Janelle Monae… One of the artists on Apple’s Black Music Month Circuit

In celebration of Black Music Month (June), Apple is giving (black) music lovers a month-long treat:  22 in-store performances at several of its Apple store locations throughout the U.S including San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, Troy, Michigan, Santa Monica, California, Miami, and Chicago.

The party got started Sunday at the New Yorks Apple store in SoHo with Tiffany Evans.  Billboard reports that Michelle Williams, Tiffany Evans, Malcolm Jamal Warner (????), Cherish, Wyclef Jean, Janelle Monae, Marvin Sapp, Mike Phillips, Yung Berg, B.o.B., Anthony David, Goapele, Vaughn Anthony, MC Lyte, David Banner, Pastor Troy, Killer Mike, Talib Kweli, DJ Irie, Mistah F.A.B. and E-40 will be performing.

I’ll admit that’s a very interesting and eclectic mix of performers.  I’ll admit I had to Google a few to figure out who they were.  Malcolm Jamal Warner?  It was news to me that Theo from the Cosby Show was a Jazz musician.  As a purveyor of Jazz I checked out his Miles Long Record Label.  Its not traditional more of that new age smooth Jazz that kind of urks me a little.  His music is a little more a fusion of the new and old an is actually not bad.

On the other hand I’d pay money to see David Banner of Pastor Troy doing an Apple in-store.  Seeing the faces of unsuspecting paler faced patrons walking in to the shock of explicit lyrics and other “niggerdom.”  Gotta love art.  I’m not quite sure what their selection process is.  You can check out apple.com for the full tour listing and dates.