It was a pretty easy choice, really: spend the afternoon at work; or duck out for a few hours and listen to Erykah Badu's new album New Amerykah Part 2: Return Of The Ankh. I'd happily choose the second option regardless of who else was attending the Badu listening session. But having Erykah there to play the album back and offer up some pearls of wisdom on its creation? Game over. I was amongst a bunch of people lucky enough to spend some time at The Hospital club in Covent Garden yesterday listening to Return [...]
It was a pretty easy choice, really: spend the afternoon at work; or duck out for a few hours and listen to Erykah Badu's new album New Amerykah Part 2: Return Of The Ankh. I'd happily choose the second option regardless of who else was attending the Badu listening session. But having Erykah there to play the album back and offer up some pearls of wisdom on its creation? Game over. I was amongst a relatively select bunch of people lucky enough to descend on The Hospital club in Covent Garden yesterday to listen to [...]
As posted a few weeks back , UK hip hopper Ty is releasing a new album, Special Kind Of Fool, in April. With first single 'Emotions' dropping on iTunes yesterday, Ty was in a mood to share the love - so this is where Something Big Vol. 1 comes in. Something Big is a free mix tape put together by DJ Bounce which features a selection of Ty's best work, including solo material from his previous albums - such as classics like 'Break The Lock' and 'Groovement' - and some [...]
A Wu-Tang triple-threat is fast approaching, with Method Man, Raewkon and Ghostface nearing release day for their joint album, Wu-Massacre (which you can read more about here ). Now, the trio have officially dropped the first record off the project, entitled 'Miranda'. The good money on 'Miranda's subject matter was being wagered on Meth bringing some grimy, street stuff to the table, or Rae offering up a sprinkling of coke raps. But it seems that Ghost's penchant for sexy time rapping has won through, with the tune focusing on the ups and downs of a [...]
Let's have a show of hands from everyone who's excited about the Damian Marley and Nas joint album. Hmmm... that might not work, on second thoughts. If you look at the 'blogosphere' (a term the UK media have taken to heart recently, and one which I will try to avoid using at all costs from this point on) however, it seems that there are more than a few folks who are chomping at the bit for D. Marl and Nasir's impending LP, Distant Relatives , to drop. Leaks from Distant Relatives have been [...]
The ever-prolific Madlib has set a heavy work schedule for himself in 2010. Alongside a bunch of releases under the litany of aliases he rocks, there's also the Madlib Medecine Show series, which will see the multi-faceted producer release an album a month throughout the year. How's that for putting the 'one album every three years' gang to shame? The third and latest installment in the Medicine Show series for 2010 is entitled Beat Konducta in Africa, and sees Madlib (along with some assistance from Mr Beat Junkie, J.Rocc) embracing [...]
Former Tribe Called Quest affiliate and G.O.O.D. Music guy Consequence has been touting his latest project, Movies On Demand , for a wee while now, with many a blog running a stream of leaked cuts over the last month or so. I, however, have resisted the urge until today, being the day that Movies On Demand gets it's official release. Okay, so I haven't had to fight too hard to resist this urge; I haven't listened to any of the cuts until today, after all. But don't take my tardiness as being a reflection of [...]
Swedish bad man Freddie Cruger has been putting the finishing touches on a shiny new tune of the hip hop/reggae persuasion. And guess what? It's heavy! Now, after a bit of fine tuning over the last 24 by Mr Cruger, the tune - named 'Lick A Shot!' - is ready and rearing to be listened to. 'Lick A Shot!' is based on a rather obese reggae riddim - complete with obligatory dubbed-out effects, as you'd expect - and features a handful of verses from a gentleman by the name of Hashim Mills (pictured, right), whom die-hard [...]
When asked to list off the hot spots in the world of jazz, Ethiopia might not be at the top of the list for the casual music fan. But don't let this jazz shit fool you - Ethio-jazz is well strong. Leading the charge is local legend Mulatu Astatke, widely regarded as the father of the Ethiopian jazz movement. Mulatu - who has enjoyed a career that has spanned the best part of five decades - is still going strong. In fact, he's even got a new album, Mulatu Steps Ahead , due out at the end [...]
Putting up with weird/average/annoying/crappy requests is part and parcel of being a DJ. But as any DJ will tell you, occasionally being told what to do just all gets a bit too much - DJs have feelings too, after all. Kid Capri is a good example. The legendary party rocker reached the end of his tether with one particular punter recently; but instead of dismissing the requestor with the flick of a hand, or smiling politely and grumbling about them when they left the booth, our man KC decided to play the name and shame game. [...]
