RBMA: NYC in DUB

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  • GIANT STEP

    Video: Lakecia Benjamin – “Jump And Shout”

    May 21st, 2012

     

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    Charismatic saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin recently released a video for her upcoming solo album, Retox. The funky soul tune is called "Jump And Shout" and features Lakedcia partying all around the city with her pals.

    The young musician has played with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, The Roots and Macy Gray, and is more than ready to leave her mark as a one woman powerhouse.

    Playing composer, producer, and saxophonist on her new album, Lakecia is really showing her range with this project. "This album is really a fruition of years of songwriting as much as it is a showcase for my sax playing and horn arrangements," she says.

    Retox drops June 12.

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    Video: John Legend and The Roots cover Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark”

    March 5th, 2012

     

    Soothing in the dark. John Legend teamed up with The Roots and performed Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" on Late Night with Jimmy Falon for the third night of "Bruce Week".

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    RBMA: US BASS 2

    Video: The Roots – ‘Undun’ (A Short Film)

    December 21st, 2011

     

    On December 6th, The Roots dropped their first conceptual album, undun. The work focuses around a troubled young man named Redford Stevens and the short film above details the grim unraveling.

    It's clear that a lot of love was put into this project with carefully crafted cinematography that creates a profound investment in a storyline all to real. Pay close attention to the quotes, too, they warrant pause.

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    Remembering The Florida Room As It Closes Its Doors

    December 8th, 2011

     

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    This week, a very special venue in the hearts of many (including ours) closed its doors for good. The Florida Room in the basement of Delano Hotel in South Beach Florida was a Lenny Kravitz designed venue with the feel of a classic old school night club.

    Within its first year of opening, Giant Step starting doing events at The Florida Room and the list became pretty impressive. Many of our events were Miami debuts featuring great artists such as Jose James, Janelle Monae, Melanie Fiona, and Jazmine Sullivan, to name a few.

    Watch the video of Questlove and Gilles Peterson at WMC 2010 as Quest toasts Gilles for being one to go down in history - quite timely to share given yesterday's news.

    After the jump, also find videos from De La Soul, The Roots, and Janelle Monae, all doing their thing at a venue that will be greatly missed.

    Here's a partial list of some of our great nights:

    June 2008 - Janelle Monae (Miami Debut)
    Sept 2008 - Jazmine Sullivan (Miami Debut)
    Oct 2008 - Nikka Costa
    NYE 2008 - The Roots and Janelle Monae
    Jan 2009 - The Florida Room 1st anniversary with De La Soul
    WMC 2009 - Pete Rock, Benji B, Wale, Questlove, Melanie Fiona, Taylor McFerrin
    NYE 2009 - Common
    WMC 2010 - Gilles Peterson and Questlove

    So to all our friends in Miami and of course the great staff of this special venue that had the best cocktails in the world - we salute you and all the good times.

    More videos from The Florida Room after the jump


    The Roots Release ‘undun’ App + NPR Stream

    December 2nd, 2011

     

    The Roots certainly didn't disappoint with the "Make My" single off their December 6th slated undun. And now we can be further not disappointed with a complete stream of the album on NPR. The moody and often melancholy concept based album is layered and textured, playing out like an audio story, which could also easily double as a film soundtrack.

    Also, yesterday the group dropped a free iTunes app to go with their very first conceptual project. The app includes photos, lyrics, interviews, music video snippets and in all "an immersive experience that elucidates the life and times of one Redford Stephens," the focal character on undun.

    Tracklisting
    1. Dun
    2. Sleep
    3. Make My feat. Big K.R.I.T. & Dice Raw
    4. One Time feat. Phonte & Dice Raw
    5. Kool On feat. Greg Porn & Truck North
    6. The OtherSide feat. Bilal Oliver & Greg Porn
    7. Stomp feat. Greg Porn
    8. Lighthouse feat. Dice Raw
    9. I Remember
    10. Tip The Scale feat. Dice Raw
    11. Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)
    12. Possibility (2nd Movement)
    13. Will To Power (3rd Movement)
    14. Finality (4th Movement)

    Dowload the undun app on iTunes

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