Farewell to a Starr: The Life and Rhymes of Guru

(photo by Gregg Delman/MTV.com)

On Monday, April 19 the hip-hop world lost another one of its favorite sons as Keith Elam, better known to us as Guru, passed away after his long battle with cancer. Guru, along with his partner in rhyme DJ Premiere made up the innovative hip-hop duo GangStarr, famous for essentially contradicting what their name would suggest, with their musical and lyrical content promoting for their listeners to live a more righteous life.

At a time where 70's soul and funk fueled Dre beats and violence heavy lyrics took over hip-hop radio stations across the country, GangStarr slipped into the background with a flow uniquely their own. Fusing laid back jazz and soul-esque groove melodies over gritty simplistic drum and bass beats, GangStarr gave New York hip-hop an official sound of their own, which had been lacking since N.W.A ang "Gangster Rap" had taken over both coasts (GangStarr helping to pioneer New York's late '80's/early 90's sound is funny considering neither member were actually from New York). Guru would go on to further his musical message with his "Jazzmatazz" series, starting in '93 going one step further than his GangStarr work spitting his high concept lyrical content, over a smooth jazz band. Along with two certified Gold records, Premiere and Guru would also garner respect in the film world as their song "Jazz Thing" was used in the Spike Lee joint, "Mo Betta Blues". The Gangstarr mash-up up of soul and street would help give birth to the grooves made famous the world over by acts like A Tribe Called Quest, Common Sense (aka Common), the Notorious B.I.G. and M.O.P. Guru's attention to lyrical greatness over production hype would help lead the way for content heavyweights such as Nas, Mobb Deep, Game and Lupe Fiasco.

I know this home-going shout out may seem a bit late, and to be 100 I wasn't even sure I was going to write this because IT wasn't like I was some life long Guru/GangStarr fan. But, as I was going through my Twitter timeline (follw @KAGe5242- shameless plug) upon the news of Guru's passing I saw ?uestlove retweet a message he got from a kid who said "Wait, Jay-Z's friend died" (alluding to Guru, the often "shouted out" audio engineer/producer for Jay-Z). It was with that tweet that I was brought back to the reality of the mass produced ringtone rappers currently invading the ears and minds of today's young hip-hop fans and their lack of knowledge regarding the history of the music and culture they long to claim to be a part of (don't worry this will be a whole post unto itself at a later date - TRUST!) And as with life, if we do not remember our Hip-Hop history, we will be doomed to repeat its wackness (I'm lookin at you Soulja Boy).

So while Guru may not have had the "Mass Appeal" to make it to most people's Hip-Hop Mount Rushmore, he damn sure had the "Skillz" to make honorable mention (see what I just did there?). Rest In Peace fam, you will be missed.

Peace Up, Peace Out

I AM A GOLDEN GOD!!! (or at least I'm tryin to be): The Dennis Padula Band

(photo by Paul Brickman)

Yes, this is a reference to the awesome music flick "Almost Famous" (not my last name,I may be a pompus ass but I'm not a total dick). As I said in my intro post, I wanted to use this blog not only to spout my opinions about music, but to also put people on to artist that are out there but may be under their radar. First up, The Dennis Padula Band

In full disclosure, I am connected to the band, but that being said just because you found out "Songs In the Key of Life" was fire from Stevie Wonder's best friend doesn't mean that you still won't be singin "I Wish" at the top of your lungs.

