Great video and remix featuring verses from Del and Guilty Simpson. Opio(of Souls of Mischief fame) and The Architect together on the track, "Some Superfly Sh*t," from Opio's new album, Vulture's Wisdom Vol. 1. Which is out right now.
Buy: Get Vulture's Wisdom Vol. 1 here (iTunes).
Original track and video here.
If you haven't read this make it the political article you read today. Excellent work by Rebecca Traister of Salon.com. "Everyone seems to be oozing sympathy for the fumbling vice-presidential nominee. Please. Cry me a freaking river,"comments Rebecca Traister.
Ms. Traister is on point with this article. Does anyone actually feel sorry for Gov. Palin? You do it to yourself. Its true. You think you can hold the belief that humans and dinosaurs walked the earth at the same time and come off intelligently in public scrutiny? Scrutiny by people who think for a living? No chance.
Other reading: Zombie feminists of the RNC
Video of their track "The Whiz." People Under the Stairs have one of the better hip hop albums of 2008 in their 6th album, Fun DMC. Dudes have been at it for 10 years and keep their sound fresh and are able to stave off the perials of going mainstream. Video was shot on location in Australia (gotta be rough!). Video matches their sound and the feel of this track. A breezy summer hip hop hit.
Check it out the record here. If you don't like the track "Swan Fever" you don't like hip hop its that simple. Record drops tomorrow! Go get it.
Download: Get the People Under the Stairs mixtape here.
New remix paring Jamaican and Baltimore sounds of Mr. Vegas. Track is off the Oh My Gosh EP coming out as a 12” on Delicious Gutter this October 15. Delicious Gutter is a partnership between Rick Ross from influential LA-based Hip-Hop label Delicious Vinyl and Baltimore producer Aaron Lacrate.
Mp3: Mr. Vegas - "Oh My Gosh" (Gutter Remix)
photo from from Fader 44 by Martei Korley.
Just under two hour mix and 87 tracks of late 90s early 00s mix of reggae hits. Mix features Filthy, Baddis, Bug, Headache, Stink, Showtime, Bruckout, and Hot Wax riddims and mixed together by Double L.
Mp3 link: Double L - "Y2k flashback" (megaupload)
photo of Buju Banton from Fader 40 by Liz Johnson Artur.
This just keeps getting more and more frightening. That might have been the most nonsensical answer I have ever heard.
Paul Newman died of lung cancer yesterday at the age of 83 at his long-time home in Westport, Connecticut. This amazing actor, philanthropist and person will be missed.
Well the video isnt going to win any production nods but Jacob Miller is a reggae great who passed way too early. Born in Mandeville in central Jamaica and knowing that he wanted to be a singer since the age of 10 Miller moved quickly to make a name for himself. In high school Miller began hanging out studios and was befriended by Augustus Pablo. His first single would be recorded by Pablo. Miller would continue to work with influencial reggae acts. Paired with his humor (evidenced by the above video) and his ability to shed light on Jamaican social issues of the time he quickly rose to prominance.
Miller is probably most well known for his "rockers" singles of the mid 1970's with the band Inner Circle. The most notable single was "Tenement Yard" which would be his biggest hit. The hit lead them to sign with Capitol Records in 1977. Inner Circle and Miller would become one of the largest acts in Jamaica alongside of force in Jamaica, taking charge musically along with Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Bunny Wailer, Third World, Gregory Isaacs, and Peter Tosh.
Tragically Miller would be killed at the age of 27 in a car accident. He leaves behind a truely influencial catalog as booth a roots and a dub artist. Check out a track.
Mp3: Jacob Miller - "Tenement Yard"
"Half of Chi is from Mississippi anyway," David Banner says at the beginning of the track. Well we all know I'm not from Miss I might make up the other half I guess...its of real no consequence cause this track is a great addition to the finale to summer. Track features production from Diplo (drums from the 1982 cut "Action" by Orange Krush) and has such a great sound. Track is off Kid Sister's album Dream Date which is out soon.
