Archive for August, 2010
I’ve got to admit: I trust 9th Wonder’s production so highly (yes, I love those solid gold soul samples) that whenever I see a project with his name attached, I’m inclined to look at it positively, even if I haven’t actually heard it yet. So when the long-simmering “The Free EP” by Raleigh/Durham trio Actual Proof dropped today, seeing the 9th cosign helped lift it into view.
Interesting fact: Actual Proof kicked off as a production team, and the raps side grew from there. The producer to emcee transition can be problematic (Timbo…cough…Timberland), but when it shines, it shines – just check out Black Milk in the post below this. The good news is that when it works, producers tend to work the rhythmic angle of the raps in a way that deepens the whole project, and “The Free EP” fits in that category.
The production, by both the Actual Proof in-house team and 9th, is crisp and loping, and it’s worth a listening.
Download: Actual Proof – The Free EP
Check the tracklisting after the jump.
Black Milk drops Album of the Year on September 14th and it seems like he wasn’t boasting at all when he chose that title. Everything I’ve heard thus far from the album is stellar and this video proves once again that Detroit has some of the nicest emcees in the country.
The title says it all. Lil’ Ben – aka Ben Sinclair – Oakland-based dj (9th Floor Radio), producer (Das Racist), and sometimes bandmember (Safe) recently put this mix together from his recent findings in his ever-ongoing auditory collecting. As it’s absolutely delightful Sunday afternoon listening (this cover of “Dancing Queen” is currently accompanying my daily stroll around the immaculately-manicured grounds of the Last Night’s Mixtape compound), it only feels right to share it with you.
It’s an hour long, and ranges from psychedelia through funk, Middle Eastern jams, and future beat breakdownedness. If I had a tracklist to provide, I would, but Lil’ Ben doesn’t play that way (you hear that Lil’ Ben???). UPDATE: The man himself comes through to drop the tracklisting off for you. Check it below the jump.
Now I’ve had this song stuck in my head all day. I was humming it, singing it, and recently did a short DJ set over on Hollow Earth Radio where I played some Donny Hathaway. But I didn’t expect to find a fresh video of this song on the internet. Leave it to the good folks over at Put Me On It to have the goods. Enjoy. And shout out to Miguel Atwood-Ferguson for doing such great work — recognizing the genius of J Dilla — and for simply being super nice in person.
And if you’d like to download the song, have at it. After the jump, listen to the Donny Hathaway original. Read the rest of this entry »
New single from Cee-Lo’s upcoming The Ladykiller. Real video coming soon. In the meantime, enjoy the lyrics a la karaoke.
If you’re in to that type of thing, you can download the track here.
Over the last couple of months, Klipmode, the LA/Philly/taste o’Portland neu beats crew, has unleashed a devestatingly quality series of mixes upon the world. The latest is by Vinyl Junkie Crewmember P.U.D.G.E., yet another LA beat head who wants to wreck yer neck.
One thing about this mix (and others in the Klipkast series) is that it’s all original material. That is, the man P.U.D.G.E himself made every track, which is just plain impressive. According to his artists statement that accompanied the mix, he doesn’t have an outlet for many of these songs. Seems surprising that would be the case, especially in beat-crazy LA, but glad we get a taste here. Go on then, Klipmode squad. Tracks after the jump.
hella long, but hella worth your time. choice cuts and expert mixing. get it by clicking the downward pointing arrow. tracklist here.
Named after The Love Unlimited Orchestra classic, BBE created The Strange Games compilation series to represent the blueprint for modern R&B and hip hop. Crate diggers will recognize most of the tracks right off the bat, and dedicated listeners will recognize them, perhaps after a couple spins, for the songs that relied on them for their samples – and in some cases the whole damn song. In other words, this compilation is for music lovers that grew up on hip hop and R&B and appreciate and respect the roots of the music. You know, grown folk.
The fifth volume in the series, which BBE started in 1997, comes out on August 28th. Sure, these aren’t the rarest of rarest tunes that nobody or their mom has ever heard of, but it’s good music that you’re never gonna find all in one place at the same time anywhere else. Go on and purchase this compilation from the nice people over at Barely Breaking Even and help ensure that this music will live on forever. Do it.
Oh yeah, I should also mention that DJ Spinna expertly blended the songs from this compilation into an awesome mix. You can stream it below or download it here, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t buy the actual album with the entire songs on them, okay? Okay.
This is the best double music video that I’ve seen in a long time and I’m glad to share it with the masses. Not only because I helped work on the project and I’m closely linked with ‘Vinc and Waajeed, but as a Detroiter, this is the view of my city that I wish more of the world saw. Detroit is not a ghost-town. The city is alive, surviving just fine, and definitely vibrant in the summer time. Enjoy.
Invincible + Waajeed – “Detroit Summer”/”Emergence” from EMERGENCE Media on Vimeo.
