Music

The Columbus Blues Alliance was recently awarded the prestigious “Keeping the Blues Alive” award by the Blues Foundation.

The Blues Foundation is the international organizing body of blues music worldwide and presents the Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Awards to individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the Blues world.

The KBAs are awarded to non-performers based on merit by a select panel of Blues professionals who recognize individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to Blues music.

The Columbus Blues Alliance was selected due to its longstanding and tireless efforts to infuse Columbus, OH with blues music, performances and culture.

The Columbus Blues Alliance was recently awarded the prestigious “Keeping the Blues Alive” award by the Blues Foundation.

The Blues Foundation is the international organizing body of blues music worldwide and presents the Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Awards to individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the Blues world.

The KBAs are awarded to non-performers based on merit by a select panel of Blues professionals who recognize individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to Blues music.

The Columbus Blues Alliance was selected due to its longstanding and tireless efforts to infuse Columbus, OH with blues music, performances and culture.

In the 50th year of Hip Hop, Kool Herc, Nas, Wu-Tang, De La Soul, Armand Hammer and Heiro immersed Hip Hop everywhere from Yankee Stadium into venues, record players, phones, computers and smart TV’s. Hip Hop was tangible.

I didn’t feel small watching Kool Herc and Chuck Schumer live from Mass Appeal’s streaming Yankee Stadium's celebration. Schottenstein Center was a comfortable place to sit for Nas, Wu, and De La Soul near Ohio State University. Souls of Mischief greeted me at A+R bar in Downtown Columbus.

New York’s Armand Hammer showed a Columbus vibrance in 2023 with the NY duo’s acclaimed album released from Fat Possum. Fat Possum released Columbus, Ohio’s Camu Tao’s solo record. Fat Possum is reissuing Definitive Jux's catalog. Run The Jewels El-P’s solo work is available from Fat Possum.

I’m drinking oatnog and vodka, I’m playing Killer Mike’s friend Andre 3000’s New Blue Sun as festive music.

I received something in the mail from legendary Def Jam publicist Bill Adler which would make a unique present for Hanukkah. Kwanza, or Christmas.

Pussy Riot performed from the stage at the A+R Bar Sunday after making an announcement “Pussy Riots isn’t a punk band. Pussy Riot is a protest performance.”

This didn’t deter a woman wearing a Bikini Kill shirt standing next to me from proclaiming “Pussy Riot is the most Punk Rock thing I’ve ever watched.”

Pussy Riot were performing Riot Days, a musical piece which is a book and movie written by Pussy Riot’s Maria Alyokhina about her stint in Russian prisons for opposing Vladimir Putin.

In 2012, Pussy Riot performed their song, “Punk Prayer” in an Orthodox Russian Church. “Punk Prayer” isn’t sacrilegious with a King Diamond intent. “Punk Prayer” invites Catholic women to oppose Vladimir Putin.

At first you might question why would Putin respond if some band didn’t like him? Two hundred fifty people in Columbus, Ohio were at this show. I saw a woman wearing a La Tigre shirt. Even with a Diplo remix. I would assume Putin wouldn’t worry about the Riot Grrl movement disliking him.

The New York State Of Mind event landed in Columbus….Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and De La Soul played within walking distance from where I live.

Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and De La Soul were at Schottenstein Center, Wednesday. I’ve watched Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, and Dave Chappelle at Schottenstein Center since Covid.

I didn’t watch Run The Jewels with Lorde…Run The Jewels still played Schottenstein Center…

Arena Rap is a thing…I hesitate setting such lofty aspirations for New Rappers….

New rappers should start with understanding why Nas’ “Illmatic,” Wu-Tang’s “Enter the 36th Chambers,” GZA’s “Liquid Swords,” Raekwon’s “Only Built For Cuban Links,” De La Soul’s “Three Feat High And Rising,” and De La Soul’s “De La Soul is Dead” are the main reason I heard Nas’ “One Love” in front of at least 16,000 people Wednesday night.

A classic catalog record increases the rapper’s brand every year which allows other decisions and opportunities.

I walked and enjoyed the brisk evening stroll.

Ghostface and Raekwon’s faces were plastered on a tour bus as I crossed Olentangy River Road. I saw Cappadonna’s name on the back of the bus.

The New York State Of Mind event landed in Columbus….Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and De La Soul played within walking distance from where I live.

Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and De La Soul were at Schottenstein Center, Wednesday. I’ve watched Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, and Dave Chappelle at Schottenstein Center since Covid.

I didn’t watch Run The Jewels with Lorde…Run The Jewels still played Schottenstein Center…

Arena Rap is a thing…I hesitate setting such lofty aspirations for New Rappers….

