LA-by-way-of-michigan soul crooner mayer hawthorne just dropped impressions, an EP of covers by a variety of well-known (ELO) and little-known (steve salazar) artists. i’m not sure the impetus for this release, but i’m glad to see a stones throw artist embrace the free music model that defines our new paradigm instead of just being dicks about it (RIP the great blog DISCO DEVIL who closed down partly because of stones throw). stream “you’ve got the makings of a lover” by the festivals (original here), and download the whole thing here.

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mayer hawthorne – “you’ve got the makings of a lover” (download)

the stones throw twitter feed has been kind to me today, so i figured i’d share with the rest of you too. yesterday, they shared the super great madlib remix of j dilla’s “the $”. stream and download that below. then, just 20 minutes ago, they tweetered out about a new/unreleased dam-funk track, “beautiful creep”. i clicked over, and even better than the track, i saw that dam-funk will be playing here in seattle at nectar lounge in fremont on december 10th. this event is put on by the homies at reign city and members only, tickets are only $12, and i’ll see you there.

J Dilla – The $ (Madlib Remix) by stonesthrow
Dam-Funk – Beautiful Creep (Unreleased) by stonesthrow

For real, girl!  How you gon play D-F like that?  I doubt that busta’s perm is as fly or as gangsta as Dam’s.  And I know he doesn’t give you free downloads of that raw uncut funk like he does…

Dam-Funk’s free unmastered mp3 download series continues.  In my opinion, this is the best track from the series so far.  The title/hook is pretty catchy too.

Download (via Stones Throw)

I have been a long time appreciator of unabashed positive poetics of west coast rhymester LMNO (LeaveMyNameOut). A member of the much loved Visionaries, and no rookie emcee – LMNO’s list of collaborations is vast.  Having met this west coast vet on more than one occasion – it’s clear that there’s a real spiritual alignment with the hip hop he puts out to the world.  Determined to stay prolific in 2010, LMNO has committed to release 10 ep’s before years end.

Judging from his second ep thus far – Fonk Garden, produced entirely by the extraterrestrial Georgia Anne Muldrow – this imposing timeline might bring out some of his best work. Check the video below – on some daisy age effects but certified west coast cosmic bump – nonetheless. Click here to sample and cop Fonk Garden.

 Stones throw just dropped a new digital 7″ of Mayer Hawthorne covering the James Pants track “Thin Moon” and James Pants covering Mayer Hawthorne’s “Green Eyed Love”.  It’s titled Pants plays Mayer, and you can cop it here.  The actual 7-inch will debut at Stones Throw’s all-45s event at SXSW.  Stones Throw and Wax Poetics teamed up to press this limited edition record, which they will be giving away at the event. 

Mayer Hawthorne – Thin Moon (right click, save as)