Just so you all know: The site’s being transitioned over to WordPress.  The move has happened, but I’m close to a final decision on a new theme that will take this whole look and feel up several notches.  So, no–in case you’re wondering–I’m not planning on leaving the site in this blah state indefinitely.

Thanks for bearing with me while I get things hooked up.

Thanks again to everyone who donated so that I could make the trip.

UPDATE: For those of you in/around NYC in July, Death will perform as part of Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors program, the 27th Annual Roots of American Music on July 31.  Check it here.

That's the question posed by Latoya Peterson of race and pop culture blog Racialicious on TheRoot.com.  I'm honored that she thought to get my opinion on the subject.  Here's where she quoted me:

But is radio the only path to success for musicians like Monae?
Former music industry PR professional Rob Fields says no. Currently a
''black rock evangelist,'' he founded the site BoldAsLove.us,
a blog which explores ''the new black imagination.'' Fields, still a
promoter at heart, believes that Monae's production team already has
changed the game for outsider artists by pulling together a multifaceted
presence. He agrees with House that ''the fans of Monae are not
listening to commercial radio,'' but attributes the shift to the same
formula that House embraces–music designed for hits may rule the
airwaves, but those in search of a different sound have packed up and
invested elsewhere.

Instead, Fields says, more and more people are looking outside of
radio for musical alternatives that are ''spiritually fulfilling.'' As
he sees it, Monae's groundswell of support from both hip-hop underground
and indie rock circles, heralds the ends of the end of the radio era.
''You know how water bends light? The culture medium bends all kind of
things,'' Fields says. ''Janelle can have success outside of black
radio. By the time black radio catches up, she'll already be a
superstar.''

In short, Monae's strong numbers–from ticket and record sales–will
eventually be the only gatepass she needs to break into the mainstream.
''It's about making it matter in the marketplace,'' Fields says.
''Janelle Monae has been able to show that her music matters.''

You can read the full article here.

Over 500 people joined us for the launch of WRFB last night!  And thanks to all who tuned in, not just for my show, but for the segments hosted by YankeeZulu, Christian Wikane and Shelley Nicole.

I'll have info on a link to the podcast shortly.  In the meantime, here's my set list (song/artist/time/album):

1. Ready to Move – The Thirst    3:53    Afro-punk VOL2 "FUCK ROCK STARS"
2. Ghost And The Witness    3:44    Earl Greyhound    Suspicious Package   
3. DLZ    3:49    TV On The Radio    Dear Science       
4. Freedom is Over    Sophia Ramos    Revelator
5. Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine    3:00    Carolina Chocolate Drops    Genuine Negro Jig   
6. STORY    4:10    The Family Stand    Definition   
7. On Planet Earth    4:24    California King    Adoration of the Boogie Bear   
8. FOUR4    4:32    the CAESARZ    all hail 2.0       
9. So Have I    3:04    TECLA    Strangers In Masks       
10. Huff + Puff    3:58    Just A Band    82    Akwaaba Music     
11. Wasted (Fill My House With Salt)    5:39    MuthaWit    men & women  
12. Caught    5:27    Tamar-kali    Black Bottom       

It was cool, too, to be able to have a world premiere.  Yes, those of you who listened got to hear a new track off the forthcoming album by MuthaWit featuring Boston Fielder.  The song was "Wasted (Fill My House With Salt)".  No worries, I'll be posting it in a day or so, and the song will be available on Sunday, Mother's (Mutha's) Day.  So, that's why you've got to tune in: You never know what you'll hear.  Whether it's the unveiling of a new song,  a special guest interview (Christian interviewed singer Russell Taylor), or one of Shelley Nicole's great themed shows (last night was "Law & Order").

The summer's only gonna get hotter!

Actually, it's not just me.  No, I'll be joined by three other dope hosts for the launch of WRFB (which, by the way does NOT stand for Rob Fields Broadcasting), Radio Free Brooklyn. In addition to me, you'll also hear from Yankee Zulu, Christian John Wikane, and Shelley Nicole of Shelley Nicole's blaKbushe.

You can tune in from 7-11PM EST tomorrow and every Tuesday via the link here.

The schedule will go something like this:

7-8pm Yankee Zulu

8-9pm The Flying Perfect Parlor with Christian John Wikane

9-10pm Sounds from the New Black Imagination with Rob Fields

10-11pm Shelley Nicole

I can tell you that each segment is still evolving.  Right now, Yankee Zulu does what he calls an "eclectic mix of old and new school."  Christian covers a lot of territory, from Dixie Cups (1964) to Kenna (2007) to all points between.  I, of course, will be spinning global black rock, Afro-Punk and some odds and ends.  And Shelley's been doing a great job of theming her shows: For the first test run it was "My People", music by artists she knows. Test #2 was "Covers" which explored the cover song.  Tomorrow night's show is "Law & Order".  Can't wait to hear this!

Again, you can listen to the live stream tomorrow via the link on this page.

And feel free to reach out to WRFB via the following channels:

• Requests, suggestions, questions can be sent to radiofreebrooklynonline@gmail.com
• Follow WRFB on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/radiofreebklyn
• Call in via Skype at 917 267 7824

One more thing: For the launch tomorrow and probably next week also, I'll just be playing music.  As I get more comfortable with all the equipment, I plan to start adding live or call-in interview segments featuring a range of folks, everyone from musicians, filmmakers, writers, visual artists, academics, perhaps even an occasional politician.  As long as they're representative of the "new black imagination," it's all good.  So stay tuned for announcements about interview segments.

