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 Add a smile to your Monday morning by checking out Atlanta natives the Vistoso Bosses. The 17 year old cousins Taylah P and Kelci C were discovered by Michael Crooms (aka Mr.Collipark), the same executive who found online phenom Souljah Boy two years ago, so you can assume they are in good hands. We understand that their mothers were in a girl group back in the day and enjoyed some regional success (note to self: dig around Google/YouTube).
"Cute" is a huge understatement for the "Boy Crazy" duo who list their mission on their Myspace page as "to have fun while creating great music."
We recently caught up with the Vistoso Bosses at a photoshoot, and you can see from the images below (with captions provided by the two) that they seem to have the first part of their mission covered.
Further below you can listen to "Delirious" and let us know how they fare on the second part.
Breakfast with Vistoso Bosses. We put a flyer for Cash Cash on the fridge because they are our favorite group right now.
Kelci pouring her favorite cereal on Taylah P's head."YUMMY!" We stick to a vocal diet most of the time - no dairy, no soda, nothing that coats your throat etc - so when we aren't on the road performing, cereal is our favorite snack.
Taylah P getting her Vistoso make-up while Kelci takes pictures with her camera phone. It is better to use face paint and eyeliner for drawing because if you use nail polish, it will eat your skin and make your eyes burn. Not that we know from experience.
Vistoso Bosses performing "Delirious."
Vistoso Bosses go Blues Brothers.
Taylah P and Kelci enjoying the confetti scene. Our album is called Confetti so we wanted lots of sparkle, glitter and confetti around us.
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Blender has the honor of exclusively offering the first look at the album art for The Black Lips' upcoming 200 Million Thousand, to be released February 24th of next year on Vice Records.
Behold...
This will be the only time we tell you to distance yourself from Blender.com. Do it now and see what emerges on your screen (please be sure to come back though!).
Beginning end of February of '09 The Black Lips will be on tour:
2/26/09 BIRMINGHAM, AL BOTTLE TREE
2/27/09 ATLANTA, GA VARIETY PLAYHOUSE
MySpace Music Presents Tour:
3/04/09 CARRBORO, NC CAT’S CRADLE
3/05/09 WASHINGTON, DC BLACK CAT
3/06/09 PHILADELPHIA, PA JOHNNY BRENDA’S
3/07/09 CAMBRIDGE, MA MIDDLE EAST
3/09/09 NEW YORK, NY BOWERY BALLROOM
3/10/09 BROOKLYN, NY MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
3/12/09 CLEVELAND, OH BEACHLAND BALLROOM
3/13/09 DETROIT, MI MAGIC STICK
3/14/09 CHICAGO, IL LOGAN SQUARE AUDITORIUM
3/15/09 MILWAUKEE, WI TURNER HALL BALLROOM
3/16/09 ST. PAUL, MN TURF CLUB
3/17/09 OMAHA, NE WAITING ROOM
3/18/09 LAWRENCE, KS BOTTLENECK
3/20/09 AUSTIN, TX SXSW
3/21/09 AUSTIN, TX SXSW
3/23/09 NEW ORLEANS, LA ONE EYED JACKS
3/25/09 TALLAHASSEE, FL CLUB DOWNUNDER
3/26/09 TAMPA, FL ORPHEUM
3/27/09 MIAMI, FL CHURCHILL’S
3/28/09 GAINESVILLE, FL COMMON GROUNDS
3/29/08 JACKSONVILLE, FL JACK RABBITS
3/30/08 ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL.
Just in case you want to challenge yourself optically some more, check out these kinetic illusions:
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 You'll be hearing more about Melanie Fiona soon.
The Toronto native of Guyanese descent (sound familiar?) is set to release her debut album, The Bridge, beginning of next year, and she has already been touring with Kanye West (see clip below).
Fiona cites The Ronettes, Bob Marley, Sade, and Bob Marley as early influences, and would often attend her father's band's rehearsals (he was a guitarist) growing up.
The little girl with a big voice has come a long way, having contributed to Rihanna's A Girl Like Me, and having shared the stage with a variety of artists like Lupe Fiasco, Akon, Robin Thicke and Keyshia Cole.
Get a taste of what's to come with this free download, "Give It To Me Right", her first single off of the forthcoming The Bridge. You'll immediately recognize a sample of The Zombies' "Time of the Season" that drives the song.
