As I was combing the internet for good music yesterday, I found a new song from French electro-funk producer SebastiAn that features M.I.A., “CTFO” (Chill The Fuck Out). I had never heard of this SebastiAn guy before – apparently, he’s a kind of a big deal to some people. sue me. – and, to be honest, I wasn’t really feeling that track. Sad to say, but I think this one’s going straight to the junk heap that has become M.I.A.’s music as of late.

I was still curious, though, and I clicked around and found this other jawn he did with Mayer Hawthorne, “Love in Motion,” which had been circulating on the blogs and twitters for the last week or so (I see you, @melenie). At first, I didn’t even recognize the Stone’s Throw crooner’s self-described “hanging-by-a-string falsetto” through the distortion effects. I thought that maybe the track had been mislabeled. But a few seconds in I was like, “Dang, this is kinda nice. It’s a funkier, almost Prince-like Mayer that I never knew existed.” Perhaps you’ll agree. Unfortunately, this radio rip is the best quality I could find, but it’s not that bad, and its definitely worth a listen or few while you wait for the HQ version.

After jammin out to “Love in Motion” a couple times, I dug a little deeper and found this video for the track “Embody,” which premiered back in March (again, shouts out to melenie). The single was released in early April. Late pass, sure, but I had to share it. It’s by far my favorite track that I’ve heard off of his upcoming LP, Total, on Ed Banger Records. I’m sure it’s not the first time that this has been said about a French electro producer’s music, but this song’s got an old school Daft Punk air to it, which I actually enjoy a lot. The video is hella fun too. The little man is unstoppable.

Total drops May 30th in Europe and June 7th Stateside.

The new Clutchy Hopkins album, The Storyteller, is out.  It sounds real nice.  You should buy it.  However, if you’re not quite convinced and you need to hear some more Clutchy jams before you decide to pull the trigger, you should refer to this previous post and/or join Clutchy’s website and he’ll hook you up with a free exclusive track.

Although I didn’t get a chance to go down to Miami to attend any of the Winter Music Conference parties this year, my homie Pancho, aka DJ Manuvers, kept me updated via his Facebook.  Gilles Peterson, ?uestlove and Aloe Blacc were among some of the artists  that he saw that made me most jealous.  It looked like a hella good time, and I wish I could have been of a part of it.  Oh well, there’s always next year…

On that note, Manuvers hooked it up with this dope 80-minute Champion Sound mix.  Not quite like being there, but it’s a hell of a consolation prize.

Just in case you don’t already know, Champion Sound is a Miami-based DJ collective that holds a weekly party every Wednesday at the Electric Pickle in Miami.  If you’re a Miami resident, or you’re just stopping through on a Wednesday, you should definitely check out Champion Sound for one of the best weekly hip hop/soul/disco/funk nights in town – held down by DJs A-Train, Manuvers, Sire Esq., and Lumin, and featuring the occasional heavyweight guest DJ.

Check the four-part mix, presented in 20-minute sets from each of the Champion Sound DJs, below.  Peep the Champion Sound blog for the tracklisting.

Am I Clutchy Hopkins?

I have no idea, but this mystery has been plaguing the internet and fans of good music since 2006.

Over the last four years Clutchy Hopkins has put out five albums (two with Shawn Lee and one with Lord Kenjamin) and an EP with MF Doom acapellas over his instrumentals.  He also has an upcoming album on Ubiquity records, the Story Teller, set to drop April 16th.  Call me late to the party, but I just got hip to this whole “Who is Clutchy Hopkins?” thing and I must admit that I’m very intrigued.  Is he some crazy looking old dude like the guy pictured on the left, or like the guy they describe in the video below?  Is Clutchy Hopkins just one person?  Is “he” really a bunch of people?  Is he actually a well known DJ or producer like DJ Shadow, Madlib, MF Doom or Shawn Lee?   I don’t know!

What I do know is that all of Clutchy’s music that I’ve heard so far is instaclassic material.  It’s mellowed out, soulful, instrumental magic.  I haven’t heard one song of Clutchy’s that I was not feeling yet.  Seriously.  Who is making this music?!?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqkxlMSNE5I

   So you’re probably wondering what all this fuss is about.  Check the videos and links below and let me know what you think.  I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.  And if you have any clues, holler at your boy.

Peep these fan vids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri1TvyLGuPk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9FkqPbYJsw

And this one, which comes from the MF Doom/Clutchy Hopkins EP released in 2007:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m5jtN3IJkk

Read up on Clutchy at this fansite, his Myspace, and on Wikipedia.

