Officially its Jimmy Radway and The Fe Me Time All Stars who on November 3rd will see the release of Dub I on Pressure Sounds. Dub I was created in the early days of dub and only three hundred copies were pressed in the wanning days of Pete Weston's Micron Music. Dub I is a collection of some of Jimmy Radway heaviest roots from his Fe Me Time and Capricorn Rising labels. Check out a track off the record.
Mp3: The Fe Me Time All Stars - "Black Rights"
Buy: Get the album from Pressure Sounds here.
Big Halloween weekend in Chicago. Lupe Fiasco is playing tonight at the Congress Theater and The Rapture are at the Debonair Social Club both I am sure are worth the price of admission. Hip hop acts Ill Bill and Verbal Kent will be rhyming over at Subterranean. Tomorrow night Black Moth Super Rainbow will be playing at Abbey Pub and indie rock darling Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band will be playing at the Vic.
Myself? Ill be home tonight after a long week but then headed down to the Darkroom tomorrow night for Slacky J's dancehall reggae set.
Have a wonderful and peaceful Halloween all.
Couple remixes thanks to Audible Treats for you all to check out. First is the hip hop classic "Passin' Me By" by the Pharcyde remixed by the talented gentleman of the electro pop group Hot Chip. The second is a nice house-style remix of Masta Ace's "Sittin' on Chrome." Both certainly are worth the download.
Mp3: Pharcyde - "Passin' Me By" (Hot Chip Remix)
Mp3: Masta Ace - "Sittin' On Chrome" (Mr. Flash Sittin on Cr02 RMX)
These tracks are part of an on going remix project by Delecious Vinyl. Its called RMXXOLOGY and features Delicious Vinyl classics by Tone-Loc, The Pharcyde, Masta Ace, The Brand New Heavies, and Born Jamericans refixed by artists like Diplo, Hot Chip, Phillipians, and Mr. Flash.
Buy: Get RMXXOLOGY from iTunes.
photo by spudart.
Music producer and graphic artist, Diego Chavez is recording as Aether and his new album is called Artifacts. The album isn't due out till November 25th on Anti-Pop, but hes been releasing some great remixes in anticipation of the record release. Based in San Antonio Texas Chavez has done a wide range of production from hip hop, downtempo to rock and electro. Check out a remix he did of Swede LYKKE LI. Great stuff.
Mp3: Lykke Li - "Little Bit" (Aether Remix)
Buy: Support Aether here.
I can't count how many 808's and Heartbreak leaks are out there right now. At this rate the whole record can probably be found on the internets, well 4 of the 11 tracks at least. Fellow Chi resident blogger Mr. Tibbs has two new tracks "Robocop" and "Coldest Winter". For those that don't know the whole album is sung by West with the aid of Auto-Tune. I have enjoyed the first two leaks but I still don't know what my take on entire album sung with Auto-Tune is going to be like.
Universal Motown is set to release Q-Tip record, The Renaissance the same day as the US general election, November 4, 2008. From what has leaked this record has a lot of promise not to mention its by one of the biggest names in hip hop. Here is another track and video off the upcoming record with what has to be a tribute to MJ's "Rock With You" video. Production done by the late great J Dilla. Great stuff here. Looking forward to the new record.
Beatsmiths Beau Love, Louis Bordeaux and Sotu the Traveller of Appletree Records have created a new record. Crafted in Midi-Pyrenees in Southern France the three producers' result of an improv beat making was the Pêche Noire project a mellowed out hip hop beat album 12 tracks deep. The album is free to download from their website.
Mp3: Pêche Noire - "Cacahuète"
Don't forget to support these FrenchDutchman in their efforts.
Awesome video of Barrington Levy's live performance of "Here I Come" back in 1985 on UK TV. You can check out the music video here. Mr. Levy is responsible for making two of my favorite reggae records to date, Shaolin Temple and Englishman in 1979. Born in 1964, in Clarendon, Jamaica Levy continues to make great reggae and dancehall music. Don't miss his track "Murderer" released in 1984, its a reggae gem.
New theme type post today. Every Thursday I'll feature some great stuff going down in Chicago. Last weekend it was MOVE! at Sonotheque feature MADLIB, J ROCC and KARRIEM RIGGINS. This weekend I'll be heading to the Bottom Lounge to check out UK Pop Electro outfit Fujiya and Miyagi. A great Saturday night alternative? Head to Sonotheque to see a DJ set by Chicago's own Flosstradamus.
Post up what you might be checking out in the Windy City this weekend. Have a great one. Peace.
Editor's note: No you are not crazy I forgot to hit "publish post" yesterday.
