Initially I checked out Dosh because of the label that he was on, Anticon is the home of Jel and released one of the best hip hop albums of this year with Darc Mind's Symptomatic of a Great Ill. Dosh when I listened has nothing to do with hip hop but it is a fairly good electronic album and the guest spots should get the indie kids excited with the likes of Andrew Bird and Erik Appelwick from Tapes n' Tapes showing up.
Mp3: Dosh - "Um, circles and squares"
This track is my favorite off the record. Nice synths mixed with a bit of violins. I am always a sucker for violins when it comes to low-fi techno.
Buy: Get Dosh's album from eMusic here.
You know they should have spotted the 49ers an extra guy on offense. Maybe a couple on defense. Sorry but the Bears are looking past the Fishes next week and straight at the Giants who were pretty unimpressive versus the Bucs.
Hailing from Copenhagen Beatman and Rockin formly Nick Nack. The group is composed of producers Laust Juel Jeppesen and Rolf Sigurd Hede. They have done production for Erick Sermon, Black Thought, Supernatural, Yukimi and Louis Logic (whos 2006 release is great and I still need to post about). The track "Little Darling" is definately the highlight of the album and features vocals by Linn. Check it out.
Mp3: Beatman and Rockin feat. Linn - "Little Darling"
Be sure to check out the band's myspace as their offical site doesn't seem to be working.
Had to get in on the Halloween madness. No crazy Halloween parties popping off here in Central VT (go figure?!). So stuck at home (girl is in Chicago) with just the two poodles (yeah sad for K).
Anyways..I'll just resort to eating mad amounts of candy corns, popcorn balls and drinking beer and watch Shaun of the Dead and Army of Darkness a couple times. Might even need to check out 28 days Later again. I hear Slither is good but its not available anywhere here...
Check out the tracklisting.
Mp3: RJD2 - "The Horror"
Terrain to Room is Subtitle's latest record (out Oct. 10th on Alpha Pup Records). Subtitle aka Giovanni Marks born and raised in Compton is an LA based emcee with very different style.
His record bosts some big names on production including Daedelus, Madlib, Daddy Kev among others. There is some guest vocal spots aswell from the likes of guest Thavius and Nocando. I've got the Daedelus produced track below checkout his myspace for other downloadable tracks.
Mp3: Subtitle - "Shields Down"
Mp3: Subtitle - "Do It for Dilla"
From his homepage:
"Your boy's weird...." That's the first words that come to mind when encountering an individual as...... varied as Mr. Marks seems to be in the world today. Born to parents whom he regards as "rogue scientists" and "avid architects of my imagination", young sub was raised in what's referred to as a broken home (which was all too common in that day and age of the 80's) surrounded by every sort of archetype of person, both good and bad.
Buy: Pick up Terrain to Room over at eMusic here. Catch up with Subtitle at his myspace area.
As many of you know the Chrome Children Tour aka Stones Throw Allstars are on tour. They have moved through Japan, Europe and are now onto US soils. What is notable given that AG isn't going to be able to get to these shows is that at the shows there are some chances to grab some exclusive records. They are:
Madlib - Mind Fusion Vol. 4: Hip Hop Remixes, Nas Vs. Jay Z
Madlib - Mind Fusion Vol. 5: Dirty Crates from Around the World & Back Home Again
Peanut Butter Wolf - Yo 45 Raps! Vol. 1
Peanut Butter Wolf - Bass Your Car Streets and Party Fresh Beats: Mixtape
All of which are going to be available as soon as the tour is over. I was able to get my greasy little mitts on a couple tracks and these albums are definitely going to need to be picked up once these fellas decide to rest. Here is a track of PBW's Yo 45 Raps! Vol. 1.
Amerie sings over Ludacris' "Money Maker" and the result is a ohh so fresh ballad. Check it out off the Amerie Mixtape via Catchdubs via Fader via DJ Benzi. Bit more commercial than I tend to get but you can't hold something this good down.
Mp3: Amerie - "Money Maker"
Get Luda's records here and Amerie's here.
