Wyclef Jean recently showcased tracks from his upcoming album Carnival II: Memoirs of An Immigrant. Jean previewed the album to a variety of Asian record executives at the Sheraton Beach Resort in Langkawi, Malaysia last week. The album, which is sequel to his platinum-plus 1997 solo debut The Carnival, features guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, will.I.am, Chamillionaire, legendary singer/songwriter Paul Simon and others. Carnival II: Memoirs of An Immigrant is due in stores in October.
Legacy Records will release the second installment of their Remixed & Reimagined Legacy Recordings series, with the latest album featuring new versions of recordings by Jazz legend Billie Holiday. Billie Holiday: Remix & Reimagined features production by dance/electronic producer Scott Schlachter, who produced the first installment of the Remixed & Reimagined series, which featured new versions of recordings by Nina Simone. On Billie Holiday, artists like Ladybug Mecca (from Digable Planets), DJ Logic, Tony Humprhies, Nickodemus and others are featured on the 14-track anthology. The release is the first official remix package to feature selections from Holiday’s landmark Columbia Records catalog. Billie Holiday: Remixed and Re-Imagined hits stores stores on August 7 on Columbia/Legacy.
The 80-year-old chairman of the Roger Williams University board has admitted to using the “n-word” during a meeting of the school board’s trustee’s in May. Ralph Papitto has been on the board of Roger Williams – the only law school in Rhode Island – for over 40 years. Papitto recently stepped down, after using the slur during a meeting to discuss the difficulties of finding minorities to serve on the school’s 16-member board, which was made up of 14 white men and two women. Papitto used the slur to describe African-Americans, as discussions turned to the pressures of diversifying the board. “I apologized for that,” Ralph Papitto said in an interview on WPRO-AM. “What else can I do? Kill myself?” Protesters are also seeking to have his name banished from the school as well. According to Papitto, he has never used the term before in his life.
Justus League member Median has announced that he will release his debut solo album titled Median’s Relief. The full length comes on the heels of his critically acclaimed independently released EP The Path to Relief. Median is a member of the North Carolina-based Justus League, which consists of Little Brother, L.E.G.A.C.Y., Edgar Allen Flow, Chaundon, The Away Team, Cesar Comanche and others. Median’s Relief features production by 9th Wonder, Khrysis, Nicolay and others. According to Median, the album is a “journey through my life experiences thus far.” “Some of the songs are like excerpts from my personal journal,” Median said. “Other songs are just feel good records; sometimes I even touch on political and philosophical concepts, but always with the goal of making dope music.”
Below is the track listing and credits for Median’s Relief:
1.) Love Again f/Real Love (produced by Koen)2.) Simile (produced by Zo!)3.) Collage (produced by 9th Wonder)4.) Personified (produced by 9th Wonder)5.) Rize f/LaDehra (produced by Khrysis)6.) What Would You Do? (produced by Ant B)7.) Powershift (produced by Nicolay)8.) Brenda’s Baby (produced by Nicolay)9.) Right Or Wrong? (produced by Centric)10.) Choices f/Joe Scudda & Chaundon (produced by 9th Wonder)11.) How Big Is Your World? (produced by 9th Wonder)12.) Strides f/Mark Wells (produced by Nicolay) 13.) Pardon Me Dude f/Louisha (produced by C.Keen)14.) 2 Sided Coin Remix f/Spectac & L.E.G.A.C.Y. (produced by Khrysis)15.) Personified (Super Charged Remix) (produced by Khrysis)16.) Comfortable (Midnight Remix) (produced by Koen)