[ | | | 0 interested person(s) ]

In December 2007 the Blue Scholars curated the first ever all-Northwest hip-hop festival called The Program which had big results ending up in a five-night run of sold-out shows at Seattle’s Neumo’s. Aside for a busy touring schedule the duo is set to drop on April 29th their second digital-only EP release, BUTTER&GUN$, on Massline in partnership with Rawkus Records.

The single features Sabzi beats and is four fantastic tracks. Best part about these two on top of making good music is their heart for giving back. Geo is working with Bayan-USA, a progressive coalition of organizations fighting for genuine freedom in the Philippines. Always good to see talent musicians with a heart. Check out a track:

Mp3: Blue Scholars - "BUTTER&GUN$ (Loyalty II)"

[ | | | 0 interested person(s) ]


New video for one of my favorite tracks of 2007. Ghislain Poirier featuring Face-T on the track "Blazin." Check it out. Ghis will be overseas if you are in the area check him out. Highlight is his upcoming DJ set at the renowned Fabric on May 30th.

[ | | | 2 interested person(s) ]

So this past week marked the first time according to Hillary that she misspoke in 12 years. Does misspeaking about misspeak count as a misspoke? Does telling the wrong story multiple times count as misspeaking once? Here is what she said:

"I made a mistake and, you know, I had a different memory," she said at a news conference. "It proves I'm human, which for some people is a revelation."
Well...don't you think you'd remember if you got off a plane to people shooting at you versus a kid coming up and shaking your hand? Sure people make mistakes and remember things differently but this seems to be VERY different. ALSO she pushes her foreign experience as a plus over Obama. Yet, she is obviously exaggerating her experience or simply is delusional about the level of experience she has. Lets not forget she approved one of the largest foreign policy blunders in the last decade.

She also made a misstatement by saying that this was the first time in 12 years she had told a story wrong. Lets be real here. You can't speak in absolutes like that. How hard are you going to have to dig before you find another misstatement. It's not unreasonable for any human to make misstatements, what is unreasonable is that you think you can pass off a statement that you have never mispoken in 12 years. Come on.

David Brooks in his article, "The Long Defeat" states Clinton's shot at winning the nomination. She is slowly fading. It will be interesting to see if she steps aside and lets Obama and the Democratic party surge into the election against McCain. Will she continue to beat up on Obama and the in the long run hurt the party? Its believed that Clinton last week had no more than a 10 percent chance of getting the nomination. Now its believed its down to a 5 percent chance. Brooks summarizes the Clinton campaign and the Senator perfectly in stating:
"No wonder the Clinton campaign feels impersonal. It's like a machine for the production of politics. It plows ahead from event to event following its own iron logic. The only question is whether Clinton herself can step outside the apparatus long enough to turn it off and withdraw voluntarily or whether she will force the rest of her party to intervene and jam the gears."
Here attacks are viral and you can see how both her and Bill are desperately clinging to what little scrap of political power they still have. And why wouldn't they? They don't really know any other type of life. They don't know what its like to not be in front of a stage giving empty promises and canned speeches. How do you change decades of political life into the life of an average citizen of this country. Here is a start...step down when you know you can't win. Let the party flourish and bring in new thoughts, new ideas and bring back a motivator, a charismatic leader. That is what this country needs and that is what she should do.

The latest is that Senior Senator and respected member of the Democratic Party, Patrick Leahy is also adding that Clinton needs to step down. In my opinion anything less is selfish of her and will help ruin a run by Obama that has the possibility of really turning this country around.

More News:
Is Hillary broke? (Chicago Sun Times)

[ | | | 2 interested person(s) ]

Staying on the remix kick I have a new one by one of my favorite record makers in France, DJ Mehdi. This is of the fantastic Ghostface track, "Charlie Brown." Be sure to check it out:








Mp3: Ghostface Killah - "Charlie Brown" (DJ Mehdi Remix feat. Mapei)

You can pick up other Charlie Brown remixes here. These releases are all part of the record label for Scion called Scion Audio Visual.

[ | | | 4 interested person(s) ]


Favorite Soul/R&B track so far this year. It has that great throwback tone that I just can't get enough of. Check it out.

[ | | | 0 interested person(s) ]

Indie blog and hipsters everywheres favorite group, Panda Bear has given the album's lead track "Comfy in Nautica" to one of my favorite remixers XXXChange (SpankRock and Kid Sister) to mess around with. The result is a full-on dance track check it out.








[ | | | 0 interested person(s) ]

New remix from Chicago's DJ duo, Flosstradamus. HEARTSREVOLUTION's C.Y.O.A. EP on APRIL 15th on IHEARTCOMIX RECORDS.

