Just a bit of boring/interesting(whichever u choose) info 'bout me and my new album...and, by the way...i didn't write all this shit 'bout myself...someone else did, thankfully. Enjoy/or don't(whichever u choose).
Ursula Rucker Maat Mama (!K7194CD)
release date: January 30th 2006
Ursula Rucker has never been afraid to take it there. There, that place, deep, inside, up and above, where she carves emotion with piercing lyrical cadence. There, where poetry and music intertwine, melodies and words mingle. On her third album, Rucker sets her sights There, aspiring towards an ancient Egyptian kemetic principle, the foundation of universal order and balance maat truth. Hence the album title: maat mama.
Ma'at is also the name of the goddess whose power works to keep this truth, this balance, ever present and functional, she muses at home in Philadelphia, surrounded by her four children, all under age of 12. Some believe she is at the top of the hierarchy of Egyptian gods and goddesses, for without universal order there is nothing but chaos and destruction.
Mother of four, Rucker has reached a personal balance that is evident in maat mama. It has been something I keep in my heart, something that is beautiful, simple, powerful and a guide through this crazy life, she explains of the balance between motherhood and living as an artist. Now that I am a mama of four black boys in America, I need all the strength to raise them and do my best to achieve good human being-ness, so I can show them the way. Supa Sista has evolved into ma'at mama.
From her native Philadelphia, Ruckers affinity for crafting words catapulted her message into hungry ears when she began to read publicly in 1994 at Zanzibar. The Temple University journalism graduate struck a chord in Phillys soul that reverberated around the world with her mezzo-soprano speak. Her recordings with the Silent Poets, Jamaaladeen Tacoma and Josh Wink captured the publics imagination, so when Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson asked her to compose the final cuts on three consecutive Roots albums, she found an eager international following.
In 2001, her !K7 debut Supa Sista featured production by 4Hero, King Britt and Jonah Sharp and introduced Ursula Rucker as a talented poet and solo artist with a strong lyrical voice. Backed again by an assembly of diverse, top shelf producers that included The Roots, Louie Vega and Jazzanova, her 2003 release, Silver and Lead further extended her exploration of self, race and femininity. With maat mama, Rucker shows a new level of maturity in her writing.
As usual she does not mince words, exposing various personal insights and truths with steel-cut precision.
Then, theres her lifelong love of Prince. If I would go through a hard time I would listen to something otherworldly, godlike, so sexy and so fine. It was all I needed, she says with pride.
Princes musical influence is more clearly recognizable in maat mamas production style than on previous releases, as Rucker is joined by vastly talented producer Anthony Tidd who uses traditional African percussion, raucous guitar, and slinky synthesizers to create his sound. She worked with a handful of other producers as well, but the sound remains consistently impassioned, whether melancholy or upbeat.
While her perspective as a proud mother informs much of the content, her understanding of her own upbringing drives this project. Im really taking into account who my parents are and what their life is like. My father is black and hes from Lynchburg, Virginia. My Mother is Italian, born in this country. They got married in 1952, which when I think about it, it took so much courage. They met at a luncheon with a jukebox and a counter down on Market street in Philly.
True to form, Ruckers albums are poetry in motion, guided by a time signature that speaks to the human experience with honesty and poignancy. Sensuality oozes without abandon in Black Erotica. She kicks straight goodness in the acapella Church Party, an ode to the glory days with clear imagery. "They all stand in a buffalo stance/B-boy posin/Skin and style pressed up against church hall wall/3-D graffiti hit/Somebody say, Exotic! Exotic!"
Wise listeners should keep liner notes on hand.
These connections are made through intense outpourings of emotion, at times surprisingly subdued, then more overtly pronounced. Poon Tang Clan is one of such power pieces, exploring a womans reality in a mans world. Why am I so raw? Cause I dont fuck with protocol or propriety.
Its something thats been around for awhile. Its my baby.
Rucker does not shelter her audience. Shes honest, vibrant, heartfelt and at the core true. She ends For Women with a grand declaration. Call me crazy, divine, Maat, true honeybun, Supreme Pontifica, electric lady, holy prostitute. I dont care what you call me. I know who I is.
