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!!!

What it is people.  While were on the topic of haunting music that you can't get out of your head (thank you Corey!).  Here are a couple that will most definitely percolate around your cranium for a while.  Plus some images that will certainly do the same.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side

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Where is Lloyd?  This song is probably about two years old now, but for whatever reason each time i hear it again it always seems like the first time hearing it.  The remix is also just as persistent, but the original "oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh g-g-g-get it shawty" gets me everytime.  Get yours.  Lloyd - Get it Shawty



B-Side

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I dare you to listen to this and not get it stuck in your head.  Pick one, the verse, the chorus, the beat; it will stay with you.  Whatever your feelings may be about The Dutchess, just remember that the "the girl can't help it."  Fergie - Clumsy



That'll do it today.  Try to keep your mind positive, regardless of what finds its way into your head.  Stay cool. Until next time, be easy.

Happy Friday people!  I've been in a great mood all day and it seemed like a good idea to share some of the goodness.  I put up a few On Point posts last week about Dimitri from Paris and Fantastic Plastic Machine, that if you peeped will be a perfect segue into this contents of this post.   There have been a few new releases in the past few months that have got me pretty excited about life.  Mos Def's The Ecstatic, Brother Ali's US, Gossip's Music for Men, the second half of Jay-Z's Blueprint 3, and Ghostface Killah's Ghostdini, Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City, to name a few.   So for those who haven't been on top of their music game lately, here's a refresher course in what you've been missing.  Plus a few other gems from Saint Etienne, Syreeta, The Disco Biscuits, Ugly Duckling, and Pharcyde.  It's music to handle bidness to.   Welcome to The Jumpoff!

Business Related Affairs


That's all today.  Rock it out this weekend, or at least try to be creative.  Until next time, be easy.
-Afolabi

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen! It's been a bit.  I haven't really been on top of writing lately, as i'm sure some might have noticed.  I promise it's all been for good reason.  We're a year old now at The Highlife, and i thought i'd thank all of you out there livin' the highlife with a Jumpoff.  We're only just getting started people, and it seemed fitting to kick it old school to give you a glimpse of things to come on The Highlife.  Take for example, the image you're looking at right now.  Created by one of Boston's finest artists, Dan Szymanowski. You may not know him yet; that'll change.  But like i said, this is only just a preview. Welcome to The Jumpoff!



A-Side
This British house duo has been making me dance since high school, but i kinda eased off their sound once college hit.  Which would explain why i'd gone relatively unaware of their 2003 release, Kish Kash, for quite a while. Nevertheless, it made its way into my ears, and now it will make its way into yours. The juicy cuts at least. This is Basement Jaxx.



B-Side
Sometime last year i put up a post with the Entourage Season 5 closing credits soundtrack.  They're not killin' it so much this year; the show's still good though.  But the song from last week was absolutely solid. They dug deep to find an unreleased gem from the catalog of a music legend; I have nothing more to add... Marvin Gaye - Piece of Clay



And that'll do it for today.  I can't say when next i'll be posting, but it'll be sooner rather than later.  Live, love, be the highlife.  Stay cool.  Until next time, be easy.
-Afolabi

Hey there people!  Happy Monday!  Hopefully yours is unfolding all smooth and easy-like.   By design, it's been a while since wrote one of these.  But last weekend i heard a song, watched a show, got to thinking, and decided this was the best way to share my mind in this particlular case.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
This next artist has been featured on here a few times.  Her debut album had more of an old-school Lady 'Day feel to it, but her latest album (Epiphany - in stores now) has been infused with more updated sounds and such.  I'm all for versatility regardless of what you do, and this album is testament to that.  This is the title  track on the album; from the lyrics to the beat and everthing else in between, it's pretty sweet, just like the artist herself... Chrisette Michele - Epiphany


B-Side
This is possibly one of the easiest songs ever written, and i don't mean easy as in not difficult.  Despite the fact that i've known this song for ages, it always sounds ageless whenever i hear it.  From her impossibly superb debut album, Come Away with Me, this is... Norah Jones - Don't know why



And that will do it this time.  Hope the rest of the week is awesome.  Keep on keepin' on.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

It's Friday again people!  Hope your week has been awesome.  It's been an African kind of week for me.  I've been dropping highlife and afrobeat tracks all week, and today we'll be concluding the series with a diverse set of tracks that truly hit at the essence of the genres.  Relax, drop your inhibitions, pick up your feet, and dance like you're the only one in the room.  This is Afrobeat.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

And i'm spent!  That'll it do it for now.  Hope you've enjoyed the selections.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

p.s. Flavorheard w/ Certified Max  of Certified Bananas @ Middlesex Lounge  tonight.  Do it!

One day til the weekend and please believe i'm so ready for it.  My Pitt Panthers will be taking the floor soon, and i just had to drop this edition as a herald of future success.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
We looked at music from Femi Kuti yesterday, and continuing the trend we've got music from his younger brother today.  I've mentioned this guy a bunch already on this site, search his name on here and you'll find it.  Regardless, this is the future of afrobeat.  Seun Kuti - Don't bring that shit to me, Mosquito Song


B-Side
We go back to Ghana for the second track of the day.  This is another artist i've never really heard of before, but i really like this song.  Ebo Taylor - Atwer Abroba


That's it for today.  It's almost the weekend! Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Hello again.  Nothing witty to say.  Straight to the afrobeat we go.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
As we work our way down the seniority chain, we find ourselves at the first offspring of afrobeat.  His father created the sound, and he's done a lot to carry the sound into halls that typically wouldn't have it.  Unlike his father's strictly pan-African view of music, and the world, he's branched out into many other genres and worked with artists spanning many tongues, cultures, and countries.  I've also seen he and his band, The Positive Force, performing live.  And i'll tell you this much, i left drenched in my own effort, but what sweet effort it was.  Femi Kuti - Live for Today/ No Shame


B-Side
Highlife music is a very West African genre.  The Gold Coast, also known as Ghana, does highlife, and they do it very well.  It could be argued that highlife made it's way over from Ghana into Nigeria, which eventually led to the birth of afrobeat.  But we're not here for that.  This is a Ghanaian band from the highlife era i assume, origin unknown to me, that has a really nice sound with a really poignant message.  The Third Generation Band - Because of Money


And on it goes.  Keep on keeping on.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Back on the grind!  But it's cool, it's officially springtime!  There a fresh new week ahead, and i'm looking forward to some upward trending weather.  Hopefully the tracks this week do the same, quality-wise.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
We'll ease into this with a song by a Nigerian afrocentric-jazz musician.  The song is an homage to afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti (the title is his full name).  True to the afrobeat sound, the piano groove works you through the entire song while all the other instrument jam out.  And by the time the song is over all you want it to do is keep going.  Kayode Olajide - Olufela


B-Side
If there ever was a song made, as far as i'm concerned, that would warrant the classification of "perfect".  This next song would be it.  This song jump started my interest in all things afrobeat.  The horns are the energy that float over the everlasting groove percolating underneath.  And is it ever percolating.   When listening to this, ignore the horns for a bit, let the keyboard and guitar take you, and then bring it all back together.  You'll be glad, and singing that groove to yourself for the rest of the day.  The song pretty much advises you to be wary of would-be showoffs/posers/power-trippers, and gives examples of where said "power show"(s) could take place.  So, if you're on one, get off the high horse and relax.  Fela Kuti - Power Show


That's it today.  Hope the week goes swell.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi