The HighLife

Are you sitting comfortably?  Now let's begin.  Or more so, close out 2009.  It's seems that everyone is really eager to throw out 2009 with the bath water.  I personally beg to differ.  A common malady of our current web 2.0 generation is ridiculously short memory spans, and if some of us were to actually consider the entirety of '09 we'd find something to cheer about.  So here's my thanks to 09.  The year that connected all of us much closer than we are even yet to realize; giving way to the rise of social media, unreal NYC all night dance parties, the disco ball at Santos party House, pastel colored sunglasses, the most ridiculous Bonnaroo ever, Pretty Lights, Phish coming back, the most amazing concert i've ever been to with The Roots and Antibalas @ the Red Bull Soundclash, rocking out underneath the McGrath Bridge, free Chester French and Wale concert in Harvard Square, Jesse Dee, The Bodega Girls, Show Dem Camp, Blackjoy, Shepard Fairey at the ICA, dance parties at the ICA... i could keep going but it'd take too long.  So if you're of the opinion that this year wasn't that great, you probably weren't trying hard enough. 





As we proceed into the new year, the Highlife crew would like to thank you all for your support.  This enterprise has been a leap of faith from the beginning, and it wouldn't be possible without all of you out there.  The scary thing about leaps of faith is that you don't how or if you'll land.  But you have to jump anyway.  That said, our resolution for 2010 is to make the impossible possible.  Keep watching this space.

Jumpoff On Point 2009


Happy New Year!!!

Greetings ladies and gents! I hope i find you well.  I'm officially doing well, Mr. C. Ronaldo is not playing in Spain, things are right with the world.  But i digress, no need to get personal, this is about music after all.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side



"Baby, i need your loving", "It's the same old song", "Bernadette!", "Ain't no woman like the one i've got". Each and everyone of the preceding words sparks a distinct impression in your mind.  You can already hear the melody, and you already know what lines follows the lyrics. That is the magnificence of that this next group embodies.  Need i say more.  The Four Tops - Hello Stranger (w/ The Supremes)/ Love Music/ Reach out i'll be there/ Standing in the shadows of love

B-Side
This next group in recent times has been considered more of a pop group than a hiphop group.  But people tend to forget that before their truly mainstream success in 2003, they were probably one of the better examples of socially conscious, intelligent hiphop, that could actually make you dance and ponder the issues of society all in one album.  I'd advise looking for their first two albums, and putting them on replay for a while.  To aid the process, here's a set of songs from those albums to get you started.  If you find yourself asking where's Fergie, she wasn't in the group then.  Good thing? Bad thing? You be the judge.  Black Eyed Peas - Joints & Jam/ Fallin' up/ Hot


And that will do it for today.  I hope it's warm wherever you are.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi