Filed under: News , Exclusive , New Music Joey L It's not unusual to find jazz musicians backing hip-hop MCs or soul singers, but when the likes of Kanye West and Beyoncé make special appearances with a jazz group, you know something's out of the ordinary. And the Robert Glasper Experiment, who have welcomed both superstars onstage, are no ordinary jazz outfit. They're just as likely to cover J [...]

Photo: CiscoNYC The audio for the remarkable Blue Note set has been floating around for a while but this is my first time spying footage from the New York night in February. Props: The Revivalist

Dela returns with his sophomore album full of dope collaborations & his signature slap. Dela produces schitt that I can feel. His Robert Glasper beat tape still gets stupid rotay round these parts so I support all things he does. Super solid sophomore release on this one! Good schitt sir! & respecognition to Drink Water Music for hooking up with him to bring his next opus to fruition. Peep two cuts from the album featuring the homie Blu. Dela [...]

I'm a humungous jazz fan, whether it be the eclectic and avant-garde or the big band or the more traditional standards. I love it all. I love the fluidity. I love it with words and without words. It is such an amazing force. And it is dope and a pleasure to be associated with one of the members of the vanguard of the new jazz tradition and progressing it into new space and collaborating with the genre that was inspired from it - which would be hip hop and to bring those two worlds together. [...]
This is what happened Saturday night as Kanye West and Mos Def got on stage during jazz pianist Robert Glasper (and his Robert Glasper Experiment)'s live show at the legendary Blue Note jazz club in New York. Kanye and Mos Def at The Blue Note NYC ft. Robert Glasper Experiment

Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, & Mos Def with Robert Glasper Experiment – Blue Note NYC 2-26-11 (alternate link) via it's all the way live , this pristine audio recording of the three hip hop titans rocking over Robert Glasper Experiment's soul fusion. They all do their thing in this 30 minute recording. Kanye drops some new lyrics about illuminati & george bush. Lupe sounds like we wish he had on LASERS & Mos holds it down on standars like "Umi Says." thanks to B3wooten [...]
This weekend, when fans of jazz group the Robert Glasper Experiment stopped by the Blue Note, the show was billed as featuring G.O.O.D. Music stable member and skateboard rapper Lupe Fiasco. Imagine the crowd's surprise, then, when not only Lupe show up to perform his mini-set, but rap stalwart Mos Def and pop megastar Kanye West dropped by unannounced. The blog CiscoNYC was smart enough to capture the whole thing, which features Kanye rocking a five-minute plus freestyle where he drops punchlines that take on tour sponsers, Beyonce, people who think he [...]

Here's a blast from the past: Mos Def and Kanye West freestyling over a selection of interpretations of Dilla beats played by a live band. But this isn't really a throwback post - because this little open mic session actually took place this past weekend. The platform for this little off the cuff session was provided by jazz man extraordinaire Robert Glasper (if you don't know, you should get familiar , or check out this dope little tribute project ). Mister Glasper, who is signed to [...]

Download audio file (01-Autumns-Evening-Breeze.mp3 ) The first time we decided to collaborate on a compilation it was for Grimey , which was three volumes of hardcore hip hop. And during the process of selecting songs, we discovered that our individual musical tastes were very similar and complemented each other well. We have some dope compilation ideas for the future but for now we proudly present... All That Jazz Vol. 1. Some of the songs are strictly jazz, while others just have the smooth vibe like "Autumn's Evening [...]

Freaking out about the latest from Buff1, entitled Ghosting . Ghosting is broken down by Buff12s label / marketing group as follows, a project that gives listeners insight on the types of artists and music that inspires Buff1. Giving himself one week to write original material, Buff1 created this free project to be released into the blogosphere. Choosing songs that coincidentally had space for Buff1 to spit, none of the original songs have been edited. Buff felt there were obvious similarities between the music on this project [...]

Freaking out about the latest from Buff1, entitled Ghosting . Ghosting is broken down by Buff12s label / marketing group as follows, a project that gives listeners insight on the types of artists and music that inspires Buff1. Giving himself one week to write original material, Buff1 created this free project to be released into the blogosphere. Choosing songs that coincidentally had space for Buff1 to spit, none of the original songs have been edited. Buff felt there were obvious similarities between the music on this project [...]

