Select morsels from a variety of assorted flavors and textures of funk, hip-hop and exclusively rare experiences.
All tastes are specifically intended to be equally edible and audible to the mouth and ears.
Note: Interchangeability often occurs if certain "sound bites" are consumed in a euphoric state.
Disclaimer
United States Code 17,107 permits copyrighted material to be used under the "fair use" doctrine without any permission from the copyright owner. As such, as far as these files are concerned, they are samples and/or low quality recordings of material; As such they should not be used as substitutes for retail copies of the material contained within. No currency or materials in-Lieu of same has changed hands during the download and/or distribution of these files. No monetary reward is expected and/or accepted for the content of these files. No pretense has been, nor will ever be, made that these files and their contents have ever been, or ever will be, of retailable quality.
Still, any artist or legal copyright owner who would rather not see their music or other creations on Audible Chocolate, please leave a comment with your proof of ownership and it will be removed immediately.
If you do download any music or any other material here, please delete download within 24 hrs and hit the record shop.
Support the artist and buy the record (if any of these recordings happen to be placed back in print in the future).
I am an active social archivist, prolific protagonist and provocative poetic activist, a collector of verbs and words and the respective connective emotions they aim to serve, a lip twister and tongue rinser washing the world's wonder down the throat of heaven and hope.
I am what I wrote.
Wone
All of us have some type of close knit connection to chocolate. Some of us personally make it from scratch or handed down from secret recipes, some “socially chocolize” at evening gatherings, others sample flavors from time to time and there are various cultural byproducts where chocolate in any shape or form is the base substance.
While here at AC, you will say more often than not “I never tasted that before! Where did that texture come from? Belgium? Deutschland? South Central L.A.?”
Feel welcomed to inquire about the packing factory and brand from which said chocolate is manufactured.
Now maybe the first order of business should have been the announcement of how chocolate is sampled here.
There will be sets consisting of 11 select confectionary sweets per package. Each playlist will be volumed to 24 and given a signature specific to what each box contains inside.
(The chocolates are not sold or packaged here but there is a URL you can click which will send you to the boxes where one can begin devouring the tantalizing morsels)
Come on now....... you DO know "chocolate" is the name we're giving to music, right?
The 11 signature boxes are as follows:
Chocolatier Juice- This lyrical and aural libation is an exotic tonic with erotic toxins which may contain a tannic tinge inducing body liquids to produce a manic binge
Premium Melted Liquorisque’- The melodies that mirror the moments the fire between your loins warned/worried you about
Caramel Seashells & Funkberry Sauce- Funky instrumental baptism blessing us with emotion pictures so deep underwater only your eardrums get wet
Fudge Dipped Hip Gnossis Swirls- The thought behind the front beside the annals of one’s mind lost enough to draw conclusions in the crookedest line
Sweet Sticky Honey Drippings- Self-explanatory but one can selflessly explain how a gourmelee’ style makes the canal stream fluid from the lowest lane
Sprinkled Licks & Tongue-Stirred Pretzel Sticks- The improvisators of brass, ivory & wood with their fingers tongues and lips in the places that space our ego from its trips
Praline Dreams & Tangerine Cream- You want your love made to be served with icing and gravy that tastes like this where paradise sits
Blue Amaretto Peruvian Pearls- Straight dap frum da “Boom B.A.P.P.” Rebellious Architectural Philosophy or its most noted ………. RAP!!!!!!!
Crunchy Brittle Nut Clusters- Hard infusion of palate extremes for more mature taste buds, the smell alone might burn you…………
Moroccan Sunlight Love- Selections containing the theme/word “Love” or “Sun”
Audible Chocolate Assorted Blend (24)- Two dozen randomly designed favorites decorated in a cosmic box
Now that we have an upperstanding of what’s at/in/of hand, I will also adorn A.C. with select poems fresh out of the wrapper or by revisiting vintage decadence from the old conveyor belt.
Appreciation to you for joining and I advise you to forget those napkins, that’s the beauty of fingertips!
One word summarizes the quintessence of this performance by brother Sly and that is: PURE.
To go further, I would say the very word could abbreviate Peace, Unity, Respect, and Excitement which are all on immediate blast from the onset.
Most who have snapped a finger, stomped a foot, or knocked a neck out of alignment courtesy of Sly and The Family Stone may have a special attachment to one of his most memorable singles "If You Want Me To Stay".
The lyrics are written or it can be said "melodically spoken" with intent to express his impending departure.
From whom or from what I will safely touch that base later on.
As is the case with Glen Goins and the rest of the members of Parliament Funkadelic, the krumpin' and clown dancing montage from the documentary "Rize", Bootsy Collins, Fela Kuti and Soul Brother Number 1 James Brown, we bear witness to the internal genetic and cosmic alliance resulting in the transformation from body and spirit into instrument.
