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Movers & Shakers: Garth Trinidad

No other DJ in the last decade has had a bigger influence on Los Angeles music culture than Garth Trinidad. As both a resident DJ with KCRW over the last 15 years and a voting member of The Recording Academy, Trinidad has risen to prominence by championing progressive, creative and often overlooked artistry in urban alternative music. Through his weekly show, Chocolate City, Trinidad has inspired a refashioning of the Los Angeles underground music scene, providing a much-needed platform for new, independent music artists. Further, Chocolate City has evolved into a global soundscape by infusing soulful classics with the best in independent world music.

I’ve had the good fortune of getting to know Garth over the last year and was happy to discover the many layers of the man
behind the music. Garth, a loving husband and father, is also an artist in his own right and, lucky for us, 2013 will be a year of many Trinidad-laced projects. First up, is the KCRW 5th Annual Moja Moja Pre-Grammy Brunch & Benefit Concert happening this Saturday, February 9th at the W in Hollywood. The brunch, which benefits Oxfam America and The Darfur Stoves Project, will honor the legendary George Clinton this year and feature intimate performances by artists such as pianist, Chloe Flowers and Malaysian singer-songwriter, Yuna. This event usually sells out so check here for tickets for more information.

Watch and listen to the first in a two-part series with Garth Trinidad. Stay tuned for more to come!

Photos by Monica Orozco and JLogic.

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Remembering Bob Marley

1945, Bob Marley was born. The Bob Marley’s influence upon various populations remains unparalleled, irrespective of race, color or creed. Bob Marley’s revolutionary yet unifying music, challenged colonialism, racism, “fighting against ism and scism” as he sang in “One Drop”, has had profound effects even in countroes where English isn’t widely spoken. Bob Marley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994; in December 1999, his 1977 album “Exodus” was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine and his song “One Love” was designated Song of the Millennium by the BBC. Since its release in 1984, Marley’s “Legend” compilation has annually sold over 250,000 copies according to Nielsen Sound Scan, and it is only the 17th album to exceed sales of 10 million copies since SoundScan began its tabulations in 1991. Bob Marley’s music was never recognized with a Grammy nomination but in 2001 he was bestowed The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor given by the Recording Academy to “performers who during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.”

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D’Angelo Back At Work on Long-Awaited New Album

As reported by Billboard magazine, reclusive R&B star D’Angelo is apparently back at work on his decade-plus-in-the-making third album. A studio session took place in New York late last night with two longtime D’Angelo collaborators, Roots drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and bassist Pino Palladino, as well as producer/engineer Russell Elevado, according to posts from Questlove on Twitter.

“Most people use midnight as a time to sleep. others are working on their 11 year followup. this of course being hour number one,” wrote the drummer.

The album, which was at one point provisionally titled “James River,” is being eyed for release before the end of the year through J Records, according to a source, but could move to early 2012 depending on when it is finally turned in. It will be D’Angelo’s long-awaited follow-up to the 2000 album “Voodoo,” which won the 2001 Grammy for best R&B album and has sold 1.7 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Questlove and Palladino later backed D’Angelo on an acclaimed tour in support of the album.

The new project has been plagued by long breaks in recording and other delays, and many collaborators have come and gone. Last year, producer Mark Ronson told Billboard.com he was about to hit the studio with D’Angelo, but it is unknown if any of his work will make the final cut. Prince, Raphael Saadiq, John Mayer, Cee Lo Green and Roy Hargrove have also been mentioned as contributors at various times during the process.

Since the release of “Voodoo,” D’Angelo has endured a serious car accident and arrests for drug possession and solicitation. In lieu of new music of his own, he’s made sporadic guest appearances on albums by Ronson, Common, Snoop Dogg, Q-Tip and the late J Dilla. His last release under his own name was the 2008 Virgin compilation “The Best So Far,” which rounds up highlights from “Voodoo” and its 1995 predecessor “Brown Sugar,” along with soundtrack contributions.

Source: RnB Magazine

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Black Is: The Week in Photos

President Barack Obama signed a short-term funding extension on Saturday. Democrats and Republicans narrowly averted a partial shutdown of the federal government.

Protesters demonstrate in front of the Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on April 6, 2011 urging government spending cuts

Engineers used a flying drone to peer into the damaged reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

A protester holds a placard during an anti-nuclear power rally in front of the Tokyo Electric Popwer Company headquarters in Tokyo

Mexican police satnd guard in front of a truck in Oxaca state, where bones and teeth of potential victims of drug trafficking gangs were found.

The Grammy’s have cut the R&B catergories and number of awards reduced from eight to four.

Lebron James’ mother, Gloria James was arrested Wednesday night for assault at a hotel in Miami.