Lenny Kravitz goes raw; Lil Wayne new album plans; Simon Cowell takes on DJ culture; Grateful Dead bandmates revive local music

Music fans will tell you that the origins album for pretty much any artist is typically the best. Generally it’s the rawest with minimal production value. Inevitably, however, artists always find their way back home and go back to their roots. At least that’s what the good ones do.

Such is the case for Lenny Kravitz.

Kravitz announced plans to release his next album “Negrophilia,” and told Billboard Magazine that it will be “very funky, very, very raw.”

He continued explain that this is his own reaction to the preceding album, “Black and White America,” which was released just one year ago. He says “’Black and White America’ was very produced. Although it’s all natural and organic, it’s a very produced record. That’s the mode I was in at that time. But [‘Negrophilia’] is very raw, jagged-edged album.”

Kravitz is currently touring to support the “Black and White America” album.

Also set to release a new album is rapper Lil Wayne. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Cash Money Records co-founder Birdman has promised that the new album will be released before the beginning of summer.

For those of you not familiar with Lil Wayne, the cross-tattoo-on-the-forehead rapper is a New Orleans-native. The 29-year old award-winning rapper is so well known, he was even referenced by President Obama during a speech he was giving to teens.

Another well-known name is getting into the world of beat-mixing. Simon Cowell is taking on the world of DJ Culture with plans to start yet another talent search competition. This time, he’s looking for the next Skrillex or Dead Mous8.

The music mogul’s Syco Entertainment announced a partnership with Will and Jada Pinkett-Smiths Overbrook Entertainment to develop a live, international TV show dedicated to finding the next great DJ.

For those who were hoping that the DJ culture and the rave scene were an all but too fast passing trend, it looks like club kids are here to stay, at least for a little while longer.

The down side to club culture is that this trend has placed a strain on live performing bands, who have seen a decrease in venue ability as well as fan interest. Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh and bandmate, guitarist Bob Weir hope to change that, at least a little bit.

Lesh recently announced plans to open a new mixed-use performance space called Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California. As for Weir, he’s launched a similar project that will open just down the road.

Is this a bandmate-battle?

Nope. The two are very friendly and still perform together.

The purpose of the endeavor is to bring back the area as a musicians’ gathering spot.
“Marin County used to be a real hub for music,” Weir tells Rolling Stone. “It was a hotbed for music. And I miss that. And Phil misses that. And we’re trying to bring that kind of consciousness back to Marin County. The music kind of disappeared from Marin about 20 years ago when people stopped going to clubs and stuff because everybody got married and had kids. Well, now those kids are growing up and they’re going to be playing in the clubs, so I think it’s going to happen again.”

Let’s hope the place ends up filled with guitar strings and busted drum heads rather than glow sticks.