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http://www,thecharlottepost.com Charlotte THURSDAY, SEPTMBER 21, 2006 D Got that Mojoe Section Texas R&B group mixes old school soul, hip hop and blues Easy Lee, Matthew Knowles and Tre are ready to work their MoJoe on the their first album, “Classic. Ghetto. Soul.” on September 12. By Cheris F. Hodges u u i ^ ' ® old school soul. Tre and Easy Lee, the men who make up Mojoe, met in San Antonio, Tbxas, when they were teen^ers. They say the group’s name means “more than the average Joe.” ‘Lt means that the best of what we can do is the foot we put forward,” said Easy Lee, also known as Charles Peters. “We hope to bring some light to the fact that San Antonio has a rich blues history and not just a Lfejano history,” said lye, also ^own as Tre- son Scipio. The group has already caught the industry’s attention by touring with cHens.riodgeS''®lhechoftofreposf com When Matthew Knowles, father of Beyonce, heard the group Mojoe, he had one to say Sign them up. Someone from Music 'World, Knowles’ company, had gottm a hold of Mojoe’s CD, liked what he heard and took the group to a Christmas party where Knowles was in atten dance. They performed and the rest is, as the cliche goes, history The group’s first CD, “Classic. Ghetto. Soul.,” was released earlier this month and has been described as a mix of poetry hip-hop, blues and PHOTO/THE BROOKES COMPANY music industry. The group released India Arie and The Dave Matthews Band. In doing their music for six years, Easy said, Mojoe knows what it takes to make a mark. It^ an added bonus to have I^owles in their comer. “(Knowles) said he was happy to link up with young brothers that were doing something different,” Easy said. Tte and Easy said that when they heard Gnarls Barkley’s album “St. Elsewhere,” they knew that the music world was ready for what they had to offer. They recorded with a live band and stayed away from the Please see MOJOE/2D Deja Vu: Hip hop’s old school veterans play Charlotte By Cheris F. Hodges cherts.hodgesOlhechartoffeposf.com Old school hip-hop seems to be back in fashion (thank God). But, does this mean Tm old? The artists who wOl be per forming at the Blast From The Past concert on Saturday were some of my favorites. The concert, which kicks off at 2 p.m. at Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre, will feature THEATRE REVIEW Doug E Fresh, Slick Rick, Whodini, Dana Dane, Yo-Yo, Kurtis Blow, Sequence, Par rish from EPMD, GrandMas- ter Melle Mel & Scorpio for merly of Furious Five, Jus K and Calvin Richardson. And then Raldm is coming to town. On September 29, Rakdm, arguably one of the greatest MCs ever and DJ Kid Capri will be rocking the house at Amos’ South End. Talking to some of the old school rappers made me miss the days when hip-hop was about more than killing and sex. Obviously a lot of other people yearn for it, too. ‘Teople are starting to miss it,” said Jahl Hutchins of Whodini. ‘Tfs just starting to materialize.” Hutchins said he just wish es record companies would realize that there is still a market for whafs considered “old school” hip-hop. “They’ve shut that door on us,” he said. But how is it that good music feU out of fashion? When I used to jam to Whodi ni, I could listen with my mother in the car. If I did lis ten to 50 Cent or the Yir^ Yang Twins, I’d be too embar rassed to play those songs around my mother or father. All of the cursing and explic it sexual lyrics aren’t what hip-hop’s all about. Hutchins said when he sees how people catch a vibe dur ing a Whodini show, it makes him feel like ifs the 1980s aU over again. ‘T wouldn’t trade it for the world. It’s like beir^ bom again,” he said. Hutchins said he and his Whodini mates would lo've to record another album, but “it’s too awkward right now. Radio guj^ don’t have a slot See OLD SCHOOU2D ‘Gridiron Gang’ way too sugary for football flick By Cheris F. Hodges cPeris.nodges A (hecPorlo >feposf com “Gridiron Gang” is based on a tme story but I find it hard to believe one man can be that preachy The movie, which was nxun- ber one at the box office, tells the story of a Cahfomia juve nile detention camp proba tion officer, Sean Porter, (Dwayne “The Rock” John son), who along with officer Malcohn Moore (played bril liantly by rapper Xzibit), turn a group of hardened teen felons into a football team. Mustang Football. Of course, no one wants to PHOTO/COLUMBIA PICTURES The Rock stars as probation officer Sean Porter. play the murderers, drug dealers and gang members. But in one of the best scenes in the move, Moore talks Christian high schools into giving his players a chance. In the next four weeks, Porter and Moore have to whip the bo)^ into football shape and teach them how to spell Mustangs. Of course, there are some life lessons taught