His name ain't nowhere on there now. I read previously that it was just going to be a 30min set. Is off altogether now or will it be a 'surprise' 30min set. Or..... uhhhhh.
19. "dude cmon. there's not gonna be a package" In response to Reply # 15
He's not releasing shit, he's not doing anything. So don't hold out hope or talk about these ridiculous marketing strategies. It's delusional.
Most people might be mocking, but I for one am concerned that the weight gain is related to resuming heavy dosages of the sauce. We saw what that led to before.
i guess what im saying is i wonder if what he is (allegedly) making might just be fine, but the label and everyone (and him) are worried that the problem might not be that people dont like the music, but that people wont like fat d'angelo. they have hinted at this in various interviews anyway, but im wondering if its just time to let it go. women can be forgiving if he still sounds ok.
18. "You might be on to something." In response to Reply # 17
>i guess what im saying is i wonder if what he is (allegedly) >making might just be fine, but the label and everyone (and >him) are worried that the problem might not be that people >dont like the music, but that people wont like fat d'angelo. >they have hinted at this in various interviews anyway, but im >wondering if its just time to let it go.
If you look back over the history of "The album is 99% done! D is looking and sounding great! He's gonna do a world tour! Everything's okay, folks... honest!" announcements, it appears that those assurances are always issued at what we later learn are his lowest points physically and personally.
It doesnt bother me, but it does make me question how close we really are to an actual album release, a world tour or an Afropunk gig even. His size could well be a reflection of his work ethic; not really giving a shit. Just wanting to make music rather than record and release.
I trust he has what it takes to make another great record. That's all that matters I guess. I just hope we get to hear it sooner than later.
He does seem quite comfortable on that stage though. And his management let him go out there in that shape; maybe that's a good thing too LOL
23. "The JB gig was set up as early as March of this year" In response to Reply # 22
and given its connection to a major Hollywood studio picture, it might have been one of those commitments that was impossible to wangle ones way out of.
I mean, D has pulled out of major gigs at the last minute before, but this one might have been different... *shrug*
27. "Yeah, he can be the male Jill Scott: Boobs and all." In response to Reply # 13
>if he wants to be big, just let him be big. > >starting to think theres nothing wrong with what hes making >musically, just that people have a problem with his diet. > >let a man eat. > >people in okp act like big bellied musicians cant perform on >stage or something, like being fat is the saddest thing in the >world. > >
43. "So.... seeing the clips from the JB thing....his weight is an issue" In response to Reply # 0
Didn't realize that his weight had gone back up again like that...
now I mean... music is music...but the thing is that D' is signed to a major label, and there is no way in the world that his weight is not an issue with the label. Maybe the downside of the untitled video...but him coming back out at such a heavy weight like that opens the door for people to be distracted by that, instead of his music in terms of mainstream marketing...
it's an issue...
and definitely a health issue also.. hopefully its not a sign that some of the "demons" are still a problem...hopefully it is just about getting physically healthy in terms of diet and exercise.... if so that's a fixable problem..
I'm making a pretty obvious observation that an artist who was marketed for years as a sex symbol is going to have some issues with his major label regarding his weight...
I'm not saying that it's right...nor am I saying that has or will have anything to do with the timeline for the album to be released..
I'm just saying that I'm pretty sure his weight is going to be an issue with his label...
unlike some...I actually like women...have a beautiful wife and young daughter....I don't have to use degrading terms referring to women make my point...
just stating some pretty obvious facts regarding a major label's priorities with an established artist.
50. "You gotta type 'lol' at the end or WC ain't getting it. " In response to Reply # 49
I mean, even that will not ensure that he will actually *get* it but at least you stand a better chance that he will *maybe* at least recognize that a comment was meant to be taken with a smile.
45. "I can't believe you guys are riding this as an excuse." In response to Reply # 43 Thu Aug-21-14 12:18 PM by BigReg
>now I mean... music is music...but the thing is that D' is >signed to a major label, and there is no way in the world that >his weight is not an issue with the label. Maybe the downside >of the untitled video...but him coming back out at such a >heavy weight like that opens the door for people to be >distracted by that, instead of his music in terms of >mainstream marketing...
