WRFB: Radio Free Brooklyn: It's July 27th and "You're Busted!!"

Hey Everyone,

So tonight's show was all about cheating.   In tonight's broadcast people were musically, shot, cussed out and politely told that two can play that game.  It might not be a easy topic in real life, but it's makes for some great songs.  Check the playlist and enjoy!

On another note, tonight was our 15th broadcast at WRFB: Radio Free Brooklyn. We've been having a wonderful time playing the music we love and interviewing the artists that matter like Tamar-kali, Greta's Bakery, I Love Monsters, Angela Johnson, Dionne Ferris and more.  It's been incredible, but we are community radio and we need the community to keep the stream alive.

We are having a fundrasier on Saturday July 31st at Brooklyn Movie Labs, home of WRFB.  We are so excited to have Lindsey Wilson, Xenia Rubinos, Giovanni Truppi, Jeff Jeudy, Dexter Taylor, Shelley Nicole (yes that's me) and a few more special guests TBA.  It's going to be an amazing night of music with a silent auction to boot. So come on out. I will leave all the information below. We can't wait to see you on Saturday night!

Peace,
Shelley

Saturday July 31st 
 r 'n b party
(radio in bed-stuy)

A fundraiser for WRFB: Radio Free Brooklyn

Featuring: Shelley Nicole, Lindsey Wilson, Jeff Jeudy, Xenia Rubinos, Giovanni Truppi, Dexter Taylor and more special guests TBA.

@ Brooklyn Movie Labs

449 Nostrand Avenue (corner of Halsey St.)
Brooklyn, NY
Doors @ 8pm, Show @ 8:30pm
$10 minimum (but please feel free to give more)
For more info and to donate online go to:
www.brooklynmovielabs.com


July 27th Playlist

1. Billy Paul – “Me and Mrs. Jones” on 360 Degrees of Billy Paul (1972)

2. Shelley Nicole's blaKbüshe – “Cheatin' Baby Daddy” on she who bleeds... (2003)

3. The Allman Brothers Band – “One Way Out” on Eat a Peach (1972)

4. D'Angelo – “Shit, Damn, Motherfucker” on Brown Sugar (1995)

5. Dru Hill – “In My Bed” on Dru Hill (1996)

6. Fishbone – “Lyin' Ass Bitch” on Fishbone (1985)

7. Taj Mahal – “Frankie & Albert” on Taj's Blues (1973)

8. Prince O(-+-> - “Gotta Stop (Messin' Around)” on The Hits/The B-Sides (1993)

9. Marvin Gaye – “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” on In the Groove/Heard it Through the Grapevine (1968)

10. Howlin' Wolf – “Evil (Is Going On)” on Moanin’ at the Moonlight (1954 single release/1959 when album came out)

11. The Human League – “Human” on Crash (1986)

12. Michael Jackson – “Cheater” on Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection (2004)

How High is Too High? & WRFB: Radio Free Brooklyn Needs Your Help!

Hey Everyone,

Tonight we took a little journey through musical contraband.  Who's shooting it, who's selling it and who's just laid back in the haze.  Enjoy the high!  Some of you have been asking about a show archive and I will be posting the archive of many of my shows very soon. Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

On another note, if you have been listening to WRFB: Radio Free Brooklyn, planning to listen or just checking out my playlists, then this message is for you. We at WRFB need your help. Like most community radio stations we can not exist without YOU.  We are very proud to say that we broadcast from Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, but we are in jeopardy of losing our space.   For the last 14 weeks we have been playing great music that you otherwise would not hear on commercial radio and we've gotten incredible feedback. We even landed ourselves an article in the Williamsburg-Greenpoint News, but that's not enough. We Need You! So please go to www.brooklynmovielabs.com and make a donation to keep WRFB alive! Without Brooklyn Movie Labs there is no Radio Free Brooklyn. Every donation helps.  Five-dollars can turn into hundreds even thousands so please don't be shy about your donation however great or small.

We are also having a fundrasier for WRFB at Brooklyn Movie Labs on Saturday July 31st. There will be performances as well as a silent auction. As I have more details about the performers I will pass them along.  Thank you in advance for your support.