Thanks again to the folks at Brooklyn Movie Labs for hosting the show and providing the equipment for us all to get our DJ on!

I'm honored, too, to have been included in this list, which just came out yesterday.  And way beyond the fact that I'm in it, there are hella talented and dynamic folks in this group.  Here they are in the order that they appear:

• Olympia Scott, WNBA champion
• Latoicha Givens, intellectual property lawyer
• Daymond John, FUBU co-founder
• Bryant Terry, healthy food architect
• Toure, writer, pundit and agent provocateur
• Paul Carrick Brown, matchmaker/life coach
• Judith Stephens, entrepreneur/"The Money Lady"
• James Neal, library- and infophile
• Scott Williams, internet pastor and creator of the #FistBump
• Don Lemon, CNN anchor
• Rosetta Thurman, social change artist
• Dwayne Rodgers, photographer
• Rebecca Walker, author and activist
• Yahya Henry, sustainability advocate
• Raquel Cepeda, writer and filmmaker
• Clutch Magazine, Deanna Sutton's fashion destination
• Questlove of the the legendary Roots crew
• Erykah Badu aka Godiva
• Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ

Check out them all out here and, if you're on Twitter, consider following them.

Sincere thanks to Robin Caldwell, PR maven and one of the partners in BlackWeb 2.0, who suggested me for this list.

BTW, it’s about a 90 minute interview.

I’ll be interviewing Ytasha later this week, so stay tuned.

Additional link:

• Afronerd

While I wasn’t interviewed for the book, I did join Ytasha by phone to talk about black rock.  I’m reading her book now and will return the favor with an interview with her on this blog in a few weeks.  In the meantime, here’s an excerpt of our conversation:

YTASHA L. WOMACK: Why do you believe there is a new wave of black rock bands?

RF: I just think that what we are beginning to see is that people, particularly black folks are reaching beyond the narrow bounds of black life that we had been relegated to in greater numbers than before. You always had people in the fringe, people who were into rock or punk. But one of the beautiful things about technology is that it has allowed people of like minded interests to find one another. There are a lot of people out here who are into punk or rock and aren’t into the paradigm of commercial hip hop or the r & b lover kind of thing. There is so much more to life than that.

YLW: The flourishing black rock scene is a cultural statement?

RF: It’s a really exciting time. Black rock isn’t about black kids picking up guitars, but rather an invitation to be brave and to question what we do, how we express ourselves and what we think of as traditionally black. Those are important things to look at if we are going to be citizens of the world. We have to be open to ideas, new people, and embrace diverse influences. It puts us in touch with our humanity. That is what black rock offers.

YLW: Is the rise of black rock also a way of challenging hip hop as the primary expression of black youth culture?

RF: Black folks aren’t all thinking about the hip hop paradigm in terms of the way it presents masculinity or the way it presents black authenticity. There are a whole lot of black identities out there. We’ve always known that. We’ve never been this monolith. We have more ideas about what black is and you are broadening that definition with the Post Black concept at a time when we need. it. The world has gone global and we’re still trying to rep our hood and our block. That’s not even the game anymore.

YLW: Why did you create BoldAsLove.com

RF: I started it 3 years ago. I felt a cultural shift happening. With black rock, black people were exploring the musical spectrum. (Black rock) was moving off the fringes. It’s in the mainstream. You have Passing Strange on Broadway, Farai Chideya did a novel called Kiss the Sky about a black woman who has a rock band. Artists like Janelle Monet and others aren’t fitting neatly into what’s black. It’s happening in London, too. President Obama is the example of what you’re talking about with Post Black. We can’t be Post Black until people stop being racist, but Obama is a sense of this larger world. It ‘s happening in music, in art. It’s all this post blackness. I interviewed an African American artist recently and she said her favorite artist was Led Zepplin. Back in the day you would never say that.

Read the full interview here.

Additional links:

• Buy Post Black from Amazon
• Visit the Post Black blog

Do you like what you’ve seen on this blog over the last three years? If so, consider making a small donation–$1, $5, $10–whatever you can. Here’s why I’m asking and how you can donate.

"Fire in the Dark compiles a broad and radical, yet cohesive and
distinctly black array of musical offerings that does challenge
perceptions on contemporary articulations of the African American
musical legacy. And the challenge comes in a loud, passionate and
measured package." Read more here. . .

"Amazing." Read more here. . .

". . .all worth a listen."  Read more here. . .

"There are some amazing tracks on this set, most notably a track by Tamar-Kali whom I love, love love."  Read more here. . .

". . .fiercely worth the time (as it includes MilkPlus, Tamar Kali, California King, and a host of other sonic titans)." Read more here. . .

"This compilation album features some pretty dope bands and artists in
black rock. With sounds coming from the U.S., UK and abroad this
collective fuses black rock, afro-punk and black alternative music."  Read more here. . . 

"fantastic"  Read more here. . .

If you still haven't checked out the Boldaslove.us compilation, you can find a download link here.

We catch up with TheDollDaze to talk to her about her sound, her new EP “The Acid Report” and to get a sense of her journey as an artist in the Atlanta scene.

DOWNLOAD

Have you taken the Boldaslove.us black rock audience survey? It only takes 5 minutes!  Click here to start.