Be sure to check out the exclusive clip below from Fiona's first day on tour with Kanye, with shots from her performance at London's O2 concert arena and behind-the-scenes footage with Mr. West.
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 Universal Mind Control, Common’s eighth studio album, hit stores today. I spoke to the always-insightful MC a few weeks back while he was crisscrossing the southern United States on a grassroots promotional tour. It was shortly after Election Night and, being that Common is both a black man and a Chicagoan, I had to solicit his feelings about our newest president. As, I suspected, Common had plenty to say.
Where were you on Election Night?
I was in Chicago at Grant Park most of the night, and there was an energy like I’d never felt before. It felt like a movie. This was even before Barack took the stage. It just felt like I was in a dream, like, ‘Man, God is good. This is a beautiful thing.’ Just to see all the diversity in the crowd and the hope and togetherness that people felt. I had to host an election party so I eventually went over there to watch Barack’s speech. It was just a good feeling, especially being at home, to see someone that was Chicago-bred in many ways become the first black president—and just knowing that we have a president that really cares for people. You can feel his heart. You can feel his spirit. He’s true to what he’s saying and he means well by people.
Have you had a chance to meet him yet?
I met Barack Obama in 2003 at a Russell Simmons Hip-Hop Summit. People used to say I was a political artist, but I never looked at myself as political. I preferred to say I was “conscious.” I never had any desire to support politicians or be into politics because it seemed so unauthentic and it didn’t seem like they were really true to what they were saying or for the people. When I met Barack, I felt the total opposite. I felt he was somebody that really cares for the people and that’s why I was able to have an awakening of faith in politics.
You’re both a rapper and a burgeoning actor. Do you feel his election and presidency will affect hip-hop music and/or film?
Though we always get people that rap about things that aren’t in their hearts, I feel like people really do want something better for this country, better for themselves, better for the world. I think that hip-hop will have to reflect some of that. I have faith in hip-hop. We’re going to come up with something to reflect a new day, reflect a new time, a new hope, and aspiration. Maybe that will just be music that talks about fun things, or lighter things in the world, but I definitely feel that hip-hop will be changed because of Barack’s presidency. And I know that films will too.
I guess that bodes well for you.
It bodes well for me, bruh. It’s funny. My agent—point blank—was like, ‘I was so happy Barack got elected, and not just for the country. I think it’s going to be a better thing for you as a black man striving for leading roles.’
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To help celebrate the upcoming release of Maroon 5's Call & Response: The Remix Album next Tuesday 12/9, we are offering a first listen to Pharrell's remix of "She Will Be Loved."
The album has contributions from favorites such as ?uestlove, Cut Copy, Cool Kids, and of Montreal to name a few. Says Adam Levine: “I’ve always found it really interesting that a group of people looking at the same painting can all see different things. That was the idea behind this record—to take a few of our songs and have them interpreted by some of our favorite artists. We were really blown away by what they came up with.”
Pharrell adds a healthy dose of synths and a straightforward beat to the Songs About Jane hit (and are those hints of Autotune we hear?).
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Chapter 2 of Illinois' The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe finds our protagonist in a foggy state after having awoken to a sensorial assault of pastels and Levar Burton in Chapter 1. Descending the stairs and beelining it to coffee, Arch (frontman Chris Archibald) gets sucked in by a parallel struggle playing itself out in a boxing ring on the telly. Both in his kitchen and in the ring, Arch is a beaten man, absorbing blows from a pugnacious beauty (the pink gloves are a nice touch). He is at least partly responsible for this abuse, as judged by the languid lyrics over the catchy beat ("I hardly gave her my most"). The pain extends beyond the ring as you'll find out later in the episode.
Watch Illinois' Chapter 2 below, Arch Sees an Illinois Video on TV, exclusively on Blender.com.
With the release of every video chapter of The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe, Illinois is making available 3 songs from their upcoming EP, coming out on +1 Records, culminating in a multiplatform collection that will comprise of 6 video chapters and 18 songs.
Music video created by People-Food.
Here's Chapter 1 in case you missed it:
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 Starting in his early teens, it took just over ten years for Englishman John Digweed to make his breakthrough as an internationally-recognized DJ. It was ten years ago that Digweed and Nick Muir started Bedrock Records, and to mark this occasion they've just released John Digweed's Bedrock 10: Past, Present, Future.
While touring in Asia the progressive house DJ was good enough to answer some questions for us. See what he had to say below, and while you're at it listen to a 30 minute stream from the collection below, exclusively on Blender.com.
