroup Antibalas, but is also known for his trans-genre production, working with the likes of Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse and a number reggae artists too great to mention. Obviously this terrain is not unfamiliar to him either. So, please sit back and enjoy this new classic! Shaun Escoffery - Days Like This (DJ Spinna & Ticklah mix)

Stay Sucka-Free Y'all!

f.negro