So let's move on to what inquiring minds truly want to know "who do they sound like?" Now I could throw together some sort of inter-woven grouping of well known, established artists like some screwed up human math equation (they're like Musiq Soulchild mixed with a little Stevie Wonder times a little Lady Gaga stage pressence minus all the unecessary attention grabber crap) or unrealistic all-time musician jam sessions (Imagine Robin Thicke co-fronted Prince and the Revolution but Babyface and Donny Hathaway wrote all their songs). I could say this, but:
A) It would just make you skeptical that such a musical act could exist and not already be signed.
B) I would just sound flat out stupid.
So I'll say this, they sound just like them. A "throw back" of sorts to the quality R&B that all us 80's babies grew up with. Well crafted male and female harmonies that float effortlessly underneath the melodies created by the four piece rhythm section on songs like "When We Make Up". A horn section that blends itself in with the band to create almost a fourth vocal section in tunes like "(Do A Little) Work", and a rhythm section that drives every song with such a ferocity that it might as well reach in your chest grab your heart and force it to follow the beat of songs like "Dirty Little Secret" and "Good Face". But the true heart and soul of the band comes from its' main song writer, frontman and namesake Dennis Padula; whose vocals can easily go from the sweetness and sincerity we've grown accustomed to hearing in a Robin Thicke track ("Without You") to as aggressive as a lion's roar similar to the ending of Stevie's "As(Always)" ("1 O'Clock in the Morning").

But the thing that will really make u flock to this band faster than a 14 year old to Justin Beiber is their live show. The seven-piece act's concerts are that of city legend. Regardless of the stage and venue their performances consistently resemble that of an old school basement party, intimate and energy filled. Dennis as a frontman projects his energy and the kinetic energy of their music through his mic and into the audiences feet (needless to say, dancing isn't encouraged it's demanded). The DPB has ripped stages from the old Knitting Factory to Sullivan Hall and every NYC venue in between and all stages have been left resting in peace.

For the skeptics out there you may still be looking at this post and saying "this is just a guy tryin to put his friends band on" to which I say...no shit Sherlock! Of course, I'm gonna put my people on, that's half the point of starting a music blog. But that doesn't make them any less dope. Still don't believe the truth? Then by all means, prove me right! The new "Good Face"(es) of blue eyed funk & soul are playin tonight (4/17) @ The Bitter End (147 Bleeker St.) at 10 PM. By all means check'em out and see if you don't leave that place drenched in sweat with a smile on your face (and maybe a little something to go home with if you get your game right during "When We Make Up").

Peace Up, Peace Out

The Dennis Padula Band:

Dennis Padula - Lead Vocals
Jenna Gilfoil/Josh Upton - Backing Vocals
Mike Nurick - Guitar
Sam Wolk - Bass
Geordie Wood - Drums
Tobe Tsuchiya - Keys

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dennis-Padula-Band/313730910496?ref=ts

The Super Bowl XLV Half-Time Show presented by The AARP

I figured it best that my first entry be about the rant that eventually led to friends begging me to start a blog rather than annoy the hell out of them, The Super Bowl Half-Time Show. This may seem late as hell to some, a bit early for others then again for the few die hards who pitch a bit of a tent at the mere mention of the word "mini-camp" this may feel right on time. Last year's half time show might have starred the most perfect possible band, The Who. This is because I'm sure a good chunk of the football loving and Super Bowl watching public were wondering "WHO...in the blue hell are these old white guys?"

Since "NippleGate" from 2004's Super Bowl half-time show involving Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, the powers that be (CBS, the NFL, Super Bowl sponsors and of course our fine friends at the FCC) have decided that a partially exposed titty is the true gateway drug to lead America's youth into a society of absolute corruption and depravity. Since that fateful night the American public has been subject to the only safe "popular" music deemed worthy to play the hallowed 20 min gig, rock played by artists old enough to be the grandfather of the majority of the guys actually playing in the game. Since '04 the following Hall of Fame greats have graced the 50-yard line at the Super Bowl: Paul McCartney (2005), The Rolling Stones (2006), Prince (2007), Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (2008), Bruce Springstein & The E-Street Band (2009) and The Who (2010). The average age of this list of rock Gods (using Jagger and Daltrey specifically) - 62!!! I get that a huge influence on the half time show is the almighty dollar and subsequently who controls it, but aren't we already reaching out to the middle aged man enough with every other ad being for erectile disfunction? CAN'T US YOUNG GUYS GET SOME LOVE?!?

