MACHU PICCHU: LAGOS's HOTTEST NIGHT OUT - JULY 3rd 2009

Back by popular demand, Machu Picchu – the premier night on the Lagos social calendar is back for its July instalment. This is a particularly special edition as it is dedicated to the King of Pop who we lost last week.

So..come and help celebrate the legacy that is Michael Jackson with our usual twist of colour, culture and people; this Friday 3rd July, 2009 at 7pm.

Come dressed as your favourite Michael – the black or white or gloved one - we’ll welcome you the same.

“So tonight gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf and just enjoy yourself. Groove, let the madness in the music get to you, life ain’t so bad at all, if you live it off the wall. Life ain’t so bad at all (live life off the wall). Live your life off the wall (live it off the wall)”

WHO IS TUNDE ADEBIMPE?

If you haven't seen the Anne Hathaway flick 'Rachel Getting Married' then you have to. It is a modern gem about how the world interacts with each other - this is not a great descriptive for the movie but just trust us - it's a great story.

One of the stand out performances comes from a part-time actor but full time musician, Tunde Adebimpe (also front man to the Brooklyn-based band, TV on the Radio). His moment of class came when he sings a rendition of Neil Young's Unknown Legend as his vow to his on-screen wife-to-be.

Watch this space for this chap. The name: Tunde. Tunde Adebimpe.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. FOXX

It's amazing how an artist can come full circle in a year and challenge one's preconceived notions of whom they are artistically.

The artist that has most convinced us about their artistry and authenticity in 2009 is Jamie (I never thought I'd say it) Foxx.

With the release of his recent album, Intuition (which has quickly become one of my fave '09 records) he completely blew me away and quickly let me put-a-sock-in-it for past criticisms including my very vocal ridicule of his Oscar win for the lead role in 'Ray'.

He has now surpassed further expectations with his hosting of this week's BET Awards and most importantly, his very fitting tribute to Michael Jackson.

We applaud Jamie!

GAGA FOR THE LADY

We were not at Glastonbury this year to give you full unprecedented gist of celebrity shenanigans but our girl-of-the-moment, Lady 'too fabulous' Gaga was at hand to provide a great set.

Enjoy this live rendition of the hot single, Lovegame - which turns into a Marilyn Manson remix at the end.

We are GaGa for our Lady!

A PRESIDENTIAL TRIBUTE?

I'm extremely eager to hear what Barack H Obama will say about Michael Jackson.

I think this deserves a press conference or official statement of some sort.

FRIDAY TRACK: CHA'MONE!

I remember watching BBC’s Panorama special ‘Living with Michael Jackson’ with Martin Bashir back in March 2005 at the height of his legal battles and wondering ‘has this man ever known peace?’

The argument of whether the world is responsible for Michael’s woes will continue to surface but honestly, perhaps it is time to go.

Time to go rest......this soul has given everything he has to be adored and praised. He has spent the last 10 years trying to make a comeback and I believe it is the stress of trying to ‘entertain’ again at the scheduled July dates that led to what can only be described as a sad exit.

Last year, during an idle conversation with my sister, I asked what would happen if Michael Jackson died? Her response was ‘I don’t want to think about it’, this perfectly captures what is going through my mind even now that it has happened. As I become more and more disorientated by the second since I got the text message at 11pm last night, I’m slightly comforted by the idea that finally he has peace - no more ridicule, no more attacks, no more repression, no more inner turmoil, no more pursuit for perfection (both in and out)

What a year..........2009 has seen a black man occupy arguably the most senior office in the world and lost the greatest music ambassador (who just happens to be black also) - all within 6 months. This certainly is a year history will not forget.

There will be no Friday track today. This is a mark of respect to the Michael Jackson catalogue. I have all of his albums except Dangerous and I have spent the last 2 hours trying to find THE song – it quickly dawned on me that this was impossible simply because every single MJ track is a gem (yes....even Blood on the Dance floor) – all are worthy to be the Friday track.

I trust you wonderful people will all understand and agree.

Sun re o Michael Joseph Jackson. You deserve to sleep well.

“I'm gonna make a change for once in my life, it's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right . . . I'm starting with the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways, and no message could have been any clearer if you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change” extracts from Man in the Mirror

http://blip.fm/Renaissance_Man

T.O.N.Y

I asked some friends the other day if they'd abandon me if I were to purchase a copy of the new Soulja Boy LP. Last year, I was asking myself the same question - although, the last time, it were in respect of Solange and her St. whoever-they-call-themselves dream band.

I'm having to bite my tongue quite rapidly about Solange's new material and quality presentations. I don't know if this whole image is an in-house gimmick orchestrated by clever marketing people or if she does actually believe in what she dishes out.

Anyway, her new single T.O.N.Y is simply brilliant and we can't get hold of the actual promotional video just yet...so please enjoy the song in the meantime.

ALWAYS EXCLUSIVES @ THE RENAISSANCE MAN

Just as we have conquered just about all the different forums of media - print, on-line radio, the blogosphere.. our fans think the only natural progression would be to anchor an on-line A&R network for music artists.

We have always been the first at dropping exclusives to our dear readers and most of our picks from big albums always become future singles. An example is the new Beyonce single 'Brokenhearted'.

Upon first listen, it was inevitable this was a radio-dream, as we had initially highlighted when released. Anyway, enjoy the HOT new video of your girl, Beyonz with some male model swirling in the sand. SCANDAL!

PHRASE OF THE WEEK: SWEET CHEESE

We are convinced our American brothers and sisters have the best slangs, catchphrases and/or chat-up lines the world has ever heard.

In the space of a week, we got acquainted with the phrases "..come on now" and our fave "sweet cheese".

Where would the world be without the Americans to supplement our personal vocabularies? Think about it!

NEW BOYZ - JERKIN' INTO OUR CONSCIOUSNESS

You know, my dream job has always been an A&R executive at a major label...preferably on the diversity desk so that we can truly contribute genuine talent into this saturated pool of music artists.

Last night, I couldn't help but feel some guy deserves a big pat on the back for discovering the New Boyz. This is fun music at its best marketed, conceptualized and executed right. The New Boyz's début single You're a Jerk is a major banger and it is very exciting music even for a 20-something man like myself.

Enjoy!