VIDEO | The Hue- Drive

The Hue (Radio Galaxy + H.I.S.D) just dropped some hi-tech, mind-bending visuals for their latest single, "Drive", which is from the group's upcoming album Aurora. Shout to Rappers I Know for putting the world up on the dopeness. And if you haven't done so already, check out the group's first single, "Heat Gamma" which landed earlier this year.

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VIDEO | Claire Reneé- Eternal Love

Shout to singer/songwriter Claire Reneé for 1) being cool about some random dude just chatting her up on Twitter to talk about Asher Roth. And 2) for dropping a really beautiful new video and single entitled "Eternal Love".  The song, which is produced by Bagir-Ba, is a touching ode to showing bravery and faith for the sake of love ....or at least that's what I got from it. Be on the look out for Claire's new Breaking Codes EP, which is scheduled to hit the world on October 10th.

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NEW RELEASE | Tajima Hal- Starving in the Room (2011​-​2013) (album)

A very cool selection of unreleased beats and outtakes from Tajima Hal. This is a chilled mix of dusty samples and jazzy loops straight from the crates. Standouts include "Astral Seed", the  deeply filtered bassline cuts "Nothing to Smoke" and "Soldier", the chop-heavy track "Smog", "PRGRM" and the Brazilian-tinged album closer "MADONNAH". 

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NEW RELEASE | AKTR- Conversation and Verse (album)

Capturing that lo-fi, late-night feel that makes the hip-hop themed Adult Swim bumps so dope, producer & beatmaker AKTR brings a fresh bundle of  dusky, after-hour beats with his new Conversation and Verse beat tape. AKTR's sampling and arrangement style mixes retro 80's soul with thick rhythms that sounds as if they're being triggered live by the artist himself. The album has a nice heavily-filtered, "SP1200-in-the-basement" feel about it that sounds old-school without feeling dated...if that makes sense. All four tracks are dope, but the standout for me has to be "Break My Stride (oohbaby)"

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LIVE45's | UNDA- Mahe' (feat. Meemee Nelzy)

Bubbling future funk vibes from producer UNDA, featuring some lush vocal from French West Indies songstress Meemee Nelzy. The combination of UNDA's thick analogue sound and Meemee's floating vocals make this track an especially dope find. You can expect to hear this one make the podcast/mixtape rounds real soon. Press play, sit back, and zone out for a bit.

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LIVE45's | Nif Monroe & Lashawn's Way- Love to Love Ya (single)

Some raw and bluesy, authentic Southern hip-hop music from Tennessee wordsmiths Nif Monroe and Lashawn's Way. The track is called "Love to Love Ya" and it's from the pairing upcoming collaborative project Trill By Nature. Nothing but real live, down-south spittin' over a throwback funk track provided by producer Kartel Kush. I'll admit, these are all new names to me (which says a lot about my hermit-like status considering that we're all Tennessee residents), but I'm diggin' what I'm hearing so far. Dope work all around.

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LIVE45's | Weaze Buck- Filthy Simplicity (single)

Bluesy, introspective, and defiant sounds from a rising Philly artist by the name of Weaze Buck. Dope work. 

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REVIEW | Radius- Time Travel Is Real (A Prelude to Japan) (album)

With recent trips across the U.S. behind him, and an excursion to Japan shining on the horizon, producer/D.J. Radius decided to release a brand new project to celebrate his traveling man lifestyle. On Time Travel Is Real (A Prelude To Japan), Radius has put together an album that seems to draw as heavily from spiritual jazz and electronic music influences as it does from hip-hop. No track exemplifies this melding of sound better than the album standout "Melanin Starburst". Broken beat rhythms blend in time with cosmic horns and synthesizers to cook up a sound that would most likely be celebrated by jazz experimenters like Joe Zawinul and Marc Moulin if either were still here to enjoy it. Clocking in at a little over 5 minutes, "Melanin Starburst" is an expanding and druggy affair that's best enjoyed with some really good speakers (or a really nice pair of headphones). Listening to entire sections of sound rise and then melt away becomes an almost visual experience in the right setting. On another single entitled "One For Ferguson (Healing Factor)" Radius channels the atmospheric and somewhat stark tone that many Japanese beatmakers are known for. The mood of the track is more acid jazz than straight-up-and-down hip hop, but Radius keeps things raw by making use of crunchy 12-bit drums, somber instruments, and cutting commentary via a soundbyte from the late great Richard Pryor.  And while the previously mentioned songs may cast Time Travel Is Real (A Prelude To Japan) in a stern light, Radius offsets the album's weightier jazz moments by injecting brighter elements that feel inspirational. On the tracks "Bullet Trains Will Leave Me Broke" and "Time Traveling 101 (Oahu to Osaka)" Radius' arrangements fell open and spontaneous, as if they were recorded in one-take by 3 or 4 musicians just vibin' in the studio. And on the album's closer, a funky electro number entitled "All Respects To Sonotheque", Radius trades in sweeping 70's jazz for top heavy 80's analog synthesizers and drum kits and emerges with a upbeat instrumental that seems to end the LP on a "to be continued..." note. All in all Time Travel Is Real (A Prelude To Japan) is a great work in experimental music and showcases the sort of unrestricted musical freedom that makes independent music so engaging. Great work Radius, and safe travels.

