globalistas and transculture

So this article is a nice follow-up to K'naan's album. I'm sure myself and many many others in the world/global/whatever music sphere are posting/reposting this today. It is a great article, cites some great music, and links to some of the best blogs (imho). Excellent. All this makes me wonder if Canada will lead the way for us as we explore how to mix cultures/races/histories in a respectful, vibrant, and real way. Tough for all Americans, but especially for those of us in the boston area where everything is broken up (not quite ghetto-ized), but where everything has its place and borders/boundaries are rarely crossed.

K'naan's new joint

I met K'naan and his manager Sol at the UN-Habitat Hip Hop Summit in South Africa. Good guys doing good work. Check their new joint, out today. I'm listening to it on Lala, but pick it up anywhere you can. This is a great example, imho, of how to do hip hop in your own way, bringing in influences from different places, but maintaining quality. All too often, heads doing hip hop in different places bring in funky stuff, but lose the quality. Keep the quality, bring the tight rhymes, the dope beats, and people will pay you to keep performing and recording.

Troubadour - K'naan

Ghetto Ruff wizes up

After many years, Ghetto Ruff has wized up. Many years ago, I signed them up to a digital distribution deal on Calabash Music. For many years Calabash was the only place outside of South Africa anyone could get their GREAT music. Now, only a short time after their music has "disappeared" from Calabash (Mondomix has not yet picked up the license), they have appeared on eMusic. Excellent. 3 albums up, many many more to come.

GBS!