Where are you now and what are you doing?
In my hotel room on tour answering these questions.
Broad generalization, but why do you think Europeans are more embracing of electronic music than Americans?
Strange thing is the whole acid / rave scene in the UK was born from playing music that was made in Chicago and Detroit - so try and work that out.
You’ve been consumed with DJing since the early 90’s (at least) – do you ever sit back and feel like you’ve had enough?
You can never have enough of something you live 24 7 365.
Best thing about being a globe-trotting DJ? Worst?
Getting to play the best parties and checking out different cultures - worst I can’t complain living the life I lead.
What do you traditionally take with you as carry-on when you travel?
Laptop and iPod makes the time fly by.
How accustomed are you to sleeping on planes?
About the same as different hotel rooms every night.
What was one of the crazier things you’ve seen at Twilo (famed/closed club in NYC)?
It was more intense than crazy, every month just seemed to get better and longer so many memories from that club.
In all your years of DJing, what was the best time period for Dance music/clubbing?
89 – 90, then 92 – 94, then 96 – 2001 and 2006 to present has been pretty good so far.
Favorite place to DJ?
Argentina.
Wildest party you have ever played?
Pervert gold – Milan, Italy.
What’s the longest set you’ve ever played?
Cavo Paradiso – Mykonos.
Ideal place to listen to electronic music?
Twilo was the best.
90s rave vs. minimal techno?
Both good.
Sasha and Digweed reunion?
Just had a 25 date tour of north America and we still play roughly 8 - 10 gigs a year at least.
Outside of music, what other hobbies/passions do you pursue?
Love mountain biking and films.
Listen to 30 minutes of Bedrock 10 - Past Present Future now.
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 Harlem tough and Diplomats co-founder Jim Jones has been keeping himself busy. Last week, he released a remix of MGMT’s “Electric Feel” and debuted an off-Broadway play (!).
Today, we’ve got the exclusive on his answer track, of sorts, to the Jay-Z/Lil Wayne/T.I./Kanye lovefest “Swagga Like Us” – it’s called “Swagger From Us.” This one’s from his upcoming album, Pray for Reign.
The song basically amounts to an ownership dispute: Your swagger, it turns out, is the property of Jim Jones. You may lease your swagger from Mr. Jones, perhaps, but only with his permission, and with the understanding that true proprietorship of said swagger will remain in Mr. Jones’ name.
Requests for swagger timeshares may be directed to King Jaffe Joffa, Esq.
Download “Swagger From Us” here and here.
(If you swagger jack our swagger.m4a, don’t forget the swagger credit, please!) |
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We caught up with Big Boi again as he had finished filming for tomorrow night's "Wildlife" episode for NBC's Law & Order Special Victim's Unit. The versatile rapper/producer/actor took a few minutes to answer some questions for Blender (see him above scrutinizing our list, perhaps).
Without giving anything away can you tell us about your role on the upcoming episode of Law & Order?
I play this musician “Gots Money” who’s part of an exotic animal smuggling ring, and I help SVU to expose the corrupt animal smugglers who are trafficking illegal animals
Might you be appearing on L&O again in the future?
Hopefully more in the future, it was a positive experience and the cast was amazing. I’d love to expand my type of roles even more to allow people to see me in different lights, so If its right fit I’d consider it.
What spots (restaurants/stores/etc) do you like to hit when you come up to New York (where Law & Order is shot)?
I’m southern, so anything that’s country fried in NYC I’m there, Virgil’s, Dinosaur BBQ, all of that!
How’s Sir Luscious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty coming along?
The record is basically done just doing some final tunings on the record since it drops top of next year, I’m just planning on giving everyone that funk pop grime hip hop that everyone loves from Big Boi. Best believe that.
In September you freestyled about the Recession for Blender. Could you do a quick one about the election of Obama?
If you check out my song “Something’s Gotta Give” Mary J has an amazing line where she goes “I know you feel my pain, and the only hope I have that help me deal with the drama, is that maybe in November I'll be cheering for Obama.”
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Haven't heard of Anjulie? Now you have. Raised in Toronto, and of Guyanese origin, the up-and-coming singer/songwriter will brighten up your day with her video for "Love Songs", now offered exclusively on Blender.com.
While her debut album doesn't come out until spring of next year, she has just released her single "Boom" which you can download here.
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