How big(pun intended) an issue could it really be? It's not as if he's 400 pounds, throw in a bunch of old promo and let him wear properly tailored shit...he's not Beyonce where he's gonna be shimmying on stage in stockings and high heels.
If people are still expecting abs of steel D'Angelo at 40 they are sorely mistaken; they adjusted to Maxwell losing his magestic mane of hair, for a male R&B singer I am sure they will get over it if the music is good. It's not as if he's going to be competing with Jeremih, his audience is 30+ year olds.
>and definitely a health issue also.. hopefully its not a sign >that some of the "demons" are still a problem...hopefully it >is just about getting physically healthy in terms of diet and >exercise.... if so that's a fixable problem..
Dude just turned 40. Look at the time line of more then a few musicians who hit in their 20's and what they look like a decade plus later. YEAH, D'Angelo has some very questionable missing years because of substance abuse issues, but im laughing at how we automatically assume that as opposed to 'On the road, shitty food, getting older,' lol
You know what's more likely?
1)If the album IS going out they probably want to save the load and have his ass show up at a higher profile show as a coming out.
2)He doesn't feel like it
3)Or if he's off the flyer but shows up; probably some obligation where he's playing another show soon and can't advertise this one(unlikely, but who knows)
59. "I thought Great Day was the only non-cover" In response to Reply # 58
15 posted the full set list (in characteristic cryptic style) on his Instagram and it seems to be all covers... Funkadelic, Fishbone, Marley, Prince etc...
revolution75 Member since May 07th 2003 3372 posts
Mon Aug-25-14 11:21 AM
64. "This mofo should drop a covers lp and call it a day " In response to Reply # 63
Maybe it's just me but if you're doing an event like Afropunk and 1)you're on record for talking about going in a rock direction 2)you're badder than frank Zappa on the axe 3)your new record is going to be the next 'riot' and it's guaranteed to drop this year
Why not try out the new rock material on those folks instead of acting like a mother's finest cover band?
65. "If I say what I wanna say" In response to Reply # 64
I know I'll be called a professional hater.
So I'll just say I'm glad he made the gig and some people seemed to enjoy it (though I have heard more cries of frustration and disappointment from folks who wanted to hear familiar and/or original material)
revolution75 Member since May 07th 2003 3372 posts
Mon Aug-25-14 11:53 AM
66. "The covers are cool but it's tired" In response to Reply # 65
I don't know if I said it on this post or another one but he seems to enjoy doing covers more than he does doing his own shit And there's nothing wrong with that If I was management, I'd suggest a covers lp with "tell me of you still care"as lead radio song Tour as the best cover band to ever grace the stage next to sha na na Then go back to working on this generations riot (as if they know or care to know riot)
revolution75 Member since May 07th 2003 3372 posts
Mon Aug-25-14 12:13 PM
69. "man the jokes come easy when talking about him" In response to Reply # 67
not that I'm anti-D...far from it...i'm pulling for him This r&b jesus style chain yanking charade is beyond ridiculous which gives me the right to call him and his crew out on it.
70. "I don't know if *he* is acting that way" In response to Reply # 68 Mon Aug-25-14 12:53 PM by AFKAP_of_Darkness
but the diehard D'fenders definitely are. All over social media this morning I'm seeing D'Angelo snobs shitting on people who were disappointed with his set, laughing at how wack and dumb they are for not recognizing and appreciating obscure Ohio Players tracks.
I think that's bullshit. I'm all for an artist wanting to break free from the chains of performing the same old catalog night after night but yo... D ain't *been* playing night after night. You've hardly been seen for 15 years, I don't think it's an unreasonable expectation for some people to want to hear the songs that got them interested in you in the first place and have sustained their interest in you all these years that you've been MIA, doing god knows what.
Or if not that, at least give them some new original material to chew on.