The label infromed me that it got pushed back a month or so so they could have more time to hype it. So here we are with this FLOSSTRADAMUS remix of C.Y.O.A. for all to download. Check it out.








Mp3: Heartsrevolution - "CYOA" (Flosstradamus Remix)

[ | | | 2 interested person(s) ]

New project from the mind of Dan The Automator (Dr. Octagon, Gorillaz, Deltron 3030 etc.) and Russell Simins of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion have teamed up to form Men Without Pants.

The full release isn't due out until June but here is a bit of a preview of what this project is going to sound like. Check it out:








Mp3: Men Without Pants - "And the Girls Go"

[ | | | 1 interested person(s) ]


Favorite song of the year hands down so far. Check out the Mr. Oizo remix here.

[ | | | 1 interested person(s) ]


Nice throw back video that subtly rips off tons of broadcasting and movie logos. Check it out if you haven't yet. Like the post before this one these two are going to be playing Thursday night in Chicago at a sold out Riv show. Go scalp some tickets if you don't have some.

[ | | | 9 interested person(s) ]

Diplo remix featuring a Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Pretty Little Ditty" from 1989 which Crazytown did a cover of (yes those one hit wonders) beat with some reggae on the top. The result is a typical choice remix by Diplo.









Diplo and Justice are playing a sold out show at the Riviera in Chicago this Thursday.

Thanks to the readers for helping me out on getting my facts straight.

[ | | | 1 interested person(s) ]

Here is something "experience" won't show on Hillary's record, a fantastic little reggae ditty with you as the theme. Check out this track by Cocoa Tea with AG's dude for the main seat Barak Obama.









Barak Obama in 2008!

And thank you Disco Devil for the tip.

[ | | | 1 interested person(s) ]

Mavado's Mission Riddim with Jay-Z rhyming over the top. Riddim is from Mavado's hit track "I'm on the rock." Check it out:









Give thanks to The Heat Wave for this massive track. Check out his commentary on Mavado which I think is spot on along with a discussion about the Riddim and its orgins.

[ | | | 2 interested person(s) ]

The Living Legends a westcoast hip hop collective has come together to record The Gathering. The Gathering was recorded at Encore Studio (birthplace of Dr Dre's The Chronic 2001album). The LP is set for release on their record on their own Legendary Music label, April 8th.

I have always been a big fan of the Living Legends as some of my posts regarding on of its members, Murs, might attest to. Check out a track:








Mp3: Living Legends - "She Wants Me"

Keep an eye on their website for more information. The LP is 7 songs deep and features the production of The Grouch, Eligh and Bicasso.

[ | | | 3 interested person(s) ]

New Jaime Lidell out there on the internets. First listen to this has got me thinking its better than Multiply (which I loved btw). My dude Giles Peterson has been featuring a bunch of tracks off the upcoming record Jim. Jim is set to drop in April.

Jim by the sounds of it its a bit more Motown and organic not so much electronic pulse. Good to see him switch it up a bit without losing the soul. Check out a great track off the upcoming record.








Mp3: Jaime Lidell - "Another Day"

Check out "A Little Bit of Feel Good" on his myspace. I am assuming its going to be his first single the song is my favorite song so far of 2008.

Mp3 link: Jaime Lidell - "Little Bit of Feel Good" (LA Garage Mix)

photo by dms_303.

[ | | | 3 interested person(s) ]

If you don't know Benga he is Garage, Hip Hop, House, Dance and Dubstep artist from the UK. Hailing from Croydon, London and South East United Kingdom his record, Diary of an Afro Warrior dropped yesterday and its fantastic. Don't miss the single "Night" featuring Coki either. He did a great mix a bit back for Radio 1 featuring all sorts of great dubstep tunes. Check it out.

Mp3 link: Benga - Radio 1 Essential Mix (sendspace)

Get his record here.

[ | | | 1 interested person(s) ]

Ophir Kutiel is a 25 year old Israli from Tel Aviv. His new solo project is Kutiman. Kutiman focuses on that funk, afro-beat, and psychedelia sound. He plays a variety of instruments from drums, to keyboards, to guitar and bass. He's been featured in The Fader, Pitchfork and XLR8R and talked about by the great Gilles Peterson. Here is an mp3:








Mp3: Kutiman feat. Karolina - "Music Is Ruling My World"

His self entitled debut album is released on Melting Pot Records. The Kutiman Orchestra (a 7 piece band featuring the best groove musicians in Israel) will premiere its first tour later this week with a special show @ Barzilay club in Tel Aviv. Check it out if you are in the area.

