Thursday 18 June 2009

From The Southside Of Chicago


Ghetto Life 101 is one of the most acclaimed broadcasts of recent public radio. It's producer's, David Isay, aim was to document life on the southside of Chicago, a particularly poor area. Thus in 1993 he handed recording equipment and mics to two young residents of the southside, LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman, aged 13 and 14 years old respectively at the time. The entire 30 minute broadcast is centered round the daily lives of the boys and features some truly riveting interviews with their friends, family and members of their community.

It is an unbelievably heart-breaking piece of broadcasting while never being soppy or pitying or condescending. The two boys handle the whole experience with a tactful innocence that is a delight to listen to and they're pretty funny too. All in all pretty refreshing in comparison to all the loud-mouthed celebrity radio hosts out and about at the moment.

 All the way through there are heart-breaking interviews and comedic moments from their daily lives together then right at the end one of the boys grandma sings the gospel standard, "One Day At A Time". I think that sums up the whole show. One of the most wonderful pieces of radio broadcast I have ever heard.


Tuesday 16 June 2009

Wednesday 10 June 2009

This is the only thing on my mind.

As anyone of my friends knows I have a lot of love for over-produced R&B dancefloor fillers performed by a smooth chested playa in over-sized clothes. Now this video not only provides one of the biggest tunes of last year - Usher and Young Jezzy "Love In This Club" but also adds a comedy aspect of puppets singing. Seriously I am minorly obsessed. Check the Young Jezzy rap and the tip back of Ush-bear's head. 


They've done others but this is by far the best.