Update:  I’m pretty sure Clutchy Hopkins is really this band called the Misled Children, who claim to be down with Clutchy.  Now the problem is figuring out who the Misled Children are…

Update (via Toaster): Here’s a couple downloads of the elusive Clutchy. Enjoy!

Clutchy Hopkins – 2-15

Clutchy Hopkins – 3-14

Although a brother is currently tryin on a vegetarian steez, as a joven I could put a hurtin on some Chorizo. Why? Chorizo, like hip hop – is all about the ill spice and flavor, and putting the throw-away parts together with some essence. Word to my abuela. My lady, a pura East-Austin Chicana, a has been tryin to put me onto Dj Chorizo Funk for a minute. I’ll be jumpin a plane in about 3 hours to the ATX so I figured I would leave y’all with this parting gift.

A friend of the noted Table Manners Crew, Dj Chorizo has put together a recipe capturing some wholesome indie-hop selections from 2009. This mezcla is simply solid. I am definitely feelin the nacho- libre esque Dj Chooorrriiiizzzzzo drops in between mixes. Enjoy people, I’ll see what other treats I can sniff out in Austin for y’all….

“p.s. bump this in a system with some knock! all these damn ear buds nowadayz smh…Yall are missing out on the knock” – Dj Chorizo

tracklist after the jump

1. Air Born ft. Bun B – The Kid Daytona
2. Dollar & a Dream – J. Cole
3. Blowin’ Up ft. Roc C – Jern Eye
4. In Check ft. Oddisee & Supastition – Kenn Starr
5. Coroners Music – Guilty Simpson
6. U-N-I – My Life
7. Who’s Hotter – Mickey Factz
8. Back to Basics – Diamond District
9. In the A.M. – Black Milk
10. Off the Late Night – Diamond District
11. Exlile – Thinking of You
12. Timeless – Finale
13. Forever – John Hope
14. Get in Line – Diamond District
15. Let’s Go – The Are
16. We On To Something – Oddisee
17. First Time – Diamond District
18. Paris 2 Dangelo – Ebrahim
19. Windows – U-N-I
20. Grown Simba – J. Cole
21. Streets won’t let me chill – Diamond District
22. Philip Michael Thompson – The Randy Watson Experience
23. Boogie – Dudley Perkins
24. Q&A – Kenn Starr ft. Oddisee
25. Let’s Start – J. Period & K’NAAN
26. The Groove – Kidd Daytona ft. Mickey Factz

Cosmo Baker over at the Rub dropped this mixtape a few days ago with his homie, 4th Pyramid.  They’re calling themselves the Sheen Brothers (I think the Estevez brothers would have sounded better, personally).  This is their second installment of  funk classics, rarities and remixes .  It’s quality music for all occasions.  Enjoy it solo on your ipod, with your special someone (in bed), or with friends and family at your upcoming Thanksgiving dinner party.   Scumbag Funk Vol.2 (direct download link).

Tracklist:

“Sparkling” Intro
“L.A. Night”
“Family Affair”
“Step Out”
“Troy”
“Fumbling Over Words That Rhyme”
“Clique”
“Pon De Girls”
“Oh Baby”
“I Can’t Turn The Boogie Loose”
“Move It”
“Keep Her Happy”
“Party Time”
“I’m Flippin’” (Instrumental Remix)
“Poppa Large”
“Shades Of Time”
“The Glow Of Love” (Bladerunners Edit)
“I Can Do It (Anyway You Want)”
“Boogie Down Bronx (DJ Jayceeoh Re-edit)”
“Eurodans”
“Can’t Get Ready For Losing You” (Sheen Bros Edit)
“Don’t You Know” Outro

Check out vol. 1 too.  Es muy bueno.

Spatio Temporel is a diverse and engaging journey through dÉbruit’s incredible array of rhythms and influences. Armed with his synths he’s takes his beats to Africa via LA, France, Persia and the future. Combining African Yoruba, Nigerian Highlife, Persian Funk, Congolese Electronics, Vocoded Ouest Coast vocals and international Thoroughbred Synths with dÉbruit’s jack-knifing riddims, booby trapped syncopation and bass heavy collisions.

More dÉbruit after dÉ jump. 

Peep his Summer 09 EP Let’s Post Funk

1. Debruit – I’m Goin’ Wit’ You (feat Om’Mas Keith)
2. Debruit – Soles Sweat (feat 215TFK & Stray)
DIGITAL ONLY
3. Debruit – Soles Sweat (Reso Remix)
4. Debruit – I’m Goin’ Wit’ You (Octa Push Remix)
5. Debruit – Like D’s Bees (Bonus)
6. Debruit – I’m Goin’ Wit’ You (Instrumental)
7. Debruit – Soles Sweat (Instrumental)

C’est très funky.