AG is lucky enough to be teaming up with DJ Ese, the dude behind one of the better hip hop releases of the year Side Two to bring you a giveaway contest.
Ese was there when legendary New York hip-hop label, Definitive Juxtaposition (Def Jux) was formed and he is currently head of day-to-day operations as General Manager. He also has a new project called Embedded Studios which rocks artists like Loer Velocity, Cool Calm Pete and Junk Science. You have got to have respect for a guy that calls Murs, El-P and Amaechi Uzoigwe friends.
Contest: Create a 10 track Embedded Mixtape of Embedded artists (of course!). Post it in the comments with an email and you win a free Embedded shirt (pic of black or grey), posters and other stuff (of Ese's choosing).
*Must live in North America and NOT live in the New York area.
*DJ Ese and I will choose the tracklist we think is best.
Over. Brent wins. Thanks everyone.
Hilarious article about the lowest rated player in Madden 2007, Washington Redskins' long snapper Ethan Albright. Do not miss this, its on the Mach Five type level of greatest spoof articles ever!
Link: Ethan Albright Stikes Back by the Phat Phree.
Couple choice quotes:
When I am not snapping balls, I snap necks.
It’s also pretty wonderful that my awareness rating was 59. You make it sound like I wake up in the morning, helplessly shit and piss myself, then lose three of my teeth before I discover that I am trying to eat a rock for breakfast.
Dorfmeister is 1/2 of the duo that put together one of my most favorite albums of all-time (K&D Sessions). He is also one half of the typically great, always decent Tosca. His latest album entitled Grand Slam slipped under the AG radar...temporarily.
For Grand Slam Dorfmeister teamed up with Madrid de los Austrias. The result is a 10 track album featuring originals along with remixes of Zero 7 (who hasn't remixed or been remixed by Zero 7?), Koop and Groove Armada.
Mp3: Dorfmeister vs. Madrid de los Austrias - "Boogie No More"
There you have it. I have satisfied your electro, house, gangster, remix and hipster music fix all in one night. No need to thank me.
Buy: Be sure to grab Grand Slam here.
You've probably think you have heard evenough about Ratatat music this year to last a life time. These New Yorkers have been everywhere with their release of Classics. While "Wildcat" was quickly played out their talent as a remix duo has kept me coming back. Here a couple from two groups that couldn't be more different; the Swedish outfit The Knife and Queen's own G-Unit.
No idea why I can't stand G-Unit normally but this remix has been seeping out of my speakers ever since I got it.
Buy: Get everything Ratatat here.
Finnish funk wha? Yeah that's right Q-Continuum is a "funk/soul/rap" group from Helsinki. Their album Q-Continuum presents the Marienhof ('The Marienhof' is the name of their hip-hop side project) was released in February of 2006. Its pretty jammy but every now and then I love myself some jammy-style funk music. Check it out.
Mp3: Q-Continuum - "Travellin Phase"
Mp3: Q-Continuum - "Girls (Ladies)"
Finland is definitely holding it down with this record. Be sure to purchase it here if you like what you hear.
AG is on board with Barack in 2008. The man is the truth. He is genius. He is honest. He is motivating. He is focused. Was talking about him on some forums yesterday. Be sure to check out the latest issue of Time for a great article. Here is a clip of him on Charlie Rose Thursday night.
To continue Albarn's obsession with everything Clint Eastwood he has joined forces with Dangermouse, The Clash's bassist Paul Simonon and former Verve member, and Blur and Gorillaz guitarist Simon Tong, and Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen. The new group is called The Good, the Bad and the Queen.
The new album produced by Dangermouse is due out sometime in January of 2007 its going to be self-entitled. The new single is due out sometime in late October. Single I think is fantastic and can't wait for the new album. Albarn is unreal and there is little that he has done that I don't like. You could co-sign on the guy based on his track record alone.
Mp3: The Good The Bad and The Queen - "Herculean"
Tip off: Learned about this via Thursday's Fader blog.
Support: Check out their myspace for more details. The band is set to debut at Electric Proms 06.