Rucker, a global activist, enlightens in the recording studio and at her powerful live shows. Recently she has performed at FREEDOM Festival in Australia, to raise awareness for Amnesty Internationals global Stop Violence Against Women campaign. By her own definition, she is maat mama to the core.
Oh yes, shes gone there, to that place.
Tracklist:
01. humbled produced by tim motzer/featuring sonia sanchez
02. rant (hot in here) produced by anthony tidd/featuring malene younglao
03. black erotica produced by anthony tidd
04. i ain't (yopunk ass bitch) produced by anthony tidd
05. sols intro produced by sol green & anthony tidd
06. children's poem produced by anthony tidd
07. libations produced by anthony tidd
08. church party produced by anthony tidd
09. uh uh produced by soenke duewer
10. spiri-chant produced by anthony tidd/featuring gary smalls 11. for women produced by tim motzer
12. broken produced by robert yancey III
13. sudans intro produced by sudan green & anthony tidd
14. poon tang clan produced by anthony tidd
15. l.o.v.e. produced by anthony tidd/featuring vicki miles
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(J-reel)
I know the Freedom Through Music project will break the glass for Poetry
and Spoken Word Artists everywhere. It will bring Poetry to the living
rooms of people all across the country and over seas. This album will
change how people view Poetry and Spoken Word and will be set as the
Genre of a new generation. Volume #1 set the foundation of our
organization. Volume # 2 opened doors and took Poetry Over Music
Internationally. Volume #3 broke records and caught the attention of
people everywhere stirring a Poetry uprising.
The way I came
up with Freedom Through Music, is I envisioned the essence of Spoken
Word and Poetry and what it can be. As a fan of Poetry, I understand
the power poets have with their words. Poets have the power to talk to
a young girl who is on drugs and make a difference in that girls life.
Poetry and Music has the power to change all of our lives. It will open
your mind and heart to something new. My definition of a poet is
someone who speaks the truth. A Poet writes from there soul, free from
hooks and gimmicks. A Poet is Free. That's how I came up with, Freedom
through Music...
Poetry Over Music Volume # 3 had close to
100,000 downloads in one year. It ranked as the Number One free online
downl
Greetings big sis!! I pray all is well with you and the fam. I moved into the dorm and have been in school for two weeks. (It's my sophmore year.) So far, my experience in the dorm.....has been very interesting, to say the least; and that's all i'm going to say for now.
School is going alright. I had alot of homework this weekend, but I came down with the worst head cold ever, so that threw me waaay off schedule. But anyway, I go to school 3 days a week. On Monday & Wed. I have U.S. Foreign Policies, Spanish 102, Intermediate Algebra, and Communications. On Friday, I have Art Appreciation.
Other than that, everything has been alright with me. I have been feeling this calm, spiritual, poetic vibe where I feel like I need to grab pen and paper and create a new piece of work, but I keep getting stuck. (I'll let you know how that works out for me.)
But anyway, I have to go and attempt to do this homework so until next time I pray you as well as the fam stay safe and blessed!! I send much Peace, Love, and many Blessings from me to you. Love ya!!
Afro-Mystik - Natural (DJ Fluid Remix)
Soulstice - Lovely (Onionz Dub)
Karizma - The Power
Kevin Yost - Natural High
Johnny Fiasco - Freak (Dizzy Mix)
Dragan - Tourythm
Karizma - All Teched Out
Kaskade - 4 AM (Djuma Mix)
Don Carlos - Karma (Jazzy Mix)
Ursula Rucker - Electric Santeria (King Britt Remix)
Poussez Vs. Demarkus Lewis - Passin Thru (Atjazz Remix)
Miguel Migs - Fire (Afrotronic Dub)
TO-KA Project - Be Free
Ne-Yo - Closer (House Mix)
Leedia - Quiero Saber (Classic Mix)
Chuck Love - Something Right (Soul Symphony Remix)
Soulstice - Lovely (Julius Papp Mix)
Chris Lum - Letters from Isabelle
'GO SMOOTH' MUSIC VIDEO IS ON MYSPACE, FACEBOOK, MUZU TV & SHOWOFF TV! COMING SOON TO VIDEOMIX TV, CARIBV.TV, BET & THE REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL! *DOWNLOAD VIDEO FREE http://vimeo.com/6335316
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