Archive for December, 2009
Seatown’s own self-proclaimed “Blaq Han Solo,” and LxNxM’s big homie, Khingz, just dropped a new video for the track “Cloud City,” which is off his latest album, Cold Hearted in Cloud City.
Khingz is, without a doubt, one of the nicest MCs to come outta Seattle. If you haven’t already, go cop that CD now!
Santa came through today fresh from South Africa. Over some milk and cookies, he put me on this dope band he has on repeat in the sleigh: the originally Johannesburg based BLK JKS . Snooping around the Secretly Canadian website- the label that also signed the currently hot Yeasayer, I came across this cut Molalatladi (meaning, Rainbow). The song elucidates what BLK JKS band bio describes as an “entangling of township blues, fringe jazz and renegade dub — into the DNA of prog”. I get excited thinking about the kind of live show these guys must throw down (hint hint Seattle promoters) . Cop their album After Robots at Secretly Canadian, and be easy with that egg-nog….
Here is the recently released video for Molalatladi
I’ve been trying really hard not to post whole albums, because… well… it’s not nice. But I couldn’t resist - I just had to post this. I mean, c’mon, it’s a reggae Christmas box set! How could I not? Please don’t hate me, internet ethicists and regulators out there!
Yes, this has been around for a while. But do you have it? I didn’t think so. Download and bump this at your family Christmas party tonight or tomorrow, and, if you’re Eastern Orthodox, on January 7th.
Two disclaimers: a) While Last Night’s Mixtape is largely based in Seattle, we have a global focus. Seattle is our foundation, but the world is our oyster. b) We love hip hop, but we aren’t boxed in by labels – dancehall, cumbia and any good uhhhh music will do the trick for us.
That being said, it is absolutely a privilege and an honor to be able to put the new video for Macklemore’s The Town up on LxNxM. It’s an ode to this fair city in the Northwest, and a claiming of our city’s oft-overlooked history. Plus it’s just plain filthy. Good on you Mack and Zia, this shit’s a classic.
Oh yeah, and see if you can catch the LxNxM cameo.
This came out a couple of weeks ago, but I still can’t find the mp3 for you guys. I have resigned to just posting this video, cuz the song is so nice.
Creative Control is Dame Dash’s recently launched online video network. This brief clip documents Mos and Ski Beatz working in the DD172 studio. Ski Beatz is probably best known for producing four tracks on Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt album, ”Dead Presidents,” “22 Two’s,” “Politics as Usual,” and “Feelin’ It.” DD172 is Dame Dash’s new Lower Manhattan art and music complex. It’s where the Black Keys and several of the MCs worked on the Blakroc album and where Erykah Badu recently held a listening party for her upcoming, much-anticipated album, New Amerykah Pt II: Return of the Ankh. Big things are going down at DD172.
I knew as soon as I heard David Rodigan’s voice that this mixtape was going to be good. He would never vouch for any sound system that’s less than the best, right? Exactly. This is musical fire.
Soulforce is from Krefeld, Germany. They are bad (as in good), and they’ve been hard at work since 2005. This mix, which was first heard on the Köln radio station WDR / Funkaus Europa, is a collection of their favorite songs from the last four years. If you’re like me, by the time you hear the second track you’ll be scanning the internet for full versions of all these songs.
Soulforce – Essential Mix Vol. 1 (right click, save as).
This song is off Rhymefest’s upcoming album, El Che, which is set to be released in the Spring of 2010. It’s ill, as are the accompanying visuals. The video gives you a little taste of what kids used to watch for entertainment. Crazy.
People constantly sleep on Rhymefest. Don’t be that person.
Tastemaker J. Period has blessed us with another heater of a mixtape. This time he teamed up with the Nigerian-German artist Nneka, who is new to my ears but has been doing her thing, for the most part outside of the US, since 2003. This is definitely worth the free download, and it’s a great introduction to someone that I hope to see a lot more of in the future.
A seasoned performer, songwriter and winner of the 2009 MOBO Award, Nneka presents The Madness (Onye-Ala) as an introduction to her first US album, Concrete Jungle in stores February 2, 2010 on Yo Mama/Decon/Epic. The album is collection of tracks detailing her personal experience growing up in Nigeria, the corruption and beauty found there and the universal themes of love, growth, and seeking the ultimate truths. The Madness (Onye-Ala) is a peek into the life and sounds of Nneka, as well as a tribute to the influence Hip Hop has had on her music.
Download The Madness (Onye-Ala) here (right click, save as), and check out more J.Period & Nneka downloads here. Tracklist and videos after the jump.
Not too long ago, I hit y’all up with the Adult Swim ATL RMX album. You might remember that there was supposed to be a 17th track on there that was nowhere to be found. That mysterious track, Dam-Funk’s remix of Hollyweerd’s “Have you Ever Made Love to a Weirdo,” popped up the other day on a remix suite EP. It’s a nice collection of remixes of the same song by some noteworthy producers, including 9th Wonder.
I would post a lot more about Hollyweerd, cuz they’re dope and they definitely deserve the shine, but I’ve been slackin on my bloggin. I got some catching up to do, so I’ll let the music speak for itself. I will say this, though, they’re on some ATLien next shit. Oh yeah, check the album artwork out too – it’s also dope.
Peep the remix EP and a couple Hollyweerd mixtapes after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
