Kanye West at the Levi's/Fader Fort © Seher Sikandar

SXSW 2009: Kanye West, Common, Erykah Badu, Devo, Red Riders, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Big Boi, Janelle Monáe, Chin Chin, Beach House, Solange, Kid Cudi

Austin's South By Southwest Festival is four days of new bands eking out a following and amplifying their buzz while established acts assert their influence or grasp at a comeback. Giant Step's Resident Mawuse Ziegbe took in as much of the long lines, late nights and musical highs as she could. Here's her review of a weekend of sounds in the South.

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The annual Giant Step Survey is upon us once again, and as usual, it's completely anonymous. We are asking more from you this year (it should take 15 minutes tops), but in return, we are giving much more back.

Aside from the never-ending love from us to you, everyone that finishes the survey gets TONS of free MP3 downloads from the likes of Q-Tip featuring Busta and Lil Wayne, Mos Def, Femi Kuti remixed, Santigold, N.A.S.A., Asa, Colin Munroe, and many more.

AND all of you who complete the survey will be entered into a lottery to receive one of the following prizes:

Limited Edition Gotan Project Box Set (7-inch vinyl, CDs, poster, etc)
Limited Edition Lily Allen Vinyl Picture Disk
Two VIP Passes to Giant Step's Annual Summer Stage show (NY, summer)
Two tickets to Ben Watt at Cielo (NY, Mar 27)
Giant Step selection of current CDs
Two pairs of tickets to the Afro Funké Party (Santa Monica, Thursdays)

So thank you so so so much for taking this survey.

Much love.
Giant Step Family

The Giant Step Survey is now closed. Thanks to all those that participated!

Don't miss Asa at Le Poisson Rouge this Friday, March 27, 2009!
Presented by New Africa Live.

"Sounds like a gathering of Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff reggae, Erykah Badu phrasings, Joan Armatrading and Suzanne Vega acoustic guitar strumming, and Tracy Chapman lyrical sensibilities" - Huffington Post

Doors @ 7pm
Asa @ 8pm
Tix $20

Click to launch the media player. Check out photos and video from the event, plus music from K'NAAN and his music video for "Somalia" from the new album, Troubadour.

Steve Madden's K'NAAN Media Player

For more info about:
Steve Madden go to http://www.stevemadden.com
Steve Madden Music go to http://www.stevemaddenmusic.com
Giant Step go to http://www.giantstep.net

The After Midnight Series, by visual artist Steven Lopez, has featured artists such as Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Minnie Riperton, India.Arie, Sade, Jill Scott and more. Lopez works by selecting a favorite song, then he begins the painting process in front of a live audience. Lopez's new series, called After Midnight Soul, features Erykah Badu as the first source of inspiration. Check out this time-lapse Vimeo of him painting to "Amerykahn Promise":

Erykah Badu- Amerykahn Promise from Steven Lopez on Vimeo

After Midnight Soul