Great new video for "Happy Up Here" off Royksopp's upcoming record Junior.
What did you expect from me? President Obama gives an absolutely wonderful and galvanizing speech this evening. Did a wonderful job of interweaving so many problems into a common theme. In such bleak times it is reassuring to have such a capable and intelligent leader. I am certainly looking forward to the future. It certainly will be "something worthy to remember."
Great pre-speech moment between Obama and Justice Ginsberg.Glad to see that she is back and serving this nation again. Governor Jindal's monotone rebuttal bombs. He attempts to be humorous at the onset with no luck. Then he proceeds to unpack the same old excuse the Repulicans always use, that big government is the problem. They must be nihilists because at this point in this mess (that they created) they are down to big government being the only solution. Its time the Republicans become part of the solution and not the problem.
photo by Doug Mills of the NY Times
Nomi Ruiz (known for her work with Hercules and Love Affair) has a new side project going by the name of Deep Red. Ruiz teams up with keyboardist Morgan Wiley and bassist Andrew Raposo on the new project. Check out this track off the upcoming record.
Mp3: Deep Red - "Good to Go"
We have already talked about Mr. Dam-Funk. The Ambassador of Boogie Funk's new 12" is Let’s Take Off. If you haven't been listening to this dude you are certainly missing out. Check out this great track track:
Awesome video thanks to the essential Nah Right blog. Practice session footage of Exile and DJ Day doing their D-Train routine.
Whole different sound than yesterday with K'naan is a a Somali-Canadian poet, rapper and musician. He is more Afro-beat, folk and even rock than yesterday. The new album is Troubadour due out February 24th and I certainly recommend you check it out. Here is a track featuring Chubb Rock.
Mp3: K'naan feat. Chubb Rock - "ABC's"
The upcoming record features Mos Def, Damian Marley and Charli 2na as well.
Sorry been awhile since I posted. Was in the Hoosier state for a conference but I am back in Chicago now. Bloomington is a nice place and IU was cooler than I thought. Was difficult to get much on the radio outside of Jesus talk. Guess I didn't realize that part of Indiana was in the bible belt.
Anyways, have some exciting hip hop to tell you about. Quite Nyce is a member of the group RADIx and Raydar who is affiliated with Short Bus Alumni and Project Move had never worked together until this. There new album is Champs Vs. The League due out March 24th via Brick Records. Record features Akil of Jurassic 5, Project Move and Soulstice of Wade Waters as well. Check out a track off the upcoming record.
And yes I believe that is a Zelda NES cartriage around Raydar Ellis' neck.
I guess I never really figured that the Germans knew how to bring the funk but Jay and Max Whitefield have certainly proved me wrong. The brothers with Bo Baral, founded The Poets of Rhythm in the early 1990s. The Poets released thier album Discern Define on Quannum Projects in 2001. The two decided to take a left turn with their African-influenced psychedelic funk project The Whitefield Brothers. Their debut album In The Raw, originally released on Soul-Fire Records, saw reissue on Now-Again.
They are currently finishing the Whitefield Brothers second album for Now-Again. Check out a fantastic track.
Mp3: The Whitefield Brothers - "In The Raw"
If you don't know, now you know. Valentine's mix from Prince Paul and Peanut Butter Wolf.
Prince Paul and Peanut Butter Wolf have a valentine's day special which will be happening at the Echoplex in Los Angeles, Friday Feb 13. Egyptian Lover, Dam-Funk & Mayer Hawthorne will also be spinning. So if you are in LA please go check that out.
Dance twosome Grahm Zilla and Isis aka Thunderheist have signed to the Big Dada label and are set to release their first record at the end of March. The self entitled record is filled with dancefloor filling jams. They join a lineup on the sister label of Ninja Tune which includes Busdriver and Diplo and given their raunchy lyrics you can see how they fit right in along side labelmate Spank Rock.
TH gained blog love around the world with their Jerk It EP from last year. I am actually not really all that into that song but their are certainly some great tracks on this upcoming record. Check this one out and keep your eye out for it in March.
Mp3: Thunderheist - "Sweet 16"
Mp3: Thunderheist - "Sweet 16"
Buy: Get Thunderheist stuff here.
photo by peterkelly.
I have been a fan of Telefon Tel Aviv ever since I heard their track "TTV" back in 2001 that really got me hooked on that glichy spacced out techno that I am all about. Telefon Tel Aviv was founded in 1999 by Charles Cooper and Joshua Eustis in New Orleans. The duo has been in Chicago since moving in 2001. Their new record Immolate Yourself was released on January 20th and would be a celebration had it not been over shadowed by the tragic death of Charles Cooper on the 22nd.
Immolate Yourself showcases something a bit different than typical Telefon Tel Aviv. Its more plush and fluid rather than glichy and sparse. Check out a track and my thoughts are certainly with Cooper's family and Joshua Eustis.
Buy: Get the record here.
photo by Fenchurch!
Tosca is the music project of Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber for those that don't know. No Hassle is their new album out April 20th. Groundbreakers in the the nu-Balearic/cosmic sound that hit the stage in a big way in 2008 with artists like Studio, Quiet Village, and Air France. The duo does what they do best on this record making a fantastic mix of laid back ambient tracks that you certainly need to check out.
Mp3: Tosca - "Fondue"
Whoa. Unreal set by 2manydjs (aka David and Stephen Dewaele from Soulwax) for Rob da Bank on Radio 1. It is comprised of 420 intros in 60 minutes and then they throw in an additional 60 minute set just for kicks. Amazing, amazing stuff. Do not miss this.
Listen: 2manydjs - Introversy Set (mp3 link)
Tracklist there as well.
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (guitarist, producer, and composer) was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, in 1975. However, he spent his growing years in South Carolina and El Paso, TX. In Texas he began the hardcore band Startled Calf at the age of 15. In 1993 he joined post-hardcore group At the Drive-In, which lasted until the band broke up at the peak of its popularity in 2001. He would form the Mars Volta the following year.
His latest record is Old Money and his first for Stones Throw. According to Allmusic the record is a "conceptual recording very loosely based around themes of childhood dreams, nightmares, and colonial capitalism." Certainly some heavy themes for an initial release. But evidenced by the tracklist. The record has a pretty broad ranging musical scope moving from progressive to psychedelic to funk at times.
Mp3: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - "Private Fortunes"
Buy: Get Old Money here.
Honestly I don't know anything about TBG (Tokin Black Guy) aside from the fact that his new single, "Body Clock" supposedly produced by Kanye West and actually kinda sounds like him. I don't really understand the name its pretty lame and I don't get anything of substance from his myspace. There isn't even anything on the GOOD music website which I assume he is signed too. Intriguing mix of friends on his myspace Zoot Woman, MIA, Kanye and Santogold.
According to SPIN any connection between Kanye and Tokin Black Guy are false. I'm not convinced its not some marketing ploy. But here I am talking about it so I guess on some level its working. Check out the mystery song and feel free to enlighten me about this dude if you know something.
Mp3: TBG - "Body Clock"
Mp3: TBG - "Body Clock"
