Playing With Perspective

Nothing catches your eye like a headless statue. Especially when it's intentionally headless. Yinka Shonibare MBE, a Nigerian British artist, uses headless figures to juxtapose the notion of traditional and multicultural, all while teaching us an interesting history lesson. Did you know that "traditional African fabric" was initially referred to as "Dutch wax cotton" because it was originally made in Holland? When the British couldn't find a market for the fabric in Europe, they took the fabric to Africa and sold it to Africans. There's actually nothing African about the fabric except that Africans have adopted it and re-appropriated it to the point it's become a symbol of African-ness. Shonibare's work is a fascinating representation of how identity is contingent upon the materials at hand, and that culture—even when claiming "tradition"—is always subject to evolution. Especially when colonialism is involved.

How To Blow Two Heads Up At Once

Scrambling for Africa

Evolving the Remix

I first heard of Kutiman last year when I read about his ThruYou project, which involved him taking various YouTube videos and splicing them together to make a collection of songs. He literally took a video of a piano, a drum, an acapella singer and spliced it together in auditory brilliance. The video isn't super exciting, but it showcases how inspired the process was. I also found out that Kutiman, who hails from Tel Aviv, also has his own self-titled album. And let me tell you, it's beyond funky. Listen to it here and see if you don't find yourself feeling all sorts of funked up.

YouTube Splice-up


Single off Kutiman's album, Kutiman

Impossibly Possible

Remember back in the day when your science teacher told you that humans only use 10% of our brains? Well, that's being debated now, but when I see something like this I can't help but think there's some truth to it. No matter what you believe, I think we can all agree that not many brains can do what Stephen Wiltshire's can. Stephen's mind works like a camera, allowing him to fly over a major city and take a "mental snap shot" that he then uses to recreate entire skylines by memory. So far he's recreated Tokyo, New York, Jerusalem, Frankfurt, Madrid, Hong Kong and Rome. Next time someone tells you something's impossible, direct them to Stephen Wiltshire's website, have them watch one of his videos and watch their jaw drop. He even gets the number of windows right in all the buildings. Yeah, I know. Some things you just have to see to believe.

Virtually Jamming

The crazy and awesome thing about the gadget heavy, fast paced world we exist in now is the ability for self actualization. Want to write? Start a blog. Want to make music? Just record a few songs on your laptop, in your living room, and upload yourself to YouTube. If you're good, or marketable, chances are someone's gonna find you. Dumbfoundead decided to expand this living room jam session idea by splicing together various artists all contributing to the same piece of music, in completely separate locales. What we get is a Virtual Jam Session—8 artists, 5 instruments, 4 continents, 3 languages and 1 really good sounding song. Click here to download the song for free if you're feeling it. And make sure you listen to the message, not just the melody.

Anticipating Classics

I'm gonna go ahead and say that the second half of the first decade of the 21st century was not a good look for Hip Hop or R&B. Almost all my 5star albums predate the past 5 years. However, with a new decade upon us, it appears 2010 might bring about a fresh round of 5star albums from 5star artists. Below are some 5star artists expected to drop new music this year, giving us more to look forward to than just warmer weather.

The Roots: How I Got Over

Expected 2010

The first single and video off the new album is a good sign of what's to come. Questlove claims this album will have a more positive spin than the past two. Positive, neutral or negative, I'm just thrilled to hear some real music. (Anyone heard that Flintstone Bedrock song? Seriously??)

More anticipated classics:

Outkast: Solos, but still...

Both expected 2010

I have trepidation even anticipating these as I'm such an avid Outkast follower that I don't want to jinx the prospect of the duo--whether together or apart--finally giving us something new to fill our Speakerbox. However, apparently both Big Boi and Andre 3000 will bless us with solo albums this year. And, if fans are digging the solos, the duo claims they will finally release another Outkast album. Did I miss something? Are we not hungry enough for a new Outkast album already?

**Note: Those of you savvy enough to navigate the Internet music scene have probably heard Shine Blockas off Big Boi's new solo album, Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. For more of that Left Foot brilliance, check out For Your Sorrows.

Lupe Fiasco: Lasers

Expected early 2010

Everything Lupe touches seems to turn Gold. Even if pirating kept him from reaching Platinum, he's definitely near the top of many Best MC's list. Lasers is Lupe's self-proclaimed "balls to the wall fire" work. Check out this snippet of Shining Down off the new album to see if you agree.

**Note: Lupe was not happy that Shining Down got leaked. Out of respect for him and other artists I'm not posting downloads. If you want to find recommended music and download it for free, more power to you, but you gotta put in the work ;)

D'Angelo: James River

Expected 2010
With Prince (yes that Prince) supposedly doing the production and Raphael Saadiq, Cee-Lo and Mark Ronson all expected to collaborate on the forthcoming album, 10 years after giving us Voodoo (another 5Star album) Mr. How Does It Feel might finally be giving us some more much needed voodoo.

**Note: This album was also anticipated last year, so don't sue me if D'Angelo flakes out again.

Erykah Badu: New Amerykah Part 2
Expected 3.30.10

With Window Seat providing a satisfying taster of what's to come (see below), and Jump Up In the Air and Stay There showcasing an evolved sound (Weezy & Bilal are featured), it's safe to say that Erykah is aware we are in need of some fresh air. Might need to breathe this one in deep.

New Erykah off New Amerykah

Miss Badu is up to her usual tricks—giving us music that washes over you like a warm breeze on a summer night. She's already blessed us with classics such as Bump It, Back In the Day and That Hump. Now we have Window Seat, which I'm giving an 'instant classic' rating. This gem reminds me that we could all use a bit more Erykah in our lives. If you're looking for more soothing sounds, check out this playlist for '5 stars' that really ought to be in your library.

Inmates Imitate an Icon

What's something you don't see every day? How about 1,500 Philippine prisoners dancing to Michael Jackson? Apparently Byron Garcia realized that America's philosophy of "rehabilitation" through lock downs, isolation and punishment doesn't appear to be working so well considering that the U.S. has more people in prison than ever before. When punishment doesn't work, what's next to try? How about dancing? And what's more appropriate than prisoners dancing to MJ's, They Don't Really Care About Us? America, are you watching?