Historic: BAMcafe Live All-Stars: Jam Rock for Tom Terrell w/ the BRC Dread Ensemble
May 11, 2012 @ BAMcafe Live Thanks to everyone who came out to witness the BRC Orchestra channel the music of Steel Pulse in memory of Tom Terrell. It was truly a great way to remember a treasured friend and, as always, we thank BAMCafe live for showing us love for the 10th […]
GIL SCOTT-HERON (we miss you)
discover: gilscottheron.net
BOLD AS LOVE* (Rob Fields’ Culture Magazine)
discover: boldaslove.us
VERNON REID
In this edition of Progressive Forum, we conclude our celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the Black Rock Coalition with a tribute to the three co-founders of the organization: Guitarist/band leader exemplar Vernon Reid, musician/journalist Greg Tate; manager/video and film producer Konda Mason. In this final installment, we speak with Vernon Reid, the catalyst, visionary […]
SAUL WILLIAMS
Everything the Saul Williams says and does is both poetic and musical. Words flow naturally with an emotion and elegance reserved usually for various temples of worship. His latest prayer book, Amethyst Rock Star (American/Island/Def Jam) opens a stained-glass window onto the divine wellspring that he draws his seemingly endless inspiration from. Let’s talk […]
NONA HENDRYX
Last year, when industry weasels trumpeted “The Year of the Woman,” on the strength of the Morrisettes, the Harveys, the Osbournes, the Mitchells, et. al., and praised themselves for making room for women songwriters, musicians and producers, did you find yourself saying, “What’s wrong with this picture? What about the sistuhs? The NdegéOcellos, the Farrises, […]
MOS DEF (circa 1998)
For all the clamor in hip-hop’s chaotic stratosphere about “keepin’ shit real,” there seem to be only a handful of individuals who genuinely understand its spirit. Mos Def is the heir apparent to the legacy of a soul-salvaging art form and way of life that has long been desecrated by big business. His album Black […]
ME’SHELL N’DEGEOCELLO
It is only fitting that in our final edition of the BRC print newsletter, we have FINALLY captured the Holy Grail. From the very beginning, we have pursued the ever-elusive Me’shell Ndegeocello for a rap session, but fate always seemed to conspire against us. Now, as she releases perhaps her greatest work of her brilliant […]
HERBIE HANCOCK
Herbie Hancock, legendary virtuoso keyboardist, composer and producer, has always had his eyes fixed firmly on what’s next. From his apprenticeships with legends like Miles Davis, to cutting edge work in jazz/funk fusion with his Headhunters band, to his hip-hop experiments when the genre was in its infancy, Hancock has almost always been a step […]