For a while I never knew who the actual artist was behind Dr. Evil, but he was always popping up mixes and doing silly impressions. Well those of you that don’t know its Leftside, formally from Leftside & Esco. The track “Transform” has been out for a while where Leftside uses his alter ego to do various impressions, see for yourself.

While Haiti’s problems are far from gone, and while lives of people are still far from what it used to be, life still moves forward. One of the best things is despite all the hardships certain staples of Haitian culture won’t die - namely art and music. I threw up a report a from the NY Times a few weeks ago about the hardships of Haitian artists. This NY Times video shows how artist are still pushing on, making music, painting and surviving.

I just recently caught the video to Busy Signal’s “Nightshift/One More Night”, if you haven’t seen it press play.

Here is a crazy story I heard about. A Haitian family that survived the quake in Haiti, was relocated to Chile through one of their sons who lives in Chile. The son who is part of a Haitian reggaeton band, Reggaeton Boys, had connections with the Chilean Embassy in Haiti. They arrived in Chile on the 23 of January to only be in the middle of another quake on February 28th. While the family survived again this was another shock to them.

And if you were thinking what I was you must be wondering about a the Haitian Reggaeton group, I added a video on them to confirm things a bit.

It’s that time again. First Fridays at the Bronx Museum with Asho, celebrating Women’s History Month. Check out the details below…

First Fridays! At The Bronx Museum Presents:
KALALU Femme Edition: A lyrical stew for wordsmiths of all walks
Celebrating Women’s History Month
FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010, 6:00pm to 10:00pm
South Building – Lower Gallery
Admission: Free!!! No Cover!!!

Back by popular demand and following the success of last year’s all
female line-up performances, First Fridays! will celebrate Women’s
History Month with a program fully composed of words and sounds by and
for women.

KALALU is a signature event of The Zol Lab, a creative laboratory
where arts and media meet social justice.

Curated and Hosted by The Zol Lab.
Performances by Aracelis Girmay, Atiyya, Lah Tere, Lorelei Williams & Alkebulan Aya.

Beats By DJ Laylo
Live Painting by Crystal Chaparro.

illustration courtesy of Toofly. www.toooflynyc.com

Flyer Design by Cissa Paz www.weweproductions.com

The Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse at 165th Street • Bronx, NY 10456
Or visit www.bronxmuseum.org.

Subway Directions: Take the “D” or “B” to the 167 Street/Grand Concourse station. Exit at rear of station, walk south along Grand Concourse two blocks. Or take the “4” to the 161 Street/Yankee Stadium station. Walk east three blocks to the Grand Concourse, then walk north four blocks along Grand Concourse to 165th Street. Via Bus: Take the Bx1, Bx2, or BxM4 Express to 165th St. and Grand Concourse

SHOW TIMELINE

6:00 pm Doors Open/ DJ Laylo Spins on the 1’s & 2’s

7:30PM Opening Remarks by Marinieves Alba/The Zol Lab

7:35 PM Performance by Lorelei Williams

7:55 PM Mari Intro/Aracelis Girmay

8:20 PM Marinieves Alba announces Crystal’s Work in Progress/Atiyya Intro

8:25 PM Performance by Atiyya

8:50 PM Performance by Lah Tere

9:15 PM Performance by Alkebulan Aya

9:40 PM Closing Remarks by Marinieves Alba/The Zol Lab

For more info on everything, check out The Bronx Museum’s official site.

Estelle and Kardinal have come through with a new track “Freak”, check it out.

Supreme releases a video interview with Lee Scratch Perry, Jamaica’s Musical Shaman. The interview gives us an overall brief history into the life of Lee Perry, one of the most important creative, artistic and musical figures to emerge from Jamaica in the latter half of the 20th Century. Along with his musical achievements, he has also directly influenced numerous important figures active in other genres, including everyone from Paul McCartney and Brian Eno to the Clash, the Beastie Boys and Jay-Z. For Supreme’s 2010 Spring Collection, they collaborate with Lee Perry on two t-shirt designs featuring his written word and original artwork

…via.

Just wanted to give folks the heads up that the legendary Gil Scott-Heron will be bring his live show to New York’s fabled Blue Note Jazz Club next week.

Gil will play a two-night engagement as celebration of the release of his new album I’m New Here , which Dom detailed a couple of weeks back.

To purchase tickets to either the March 2nd or March 3rd show, click here: Blue Note New York: GIL SCOTT-HERON & FRIENDS: CD RELEASE SHOW FOR “I’M NEW HERE” - 2 NIGHTS ONLY!.

This weekend will be great for Wyclef Jean, as he’s set to receive The Harvard Foundation’s most prestigious medal at their annual Cultural Rhythms award ceremony on Feb. 27. Check out the info below…

…“His contributions to music and distinguished history of creativity have been appreciated by people throughout the world,” said S. Allen Counter, director of the Harvard Foundation, “and he is admired worldwide for his humanitarian efforts on behalf of the people of Haiti.”…

…He is widely known for his humanitarian work through the Yéle Haiti Foundation, which promotes sports and the arts in Haiti. This support includes thousands of annual scholarships, soccer programs for at-risk youth, and free outdoor films in neighborhoods without electricity. The organization distributes food to communities in need throughout Haiti and mobilizes emergency disaster relief, including its current efforts in response to the devastating earthquake in the Port-au-Prince area.

The Harvard Foundation, the University’s center for intercultural arts and sciences initiatives, honors the nation’s most acclaimed artists and scientists each year. Previous awards have been presented to such artists as Sharon Stone, Andy Garcia, Will Smith, Matt Damon, Halle Berry, Jackie Chan, Denzel Washington, Salma Hayek, and Herbie Hancock….

Check out the full article on his honor and purchase tickets to the event, if you’re in the area, here: Haitian-American artist honored.

Gotta give The Heatwave Blog their due for this one….classics never die….check the details below…

…Yesterday was 25 years to the day since Wayne Smith’s anthem Under Mi Sleng Teng was first played in a dance.

The tune was built at Jammy’s studio in Waterhouse before being unleashed during a clash with Black Scorpio at Waltham Park Road on 23rd February 1985. It flattened the dance and dominated the scene for months, with dozens (and later hundreds) of artists and producers rushing to record their own versions of the rhythm track.

Generally acknowledged as the first fully computerised dancehall riddim, Sleng Teng completely revolutionised Jamaican music and paved the way for all the ragga, bashment, dancehall or whatever you want to call it that I love so much….

Check the original below and peep a video medley after the jump….

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