Dilated Peoples DJ and Beat Junkies member and winner of major world DJ compitition accalaids. In 1997, Babu joined the DJ battle scene and was the first to win all 3 categories (Scratching, Beat Juggling, and Teams) at the International Turntablist Federation. Next Tuesday, DJ Babu releases is third installment in the Duck Season series. The Duck Season series showcases DJ Babu as a producer and the results have been great. Check out a track off the upcoming record.
Buy: Get Duck Season Volume 3 here.
photo by Anaii Lee-Ender Photography.
Darla records has just released, Uphill City the fifth record of the Toronto based I Am Robot And Proud (Shaw-Han Liem). If you haven't heard of him think of a Boards of Canada type sound. I Am Robot and Proud is a great blend of pop and electro sometimes categorized by pretenious music people as IDM. "Pixel pop" might be the best way I have heard his sound described.
Check out one of my favorite tracks off Uphill City.
Mp3: I Am Robot and Proud - "The Melt"
Buy: Get Uphill City here.
So eloquent, honest and intelligent. This endorsement eliminates the experience arguement completely. General Powell is fair and respected as anyone in American politics.
Special guest Double L will be doing the honors this week for Reggae Friday. His reggae knowledge crushes mine and he is also the selector over at the great reggae blog In Your Blood Clot Face. Check out what he has to say about this weeks feature.
Out of all the artists in reggae & dancehall today, Cham (otherwise known as Baby Cham) is ranked in the upper echelon of the genre(s). He has been one of the main artists on Dave Kelly's (producer of classic riddim's such as Joyride, Stink, Showtime, Rae Rae, Haunted, Fiesta, Pretty Pretty, etc..) Madhouse label since it's founding in the early 1990's. Known for his sometimes gritty, sometimes smooth, & sometimes both deejay style, he has been a staple on riddims for much of the late '90s into the 2000's, where he gained some crossover appeal through collaborations with artists such as Alicia Keys, Foxy Brown, MIMS, Nina Sky & T-Pain. Some of his biggest hits have been "Ghetto Story" (85 riddim), "Vitamin S" (Fiesta riddim), & "This Is Why I'm Hot" (Reggae remix) w/MIMS & Junior Reid.For those of you who haven't seen
his live performance, it is absolutely recommended. You will not be disappointed. -Double L
Mp3: Cham - "Rudeboy Pledge"
Mp3: Cham and Baby Cheez Trix - "Girl"
Mp3: Usher feat. Baby Cham - "Yeah" (Reggae Remix)
Learn more: Check out more on Cham over at Double L's blog.
On a personal note the "Rudeboy Pledge" is the absolute jam. Love that track! Thanks to Double L for contributing.
Turns out that Joseph Wurzelbacher, that dude that McCain loved bringing up so much (estimated at around 24 times!) as "Joe the Plumber" has a couple things going on:
1. He owes back taxes.
2. He isn't licensed.
3. Obama's plan would cut his taxes.
Oops.
I am still waiting for McCain's mixtape to drop...but while I wait here is another great mixtape in case your getting tired of the Z-Trip one. Green Lantern and Russell Simmons present the Yes We Can! Mixtape mixed Green Lantern including 90% new content. Jay-Z, Kanye West, Nas, Mavado are all accounted for on this mixtape check it out.
Mp3 link: Green Lantern & Russel Simmons - Yes We Can! Mixtape (sendspace)
photo by Terry Richardson again.
Another Analog Giant contest. In conjunction with the Mad Decent tour (featuring Mad Decent Fall 2008 Tour featuring Diplo, Abe Vigoda, Telepathe and Boy 8 Bit) I have a host of stuff for you. The prize:
Prize:
- A pair of tickets to a show (of your choice) on the tour (check http://www.maddecent.com/ for cities and dates)
- A 15” hardshell case for Macbook Pro, featuring customized Mad Decent artwork by comic book artist Jacob Chabot (The Mighty Skullboy Army).
How to win?
Post up your top three favorite blogs (other than this one).
DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL AND SHOW OF CHOICE. SORRY TOMORROWS NYC SHOW IS TOO CLOSE.
Contest OVER winner notified. Thanks for entering.
Mellowed out hip hop producer Fat Jon the Ample Soul Physician (born Jon Marshall) has just released his record Repaint Tommorrow.
The Soul Physician is from Cincinnati, Ohio and one of the four members of hip hop group Five Dimensions or Five Deez, joining fellow hollarboard member Pase Rock, Sonic, and Kyle David. He has also contributed music to the Japanese animation series Samurai Champloo. This record is another great addition to some strong hip hop instramental albums this year. Its laidback lush feel that will remind you of a Nujabes production.
Great record here.
Mp3: Fat Jon the Ample Soul Physician - "Long Now"
Buy: Get the record here.