For More information about WRFB and Brooklyn Movie Labs:
www.twitter.com/radiofreebklyn
www.radiofreebrooklynonline.blogspot.com
Email us at: radiofreebrooklynonline@gmail.com
You can Listen to WRFB: Radio Free Brooklyn 
Every Tuesday from 7-11pm at www.brooklynmovielabs.com/radio
Brooklyn Movie Labs: www.brooklynmovielabs.com

Peace,
Shelley

1. Curtis Mayfield - "Pusherman" on Superfly (1972)

2. The Notorious B.I.G. - “Ten Crack Commandments” on Life After Death (1997)

3. Me'Shell Ndegéocello - “Shoot'n Up And Gett'n High” on Plantation Lullabies (1993)

4. Jimi Hendrix - “Purple Haze” on Are you Experienced? (1967)

5. Method Man & Redman - “How High (Remix)” on Blackout! (1999)

6. Stevie Wonder - “Too High” on Innervisions (1973)

7. Cypress Hill - “I Wanna Get High” on Black Sunday (1993)

8. D'Angelo - “Brown Sugar” on Brown Sugar (1995)

9. Rick James - “Mary Jane” on Come Get It! (1978)

10. Brazilian Girls - “Pussy” on Brazilian Girls (2005)

11. Fleetwood Mac - “Gold Dust Woman” on Rumours (1977)

WRFB: Radio Free Brooklyn: It's July 13th and I'm going to Funk U Up!

Good evening,

Do not attempt to push the back button or go to another blog. You have entered my atmosphere. A land called Future Funk. A turning point; a paradigm shift. Hold on to your wig children this daughter's ship has come directly from the mother. This is not a game or some sort of hoax. The future of the funk has arrived. Climb on board. It's time to roll...

People have always told me that blaKbüshe reminded them of Parliament-Funkadelic and I have to be honest and say that I couldn't understand why. I grew up with P-Funk and I was steeped in classics like "Give Up the Funk (Tear The Roof Off the Sucka)," "P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)," "One Nation" and the list goes on. So when I thought about my band I could see similarities, but still wasn't clear.  Then I heard the rest.  "Super Stupid," "Bop Gun," "Red Hot Momma" and  that list goes on.  That was my light bulb moment.  

So what is Funk?  I have been asking myself this question for the past few weeks. I had the pleasure of  being a part of an all-star band paying tribute to Garry "Star Child" Shider aka The Diaperman from Parliament-Funkadelic.   I remember dancing to "(Not Just) Knee Deep" and "One Nation Under a Groove" as a kid.  Back in the day when grown folks had their own business and kids were not allowed to hang around. So we would leave and play the records of our time and dance innocently to the funk!  A much simpler time indeed. Before I was in the business of music, I was just a music lover standing in awe of it's power.

The songs that I selected for tonight's show are all funk, but some of you might disagree. You might think it's rock or soul or fusion, but I ask you, is it funky? Can you tell me what exactly makes funk, funk?

Is it the hard hittin' bass that stops your heart, the wah of the guitars or maybe the scream, horns in harmony, vocals that make you want to slap your momma? What makes something funk and not just soul, rock, R&B, jazz fusion, etc.? Do two, three or four genres converge at a starpoint that suddenly makes it funk? If something is funky does that make it funk? These are the questions I ask you.  What have you been programmed to believe funk is? For me there is only one question.  Do I feel it in your bones? If so, then that's the FUNK!

Some of the selections below we know well and others are rare gems. I hope you enjoy them all.   It's been a fun and funky few weeks.  Thank you Star Child for bringing so much power into one room for the love of you. Rest in the Funk!

