3/21/16 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Rufus- Tell Me Something Good

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Tell Me Something Good, a song by Rufus and Chaka Khan, written by Stevie Wonder and released in 1974. Rufus won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for the song at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards in 1975. Continue reading

3/21/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Judy Garland- Somewhere Over The Rainbow

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In 1939 MGM released the Frank Baum children’s classic The Wizard of Oz. The public wanted child star and box office powerhouse Shirley Temple to play the role of Dorothy. The studio decided to go with 17-year-old newcomer Judy Garland instead. This was one of the first scene filmed it sets the tone for the rest of the film. Continue reading

3/19/16 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Angie Stone- Wish I Didn’t Miss You

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Wish I Didn’t Miss You, Angie Stone’s most successful single, samples The O’Jays’ 1972 song Back Stabbers. The New York Times noted: “[Stone] calls her music soul. Not funk, not R&B, not hip-hop, not urban, but soul, the secular pop with gospel fervor behind it.” Continue reading

3/17/16 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH THROWBACK THURSDAY: Nina Simone- Mississippi Goddam


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Mississippi Goddam, written and performed by singer and pianist Nina Simone, captures her response to the murder of Medgar Evers in Mississippi; and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four black children. Released on her album Nina Simone in Concert, which was based on recordings of three concerts she gave at Carnegie Hall in 1964.   Continue reading

3/14/16/ O&A NYC WITH WaleStylez SONG OF THE DAY: Flatbush ZOMBiES Drop Official Visuals for This Is It

By Adewale Adekanbi Jr.

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 The Flatbush ZOMBiES’ 3001: A Laced Odyssey is finally here and the trio have dropped official visuals for the LP’s single, “This Is It.” An “Intergalactic Madbury Club Production” directed by the Madbury Club’s own Phillip T. Annand, “This Is It” sparse, stylish affair goes perfectly with The Architect’s minimalist beat — and stands in stark contrast to 3001‘s awesomely out-there cover art. Continue reading

3/13/16 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Shirley Ceasar – Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name

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Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name originally released in 1983 by Shirley Ceasar the First Lady of Gospel Music, with Derrick Lee on organ. Continue reading

3/12/16 O&A NYC DANCE: The Vortex- From Alvin Ailey’s The River

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Jennifer Gelfand performs the Vortex section of Alvin Ailey’s The River. Originally set on American Ballet Theatre in 1970 the work was performed by Gelfand during a tour entitled  Vortex section of Alvin Ailey’s The RiverFernando Bujones and Stars of the Boston Ballet in 1993. The work was set to music by Duke Ellington.  Continue reading

3/11/16 O&A NYC – OUT AND ABOUT WITH WaleStylez: Slim Dollar and Sonyae Elie at S.O.B.’s

By Adewale Adekanbi Jr. 

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Emerging artists Slim Dollars and Sonyae Elie performed on March 2nd at New York’s S.O.B’s. Slim Dollar’s urban hip-hop flavor complimented the rap infused R&B style of Ms. Elie. The two artists rocked the enthusiastic crowd, which were on their feet throughout the performance.  Continue reading

3/7/16 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Classical Music meets Hip Hop: Kev Marcus of Black Violin

Inspirational Tuesday
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Black Violins, Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste, who go by the stage names Kev Marcus and Will B are two classically trained violinists living their dream. The Florida natives began experimenting with playing stringed melodies over mash-ups of popular hip-hop songs. The duo had no idea this sound was something craved by a wide audience. Continue reading