Aloe Blacc

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:19 am

Dude is about to do some things.

I'm kinda a sucker for theme songs, especially if I hear them multiple times and I'm in a good mood while hearing them. Well I was kinda dumbfounded to find out that the guy behind the theme song for How To Make It In America is none other than Aloe Blacc (originally from Eamnon). Apparently over the course of the years he stopped rapping and started singing. I remember back in '01 he actually called into our radio show while we were interviewing Kurupt and in typical college dweeb/dick move fashion 2 of my co-hosts just couldn't get past the Emanon name.

This track is catchy as fuck.

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The Frankest · Post by **The Frankest** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:28 am

Sounds good, I'm all for it.

Glad he moved on to this other stuff. The Emanon album was a real snoozefest to me, nothing standing out whatsoever on that first listen. Never listened again. Did I miss anything?

Still, one song they got right:

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YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:34 am

The breaking up Emanon was the best things for both of their careers.

Exile gave us Blu. Aloe Blacc gave us the theme to HBO's version of Entourage meets Complex magazine.

SYM · Post by **SYM** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:52 am

Aloe Blacc rapped, sang the hook, AND played trumpet on that J. Rawls track "Bailar". Far as I know dude is crazy talented. I never heard the Emanon stuff really in much depth, glad to know he's staying busy and still making good music.

edit: i also wanna watch this show now.

Huldrich Bullsh!t · Post by **Huldrich Bullsh!t** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:03 am

he has a solo album on stones throw where he sings and also plays some instruments. it dropped a few years ago and is pretty cool.

Emanons first (as far as i know) EP was pretty cool imo. it dropped on earplug some years before the album.

did they break up though? i never read or heard anything about that, i mean both obviously did pursue their own stuff over the last few years but i though it might just be a hiatus.

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:26 am

i've seen him live opening for lee fields, he was singing and he pulled it off pretty well. didn't sound like what i though he would sound (ie didn't sound like a bitch), had a good r&b thing going.

Indivisual · Post by **Indivisual** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:31 am

he hosts/mcs a party in LA called the do-over. I've heard live sets from it and he sings along to 80s r&b tracks very well.

ackbar · Post by **ackbar** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 12:21 pm

i noticed he did the theme in the credits.. i assumed it was a sample

i also had no idea that exile was the other guy in that emanon group

Sucka Ducka · Post by **Sucka Ducka** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 12:50 pm

He came thru a few years back and told us his life story for this Red Bull Music Academy thing for producers, I remember him talking about working for a graphics design company or something and getting paid good money and still not enjoying it - so he said he started working on music full time right under their noses and by the time they caught on and fired him, he had made some serious moves in the way of music. Something like that.

Track is catchy as hell and I had no idea he was singing. I did know he was a talented dude though. Never liked Emanon but I like what he is doing now AND what Exile is doing now. Also, I am downloading this show. Only 2 episodes so far?

panty_inspector · Post by **panty_inspector** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 12:52 pm

i dont fuck with that singing but as far as emanon Before that shitty earplug release years back, aloe >>>>>> blu and its not even close

Sucka Ducka · Post by **Sucka Ducka** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:04 pm

http://www.stonesthrow.com/news/2010/02 ... in-america

ALOE BLACC ג I NEED A DOLLAR (HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA)
February 15, 2010
IN THE STORE
Aloe Blacc ג I Need A Dollar 12"

This is the lead off single from Aloe Blacc's forth coming album Good Things, produced by Truth & Soul, and featuring the backing band known as Expressions and El Michels Affair. The A-Side גI Need A Dollarג has just debuted as the theme song to the HBO series How To Make It In America.

The 12-inch vinyl for גDollarג will be in stores April 2010. This is an advance digital release, which is also available on iTunes. Instrumentals for both tracks are included.

The album Good Things will be released in 2010 ג track list & street date TBA

a little more info...

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:10 pm

^^ i'm feeling generous, feel free to pm me if you want it

jredd109 · Post by **jredd109** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:49 pm

panty_inspector wrote:i dont fuck with that singing but as far as emanon Before that shitty earplug release years back, aloe >>>>>> blu and its not even close

if you're referring to this

then you're off your nut because it's a dope ep.