[ | | | 2 interested person(s) ]

The Postal Service-esque duo, The LK from Malmo Sweden recently released their record Vs the Snow on March 4th. The catchy "Stop Being Perfect" is certainly a great single. The duo's sound is a nice mixture of experimental and electronic indie rock. Its members are Lindefelt, a sound artist, and Fredrik, a songwriter. Check out a track:








Mp3: The LK - "Stop being perfect"

Buy: Get the record here.

[ | | | 1 interested person(s) ]

My friends over at Flagrent Fowl have just released the CD version of Tambourine Dream, an 18 track mix comprised entirely of our remixes of folk/acoustic songs. Check out an mp3 of an unmixed track from the CD Pocketknife's Joanna Newsom remix.








Mp3: Joanna Newsom - "The Book of Right On" (Pocketknifes Scowling Owl Remix)

Buy: Get the vinyl here from Turntable Lab.

[ | | | 0 interested person(s) ]

One of the most heavily covered track John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Road." My favorite was probably the version done by Toots and the Maytals in 1973. Here is a version set for release on March 4th its done by hip-hop artists Tru-Paz and is featuring Esko Levi. The remix is due out on Urbnet Records.








Mp3: Tru-Paz feat. Esko Levi - "Country Road" (Remix)

Buy: Get the mp3 here.

[ | | | 0 interested person(s) ]

Ghis just released Bounce le Remix vol.3. Volume 3 features 14 exclusive remixes covering all sorts of genres from crunk, ragga, baile, soca bit of everything. Check out remixes of Bonde Do Role, Busy Signal, Lil’ Mama, Machel Montano and more. Check out just one of 14:








Mp3: Bonde Do Role (Ghislain Poirier Remix)

Buy: Get BOUNCE LE REMIX vol.3 here http://www.ghislainpoirier.com/shop/.

Chicago. Ghis will be DJing Saturday night at the Subterrenean. Check it out!

[ | | | 0 interested person(s) ]

Letter G according to their myspace "originated around 200 BC. And has a background in rock music" well that doesn't really explain too much but they have worked with respected artists like Four Tet and Hot Chip. Their first single is "Its Gone" a kind of drum building electro track that would most likely fill a dance floor nicely. Check it out:








Mp3: Letter G - "Its Gone" (Julien Briffaz 12 Inch mix)

Check out their myspace for more music.

[ | | | 0 interested person(s) ]

Exciting news according to HARP Magazine. Harp is reporting that Danger Mouse's management has confirmed that he will be producing the next Beck album. Whoa looking forward to this one. Stay tuned.

[ | | | 0 interested person(s) ]

Hip Hop, electronic Berlin duo Tape vs. RQM consists of RQM on vocals and Robot Koch on production. I got the opportunity to hear the Chris De Luca remix of "The Luvely." The team has a new EP out now that you definately should check out.



Tape and RQM also has a downloadable mixtape featuring Nas, Santogold, Mark Ronson and others. Stop by here to download that.

[ | | | 4 interested person(s) ]

Boston based Akrobatik has teamed up with a pretty impressive list from hip hop legend Chuck D and the always classy Talib Kweli. The track off Akrobatik's new album that caught my ear dispite all the big names was the cut he did with Little Brother. Check it out:








Mp3: Akrobatik feat. Little Brother - "Be Prepared"

Get more info on the upcoming record here.

[ | | | 0 interested person(s) ]

In 2 weeks on March 21st Cumbia, a Latin American sound born from the fusion of old and new worlds in Colombia is coming to Sonoteque. Cumbia is a part of Zizek an innovative and popular party in Buenos Aires with producers from all around Brazil eager for a new space to showcase their talent in South America.

Like I said Zizek is about emerging Hip Hop, Dancehall, Cumbia, and Reggaetón sounds and their respective variations that are going to be touring the states in March. Don't miss it.

Zip file link: Get a sample of this innovative sound here. 7 songs in all.

[ | | | 1 interested person(s) ]


Philly's own Roots crew has a new video and song out in lieu of their Rising Down to be released in 2008 on Def Jam.

[ | | | 0 interested person(s) ]

I just wanted to let everyone know in the Chicago area that a couple good friends of mine and a concept that launched itself from my wedding almost a year to the day will be playing tonight at the Double Door.

Van Ghost already has been featured on the local alternative rock station 98XRT and their My Morning Jacket countryesque sound is certainly addicting. Check it out if you get the opportunity. Van Ghost is set to play SXSW later this month.