...about getting to the next level cause its occupied. My man DJ B. Cause if you haven't heard is tearing S.F. apart with his remixes. If you haven't gotten Night of the Living Remix Vol. 2 or the must (and I mean must) own record of the year Soul Boulders then you just aren't a fan of the hip-hop. Check out a couple more tasters:
Mp3: Nice & Smooth- "Hip-hop Junkies" (Keep Bouncing B.Cause Blendit)
Mp3: B. Cause - "White gurl" (B.Cause Cressy Funk Blendit)
Buy: Get some damn records by getting in touch with B. Cause personally tell him K sent you.
Count Bass D has been making records since 1995 and is one of the more innovative bedroom producers in the genre.
What makes this Nashville cat so unique is that the Count largely does it all, produces, plays live instruments for the album instrumentation along with doing the singing and rhyming. No small feat in today's world of sampling, drum machines and pro tools.
His latest is Act Your Waist Size which came out on Oct. 17th on Fat Beats. This album marks the first time the Count uses a drum machine on a record. I am less concerned really with how he makes his albums, I am more interested in the result. The result is a great addition to your underground collection. Be sure to check it out.
Mp3: Count Bass D - "Internationally Known"
Mp3: Count Bass D - "No Comp"
Buy: Grab a copy of Act Your Waist and other great Count Bass D projects at eMusic OR get it from my favorite retailer TTL here.
I have an old Tommy Guerrero record from his Mo Wax days kicking around here someplace. I'd largely forgotten about him till I saw he had a new record Soil to the Soul, out on Quannum. He's probably best known for his part in "the Bones Brigade" a legendary 80's skate team (pic above). My favorite album of his is Soul Food Taqueria which dropped in 2003 but I have really liked most of his stuff overall.
This new disk is jammy and very funky. Worth checking out if you're interested.
Mp3: Tommy Guerrero - "Badder than Bullets"
Buy: Guerrero's catalog is available at emusic.
Via Fader Blog/Magazine:
Hey, we always said Lady Sov wasn't a grime star, but a pop star. Now that her "Love Me Or Hate Me" is #1 on TRL, we're not gonna get all "told you so" because that kind of thing can only backfire, but we are gonna hit you with this official, studio-fresh Sovereign remix, featuring a leadoff verse from none other than fellow Adidas fan Missy Elliot.
Fader definitely has a point about the grime part. Still I'll take lady Sov. over J. Simpson or whatever bullshit is usually rotating on TRL. I'd be interested how they make the chorus work on TRL, but I don't have MTV, so its probably best left to the imagination given if I had MTV I would be subjected to steady doses of the intolerable Laguna Beach series by my significant other.
Mp3: Lady Sovereign - "Love Me or Hate Me" (Missy Elliot Remix)
Along with Skream, Loefah, and Digital Mystikz, Kode 9 is another dubstep, downtempo, eletronic (whatever) DJ I have been listening to. He and The Space Ape just released Memories of the Future on Kode 9's dub label Hyperdub. The new record features The Space Ape on vocals and is written by Kode 9. For those not in the know, Kode 9 is Scotish born, UK famed DJ who started at 16 playing a fusion of reggae, breaks, hip hop, jazz, funk and house. More on his emergence from Discogs:
(Kode 9) was subsequently swept up by the emergence of the breakbeat hardcore, jungle and drum’n’bass scenes, and has been rinsin’ breaks, ragga chat and bubblin’ basslines ever since. DJing across the UK during the 90s, from Edinburgh, to Coventry, Kode9 migrated to London in 1997, suffering infection to darker strains of the emergent 2step garage scene.
Here is 30 minute mix from Kode 9's label page along with a cut of the new album as heard on the 2005 10" release Kingston.
Mp3: Kode 9 and The Space Ape - "Kingstown (Dub)"
Buy: Swing by Boomkat to grab the new record or some past records.
NES web-based emulator. So long city planning, hello Super Tecmo Bowl, RBI Baseball, Double Dragon and Zelda.
279 english titles in all and 85 for the Japanesse crowd. Don "The Majik Man" Majkowski is so done on that play.
