DivaJams

James Brown on the T.A.M.I. show. Keith Richards of The Rolling...

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 11:25:28 -0400

James Brown on the T.A.M.I. show. Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones once said that choosing to follow James and the Flames on this show was the biggest mistake of their careers,^[2] because no matter how well they performed, they could not top him. Michael Jackson was amazing but imo James is the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time.) As he said, “I taught Michael everything he knows. But I didn’t teach him everything I know.” #swag

SchoolboyQ “Fantasy” ft JHene Aiko - This. song. is....

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:30:42 -0400

SchoolboyQ “Fantasy” ft JHene Aiko - This. song. is. a. problem. #thatisall

Frank Ocean “Thinking Bout You” -This guy Frank...

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:09:03 -0400

Frank Ocean “Thinking Bout You” -This guy Frank Ocean man. I love this man. I really do. His videos freak me out and are unnecessarily weird in my opinion, but the music man, the music is just SO bananas. I’m obsessed with this gem of a song I found. I think it’s from his earlier days in the studio. But it is beautiful nonetheless.

Amanda Diva “Trendsetter” This is the newest video...

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:06:59 -0400

Amanda Diva “Trendsetter” This is the newest video off my Madame Monochrome project. Shot in paris by my peeps at Ofive.tv. Had a frickin blast. The painting is hanging in their office now:)

Black Hippy “Zip That Chop That”-On my constant...

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:05:11 -0400

Black Hippy “Zip That Chop That”-On my constant quest for dope new music I stumbled upon Black Hippy. Kendrick Lamar and company (AbSoul, SchoolboyQ, & Jay Rock) out of LA. LA’s bench of dope mcs gets deeper and deeper weekly. I love this record and the video makes u wanna hang out with these dudes. You can dl their mixtape “Constipation” here

Gil Scott Heron “Pieces of a Man” - Tonight we lost...

Sat, 28 May 2011 00:15:12 -0400

Gil Scott Heron “Pieces of a Man” - Tonight we lost an amazing poet/ musician/ and person. The work of Gil Scott Heron continued the era of consciousness and Black pride of the 60’s of 70’s and with it’s poetic yet musical form ushered in what we now know as hip hop. The honesty of his work as it related to him personally, to the world sociologically and to the people without judgement was unique and inspiring. He was a true artist who’s work was the definition of art as revolution. We as artists are left with a great burden in carrying on the level of this great creator’s work! RIP GIL! U WILL BE MISSED BUT YOUR GIFTS ENDURE!

whats the name of the song you're singing in the Technicolor Lover: Ep 13 (with skibeatz on youtube)? sounds so good, i hella like your voice :)

Fri, 13 May 2011 14:10:00 -0400

thanks! the song is “This Too Shall Pass”. it’ll be on my next album Technicolor Lover :) [check out the episode here Technicolor Lover EP 13 ]

Bill Withers “Lovely Day” - It’s Friday 13th...

Fri, 13 May 2011 14:09:40 -0400

Bill Withers “Lovely Day” - It’s Friday 13th but there’ll be no wickedness or misfortune today. Let’s make it a lovely one <3

Amanda Diva “Catch Me” I only just put this out on...

Wed, 11 May 2011 12:27:15 -0400

Amanda Diva “Catch Me” I only just put this out on my latest release Madame Monochrome but this song is like 4 years old. That’s how long I’ve been feeling a frustration with hip hop. Originally Kweli was going to be on the record but our schedules didn’t line up. Producer extrodinaire James Poyser did the beat. As were both honorary members of the Roots crew it only seemed right. It’s funny though, I came up with the idea for this video really randomly and had no idea people would like it as much as they’ve said they have. It really proves that you often don’t need big money or big production to make something dope. A lot of times quality and honesty are enough. Enjoy! You can check out the full project here

Human League “I’m Only Human” I love...

Wed, 11 May 2011 12:22:51 -0400

Human League “I’m Only Human” I love 80’s music man. Love it. I went to an impromptu show jazz musician Robert Glasper did with his quartet The Experience the other night and they did a cover of this record. I had totally forgotten about but it really is a nice record and I love the arrangements. I think we can all benefit from the message too. It can be a bitch to embrace that truth but it is what it is. Humans screw up!

you like beats in hiphop, lyrically youre a beast! hands down. I like your song Babies. On your next ep will you included the song Girlfriend?