New rappers should start with understanding why Nas’ “Illmatic,” Wu-Tang’s “Enter the 36th Chambers,” GZA’s “Liquid Swords,” Raekwon’s “Only Built For Cuban Links,” De La Soul’s “Three Feat High And Rising,” and De La Soul’s “De La Soul is Dead” are the main reason I heard Nas’ “One Love” in front of at least 16,000 people Wednesday night.

A classic catalog record increases the rapper’s brand every year which allows other decisions and opportunities.

I walked and enjoyed the brisk evening stroll.

Ghostface and Raekwon’s faces were plastered on a tour bus as I crossed Olentangy River Road. I saw Cappadonna’s name on the back of the bus.

I’m watching a rapper. She cusses. Kari Faux is from Little Rock, Arkansas. She lives in Southern California. She cusses.

Kari’s “Real Bitches Don’t Die Tour” played Columbus Tuesday. Kari’s show started with “Real Bitches Don’t Die” which is an angry diatribe about coping with betrayal and death which sounds like a celebration. She cusses in an anthem. “Real Bitches Don’t Die” is catharsis.

I took the number 1 from Olentangy River Road so I could look at the Wu-Tang/Nas/De La Soul sign in front the Schott.

I heard  “Real Bitches Don’t Die” from outside but wasn’t inside the Basement yet. I didn’t know if there was a room of women flailing middle fingers.

Kari’s past collaborators include Gangsta Boo, Devin the Dude, Childish Gambino, and Big Krit. I think Karl cusses during all those songs.

I walked in as Kari Faux launched into “Me First” which led a packed room of ladies’ screaming about orgasms. Kari Faux wants an orgasm from oral sex, a rousing finger banging, or a meticulous romp before a man ejaculates. I guess that’s mansplaining a ladies’ sexual desire. I will write from my experience……I’m a man.

“That boy came from nowhere and went everywhere,” is a quote from the documentary “Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues,” which tells how Stevie Ray Vaughan became one of the most influential artists of all time.

Writer/director Kirby Warnock strikes a nostalgic chord, blending music, memory, and raw emotion into a bittersweet symphony. It harks back to a time when music served not just as a backdrop but as the cornerstone of coming together and connecting with others.

The film hilariously begins by suggesting that attending a Beatles concert was the secret ticket to meeting girls considering they transformed the world. It signaled a cultural shift, turning the “cool kid” blueprint on its head––you no longer needed to be the handsome football player to win a girl’s heart; all you needed was a guitar and a dream.

I entered Souls of Mischief’s 30th Anniversary of “93 Til Infinity” tour Saturday night at the A + R Bar. I took the 1 from On Tap at Bethel Center into the A+R Bar’s Downtown walking vicinity.

While pregaming off Bethel Road, I recommended Billy Woods’ new album while at the On Tap bar which was added into a friend’s phone upon recommendation. I said, “Billy Woods is Def Jux meets Earl Sweatshirt.”

After On tap, I ate Fresco Taco Bell off Kenny Rd. A food eater turns veggie items vegan at Taco Bell with their Fresco button. Fresco replaces many non-vegan ingredients with tomatoes.

I bumped Alchemist ft. Earl Sweatshirt, and Billy Woods with my Beats while looking at our city from a bus. Alchemist’s “RIP Tracy” song ain’t on the Billy Woods album. You can bump various songs from a cellphone.

At the door, I set my Futura lanyard, Beats, Iphone, and wallet in a tray. I didn’t have anything which set the alarm off.

The room was filled with people who like rap songs.

I knew Future’s “1 Big Party Tour” at Nationwide and Ohio States women’s basketball NCAA Tourney were my week.

People watch a show on Netflix, or Hulu for a week and nothing else.

I avoided every form of entertainment except for watching OSU women’s basketball and blaring Future from my Beat’s Headphones. Dogma 23 March Madness.

The Ohio State women’s team were in NCAA playoffs. I felt like my week would have a different meaning if I immersed myself in the Lady Bucks and didn’t watch anything besides Lady Bucks, and Future.

The first couple games where Ohio State beat James Madison and North Carolina were in Columbus. We found this compelling because Senior Jacy Sheldon is from nearby suburb Dublin. Jacy’s sister Emma Sheldon could seen on the sidelines cheering Jacy. Watching Jacy make a play, and then a young girl with Down Syndrome in an OSU shirt smiling embraced the local and endearing.

Lady Buck’s Taylor Thierry wore a clunky plastic mask. It looked as if the Lady Bucks were a heartwarming film about a band of orphans or foster kids who found sports which helped outsiders find beauty within Columbus.