If you know what's up here, you know little explanation is needed. The Roots pay tribute to J Dilla. Enough said. I'm a few days late on this one, but I finally got around to giving it the good listen. It's a phenomenal work. Hearing these joints just hit the right spot and put me back in a certain place. I might be a little biased, because I generally tend to like these live instrumental reinterpretations of hip hop joints, but if that's you -- you'll dig this.
Never ceasing to amaze, Truth & Soul Records bring forth their latest offering, a single from long-time T&S trumpet player Michael Leonhart & The Avramina 7. Absurdly funky and absolutely quality as you can expect from T&S. This, the debut 45 for the group, is now available at the Truth & Soul online store.
I gave you a little heads up about this album with a download of Ladies in April. Today, the debut album from Lee Fields & The Expressions, My World sees release on Truth & Soul Records. This album is straight-up soul. I can't put it any simpler than that -- it's just a beautiful thing. Available via the Truth & Soul shop, Amazon or iTunes.
Below is a link to the album preview, a message from Lee Fields about the album and another cut from the long-player.
The Isolationist is the phenomenal debut LP from Alaska & Paradox now available on Paradox Music. If this says anything, the entire album has been in my playlist all week -- and listened to beginning to end. I highly recommend it for drum and bass and downtempo fans alike, or if you just into good drum work, lush ambient textures and moody beats. If you're familiar with Alaska & Paradox, you can expect the same quality-forward thinking music. If you don't know the name, give it a listen -- it's well worth it.
Below is a link to the album preview and two podcasts on the Paradox Music SoundCloud page.
Truth & Soul Records was generous enough to sort out some ridiculously dope forthcoming material from the imprint. If you've read this blog before, you definitely know I have an ear for this particular label and most if not all of the artists on their roster and I'm an avid record collector -- so win/win.
Sheer brilliance by the agency responsible for the latest Adidas campaign. The track is what actually caught my attention at first. Feel good business, all day. Some of you may recognize the Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons flip, it's actually Madcon on one of the reworks. Pick-up their album effort, So Dark The Son Of Man, out now and available here. The version on the commercial is actually Pilooski's edit, thanks Martin!
In terms of the ad doing what it's supposed to do, it hits the mark, spot on. I've seen a few blogs here and there bitching about the fact that a horde of celebrities appear in the spot and making snide remarks with regards to the irony behind the Celebrate Originality campaign.
Give me a break. Don't hate.
The commercial features some of the most prominent supporters Adidas has; be it by contract or otherwise.
Get off it and respect due to 60 years of Adidas. Salute.
As if it wasn't hectic enough prior to Thanksgiving, now I'm just fat and useless as I navigate this this chaotic mess commonly referred to as the end of the semester. I think I officially lost it several days, maybe weeks ago -- but I digress. Who cares, there's good music.
Domu is a terribly underrated producer. Having recorded for and alongside greats like Jazzanova & 4 Hero, and for labels from Reinforced to Archive and JCR -- he's undoubtedly one of Bedford's finest. This cut is taken for the sequel to his 2004 Discotech EP, and is available now on Neroli.
Fat, chunky, soulful, overflowing with flavors. Enjoy.
I've been bumping a lot of El Michels Affair lately. If you're not familiar and are into heavy funk and soul, I strongly suggest you look into Truth & Soul out of Brooklyn and Daptone Records. You might recognize the sample used on Ghostface's Shakey Dog off Fishscale. Pick up EMA's 2005 album Sounding Out The City for a good primer, then hunt down the ShaolinSeries 7-inchers featuring proper reworks of some of classic Wu. Phenomenal.
I'm really blessed to be receiving this quality of music, and similarly, being able to share it with you all. I'll always stand behind pieces of music that are this culture-rich, and to me, truly embody a message and inherent creativity and progression in music that really isn't present in many other forms of contemporary music. It really is a shame how true and complex musicality isn't really present in modern music. However, that being said, when something like this comes around and shatters that entire frame of thinking; it's refreshing.
Press Release:
Un Día, the fifth release from Argentinean artist Juana Molina is a brave departure from her previous work. It is every bit a Juana record, personal and intimate as always, but with pronounced rhythms and bold low end added to the mix. The album was recorded entirely by Juana (with the sole addition of guitar by Gareth Dickson from Vashti Bunyan’s band) at her home outside Buenos Aires. It is a hypnotic record, restless, alive with melodies that surface imperceptibly before burrowing into your brain, never to leave. The tracks are informed by an ever shifting and polymorphous sense of groove. The rhythm writhing over and inside each other, played out on wood and cymbal and bombo legüero, and woven from electronic glitches.
For the uninitiated, Juana Molina grew up in Argentina and was exiled to Paris with her family at the age of 12. Her father is THE coolest of cool old school Tango singers and her mother, an actress. Juana herself spent many years as a comedic TV star in South America, but made a complete break with acting at the height of her fame to return to music (a move that, which must be noted, was met with nothing short of hostility back home). Since releasing her first album, Juana has won praise from all corners and a loyal fanbase, counting among her fans and supports the likes of José Gonzalez, David Byrne and Leslie Feist (all of whom she has toured with).
It's amazing the amount Stay True has been able to raise in less than a month, which would've been impossible without your help. They're more than half-way to their goal. If you haven't contributed, please do via this link.
