Hirsute rapper Kool A.D. is staying busy pushing out music since his former group, Boy Crisis Das Racist, broke up several months ago. He’s put out two mixtapes since moving back to the Bay Area and he’s named them after particular bus routes throughout the Bay. He also dropped a visually stunning new video the other day for his song, “Moneyball” that is mostly striking due to the crazy scenery and cerebral blowjob it gives anyone that watches it. The Mike Finito beat that he raps over is crazy as well. Lyrically, Kool A.D. (Victor) is still all over the fucking place. He’s internet art rap for internet art rap’s sake and while parts of it come off as inauthentic, he’s still way over most people’s heads with concepts and rhymes.

Fans of THEESatisfaction originals aren’t often treated to remixes for whatever reason. Perhaps producers who don’t know them take the duo too seriously or appreciate their raw material so much that they don’t dare muck it up. But the ever-clever Old Money duo recently stripped down and refurbished “Enchantruss,” one of the best tunes on THEESat’s stellar debut album of 2012 and made it into an entirely new composition. What you’ll hear on this tune has the barest seedlings of Stas and Cat and guts Shabazz Palaces contributions to the song entirely. Calling it a remix is iffy. It’s better to call it cerebral ballsy.

It’s been awhile since many of us have heard fresh music from vacationing Canary Sing member Madeleine “Lionness” Clifford but now she’s back with a new single, a new-ish name and a new style that definitely suits her in a big way. Peep the new video for MADlines latest release, “I Need a Moment.” What you’ll take in is a jazzy, sultry, and beautifully shot piece of art that immediately shows maturity and growth. 

After moving from Seattle to Oakland to get a Masters from Mills College, some of us in the 206 could only wonder what she’d sound like musically the longer that she stayed away. It’s now been two years and it’s clear that all of that schooling (worldly and academically) is paying dividends. The lyrics and production have a hand-in-glove feel and as long as Maddy keeps putting out music like this, people need to listen.

French-Chilean singer/MC Ana Tijoux is one of the most pleasant musical findings that I’ve personally discovered this year. She’s got a sound that is warm, fresh, hip, sexy, hyper-intelligent and real which is rare in much of today’s music. Having watched her perform live at Bumbershoot earlier this month, she was easily the most exciting artist at the entire festival. For American audiences, it’s a lesser known fact she’s also become the artistic face to the student protests in Chile and has entire songs dedicated to that movement on her most recent album, La Bala (The Bullet).

You can read more about her and her latest album here after you enjoy her most recent video release for the song, “Volver,” which was shot by legendary photographer B + in Medellin, Colombia.

This is where the whole squadron would be chilling next Monday. Rodigan, Major Lazer, Sean Paul and the solid duo of Dre Skull and Trinidad’s Machel Montano. Yup. Picture us scrolling. Listening to jams like this:


Just saying…

Here’s a piece of vital new music with a video from French producer débruit. The track below, off his new album, From the Horizon, is “global” (to our ears) yet rooted in the sounds of North African music mixed with 21st century bass. What makes it so appealing is that, as the world grows smaller and sounds travel further, débruit is just staying up on what most international music lovers of today want to hear, regional smashups sprinkled with technology. It doesn’t hurt that his videos are easy on the eyes as well.

Go and find his brand new album over heerreeee.

It’s real difficult to try to hate on the vocals and visuals from this one. Members Only stalwart Thaddeus David is releasing a brand new video for his song “Less is More” this morning and it’s one of the best cuts I’ve heard from him on the solo tip. It’s slowed down and a little jazzy/sensual with lyrics that go hard and that type of mashup, aided by ace visuals from the First Ladies Production crew make this video a Wednesday morning winner. Check it out.

Los Angeles duo J*DaVeY’s latest project, New Designer Drug, is the best album of the last half of 2011. I’ll make that statement and stand behind it without question. Everything about the record oozes a certain level of nu-wave creativity, black electronic power rock, future soul and all around passion that it’s hard to not get into the album. They released on their own label last week — this is after they walked away from an ill-fitting relationship at Warner Bros. Records — and are allowing the general public to the stream New Designer Drug for free or purchase it for $2.99. Charging three dollars for an amazing album nearly guarantees that a quarter of the people who hear it will purchase it. That’s smart. And the music is worth a heck of a lot more. Peep the album single below and then hit the group’s website if you want to support the project.

J*Davey featuring Thundercat – Queen of Wonderland by Hypetrak

If you’re still not convinced, stream the whole album and you should be convinced.

Seattle’s most slept on soul outfit of the moment is by far the duo of Malice and Mario Sweet. They’re a happily married couple that are brought together by their love of music and one another, both of which are exuded in the songs that they create. Fans around Seattle might recognize them as the singing duo that performs with the Physics and you’ll note from the video below that they also got to tour with Blue Scholars recently as well. If there is one group in Seattle right now that exists away from the spotlight who are deserving of more listeners, it’s Malice and Mario.

They recently put out a video for their groovy lil ditty, “Love and Friendship,” that couldn’t be better titled. It was produced by the mercurial Detroiter Tall Black Guy and solidifies why more folks need to pay attention to all three of these artists as music makers.

The video is just promo for their Happy 2 Year: Deluxe Edition EP that they released yesterday as an updated wedding anniversary to themselves. Check that badboy out below and get hip if you’re not already.