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VIDEO | Third Coast Kings- Birds & Bees

Good times, good people, and good music take center stage on the new "Birds & Bees" video from the deep-funk & soul outfit Third Coast Kings. The video and single are from the band's recently released sophomore album West Grand Boulevard.

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NEW RELEASE | Jeepz- Duende (album)

Producer/beatmaker Jeepz returns with a brand new selection of soulful, sample heavy beats with his most recent outing, Duende. On this go-round, Jeepz keeps the sound and vibes heavy with a steady stream of  beats that seem to be built from hard & heavy soul cuts from the late 60's and early 70's. Imagine Isaac Hayes-era Stax Records soul as re-edited by early 90's Large Professor and you're in the ballpark. Standouts include "Get.It.How.You.Live.It", "A.Little.Closer", the celebratory sounding "Coast.Life" and the trip-through-drumbreaks" anthem "House.Of.Paint"*.
*  Jeepz, if you're reading this...while I love "It's a New Day" I wouldn't have been mad at cha if you had let that "Impeach the President" break ride out for juuust a little bit longer. 

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BLENDS | Beat Haus Radio- Beat Haus Radio 3 (feat. Kev Brown & Hassaan Mackey)

Recently Kev Brown headed up to NYC to take part in a "meet & greet"/listening party type of affair for one of his upcoming releases. Prior to hitting up the venue, the Low Budget (?*) representer stopped by the "Beat Haus Radio" studios to talk shop with show host Fresh Daily. After a nice introductory mix set from DJ Jester, Kev spoke about his past work, ran down the list of some of his more recent projects, and even played a couple of beats live on-air for the people. Along for the ride was fellow Low Budget Crew member Hassaan Mackey, who also fired up his trusty MPC  and played a few beats of his own design. All killer/no filler mix here peoples. Enjoy!
* I recently read a post on Kev Brown's face book saying "Low Budget is no more.." or something to that effect. This post just reminded me that I need to get the full story on that. 

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LIVE45's | DJ Cozmos- The Morning After (instrumental)

Get into this soaring groove from DJ Cozmos, who turns a classic cut from Frankie Beverly & Maze into a brand new headphone masterpiece.  Really lives up to, and even expands on, the original's laid back vibe. Dope work.

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REVIEW | Def Dee- Deja Vu (album)

Def Dee follows his acclaimed 2013 debut album 33 and a Third with another producer-centered album entitled Deja Vu. For his sophomore effort, the Seattle-based trackmaster creates a tight batch of neck snappin' beats that's deeply entrenched in the straight-from-the-crates, throwback sound of hip hop's not too distant past. Though the familiar opening horns of "Place Your Bet" may spark a sense of nostalgia in some listeners, Def Dee quickly kills any fears that the album's title is simply code for "rehashing the past" when the rest of the track's elements come crashing to the forefront. In an instant, a carefully orchestrated firestorm of sounds explodes out of the listener's speakers, held together with thumpin kick drums and tight snares. For fans expecting heavily filtered, extended jazz loops and crunchy lo-fi drum breaks, "Place Your Bet" acts as a sort of warning shot, heralding the energy level of tracks to come. The overall sound and feel of Deja Vu has less in common with the dense, lo-fi funk of label mates Damu the Fudgemunk and Klaus Layer and more in common with the finely chopped, dusty-meets-digital hip hop sound made famous by producers like Hi-Tek, Chief Xcel and fellow Seattleite (?) Jake One. Which isn't to say that those fans won't enjoy this album. On "C'Mon Now" Def Dee creates a monsterous neck-snappin', head noddin' beat that is the perfect blend of an old-school hip hop jam and a spacey nu-school funk joint. Another standout cut is the powerful yet understated "I'm Ghetto" instrumental.. With only a couple of chopped up samples, a few electronic effects, and a master's understanding of restraint, the rising young producer creates a really soulful track that's just begging to remixed with vocals (cough..cough..Vursatyl... cough). Other highlights include the Roc Marciano assisted track "Marciano", the jazzy guitar laced cut "Pay More Attention", and the low-end heavy march of "Toss N Turn" featuring One Be Lo. Honestly, the whole album is bumpin' and I'm hard pressed to point out any missteps. On the whole, Deja Vu is a solid follow up to  Def Dee's debut full length album and clearly shows what Def Dee brings to the talented line up that makes up Redefinition Records' roster of artists.

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LIVE45's | Damani Nkosi- Rich (feat. BJ the Chicago Kid & Bad Lucc)

Cali-based emcee Damani Nkosi takes a minute to let the world know that being "rich" is more than just a massive collection of money and objects on his new single "Rich". Get into some wise words being spoken over a laid back, organ-driven groove. Along for the ride are Chi-town singer BJ the Chicago Kid and fellow Dubb Union representer Bad Lucc. Dopeness ....dig the sounds.

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