I am off to North Carolina for a wedding and will resume blogging on Tuesday October 14th. If you have must eat or must see things Ill be driving the stretch from Norfolk VA to Wilmington NC. Post them up.
Until then peace and have a great weekend. Cheers to my friend who is getting married as well.
Back. Thanks for the tip. First trip to the south was interesting. I don't think I can do it justice on a short three day trip. I'll have to go back soon.
Lets hope we get a bit more from these two in the next debate. This last debate was the most boring debate I have ever seen. McCain/Palin are getting low down and dirty and its time we stop this nonsense. McCain and Palin are inciting some incredibly frightening behavor on their stump speeches. As Jonathan Martin states:
"Party activists of the sort who show up at rallies always tend to be more partisan, but it's difficult to imagine even the most hard-core conservatives saying that Al Gore or John Kerry were terrorists.It's a testament to how powerful those viral emails about Obama have been and just how much some on the right are blissfully happy to believe untruths about the man."
Slakah the Beatchild has a new record out entitled Soul Movement Vol. 1. Impressive stuff from an album thats a deep 20 tracks. Album features smooth vocals from a range of artists, Drake & Hazel, Melanie Durrant, Ray Robinson & Divine Brown, along with Jason Simmons. You can get an entire preview of the record here and you can download a track below.
Mp3: Slakah the Beatchild - "What's this feeling"
photo by Daniel Bray.
You just knew this was coming. Sorry this blog is becoming the hip hop video channel the last couple weeks.
Dela is a hip hop creator from Paris, France. Hes collaborated with some of the best in hip hop and R&B from Aloe Blacc, Talib Kweli, J-Live and Blu to name a couple. His upcoming album is Changes of Atmosphere and its a great attestment to hip hop. Check out a track.
Mp3: Dela feat. Blue - "Vibrate"
Buy: Get Dela things here.
Couple of small things I would like to see in tonight's debate. I'll make it very plain and put it in list format.
1. Get lowdown. Lets throw some jabs on this one and please no "I agree with John" statements.
2. Stick to things that matter. Please no talk about Ayres (Obama was eight years old at the time. Give it up).
3. Leave the fear mongering at home. We are in a bad way right now in this country. Lets hear ways to fix it.
4. Eye contact.
5. No lying.
Just wanted to let the people know that won the Madlib contest last week the Stones Throw shirts are out of stock and you will be getting yet to be released ST shirts in two weeks. So hang tight.
Don't miss this. 54 minute mix by Z-Trip as part of some parties he and Shepard Fairey did as fundraisers for the Obama campaign. They are called “The Party for Change”.
Mp3 link: Get the mix here.
photo by Terry Richardson.
Joe Higgs was a hugely influential figure in the development of reggae both in Jamaica and in the UK. He music would directly impact huge acts like the Wailers and many others. Even the late great Bob Marley acknowledged that Higgs had been an influential figure for him. Jimmy Cliff called him "The Father of Reggae." His home Trenchtown (Kingston), Jamaica would be the main focus of Higgs' work. Higgs didn't release many records but I did have the opportunity to get Life Of Contradiction thanks to the epic record label Pressure Sounds. Check out a track from this record.
Mp3: Joe Higgs - "My Baby Still Loves Me"
Read more about Mr. Higgs here.
Buy: Get Life of Contradiction here.
Love how not falling completely on your face some how becomes a success. Biden was poised and well spoken and on point. Governor Palin? Served up a folksy slurry with no substance just slogans. Tough day for the McCain/Pailin group, lose Michigan during the day then lose the debate the same evening.
Great remixes of Radiohead's "Recokoner" track off their album, In Rainbows. Of course a couple stand out in my mind.
Nosaj Thing's remix. (mp3 link)
Diplo's remix.
Flying Lotus's remix.
I find that Nosaj's is the strongest but again they are all good. Go check them out.
Art from musicotherapie-lefilm.
This weeks contest features the LA crew People Under the Stairs (aka PUTS). I already talked about the new video and record this week. Check out the prize pack:
2 winners get:
Fun DMC t-shirt
beer coozie
copy of the album
Question: What is your favorite PUTS track and why?
Don't forget your email address and shirt size.
Contest over. Forgot I was running this. Winners notified.
Stuff like this is why I love You Tube. The best quiet storm synth funk track of the 80s is Midnight Star's "Midas Touch." Love to hear if you think there is one better. You tube links if you do.
New track from Black Milk off his upcoming record Tronic. The track features everything good with hip hop with Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price and beat meistro DJ Premier. Popular Demand was hip hop gold in 2007 and Tronic out on October 28th is looking like a worthy follow up. Check out the track:
Mp3: Black Milk feat. Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price, and DJ Premier - "The Matrix"
