Otherworldly Videos: Hip-Hop and Shakespeare?

Award-winning rapper Akala describes the similarities between Shakespeare’s works and hip-hop lyrics and rhythm. Akala wants to challenge those who have power to define and allow certain people to be “custodians of knowledge.” His lecture makes one think of what is poetry and what is knowledge or intellect.

The My-Stery: Images of Mami Wata

The more I study mythology, religions and popular culture, the more I realize the mythological symbolism in a lot of popular culture. For example, in two of Aaliyah’s last videos, “We Need a Resolution” and “Rock the Boat.” The video for the first song contains scenes where she appears to be in a underground setting […]

Otherworldy Videos: Phone Home

Copperwire– Phone Home This group produced the album “Earthbound,” a hip-hop space opera. “Phone Home” uses NASA recordings of the cosmos and the video takes them through the land of Ethiopia as well as space. I strongly suggest that you check them out!

Otherworldly Videos: Village

“VILLAGE: An Afrofuturistic Fable” “VILLAGE: An Afrofutiuristic Fable”- “The Children in 2059” From Jos Duncan: This production was conceived as a result of listening to concerns in the African and African American cultural community. In a time when digital technology is dominating our world and political, financial and justice systems are continually failing, it was […]

Modern Griots Spotlight: Affirmative Action

Check out the new song, “Affirmative Action,” featuring rappers Animosity, Kevlar, Apex and my cousin, Rashida, aka Ms. “More Foxy Brown”. Also, go listen to the mixtape, It Was Bitten, by Avatar the Articulate (Avie Fresh and One-Take). From Kevin Nottingham: New York underground veteran emcee Avatar the Articulate pays homage to Nas’s sophomore album […]

The Percussive Approach in Hip-Hop Music

Since I just handed in my final draft for my undergraduate thesis, I wanted to talk a little bit about it. Basically, I use percussiveness as a structural basis for African diasporic music and philosophy. Percussiveness is not only about percussion instruments, but also about social impact, or how different rhythms and patterns of music, […]

Otherworldy Videos: Mr. Porter

1960 What? Be Good (Lion’s Song) Be Good (Lion’s Song) Lyrics Video

Modern Griots Spotlight: The Decoders

Les Fleurs feat. Boston Fielder Baby This Love I Have feat. Leon Ware The Decoders are Los Angeles-based producer duo Itai Shapira (producer/engineer & studio/live musician) and Todd Simon (trumpeter/arranger for Mayer Hawthorne, TV On The Radio, The Lions, Quantic, etc.), with heavy contributions from Quincy McCrary on keys (Mayer Hawthorne) and Blake Colie on […]

Otherworldly Videos: The Haunting

Mirel Wagner – No Death This video reminds me of Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Will Follow You Into the Dark.” Szjerdene – Blue Lullaby I heard this song on her mixtape a while ago and loved it, so I am glad she released the video! Jamarr Hall– Gravekeeper Deep poem on love, loneliness and […]

Otherworldy Videos: Charter Magic

Marques Toliver — “Charter Magic” from Butterflies Are Not Free (Source: The Now Playing Mag). His lyrics are mystically beautiful: Stop me if you can, if you can. I’m a free minded soul You can not find me cause I”m on a different level than yours. Catch me if you can, if you can. I’m […]