Words from Stay True Founder / Executive Director, Nir Saar:
Dear Family and Friends,
Thank you so much to those of you that have already contributed. You can see your names and track our progress at:
http://stay-true.org/index.php/donate
WE ARE HALF WAY THERE! Stay True's Back-to-School Fund Raiser has raised over $5,000!!!
If you haven't contributed yet, WE NEED YOU!
Local Philadelphia businesses will donate $10,000 only if together we can match that by raising $10,000 ourselves in one month (i.e. Sept 4th to Oct 3rd) !!!
We are organizing a voter registration drive this month to help get students in low-income communities involved in the political process.
These types of events are only possible with your support, so if you can, help us reach our goal by:
You can contribute by credit card at http://www.stay-true.org/index.php/donate or Send checks to: STAY TRUE @ 2228 E. Venango Philadelphia, Pa 19134
Donations are 100% secure and TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!
Thanks again for all your continued generosity and support
Sincerely yours,
Nir Saar STAY TRUE Founder / Executive Director Phone: (248) 961 - 2173 nsaar@stay-true.org
Don't forget about Omer Saar's The Green Album which is directly associated with this cause and certainly worth a good listen. Check out the story behind the album, and the album itself.
I'm usually into forward-thinking music like this. It's refreshing to hear producers and groups try something new, something different that is a long-shot from the structured, predictable, and samey nature of most contemporary music. I listen to a lot of vintage funk and soul, and I've always held the belief that musically-speaking, those individuals had more true funk and soul in 4 bars than most modern compositions have in 3 and a half minutes.
If you recall when I postedOmer Saar's masterful work, The Green Album, I mentioned the associated cause, a Philly non-profit called Stay True. The organization is hosting their 1st Annual Back-To-School Challenge, and is once again offering The Green Album as a free download. All they ask is that you contribute by donating to the future of the students they're trying to help.
Another tribute, in memoriam, to a visionary whose time came too soon. HAROON AL-QAHTANI - A HIP-HOP TRIBUTE TO ISAAC HAYES
01. Theme from Shaft (Haroon's B-Boy Remix) 02. Hung Up On My Baby (Geto Remix) 03. No Name Bar (Tuff Remix) 04. Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic
05. The Look of Love (Ed's Remix) 06. Do Your Thing 07. Ike's Mood Pt. 1 08. Walk On By 09. The Primo and Pete Suite: One Woman, Windows of the World, Ike's Rap
Another great tribute to the late Isaac Hayes, courtesy of DJ Parler.
Tracklist:
"Theme From Shaft" - Isaac Hayes "Reservoir Dogs" - Jay-Z ft The Lox, Beanie Sigel & Sauce Money "Hung Up On My Baby" - Isaac Hayes "My Mind Playin' Tricks On Me" - Geto Boys "Gangster, Gangster" - Styles P ft Jadakiss & Sheek Louch "Ike's Mood" - Isaac Hayes "I Love You" Remix - Mary J. Blige ft Smif-N-Wessun "Walk On By" - Isaac Hayes "I Can't Go To Sleep" - Wu-Tang Clan ft Isaac Hayes "Can I Live" - Jay-Z "The Look Of Love" - Isaac Hayes "A Few More Kisses To Go" - Isaac Hayes "Tonight's Da Night" - Redman "Ellie's Love Theme" - Isaac Hayes "The Wickedest Freestyle" - The Notorious BIG "Bumpy's Lament" - Isaac Hayes "Back At You" - Mobb Deep "Hyperbolicsyllabicseequedalymystic" - Isaac Hayes "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos" - Public Enemy "Do Your Thing" - Isaac Hayes "Breakthrough" - Isaac Hayes "Joy" - Isaac Hayes "Never Can Say Goodbye" - Isaac Hayes
Instead of trying to summarize the influence and impact Isaac Hayes has had on music, and more specifically Hip Hop; I'll just point you to some posts and compilations put together by some of my favorite bloggers. Music really drives home what words can't.
Promo video of the forthcoming Dam-Funk material on Stonesthrow. I've heard about a handful of this guys' work from homies LT Smash and Omer, and this cat has ridiculous skill. From the first bit I heard, the only thing my brain could process was funk. I'm looking forward to whatever this guy has coming.
Excerpt:
Known as Los Angeles' "Ambassador of Boogie Funk," dãm-funk represents the citizens of the Funkmosphere. Headquartered in the Culver City section of L.A., dãm (pronounced: 'Dame' as in Damon) spent the last few years cultivating a musical renaissance rooted in the early-'80s styles known as Boogie, Modern Soul and Electro-Funk.
From the fourth installment of the Verve Remixed series comes the Diplo remix of the sampled classic, Marlena Shaw's California Soul. Other remixers on the compilation include Kenny Dope, 9th Wonder, Kareem Higgins, Truth & Soul, Mocky, and Antibalas.
Another relatively relaxing day at the office before hitting it to my last final for the semester. Going through my folders here on the office machine, came across this extended mix of the Public Enemy classic Burn Hollywood Burn. Already being a fan of the original, this extended mix features one of my favorite funk breaks as played by Clyde Stubblefield on James Brown's Give It Up Or Turn It Loose.
