Blind I | The Boutique Music Blog | Quality Over Quantity.

MY MIC SOUNDS NICE: A TRUTH ABOUT WOMEN IN HIP-HOP

A couple weeks ago, I attended a screening for BET’s first ever original music documentary, “My Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women In Hip-Hop“. Directed by Ava DuVernay, the film takes a loving, yet critical look at the history of sisters in Rap music. It is equal parts celebration of pioneers and those carrying the torch and lamentation over the lack of estrogen in today’s Hip-Hop spaces.

Take a peek at the trailer:

Commentary is provided primarily by woman rappers, including MC Lyte, YoYo, Trina, Salt n’ Pepa, The Lady of Rage, Diamond, Eve, Missy, etc. Other heads weighing in include Kevin Lyles, Joan Morgan, Questlove, Glennisha Morgan of The Fembassy and Russell Simmons. I was really excited to hear the thoughts Jean Grae, Tiye Pheonix and a few other female rappers who aren’t as familiar to the BET audience (there is a great independent artist roll-call at the end as well).

Continue reading after the jump.

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MAIYA’S HOUSE VOL. 1

Hi everyone. Hopefully your summer has been filled with lots of partying, dancing and good times. Every now and again, I switch up my monthly mixes to introduce a new series and keep it fresh. Initially when I was brainstorming, I had planned to go all the way in on the old-school house music but as time passed and I started to play more songs, this expanded into a more mellow set of house, dance, electronica and some jazzier picks. I think they blend pretty well together. Plus we have many volumes to play around, right? Hit the skip and partake. xoxo.

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VIDEO: RAFAEL CASAL – SPITTER

I love well done videos, especially with good talent to back up the visuals. Rafael Casal boasts quite a resume from being an educator, creative director of several organizations, emcee, and having been on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam for several seasons. Yet homie’s still has time to keep running and running. Taken from his second LP The Monster “Spitter” flexes Mr. Casal’s skill at wordplay and mic control. But he’s from the Bay, so that’s a no brainer.

Download The Monster here (For free!) and hit up his collective The Getback here.

And watch this video after the drop. I didn’t know homie did this one too. Yadda yee!

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QUEST – SMOOTH SILK/WIND TUNNEL

Off of the highly acclaimed Deep Medi Musik label, run by none other than Mala, Quest releases a pair of progressive tunes that have been rockin’ my dome recently. I know, I know… I need to share this stuff more often and alot sooner, and I promise I shall moving forward. Anyways, I digress, below are the tunes for your listening pleasure.

Smooth Skin

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Wind Tunnel

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BLIND I ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:J*DAVEY

Tucked in the basement of New York City’s S.O.Bs, Miss Jack Davey and Brook D’Leau were chatting quietly as the venue began to swell with fans, eager for an electrifying experience. Surrounded by band members, managers, photographers and friends, they were relaxed and in their element, slowly gearing up to hit the stage. Both dressed in tanks and shorts, alternating between sitting Indian style and leaning forward intently, the pair reflected on their decade-long journey and the incredible milestones along the way. From being invited to open for the legendary Prince to cranking out classic EPs that have built the J*DaVeY NaVeY movement, Jack and Brook had more than enough to discuss. Rather than hitting them with strictly staff questions, Blind I opened the forum for people to submit questions for the group, which come towards the end of the interview. If you missed the footage we posted shot by our very own concert ticket winner Corey Davis, check it out.

Interview after the jump.

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J*DAVEY

Tucked in the basement of New York City’s S.O.Bs, Miss Jack Davey and Brook D’Leau were chatting quietly as the venue began to swell with fans, eager for an electrifying experience. Surrounded by band members, managers, photographers and friends, they were relaxed and in their element, slowly gearing up to hit the stage. Both dressed in tanks and shorts, alternating between sitting Indian style and leaning forward intently, the pair reflected on their decade-long journey and the incredible milestones along the way. From being invited to open for the legendary Prince to cranking out classic EPs that have built the J*DaVeY NaVeY movement, Jack and Brook had more than enough to discuss. Rather than hitting them with strictly staff questions, Blind I opened the forum for people to submit questions for the group, which come towards the end of the interview. If you missed the footage we posted shot by our very own concert ticket winner Corey Davis, check it out.