Employee · Post by **Employee** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 3:14 pm

Worst show on TV.

He's a better rapper.

I saw him live around '99/'00-ish in some oddball venue on L.A.'s outskirts and he KILLED shit. One of his hooks contained the lyrics "FUCK YOU, ALOE B.!" and the crowd was screaming it in his face.

Dude's rapping >>>>>

panty_inspector · Post by **panty_inspector** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:03 pm

jredd109 wrote:
panty_inspector wrote:i dont fuck with that singing but as far as emanon Before that shitty earplug release years back, aloe >>>>>> blu and its not even close
if you're referring to this

then you're off your nut because it's a dope ep.

I was a big big fan of that Imaginary Friends tape plus the acid9 vinyl was extra dope but was not feeling that earplug release. in retrospect i hated everything that earplug did for a while

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 6:06 pm

http://www.stonesthrow.com/jukebox/aloe-dollar.mp3

Simple Rock · Post by **Simple Rock** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 6:08 pm

jredd109 wrote:
panty_inspector wrote:i dont fuck with that singing but as far as emanon Before that shitty earplug release years back, aloe >>>>>> blu and its not even close
if you're referring to this

then you're off your nut because it's a dope ep.

That was a dope ep. I still bump belly of the beast whenever I can.

I used to know his manager back in the way.. hope theyre doing well

RAZAH CUTZ · Post by **RAZAH CUTZ** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:37 pm

landing the theme for that How To Make It In America was big....I dig that show and think it could do some things....

he's a talented cat, been around for a minute on the L.A. scene....don't mind his singing and he still can rip a mic down too...

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:35 pm

Emanon were dope, I don't think they mad a bad record

Acid 9 EP
Imaginary Friends
Anon and On EP
The Waiting Room

I find it hard to believe that some people didn't feel these, especially The Waiting Room, there was some great production on that album.

This new Aloe Blacc track is nice.

GhostDog · Post by **GhostDog** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:32 pm

I heard this track on the UK's Gilles Peterson's Worldwide show, in which he also interviewed Aloe Blacc. He also played another track called "Take Me Back". The album is produced by one of the members of El Michels Affair. Lookin' forward to it.

Aloe's first album on Stones Throw, "Shine Through" was dope. He mostly sang on that joint.

He had another slept on, mostly non hip-hop album with producer Cradle from Japan, as Bee (Aloe Blacc + Cradle), called "Open Your Mind".

Dude is talented. He might be on the verge of blowing up like Phonte.

Damn, not sure how the hell I didn't hear about this HBO show. Gotta check out ASAP.

panty_inspector · Post by **panty_inspector** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:36 pm

i also have a tape called dawns second coming
exile wasnt a bad mc back then either

dynamite looks · Post by **dynamite looks** » Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:46 pm

Huldrich Bullsh!t wrote:he has a solo album on stones throw where he sings and also plays some instruments. it dropped a few years ago and is pretty cool.

i ride for this album. some beautiful songs on it.

Nom Inf · Post by **Nom Inf** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:59 am

This song was and is still my shit.

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ROSARIO · Post by **ROSARIO** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 12:16 pm

singing is a much better route for him...this shit is dope.

the dead poet · Post by **the dead poet** » Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:11 pm

Aloe is dope as a singer. His shine through album was pretty good. He comes through the Ox everynow and again. Works with OHNO a lot. The new shit OHNO showed me was pretty impressive.

this was my shit a few years back.

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Career Over Like Mike(NJJ) · Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:39 pm

Aloe Blacc is probably the gayest rap nom de plume i've ever heard.

lightsleeper · Post by **lightsleeper** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:17 am

The waiting room is dope, cant believe people didnt like it, I still bump it to this day

Tired & Broke · Post by **Tired & Broke** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:18 pm

Lyric783 · Post by **Lyric783** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:46 pm

Since ya'll are up on Emanon, any of you remember the crew Mystery's Extinction?

Big Breeze · Post by **Big Breeze** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:12 pm

Aloe has always been nice with his. I'm a fan of his emceeing and singin. I just wish he would rap more, but it's all good.

Here is a cover of "Billie Jean" that he did to honor the one year anniversary of MJ's death.

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