soulRocks » Outkast

Audio: Goodie Mob Feat.Janelle Monáe “Special Education”

soulrocks — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:29:40 +0000

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Jimi Hendrix Estate Speaks Out Against Andre 3000 Biopic

soulrocks — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:53:01 +0000

Andre “3 Stacks” Benjamin has apparently arrived in Ireland (according to the Irish Film & Television Network) to begin pre-production on his much talked-about Jimi Hendrix biopic, tentatively titled All Is By My Side, preparing for a starring role in a story covering Hendrix’ years in England (1966-67). The Jimi Hendrix Estate–officially known as Experience Hendrix, LLC–is already making moves to put the project to a cease, however, releasing the following statement to the Wall Street Journal
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Janelle Monae

soulrocks — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:36:23 +0000

Growing up, Janelle Monáe (born Janelle Robinson) felt constrained by the limited resources offered to her in her greater Kansas City, KS, home. When she finished high school, she moved to New York to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy with the intention of pursuing musical theater, but in 2004, after performing in a couple of off-Broadway shows and realizing there weren’t the roles available to her that she wanted, she moved to Atlanta to try her luck there. She soon joined a band and began touring the local college circuit, where she eventually got in touch with her future partners in Wondaland Arts Society (a collective/label that looked to promote experimental arts) as well as OutKast‘s Big Boi. The rapper was so impressed by what he heard of her that he put two of her songs on his 2005 compilation, Got Purp?, Vol. 2. Monáe also showed up on OutKast‘s 2006 soundtrack, Idlewild, even appearing in the video for “Morris Brown,” and in August 2007 she released the first of an originally planned four Metropolis installments, or suites, an EP entitled The Chase, a concept piece revolving around a character named Cindi Mayweather and the year 2719. The album — which melded cabaret, hip-hop, rock, and soul — was well received, which helped bring the singer into the radar of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Rumors about a signing were finally confirmed in March 2008, when Diddy officially announced Monáe as the newest member of his Bad Boy roster. Monáe promised that the move was not going to compromise any of her artistic integrity or creativity. A re-release of The Chase, featuring bonus content, appeared in August 2008, while the second and third suites of Metropolis were issued together as components of 2010’s The ArchAndroid.

www.jmonae.com/

Cee Lo Green

soulrocks — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:35:55 +0000

Multi-talented and flamboyant, Cee-Lo initially made a name for himself and his trademark crooning as part of pioneering Dirty South rappers Goodie Mob before he broke away in the early 2000s for a colorful solo route. Along with fellow Atlanta rappers OutKast, Goodie Mob laid out the blueprint for the Dirty South style during the mid-’90s, making serious waves with their debut album, Soul Food(1995). Cee-Lo was an important member of the group, often singing the hooks to many of Goodie Mob‘s best songs (e.g., “Cell Therapy,” “Soul Food,” “Black Ice”). But the group didn’t last too long, and after a few releases over a five-year span, Cee-Lo split with Goodie Mob for a promising solo deal with Arista.

In 2006, Cee-Lo enjoyed his greatest success to date as half of Gnarls Barkley, a duo also featuring producer Danger Mouse. “Crazy,” the lead single from St. Elsewhere, the duo’s debut album, was an instant hit in the U.K. and steadily rose to the top of the charts in the U.S. by the end of the summer. The critical acclaim and commercial success of Gnarls Barkley awarded Cee-Lo the most attention he’d ever enjoyed in his career to date. Cee-Lo and DMfollowed it up with a second Gnarls Barkley album, The Odd Couple, in early 2008. A frequent collaborator, Cee-Lo also worked with producer Jazze Pha for Happy Hour, Jazze Pha‘s singing and rapping debut, with Cee-Lo co-producing and sharing vocals. In addition, Cee-Lo teamed up with PlantLife‘s Jack Splash for the Heart Attack project.