Karma Mayet Johnson

My now monthly stint on WRFB-Radio Free Brooklyn continued last night.  Good to be back in the Bed-Stuy studio.  Here’s a list of what I played (song/artist/album) :

1. The Reins    California King    La Belle Epoque    Rock
2. Bridge (prod. by RJD2)       Jean Grae
3. Revelation        Sabatta    Yinka Music Vol 1 – Sex Power Death
4. Mama Don’t Like My Man     Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings    I Learned the Hard Way (Bonus Version)
5. When I Lay You Down     Chocolate Genius    Swansongs
6. Davey Rockit    Pigeon John    Dragon Slayer
7. Revolution    Method Of Defiance    Jahbulon
8. Power     Kanye West    My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
9. All Matter   Robert Glasper    Double Booked
10. You Ain’t Changed    Karma Mayet Johnson    September Songs
11. We Portal Rose   MuthaWit    MuthaWit @ Rose Live

Here’s the actual show.  Feel free to download and take the show with you.  In addition to the music, you can check my commentary on both Kanye and Bilal.  Your thoughts? Leave ‘em in the comments section below.

http://official.fm/track/182672

I jumped all over the place tonight, starting with The Fish Police (above, from the UK).  To wit (song/artist/album):

1. Black Scissors The Fish Police    The Fish Police EP
2. Born 2 Luv U        Abby  Dobson    Sleeping Beauty: You Are the One You Have Been Waiting On – Volumood One
3. I Can’t Wait (Gordon Voidwell Remix)    Twin Shadow I Can’t Wait (Gordon Voidwell Remix)
4. Shadow    Gordon Voidwell    The Void Mixtape
5. I Found God In Myself    Mem Nahadr        Soundtrack – For Colored Girls
6. 4U    Zion I    Atomic Clock    Rap
7. Keep Shining        Shad    Tsol (Us)
8. The What If’s        Jaguar Wright    Denials, Delusions And Decisions
9. Will Never Cease Us From Motioning Air        Galaxy Of Tar    Pneuma
10. Live From Tigre Lounge    Mulatu Astatke    The Heliocentrics
11. The 54 – Crazy -Dominate EP MP3

The Fish Police will be at the Lincoln Center Atrium on Thursday, November 4.

Galaxy of Tar will be at Public Assembly in Brooklyn on Thursday, November 4.  They hit at 11PM.

In Atlanta, The 54 will be celebrating their album release on Thursday, November 4 at The 5 Spot in Lil 5 Points.

Abby Dobson will be at the Blue Note in NY on Monday, November 8 at 8pm and 10:30pm.

More on Restoration Rocks 2010!

Last night, I had some good conversation with Lisa Yancey, the interim executive director of arts & culture programming for Restoration Plaza, along with the event’s musical curator, Tamar-kali.  Learned a couple of things: First, the Bed-Stuy Restoration Corporation is the first and oldest community development corporation in the country.

Second, October 8 is Tamar-kali’s birthday, so this event is really a big throwdown with all the artists she’d want to see.    So, definitely come through the Do-or-Die and wish her a happy born-day!

Here’s the conversation as it took place:

http://official.fm/track/160718

Additional links:

• Restoration Rocks
• Tamar-kali
• Invincible
• Jean Grae
• Cubic Zirconia
• DJ Rimarkable

Y’all didn’t forget that Restoration Rocks this Saturday, did you?  Hopefully not, since I think you’ll be mad to miss this lineup: Tamar-kali, Invincible, Jean Grae, Cubic Zirconia and DJ Rimarkable on the decks.

As I did this past summer when I was involved with the Weeksville Garden Party series, I”m going to try to highlight a few of the artists on the Restoration Rocks lineup.  For this first one, here’s the interview I did with Tamar-kali on WRFB on the day her album Black Bottom was released.  Right after the interview, I go into “Caught” from the new album Black Bottom. This interview was recorded at WRFB-Radio Free Brooklyn on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.

http://official.fm/track/159402

Here’s why Corey Glover is headlining tonight’s launch of The Midnight Hour. Here he and Dennis Diamond perform Tracy Chapman’s hit. Opener Shelley Nicole’s blakBushe is no joke either.

Now would be a good time to take a nap. After all, it ain’t called The Midnight Hour for nothin’.

Corey Glover feat. Dennis Diamond — “Talkin’ ‘Bout A Revolution” from Rob Fields on Vimeo.

