I Bless The Rains Down in Africa

There is a certain 80's pop rock song that for many of my younger teen years I had vaguely known about, not being too familiar with it but for the most part, I usually loved a bunch of 80's songs without knowing them by title or artist. That is until I saw the music video for "Murder Reigns" by Ja-Rule sometime around 2002 during my high school years. The uncredited lady on the hook, which I just thought was so overly dramatic and funny in a GOOD WAY, caught my attention, but what I really loved about the song was the beat/sample... and so my investigative work begun.

**Well, technically, the lady on the hook was miscredited...as another singer signed to the Murda Inc record label named The Letter M [aka Miredys, a former Miss Puerto Rico pageant winner] was credited and shown in the video... but the singer whose vocals are actually on the record belong to a woman named Celeste, who tried out for the Danity Kane season of MTV's show Making the Band.**


"Africa" is a song by rock band Toto, released in 1983 and can be best described by one of the band-members:

"... a white boy is trying to write a song on Africa, but since he's never been there, he can only tell what he's seen on TV or remembers in the past."

My favorite part about the song is the synths, but since acquiring the song I've played it countless times. Definitely one of my favorite 80's gems.


Watch the video HERE:




Some songs that have sampled this:

- "New World" by Nas
-"Heart of Man" by Xzibit
- "Anything" by JoJo
- "Tru Rider" by Mowett
- "Murder Reigns" by Ja Rule


The best recreation/usage of the song sample, in my humble opinion of course, is "Murder Reigns" produced by 7 Aurelius. I just hear some form of sloppiness in the other producers' beats for the aforementioned songs... but 7 Aurelius added a revamped mystical feel to the original melody with more advanced synthesizers and keyboards, while the other producers seemed to have just added to the actual original track.


Watch the Ja-Rule video HERE:




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Static Lives : Part 2 (of 2)

This is a reprise of a tribute I composed on Facebook for Static shortly after his passing:

Stephen "Static" Garrett passed away February 25, 2008 in his hometown Louisville, Kentucky for reasons unknown at this time.

Static was a R&B singer in the group PLAYA, making his beginnings in the industry working with the likes of Timbaland and Missy Elliott under the wing of Jodeci member Devante Swing, but came to be known moreso for his incredible catalogue of songs that he wrote for fellow artists.

His big break-through for his song-writing career came when Timbaland had produced a beat for Aaliyah to do a song for the Dr. DoLittle soundtrack. Missy Elliott had been the primary song-writer to go to for most Timbaland productions and Aaliyah songs at this time. However, she was unable to make it to the studio that particular night, so Static volunteered his services. What resulted from there was "Are You That Somebody?"

Starting with this song, Static wound up writing FIVE consecutive number 1 hits for Aaliyah:
"Are You That Somebody?"
"Try Again"
"We Need A Resolution"
"Rock the Boat"
"More Than A Woman"


I just have to say for those of you who don't know,
Static has been one of my top FAVORITE artists/PEOPLE in the music industry for years.......ever since I got in the mind frame of saying that I had favorites!
And it's not just his impressive writing discography,
but I love him as a performer as well.
His voice [which is his namesake as you can tell when you hear him] is just so fuckin ill. or was just so fcvkin ill.
So unique.
Hard to imitate.
And when someone tries to, it just makes anyone who knows Static's work think that this other person is obviously biting his style...
Justin Timberlake "My Love" I'm talking to you
but I won't get into any negativity for now within this tribute post.

When I first signed online today, I made my rounds to the usual websites I visit right away including a message board where I see a post near the top saying something about "R.I.P. Static from the group Playa"
and I'm just like huh?
and in another tab open I have another board open that has a similarly titled topic as well. As I read those posts, it brought my mood down but not even to a point of complete sadness just yet because I was so dazed... the whole shit was surreal, I didn't know what to think or say. I had to instant message a friend this news not only to inform her, but also to make it real for myself.

This really is such a tragic loss, especially when death comes to anyone who has not yet lived a full life. But to make matters worse, Static was finally going to see his much-anticipated solo debut album be released this year too. And then this shit happens.

Static was a musical genius, a father, and husband.
This news disturbs me more than I can express in this note,
even moreso than I can think about in my own mind.

REST IN PEACE.

I have taken the time to look through my music collection as well as cross-reference internet sources to compile a discography of all the songs that he had a hand in making.
It's long...which just goes to show you how much work he's put in.
But I say it's long hoping that it doesn't scare you off.
Go ahead and read through it.
You just may find some of your favorite songs in there.