Blind I: You guys recently joined Erykah Badu and Janelle Monae on tour. You also performed with Sonnymoon (good friends of Blind I). How has it been being back on the circuit?

Brook: It was dope. We love to travel and perform for people of all walks. It’s a fulfilling thing that we do, and I can’t imagine having it any other way. That’s the whole point—we want to get our voice to as many people as possible.

Jack: Yeah, we were just talking about that. Like we get to travel for free doing something we love so it’s not even doing work.  It’s extending yourself to people.

Blind I: So how did everything come together? Erykah is notorious for personally picking artists to come open for her.

Brook: That’s exactly how it happened. She keeps it very minimal in terms of the politics so it’s just kind of like, “Okay do you want to do the shows?” And it trickles down from there and you gotta deal with XYZ but it should be natural that way. It should always be like the artist is invested in whoever is touring with them. Any other way just seems kind of contrived.

Jack: We’ve known her for a while. And that’s exactly how it happened.

Blind I: By now, many people know Prince invited you to open for him in Vegas, and you also opened for The Roots.  That’s like a dream come true for most artists. Is there a moment/memory that stands out?

Brook: Jack hyperventilating before the Prince gig man. I mean, our families grew up listening to Prince and they were heavily into him in his heyday. So when we did those shows our family was with us. I remember being in the dressing room with all of our parents. And when he walked in, our parents turned into little kids, you know?

Jack: I just went out to do it. It’s like okay I can either pass out or get it done. It’s a dream to have someone you really respect and admire as an artist be into your art as well. It lets you know that you’ve been doing something right.

Blind I: In situations like that there’s often limited contact with the headliners. Did you get a chance to build with these artists?

Jack: I remember there was one time in Toronto when we got booed. And as soon as I walked off stage,?uestlove was right there with his arms out. And he was like, “You know you’ve made it kid when you got booed.”

Brook: Getting booed is one of those liberating experiences where it’s like oh, everybody doesn’t like your music. We were never under the impression that everyone did, but I think it’s really cool when people can form an opinion about you whether it’s fully negative or fully positive. The fact that they feel so strongly to voice it that way. That means that we’re ruffling feathers or something.

Jack: Prince got booed when he opened for the Rolling Stones in the seventies. Kanye got booed in Toronto at the same place where we were. And it’s funny because before we went there, everyone was like oh you guys are going to love Toronto everyone’s so nice.

Brook: And then you get a beer can thrown at you, you know?

Jack: And then the next night we did a show at a smaller venue that was more our speed and it was a great show. And at the end of the day it’s like if they don’t like it, it’s not my problem.

Blind I: Most J*DaVeY fans are like cult loyal fans and follow your music closely. What’s next up in terms of projects you’re releasing?

Brook: A lot of diversifying. A lot of new ways of us branding who we are and our lifestyle. I think we’re great business people, but just acting on that. We collaborated on one T-shirt but for the other ones we’ve done, I’ve done the design. But a lot of my focus has been on art direction for our cover art and stylistically how we come across. But that’s also kind of rolling over into fashion. I’m just developing a lot of ideas right now but soon come!

Jack: Beyond the music we are just really becoming better business people. But yeah we will keep putting out music, keep recording, and keep doing shows. But we also plan to develop other artists and fashion stuff as well. I’ve been collaborating with a partner on a line called Lady Tripper. It’s mainly accessories like feather pieces and stuff that I wear onstage that I think NY will like. Tie dye shirts and stuff. We’re launching an online store: Ladytripper.com.

Blind I: Beauty in Distortion/Land of the Lost was kind of like your introduction. Very high energy. What’s the mood/feel of the upcoming projects?

Jack: We’re still working on a record with Warner Brothers. We put out our EP. We just have so much music, so it’s like figuring out a time when we’re not touring and you know recording to put it out.