Peace,
Shelley

1. Parliament - “Mothership Connection (Star Child)” on Mothership Connection (1975)

2. James Brown – “There It Is, Pt. 1” on There It Is (1972)

3. B.T. Express – “Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)” on Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) (1974)

4. Cameo – “Funk Funk” on Cardiac Arrest (1977) 

5. Atlantis – “It's Getting Better” on It's Getting Better (1973)

6. The Isley Brothers – “Fight the Power (Part 1)” on The Heat is On (1975)

7. Mother Night – “Julie Nixon” on Mother Night (1972)

8. Yvonne Fair – “Let Your Hair Down” on The Bitch is Black (1975)

9. Sly & the Family Stone – “Sing A Simple Song” on Stand! (1968)

10. War – “Galaxy” on Galaxy (1977)

11. Mother's Finest – “Baby Love” on Mother's Finest Live (1979)

12. Funkadelic – “Super Stupid” on Maggot Brain (1971)

WRFB: Radio Free Brooklyn: It's July 6th and I got you "covered"

Hey Everyone,

It was another great night on WRFB: Radio Free Brooklyn. I kicked off another show of Covers that I love.  We have a little Prince, a little Kay Ashley and I even threw in Franz Ferdinand.  It's never a dull moment at WRFB.

Before we get to the playlist for tonight I want to let you all know that I am going to be part of two amazing shows this weekend.  Garry "Starchild" Shider, guitarist for Parliament-Funkadelic passed away in June. The Black Rock Coalition and Sweet Relief are hosting tribute/fundraiser Rest in P: A Salute to Garry Shider, for his family on Saturday July 10th at the Multimedia Arts Center in Bloomfield, NJ and on Sunday July 11th at B.B. King's in NYC.  Besides myself there is an amazing lineup of artists on the bill including Living Colour, Blackbyrd McKnight, Bernie Worrell, Sophia Ramos, Dean Bowman, Jimi Hazel, Lady Miss Kier, Imani Uzuri and many, many more.  You do not want to miss this and you have two chances to be there. For tickets and more information check out www.themmac.net (for the NJ show) and www.bbkingblues.com (for the NY show).

Thanks everyone and have a great rest of the week.  Remember you can find me at WRFB: Radio Free Brooklyn Every Tuesday from 7-11pm.  Please follow WRFB on twitter @radiofreebklyn.  It's a great four hours of music. Don't miss it!

Stay Cool (literally and figuratively),
Shelley


1. Chaka Khan – “Sign 'O' The Times” on Funk This (2007) (Prince)

2. Prince – “Crimson & Clover” on LotusFlow3r (2009) (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts)

3. The Family Stand – “So Happy Together” on In a Thousand Years (Coming Sept. 2010) (The Turtles)

4. Cassandra Wilson – “Run The VooDoo Down" on Traveling Miles (1999) (Miles Davis)

5. Amy Winehouse – “Moody's Mood For Love” on Frank (2003) (James Moody)

6. George Benson – “Star Of A Story” on Give Me The Night (1980) (Heatwave)

7. Donny Hathaway – “What's Going On” on These Songs for You, Live! (1971) (Marvin Gaye)

8. Kay Ashley – “Pink Moon” on Heliotrope (2009) (Nick Drake)

9. John Mayer – “Kid A” on Bigger Than My Body EP (2003) (Radiohead)

10. Alana Davis – “32 Flavors” on Blame it on Me (1997) (Ani Difanco)

11. Matt Pond P.A. – “Holiday Road” on Winter Songs (2004) (Lindsay Buckingham)

12. Lauryn Hill – “Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You” on The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill (1998) (Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons)

13. Franz Ferdinand – “Call Me (Live)” on War Child presents HEROS (2009) (Blondie)

14. Merry Clayton – “Gimme Shelter” on Gimme Shelter (1970) (The Rolling Stones)

I Got you Covered Archive! Enjoy!

blaKbüshe is "Black Rock Blazing Genius"

Hey Everyone,

I am so honored to be a part of this list of amazing artists, which includes Living Colour, Nona Hendryx, Janelle Monae, J*Davey, Tamar-kali, Fishbone, The Family Stand, Just a Band and many more! Every day that I am able to make art is a blessing.  Take a look at the list of folks. Some of them will be familiar and others will be new to you.  Get to know the artists that you probably will not hear on commercial radio, but I feel that is all about to change.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support me and the band. Oh, I'm #29!

Peace,
Shelley

The Root: Black Rock's Blazing Genius