Dub dot dash

Copped from Boing boing... Naijajams is a terrific musicblog maintained by a group of "like-minded Nigerians who share a common interest in Nigerian music."

It's not a commercial venture, just a labor of love -- and there's a lot to love. Great posts on contemporary afropop, juju, reggae, all things Fela, and vintage highlife, including this wonderful item about Ghanaian bandleader E.T. Mensah, known as the King of Highlife throughout English-speaking Africa some fifty years ago.

"If you were out dancing in Lagos or Accra in the 1950s and early 60s, highlife music is what the band was most likely playing," reads this post, "It was a music of the times – it reflected the optimism and hope individuals had in a the early days of self rule. You can hear this in the light-hearted themes and uplifting sounds."

When you listen to this MP3 of E.T. Mensah and his Tempos Band doing their midcentury hit, “All For You,” it's hard not to feel a little more upbeat than before you clicked.
Link (Thanks, DJ Carlito!)"

Red hot or not
The new Jurassic 5 single is out in our shops, damn fine tune called Red Hot, featuring a collaboration with killer funk band the Dap Kings, taken from J5's forthcoming album. Unfortunately, not all the collaborations on the new disc are likely to be this good...

"The upcoming Jurassic 5 album will have a duet with Dave Matthews. In the blogging world I believe the tired ol' phrase is "jumped the shark." It has never been more fitting. Congrats on losing those last two strands of street cred, J5, and good luck playing catch up with the Black Eyed Peas." via Coolfer.

hey LJ kids! - Art Brut Guitarist Quits Band Via LiveJournal.

RIP Willie Hutch
"Veteran singer-songwriter-producer Willie Hutch, who helped compose several hits for the Jackson 5, died Tuesday of undisclosed causes in Dallas. He was 59.

Best known for his work at Motown, his association with the label began in 1970 when record producer Hal Davis asked Hutch to help complete a song for the Jackson 5. "I'll Be There" became a hit for the group as did Hutch's subsequent collaborations with the quintet: "Got to Be There" and "Never Can Say Goodbye."

Hired to work regularly with other Motown artists by label founder Berry Gordy, Hutch logged production credits on albums by the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, among others.

Branching into soundtracks, Hutch penned the music for the 1973 blaxploitation movie "The Mack." The critically acclaimed soundtrack spun off two of Hutch's biggest R&B hits, "Brother's Gonna Work It Out" and "Slick." More here.