Brook: And I think most importantly it’s not just putting the music out, but seeing how all the things we’re talking about in terms of branding, seeing how the music works within that. And not just simply putting music out.

Jack: Nowadays everybody is putting music out. It’s like one day you can be the trending topic on Twitter and the next day, it’s a wrap. The market is so fast now you have to think beyond it.

Blind I: Being at Warner Brothers in the rock department, how do you feel your situation is there in terms of creative control?

Brook: It’s actually kind of merged and so we’re not just in the rock department.

Jack: Yeah, we’re signed to Sire Records, which is a division of Warner Brothers. It was a side label from the 70s and they put out most of the left of center music like Talking Heads. And it’s just ever-changing. [In terms of labels], nobody really knows what to do now. And that’s why it is flexible because we’re able to put music out like EPs. And when you’re signed to a label, you’re not supposed to put anything out without the label’s consent. So now with a changing market, all content is helpful.  We move so fast that it can’t do nothing but help.

Blind I-Jack, a few years back you wrote a passionate open letter to the music industry: “They don’t want to develop the art. They don’t want the artist to express his/herself entirely. They just want the artist to comply with what will get the company a big monetary return.” Now that you have a good situation, has your opinion changed?

Jack: Not really. It’s a weird thing. Art is commerce. It’s one of those things where there is always going to be this divide. And it’s one of those things that artists, real artists are never going to be able to wrap their heads around. It’s so heavy. It’s one of those things where you have to just kind of sit and dig into. That’s just how it is. You can either go in be a part of that or do everything that you can to propel it forward, or try and do it independently. And even now, independent labels function as major labels which is stupid. Because at one point indie labels were the refuge but their resources are drained. Back in the 90s everybody had these big budgets and you could go and live in the studio and order food three times a day for you and the homies. But it’s not like that anymore and you got to roll with the times. And that was just kind of my way of letting it out. You can’t fight how it is though that’s how we made it.

Blind I: You guys tend to not feature other artists on your songs.  Do you prefer it that way or are you switching it up?

Brook: We don’t really have a set rule about collaborations. I think that what we do—it has a strong chemistry to it. So if it’s an element that doesn’t really enhance or really complement what we do, then we try not to. We’re not just trying to invite any and everybody to get on a J*DaVeY track. That doesn’t really benefit anyone. If there’s someone that feels they have something to gain from getting on the track or even if we feel that way about another artist, it doesn’t always work out that way. We’ve done some features and it’s mainly been friends of ours.  Like Questlove and Kardinall Offishall and it’s been very organic.

Jack: It just has to be organic. It can’t be political where it’s like okay you’re both on the same label so let’s get you to work together. It never comes out good. It sounds very forced.

Brook: You can’t negate the fact that making music is a very intimate and personal experience. It’s like you’re making something and revealing so much about yourself to the public even if it’s just via music. We put ourselves into it. So it’s not just something we do. It comes through us. So we have to treat it like it’s kind of sacred and not just put it out the street and ho it out and see what happens. This is our child. So we have to make sure we have a responsibility to keep that child on a certain path and not just let anybody hold your baby so when someone drops your baby it’s like oops.

Blind I: Where are you guys taking risks on this project? Like what will be the biggest surprise for your fans? Or area you ventured out a bit?

Brook: Our mainstay has been us doing what we do musically as J*DaVeY but then like I said us diversifying and trying out new ideas but still bringing everything back home. Just diversifying and being crafty in how we express ourselves to the public whether it’s art, whether it’s fashion or film, whatever. I think it’s a risk because people don’t expect for us to do stuff like that. They just look at us like we’re in a band. There are always risks involved. We’re setting out to say like we have to go from point A to B and so you do have to try new things that initially we might not have considered a couple of years ago. I think there’s always risks involved when you’re creating new business. You’re coming out of your pockets trying to get shit started. This is all being birthed from us.  It’s just balls to the wall.

Blind I: Let’s talk a little bit about your process of making music.  Do you both write or just Jack? And we know Brook produces but do you too Jack?

Jack: Yeah we do. You read his blog and he is a bit of a writer. I don’t produce the way that he produces.

