Five For Friday: In The Moment

The other day, I went to a free Jungle Brothers* concert in Red Hook, some bizarre upscale-meets-industrial neighboorhood in Brooklyn where everyone rides a bike and no one knows their way around.


Amateur sketch of Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Anyway, as I told my older sister my plans to go, she said "Um, do you ever go hear music from your era?" She has chided me in the past for "reliving the 90's as an adult", which I think I am doing a GREAT job at, without having to dress like I stepped off the set of House Party 2 (which is more than I can say for a lot of folks these days). However, while my love for the music of my favorite era (late 80's to late 90's) will never die, I am gonna push myself to get more familiar with some of the latest. Today's FFF are artists who are more current and still manage to get in my daily rotation. Please leave suggestions for other cats worth checking out in the comments section!


1) Kidz In The Hall- "Driving Down The Block"


I salute ANYONE who namechecks both the Howard Marching Band and The Sybaris! The emcee Nawledge is a nice dude from the Chi and the albulm has gotten heavy rotaion in my vehicle for the past few months. I wonder if the dude Double-O is single, he cute!

2) Terrence 'Slickback' Howard- "Sanctuary"

Can I make a confession? I am a little bit terrified of Terrence Howard. He is sexy and scary as hell at the same time. I don't know how to take him! He seems really intense. Like he'd bite you and draw blood, but it wouldn't hurt. He really, really, really scares me. But I like this song. He sounds a lot like his namesake, Terrance Trent D'arby, right?

I shivered the whole time I typed that. I don't know what it is, perhaps the devil eyes**? He looks like he's trying to burn my soul.

3)Solange- "Champagne Chronic Nightcap"


I know this track has been out for a minute, but it's on her forthcoming album and I LOVES it! I was trying to tell cats a year ago to check for Solange, but it seems like people are finally seeing that she's way cooler than her sister. A lot of people are calling "contrived", but I think that her record is gonna be solid.

4) Usher- Here I Stand


I had never purchased an Usher record before Here I Stand, but I (and maybe I alone) LOVE him and his wife together. And that was reason enough for me to support him! Okay, I bought the bootleg, but my heart was in it. And I'm gonna trade up to the real deal eventually, because the RIAA gods frowned on me and I spilled baby oil on it. But still. I was hoping Mr. Raymond would have delivered more ballads now that he's got the grown man status, but I liked a number of tracks on the CD and this was my fave. It's such a beautiful song! I wish him and Tameka luck and I just want to grab that little fat baby of theirs offa the Essence cover and kiss his widdle cheeks!


5) Keite Young f/N'Dambi "If We Were Alone"


I got put on to N'Dambi in high school and I have been a huge fan ever since. She used to sing background for Erykah, but it's evident she's quite an artist in her own right. If you can get a copy of Little Lost Girl's Blues or Tunin' Up And Co-Signing....do it NOW. I am just getting familar with this Keite Young cat, but he reminds me of Bilal a bit. Where the HELL he been, btw?

Y'all don't know how hard I struggled to put this list together. The last CD I bought was Brownstone's "From The Bottom Up" from a street vendor who inexplicably only had 90's music. He musta knew I was coming. Please save me for myself and put me on to some folks!

Have a good weekend,
Sister Toldja


*-Ok, I don't feel right saying it was a Jungle Brothers concert, when Afrika Baby B.A.M wasn't there! I reckon I should have seen that coming, but I was still disappointed.
**-Please tell me I am not the only one who remembers Brian Fellow from SNL? "That goat keep staaaring at me. He got devil eyes!" No? Anybody?