MEDIA MOGULS

Showing Our Support
For Notable Arts and Artists of Color

VIDEO CLIP: Lalah Hathaway

Courtesy of our non-profit partner org SOUL SANCTUARY, we present a brief video interview with the ever-talented LALAH HATHAWAY, daughter of the late soul music pioneer Donny Hathaway. Part of Soul Sanctuary’s UNSUNG video blog series, here we peek in on a chat with Lalah where she shares insights about how she maintains her artistic integrity amid the sea of over-exposed and electronically-enhanced vocalists in her peer group, and what it is like to be related to a legend in the industry.

QuickTime file – click here

Video also available through the Soul Sanctuary Vlog and on YouTube (lower quality image)

MUSIC PIC:
MINT CONDITION
Livin’ The Luxury Brown (Caged Bird)

SONG CLIPS:
Whoaa
Runaway
Luxury Brown

What is to become of the rock musician of darker hue? Phraseology is key when trying to describe this population because truly there is no such thing as “black rock” music. Rock-n-roll was pioneered by a steady succession of Black men; therefore, any modifiers referring to the racial origins of its innovators, its apprentices, its legacy seems superfluous. Yet reality shows us that brothers from the streets have all but abandoned their knowledge of or respect for their contributions to rock, except as a segue between hip-hop videos in the latest MTV hot rotation. And the proud students of times past who willingly absorb and reinterpret these ancestral aural influences are often left without a radio station, audience or record label to call home. It’s a sad statement of our cultural times.

The R&B community has embraced Mint Condition largely on the strength of their ballads, but to ignore the breadth of their repertoire is to do these handsome and talented gents a grave disservice. They’ve always represented the purest definition of good music…a sound and sensibility that incorporates the fullest diversity of the Black experience. A genre-defying, soul-stirring, equal parts high-energy and baby-making groove. And Mint Condition’s undying commitment to being their comprehensive musical selves has cost them, big time, from a narrowly-focused profit-based point of view.

To put out this album, they had to bid farewell to major label manipulation or misunderstanding and go indie against a tide of hateful, hurtful and technically inferior tunes. To push forward with this album, they had to ignore critics who warned them that a more rock-influenced track list would alienate a majority of their loyal fanbase. To tour with this album, they had to do more leg work and remind promoters that a 6-year hiatus from the scene did not automatically equal low ticket sales or poor crowd attendance. They became entrepreneurs. They got louder, bolder, more self-assured. They put on one of the most potent live performances you will ever see on any stage, anywhere. And they’ve survived the daggers of all naysayers who didn’t believe in or support their vision. Perhaps we should indeed refer to them as Rock…of Gibraltar.

Think back to the late 80s and the flood of R&B male groups and bands that dominated the charts. Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Intro, New Edition, Tony Toni Tone, and so on. Then ask yourself if you can think of even ONE popular group from back then who is currently standing tall and making hit music on their own terms. An ensemble who said so long to a member and kept stepping, without incident or scandal. You’d be hard pressed to think of any. And yet, Mint Condition is still here…thriving…keeping us all snapping, clapping and singing along.

True cool is being unapologetically you and being loved simultaneously. In Mint Condition, we find everything that Black manhood can and should represent. Attitude, strength of character, honoring our culture, sensitivity, innovation and sheer talent. This is an unabashed salute to real musicianship cloaked in edgy, eye candy packaging: Stokley, Larry, Ricky, O’Dell and Jeff…5 vital pieces of a melodic whole, bridging the gaps of our musical now and pushing us toward the promise of a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow.

Visit their band website for more music clips, song lyrics, photos and live performance info!