Mp3: Kid Sister feat. David Banner - "Family Reunion"
Mp3: Kid Sister feat. David Banner - "Family Reunion"
Update: Thanks to my dude U-Tern this track also samples Jerome Prister Output's "Say You'll be 1987."
While Congress and the Administration might be asleep at the wheel and letting all your hard earned cash go the way of the dodo, Analog Giant and Stones Throw has a nice little give away to lift your spirits.
Three (3) winners get ST prize packs including:
-Copy of WLIB AM: King of the Wig Flip CD
-Stones Throw slip mats
How?
List your favorite Beat Konducta record and why you like the upcoming fall season.
DON'T forget your email and size for the shirt in your reply. U.S. residents only sorry.
CONTEST OVER WINNERS EMAILED.
Thank you for not letting her off the hook Mrs. Couric. Govenor Palin's answers are weak at best. Palin and McCain are a joke. Does Govenor Palin actually make any sore of a convincing point in either of these videos?
I'm not waiting on McCain for anything. Dude was running things for 26 years. This interview is about as unimpressive as you can get. But this is where it gets real silly.
I can see the moon from my backyard. That must mean I know a ton about astronomy.
They make it seem so easy. Best alt act easily outside Radiohead. If they keep making records like these they will be one of the best rock bands ever.
photo by NRK P3.
CYNE (Cultivating Your New Experience) formed in the summer of 2001, in the swamps of Gainesville, Florida. CYNE is composed of emcees Akin and Cise Star, and producers Speck and Enoch. Cise Star has done a bunch of work with my favorite producer of the moment Nujabes. Their latest album is Pretty Dirty Things (awesome movie too if you have seen it) and its some great work. The record spans seven years and over ten releases don't miss "Money Parade" its a great track.
Mp3: CYNE - "Money Parade"
Pick up CYNE's hip hop record here.
Soul, swing, samba, hip hop and percussion all smashed into one sound. Tm Juke and The Jack Baker Trio's Boto And The Second Liners should certainly get you dancing pulling party type sounds from all over the Americas. The record began when Tm Juke and Jack Baker were on tour with the Alice Russell band. Read more about the record here. Check out the mp3 bellow.
Mp3: Tm Juke and the Jack Baker Trio - "Fortune Favours The Bold"
Buy: Get Boto and The Second Liners here.
Would be amiss not to mention this. New remix of Lupe's "Paris Tokyo" featuring Q-Tip, Pharrell and Sarah Green.
Spoken word by Malik Yusef, rhyming without the autotune by Kanye West and of course hook by Adam Levine. Nice beat on this track. The album also features a cover of U2's "In the Name of Love" by John Legend which is great as well. Check out "Promised Land" and then go buy the record and contribute to the campaign and the cause.
Mp3: Malik Yusef feat. Kanye West & Adam Levine - "Promised Land"
Buy: Get the record and support the movement here.
Patricia Schroeder, President of the Association of American Publishers got it right when she classified the current Wall Street mess.
The fact that the Administration wants us to bail out all the garbage the greedmeisters piled up in their portfolios without curbing their greed going forward is outrageous.
More from Politico here, What's the Bush bailout's biggest flaw?
Nice DJ mix from King Most. Here is how he describes the mix.
The intent of this mix was to try and capture what WE'VE all been feeling these past months: hope, struggle, and the importance of facing a challenge. It also serves as a reminder, and perhaps an introduction to what OUR candidate is all about. With that being said enjoy, register, & get involved. History, Change, & Victory In November.
Well said. Download the mix below.
Mp3 link: King Most - The Obamix (zshare)
Real hip hop by NYC super group eMC. eMC is Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Punchline and Stricklin for those that don't know. Record features production from producers we have featured here Ayatollah, Marco Polo, The ARE and Nicolay (who did the production on this track).
Buy: Get The Show from eMusic here.
Today's NY Times has a link to John McCain’s article "Better Health Care at Lower Cost for Every American" in the Sept./Oct. issue of Contingencies, the magazine of the American Academy of Actuaries. Here is the direct quote:
Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation.
Oops.
Scientist, born Hopeton Brown in Kingston, Jamaica, 1960 was the understudy of King Tubby (one of the originators of dub music). He was introduced to music making technology through his experiences around his child home where his dad was a television and radio repair technician. Building on that experience he began building his own amplifiers and along with buying transformers from Tubby's Dromilly Road studio. Scientist would work as Tubby's assistant before moving on to Channel 1 Studio as the principal engineer. In 82 he would leave Channel 1 and move to Tuff Gong and then eventually in 85 to Washington DC. According to his myspace he is currently living in Hollywood.
Scientist is probably most notable for his 80s releases on Greensleeves records with titles themed around fictional achievements in fighting Space Invaders, Pac-Men, Vampires, and winning the World Cup (all with amazing album art). This track is off his boxing themed record "Heavyweight Dub Champion."
Mp3: Scientist - "Upper Cut"
Video: Cool video of dub history with Bunny Lee, Prince Jammy and Scientist.
Buy: Get Scientist records from eMusic here.
Via the Stencil via Baloon Juice. Excuse the language but Mr. Cole echos my sediment on the latest bailout perfectly:You Have To Be Shitting Me
By: John Cole
September 19, 2008 at 8:09 am
This is unbelievable:
The federal government is working on a sweeping series of programs that would represent perhaps the biggest intervention in financial markets since the 1930s, embracing the need for a comprehensive approach to the financial crisis after a series of ad hoc rescues.
At the center of the potential plan is a mechanism that would take bad assets off the balance sheets of financial companies, said people familiar with the matter, a device that echoes similar moves taken in past financial crises. The size of the entity could reach hundreds of billions of dollars, one person said.
In other words, folks spent years making billions upon billions of dollars on risky transactions, more money on the stock of companies that was artificially high based on those transactions, more money bundling all those transactions into more transactions, and made a killing, and when it turns out the whole thing is a big pile of shit, you and I get the god damned bill.
I do not ever want to hear another damned word about the free market. I don't want to hear another thing about letting the market regulate itself. I don't want to hear about the free flow of capital. I don't want to hear about government getting out of our lives.
None of it. From superfunds to super-bailouts, I am tired of other people getting rich being irresponsible and then being told I have to pay to clean it up. I didn't read one punitive aspect of this new plan. Not one punishment for the people who did this.
And it should be no suprise that our President-Select has been AWOL during this time of need.
Staying on the hip hop angle we have a dude that in the late-nineties made a name for himself in Detroit's underground. eLZhi teamed up with Slum Village for his first big taste of success. Since hes been working Detroit locals J Dilla, Waajeed of Platinum Pied Pipers, and Dwele.
The Preface a 16-track album, produced almost entirely by production star Black Milk, features guest appearances Royce Da 5'9", T3 (Slum Village), Guilty Simpson, Phat Kat, and more. Surely one of the best hip hop records of 2008 The Preface is in stores now via Fat Beats Records. Check out a track:
Mp3: eLZhi feat. T3 - "Save Ya"
Buy: Get the record from iTunes here.
photo by jeremy deputat of publicmediagroup.com
Guess I'll try and redeem myself on this one. Great track and video off the latest collaboration project BLU as JOHNSON and MAINFRAME as JONSON. Album is due out September 23rd. If Blu and Exile's teamup on the Bellow the Heavens. Blu is one of the most promising emcees in hip hop in my mind reight now. Check out a track off the record.
Mp3 link: Johnson & Johson- "Disco Dynamite" (zshare)
I have admittedly been sleeping on hip hip for 2008. Maybe its me or maybe I just haven't enjoyed much I've heard. The Common track had a great beat but the lyrics were so so. This is a pretty good track and I am excited about his forthcoming record The Renaissance album due November 4. Check out the video if you haven't gotten a chance to see it yet. Reminds me what I like about hip hop.
New video from one of the best rock bands around right now. Check it out. Not sure whats up with the white monk robes or the police officers on the top of a rainbow mountain but they are the audio visual artists and I'm the mapmaker/urban planner/blogger so I'll leave it up to the professionals and not ask questions.
Said the man who is one of the reasons we are in such a mess. On Fox news today Rove said on, "McCain ads have gone too far." This might be the first time agree with this dude.
