My Name Is Bill Cosby And I'm A Microphone Fiend
Cornell West would be proud! He recorded a hip-hop album back in 2000 called Sketches of My Culture, which was critically panned! Last week I read that Melvin Van Peebles will be recording one with Madlib this year, and now another septuagenarian is jumping in the mix with his foray into hip-hop music. Yes, Mr Cosby is going to be dropping mad science next month...
FROM USATODAY (accompanied by my witty repartee):
LOS ANGELES — Bill Cosby's path has taken him from pudding pops to hip hop. (For as long as homeboy lives, the "pudding pop" references will never die).
The 70-year-old has recorded a hip-hop CD set for release next month. Cosby Narratives Vol. 1: State of Emergency blends the comedian's concepts and stories with a hip-hop, pop and jazz soundtrack... (how about that title folks? Sounds so Public Enemy-ish, doesn't it )...
... The album, assembled by Cosby's longtime musical collaborator Bill "Spaceman" Patterson (who?), has guest rappers providing the rhymes. The subject matter? "The value of an education. The value of respecting one's self and ... giving (listeners) a chance to raise their self-esteem and confidence," Cosby said. (You mean no rhymes about hittin' switches and bitches? Guess this one won't be making it onto Billboard's top 100).
Patterson said he was surprised when Cosby first inquired about making a rap record — until the comedian revealed he wouldn't be the one doing the rapping (Shucks! I was really looking forward to that).
"People started speculating — is he going to rap about Jell-O Pudding Pops
or what?" Patterson said. " (I know, that was my immediate thought). But he's always been involved in music and he was there for the first generation of spoken word. He has always understood rap's potential, but he was appalled by the foul language and the misogyny — the way people used a medium that could be used to elevate people, to open their eyes and provoke thought." (Agreed. But not all rap is appalling Mr Cosby)
Cosby made the album as a companion to his 2007 best-selling book, Come On People: On the Path from Victims to Victors. And though he doesn't expect the CD to be a huge hit, it won't be his last hip-hop venture. (Um, yay?)
"We can do even better," he said. "The next one will be even more cheerleading." (Uh... ok.. rah, rah Mr Cosby... rah, rah, rah).
I wonder if it'll sound anything like this... let's hope not:
FROM USATODAY (accompanied by my witty repartee):
LOS ANGELES — Bill Cosby's path has taken him from pudding pops to hip hop. (For as long as homeboy lives, the "pudding pop" references will never die).
The 70-year-old has recorded a hip-hop CD set for release next month. Cosby Narratives Vol. 1: State of Emergency blends the comedian's concepts and stories with a hip-hop, pop and jazz soundtrack... (how about that title folks? Sounds so Public Enemy-ish, doesn't it )...
... The album, assembled by Cosby's longtime musical collaborator Bill "Spaceman" Patterson (who?), has guest rappers providing the rhymes. The subject matter? "The value of an education. The value of respecting one's self and ... giving (listeners) a chance to raise their self-esteem and confidence," Cosby said. (You mean no rhymes about hittin' switches and bitches? Guess this one won't be making it onto Billboard's top 100).
Patterson said he was surprised when Cosby first inquired about making a rap record — until the comedian revealed he wouldn't be the one doing the rapping (Shucks! I was really looking forward to that).
"People started speculating — is he going to rap about Jell-O Pudding Pops
or what?" Patterson said. " (I know, that was my immediate thought). But he's always been involved in music and he was there for the first generation of spoken word. He has always understood rap's potential, but he was appalled by the foul language and the misogyny — the way people used a medium that could be used to elevate people, to open their eyes and provoke thought." (Agreed. But not all rap is appalling Mr Cosby)Cosby made the album as a companion to his 2007 best-selling book, Come On People: On the Path from Victims to Victors. And though he doesn't expect the CD to be a huge hit, it won't be his last hip-hop venture. (Um, yay?)
"We can do even better," he said. "The next one will be even more cheerleading." (Uh... ok.. rah, rah Mr Cosby... rah, rah, rah).
I wonder if it'll sound anything like this... let's hope not:
Note to self: Update Amazon wish-list...
Guess you've got your birthday gifts all lined up...
Yep! Well, not MY birthday. I'm guessing it'll be a guaranteed bargain basement price by the time your birthday comes around!
Should I get you two?
:P