WRITING DISCOGRAPHY:

Aaliyah - Rock the Boat, We Need A Resolution, Are You That Somebody, More Than A Woman, Try Again, Loose Rap, Are You Feelin Me Yo, Never No More, I Refuse, It's Whatever, Extra Smooth, Read Between The Lines, Those Were The Days, Erica Kane, Don't Know What To Tell Ya, Steady Ground, Messed Up

Al Green - Could This Be The Love

Aura feat. Kanye and The Clipse - Crazy

Brandy - Come As You Are, Sirens

David Banner feat. Static - Crank It Up

Destiny's Child - Say My Name (Timbaland remix)

Devante Swing of Jodeci feat. Static - Gin & Juice

Diddy feat. Christina Aguilera - Tell Me

Digital Black of Playa - Meet Me, Set It Up, Halfway, I'm A G, Messed Around, Fell In Love

DMX and Aaliyah - Come Back in One Piece

Gerald Levert - #1

Ginuwine - So Anxious, Pony, Same Ol' G, What's So Different, Final Warning, Number 1 Fan

Hug Bizza feat. Static - Work Ya Body

Jamie Foxx - Can I Take You Home

Jay-Z feat. Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, Static - Change The Game

Jodeci - The Show The Afterparty The Hotel, Can We Flo, ghost writing/production

JoJo - City Lights, Use My Shoulder

Keith Sweat - Love Jones

Kiley Dean - Make Me A Song

Lil' Flip - I Came to Bring the Pain feat. Ludacris/Tity Boi/Static, I Stay Laced feat. Static

Lil' Wayne feat. Static - Lollipop

Ma$e feat. Monifah - I Need to Be

Mel B. of Spice Girls - Word Up

Nas feat. Ginuwine, Static - You Owe Me

Nicole Wray - Eyes Better Not Wander, Raise Your Frown, Testing Our Love

Notorious B.I.G. feat Faith Evans, The Game - 1970 Somethin'

Playa - Cheers 2 U album, Woozy, Playboy Like Me, Your Dress, I'm Available, Never Too Late, Gravy Train, Incense Burning

Play n Skillz feat. Static - Let Em Go

Pretty Ricky - Yo Body, Juicy, On The Hotline

Rell feat. Jay-Z - It's Obvious

Southernaire All-Stars - I Believe

Sunshine Anderson - My Whole Life

Tank - So Many Times, Unpredictable

Timbaland - Luv 2 Luv Ya, We At It Again, Joy, Some in Da Air, I Am Music, People Like Myself, Indian Carpet, To My, What Cha Talkin Bout, Put Em On, Birthday, Keep It Real, Up Jumps The Boogie

Toni Braxton - unreleased songs from the Libra era

TQ feat. Krayzie Bone - Paradise
Troy Hudson feat. UGK, Static - "Good Weather Music"

Truth Hurts - Addictive, Real

Yoshamine feat. Static and Smokey - World is Mine


If this discography is posted elsewhere, I would hope to be given sufficient credit for compiling it.


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Static Lives : Part 1 (of 2)

Currently on news stands right now is the December 2008 issue of VIBE magazine, which features a quality article on the late singer, songwriter, artist Static Major (born Stephen Garrett). Although much of his work in the music industry has been behind the scenes, he is one of my favorite artists ever. I will discuss his work more thoroughly in Part 2 of this blog entry series with a reprise of a tribute I put together shortly after the time of his passing.

Now, I want to focus on some quotes of interest from the VIBE article, which interviews various people who have known and worked with Static throughout his life:


Missy Elliott (artist): Static's relationship was like that of a brother to Aaliyah.

Rudy Sandapa (producer): Anytime Aaliyah heard one of Static's songs, she wasn't that keen on recording them. But she'd go ahead and record it, and it would end up being a smash, from "Are You That Somebody?" to "Try Again." Those were songs she didn't like.

Black (group member of Playa): "Rock the Boat" was the first Aaliyah video that we didn't go to. Nine times out of ten, we would've been on the plane with her.

Avonti Garrett (wife): Someone had sent Static a message saying that Aaliyah had passed, and he got really upset. He thought it was a joke. He said, 'Why would someone say something like that?' He called Jomo Hankerson (President of Blackground Records) and Jomo just started crying and said, "It's true." Static just stood there.

Bryan-Michael Cox (producer): "Are You That Somebody?" It ain't been a record like that since. Timbaland tried to do it with Justin Timberlake, but with no Static, that vibe ain't there. Sounds like Justin was listening to alot of Static when he wrote, "My Love." All them Timbaland songs, he channeled Static.

Devante Swing (member of Jodeci): I can tell how Justin moves, that's how Static moves, that's his swag. I study this game. I'm old, so I know where people get sh!t from.

Rudy Sandapa : Timbaland offered Static a songwriting deal, but he didn't want to rely on Timbaland to make him big. He wanted to do it himself, because he felt he never got the credit for the work he did with Timbaland and Missy. He would never admit he was hurt, but Static felt he was the reason for alot of careers.

Tim Barnett (childhood friend/assistant) : That's what made me fall out with Barry and Jomo Hankerson all the time. It's like, "How do yall have a man that yall suppose to manage, who's written all these big-@ss records, and yall can't even get him an interview??"

Lil D (manager) : Static was always upset that he never put out a solo album.

Play (of production duo Play-N-Skillz) : We were in the studio in L.A. when Static got the call that Lil Wayne wanted to work with him. Static didn't jump up and down or go crazy... but I could see him pace back and forth like, this is my moment.

Lil Wayne (rapper): His initial intention was to help. He's definitely to blame for my newfound success.