Aftathoughts Vol.1 is a sublime low-fi instramental soul album by California’s Manuel Moran. Nu-Soul Magazine called the record "a beautiful amalgamation of blunted hip-hop beats, world music textures, and electronic effects," I tend to agree. AFTA-1 isn't content with making repedative beats and like the other records we have talked about this month this instramental album really builds and progresses. Check out a track:
Mp3: AFTA-1 - "Honey Dip"
Buy: Get Aftathoughts Vol. 1 from iTunes here.
Obama campaign came out hard today again McCain's smear campaign. Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said:
“We will take no lectures from John McCain who is cynically running the sleaziest and least honorable campaign in modern Presidential campaign history. His discredited ads with disgusting lies are running all over the country today. He runs a campaign not worthy of the office he is seeking.”
In other news, "McCain-Palin Crowd-Size Estimates Not Backed by Officials."
Double reggae posts this week. Here is a top shelf mix by Bronx's Double L. The dude is a top selector and always puts together fantastic remixes. Kicks the mix off with a remix of Estelle's "Come Over" featuring Sean Paul. Great, great stuff. If you are into the reggae don't miss his new blog In Your Blood Clot Face.
Mp3 link: Double L - "One Drop Mix"
Very special Friday as I bring you one of my favorite all time reggae artists, Johnny Osbourne. Osbourne is responsible for two of my favorite reggae tracks "Ice Cream Love" and "Water Pumping"(which is an adaptation of Hopeton Lewis' who we have already discussed "Take It Easy" track). Osbourne born and raised in Jones Town has been making reggae music for 25-years and hasn't slowed down yet.
Osbourne second album, his 1974 album Truth and Rights produced by C.S. Dodd is my personal favorite. While it lacks the hits I mention before its a standout in my mind in the roots reggae genre. "You know the truth and rights, teach it to the children." Check out the title track off the album.
Mp3: Johnny Osbourne - "Truth to Rights"
Mp3: Johnny Osbourne - "Truth to Rights"
Have a great weekend all. Peace!
Still having a tough time forgiving the dude for his Gap ads but when you have classic hip hop records such as Like Water for Chocolate and One Day It'll All Make Sense and Be you get a lot of leeway. With only a couple exceptions Common Sense is everything I like about hip hop. Great sound, upbeat and positive vibes.
His upcoming record is Universal Mind Control and features some heavyweights in hip hop. Album is due out November 2008. Check out the title track. Love the production. Hype Williams did the video. Track features Pharell (maybe hes the robot?) and production by the Neptunes.
Not into the 30 sec trailer? Go listen to the full track here.
Frankly as of late I have been frusterated by iTunes and its sluggish performance on a top of the line computer. I welcomed the arrival of a new Zune 8 to see if I was just in the same sheep type rut of 95% of mp3 player users who use an iPod. I currently have a Nano and Touch.
Out of the box things that impressed me about the Zune is the ability to listen to FM (I dont really like the radio outside NPR but the ability is cool), this is paired with the ability to play videos (not possible on my current Nano) and display images. Other features that are promising are the ability to share files wirelessly with other Zunes and via USB with Xbox 360s, and can sync wirelessly with Windows PCs. I don't know anyone with a Zune or XBox but the idea again is a cool one.
Wikipedia currently has a nice table comparing portable media players. One critisim of the Zune that I have observed so far is its inability to work with other software. It is only compatible with the Zune software which is provided by Microsoft. No Winamp and not even Windows Media Player. I have looked and you can get third party modifications which allow Zunes to sync with Windows Media Player or iTunes but such compatability would be nice right out of the box. The ability to browse the internet makes my Touch remain the king but with improvements that Zune (and Microsoft) is making and hopefully with a bit of competition, Apple will make improvements to iTunes instead of just sitting on its tired software that they keep rolling out time and again because they were first to mainstream the idea.
