Chris Blackwell: Island Records, Bob Marley Music Producer Honored During Grammy Week

via Pro Sound

As part of its 2010 Grammy Week Event, The Recording Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing celebrated the music of Island Records’ founder Chris Blackwell last night at The Village Studios, West Los Angeles.

Catch a Fire honored the label’s consistent excellence in music and sound, as well as the many recording professionals that worked behind the scenes to create its landmark sessions.

Blackwell’s vision and commitment brought to the world the music of such time-honored artists such as Desmond Dekker and the Aces, Nick Drake, Melissa Etheridge, Grace Jones, Bob Marley, Roxy Music, Cat Stevens, Toots and the Maytals, U2 and Steve Winwood. The event was named for the title of Bob Marley’s first album, which last year was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame; co-hosts were musician/producers Jimmy Jam and Daniel Lanois, who also played a musical tribute to Blackwell.

In addition to the evening’s presenting partners, West LA Music/Westlake Audio and The Village Studios, other sponsors included Avid, Shure, PMC, Prism Sound, Harman brands AKG, JBL and Lexicon, Monster Cable, Melodyne, Korg, Native Instruments, MXL, KRK Systems and Sennheiser.

“We were proud to celebrate the innovative and lasting music of Island Records and its venerable founder,” stated Maureen Droney, P&E Wing senior executive director. “To have had so many great companies partner with us was truly an honor.” Special guest DJ for the evening was producer/remixer/sound supervisor Jason Bentley, who also serves as KCRW-FM’s music director.

Photos from the event:
Film Magic

LL Cool J Dishes On We Are The World Remake With RadarOnline

VIDEO INTERVIEW: LL Cool J Dishes On We Are The World Remake | RadarOnline.com

The We Are The World recording session took place this afternoon (Monday, February 1) at the Jim Henson studios in Hollywood, CA.

LL Cool J was a teenager in 1985 when We Are The World was first released and twenty five years later, the rapper/actor talked about the honor of being part of the star-studded group remaking the song on Monday night in Los Angeles.

"I remember being a teenager [when the song was first recorded] and here I am now all these years later and here I am participating in it," he said outside the recording studio. "We weren’t allowed to really comment on who was going to be there cause no one really knew who was confirmed."

When asked to reflect more on the evening and the potential aid it will generate for Haiti, LL Cool J told RadarOnline.com:

"I think it’s wonderful. I think it’s great. They’re hurting right now and if we can help in a creative way, that’s a good thing. You know, we should help each other."

Celebrities from both the music and movie world united for the cause. Actors Vince Vaughn and Jeff Bridges made it out for the event as did musicians including Kanye West, Celine Dion and Miley Cyrus.

Photos:
RadarOnline
Getty Images - Inside

Talib Kweli Performs In Dublin, Ireland

Talib Kweli performing at the Tripod in Dublin, Ireland Saturday January 30.

Photos here:
Rex Features

Related:
Talib Kweli Live At The Indigo2 London Concert Review

(video courtesy of flibber135& juliejdr55)

Drag-On: Ruff Ryder In Studio Interview

Ruff Ryder Drag-On interviewed while working in the studio with Swizz Beatz associate producer Snagz and Philly's Trish Barnes. Drag discusses his upcoming album, mixtape, and much more. Snagz and Trish discuss their upcoming projects as well.

Drag-On 'My Life, My Legacy, My Melody' on Hood Environment coming soon!

(video courtesy of TrishBarnesTV)

DTP Office Tour In Atlanta With Label's New Signees Untitled

New R and B group Untitled takes us on a tour of the Disturbing tha Peace offices in Atlanta. Mr. Velvet Jones as Ludacris is out of the office, CEO of DTP Chaka Zulu in a meeting, but co-CEO Jeff Dixon has a do not disturb sign on his door, sounds like he means it.

Audio Two's Milk Dee DigiWaxx Interview

The legendary Audio Two member sits down with The Blast to wax poetics about hip hop then and now, his sister MC Lyte and his cousin Charles Hamilton, and more.

Little Brother To Release Final Album 'Leftback' April 20

via A.V. Club

If you're like me, North Carolina's Little Brother is one of your all-time favorite hip hop groups. The group has experienced all sorts of highs, lows and creamy middles since its classic 2003 debut The Listening was championed by the likes of ?uestlove and Pete Rock. The trio was signed to major label Atlantic and then abruptly dropped after its second album, The Minstrel Show flopped.

Super-producer 9th Wonder left the group after landing a beat on The Black Album and becoming one of hip hop's most in-demand beatsmiths. Most recently, frontman Phonte was nominated for a Grammy for Best Alternative performance Involving Black People with soulful side project Foreign Exchange.

Alas, the long, strange, often glorious story of Little Brother appears to be coming to an end. The duo of Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh has announced that their forthcoming CD, Leftback (on the duo's boutique label Hall of Justus), will be its last. The album will be released on April 20th and feature production from Khrysis, Denaun Porter, Zo! and others. Back in my video store days I used to play a long-form Abba video that featured an interview with a fan who was asked, "If you could say one thing to Abba, what would it be?" The fan's answer gave the video (and box set and hardcover book) its name: Thank You For the Music. With that in mind, goodbye, Little Brother and thank you for the music.