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What finally made him see, he says, was the passing of J Dilla, the revered hip-hop producer, on February 10, 2006. They’d just talked on the phone, D’Angelo says, when suddenly, J Dilla was gone at 32 after a long battle with lupus. It was like a blinding light had been switched on. Why did so many black artists die so young? He’d been haunted by this thought for years. Marvin. Jimi. Biggie. “I felt like I was going to be next. I ain’t bullshitting. I was scared then,” he says, recalling how shame engulfed him, preventing him from attending the funeral. “I was so fucked-up, I couldn’t go.”
Shame, guilt, repentance—D’Angelo knows them well. To say that he was raised religious doesn’t begin to capture it. He’s the son and the grandson of Pentecostal preachers. To D’Angelo, good and evil are not abstract concepts but tangible forces he reckons with every day. In his life and in his music, he has always felt the tension between the sacred and the profane, the darkness and the light.
“You know what they say about Lucifer, right, before he was cast out?” D’Angelo asks me now. “Every angel has their specialty, and his was praise. They say that he could play every instrument with one finger and that the music was just awesome. And he was exceptionally beautiful, Lucifer—as an angel, he was.”
But after he descended into hell, Lucifer was fearsome, he tells me. “There’s forces that are going on that I don’t think a lot of motherfuckers that make music today are aware of,” he says. “It’s deep. I’ve felt it. I’ve felt other forces pulling at me.” He stubs out his cigarette and leans toward me, taking my hand. “This is a very powerful medium that we are involved in,” he says gravely. “I learned at an early age that what we were doing in the choir was just as important as the preacher. It was a ministry in itself. We could stir the pot, you know? The stage is our pulpit, and you can use all of that energy and that music and the lights and the colors and the sound. But you know, you’ve got to be careful.”
Also:
How Artists Are Converted From Christianity (& Take Their Followers Fans With Them)
Many pop artists weren’t even raised in the church of Christ (note that many of them were raised in The Industry), so they have no clue about the light side of the spiritual realm - let alone how to protect one’s soul and physical body against “dark forces”. How do you sing soul music with a dead compromised soul? Instead of praying for artists to return to hell on earth to satisfy their craving for new music, followers fans should pray for the artists’ soul salvation - like Whitney requested (and people ignored to mock her).
*sings “happy birthday to ya! happy birthday to ya! happy biiiiiiirthday!”*
Prince - Baby Go-Go (Unreleased studio version from ‘86)
Whenever I see your body move
Ooh baby, I lose my cool
Something about ya, I don’t know
Makes me wanna go-go
My naked body on the floor
Is all you really need to know
Whatever you do, just don’t say no
Come on baby, go-go
(via paisleypark)
They…met in the first grade and were discovered in the early 1990s at the Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta by Jermaine Dupri, who molded them into the first commercially successful teen-oriented hip hop act. Mr. Kelly died on Wednesday after being found unresponsive in his home in Atlanta. He was 34…Mr. Kelly’s mother, Donna Kelly Pratte, said he had been using cocaine and heroin before his death.
more.
+++++
art: Kelly, on the right.
Don’t forget Another Bad Creation came out in 1990, 2 years before Kris Kross. Mike Bivins is the one with innovative vision.
I loved both acts.
The Death of Mac Daddy!
Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly, one half of the hip-hop duo Kris Kross, died yesterday afternoon after being found unresponsive in his Atlanta home. He was 34 years old.
The Associated Press reported that authorities were called to Kelly’s home at approximately 4:30pm, EST, according to Kay Lester, a spokeswoman for Fulton County Police. Celebrity gossip site TMZ received a copy of the police report and said it was Kelly’s mother, Donna Kelly Pratte, who placed the call. According to TMZ, paramedics arrived earlier than AP’s report, at approximately 3pm, EST, to find the rapper on the living room floor with no vital signs. After unsuccessful attempts to revive him, he was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead “shortly after” 5:30pm, EST according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner.
TMZ’s review of the police report indicated Kelly’s mother and uncle informed authorities of his long history with drug abuse and that he had been using a combination of cocaine and heroin (commonly known as “speedballing”) the night before. An autopsy was scheduled for this morning. An official cause of death will be determined pending its results.
Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly and Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith were only 12 years old in 1990 when they were discovered in an Atlanta mall by a budding 18 year old producer named Jermaine Dupri. Dupri went on to produce their 1992 debut album TOTALLY KROSSED OUT, which quickly soared to number one on the charts, largely on the strength of the hugely popular single, “Jump”. The following year, Dupri launched his own label, So So Def Recordings.
“Jump” remained a number one hit for eight weeks and sold over two million copies. Three more singles would come from TOTALLY KROSSED OUT and the album would go on to sell over four million copies.
Kris Kross released two more albums, 1993’s DA BOMB and 1996’s YOUNG, RICH AND DANGEROUS, which went platinum and gold respectively, but would never again reach the heights of their initial success. They were known for wearing their clothes backwards, a trend Kelly claimed he continued into his adulthood.
Kelly and Smith were contemplating a Kris Kross reunion after appearing earlier this year at So So Def’s 20th Anniversary party.
Chris Kelly’s mother and So So Def released the following statement:
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that our beloved Chris Kelly has passed away on May 1. To millions of fans worldwide, he was the trendsetting, backwards pants-wearing one-half of Kris Kross who loved making music. But to us, he was just Chris — the kind, generous and fun-loving life of the party. Though he was only with us a short time, we feel blessed to have been able to share some incredible moments with him. His legacy will live on through his music, and we will forever love him.”
Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith issued the following statement through E! Online:
“Chris Kelly was my best friend. He was like a brother. I love him and will miss him dearly. Our friendship began as little boys in first grade. We grew up together. It was a blessing to achieve the success, travel the world and entertain Kris Kross fans all around the world with my best friend. It is what we wanted to do and what brought us happiness. I will always cherish the memories of the C-Connection.”
Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly (August 11, 1978–May 1, 2013)…RIP!
(via kolayotunde)
It has been reported that I signed a new record deal, and that I did this to pay taxes. Yes, I have recently entered into an agreement with Sony Worldwide Entertainment, to launch a new label, on which my new music will be released. And yes, I am working on new music.
I’ve remained…
Jupiter (law, luck) is currently in Gemini (communication). Looking forward to hearing a piece of Gemini Lauryn’s mind. Her constant legal battles are indicative of her internal opposition (Gemini Sun - Sagittarius Moon) and squares (Cancer Venus - Aries Mars). She wants security but is finding out that the “right” to free speech costs. I hope this new deal brings her peace of mind.
Cover of Prince’s “When Doves Cry”, featuring Saunders Sanders, Lance Powlis (trumpet) & Ede Wright (guitar).
Darryl Reeves - Keyboards
Kenny Banks - Keyboards
Joel Powell - Bass
Kenton Bostick - Drums
As you know, I’m a Prince
In my Human Sexuality class, we heard many guest speakers: a paraplegic discuss the ability to have orgasms, a gynecologist discuss STDs, a porn star discuss porn, etc. But none were more disturbing or…illuminating than the brother and sister survivors of a satanic cult. This article touches on just one aspect of what these cults are into.
If you’ve ever asked yourself “What in the world does she see in fugly Lil Wayne and Jay-Z?”, then click to see the answer.