No not this Ayatollah but this Ayatollah. Yeah the guy that dropped Now Playing has another great instrumental hip hop album within the same year. Have had this album playing on my computer for awhile just haven't gotten around to sharing it yet.
I defiantly prefer Listen to Now Playing but that isn't saying that the latter is a bad album, its just saying the the former is better. Great beats that will get you nodding your head. Check out a small sample.
Mp3: Ayatollah - "Heavenly Father"
Mp3: Ayatollah - "Crazy"
Buy: Both are available over at eMusic so you have no excuses not to grab at least one of them. This album is very accessible...be sure to check it out.
Not totally sure what Denny is even talking about here but what I do know is that I fell asleep listening to the game. Thought the Bears didn't have a chance. Wake up this morning and....surprise! they pull it out despite Rex turning it over 6 times and the offense only scoring 3 points. Thanks to Urlacher, Hester and Tillman for showing up and playing football.
Quote of the radio broadcast by Boomer Esiason: "Scott Player's facemask is ridiculous."
Tomorrow the Cubs are reportedly going to announce Sweet Lou as the new manager.
His job? Try and prevent the Chicago Cubs from going a century without capturing a World Series title. Good luck dude. I kinda liked Dusty Baker and his batboy son but I guess he just ran out of luck.
Hopefully the Cubs can make the turn...they had some promising youngsters playing well at the end of the year and hopefully they can build on that. Time to move past the dreams of Prior and Wood being stars. I like Piniella as a manager hopefully he can turn around the team by the time I move there this summer.
Buy: Get Panic In Babylon here.
I have gotten great feedback as I delve deeper into the genre of dub. The latest artist that I have been listening to is Skream. The badass part is the kid is 19 years old (he started making music at the age of 14). Skream aka Olli Jones is from Croydon, a Borough in South London.
From Boomkat:
Skream really can lay a serious claim to the pure Dubstep crown - taking as he does the gut-shuddering bass that underlies the genre, then giving it a 20/20 top-spin of shrapnel melody which makes it as catchy as it is devastating.
I picked up two of his records. Skream Vol. 1 and Skream Vol. 2. Here is a small sample of some tracks off Vol. 2.
Mp3: Skream - "Morning Blues"*
Ubiquity has done it again (can anything less be expected?) with the release of Bay Area Funk Vol. 2. Here are some words heisted from The Fader mag, "Ubiquity got it majorly right ...Chocolate chunk funky dunks."
Mp3: The Relatives - "Lenient with My Love"
Vol. 2 is a bit more drawn out than those that have listened to volume one, its heavier with a more phychedelic feel with long guitar rifts etc. (see Mike Selesia's "Brute Strength") Great addition to all the soul/funk comps that have dropped so far this year.
Buy it: Get this record right here.
Check out this kid for some serious jams. Came across Mr. Rock through one of my favorite DJ's Cosmo Baker's myspace. I don't know much about this cat aside from him being a member of the great group Five Deez (out of Cincy). Get Kommunicator if you haven't its the real deal.
Now if you'll excuse me I need to go listen to "Fingertips Pt. 3.5" for the millionth time. Craziness.
Buy: Buy Kommunicator on the highest AG rec. here.
After you check out Waajeed digging the crates check out this remix off his 2006 Bling 47 promo remix disc. Certifiably funky and fresh for your weekend.
Mp3: Marvin Gaye - "I Want You" (Waajeed Bling 47 Remix)
Support: Be sure to support Waajeed over at his label here.
Yeah Bears are 5-0 and you can put Monday nights game in the bag! Sorry Zona. Actually while you are at it they are set to cruise easily to 8-0 (SF and Mia are pushovers) and a matchup with the NY Giants in week 10.
I know Chi-town will show all the punks in the New York area how to play football. Here is some Brooklyn flavor with an instrumental off J's yet to be released Kingdom Come. I have a feeling that the Bears are going to be the ones showing what they got.
Mp3: Jay Z - "Show Me What You Got" (Instrumental)
One of Brooklyn's premier producers is a guy named Eliot Lipp. On the heals of his great Tacoma Mokingbird ep he is set to release a b-sides comp disc entitled Steele Street Scraps. The 30 minute, 10 track EP features new tracks and remixes from Hefty artists John Hughes and Victor Bermon. Pre-order begins in early October from heftyrecords.com.
