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.

Artists For Artists is a budding nonprofit dedicated to giving current and up-and-coming artists opportunities to showcase their work, through hosting events that they contribute to and in the future developing programs that they can attain paid residencies at, and creating opportunities to foster and develop future artists (currently through contributions to established youth art programs, and in the future by developing their own).

The Kickoff will showcase seven visual artists, photography from the kids of Youth In Focus (one of the organizations benefiting from AFA’s fundraising efforts), trailers from eight local film projects, and music late into the night from myself and Seattle beatsmith and bona fide party rocker OCnotes.  It’s gonna be a party!

The Kick-Off is this Saturday, 10/15 from 8pm-2am at Sodo Pop.  There is a $25 minimum donation at the door.  But don’t worry,because the open bar (which means you don’t pay for liquor once you’re in the door) will more than make up for it.  Find more information and RSVP here.

All proceeds from this event will go to Youth in Focus and Arts Corps. Two organizations that are dedicated to bringing art to the kids that need and want it most.

Hip Hop has no shortage of references of an intimacy with street life, but rarely do artists bring the musicality of the streets into the beat as Mr. Green, a.k.a. Aaron Green of Highland Park, NJ does in his Live from the Streets series. Based around showcasing street musicians and turning their performances into hip hop beats, new episodes will be released every two weeks. Mr. Green’s cinematic headnodic sounds have notched collabos with C Rayz Walz, Matisyahu, Slaine of Coka Nostra fame, and pre-eminent Irish emcee Rob Kelly.

In the first episode of Live From The Streets, you find yourself in Rittenhouse Square with Brenda, a super cool lady who was singing along to her radio in the park. “Man with a Broken Heart” is available on itunes and at greenhiphop.com. A full Live from the Streets hip hop album is in the works.

Mr. Green is also accepting artistic input, so if you know of a street musician or sound that you would like to see in a future episode, contact: livefromstreet@gmail.com.

My man Otis, a.k.a rising Seattle producer OC Notes, continues to push boundaries with The New Generation, “a collection of favorite songs written on his acoustic guitar.” The tracks reveal yet another dimension of OC’s musical range – Blues and melodic bossa nova-style strings drive most of the songs, but there’s plenty of fresh keys and dope sampling that you would expect from OC. I am very much feeling the soulful, song-cipher-on-the porch with the homies-while-sipping a cold one mellowness of this Record. Perfect soundtrack for a beautiful 85 degree Seattle Day. Holler.

There isn’t enough attention paid to the kind of electronic music that the Glitch Mob creates. On one hand, by putting their genre (glitch) in their name, the LA-based trio make everything as mentally accessible to comprehend as they possibly can. But from a creative standpoint, a lot of people still don’t get them and much of the music they make flies over people’s heads.

Such is life.

I’ve been digging the dudes for awhile and can’t wait to dive into their brand new EP, We Can Make the World Stop, which was just released. Their eponymous new single is full of interesting visuals that come off as cheesy at first, but grow on you rapidly until you’re waiting to find out what happens next. Really want to know? Keep listening.

P.S. Big ups to Dugan O’Neal for creating such a visually lush music video.

The homie Gabriel Teodros is gearing up to drop a new album later this year. It’ll be his first solo project since 2007 and based on the music I’ve heard from it so far, people need to support it.

When I say support, I don’t just mean by listening. I mean by finacially sharing their twos and fews to help it get out there properly. Gabriel started a digital fundraising campaign via Indie GoGo a little while ago and his deadline to raise funds is rapidly approaching. He’s down to his last 38 hours. If you can, hit up Gabriel’s page directly and show him some love. Colored People’s Time Machine is definitely his breakthrough breakthrough album and folks like you can help support it. Make it happen if you can. It’s better to give artists your money than bill collectors. #justsaying

French producer Onra is a force to fall in love with when it comes to beats. There’s literally a strong chance that he’s your favorite producer’s favorite producer (cliche’s be damned) and he’s one of the best artists out there to experiment with song structure and sampling in way that feels visionary. That’s not easy to do considering how many other talented cats attempt to do the same thing but Onra mixes, remixes, crate digs, and arranges songs in a way that makes it seems like he’s capable of time travel in the way that he manages to sound futuristic or retro whenever he wants.

Below, check out the latest video for his cut, “Sitting Back” that definitely hits you with an all ’80s vibe unlike any other music video I’ve seen created this decade. This is all stuff that comes from some of the cheesiest global 80s clips you’ve probably never seen. As a certified ’80s baby, this one hits me in the right spot visually and the song is pure audible genius.

Onra – Sitting Back – Official Video from Matt Ferran on Vimeo.

Classic cello and Memphis-style Jookin together at last. Swag.