Tue, 10 May 2011 02:25:07 -0400

thanks Nat! yup Girlfriend is slated for Technicolor Lover which hopefully will drop at the end of June:)

Ben E. King “Stand By Me” I’ve been go through...

Tue, 10 May 2011 02:24:26 -0400

Ben E. King “Stand By Me” I’ve been go through a really rough time but my friends have been stellar. This song is for them. <3

Amanda Diva “Manchild” Ok, ya’ll know I...

Wed, 04 May 2011 13:08:48 -0400

Amanda Diva “Manchild” Ok, ya’ll know I don’t do this but my album just came out so it was fitting. I wrote this song after dating a dude who though 36 acted like he was still 25. I felt like a lot of folks could relate. You can check out the whole project Madame Monochrome here

"I do what I do because it works 4 my soul even when it doesn’t 4 my pockets. Only true artists..."

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:54:00 -0400

“I do what I do because it works 4 my soul even when it doesn’t 4 my pockets. Only true artists & lovers of true art understand that.”

- me

Illmatic came out today 17 years ago (that makes me fell old i copped it that day!) what are your thoughts on this classic album

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:10:08 -0400

Illmatic is def one of the illest albums (yes, in general) of our time. A friend recently told me he believes that Nas was really writing on the experiences of his late homeboy Ill Will which i thought was a different and intriguing perspective to view the album from. Nonetheless it gives a glimpse into 90’s NY that is raw yet honest and tough yet vulnerable (like a lot of NY brothas i know!) I think one the greatest merits of Illmatic is it’s like a time capsule of some of the greatest hip hop producers of that time at their height! Q-Tip, L.E.S., Large Pro, Pete Rock, Premo etc. man! that’s like a priceless collection of musical masterpiecery! ”Who’s World is This” though cliche, is my fav record off the album (did you know that’s Pete’s vox on the hook? “it’s mine it’s mine it’s mine…”) but i can’t front when “Represent” is randomly played in a club setting i lose it! “STRAIGHT UP SHIT IS REAL AND ANY DAY COULD BE YOUR LAST IN THE JUNGLE!” HE MEANT THAT YO! LOL It’s only 10 tracks but it’s flawless. Lyrically innovative (no one was flowing like that, in that style, not even GRap, back then) and musically versatile yet fluid (the contrast from the heavy bass and keys of “NY State of Mind” to the light tones of “One Love” is vast but still effortlessly connected). As an ouvre of work it stands amongst the greats. To think Nasir was only 19 (til [he] woke up early on [his] born day/ [he’s] 20 it’s a blessing! ;)

so i'm pretty late on it but i just came across the video for "manchild." story of my life. and the way you put everything, so good. thanks for that track :)

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:40:34 -0400

i think we’ve all got a lil bit of experience with that track! glad it reached you:) thanks for the love!

WEE “I’m All Changed” I went with Q-tip on one...

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:23:54 -0400

WEE “I’m All Changed” I went with Q-tip on one of his record digging missions the other day and we came across this album You Can Fly on my Aeroplane. He was like, “YO, you need to know about that. Shit is crraazzyyy.” So of course I went home and set to getting acquainted and boy oh boy he wasn’t lying. They’re also a fav of Ski Beatz’s on the sample tip. Man they don’t make music like this anymore! The arrangements vocal and instrumental are jst ill to the 10th power. Go through some of the other links on Youtube and check some of their other joints and other hits from the era. You won’t be sorry!

Sara Bareilles “Gravity” Heard this song on...

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:11:00 -0400

Sara Bareilles “Gravity” Heard this song on Community last night. It’s beautiful. Sara is one of the great new song writers of our time. Reminds me of Sara McClachlan. I swore by this song in h.s. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CbAjj80NIM I think we’ve all been in this place at least once. Love is a doozie…

Tame Impala “Solitude is Bliss” This is off their...

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:01:26 -0400

Tame Impala “Solitude is Bliss” This is off their upcoming album “Inner Speaker” dropping June 8. Heard about this band from Australia while watching Kings of Leon live at Coachella on Youtube (technology is amazing). This record had me from inception. That guitar pattern that repeats is killin! Plus they have a definite Beatles influence and well, you can’t go wrong with that now can you? Loving this guys!

Mary J “My Life” A great record. All the time....

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:05:08 -0400

Mary J “My Life” A great record. All the time. period.