Music • Film • Art • Drama THE STATE OF ALTERNATIVE R&B I' I I I The Brave ew Udr f Mttuflft he growth within the genre. Just one Gray. quick look at some of the up-and-com- Fed up with a market dominated by ing artists will make that point clear. Jill pop-R&B like Destiny's Child, listen- Scott, who is representing Philly (which ers have been embracing these new .' just happens to be home to a lot of these forms of Rhythm and Blues. Although "alternative" R&B artists) has already use of the term "new" is a little odd, as seen her album, Who is Jill Scott? hit most Of the "alternative" R&B comes platinum. Musiq Soulchild, also from from '70s soul, these new artists have Philly, has recently released his debut, certainly interjected their own styles Aijuswariaseing, to rave reviews, and into that Soul. So what will the future captured the attention of many hold for "alternative" R&B? D'Angelo fans with his strong voice. To The answer is that no one will know further capitalize, Musiq will be touring for sure but there will almost certainly 1 A CO US TIC SO UL . For a long time, Rock fans have had which is chock full of soul-searching, many choices in selecting which funky-jazz rhythms, and most impor- • "scene" they are interested in. Ever tantly-her unique take on love. Macy since Punk broke in the late 1970s, there Gray has gone her own route, utilizing have been numerous underground, her distinct voice, "alternatives" to mainstream rock. A odd s.ense of rock" and roll listener nowadays can law* Cktvetoux humor, and choose from any number of genres and Insider Editor unique fashion subgenres, eventually landing in a niche sense to place that makes him comfortable. In fact, as herself at the top of the pop game. All of late, this phenomenon has not been of this, not to mention comparisons to isolated, solely to the rock world, as such classic singers such as Tina Turner Hip-Hop's burgeoning underground, and Billie Holiday has helped to propel along with "alternative" Jazz and Electronic scenes, have found happy homes. The newest "alterna- with Erykah Badu soon. A friend of tive" scene though, is not any of Musiq's, Philadelphia's Ben Kenney has these. taken a completely different road> The newest Alternative scene is which finds him crooning R&B vocals currently taking place in the world over Rock/Punk music, with his band, of modern R&B. For most of the Supergrub. And now, with their recent last twenty years, R&B has been signing to Motive Records (The Roots rigidly defined, rarely mixed with very own label), Supergrub are poised other forms of music (with the to break out big time in the next year. exception of hip-hop), and exclu- sive. But recently there has been an Certainly one last (but not lea'st) artist uprise, tied closely to the expansion to watch is India. Arie, whose newest of underground hip-hop. This revo- . album, Acoustic Soul, is an original, lution has been championed by interesting piece of Soul-inspired R&B. such artists as D'Angelo, Macy The thing that has Arie standing above Gray, and Erykah Badu, each with her competition has to be not simply their own unique take on where her utilization of live instrumentation, R&B is going. D'Angelo has gone but the fact that she plays acoustic gui- back to basics, in more ways than tar throughout her album. For an R&B one, by playing with a live band . artist to play his own instrument (well) and taking a "no frills" approach to is practically unheard of. Her first single video-making. He is also quite and accompanying video, "Video," obviously influenced by the R&B which has been receiving major airplay •pioneers of the '70s. Erykah Badu has Arie speaking about the importance has carved her own place by stick- of music over image, and refusing_to ing to her guns, staying afro-cen- bare her body in exchange for fame. tric, and baring her sole for all to More power to her; she will maintain a S6e. For a perfect example of this, much longer career than the artists who seeBadu's recent Mama's Gun LP, are only in it for the money. Long live- alternative R&B. MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2001 years. We also changed drummers/* play live hip^hop., and then a week later, another line will LOCAL MNP Q. How did you get into freestyllng? . Q. So what do you consider what you do? spring into my.head. A. When I was a kid, my friends were alf'"•' ' How Jong does It take for you to memorize Q. .'What are yotir lyrics about? into hip-hop. No one listened to anything 'a song?.' ' . -'-•'•' A* My lyrics are personal and political. I'm 1 else. So we all just started rhymin when A. I rap and do poetry. I practice with the into a lot of left-wing politics and activism; we would hang out. Growing up, I started lyrics in front of me! It takes about two Q. Whafs up with the cover; were the. hanging out with more punk-rock and weeks to feel comfortable. The vocals got black coats planned? hardcore kids. I always wanted to start a to be tight. I'm not about to go on stage A. No, it was cold, and it wasn't planned. hip-hop project, though. Everyone else with a piece of paper. I write my poetry with John DaQuino is the photographer and he exposed it to the point where the contrast is of black and white.- It looks like Heaven is behind us and we are Hell. ' looking at the album Q. Does the title have anything to do with •cover, you wouldn't the lyrics? •guess that Guy A. No, we were considering to call it •Incognito would be a "Come Along," but that would be cheesy, genius blend of hip-hop and instrumental since one of the songs is named that. I extravaganza. They are a band that brings started jotting down words one day. The a different perspective to hip-hop. 1 sat three words, "adapt, change, evolve" down with Jake, the lead vocalist, and we ended up next to each other, and it sound- discussed several angles on his band. ed cool. The words mean the same thing, Q. How would you describe Guy but in a different way. The words meant a Incognito's sound? lot to us afterwards. We changed members A. I would say that we are live hip-hop with and. our sound. So the album title is us, in a jazz, rock, and electronic influences. way. When.I first wrote it, it was just words, Q. What are your influences, Jake? but now it actually means something. • A. I'm into a lot of underground hip-hop, Q. Ok, Jake, do you have any closing like Company Flow, Mos Def, and Mike comments? '. ;-• Ladd. Also, pretty much anything on A. .We are playing the Battle of the Bands_ Rawkus Records. But I'm also really into' next Wednesday at Rutgers in New indie rock, brit-pop, hardcore, punk rock, Brunswick. The winner gets to play and jazz. • . ' • ' Rutgersfest. Last year, Method Man and .Whoplays what? Redman performed. The year before, Less I'm the vocalist, Nat plays keys and Than Jake and Busta Rhymes. This year ; bass, Aaron is on guitar, and Ryan is on it's Fuel and Jurassic 5. The judges were ; drums. accepting demos, from over fifty bands. \ Q. Who came up with the name, "Guy Only six bands were chosen. It's all for fun, j Incognito"? though. We are playing April 4th there. A. It's a "Simpsons" reference. There was Thursday, April 5th, we are playing at Billy this guy in Jvtoe> Tavern pn one episode,. Pat's, right here m the Student Center. You HeVas never seen again and he said his .can go to our website, . name was, "Guy Incognito." www.guyincognito.net It's under construc- • Q. Have you ever put another album out? tion, but there will be plenty of show list- • A. We did like five songs about a year wanted a hardcore band. Everyone was '. a lot of flow and a stream of conscious- ings, photos, and interactive stuff. ; ago. We totally changed our sound since like, "You can't rap; you're white. There's ness. But my hip-hop verses, I'm more than, though. We grew past our old sound, no way we are playing a live show with you meticulous about. They've got to be «»>r>intt*.tt wfa^ifrinVrantahiA for ao.long. to.- planned out. Sometimes I think of a line HCY GLOBAL CORPORATION. WORLDWIDE PLAYGROUND. Where do you want your career to take you? Chances are, you can get there with Continental Airlines. We've built a tremendous success story by helping thousands of people build their careers. Our environment is open, honest and focused on your success. So choose a career path. And rediscover what it's like to enjoy your job. Continental Airlines is now hiring. V\€\ Come visit us at: William Paterson University Morrison Hall Conference Room (#103) . 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