The Compass Wednesday, December 6, 2000 7 The Soul of the Streets Michael Fournier in your local record store. Arts & Entertainment Editor As Guru puts it, "It's a laid back "Like love and spirit, trying to neatly record... the mood on this CD is ma­ define the nature of soul is hard." ture, playeristic, laid back and sophis­ That quote is from the opening liner ticated." That is Streetsoul in a nutshell. notes of Guru's new project, Jazzmatazz The album is an expansive collabo­ Streetsoul. rative effort that includes everybody This is the third installment to Guru's from Guru's Gangstarr partner, DJ Pre­ Jazzmatazz series, the first of which mier, to the legendary Isaac Hayes and was released in 1993. The aim of the pianist Herbie Hancock. As explained first volume was to show hip-hop in the liners, "Part of the cohesive vibe heads the common fibers that consti­ and vision comes because all of the tute hip-hop and jazz music through a participants on Streetsoul are longtime fusion of the two genres. That experi­ friends, musical allies and sharers of a ment continued in 1995's Jazzmatazz II: common creative dream." The New Reality. The lead single. Keep Your Worries, But now, five years after the last features the smoky vocals of Angie Jazzmatazz project, it seems that Guru Stone and the production skills of DJ has altered his aim a Little. Streetsoul is Scratch. The song is a smoothed out -Photo courtesy of Virgin Records fundamentally a hip-hop album, but head-nodder, with Ms. Stone's harmo­ nies adding the perfect compliment to in flavor, direction and quality, Black Thought of The Roots on the mic Donnell Jones and Guidance, Guru's Guru's monotone vocals. The distinctly Jazzmatazz Streetsoul is a far cry from dropping gems like, "From the time dedication to his new son, which fea­ militant B-side, Lift Your Fist, features the average hip-hop album you'll find their eyes open 'tU the clock strikes tures Amel Larrieux, formerly of death/Brothers is stressed/Walk Groove Theory around holdin' their chest." Guru and his massive group of allies High Spirits, Low Attendance at Although rap is at the heart of this have, on this album, taken hip-hop to album. Guru created the majority of another level. By er\hancing his street- Homeconning Concert the songs with some of the best of sensible music with R&B, soul, jazz and Michael Fournier preferred." today's most talented soul artists. The reggae. Guru has once again pushed Arts and Entertainment Editor The lack of a suitable venue and the baby boy of the new soul movement, the envelope in hip-hop. As part of Homecoming 2000 at Eliza­ fact that SGA was not made aware of Bilal, throws down with Guru on the "I felt a void in hip-hop," he explains. beth City State University, the music that problem in a timely manner were Jay Dee produced Certified, in which "I felt a void in music in general and I groups Jagged Edge and Rare Essence also hindrances to the concert's suc­ Guru takes a few moments to claim his was like, let me fill this gap up right were invited by the Student Govern­ cess according to the SGA. respect as an artist in the game. Kelis here. I longed to do another Jazzmatazz ment Association to perform at the Fine No matter what the reasons behind demands Guru's Supa Love on the in­ record and frankly, I think the first two Arts Center. The concert, which only the low attendance, those who did not fectious Neptunes-produced track. were ahead of their time and that now, cost $10.00, took place on Friday night, attend missed a hot show. The small Even the French female duo Les I felt like it was a perfect time for me to November 3. but enthusiastic crowd, comprised Nubians comes through on Who's add on." Less than 100 people attended. mainly of ladies, cheered Jagged Edge There?, Guru's open-ended question to Although trying to neatly define the The night began with several open­ on through a solid 30-minute routine. society about the lack of compassion in nature of soul is hard, its essence is ing acts, including a 20-plus minute There were some minor technical prob­ the world. revealed in Guru's Jazzmatazz,Streetsoul. beat-boxing session by Lamaj and War­ lems, but JE showed true professional­ Other highlights include Plenty, fea­ See if you can discover it. ren McCain. The Greensboro natives ism and performed as if the show was turing Erykah Badu, HustUn' Daze with performed their renditions of for a coliseum-sized crowd. The dance Common's "The Light" and Musiq's routines were tight and their vocals "Just Friends." were on point; the talent that JE dis­ Another opening act was a rap group played that night made it easy to see Radio Personality called Trained Assassins. I don't know that they could be on the verge of who trained them, but they should have superstardom. reviewed what they were taught. When Rare Essence followed with an even Frankie Crocker Dies they came out they were hyped to the more electrifying show. This long-time fullest with an energy that only lasted favorite performed many of their most Veteran radio broadcaster and pro­ indicted in Newark on charges stem­ through their first song. Their music popular hits including "The Freaks gram director Frankie Crocker died on ming from a payola scandal. He was sounded alright; however, their stage Come Out at Night" and "Overnight October 21 from pancreatic cancer. His charged with making false statements presence, which admittedly is one of Scenario." Even though the crowd had age was uncertain. before a federal grand jury when he the hardest things for amateurs to mas­ shrunk even more, RE put out all the Mr. Crocker was hospitalized for four denied that he received money from ter, needed some work, especially when energy you'd expect to see at a big- weeks in the Miami hospital where he record companies to promote and play you consider the fact they were coming time DC Go-Go. And even though Go- died. The Associated Press reported their records. He was convicted, but the conviction was later overturned. on right before a national act. Go music is usually not my style, they that he hid his illness from his family But before Jagged Edge even came on had my head nodding for the entire and friends. Most recently, Mr. Crocker worked on a gospel radio show in California stage and sang one note, they posed the performance. They were definitely Mr. Crocker, the Chief Rocker as he question, "Where's everybody at?" That worth checking out. called himself, enjoyed a long and pros­ and on a Saturday night countdown was the question running through most Hopefully the low attendance at this perous career. He played a major role show on New York's KISS-FM. Throughout his broadcast career, Mr. people's minds. year's Homecoming Concert won't in pushing New York City's WBLS-FM Crocker was also employed by stations According to Mr. ECSU and SGA have any negative repercussions for to the num ber one spot among 18 to 34 member, James Polk II, Destiny 2000 ECSU hosting any future events of this year olds twice in the last three de­ in Los Angeles, St. Louis and Chicago. Mr. Crocker's career also included [SGA] worked diligently to produce a magnitude. But if quality events con­ cades. emceeing at the Apollo Theater in week's worth of quality events, but en­ tinue to be brought to the campus and The Buffalo native is also credited Harlem, becoming a V.J. on VH-1 and countered several problems. "There participation continues at this level, with coining the phrase, "urban con­ hosting the TV show, "Solid Gold." were many administrative and logisti­ don't be surprised if we all end up temporary" in the 1970's, a label that is He is survived by his 82-year-old cal obstacles; communication channels crying about the fact that nothing re­ still prevalent today. mother, Frances Crocker. were not as open as we would have ally ever happens oh this campus. ; ' In the mid-1970's; Mr. Crocker was