An instrument is a means whereby something is achieved, performed or furthered.
When we experience greatness in performance and action or witness an encounter of an overwhelming kind, it sparks both a chemical and electrical stimulation internally and externally.
That outward muscle contraction followed by the erection of hair follicles is commonly referred to as "the chills", "goosebumps" or "goose flesh". A soulful vocal riff, a horrific or erotic memory, any physical or artistic expression or movement can be instrumental in giving us "the chills".
Internally, the stimulus is chemical and spiritual and we draw from this strength as a mechanism for escape. We (as in the artist, audience or whomever prescribes to the method) psychologically gravitate, meditate and levitate (so to speak) into a state of ecstasy when involved in or receiving "The Moment".
This WAS one of these "moments".
After I watched the footage browsing through Youtube, I believed this clip was in definite need of a forensic analysis from the effect it gave me.
The song hit the world in 1973 so this performance had to be either in that year or early '74. Sly also had superstar accompaniment in his band The Family Stone, none of which you see anywhere on stage (a rarity).
There are various reasons and perceptions why he was by himself here and the "triple entendre" of the song itself is what makes its impact so strong.
I found the symbolism to represent ultimate respect as an artist and the show's host Mike Douglas and his producers thought enough of him and his celebrity by honoring his presence with that grandiose signage.
He starts by counting off then stomping his right boot to establish "the foot" for the studio band to follow and he proceeds to tell them "faster faster".
Already he shows where he stands in terms of bringing the outer elements into his realm ala George Clinton in "Swing Down".
He could have easily conformed to a slower tempo but to reach his level of pleasure, he navigated the musicians to speed up the measurements to reach the space he was destined to explore.
His voice, demeanor, presence, ease, sense of satisfaction and his display of love is so prominent in a matter of only 145 seconds.
Here are the words to the song. I recommend you watch the video AFTER reading.
If you want me to stay I'll be around today To be available for you to see I'm about to go And then you'll know For me to stay here I've got to be me You'll never be in doubt That's what it's all about You can't take me for granted and smile Count the days I'm gone Forget reaching me by phone Because I promise I'll be gone for a while
When you see me again I hope that you have been The kind of person that you really are now You got to get it straight How could I ever be late When you're my woman takin' up my time How could you ever allow I guess I wonder how How could you get out of pocket for fun When you know that you never number two Number one gonna be number one
I'll be good I wish I could Get this message over to you now When you see me again I hope that you have been The kind of person you really are now I'll be so good I wish I could Get the message over to you now
The performance video is below
(video courtesy of thebadcause)
If you watched the video, count how many times you smiled or said "he's so natural, he's so raw/real/funky/". We shared a private moment publicly with a multitalented mastermind.
He gets up and walks away and claps for himself and to the audience.
You know why he did that?
That performance was so incredible and righteously together because that was the day Sly hypothetically "left" the industry, the stress of his label, the pushing & pulling from creative and social tug-of wars, the band issues, the relationships that tarnished from them all and the public-driven perceptions of whatever "absence" or "hiatus" he embarked upon shortly occurred right after this performance.
He escaped from himself.
His smile during his departure was one of relief also with the underlying message of "I've made my contribution to the world now I'm leaving the building".
If any of you have listened to the final words of the studio recording on the Fresh album/CD, he says "I'm through, man". This was a visual example of the exact statement.
Check out the end of this video when Mike Douglas says, "Thank you very much. Please stay. Because I know you haven't done any talk shows and I'm so pleased that you're here. I really am.". Such a gracious remark from a great talk show host and it's clear that Sly shows outwardly how he felt that.
"If You Want Me To Stay" had three absolute meanings:
1. Reportedly, this was a song inspired after an argument with his girlfriend/wife Kathleen Silva. He wrote a note that included most, if not all of the words we have sang for over 30 years explaining he will always be who he was, is now, and always will be if they are to stay together.
2. His environment which came as an accessory to fame. Everyday People, the influences (on whatever level), his band members (and their lives/personalities), "woodworkers" or "hangers-on" including family. All that encompassed every lyric he penned. It was about the psychic vampirism that success and money create.
3. The industry-the executives (non-artists) surrounding the art (artists) has always been a bitter pill to swallow. The politics, public opinion, censorship, and ultimately prevented from being allowed "to ride" (see part 1) is what also can intoxicate the spirit of brilliance and genius.
There isn't much to find in researching the legacy of Sly and The Family Stone beyond their timeless recordings between 1970-1974.
He has resurfaced and was recently spotted doing impromptu engagements as well as granting a few interviews so stay tuned for any developments musically from this genius.
Please believe this was yet another testament to self-liberation as you saw a brilliant man freely release from the World that "made" him "something else" after we were initially thanked for lettin' him be his self……….. again.
