June 19, 2013

The UK Corner Album Review: Noah by Noah Stewart

Noah Stewart

*Noah Stewart has built on the successes of his mentor Leontyne Price, Sir Willard White and Jessye Norman to become the first black musician to peak on the British classical chart. With his debut album, the 33-year-old Harlem born tenor has blazed a trail. But he is more than a novelty. His rich voice has [...]




The UK Corner Book Review: ‘The Last Holiday A Memoir’ by Gil Scott Heron

gil_scott_heron(2012-last-holiday-memoir-cover-big-ver-upper)

*The power of the late great Gil Scott Heron’s way with words is hard to ignore. His poetic ability makes this much anticipated book a joy to read. It not only engages, but it also educates. If it were just a biography tracing Heron’s 1950’s Southern roots, it would satisfy. But, it goes beyond a [...]




The UK Corner DVD Review: ‘The Story of Lovers Rock’

lovers_rock(2012-dvd-cover-big-ver-upper)

*As the name suggests, this documentary produced by BFM Media and Sun Ra pictures, celebrates the sweet sounds of Lovers Rock. Director Menelik Shabazz narrates a tale of love and romance, which embraced South London in the seventies and eighties. The soothing sounds of romantic reggae sold the experience of immigration and migration, the sounds [...]




The UK Corner Event Preview: RnB superstars 2 SWV, Ginuwine, Dru Hill and Silk in Super Gig

RnB superstars

*Sisters With Voices AKA SWV, are back with a new single Co-sign taken from their upcoming album I Missed Us set to be released on April 10 via eOne Music and Mass Appeal Entertainment. The RnB trio from New York who formed in 1990 as a gospel group are one of the most successful RnB [...]




The UK Corner DVD Review: Jumping The Broom

jumping_the_broom_poster(2011-med-big)

*Jumping The Broom captures a recurring debate that has been splashed across the headlines of numerous media outlets, the African American’s quest for love. But this film goes beyond niche appeal. It translates a single ladies quest into a universal pursuit. Sabrina Watson (Paula Patton) has brought her milkshake to her last yard and resigns [...]




The UK Corner DVD Review: ‘Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975′

black_power_mix_tape(2011-poster-med-wide)

*Swedish Filmmaker Göran Hugo Olsson has produced a fascinating documentary that anyone interested in black history should see. From the outset it juxtaposes the equalities of America with the inequalities and exposes the injustice, which lived just a few, miles from justice; the distance between the two was measured by race. The archival 16mm black [...]




The UK Corner Book Review: ‘I didn’t Ask to be Born (but I’m Glad I was)’ By Bill Cosby

bill_cosby(2011-book-cover-ny-times-promo-med-wide)

*From its title, you may assume that New York Times Bestselling Author Bill Cosby’s latest book is another social commentary. However, surprisingly, it is more a collection of humorous tales of varied lengths about his observations of family and friends. Insightful, Cosby writes about everything from romance to religion. He introduces us to the characters [...]




The UK Corner Book Review: ‘My Story so far’ – by Tinie Tempah

tinie_timpah(2011-wide-sorta)

*At 23, Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu Jr, AKA Tinie Tempah, has admitted that it is a bit early for an autobiography, but as the title suggests, this book is more of an insight into the journey that has led him to become one of the UK’s most successful recording artists. His youth means that the book [...]




The UK Corner CD Review: ‘My Life II The Journey Continues (Act 1)’ by Mary J Blige

mary_j_blige(2011-My-Life-II-The-Journey-Continues-Act-I-cover-big-upper)

My Life is a classic album. Released in 1994, fans remember it as an iconic chapter in R&B/hip hop soul history. This follow up some 17 years later, is much anticipated and does not disappoint. From the outset Blige and former mentor Diddy (whom she also pays homage to in a funky remix of his [...]




The UK Corner Book Review: ‘Modelland’ by Tyra Banks

tyra_banks(2011-modelland-photo-med-wide)

*From the outset, Modelland overpowers your senses. A form of literature candy, it gives a sugar rush with its metaphors and flamboyant world. Initially trying to acclimatize to the characters such as the De La Crèmes, the places such as Peppertown, Metopia, and the unrelenting alliteration, is almost too much. Yet it is worth the [...]




The UK Corner DVD Review: Meet the Adebanjos

the_adebanjos(2011-med-ver-upper)

*The billboard posters around London announced the arrival of The Adebanjos online. The image does its job in enticing people to meet the clan. On Sunday 26 June, thousands of viewers were expected to head to www.MeetTheAdebanjos.com, to officially meet the fictional British Nigerian family. The “leaked” trailer commanded over 20,000 youtube views and thousands [...]




The UK Corner Book Review: ‘The Kid’ (by Sapphire)

The Kid

*There is no getting around it; The Kid is a disturbing read. Those familiar with Author Sapphire’s first novel Push published in 1996, filmed as the 2009 Oscar winning Precious, will be familiar with her talent for penning dark characters in still darker scenarios. From the outset, the lights are dim in this book. Nine-year-old [...]




The UK Corner Theatre Review: ‘Some Like it Hip-Hop’ @ Peacock Theatre

trio_spotlight(2011-med-wide)

Familiar with Zoonation productions, the presence of narrator (Tachia Newall) at the start of Some like it Hip-Hop suggested that a fairytale might be ahead. But the tale spun was dark and not all folklore. In Governor Okeke’s world the sun has been blotted out, books have been banned and women have been sidelined. In [...]




The UK Corner Theatre Review: ‘In My Shoes’ @ Soho Theatre

angie lamar

*Sitting directly in front of a comedienne can be dangerous, but the comedy gods smiled on me as I escaped the spotlight that was to shine at the end of the evening. At the start of Angie Le Mar’s one-women show, the light is fully focussed on American diva Falushilah Falashilay (Le Mar’s creation from [...]




The UK Corner Gig Review: Keri Hilson @ indigO2 London by Fiona McKinson

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With support from UK artists RD, Angel, and Starboy Nathan, Keri Hilson was the American headliner. Despite having one arm in a cast, DJ Mars warmed up the crowd further before Hilson arrived on stage at 9.50pm to take the audience to another planet. In this galaxy, we breathed in R&B, Hip-Hop and Electro music [...]