One of the newest features Zune is set to roll out is an interesting one. The "Buy from FM" feature will allow users to tag and buy music directly from their device from virtually anywhere. If using the radio waves, you can tag the track to buy later when connected online. If you're in a wi-fi hot spot, buy the track directly to the device. The "Buy from FM" feature will allow users to tag and buy music directly from their device from virtually anywhere. If using the radio waves, you can tag the track to buy later when connected online. If you're in a wi-fi hot spot, buy the track directly to the device. This is incredibly cool if you are close to stations like KEXP, KCRW, or MPR. Pretty damn cool. Pretty damn cool.
Analog Giant has two 7" inch records to giveaway thanks to Fader Magazine, entitled FADER/Southern Comfort 7-inch Series #7: Get 'Em Mamis & Hood Headlinaz. As you could probably deduce from the record name this is a 7 inch from Baltimore's Get 'Em Mamis on the B-side and the whole Hood Headlinaz on the A-side.
How do you win?
Simple first two people that tell me why they deserve them get them. Simple. Don't forget your email so I can tell you if you're a winner. Also if you don't like hip hop please don't enter.
Contest over. Winners notified.
Not sure if you have had the chance to check out the new Justice music on their website yet but its called Planisphere EP and it comes in 4 parts. It was originally featured on their myspace and all the tracks are streamable through that spot. If you want to download something that you can bounce to on your walk to work here is part 2 will its awesome awesome organ/piano/cathedral whatever intro for your listening pleasure.
Mp3: Justice - "Planisphere (Part 2)"
This record keeps up Justice as the frontrunners in the genre of electronic music known as elektro or electro-funk. Great rock influences here mixed with their recognizable acid sound.
In case you missed it. Kanye's "Love Lockdown" off his fourth studio album, 808's & Heartbreak expected to be released on December 16. Go get it. As its always worth the hype. He's a hitmaker face it. Like MJ and Madonna. The dude makes hit records. This track is wonderful (not his best work but still pretty cool considering he decides not to rhyme at all on the track).
Video: Kanye performs Love Lockdown at VMAs.
Cosmopolitan Bass Mix by Ghislain Poirier who will be playing Chicago with dubstep master The Bug at Subterranean on October 1. Check it out the mix.
Mp3 link: Ghislain Poirier - Cosmopolitan Bass Mix (zshare)
Ok been real into and concerned about the plotting by the evil and perverse McCain/Palin campaign and ticket and the idea that people can even think that they are the right choice for justice and freedom loving Americans. Oh here I go again...ok music...music.
Boy 8-Bit is a moppy South London red headed DJ crafting great glitchy house music. Label mate Diplo called him "the most unique sounding club music out right now." Basement Jaxx, Annie Mac and the Crookers have all been featuring his single "Suspense is killing me" for a bit now.
Mp3: Boy 8-Bit - "The Cricket Scores" (Original Mix)
Mp3: Boy 8-Bit - "The Cricket Scores" (Original Mix)
People are going to figure it out sometime. Right? Right? A mean Palin and McCain are lying. They are not telling us the truth. Even one of the most annoying media outlets (CNN) is reporting about Palin's lies.
This is a culture war. You care about education? the economy? the environment? or are you more concerned with social issues like the right to choose or the existence of christ. I mean its getting borderline alarmist here. You aren't going to care about having the baby or pondering the existence of a higher being if you are sitting street-side without a job or your house has been leveled by increasingly severe weather. Lets get real here.
Also if you didn't know only the McCain family knows what war is like. "Period." Like they have a monopoly on suffering so don't try it or bring it up.
If you do one thing today read the article by the esteemed Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders entitled, "This Election is Not a Soap Opera or a Football Game: It is About the Future of Our Country"
I was extremely excited about Obama getting up to 50% just last week. But it turns out Mrs. Sarah Palin gave Bush the Third John McCain the bump he was looking for. Gallup is reporting today that Obama is sitting around 44% to McCain's 49%. It is incredible house the Republicans can absolutley bamboozle some americans into thinking that this won't be four more years of Bush which over saw the highest unemployment rate in five years, a crippling housing crisis, global warming, zero improvement on the lack Of healthcare and an undermining of our public education system.