Now I'm not suggesting we give the spot to Soulja Boy and Justin Beiber (God knows I'm not sayin that) but can't we skew the demographic down just a tad? Now I'm not one to just bitch about something, I'm a solutions oriented individual. So lets look at some possible options:

- First look toward the unofficial official hip-hop ambassador to white America (no...not Will Smith), Jay-Z. CBS already used him to intro their telecast for last years game so we know he's network friendly. He's got enough celebrity (and yes even presidential) cred along with his own business ventures that we know his show wouldn't be anything that could cost him his current social status. And to top it all off, my mom can even spit some of his lyrics, and I think we'd all agree, if a rapper passes the Mom test, he's damn sure solid enough for live television.

- Let's also take into account the big pink elephant in the room, "urban music" still scares some of middle America, so lets work with that. I'm gonna say it...you ready...you sure...COUNTRY!!! For starters SB XLV is taking place in Dallas (if you happen to know anyone who has anything to do with this selection process and they haven't already thought about this feel free to slap the shit outta them). Two, while everyone may claim to hate the music there isn't a man, woman or child alive who doesn't scream out "I'LL TELL YOU AGAIN YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH, I'M THE BEST THERE'S EVER BEEN" when listening to "Devil Went Down to Georgia"; or scream out every word to "Friends In Low Places", after having been "over served" (don't let your kids drink thats just wrong). And is there anyone who doesn't over indulge in beer, booze, and/or "basting" on the most Holy of Sundays in the all American religion of pro football? So lets go get Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, The Zac Brown Band, Darius Rucker (for the Brothas), and Taylor Swift and throw one big ass country review. Turn "Jerry World" into a big ass cowboy bootin'-scootin', 10-gallon hat wearin hoedown the likes of which haven't been seen since Garth Brooks took over Central Park in the mid-90's.

- Last, and maybe the most realistic and possible, The Black Eyed Peas. I know, we're all sick of them, but at this point I figure they've nearly completely "jumped the shark" to the point where I think any of us would be surprised to hear they're giving up recording new music to put on a nightly review in Vegas (actually the only thing about this idea that would shock me is that Will.I.Am & Fergie would continue to agree to split a check with the other two). They may be the most universally recognized and accepted act in hip-pop music today (for Christ sakes, they threw "Mazel Tov" into a rap song and no one busted their balls for it), I'm pretty sure they only have one more year together as a group anyway (see reason they wouldn't agree to a long term gig in Vegas), and I'd like to see Taboo (the one that looks like he's desperately waiting for someone to film a sequel to "Last Of The Mohicans") have a chance to be the greatest glorified hype-man since Flava Flav, one more time on a major stage.

End of the day, I'm just sick of seeing the same OLD line-up wheeled out there for me to ingest, with minimal excitement and a heavy heart to watch once great artists/musicians try to relive their glory days. The saddest part being that these guys were at one point the face of anti-establishment and rebellion. Now their the mascots for the non-bladder controling, boner pill popping, Dockers and the "I'm still hip" leather jacket grown folk masses. It's time we as a music and football loving public stop being a slave to Janet's beautiful brown titty. Otherwise we'll be getting amp'd for the AARP Super Bowl XLV half-time show featuring Tony Bennett and Wayne Newton.

Peace Up, Peace Out

Allow Me To Re-Introduce Myself...

MY NAME IS GOLD...EN!!!  For those tortured to know me, its already common knowledge that I run my mouth about music and the music business more than I do anything else.  So with me currently laid up recovering from knee surgery I've decided to take this time to start spreading my gospel to the massess.   This blog is going to cover music in a 360 degree fashion.  From hipsters to homies, everyone will be represented.  I'm what I like to call schitznophonic, so I'll be spewing nonsense about all genres of music, from hip-hop, rock, pop, R&B, alt. rock, art rock and even...country (you can call me the Charlie Pride/Darius Rucker of the blogosphere). 

I'll leave a comments section open for y'all to respond I'd  love to know what the masses think of my bits of random "genius".  I'll also be throwing in posts giving a heads up to the unknown and/or unsigned acts that I'm feelin and think you should mess with too.  So if you want me to put you on by all means feel free to send me music.

Hopefully you kids will enjoy this as much as I enjoy writing it.  Let's grow old together!

Peace Up, Peace Out!

KG