The 2015 Netflix trailer for the Get Down gave us a glimpse of 1970’s New York and the birth of hip hop with the fire and drama you would expect from a Baz Luhrmann production. When the show launched August 12, they managed to deliver on lush cinematography, stunning style and familiar hip hop samples, but well after an … Continue reading The Let Down: Netflix’s Ambitious Take on the Birth of Hip Hop Falls Flat
Here’s some music for your Saturday. Love this mix of amazing songs from the early days of disco, Proto Disco. If this doesn’t get your day off on the right foot I don’t know what will. 🙂 Enjoy! Continue reading What I’m Listening To: the Proto Disco Edition
I have a slight obsession with disco. I honestly don’t know where it began but I’ve loved it since I was a little girl. Because of my love for disco, I get very defensive when it is routinely dragged as a vapid musical art form. WHY DO PEOPLE HATE DISCO? My quest to answer this … Continue reading SUPERNOVA: The Rebirth of Disco
Legendary producer/ DJ Larry Levan’s birthday is today, so I thought I would pay tribute to the musical master by giving you a sneak peek of a project I’m launching on TONDI soon. This piece is best read by listening to Levan’s music and this 1979 live recorded set at the Paradise Garage is about as good as it … Continue reading The Legacy of Larry Levan, the Soul of Paradise Garage
Last month, one of my reviews on MoAD’s latest exhibitions was featured on Arts.Black. Please click on the link below to learn more about The Grace Jones Project and Dandy Lion. The Provocation of Agency and Ambiguity I truly appreciate the efforts of Taylor and Jessica to amplify the voices of black arts writers. Check … Continue reading Feature in Arts.Black: The Provocation of Agency and Ambiguity
I promised myself I was not going to write about Lemonade, but here I am shaking my head. Why is everyone asking the same questions about Lemonade? Who is Becky? Did Jay really cheat? Is Beyoncé paying homage to Pipilotti Rist? Ok that 3rd one is pretty esoteric, but that’s what the art world is … Continue reading Why Are We Asking the Same Questions About Lemonade?
Art and music collide in a beautifully explosive Steinway & Sons collaboration that showcases the Spirio piano in a new light. The Steinway Commission pairs visual artists with Steinway musicians to create unique works of art that reflect their collaborative vision and process. This three year project makes its debut with a Steinway Spirio piano that … Continue reading The Ghost in the Machine: Mark Bradford & Robert Glasper Combine Creative Forces
