Ear To The Ground...Corneille & Mishka

For those who know me, you know I am an all around sociable fool.  I love to get together with my peeps, meet new people and shoot the 'ish. However, you guys also know that I am surely not one for tooting my horn AT ALL. A few of my peoples have been on me regarding what I do, what I have done and why it is not mentioned on the daily here. Well this year, I am starting a few new things on this blog and on the personal tip. The personal part will come soon, I promise to share that with you in the future. For now, one of the new attributes to the blog is "Ear To The Ground," which will be a weekly post of an artist(s) that has caught my ear, someone that I think you should have a listen to and judge for yourself if they are worthy of your aural stimulation soundtrack.

In one of my discussions, I am about to toot my own horn - a bit. UGH.

Years ago during my life in Montreal, I was blessed to have a great circle of friends whom I still call close friends today. I worked at HMV and was able to forge very long lasting friendships. During my incredible run there, I learned a lot about music on the whole (and I already thought I knew shit - HA!) because I worked with like minded people. People who were sick without their music, understood what it took to create and love music to the fullest extent, knew their producers, writers and such without even blinking. We were the team that you would DIE for in a music store today. Anyhow, I was lucky enough to meet and become friends with a talented and emerging group called O.N.E. The group consisted of Pierre Gage (who I will have a write up on soon), Martin Gardy and Corneille Nyungura.  

My girls and I used to dwell in the front at most of their shows, cheering them on and supporting them. They took control of the stage and sang their asses off, much to the delight of their female fans. We all used to hang, they would pass through the store to say what's up.  Ahh the good ol' times. I left HMV and also left Montreal to find out that my boys unfortunately went their separate ways and Corneille was the first out of the three, who went on to start a solo career. Corneille released his first french album "Parce qu'on vient de loin" ("Because we come from far" for my english peeps) in 2002, that was pretty much quiet. However, the re-release in 2003 with the double disk choc full of bonuses was felt and heard around Quebec, Paris and Bordeaux to name a few, catapulting the album to date - to sell more than a million copies. Corneille has been signed to Motown and his english album "The Birth of Cornelius" has been released in Canada, Japan and the U.S. For those of you who have not taken a listen to what he has to offer, you are missing out. I think you would love it. It is full of charisma, infectious soul and smooth vibes. Check it out for yourself and see what you think.  Here is a song that I love and it was also his first single, "Too Much of Everything."  And it's his wife in the video that he's whispering sweet nothings to dear ladies.  No tears.

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For more info on Corneille, check out his label page here.

And a quick mention.  I have no idea if any of you have heard of this artist, but I decided to give him a listen - I am still processing, but I thought I would share him with you nonetheless.  I received a press release the other day for Mishka.  He is a Bermudian/Canadian dude who evokes the spirits to bring you some roots, rock reggae.  And I must add, the man is signed to Matthew McConaughey's label j.k. livin' Records.  Yes, you read right - Matthew McConaughey.  I am not sure what I think of Mishka as yet, as I said, I am still trying to process his music.  I leave it up to you, please let me know what you think.  

Flashback of the day:  Today I am fighting with the remnants of a migraine, so I needed something bubbly and fun.

See y'all soon...

Tha Connoisseur 

Old School Friday: Graduating In The 90's!

I must say I was pretty excited when I read the topic this week for Old School Friday.  Especially since I have been away for the previous two, but I am back and ready to kick it old school.  The theme this week: music from the year we graduated high school.  FAB.U.LOUS.

1992 was a time of awareness, it brought to the forefront a disturbing time in history that will never be forgotten - the riots and Rodney King beatings.  I think Mother Nature started to show her true colors and the shift in the world with the most dangerous and costliest hurricane in history - Hurricane Andrew.  My family was in Florida on vacay and had me worried off my ass.  And musically, it was sheer bliss.  Now most of you already know I am an old school head and love me some 90's music.  The dances were unconventional, the clothing was engaging (looking back) and the music...I can write a very long rant on the music.  It was just phenomenal across the board (except of course, for the wretch inducing "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus), it was a good time all around.  

There are sooo many goodies to choose from, I honestly don't know where to begin.  I have been sitting here for about half an hour now, Tweeting and trying to make up my mind which gems to choose.  I had to be a bit extra today and post 4 choices.

I HAD to go with the King of Pop on the first selection.  It has graced these pages already, but it is one of my favorite tracks and it was accompanied by a phenomenal video:

I am not the biggest Mariah Carey fan, but you cannot contest the fact that she can saaaang and does have some great tracks in her discography.  She tackled this cover and claimed it.

The Queen of Hip Hop Soul released the classic "What's The 411," need I say anymore?

And my last one, I had to hip hop it up a bit - one, two, three and to the four...

I feel like I am deserting the rest of my babies!!  Hope you enjoyed!

Please check out the rest of the OSF participants here.

See y'all soon...

Tha Connoisseur