Read: Sarah Palin: A Trojan Moose Concealing Four More Years of George Bush
Winston Rodney aka Burning Spear is one of the most endearing long tenured roots reggae artists in Jamaica's history. At times an artist, at others an academic. Rodney is a part Rastafarian preacher and part black historian. He speads the values and virtues of Rastafarianism through his epic roots tracks. My most favorite Burning Spear record is his 1974 album, Rocking Time.
Rocking Time was Burning Spear's 2nd and last Studio One album and was produced by Clement S. Dodd. Burning Spear is also known for his live performances which often last 2 hours long with several bongo drum solos. Check out a track off Rockin' Time.
Mp3: Burning Spear - "Foggy Road"
Buy: Get Burning Spear records here.
In tribute to his friend passed Madlib releases yet another gem and a record that is probably my favorite of the series in Beat Konducta Vol. 5: Dil Cosby Suite. Madlib enlists his labelmate and friend J. Rocc to help him out on this 21 track audiological gem. If are a fan of the late Dilla or Madlib or just simply music you have to get this record. Impressive blend of jazz, hip hop, soul and everything sweet. Check out a track.
Mp3: Madlib - "The Main Inspiration (Coltrane of Beats)"
Buy: Get Beat Konducta Vol. 5: Dil Cosby Suite here.
photo by Michael Beserra.
Well its certainly better than bombing countries or bombing people. Bomb the Bass is the title of Tim Simenon. Simenon released his first recording in 1987 with Beat Dis. Bomb the Bass' new record is Future Chaos. This is a single off the record featuring Fujiya and Miyagi.
From one unqualified person to the next. Sit them up and knock them down dudes. Go get them Mr. "A noun, a verb and 9/11." I'll see if I can stomach 30 minutes of fear, hate and lies with my evening beer.
Rep. Bachmann "(Sarah Palin) easily has more qualifications than Barack Obama and Joe Biden put together if you look at executive experience." Nice try of being crafty lady. While you are technically right no person in their right mind will count executive experience of being a mayor of a town of less than 9,000 people and Governer of a remote sparsely populated state for less than 2 years easily more qualified than Obama or Biden.
Rep. Bachmann should be embarrassed that she even attempted the qualifications argument. Nice try to pander to the women's vote on her rebuttal to Carville which was totally irrelevant to the point. See more if you haven't heard enough (actually gets better). Carville makes some great points about Olympia Snow as somebody that should have been the woman if any was appointed as McCain running mate.
While I agree that the polls are polls but having a 50% approval rating and an 8 percentage point lead on your quickly sinking competition is great news for the Obama/Biden campaign. Their electoral votes are closer 273 to 265 but it can't discounted that Obama has risen risen 5 percentage points in the polls since the convention.
Bad news for the McCain/Palin ticket continues to mount. Palin has a host of problems on her plate between "Troopergate", almost being recalled when she was mayor, a link to the Ted Stevens' scandal, news she was part of a Secessionist Party, being an earmarks beneficiary, a connection to Jack Abramoff, and a corruption investigation.
Nice Chromeo remix by my friends over at Get Old Money. If you didn't know the team of Scheme, Konrad and Cambridge also run the blog Attorney St. Check out the track and let them know what you think.
A record with only 3 tracks? Are you serious? Well Hans-Peter Lindstrøm is quite serious and he takes his cosmic disco sound to new heights. Literally while three are only three tracks the three tracks are spaced out gems ranging from 10 minutes to 28 mins in length. The Guardian explains "that every aspect of the record seems tailor-made to produce maximum pleasure: washes of sound soothe and restore, melodic climaxes send blood rushing to the head."
In all its symphonic grandeur Lindstrom in my eyes has taken my top record of 2008 spot. I might be a bit biased here picking a dude from my fatherland but this record is a bit better than my previous favorite (Air France's No Way Down).
Listen: Lindstrøm - "The Long Way Home"
Mp3: Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas - Essential Mix on UK's BBC Radio 1 (megaupload)
Lindstrøm states that record is "...perfect for a long walk with headphones or when traveling by train or airplane." I couldn't agree more.
photo by Eirik Lande.
