This one’s been floating around the blogosphere for a few days now, but it’s well worth posting.  I agree with the consensus: It’s good to hear some classic, slowed-down, souled-out Kanye and not that 808s and Vocoder shit.  But make no mistake, my friends.  This is not Yeezy on the beat.  The beat was made by Norfolk, VA native and longtime Roc-A-Fella associate Bink, who’s worked with everyone from Jay-Z and Rick Ross to Kurupt and Nate Dogg.

At first I assumed that this was gonna be on Kanye’s new album, but apparently it’s just the third in a series of free downloads that Kanye said he will drop every Friday until Christmas.  He’s calling the whole thing G.O.O.D. Friday.

If this track does make it to his new album, which is supposed to come out sometime in November, they should raise Kanye’s vocals or lower the beat a little.  The beat’s kinda swallowing Kanye on this recording.   But who knows, maybe it’s better that way.  This beat kills.

Kanye West – Devil in a New Dress (via Fader)

Update:  J. Cole murdered Kanye on this beat.

this one goes out to praxis and ‘ella. this is a great love song (which you can download over at beat electric). wedding DJs, take note.

Honestly, I was afraid that the real video wasn’t gonna stand up to the previous one.  But this is a really well done video –  I mean, who woulda thought that the “Fuck You” video was gonna feature kids so prominently?  Not me.  I love watching little kids sing “Fuck You!”  It just makes me feel warm all over.

Despite the weather in the Pacific Northwest at the moment, summer is by no means over. Just a few days ago, the lovely Boshra AlSaadi (AKA Saadi) just put out her Summer of Saadi (S.O.S.) mixtape and it’s full of re-imagined summertime jams with Arab/African flair. Saadi and her creative partner, Dither Down Records founder Tim Wagner, have teamed up with Sierra Leone artists Ahmad Janka Nabay (of True Panther and Bubu Gang) and Pupa Bajah of the increasingly momentous Dry Eye Crew, for a fun mixtape you’ll be glad you listened to in its entirety. If you’re into dance music with a political swing to it, Palestine, the United Nations, and Israel all make appearances here. Thankfully, Hillary Clinton is nowhere to be found. Full tracklist below the jump.

SUMMER OF SAADI MIXTAPE

Tracklist

1. Dabke Wedding Music from Al-Qrayya Syria
Ahmed Janka Nabay shout
2. Below the Waist (original by Queen Ifrica)
3. Take It Easy
4. Man is the Least (original by Lady Saw)
5. Lights UP NYC (by Pupa Bajah/Boshra AlSaadi)
6. United Nation (by Ahmad Janka Nabay)
7. Intermission: Clotheslines Remix by Lazy Flow
Clotheslines Remix by Douster
8. Nunyo Shit (by Jen Turner, Jennifer Church Beckett, Boshra AlSaadi, Tabla Riddim by Sly and Robbie)
9. Push for Reasons
10. Birds Remix by Tim Wagner
11. Bad Seeds
12. Clotheslines Remix by Lemonade

For the past two days, the only reggae I’ve listened to — and I mean really listened to — is the music of Gappy Ranks. The British singer is sort of a newcomer to the international reggae scene and I’m glad to have a young person gravitate toward making new school culture music rather than dancehall. Romain Virgo did the same thing earlier this year, but that little 17-year-old (while awesome) still has some growing up to do. On the other hand, Gappy Ranks is grown. His latest album, Put The Stereo On, released last week, is impressive from start to finish and I highly recommend purchasing it.

Gappy is half Jamaican, half Dominican, and 100% talented. Check out the video for his song, “Longtime” above and support Put The Stereo On. Even though this song isn’t on the album, you’ll be glad you bought it. Meanwhile, pour one out for Maradona. I can’t believe he got sacked by Argentina. Shame.

Black is the guy who’s evolution from street gunner to spiritual thinker received heaps of attention following the release of his latest solo project, Ali’yah. B. Brown is less in the spotlight, but as a musical collaborator for Black and the Sportn’ Life family, he’s put his distinctive sonic mark on many of the finest local releases over the last five or so years.

On this ep, Black and Brown pull together a solid roster of supporting characters, including Fatal Lucciano, SK, Grynch, and Spaceman. Some of the tracks have popped up on various releases previously, but there are some serious new ventures, including the standout “My Mitzvot,” which features Black singing and rapping over nothing more than a simple acoustic guitar and a light dash of percussion.

It’s solid, front to back. Somebody’s somewhere is making  a movie, and this ep’s going to be the soundtrack.

For compare and contrast, check below the jump.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=x95Z8p8yhFs

Aloe Blacc for President 2012

This here is DJ Still Life’s Tropicaaliyah, which – as the name suggests – takes the chanteuse, and remixes her through some updated and, dare they say it, tropical perspectives. It’s a concept that could easily fall flat and sound terrible, but Still Life pulled this one off. Not that I would trade these for the originals, but they do what a remix should do, and that’s to draw a new energy from an existing song.

In that light, it’s a success, and it’s a testament to a great artist that her work stands the test of time and changing tastes.

H/T to First Up, and Swedes all around the world for the look.

SOL “DEAR FRIENDS” – Official Music Video from Jon Augustavo on Vimeo.

I normally wouldn’t throw the video director’s name in the headline like this but Jon Augustavo came so clean with this music video that he deserves more shine than usual. There’s a mini music video revival happening in Seattle right now with a host of fresh young talent stepping to the forefront. It’s obvious from the work that Augustavo did on Sol’s new single, “Dear Friends,” that he’s among the new crop of video makers worth watching. Check out a fresh interview that LxNxM extended family member Prometheus Brown recently did with the Augustavo and definitely be on the lookout for Sol has he continues to make moves through the latter half of 2010.