Brook: When I first met her she had a studio in her house and was making beats. I have some of those old beats.

Jack: They all sounded like. I thought I was Dilla man. Before Dilla even existed. It was like Dilla before Dilla, definitely that hip hop feel.

Jack: But he is magical with instruments and that’s his thing and he puts everything together. And when we get in the room together I’m good at arrangements and stuff but the reason why this has worked so well is because we each know how to stay in our lane. He doesn’t need me hovering over his back in the studio telling him what to. Just like I don’t want him breathing down my neck telling me what to say. But sometimes when I’m recording I’ll be like what do you think about this Brook or help me with a word.

Blind I: Do you sing too Brook? I feel like I’ve heard you in the background on some songs.

Brook: Yes I do for some songs.

Blind I: I feel like I’ve heard a man in the background like is that Brook?

Jack: Ha-ha the invisible man.

Brook: I haven’t done every male vocal but I did “Get Together.” But sometimes she’ll do over dubs and vocal stacks and people will ask who is singing that low note and she’s like I’m singing that.

Jack: I wanted to be T-Boz. I had the mushroom haircut and everything.

Blind I: Right now, which emerging artists are you impressed/inspired by?  Who do you want to work with?

Jack: Janelle definitely. [Blind I: I heard Prince also picked her to perform on the BET Awards] Oh yeah! People need to see that right now.  The industry is overrun with the notion that if you’re a female performer you need to put on a leotard. You have to be robo sex bitch. Robo sex bot from the future and it’s just like they think that by doing that, “Hey we’re sexy, we’re confident we’re strong,” but it’s like no you’re not. Sexy and confidence is having your own mind and not following the crowds.

Jack: Definitely Sa-Ra. We came up with Sa-Ra and when I heard their music that was the first group that I heard and felt that we connected with.  There’s Blu, Theophilus, Animal Collective, Mars Volta, and TV on the Radio. There are a lot of bands that are right there with us.

Brook: Janelle right now is one of the most prolific performers as far as black music specifically female but just in general.

Blind I: Can we expect more rapping from you Jack?

Jack: Yeah. I was a rapper first and switched to singing because it just became too hard to rap. I feel like if you’re going to be a rapper you should have a very specific voice. Not just in terms of how it sounds but you should have a very specific voice. And everybody started rapping and it just stopped being interesting to me. So yeah, eventually when I find out what I want to say as a rapper and who I am as a rapper. Because I kind of lost touch with that.

Blind I:  It seems like you two have a very natural chemistry. Did you always click musically and have the same vision? Or have you just grown into it?

Jack: It’s been almost eleven years now. We were all friends and somehow I found out his dad had a studio so I was like oh, I’m a rapper.  So I was like let’s do something. We did one song together and it was just easy.

Brook: But initially I wasn’t even onstage when she was doing shows. We both had afros simultaneously.  It’s always been something that’s been organic. Never awkward. It’s always been an evolution we’ve embraced.

Jack: It’s gone through so many phases.

Now, here are some reader submitted questions. We appreciate you submitting these.

*Jarrel, L.A.-Have you two ever dated each other and are you currently single?

Brook: We’re actually incestuous brother and sister. [Laughs] No, well I’m a polygamist and I have sixteen wives, so I’m single basically.

Jack: I have a boyfriend. But yeah I and Brook are best friends.

*Jade, NYC-You guys both have blogs. Which blogs do you guys read? Do you ever get into the comments and feedback about your stuff?

Brook: I try to stay as far as possible as I can away from it.

Jack: I search. It used to get under my skin and then I learned okay you people are sitting on your computers listening to my stuff enough to form an opinion. Whether it’s bad or it’s good, it’s great. I read all the gossip blogs. It’s entertaining and that’s the business I’m in, I’m an entertainer so I feel like that’s research for me. I love Tumblr.

Brook: Tumblr is like that place where you find a lot of cool blogs but you also find out a lot about the people who create these blogs. I like, Highsnobbit, Hypebeast and all of those.

Jack: I like Kesh’s blog, she’s adorable and we love your blog.