Happy 4th everyone. Not a lot of time to write today, but wanted to share a pair of jazz selections that have been on my plate lately. One is to listen to: Herbie Hancock's The Imagine Project , and one is to watch: Icons Among Us: Jazz In the Present Tense . First off let's start with Herbie. He's one of my favorite jazz artists for his longevity and willingness to adapt and grow. His latest release teams him up with superstars from ALL over the world: India Arie, Jeff Beck, Pink, John Legend, The [...]

Last month, French producer Dela dropped The Robert Glasper Beat Tape , a tidy little compilation of jazzy (pronounced: yazzy)instrumentals inspired by the work of jazz pianist Robert Glasper. Dela's handiwork has been getting some serious play on the old GOMWAB transistor (in between sessions of sports talk back radio of course - summer is approaching, kiddies), but I've just realised that I've been hoarding this little beauty instead of sharing the love. So here we go - perfect Sunday afternoon listening fare. The story behind The Robert Glasper Beat Tape goes a [...]

Inspired by the album In My Element by Jazz pianist Robert Glasper French producer Dela reworks samples from the album into a new jazzy Hip Hop instrumental creation. "Some of the interludes are basically hip-hop beats already... So.. I was like, I can't sample the whole album and get away with it, can I ? Can I ??? I felt guilty already, so I figured I might as well do it, but call it a remix album or something.. And I started making these beats. So there you go now." Dela [...]

Ryan (StopMe): My God it's been a long time since I did a TEN4SE7EN (Work commitments being the excuse). I've missed it and hopefully this post will be the first of many: On a trip to HMV I found they were selling last year's über-deluxe Chris Rea triple-cd/double-vinyl/book 'The Return Of The Fabulous Hofner Bluenotes' for the insane price of £8 English pounds. I'm never really listened to the guy before but at that price it was worth a punt. It's chock full of classy Blues numbers and clever Shadows tributes. The smouldering [...]

Gilles Peterson has been shining a light on the jazz/funk/soul/world music he loves since the late 80's when the pirates of Horizon, Invicta and LWR did battle for London's music lovers. Then when Radio 1 repeated it's 60's trick of hoovering up former pirate DJ's to breath new life into the stilted world of Oooo Gary Davies, Gilles found himself peddling his wares on the nations No.1. For 2010 his live best of the year Worldwide Awards relocated to the newly refurbished "Garage" or as its now known the " Relentless Energy Drink Garage ". It's been closed for [...]

Considering the influence Dilla had on the current wave of the culture, there's more than plenty tributes, mixes and the like floating around out there and they'll make appearances across the blogsphere all week long. Today, I chose this. Mos Def and Robert Glasper got together in Ann Arbor, MI. covering sixteen tracks of material. If that doesn't work for you, @HouseShoes has been on his grizzly all day (literally) spreading all kinds of audio dope courtesy of Dilla. 01. Black Radio 02. Fantastic [...]

In honor of the late great J Dilla, Mos Def and Robert Glasper came together for a live tribute in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They covered lots of material so pop the hood for 16 tracks. Spotted at BamaLoveSoul Tracks and link after the jump. 01. Black Radio 02. Fantastic 03. The $ 04. Interlude 05. E=MC2 06. Jam 07. Ms. Fat Booty 08. The Look of Love 09. Players 10. Bass Solo 11. [...]

Brand new mix for the New Year from Mr. A/V featuring some of his "favorite record gems that I rarely get to play out but sit in my record bag." As you'd expect, musical goodness abounds on this mix. Download Stay Connected Vol 3 Red– I Should Tell Your Mama on You Isley Brothers – Footsteps in the Dark (King Britt Remix) Miles Bonny – Lumberjack Soul King Coya – Villa Donde Tricky – Over Come Bonobo feat. Adriana Triana – The Keeper Dwele – Eve [...]

Gone till NOvember.... back like a bad dream! Whats good faithfuls?! I trust your weekend was a fun & safe & are now ready to start the week off right & what better way to do so than with this months installment of NKD! Every month I try & out do the last & with all modesty I know I did hahahaha You can be the judge for yourself though. Tracklist & DL after the fadeaway... [...]