The HighLife

Happy cinco people.  We are officially steaming towards summertime right now, so I thought i'd lay down a couple of tracks from the land of perpetual heat. Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
As far as the African continent is concerned Nigeria provides the swagger. This video does a lot to support that claim.  I heard the track at a wedding recently, and it destroyed the dance floor.  From Mushin by way of the reknowned Mo' Hits label, definitely keep your eyes on this artist.
Wande Coal - Bumper to Bumper



B-Side
Speaking of swagger, this track literally comes out and lets you know all about it.  The title essentially means "uncontrollably hot", and the track is by one of the biggest names on the African/Nigerian music scene right now. Even my eight year old cousin in Dallas knows the deal. Don't hate...
D'banj - Gbono fele fele




And that's it today people.  Stay cool.  Until next time, be easy.

In case you forgot, happy tax deadline day friends!  Or you could be one of the few without the burden of taxation.  Either way, it's funny the things that concern you as you grow up.  Which brings us to today's selections.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
Here's a rapper that's all business.  Cutting his chops at age 16 on A Tribe called Quest's 1993 release Midnight Marauders, he eventually ended up on Kanye West's GOOD Music label in 2005.  This is his latest single from 2010's Movie On Demand.
Consequence - Childish Games (ft. Asher Roth)



B-Side
Back to the things you concern yourself with growing up.  The thought process that goes into songwriting is one thing that i certainly wonder about, especially when it comes to this song.  I've always liked this artist's work.  No nonsense dance music to make you sweat from head to toe.  Plus, for this new album he goes back to a tried and tested production collaboration with Lil Jon; but i've got to wonder now if he's got Jon writing his lyrics too.  Who knows, it's worked before.
Pitbull - Watagatapitusberry (Remix) ft. Lil Jon, Sensato, Black Point & El Cata




Aight then ladies and gents, that's it today.  I'll leave you to take care of those p's and q's.  Until next time.  Be easy.

Hola amigos! I hope your spring is coming in nicely!  I've sort of been in a retro mood all day, and these tracks have done their part in getting me there.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
This song was recently just used in a scene on my favorite new hbo show.  I've always liked this song, it reminds me of the something the Rascals' would make.  The kind of music that you can leave on repeat all day long just because it sounds sooo good.  The lyrics are also quite awesome.  Thank you television.
Tommy James & The Shondells - Crystal Blue Persuasion



B-Side
These guys have been claiming a growing market share of my listening lately.  Considering the amount of talent that they wield, and the expansive catalog, it's a surprise that they haven't been in the limelight more often.  I've posted a few of their tracks randomly on the HL over the past few weeks.  Def peep those.  But the big news is that they released a brand new album last week called "Interpreting the Masters Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall & John Oates".  Yup. Just press play.
The Bird and The Bee - Private Eyes



++I can't go for that (Live w/ John Oates)++

That'll do it today.  Keep on keepin on.  Until next time, be easy.

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!