[youtube id=”YE2lgI5nnQE”] August Greene, the new group comprising Common, Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins debuted their first video today. “Optimistic” was originally recorded by The Sounds Of Blackness and they have given it their treatment with Brandy. The video takes place in Mississippi and it honors some of the people who have contributed to their communities through activism and the mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. August Greene’s debut album comes out March 9th.

[youtube id=”bNmY9Eyq5y0″] Aretha Franklin, Jack White and Common are among this year’s performers at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The event takes place April 27th – May 6th. Smokey Robinson and Anita Baker are also on the list and there will be a tribute to Fats Domino. The complete lineup and tickets can be found at the official site.

[youtube id=”mJujwQgOSow”]  Amerigo Gazaway has released the first video from his A Common Wonder project for “Sugar By The Pound.” Vintage footage of Common, Stevie Wonder, A Tribe Called Quest and Redman are put together to create a fast-moving visual. Watch the video and stream the whole album below.

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[youtube id=”BHLymSdxbJE”] Amerigo Gazaway is launching his new project featuring Stevie Wonder and Common which he calls A Common Wonder. Gazaway’s gift for imagining great musical collaborations has a seed from Common’s “Black America Again” duet with Wonder. Gazaway uses documentary soundbites, interview audio and multitrack instrument stems to create a fictitious full-length album studio session between Wonder and Common. Watch the video teaser above and download the first song “The Sixth Superstition” from the forthcoming album for free.