I peeped this out on the Listen To Leon Blog today while readying some music and whatnot for next week and received an insane amout of e-mails about this way the drugstore chain Walgreens is acknowledging Black History Month...

To the folks over at Walgreens from BlackRadioIsBack.com:



Black Folks impact in the U.S.A. getting acknowledged by a product like good ol' cotton...

* Hmph *

The only thing that could have made this more bizarre was if it was posted up next to some whips, kerchiefs and burlap sacks.

I'm wondering if this was some sort of corporate mandate (if you're near a Walgreens, is this in your area?) or some tired and annoyed employee half-a**ing it and just being in a rush.

Either or way, it's not a good look and SMH to this joint.

And folks wonder WHY Black People should be up in arms in 2008 about just the basic acknowledgment, much less respect and education for all, for the role and impact Black Folks played in the U.S. (that free labor sure did a lot for the infranstructure, so say the least).

Hell, do Black Folks need a better lobby or something going down to get some props?

* sighs *

Truth & Soul Records is a label and production house based out of Brooklyn, NY that specializes in the creation deep funk and soul music as well as re-releasing classics.

Since their inception in 2004, they've released limited edtion 7" and 12" records by bands such as El Michels Affair, Bronx River Parkway, Timothy McNealy, Quincy Bright, The Evil D's, Lee Fields and The Expressions, The Fabulous Three, Cosmic Force, and Tyrone Ashley's Funky Music Machine.

All of these records are going to be put on to the CD release of Fallin' Off The Reel Vol. 2 on March 4, 2008.

We've played various releases from this label on the FuseBox Radio Broadcast and like the vibe and musicality that is brought out by the musicians displayed on this label as well as the interesting collaborations brought forth on them.

One of those 12" releases was with Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon with Truth and Soul Records group El Michels Affair doing a live version of "The PJs" and some other joints - check out a video of the live version of "Criminology" below:

Raekwon with El Michels Affair - Criminology



There have also been some cool remixes done by the label - feel free to download the mp3 of Amy Winehouse's "Love Is A Losing Game" RMX here (right click and "save as").

Give the label a look when you have the chance, get some free extra downloads (mp3s, podcasts, etc. and enjoy!

Truth & Soul Records MySpace Page
Truth & Soul Records Official Website

The February 12, 2008 release date of Droppin' Science: Greatest Samples From The Blue Note Lab album is going to be coming up pretty soon (check out our previous post about the album, the tracklisting and who sampled what in the Hip-Hop realm here), displaying some of the great jazz music from the Blue Note Records label that was sampled for quite a few classic Hip-Hop Music joints.

DJ & Turntablist J. Rocc From The World Famous Beat Junkies did a set for y'all to download for free mixing the original jazz tracks and the Hip-Hop music that came forth from them together to see what's good with the Black Music lineage - check it out below:

J Rocc From The World Famous Beat Junkies - Droppin' Science Mix

AND on top of that...

BlackRadioIsBack.com is providing you with more of the goodness: if folks want to get in a preview listen of the entire album, click here.

Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy!

Blue Note Records Official MySpace Page
Blue Note Records Official Website

Here is the FuseBox Radio Broadcast with DJ Fusion & Jon Judah for the week of February 6, 2008 with some new and classic Hip-Hop & Soul music and commentary.

This week, our main commentary was about the "Super Tuesday" U.S. Presidential Primaries, the NY Giants win in the Superbowl and some other things here and there.

We also have an updated Direct EFX segment and Black Agenda Report from journalist Glen Ford in rotation this week.

Feel free to check out some recent episodes of the syndiated FuseBox Radio Broadcast here on BlackRadioIsBack.com - all of the shows are clean/radio friendly.

FuseBox Radio Playlist for Week of February 6, 2008 (in no particular order)

Santo Gold/Creator/MySpace.com White Label (http://www.myspace.com/santogold)
One Be Lo/War/Subterraneous Records
Justice feat. Mos Def & Spank Rock/D.A.N.C.E. RMX/MySpace.com White Label (http://www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous)
DJ Vadim/Talk To Me (Waxos RMX)/BBE
Nicolay and Kay/Grand Theft Auto/Nicolay Music
Cindy Blackman/The Three Van Goghs/CindyBlackman.com (Drummer for Lenny Kravitz)
Alicia Keys/Waiting For Your Love/J Records
Bensoir feat. Junior Reid/Shining/N Music
John Robinson/Makings of U/Beatvizion
Jean Grae & 9th Wonder/#8/Blacksmith Records
Flo Rida feat. Timbaland/Elevator/Poe Boy & Atlantic
Kokayi/DCB/Pho13Music.com
Missy Elliot/Ching-A-Ling/Atlantic
B.o.B feat. Amy Winehouse/Grip Your Body/TJsDJs.com
Ill Insanity feat. DJ Q-Bert/Five Fingers of Death/Fat Beats
Talib Kweli/Hostile Gospel/Blacksmith Records
Arash/Rise/So Full Ent.
The Bass Mint Bros/The Corner Store/Mwalim.com
Edreys/DUI (inst.)/Deepthinka Records
Shy Thoro/You Don't Know My Name/ShyThoro.com
Daniel Merriweather/Chainsaw RMX (Floor Boogie Radio Edit)/FAADA
Keelay and Zaire feat. Phonte of Little Brother & Dminor/Alright With Me/OM Hiphop & OM Records
Eddie Kendricks/Date With The Rain/Motown Classics