How long have we been waiting for Big Boi's solo album, now? More to the point, do people care anymore? If you don't then shame on you. How can you not be excited about an album called Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty ? For those who are still interested, I have good news. There's been a little movement on the Sir Lucious front today, with BB releasing a new video for a track called 'Fo Yo Sorrows', featuring George Clinton and Too Short. Let's read that back: Big Boi; [...]
Super producer, semi-reformed hip hopper and DJ to the stars-type guy Mark Ronson paid a visit to the Red Bull Music Academy (held in London this year, in case you have been hiding under a rock) last week to spread a little knowledge on the methods to his madness. Ronson, who cut his production teeth by turning out some pretty decent hip hop cuts while signed to Elektra Records, took the opportunity to shoot the breeze with the encyclopedic Jeff 'Chairman' Mao (who, as it transpires, was once Ronson's boss during his Ego Trip magazine days, [...]
Do-it-all man Aloe Blacc is currently prepping for the release of his second album on Stone's Throw, Good Things, which is set to drop some time later this year. If you're not inclined to wait that long however, you can get a little taste of what the multi-talented singer/rapper/producer is working on by copping the dynamite first single 'I Need A Dollar'. Aloe has been busy working on Good Things with Leon 'El' Michels and Jeff Silverman from the Truth & Soul camp over the last year, and the T&S signature sound [...]
More wonderful noise from my Kiwi compatriots Electric Wire Hustle, who are preparing to release a new vinyl EP through their Japanese label... Wonderful Noise. Aw, yeah... my pun game is tight... slightly cheesy, but nonetheless tight. If you're not familiar with the EWH boys, you can school yourself a little here . Quick rundown? Sure... three piece crew from Wellington, New Zealand; electronic future hip soul specialists (a new genre is born); deep beats; amazing vocalist (Mara TK - remember the name). Electric Wire Hustle's self-titled debut was one of my records of 2009, [...]
Neil Armstrong is one of the slickest DJs in the world. Plain and simple. Armstrong does it all, whether it's rocking parties, backing up Jay-Z as his tour DJ of choice, or splicing together epic mix tapes. Now, for the low, low price of one Tweet, you can take home your own little piece of Neil and his boss, in the form of the DNA Of The Blueprint mix tape. DNA Of The Blueprint sees Armstrong pull together the best of Jay-Z, and a few of the samples which have formed [...]
Back in 2004, UK cellist and singer Izzi Dunn made a bit of a splash as one of a slewgang of talented artists making big noise out in good old West London. A well-received LP, The Big Picture and super single ('Betcha') earnt Izzi some critical acclaim, but she seemed to mysteriously disappear from view not long after this early solo success. Thankfully, Izzi didn't disappear for good. Turns out that she has been on "an inspiring hiatus where she toured extensively with some of the world's most notable artists" according to [...]
Kidz In The Hall (a.k.a Naledge and Double-O) come correct with a new track by the name of 'Out To Lunch', a boom-bap and bass-heavy cut featuring The Kid Daytona. Centred around a mighty crunchy drum break and some fuzzy bass (and not much else, really), this Double-O produced cut is the essence of head nod-inducing simplicity, with Naledge and The Kid trading rhymes at ten paces as they try to out-do each other. 'Out To Lunch' (which you can listen to and/or download below) features on the new Kidz In The Hall Album, Land [...]
Disco guru Christopher Tubbs (of Heads Down blog and Atlantic Conveyor fame) took his one-man musical extravaganza to the BBC on Saturday, manning the controls for taste maker radio station 6 Music's highly regarded '6 Mix' slot. The result is 'Heads Down Radio', two hours of disco to dub via post punk and future funk... a little bit of everything, in other words - as long as it's classy. Expect to hear music by anyone from the Isley Brothers and Donny Hathaway to Masters At Work and Metro Area, as well as some tasty business from [...]
Wednesday is hump day. Not that kind of hump... no, the middle of the week hump... half way through... ya feel me? I, for one, was feeling the need for a bit of a push in order to make it over said hump this morning, but ya know what? Today, 95 bpms just wasn't going to cut it This is where today's mix tape, Culture Bash Mix Tape Volume 1 , comes in. Culture Bash is the brainchild of a gentleman by the name of Jillionaire , who has strung [...]
We all have days where it feels like a little rain cloud is following us and us alone - Mayer Hawthorne included. The Stones Throw crooner has taken this concept and run with it in his new video for 'I Wish It Would Rain' of his lovely debut LP from last year, A Strange Arrangement. The clip sees Mayer going about his business on an other wise sunny L.A. day. Unfortunately for our man, he's getting a little soaked, and can't even find a bit of shelter under [...]
A Grumpy Old Man With A Beard
Things Change And So Do We (I)
Watch Kurt Vile Play Letterman
Escucha la nueva explosión dance de MANS, “Various Lovers”
