The Hunger Game’s 16-year-old Amandla Stenberg delivers a crash course on black culture with a classmate for their history class. Continue reading
Category: Hip Hop
7/18/15 O&A Gospel Sunday: Erica Campbell- I Luh God
Erica Campbell caused a stir when she released her new song, I Luh God. Campbell switches up her look several times and praises with a group of friends. Her sister and the other half of Mary Mary, Tina Campbell, also makes a cameo. Upon its release, responses to Campbell’s new song varied with many questioning her decision to explore new territories in gospel music. Some have compared the song to previous releases by Kirk Franklin and God’s Property, which include “Stomp” featuring Salt of the female rap duo Salt-N-Pepa.
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6/29/15 O&A Dance: Souls Of Our Feet Dance Festival Continues Tonight
By Walter Rutledge
The Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center concludes their 2015 Souls Of Our Feet Dance Festival with two events Monday, June 29 and Tuesday, June 30 at the Actors Fund Arts Center 160 Schermerhorn Street in downtown Brooklyn, 7:30 pm. On Monday the third dance presentation will featured three New York based Hip Hop companies, Full Circle Souljah, Jendog/YalinDream and Special Ops/Flatbush Bullies. Tickets for this event are $20 and can be purchased online at wwwthelmahill.com and at the box office prior to the performance.
Each group brings a different favor of this American art form that was born in urban NYC. Full Circle Souljahs, under the direction of Bronx native Rokafella, blends Hip-Hop with traditional dance styles and compositional forms to produce dances ranging from pure street dance to concert style urban dance narratives. Jendog/YalinDream are a music with a message duet that combines rap, spoken word and hip hop imagery. Special Ops/Flatbush Bullies mixes flexing, bone breaking, and break dance in a street battle format , this high-energy “in your face” style will make you want to bust a sag and pull your hoodie over your head. In Lieu of a formal post performance Q&A, each company director will provide brief statements detailing their organization’s mission and aesthetic philosophy.
On Tuesday June 30 at 7pm the series will conclude with A Dancer’s Life, a conversation with dancer Loretta Abbott. Abbott, whose career spans over six decades. Abbott holds the distinction of dancing the Wade In The Water section of Alvin Ailey’s masterwork Revelations with Ailey himself (she was Ailey’s last partner). In addition to concert dance she was in the original Broadway cast of Purlie, Raisin and Liza With A Z. Abbott will discuss her career and artistry with Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center Artistic Advisor, and Out and About NYC Magazine Editor in Chief Walter Rutledge.
Abbott and Rutledge will open the evening with a duet entitled Sentimental Reasons. The work choreographed by Rutledge and commissioned by Dancers For A Variable Population 10027 Project is a tribute to the partnership of Abbott and the late Al Perryman. Named the Dynamic Duo they had special onstage chemistry, and impeccable comedic timing. This free event will include a closing night reception. For more information visit thelmahill@msn.com or call (718) 875- 9710.
6/18/15 O&A Throwback Thursday: In da Club- 50 Cent
In da Club performed by rapper 50 Cent from his debut studio album Get Rich or Die Tryin (2003). The song was written by 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, and Mike Elizondo and produced by Dr. Dre with co-production credit from Elizondo. The song’s music video won Best Rap Video and Best New Artist at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards. In da Club has since sold over 2,000,000 copies. Continue reading
6/16/15 O&A With WaleStylez: Kayne West Ice Cream Week- O&A Style
By Adewale Adekanbi and Walter Rutledge
How could Nicholas Morgenstern ever top avocado-toast ice cream? In collaboration with First We Feast, he’s hosted a very special Kanye West Ice Cream Week. Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream will sell special sundaes all inspired by what West’s fantasy ice-cream parlor might look like.
The offerings included Kim Kardashian Thirst Trap Sundae (sesame-caramel ice cream with Champagne-caramel sauce and whipped cream), All Day Vanilla Ice-Cream Cake (vanilla cake, vanilla ice cream), and, best of all, I Am a God Ice Cream Croissantwich: vanilla ice cream stuffed inside a custom-made Arcade Bakery croissant.
For the fun of it lets imagine what Kayne West Ice Cream Week could look like without a reality check:
1. The Happy Host – Kayne himself will coop up his Yeezy frozen favorites:
2. The Kim K Double Scoop- A full double scoop of Ass Munch favored imitation chocolate ice cream (10 per cent milk, and 90 percent cellulite). Try sprinkling on some Ray J nuts for a salty bite.
3. Kanye’s Drippy Cone- Comes with a shot of penicillin.
4. Kanye West Yeezy 2 Red October Sundae Overpriced and overrated, will put inches on your waist while slimming your wallet.
5. The Kayne West Ice Cream Week Motto: Now go punch a photographer
6/13/15 O&A With WaleStylez Song Of The Day: Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Brooklyn Zoo
5/18/15 O&A Song Of The Day: How Many Licks?- Lil’ Kim (Featuring Sisqo)
How Many Licks? is a song recorded by rapper Lil’ Kim for her second studio album The Notorious K.I.M. (2000). The song is about Lil’ Kim bragging about the various men she has been with and the effects her “dolls” have on men. The single features R&B singer Sisqó. Continue reading
5/5/15 O&A With WaleStylez: Mr. Me Too
Mr. Me Too is the first single from the Clipse album Hell Hath No Fury. The song was Produced by The Neptunes.
4/29/15 O&A With WaleStylez- Song Of The Day: V.Cha$e + Kid Art – Medu$a Music Video
4/10/15 O&A With WaleStylez- Song Of The Day: The Roots – You Got Me featuring Erykah Badu
You Got Me is a song by the hip hop band The Roots, featuring vocals by Erykah Badu (who sings the chorus) and Eve, then known as Eve of Destruction, who raps the second verse but does not appear in the music video. You Got Me was co-written by musician Jill Scott, who recorded vocals for the song’s chorus and bridge. Her part was subsequently re-recorded by Badu at the insistence of MCA Records, who wanted a higher-profile collaboration for the album’s official lead single. Continue reading