C-O-O-L!! What’s that spell? It’s the infectious chorus from “Cool” the second release from the self titled debut album from the band formerly known as The Time, now known as The Original 7ven. Taking me back to college days with every brother on campus attempting to mimic the epitome of cool by sporting silky blazers, high waist-pleated pants and skinny neck ties to compliment their processed, permed, pressed or jheri curled hair. These guys brought new meaning to the word
haberdashery. Before everyone wanted to be like Mike, they wanted to be like Morris Day, Jerome Benton and the gang. Recorded at Prince’s studio and
released in 1981, the album was originally written and performed by Prince with Morris Day replacing Prince’s vocals. “His Royal Badness” is clearly evident
on “Cool” with background vocals and his signature style, heavy on synthesizers and the guitar solo. This party startin’, club banger charted at number seven on
Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles and had everyone already asking “What Time is it?”

By Soul Bravado

You can also catch SoulBrav @SouLBraV on Twitter.

A Great Day In Hip Hop

*Scrolls through iPod and selects Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor*

Hip Hop has expanded itself from just a genre of music, to a LIFESTYLE. We don’t just listen to Hip Hop, we become it.

Reach deep into your minds and define cool. From high school, throughout life, cool has always been a certain standard for acceptance into a crowd that nobody truly belongs in. “The Cool” crowd is usually the most patterned and predictable group of people we meet in life. (See paradigmatic) Sadly, this crowd controls the economic aspect of youthANDmusic. It has been this way for a long time and will remain so. In the late 80’s early 90’s, Hip-hop culture took the youth by storm, from music to films thus bringing hip hop to life, and into the eyes of the public. Then Biggie died, and took with him the strength of the relationship between “The Cool” and Hip Hop. (more…)

One of those great artists that you instantly know his sound within two notes. His music was as unapologetic as his persona. He never looked back, constantly pushed the music forward. This narrative is so succinctly summed up in two words: Miles Davis. (more…)

(more…)