Mp3: Eliot Lipp - "Glasspipe" (Victor Bermon Remix)
Buy it: Be sure to pre-order this record if for the track "Flashlight" just alone. Get it here for 7 bucks. Record is out October 31st.
The guy keeps me excited. After his release of the single "Save Room" Mr. John Legend, the track "PDA" has been leaked as well. Get Lifted was awesome and after hearing these two tracks I cannot wait for the new record Once Again on October 24th.
Mp3: John Legend - "P.D.A. (We Just Don't Care)"
Video: John Legend - "Save Room" (quicktime/windows media/real)
The cat's voice blows me away.
Buy: Be sure to pre-order Once Again here.
Every two years Ninja Tune has been releasing a compiliation disk of various artists off of their esteemed label. The releases started in 2002 and on July 10th of this year they released volume 3 of the series. I have been a huge fan of releases by Loka, Spank Rock, Bonobo and Coldcut this year (who are all featured on the record). Here's just a small sample from the 13 tracks that are on the record.
Be sure if you don't know about Ninja Tune to grab this record for 6 bucks. On a side note the Loka's Fire Shepards album comes highly recommended.
Back from the Bay Area. Quick trip, but a good trip. Went to a great wedding and was there to celebrate my grandma turning 95 as well. Crazy stuff. Got some new stuff coming down the line, some remixes (of course) and some halloween flavor as well.
Thanks to those that emailed me tips of places to go and see in SF they were definately appreciated.
Buy: Head over here to buy Max Kane's funky Living' in the Bay.
I am gone till Tuesday in SF. Going to a wedding and then celebrating my grandma's 95th birthday (whos a huge Keak da Sneak fan)! Maybe even hit this up if I have the chance. Be back later next week with some good stuff. Take care all, enjoy some Bay Yay Area tracks. Peace...
Mp3: Zion I feat. Aceyalone and Martin Luther - "Cheeba Cheeba" (Tex Remix)
Mp3: E-40 feat. Keak da Sneak - "Tell Me When to Go" (Trackademicks Remix)
Mp3: Hieroglyphics - "Miles to the Sun"
Mp3: The Federation - "My Rims"
Mp3: Del the Funky Homosapien - "Sleepin On My Couch"
The tip off: If there are any SF spots I can't miss let me know! For records (cds), food, music or otherwise!
From the Korean Home Shopping Network! KHSN runs a segment for the new Adult Swim/Stones Throw album...Chrome Children. Damn KHSN blows HSN out of the water you can't find anything good (aside from the lovely quilt my mother and law gave us of course!) on HSN let alone independent hip hop records.
Buy: If you don't choose to buy it over the phone at the low low price of 14.00 wŏns you can get it over at Turntable Lab.
Yeah its true the last couple Geico commercials I have seen have been pretty damn good. No I am not talking about the obnoxious celebrity re-hashes I am talking about the Neanderthal/caveman ad campaign. This track by Norway's Royksopp is especially dope from the Melody A.M. album back in 2001.
Mp3: Royksopp - "Remind Me" [the commercial]
Whoever is doing the spots knows some good music. They have Eliot Lipp's "Flashlight" plugged for the next commercial spot. Check it out here. Great track and funny commercial. Never thought insurance and good music would appear in the same post.
Buy: No idea what record "Flashlight" is on. You can get Eliot Lipp records here. Don't forget to get Royksopp albums here.
As the faithful readers know I have been consuming large amounts of dub lately. So far my favorites have been Augustus Pablo (very favorite), King Tubby, Mad Professor, Horace Andy and Scientist. I am looking for more great records though any help is appreciated.
Please post your top five dub records in the comments section if you get the chance. Its even better for me if they are on emusic dub! Thanks in advance for the help.
I just received promo copies of the MSTRKRFT and Tiga record (both which I already own). If you like crazy dance music and would like to have these records post in comments why you deserve to win and your favorite electro/dance/club record of all time.