Aside from the honorable service and eternal duty of being Baba to three sons, a poet is truly my professional handle and all other literary offspring conceived from my instrument is guided and nurtured by poetry.
My inspirations are many butI can name one poet especially who enhanced my sensibility and understanding of the rhythm of self-produced freedom.
The cat lived on 118 Underhill Street in High Point via the birthplace of Hamlet, North Carolina 82 years ago today.
Born on the equinox (a period of 12 hours day, 12 hours night), the epitome of balance and the breaker of bounds. He is the “soul” reason I chose today to present Audible Chocolate to the blogosphere and beyond.
Delivered to us on the solstice of Autumn but all-season in legacy.
Another Lord and Savior with the initials JC but he plays center stage through the gates of heaven and hell headlining with Miles and Thelonius…………..
Let’s go to Germany 47 years ago and get into one of “My Favorite Things”
Here he is with his All-Star line of Elvin, Eric, McCoy and Reggie……………
Speaking of an All-Star team, we are fortunate to offer the knowledge and expertise of a variety of all things ‘audible’ and ‘chocolate’ here from the perspectives of strong contributors and purveyors of The Culture on this delectable page.
Back to the smoke blowin’ on the Soul Trane…………….
Here’s one of five pieces I wrote interpreting some of my favorites from Coltrane in a collection called “25 from 25 in 25”
My Favorite Things
Coltrane's complete
history of blow on my 'pod
My Favorite Thingin'
In InterstellarSpace with another
peace graced by God
delve twelve deep
into the iconoclasts
of brass and ivory and
drips of savory saliva
sapped from ebony and
mahogany harmony
a part of me
recalls the breakdance challenge
in the empty park pool
I had the Suzuki gray and blue
finger rollin' and jump hookin'
buckets on the skins crew
in Centinela
Ratliffe or Blackshire
said "they wanna battle!!"
bells ringin' like Burger King cattle
I dropped the leather and
put the pop-lock routine
set to "Six Minutes" together
if it comes down
to my Egyptian Lover strobelite tick and
a Eddie Brown windmill
with hands on his dick,
we got 'em
"our enemy" did the "electric fag" and
that was a move we never saw
but Larry locked wicked
put the cigarette in his mouth
then flicked it back out
provoking us to bring
our signatures raw
we shut that park down and
nary crew ever stepped in
without the knowledge
they'd get clowned
that was one of my favorite things
"eliminate punks/cut –em up in chunks"
James Todd for a minute was god
Fab 5,
Dr. Dre and Ed Lover,
Chris Thomas da Mayor
Gary was the videographer
for Pump It Up with Dee Barnes
before he became F. Gary Gray and
our breakdance crew would say
"my homeboy directed Set It Off and Friday!!"
(for all the L.A. folks!)
in 84' Jesse still strengthenin' the hopes
while the Olympics were
up in the hood
the USA had the World on monsta kill
Jackie Joyner to Air Jordan to
Ed Moses to Holyfield
if I wanted to Fuck The Police
it was NWA
if I wanted to go Blackwards To The East
I X-Clanned with Funkin' Brotha J
Daddy Kane to Kwame
Biz Markie to Young MC to Moe Dee
we had that healthy balance and
like a two-parent household
hip-hop held both sides
and promptly "raised us" well
but today Daddy dashed
the young are dead-beaten
latchkeyed the seeds
and left us for naught headed to hell....... for no reason
Hip-Hop used to be one of my favorite things
Alphabet Kids and The Lockers
up in the jungle at 4040 Coco
"Pin Win" Shabba Doo and Slim
showin' up at the Soul Train getdown
with Glo-Baby Lisa Jones and Choisette
rockin' steady and readily throwin' down
the pool was always dirty
with fallen palm tree leaves
inside all the time
but with the lights underneath
it was cool enough to swim
the ice cream man sold more than
your typical ice cream (ya dig?)
and that truck jingle?
You better try Fatback or KC and The Sunshine Band
did I mention that ice cream man
would be on 4040 Coco
at 2:00 in the morning?
Shit……….
chili-cheese Fritos in the variety bag and
the little breakable plastic fork
eatin' everything in the book
that was man-made
BUT
first start off by asking…… "is this pork?"
that was one of my favorite things
celebrating my birthdays
at all the fast food joints
I knew Mama was a Don
'cause she would shut McDonald’s down
for her "li'l A.J."
or at Shakey's Pizza
where it would be MY party
but nothin' but grown folk in the way
"where the kids at?"
Moms would answer
"in front of the preposition "at"
to correct my grammar
she wanted me to speak perfectly
so if life led me downhill
I'd be the most eloquent con in the slammer!!
Mama correcting me was one of my favorite things……….