along the way. Porter finds himself treating the kids the way his father treated him when he fdayed football, which wasn’t good. Rival gar^ members are now teammates and they have to put their historical hatred aside for the good of the team. This movie was supposed to be gritty and powerful, but it was more sappy than any thing else. Yes, it did make you feel good to see these guys change fix)m hard core crimi nals to kids who wanted to do something with their lives and be known as winners. But how many times did you need to hear it over two-hours plus? Much hke “Friday Night- Li^ts,” the football action was good, but playing the race card was a little too much for my tastes. It seems like in every football movie, some big white defensive player has to call a running back or wide receiver the “N” word. Is that really necessary? It seems very trite when it’s done and I didn’t like it. As for the movie as a whole, I don’t know if it was sup posed to be as funny as it was, but there were several laugh out loud scenes that I don’t think were supposed to be written that way The Rock has a natural comedic ability that I think stems fiom his WWE da57s. I kept waiting for him to ask, “Can you smeHLUl what The Rock is cooking?” Cosby shines on first NBC comedy The Bill Cosby Show Season One Bill Cosby, Beah Richards, Lee Weaver, Olga James ShoutI Factory 4-disc set Way before Cliff Huxtable was TV’s No. 1 dad or Fat Albert loomed large on Satur day mornings, BOl Cosby was stiU a real cool guy His name was Chet Kincaid and he was a gym teacher at a integrated hi^ school in California. The show was called “The Bill Cosby Show” and it was one of the best things NBC had to offer. Cosby had an Emmy vmder his belt when ‘T Spy” ended, so he could get what he want ed fixim a network, which was a comedy show that did n’t use a lau^ track and cen tered around everyday situa tions. Though set in the Civil Rights period, Cosby never went for race. The closest the series came to racism is when Kincaid wouldn’t let a black kid tryout for his basketball team because he was too short. The kid eventually soundly defeated Kincaid. NBC relented and got some of the best TV of the period, but the series lasted only two years- The show wasn’t a stretch. Cosby’s Kincaid was an aver age Joe with a big heart that kept getting him into trouble. Kincaid preferred telling sto ries and setting up situations . rather than goir^ for obvious one-liners - much like Cosby’s standup. Some episodes dealt with shoplifting, getting a driver’s license and profanity A lot of Kincaid’s personal fife was exposed as well, like borrow ing a garbage truck to go on a date. But the real good stuff is in the A-list guest stars such as Cicely Tyson, WaUy Cox, Henry Fonda, Mantan Moreland and Moms Mabley These episodes hold up after 40 years, which is a sign of great writing. “The Bill Cosby Show” is worth search ing for at your local DVD vendor. Lionel Richie’s ‘Coming Home’ - but he misses the mark \ Winfred Cross Lionel Richie Coming Home Various producers Island/Def Jam Records Lionel Richie’s latest work would have been something special at the end of the ‘908, but in this century it falls a bit flat. “Coming Home” may signify his return to R&B - the lite version, not the stuff he did with the Commodores - but it pales in comparison to his mid-’90s “Louder Than Words.” That CD was largely ignored and this one will be ignored too.. It’s not that Richie isn’t try ing hard- He’s enlisted the help of a number of talented people to help - Chuckii Book er (he li'ves!), Jermaine Dupri, Raphael Saadiq, Rodney Jerkins and Dallas Austin. But even they can’t hide the fact that Richie is pushing 60 and these songs may be better served by a youi^er artist Tb his credit, Richie can stiH sing and handles all the material pretty well. He just doesn’t sdl the songs as well as he could, say 15 years ago. He is singing better songs than the stuff on his previous two CDs, but that wouldn't be much of a challer^. There are some songs that make you glad Richie did this project- ‘T Call It Love” is tiie kind of song that made the man famous. Its hook is mem orable and the pv^aU tone is loveable. “Sweet Vacation” is a bit more of a stretch, but is a finely-crafted tune by Saadiq and Richie. Unfortunately, something hke “Up AH Night,” quickly spoils the mood. No matter how much hair dye and makeup is used, the fact, that Richie is waaaaay too old for a* song like this can’t be masked. Richie’s .fan based wfil be pleased he’s still a viable artist, but those wishing for “Just Tb Be Close Tb You,” “Brick House” or even “All Ni^t Long” will still wait. He hasn’t come that close to home yet. © ®o
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 21, 2006, edition 1
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