This is a taste of what you’ll hear tonight if you check out the launch of Ubiquita Worldwide’s new series, The Midnight Hour.  While Corey Glover will be headlining with a stripped down, acoustic-ish set, Shelley, Jerome and the rest of blaKbushe will most definitely be plugged in, funked up and rocked out.

The phantom backup vocalist is Brooklyn Movie Labs’ Dexter Taylor.

More info on The Midnight Hour here.

UPDATE: There’s some scheduling drama, so Corey will join us next week

That’s right, fam!  Join my during my show from 9-10pm when I talk with Living Colour’s Corey Glover and my WRFB co-host Shelley Nicole.  The occasion? They have a show together on Saturday, October 2 at Le Poisson Rouge.  They’ll be kicking off a new series produced by Ubiquita that’s a bit of homage to Burt Sugarman’s Midnight Special.

I’ve heard that we might get a song or two out of Corey, and maybe, just maybe, something from Shelley, as well.  But you’ll have to tune in to find out. Heh.

As ever, the Tuesday night WRFB broadcast schedule looks a little somethin’ like this:

• 7-8pm  YankeeZulu’s Time Machine
• 8-9pm  The Flying Perfect Parlor with Christian John Wikane
• 9-10pm Boldaslove.us/Sounds from the New Black Imagination
• 10-11pm Shelley Nicole and her themed shows

Remember: We’re nowhere on your radio dial, so click here to listen!

Additional link:

• All WRFB posts

@kevin_powell

In many cities around the country, tomorrow is Election Day, primaries, in fact.  In Brooklyn’s 10 Congressional district, Kevin Powell is running to unseat longtime incumbent Rep. Edolphus Towns.  I had a chance to interview Kevin on WRFB a few weeks ago, and this is our full conversation.

I don’t live in the 10th, so I can’t vote for him.  However, if you do, and if what he’s saying makes sense to you, consider giving him your support.

During this conversation, Kevin talks about:

• His evolution from writer to congressional candidate
• The issues he cares about and what he wants to do for Brooklyn
• His political mentors
• The importance of not overstaying his welcome

Additional link:

• Kevin Powell for Congress

Yes, once again back is the incredible WRFB Radio Free Brooklyn fundraiser to end all fundraisers!  At least for the month of August.

Seriously, we’re back at it on Thursday, August 26 from 7-11pm and we’ve got some killer guests lined up.  So, stop by StageOne at 449 Nostrand Avenue (bet. Hancock & Halsey) in Bed-Stuy.  Or you can simply tune in.  Either way, please donate.  As we say, it may be Radio Free Brooklyn, but the space ain’t free.

Who will you hear?  Artists such as:

• The DAY Show – 7:30pm
• Toshi Reagon – 8pm
• California King – 8:30pm
• Analogue Transit – 9pm
• Tamar-kali – 9:30pm
• Ashley Philips – 10pm
• David Pilgrim – 10:30pm

If you come to StageOne, please be aware that the minimum donation is $10, but then again the musical lineup is damn near priceless.

Again, you can listen to WRFB-Radio Free Brooklyn by clicking on the link here.

And check out the event page on Facebook to see all of the amazing folks that have come through the studio.

Please support, y’all!  Need more incentive?  Here’s The Soulfolk Experience from last week’s fundraiser:

The Soulfolk Experience — “Rain” (live at the WRFB fundraiser) from Rob Fields on Vimeo.

@kevin_powell

That’s right, people! Tune into WRFB-Radio Free Brooklyn tomorrow, Tuesday, August 24. My co-host Christian John Wikane will have a special 1-on-1 interview with Mark Anthony Thompson aka Chocolate Genius! Mark is an incredible talent: He’s a singer/songwriter who’s got three solo albums out and has done a bunch of scoring for film and theater. In fact, where I knew of him was for his Obie-winning work on the score for the play A Huey P. Newton Story, which starred Roger Guenveur Smith.  More on Mark here.

For my segment, I’ll be talking with Kevin Powell, who’s running to unseat Rep. Ed Townes in the 10th Congressional District, which includes Bed-Stuy where WRFB broadcasts.  Listen in, as I talk with Kevin about his candidacy, the issues around it, and his transition from journalist to activist and, hopefully, congressman.

As ever, the Tuesday night WRFB broadcast schedule looks a little somethin’ like this:

• 7-8pm  YankeeZulu’s Time Machine
• 8-9pm  The Flying Perfect Parlor with Christian John Wikane
• 9-10pm Boldaslove.us/Sounds from the New Black Imagination
• 10-11pm Shelley Nicole and her themed shows

Remember: We’re nowhere on your radio dial, so click here to listen!

Additional link:

• All WRFB posts