Bill Cosby To Release Hip-Hop Album
Well-known for his love of jazz music, comedian Bill Cosby is switching musical gears. In a bid to reach out to inner city youth, Cosby is releasing a hip-hop style album titled Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency.
And while the man famous for pitching jello pudding, Dr. Cliff Huxtable and good comedy is not rapping or singing on the new album, it will feature rappers Jace the Great, Brother Hahz and Super Nova Slam – not too mention cameos by Eric Clapton, Alicia Keys, LL Cool J and others. Even the late Miles Davis is heard throughout the project.
State of Emergency is streaming in full on BillCosby.com.
“I don’t like referring to the music as clean,” Cosby told Boombox. “What I like is what you’re not going to do. You’re not going to curse. You’re not going to put women down. You’re not going to put the glory of the gun somewhere. And you’re not going to put a whole lot of violence up front like that’s the thing that will cleanse you and make you feel better.”
All 14 tracks on State of Emergency focus on issues that concern young people; Cosby reportedly created the topics to cover for each of the songs.
In conjunction with Ustream.com, the Cosby and the Cosnarati Band will perform on October 19 in New York City in a town hall meeting starting at 7 p.m. EDT (4 p.m. PDT). The town hall and performance will also be presented on billcosby.com, Facebook.com/billcosby, and urban radio station website around the country. Cosby is even taking to the Twitter-sphere: Audience members can tweet @BillCosby before and during the live town hall or connect with him directly at http://twitter.com/BillCosby.
More than just a stock hip-hop project, the album is more a blend of R&B, jazz, pop, funk and rock – and hip-hop. The point is really to drive home a positive message. There is certainly a message that’s driving this music.
It’s no surprise that Cosby has a problem with ‘gangsta’ style rap, but there are hip-hop/R&B artists who don’t necessarily fall into that category, so Cosby should be careful not to let his musical message blanket everybody in the genre. But a positive move by Cosby, for sure, all the way around.
And if anyone knows what ‘Cosnarati’ means please chime in.
State of Emergency will be available at digital retailers on October 20, to be followed by a physical release on November 24.
What do you think about Bill Cosby’s hip-hop project?
Monday, October 19, 2009 3:49AM
Doesn't care about them, cares about his image and how he looks to the net and the world. Give away his fortune and maybe they won't do all the "naughty" things cosby disapproves of.
Monday, October 19, 2009 4:00AM
Y'see, the kids, they listen to the rap music, which gives them the brain damage. With their hippin' and their hoppin', and their bippin', and their boppin'… so they don't know what the jazz is all about!
Monday, October 19, 2009 4:09AM
OK, now really???
Monday, October 19, 2009 4:30AM
Cosby isn't funny anymore, he just keeps complainin' about shit!
Ok, he's kinda funny. I liked the thing about Bob Dylan I guess.
I think Cosnarati is like riffing on Nas's album "Nastradamus"…which is unfortunately his worst album…at least that's what comes to mind haha
uh, also, Even though Bill's strong, annoying anti-violence message sort of sours the excitement I'm experiencing about a Bill Cosby album (he sorta makes jokes about it, but not really ones that are funny, so they are hard to ignore but are not convincing and also, he's not even rapping, which is why I was originally excited)….I still want it.
I hope he has portions in the song where he complains like STZA CRACK
Monday, October 19, 2009 9:39AM
Honestly Fuck what bill cosby has to say about Gangsta Rap!!! He's one of those "House Negroes" That Malcolm X spoke of! First of all, this guys isn't into putting women down, but one of his classic movies involve him and Sidney Portier, running around in a Brothel!! Fuck this dude! He kicks Lisa Bonet off of the Cosby Show because she did a love scene in "Angel Heart", thats a real hater, mad because the young woman is making money doing another role. Fuck him Fuck him Fuck him!!!!!! Hey Mr. Cosby……. Let other black people make that entertainment money! Now suck on that pudding pop!!!!!
Monday, October 19, 2009 8:16AM
fuck bill cosby reptillian ass lookin bitch i aint gonna buy this fucking bulllshit rap shit he call rap
free gucci maneee
Monday, October 19, 2009 5:19PM
consnarati = cosby illuminati?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 2:28AM
THIS AINT YO PARENTS CRACK
Sunday, October 25, 2009 11:04PM
Come on Bill. You KNOW who's directly profiting off of that "hip hop" that you despise. The same folks that wouldn't let you buy NBC. You an Oprah are both funny as sh*t. The ultimate business people who act like the artist has the power. These rappers have no creative control and are contractually bound by the Devil's representation on Earth. Easy Bill. Take care of some of your baby mamas.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 8:05PM
Hi Julian,
I watched The Today Show yesterday and just heard about what Bill Cosby was doing. Frankly, I was like "this is wierd" but you know what, his goal in life has been to help kids, parents, grandparents to be better people. He was really funny…have ya ever heard his albums (yes, I mean records that sit on the turn-table…I'm showing my age huh?) Anyway, I have grown up watching Bill Cosby. He isn't perfect…shit, no one is but his heart is in helping kids. I have a 9 year old grandson who has started to go down a bad path of trouble. We are close but no matter what we talk about or what I say…he doesn't hear me. He is into hip-hop BIG…so is his dad and I really think that this might be a good thing for him to listen to…maybe he can relate…who knows but one thing for sure, Bill is trying to get a message out…ya gotta give him that.