-------

The quotes in the article which touch on Static's final moments in the hospital, and reactions of close ones were really heavy for me. Reading that section hit a nerve for me.
See the full article at The Thomas Crown Chronicles below:
http://thomascrownchronicles.blogspot.com/2008/11/vibe-pays-tribute-to-stephen-static.html


But to touch on why I enlargened a certain quote above, I think that's crazy what Bryan-Michael Cox said...
because when the high-quality version of Justin Timberlake's "My Love" first leaked to the Internet years ago, the first thing I said to my friend Pri (who I had sent the song to) was that I totally hear Static's influence, and possibly background vocals, on this song.
**Shoutout to Pri: http://pusha-pri.blogspot.com/

Then when the FutureSexLoveSounds album came out and Static's name was nowhere to be found in the credits, I said that Timbaland definitely blatantly ripped the style of his FRIEND Static on that track.

THANK YOU BRYAN-MICHAEL COX for putting out our similar views in the open.
I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one who thought this.

Part 2 of my Static tribute coming soon.


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Balewa Muhammad: Back In Da Days Before The Clutch

Many R&B fans who take the time to look into the masterminds behind the great songs they love so much are all too familiar with The Clutch and their work in recent years. But do you ever think about the lives and history of each individual member? Before writing hits as part of the ill song-writing collective The Clutch, Balewa Muhammad attempted a musical career in front of the scenes as a member of soul group The Transitions.

Created by Mike Bivins of New Edition, The Transitions were a trio comprised of Balewa Muhammad, Charles 'Gator' Moore, and Rashawn Worthen. The vision for their album, Back In Da Days, was a throwback to 70's blaxploitation films in America. The sound is gutter R&B in content, but The Transitions carry it well with their soulful crooning, each member having a distinct voice as well. The songs are street narratives with lyrics expressing point of views on experiences in the ghetto, not ignorant acts of glorifying the gangsta lifestyle. Even in the more romantic/relationship leaning songs, the overall street soul vibe is carried over. Not corny, not fabricated, just real and sincere from a standpoint that may happen to be more explicit than what some folk are familiar with. The Transitions get bonus points for letting each member sing on most songs, with no established lead singer hogging the spotlight.

The first single off the album was, "Ghetto Laws" which sets the tone of the album effectively. The organs and horns set an accurately dated musical backdrop nicely, while The Transitions sing about the rules to live by if you want to get by. "5th of Gin" expresses remorse of going to jail and being unable to spend time with the one you love. Even if you can't relate to the situation, you might still like the song for its beautifully melancholy arrangement. Part of the melody reminds me of Boyz II Men's "Pass You By", slightly coincidental considering the Mike Bivins connection. Balewa has a duet with Vee from the group Koffee Brown on "I'm Not Crazy" where a man confronts his girlfriend with questions about cheating, and catching her on each lie that she tells. "Fat Ass Pam" is a tale of a lady who has a certain loose reputation amongst the fellas, you know the type, though I'd like to note that there are just as many men with such said reputation. Rashawn gets his solo shine on "Rainy Night In Harlem" though Gator lends a few gut-wrenching ad-libs right at the end, which work perfectly with the emotions set.

Production on this album comes from Balewa's brother Dauwd Muhammad, KayGee of Naughty by Nature, Darren Lighty, Eric Williams of BlackStreet, Wesley Hogges, Med, Danny Pierre, Falonte Moore, Rob Fusari, J.C. McCoy, Nod, Tiger & Leland, and Ean Woodson. I spent $22 on this 10-track album, and don't regret it at all. It's become one of my favourite albums of all time.

Unfortunately, The Transitions just didn't have the commercial sound necessary to have successful longevity but Balewa didn't abandon his musical aspirations here. Much of the writing and production on this album from the likes of KayGee and Eric Williams seemed to have served as a blueprint for newcomer Jahiem, who's albums reflected the style of The Transitions, but with a more modernized and mainstream appeal.

Balewa ended up co-writing songs for Jahiem, and sung significant back-up on many of his singles (I have a strong hunch that all these guys knew each other early in their lives from growing up in various parts of New Jersey). I say "significant" because Balewa's voice is heard so dominantly, even singing the chorus on many of these songs without people really knowing who it was. Take a look at some of the Jahiem songs where Balewa lends a big helping hand:

"Could It Be"

"Just In Case"

“Anything (remix)”

"Put That Woman First"

"Diamond in da Rough"

"Fabulous"

Know those songs? Then you know Balewa's voice.

Oh, maybe you've heard him singing the chorus of this song, along with fellow Clutch member Keri Hilson:

"The Way I Are" by Timbaland

???

So here I was, sometime in 2007, aware of this writing group called The Clutch making lots of noise in the music industry, but not knowing much about the members aside from Keri Hilson and Candace Nelson, when I read up on them and BAM! Saw that my boy Balewa Muhammad is part of the team. Such a crazy moment. Had NO idea he was behind a lot of these Clutch songs, GOOD for him! I wanted to shed some light on his very meritable yet unknown background in the music biz, and hope for bigger things to come.

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