*Emiliano, Brooklyn: How do you think your music would have been received if you came out in different decade like the 60s or 70s?

Jack: It would have been the same. I always talk about Iggy Pop and the Stooges and how they were pioneers. The way they started out, they were making up their own instruments and doing this crazy performance art shit. They were the pioneers and they never really got their due until now.  I think now people are able to understand how genius that was. I believe that personally I belong in 1974. The 70s psychedelic time is where I think I fit in. But musically people think there’s this trend of this bullshit music only seeing the light of day like it’s a new phenomenon. But this shit has been going on for decades. The radios were overrun by music that probably wasn’t as great as music you heard at a random coffee shop. This is not a new trend. They had bullshit back then. Everything that came out wasn’t great.

*Alicia, London: Brook, who is your favorite producer of all time? And do you play any live instruments?

Brook: Brian Eno is my favorite producer. I mainly play piano. But my next thing has been drums, but not publicly. But yeah drums I guess is the next step. It’s always been keys for me.  [Jack: The drummer always gets some Brook] That’s why I’ve started playin! The keyboards don’t get no nanny.

Draya, Chicago-If you each had to pick a song as your person anthem, what would it be?

Jack: “20^th Century Fox” by the Doors.

Brook: I would say “When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best of What’s Still Around” by the Police.

*Corey, NYC- Jack, you have a background in film and worked on the Ellen DeGeneres show. How do you think that all plays into your art as a performer?

Jack: I’m always thinking cinematically. Even like the way the music is I always want it to be a score of this bigger picture. So I’m always paying attention to how things look—the aesthetics and set design. I’ll get to a venue see the stage and be disappointed like that’s their fault or like I could have prevented that or like I could have ordered a different stage or something like that [laughs].

*Vanessa: Jack, your song writing is very sexy and mysterious. What inspires it?

Jack: It’s borderline like a lady never kisses and tells. A real sexy confident woman will tell you all that you need to know and they can sum everything up in one word or sentence or breath and it’s like okay I know what she’s talking about. That little breath right there? We know. I think the sexiest thing about a woman is when she’s a bit cryptic and mysterious. It drives people crazy.

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VIDEO: SKI BEATZ – CREAM OF THE PLANET (FEAT. MOS DEF)

This shit is just too epic. Mos & Ski need to do an entire album. Pronto.

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BLACK SPADE-BUILD & DESTROY MIXTAPE

Man, before you even hit download, just looking at this artwork makes you feel like you’re about to be embarking upon the goodness. We’ve been posting a lot of Black Spade lately and getting everyone ready for this one. Build & Destroy features artists like Coultrain, Rockwell Knuckles, Vadndalyzm and Vic Mensah with production by everyone from Onra to J*DaVeY. Oowee! BTW, we have music from most of these acts on our Quality>Quantity mixtape so get familiar. #shamelessplug

The Cool Out Feat.  El Prez & Vandalyzm

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Hit the skip for the tracklist and download links. Props to The Smoking Section, Union LA and Trackstar The DJ for this gem. It’s a slumper.

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SIR LUCIOUS LEFTFOOT

Big Boi – You Aint No DJ feat. Yelawolf

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Ahhhhh yesss..  Big Boi definitely keeps his name on the map with this one. Yet another fine project from the Dungeon Family member.  What’s sad is due to label sheistey-ness.  Andre Benjamin is not on this album. So thats first off.. But regardless Big Boi holds it down like a twist tie and a trash bag. This will have to be put into heavy rotation in the player. The skits are funny too.. There is no download link because he deserves your coins for this album.  So peep the track then cop dat shit..

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PHIL ADE x DON CANNON-THE LETTERMAN MIXTAPE

Phil Ade was a  part of our SXSW Quality! showcase and we’ve been betting on him ever since. The DMV rapper debuted with Starting on JV last year, and now he and Don Cannon are back with The Letterman. Both figuratively, and literally, he’s earning his place and expanding his audience. The mixtape also features Wale, Raekwon and Tabi Bonney.

Borderline

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Hit the skip for track listing and links!

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