Fresh from the source, this dope remix by top UK producer Sasquatch of Crunc Tesla‘s original VOODOO SOUND from his 2008 release “What’s Really Rad?” on Tigerbeat6/ Ekleroshock/ Luv Technologies has been on heavy rotation…intented for lucid dreaming stimulating flying experience to terrestial and outofspace jungles. Thanks for my fellow intergalactic bhakti Aeon for putting me on this!
“What’s Really Rad?” is a 23-minute kinetic energy burst along the lines of Outkast, The Pharcyde, Squarepusher, and even Harry Bellafonte. Acid basslines, gypsy organs and tweaked synths melt into grimy beats while creamy, rapid-fire lyrics flicker from dark to brilliant. The bipolar fusion of tones melds Middle Eastern melodies with dirty south drum kits, dancehall riddims and broke-beat glitchology.” The vocalists bombard from all angles, with MCs hailing from Jamaica, Baltimore, D.C., Atlanta and New York.” You can take a listen and download the album on amazon.
In a sea of hipsters, up and coming Pennsylvania based MC Courcy Magnus continues to swim upstream with vivid signs of progression. He demonstrates solid lyrical ability with realistic yet colorful topics. His newest releases Get Rich Quick and Cool Colors and are from the Dopest Shit Ever mixtape which is right now a solo project with production done by So Japan consisting of him and talented producer Atlanta Micky Park. Both Courcy Magnus and Micky Park remain unsigned but continue to put out decorative music. Contact them here and here.
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After weeks of listening to Ernest Green aka Washed Out’s damp and romantic “Feel It All Around” as New York transitioned from near seasonal perfection to theater of oppressive humidity, Washed Out delivers something new to keep us cool, “Belong,” from his forthcomingHigh Times cassette release on Columbia, South Carolina’s Mirror Universe, and it’s even more coastal and muggy, bouncing along on Caribbean rhythm and what sounds like a rainstick from the mall.
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Did we really wanna post this? Umm not quite sure but after finding this photo how could we not. Ross gave us the original track sometime in the early part of the summer and the hook is pretty catching so why not add this to the iPod and the next time you have the drop-top or the windows fully down and the air is slapping your eyelids, crank it up for the wifey, she’ll enjoy it.
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True native New Yorkers and true Hip-Hop lovers said to themselves once over the last several years said “What the f**k is this trash on the radio?” and what that translated to is “Where is the real Hip-Hop?” which then goes to define the gents on this track. Releasing tracks to appease fans and smack a chump rapper every once in the a while to let you know that the Wu-Tang clan ain’t nothing to f**k with. Everyone sounds hyped to be recording this song, but no one more than Raekwon, who goes off on some crazy shit about being buried in Africa with whips and spears and diamonds. This is what these dudes excel at: give them a beat (in this case a very RZA-esque off-kilter jam produced by Dilla), throw a kung-fu sample at the beginning and and then let them rap aggressive stream of consciousness for five minutes.
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Dawes understands that with the end of summer comes heartbreak. To be quite honest, this summer really sucked and it was mainly due to the offbeat weather; raining more than 50% of the time and then drowning us in humidity beyond measure. Thanks Mother Nature. The coals grow gray once the grill is doused, the pool gets cold as the afternoon light fades, and when they’re over, all the days seem as precious as they were plentiful and unremarkable when the season began. Get your cry on to “Love Is All I Am” this week as you realize you’re another August older and we’ll do the same. Dawes’s folk-gospel-rock debut, North Hills, drops on ATO Records on September 29th.
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It was his delicate organic and soulful voice, charming smile, and curly fro that first attracted everyone to Brooklyn native Maxwell, over a decade ago. Now, after an eight-year hiatus Maxwell has remained true to his R &B/Neo Soul origins with his latest LP BLACKsummers’night.
After a rocky road in the industry, going against the norm as one of the key figures in the sub genre, neo-soul movement, Maxwell has delivered a breath of fresh air to the R&B scene, an industry that has become obsessed with auto tune. On tracks like “Pretty Wings”(his first single of the LP), “Fistful of Tears”, and “Cold” the mesmerizing sounds of the piano, guitars, bass, and drums provide the perfect backdrop for Maxwell to sing episodes of relationship and broken love stories that all mature audiences can relate to. Continue reading “Maxwell’s BLACKsummers’night” »
North Carolina based rapper J.Cole has gained critical acclaim almost instantaneously after bursting on the scene in 2007 with his debut mixtape The Come Up. His popularity has only heightened with the release of his 2009 mash-up mixtape The Warm Up and the deal he inked with the live events company Live Nation. Hip Hop mogul Jay-Z signed Cole after hearing the record Lights Please. Although from a southern background, J.Cole has a very gritty New York, early 90′s flow, almost reminiscent of a young AZ. His calloused yet intelligent street message is articulated skillfully, with exaggerated bravado and flare. Even without an album, he seems to have the musical direction of a seasoned rapper, attacking subjects that plague the inner city, from an intelligently empirical standpoint. J. Cole also graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. John’s University in 2007. We look forward to the debut album.
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Every summer there is that one song that seems to be replayed and replayed and hits number one on every countdown and seems to be on the radio nonstop.
This summer in Europe (and soon be the US) it is “When Love Takes Over” by David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland. And even though most of those over-played songs are overrated and similar, Kelly Rowland’s traditionally R&B, stunning performance on a rather Eurodisco track sets the song apart. Kelly agreed to collaborate with the French DJ after the song brought her to tears: “I felt so much emotion from the track; something happened the first time I heard it, and it was just beautiful.”
The result is a truly well-done song from two totally different worlds. And yet this odd collaboration seems to have helped both artists explore new realms and opportunities.
Although it is no surprise that the song took strong root in Europe whereby David Guetta is a frequent DJ in the discos, it will be interesting to see how fast or slow this song climbs the charts in the US. Nevertheless, it will definitely be a club hit in the more trendy locales.
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In 2005, after learning the east coast Hip Hop canon like the back of my hand, a friend of mine in college (now currently working for Filter magazine) gave me two notable albums: Arcade Fire’s “Neon Bible” and Sufjan Stevens “Illinoise”.
At first, I didn’t understand Neon Bible, therefore I shrugged it off. The other album on the other hand, changed something within my mind, a mind recently submerged in the lyrical prowess of Big L, and the Americana roadside tales of Bob Dylan. Continue reading “Men We Love: Sufjan Stevens” »