PLUS Special Extra Tracks in A Secret Jon Judah Master Mix w/ Old School Classics and more MySpace.com Independent Music Finds

Subscribe to The FuseBox Radio Broadcast Updates In A Feeder

What's up everyone,

Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day here in the U.S...

We over here at BlackRadioIsBack.com know that while this disease affects everyone, it has a particularly hard impact on People of Color all over the world in disproportionate numbers and rates of spreading. This is especially true of those People Of Color of Black/African Descent, especially with the youth and women.

To all of my peoples who are sexually active (one of the fastest ways HIV/AIDS spreads), GET TESTED as soon as possible and regularly, protect yourself through being selective on who you choose to deal with on that intimate level and use what's available to reduce the risk of infection (condoms, etc.).

For whatever reason (drug companies can't find one and/or aren't really going all out to get things done, etc.), there is no cure for HIV or AIDS. This means the frontline of defense is ourselves.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Website

Places to Get Tested for HIV

For some more links to HIV/AIDS news and resources, check out our post for World AIDS Day.

This movie sounds sort of like a mix of Saw and The Most Dangerous Game, which could be really off the chain or corny as hell.

I will give folks an "A" for effort with the diverse casting (Michael Madsen to David Carridine, DMX to Kobe - huh?!?), but it's usually not the world's best sign or a good look when an action movie with "name" actors/actresses goes straight to DVD.

It comes out April 15, 2008 for those who want to Netflix and/or rent the joint.

Check out the plot and the trailer below...what do y'all think?

Plot from the Press Release:

How would you react if three years after the death of your father, you receive a letter signed by him inviting you to visit an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere in China? Curious in nature, you decide to set off on this adventure.

Here's the snag, when you arrive in front of the house (which looks more like a bunker), you realize that there are other visitors summoned as well. Four guys show up with the same letter you have!

All five characters, Monk, Casino, Black Jack, Shang and Poker have something in common. All carry guns, have dangerous reputations and are wanted by the police. Unexpectedly the door to the house is opened by a mysterious woman and shortly after entering they notice that they are all locked inside.

The house is surrounded by police and they can not escape the psychotic killer that wants to wipe them out. After shocking plot twists and with a growing suspicion of each other, they come to realize that they have only one hour to live!

* Side Note: PLEASE don't let the Black Characters be named Poker and Black Jack...that is all. *

Last Hour Trailer:

Picture Taken From BBC News Day In Pictures

Big Brother Watch: FBI Eyes $1 Billion Computer Surveillance Deal To Have Database of Palm Prints, Eye Scans, Tattoo Mapping, Etc. - CNN

Congressional Black Caucus Grades Plummet on War, “Terror” and Trade Bills - Black Agenda Report

Tornadoes Rip Across U.S. South, Killing 48 - Yahoo

U.S. Presidential Election #1: McCain Clear GOP Leader; Dems Still in Dogfight for Delegates After Super Tuesday - MSNBC

U.S. Presidential Election #2: Will Barack Obama Pull a "Fannie Lou Hamer" Or Will He Take One for the Team?--Disaster Looms for Dems- The Tyranny of the SUPER DELEGATE - What About Our Daughters?

U.S. Presidential Election #3: If Obama Is JFK, Who Is Hillary? - The Nation

Racing Fans in Spain Wear Blackface to Taunt Lewis Hamilton (SMH) - Black Women in Europe

Interview with Barbara Trepagnier, Author of "Silent Racism: How Well-Meaning White People Perpetuate the Racial Divide" (Part 1 of 2) - Dallas South

Getting To Roots Of 'African-American Lives' Documentary Series - NY Daily News

Heavy Smoking of Cannibus Use Can Damage Major Gum Disease According to Scientists - BBC

Producer Teddy Riley In Financial Trouble, Puts Studio On The Market - SOHH

Straight Comedy: Lastest Oh Hell Nawl Comic Strip Talks About Vivica Fox's Hairline - Oh Hell Nawl

Flavor Flav Gets A Sitcom - A Hot Mess

WTF News: White Dude Sings Lil' Boosie Lyrics Walking Down the Street, Gets Arrested - Crunk + Disorderly

Biz Markie and Prodigy of Mobb Deep Looking Lovely - Bossip

The More These Sort of Comments Come Out, It Doesn't Raise My Confidence Level About Scientology - D-Listed

WTF News #2: Singer Brandy's Mother Is Suing the Kardashians?! - I DontLikeYouInThatWay.com