I will then make a subjective decision and get you these records. This shit is winner takes all. Daft Punk's Homework is mine so you are going to have to go from there.
Contest re-cap.
1. Why you think you deserve the records.
2. Your favorite electro/dance/club record of all time.
I will post the winner here in an update then you can send me your mailing info.
Shane wins!
...look like sneakers. Outside of Lupe's "Kick Push" there is no jam that says summer 2006 like this track. Who would have guessed a track with such a ridiculous chorus would get so big...and because of myspace nonetheless. You can count me as a fan. Like "Promiscious" this track has been re-done with amazing results. Check out a couple of the reincarnations.
From TTL:
I don't know for sure, but these guys could be the first rap group to get a deal off MySpace. The Pack aka Wolfpack are some dudes from Oakland (or Berkeley) that blew up after people caught a whiff of "Vans Song(1)" on myspace and started spreading it with what marketers and magazines like to call "viral" word of mouth. Serious though, within 2 weeks I saw that shit posted just about everywhere (including our blog), then a couple weeks later they had a deal. Boom! Now they've got over a million song plays.
Original: The Pack - "Vans" (Stream via XXL)
Mp3: The Pack - "Vans" (B.Cause Spaceship Blend)**
Mp3: The Pack - "Vans" (Diplo's Vans Till Infinity Remix)*
Mp3: The Pack feat. Too Short and Mistah Fab - "Vans" (Remix)
Stream: The Pack - "Vans" (Curtis Vodka Halloween Remix)
Buy: Support these guys by picking up the 12" for 5 bucks here.
Visit: Be sure to swing by B.Cause's my space and Diplo's spot as well.
Buy: Support these guys by picking up the 12" for 5 bucks here.
Visit: Be sure to swing by B.Cause's my space and Diplo's spot as well.
I got a track but this kid named Loer Velocity from NY's Yonkers district. His delivery is pretty smooth on this track and I like his rhymes. Its a solid effort by a man trying to make a name for himself. Check out the first single and give me some feedback of what you think.
Mp3: Loer Velocity - "The Song I Sing"
XLR8R magazine had this to say:
"Lyricist Loer Velocity clearly loves the art of rhyming- a fact made obvious on this 3 track clear vinyl release. He earns the right to brag.. 'Man my tongues just poised laid back and technical/definitely unlike the backpacking rest of you.' On "Elegance" he rides a quiet storm beat to ill effect, while "Industry Standard" features Lifelong, Oktober, and Vast Aire- great to hear MCs doing it for the love."
The full length release is out on Embedded music the same label that released Cool Calm Pete's Lost, also be sure to get DJ Ese's Side Two the album is good. Be sure to check out Loer's record Ready For A Renaissance which comes out October 3rd.
Support: Head over here and buy some stuff to support Loer. Get this track in 12" form iTunes.
While some probably have grips with Nelly's album Loose I have really been enjoying it and the remixes of tracks coming of that record are just straight bananas (you checked out the A-Trak and B.Cause blend of "Promiscuous" which were mindblowing). Here is just another example where a remixed track off the record is actually an improvement on the original (in this case a big improvement).
Video: Here is the video of the song.
Buy: You can get Calle 13's full release that dropped in 2005 here or pick up Nelly's record here or the various remix incarnations of Nelly's songs here.
*Thanks to Mr. Diplo on the Hollertronix board for the tip on this track.
Yes that is one of my more innovate titles to date. Franck Roger knows how to make some impressive house. While I think the genre was let down a bit by its biggest star this year (Basement Jaxx) French DJ/producer Franck Roger provides serious promise.
The new album We Walk to Dance is a fine album. I would think its more borderline trip-hop than house given its laid back style but what do I know. Guess since they all have that constant base drop in the background qualifies it as house (this then must make it deep house, but who really cares?). Check out a couple tracks while I continue talking to myself...
Mp3: Franck Roger feat. Josh - "Flut' Mood"
Mp3: Franck Roger feat. Jovonn - "Remember the Days" (Talk Mix)
Buy it: Buy the new album here or the Back and Forth 12" here.
