The official video for "Ni**as In Paris" was released yesterday and, as someone who has never been a huge fan of music videos, I have to admit that this is pretty incredible. The video focuses on Jay-Z and Kanye West performing the song in front of a huge crowd of fans. The feeling of their live performance is brilliantly captured, intentionally highlighting why the two rappers are the contemporary kings of hip hop. The HD quality of the video and camera effects help get the job done too. It's a mesmerizing visual experience and, for me, illustrating a live performance with [...]
New fire from New Kingdom - "8083 from their upcoming EP, Attention Whore . Such a great track and these guys are incredible performers. I can't wait to see this and the rest of the new tracks live. 808 - Single (New Kingdom, Feb 2012)
When I saw someone posted this remix of Blind Melon's classic song "No Rain" I was skeptical. I usually don't like it when someone tries to remix a classic. Why mess with a something that works? Well, in this case, the remix also works. It's a super smooth, laid back trip down memory lane... now we just need the bumble bee. Good work, Pumpkin.
Here is the official video for my favorite track on The Black Key's latest album El Camino , "Gold On The Ceiling" El Camino (Nonesuch, December 2011)
RJD2 is a master of style. Whether it's hip hop, funk, classic rock, or whatever it is, he blends genres together with perfection to create his own signature style. With Icebird, his project with Aaron Livingston, the evidence of this signature style is matched by Livingston's cool, carefree vocals. The result is music that I can't get out of my head, songs that I find myself playing over and over. And over. The Abandoned Lullaby (RJ's Electrical Connections, October 2011)
M832s latest album, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is the perfect soundtrack for snowboarding. Fitting that I first heard music from the album while watching one of the greatest snowboarding films to date, The Art of Flight. I never got into their earlier stuff but I liked what I heard, so I checked out the new album and I loved it. If you aren't familiar with M83, the music is somewhere between electronic and rock, almost experimental at times and, on this album, consistently beautiful throughout. It's a fantastic listen and just in time for boarding season. [...]
I loved this from the moment I first heard it. First of all, I'm a big fan of Jose James. His voice and style are matched by great production on almost all of his tracks. This time, James produces a rich, full jazz sound himself. What grabbed my attention right off the bat- the "If You Want Me To Stay" bass line. Love this track... Trouble (Single) (Jose James, Oct 2011)
"Somebody Like You" "Jackie Blue" "Promises Are Never Far From Lies (Thievery Corporation Remix)" Celestial Eletric is the new collaboration album from AM and Shawn Lee. It's earned rave reviews as expected and the guys will be back on the road in November touring in support of the album. I saw them open for Thievery Corporation in Las Vegas and I was at their record release show at the Troubadour almost a month ago. The level musicianship is beyond impressive, it's [...]
We all get songs stuck in our heads. Sometimes we can't get them out. The best thing to do in this situation?... Embrace the ear worm. BBDLP1 (Coming Home, September 2011)
Thundercat is a bass player from Mars. Listen to his debut album, The Golden Age of Apocalypse for proof. The experimental album is equal parts jazz, electronic, funk, electro-soul, and all sorts of styles and genres that are cooler than whatever else you're listening to. It's a very intriguing combination of Flying Lotus, who produces several tracks and Jaco Pastorius, who I can't help but believe played an immensely significant role in the influence of Thundercat's sound. If that seems interesting, just wait until you actually hear the album. The Golden Age [...]
I can't believe I haven't already posted about the new Little Dragon album, Ritual Union , which was released a couple of months ago. I've posted about the electronic Swedes in the past, but they have really honed their style and sound and shine brighter than ever with this album. It might not be for everyone, but it's definitely worth checking out if you haven't already... Ritual Union (Peacefrog, July 2011)
- Posted by Eric B - I'm not a huge fan of mash-ups but when you combine one of my favorite hip hop artists of all time in De La Soul with one of the legendary pioneers of funk in Fela Kuti, you have a winner in my book. See for yourself by checking out producer Amerigo Gazaway's project entitled "Fela Soul". You can check out the link to download the mixtape here .
I think this song is great, but what's with the music video? I think music artists can let their artistic side get the best of them when it comes to creating videos to accompany songs. Then again, I don't really appreciate music videos as most fans do. They just don't appeal to me more than a song itself and this particular video is the epitome of why I feel this way. But, like I said, I love the song... Making Mirrors (Samples 'n' Seconds, August 2011)
Jesse Futerman released his Super Basement EP back in June. I just checked it out and I'm digging it. Very K&D. Check out the tracks above... Super Basement EP (Jus' Like Music, June 2011)
The Boom Boxx With Nosaj Thing, De La Soul, and Dj Z-Trip - August 19, 2011 - Posted by Eric B - Hip hop was definitely in the building at the Hollywood Palladium on Friday night when a couple of classic acts and an up and comer came to rock LA. Arriving half-way through Nosaj Thing's set with low expectations, what I saw was a pleasant surprise and a fresh take on hip hop and turntableism as he wet the crowd's appetite for my personal main event of the night, De [...]
I used to love Latyrx. Consisting of emcees Lyrics Born and Lateef, Latyrx were at the top of a list of underground hip hop groups and artists that I loved back in the late 902s. I thought they had more style than everyone else combined. Their distinctive voices and funky, percussive delivery matched poignant and, at times, humorous lyrics backed by vintage 902s hip hop/electronic beats produced by DJ Shadow, Chief XL (Blackalicious), and Lyrics Born himself. For me, it was unbeatable. After years of virtual silence, Latyrx is finally back with a very funky Headnodic produced track. "Moving [...]
Ari Roze's "Endless Memory" is seductively smooth, soulful, and funky. I forget where I first heard it, but I needed to check out some of his other tracks. Mighty Highness, his label, uploaded his songs ( here ) on SoundCloud along with some other really great tracks from other groups on their roster. Roze's music really stuck with me. It kind of reminded me of Mocky - "Birds of a Feather" which I still occasionally throw on. There's a warm quality to Roze's sound, a vintage style that, for me, is impossible to resist. It's best explained in this quote [...]
The New Limb - "Birds and Stuff" - Post by Jneels - The New Limb meander between brilliant pop melodies and innovative arrangements and you cannot be anything but engaged, emotive, and/or excited for the ride. It's musically ambitious but never indulgent. Ballads skew cinematically poignant and heartfelt before you could ever question your romantic insecurities. The vocal keeps a cohesive pop identity and lyrics provide a consistent narrative companion no matter where the songwriting and sonic textures take you. Bad [...]
Brandon & Leah - "Vaseline" - Post by Jneels - Brandon & Leah are ready to storm your beaches, biatches. Malibu grown and ready to put the bon in your bonfire, they have undeniable hooks and the starpower to go with it. Acoustic foundations are topped with ukulele janks and rounded out with mixed percussion and fat lows. The understood swagger delivered in every vocal leaves you bobbing your head at a speakeasy pace. Bad fusion : If a sultry Gwen Stefani [...]
Christian Banks is a true music artist. His musical compositions are works of art; each song paints a vividly beautiful soundscape for your listening pleasure. Banks' newest project, Walrus Ghost is, as Banks' describes it, a necessary departure from his last musical endeavor- Las Flores Project. The music and style is different while remaining familiar enough to recognize the man behind the sound. It's still Christian Banks at his finest, but in his 2008 release, Colores y Memorias , Banks' style was heavily based on sampling and highly influenced by chill, jazz-infused hip hop instrumentalists. As Christian explains, his [...]
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