I know I'd be mad as hell if I stayed out there till 10:30pm on a Sunday night just to hear a bunch of covers as D reads the lyrics off a teleprompter. But that's just me, though.
even in the RBMA talk, it felt like the crowd was 30+ people who still believed that saying you dont make neo soul was a subject of controversy.
the whole 'new riot' hype (which we should probably stop parroting as i think we all know its just bluster) doesnt really tally with the shows anyway. doesnt quite make sense that dangelo is moving so forward in his studio work but is regressing so easily on stage. could just be that hes more comfortable with these old classics of course. no pressure (which im guessing hes trying to avoid at all costs right now). or maybe hes trying to cultivate the stuff of legend (covers artist by night, on occasional weekends, avant-soul artist by day, on occasional weeks).
revolution75 Member since May 07th 2003 3372 posts
Mon Aug-25-14 12:51 PM
76. "No single by October...no album this year " In response to Reply # 72
November is the $ month for labels December releases are reserved for c list black artists (I'll skip the joke) And with all the $ this label has out into this project..I'm sure they wouldn't want to a dec release
73. "RE: This mofo should drop a covers lp and call it a day " In response to Reply # 64
Honestly, I was hoping that he would test out his heavier material in full here. If there were a proper venue to test out some rock-centric or weird songs, it would be Afro-Punk. :S
His covers are nice but I wholly agree- a year of just cover shows is not a good look. Especially considering there is no single or album title or anything to go with. Would be pretty ill if he were to just join the P-Funk All-Stars though. I would take no issue with that.
revolution75 Member since May 07th 2003 3372 posts
Mon Aug-25-14 12:58 PM
79. "He's going on the biggest loser " In response to Reply # 77 Mon Aug-25-14 01:01 PM by revolution75
And on the last ep he'll be back to his voodoo weight During the weigh in..quest pulls his drum kit out and plays the untitled beat Then they wheel the Rhodes out for a rendition of sugar daddy
83. "is he afraid of *his* 'classics' then" In response to Reply # 81
if what you say is true then he should in the least be playing the songs that make the audience remember who he is and why they love him.
i can't believe i'm even writing that cause i'm the first, let them mofo's play whatever they want to. but it all seems like games to me. my wife wanted to go, but i was like nah. she would have been so pissed if we had gone, and lost any interest she has (she doesn't really have any because i refuse to get her hopes up until there's actually new material) of him releasing some new shit.
85. "you've already heard his classics....arranged in various ways" In response to Reply # 83
right today..honestly.... I'd rather hear him do covers with unique arrangements rather than his own songs arranged differently because I've probably heard it already...
89. "he's had 3 player tunes in his sets over the years...." In response to Reply # 86
sweet sticky thang was in his sets during the brown sugar era...
and over the last 2 years of shows... he's put pride and vanity...and then recently after sugarfoot's death he added our love has died....
oh..and if you count players ball as an ohio players tune ..but D's version really only uses the chorus...
as far as new tunes live.... Another life was in some of the euro dates sets.... really love was in a lot of them, as well as the Brooklyn bowl thing..and I think he played at that America thing from a couple years ago.... Sugar daddy has been in the sets of course...as well as charade... but really those are the only "new" songs from the album that he's played I think..
it wouldn't be in his best interest to put all the new tracks out there live..and I know his people are really particular about that..
so me..I'm more than cool with the covers..particularly the variety and the different arrangements
91. " I'm sure they have tons of original songs they could play live" In response to Reply # 90
but the fact remains that until the actual tracklisting of the album....as well as the timeline for the release and live shows that will actually function as promotion for the album...there is no reason to play a lot of original, yet to be released songs...particularly in the type of formats that these type of festivals present...
95. "again i was talking old stuff he's not playing, speaking of which" In response to Reply # 91
he should at the very minimum be killing "100 Deaths" live.
and who the fuck is they? he don't have a band. looks like he just calls up 15 and sees who'll sit in to play a bunch of covers so that nobody really has to practice or learn anything.
101. "that tour was two years ago warren" In response to Reply # 100
the last thing he toured was him and ?uest doing mostly covers. if you think he's rehearsing a band and deciding not to play with them for a show which he signed up for months ago (even if he did end up off the bill and appeared as a surprise) you're delusional.
█▆▇▅▇█▇▆▄â–â–ƒ Big PEMFin H & z's "I ain't no entertainer, and ain't trying to be one. I am 1 thing, a musician." � Miles
"When the music stops he falls back in the abyss."
