TV One's series "Unsung" continues its stellar season tonight at 10 with a look at the career of seminal rapper Big Daddy Kane.

You might remember the man some called Dark Gable and Count Macula for his late '80s hits like "Ain't No Half Steppin," "Smooth Operator" and "I Get the Job Done," and for his awesome flat-top haircut, but the episodes proves there's a lot more to Kane, in terms of his musical legacy and influence. And he's got new music coming; Kane's hooked up with Los Angeles-based funk band Connie Price & the Keystones to form what he calls 'hip-hop soul unit.'

"We're mixing the last two songs," he says. "I'd say expect a single by fall."

Just as importantly, the Brooklyn native now calls Raleigh home. "I always dug Raleigh," he says. "I used to come down in '89 and hang out at the Residence Inn, near the Denny's on Wake Forest [Road]."

That's right, you could run into Kane at the Food Lion!

Happiness recently caught up with the still sexy-voiced and low-key Blackanova and talked to him about his "Unsung" experience.

Opening today in Triangle theaters is "Soul Power," an outstanding documentary about the music festival that accompanied the 1974 Ali/Foreman fight in Africa. My colleague Craig Lindsey gives "Soul Power" a positive review, and I usually don't go out of my way to nitpick about things like this -- but I think he underrated it by a good bit. I saw "Soul Power" in New York back in July, and I thought it was amazing. So did the crowd I saw it with. I've never been at a concert movie where people applauded between songs, just like at a live show.

"Soul Power" captures James Brown, the Spinners, Bill Withers and others at the peak of their powers, and the interludes demonstrating the musical cross-fertilization of Africa, America and the Carribbean are incredible (and educational). The circa-1974 fashions are also tremendous fun, all mile-high-wide bellbottoms and collars. And the participants' sense of optimism -- about Africa, America, music, the future -- is palpable. It was a great moment in time on many levels, worth reliving.

Check the trailer for a taste and then go see "Soul Power" while you can, because it seems like the sort of film that won't stick around long and it's better on a big screen. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Head on over to the blog Raleigh Philosophical Society, where there is a discussion in progress about songs that namecheck the City Of Oaks in the lyrics -- including songs by the Connells, Corrosion of Conformity, Avett Brothers, James Brown and others.

If nothing else, it's a good antitdote to "Shine, Raleigh, Shine" (the City of Raleigh's regrettable attempt to come up with a "theme song" back in 2007).

(Thanks, Matt.)