The Voodoo Tour was almost 15 years ago. He hasn't had a proper tour since then. I don't think it's too much to expect him to play a couple of his own songs. This particular performance was somewhat high profile. He performed what? About seven songs? Would it have been too much of a burden for him to slip in a couple of his own songs in there? Doesn't have to be "Untitled". Maybe a couple of joints from "Brown Sugar"?
It's not like he's someone like, Prince, for example, who's been playing (and is expected to play) the same songs for the past 30 years and he decided to switch it up and play what he wants. Even when Prince does that in Arena shows, he makes at least 70% of the show his songs. And if he does an after party, you might not hear one Prince song. But that's his prerogative because everyone in this country has had multiple opportunities to see him perform Prince songs.
D'angelo hasn't done a proper tour in years. He should at least lace the crowd with some of the songs that made people like him in the first place. He doesn't even have to debut new songs. Just give us something familiar.
> >And I'm a digger. Average music fan if they didn't go to the >Voodoo tour may not have ever heard em live. >
>debuting new material wouldn't really be as appropriate... > >when he toured Europe...he played new stuff... that was >appropriate.. > > >these live shows aren't promoting the new album...they are >getting D back out there in a live environment.... > >so him doing covers at these events doesn't seem out of place >at all.. > > >
84. "I wasn't familiar with most of the joints." In response to Reply # 64
When I found out that they were ALL covers...it was a lil disappointing. The performance was good though. He did sound good and didn't mumble except for when he did his own record.
I wasnt expecting new material. I was hoping to hear new stuff, other than Really love. But wasnt counting on it. Based on those 2, 3 videos on YouTube I think they did a great job. Great band. Great vibe. Way better than the Bonnaroo thing. I have yet to hear the entire set though.
I like the fact that he sits behind the keys like that. No need to pretend to be that showman (that he isnt really). He doesnt need that in my opinion. He doesnt need to play the guitar either. He's said it himself, the piano is his main instrument.
What i don't appreciate is the mystery & games beforehand. Is he showing or what? Making it into this big thing. Especially if you need to buy tickets or plan a trip for it.
And at the end of the day all we care about is a new record.
>I like the fact that he sits behind the keys like that. No >need to pretend to be that showman (that he isnt really). He >doesnt need that in my opinion. He doesnt need to play the >guitar either. He's said it himself, the piano is his main >instrument.
103. "god these threads are predictable" In response to Reply # 0
Would have liked to hear new material, too, but the clips that have emerged are still cool with me. Would love that Burnin' and Lootin' with cleaner sound.
108. "RE: Uhhh... did D' bail out of Afropunk?" In response to Reply # 0
I hope dude never drops an album...
This is the best way to go out..
its been 15 years the entire world has changed and his fanbase is mad old..
let him rock the shows do his 1, 2..
but you got the great moment already.. be happy
Double 0 DJ/Producer/Artist Producer in Kidz In The Hall ------------------------------------------- twitter: @godouble0 IG: @godouble0 www.thinklikearapper.com
revolution75 Member since May 07th 2003 3372 posts
Tue Aug-26-14 04:19 PM
109. "a la Lauryn? I would be cool with that..." In response to Reply # 108 Tue Aug-26-14 04:19 PM by revolution75
My problem is this recording BS.... Cut the crap...just go jam with his friends and live his life if that's what makes him happy. Take the Ms Hill lane I aint mad at Lauryn and her thang. She ain't been holed up in the studio for 13 years with no product. At least she drops songs.
112. "RE: a la Lauryn? I would be cool with that..." In response to Reply # 109
Well I think there are people around him that are trying to force him to have this new "moment"
But its like man... you can't recreate that..
He will always be dope.. but the pressure to "change the industry" or "produce some crazy amazing shit' makes it so he will never drop anything cuz it aint up to snuff
Double 0 DJ/Producer/Artist Producer in Kidz In The Hall ------------------------------------------- twitter: @godouble0 IG: @godouble0 www.thinklikearapper.com
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
The Lesson
