Breeze Embalm- Fresh Pepper (single)

In anticipation of the release of his upcoming Embalming Fluid mixtape, Bronx emcee Breeze Embalm recently leaked a new track entitled "Fresh Pepper" directly to the people. Over some fully-charged electric guitar riffs and a rising tide of crowd chants, Breeze adds fuel to the track's already fiery feel by spitting line after line of amplified lyrics. The...

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Croup- Cry Inside (feat. Animal Pak) (single)

In my opinion, a producer-driven album either succeeds or falls short depending on how much of a sincere collaboration there is between said producer and the vocalists that he or she chooses to work with. Although I have no special insight into how much back-and-forth occured between producer Croup and the duo Animal Pak during the making of the track...

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Third Coast Kings- Just Move (official video)

The Detroit deep funk combo Third Coast Kings hits the scene with new music after their heavily acclaimed 2012 self titled debut album. Their new LP is entitled West Grand Boulevard and to help spread the word about it's impending release, the Kings brought some cameras into the studio and shot a video for the single "Just Move". Watch as singer Michelle...

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Repost: Spinnerty- Sound Traveler Series #4 (mix)

"As Bob James alludes to in the little intro to this mix, these are some of the records that have been strewn around the timeline of my own life as a listener, maker, and lover of jazz music over the years. Jazz has taken many forms and evolutions - it's vibe is the common thread that pops up its head thru most of the records I find myself gravitating towards. In the spirit...

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Midnight Runners- Shifted Dreams (instrumental)

I'm kinda amped-up to hear that one of my favorite production teams, the duo Midnight Runners, just released a new single entitled "Shifted Dreams". Just as the pairing did on their 2012 EP, Overdive, the Runners draw from their mutual love of 80's boogie funk and disco music to construct a track that clearly pays homage to the past while remaining...

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William Rose- Keep it Real (single)

On the single "Keep it Real" 17 year old emcee William Rose successfully straddles that fine line between "giving the people what they want to hear" and "giving the people what they need to hear". If you're the type of listener that just wants something to vibe out to, Rose has you covered as he doles out an impressive display of witty, street smart rhymes over...

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SaiR- Wonderer (single)

Portuguese funk enthusiast SaiR shares some glowing summer-time boogie funk on his newly released track, "Wonderer". With plenty of warm synthesizers and dancing drum machine rhythms, the cut is guaranteed to inspire nostalgia in those of us old enough to recall warm summer days when the airwaves were filled with 80's boogie funk. SaiR decided to share the...

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IAMNOBODI- Dearly Beloved (LP)

Only a few months after linking up with the Soulection movement to release his critically and commercially successful debut album Elevated, German producer IAMNOBODI takes his fans on another adventure through sound with his latest release, Dearly Beloved. The new album continues to give fans that expansive, groove-heavy vibe that made IAMNOBODI's debut such...

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News: Heineken Presents: Beat Society w/ Pharoahe Monch (event)

Beat Society double-header in Philly & NYC - both featuring a performance from Pharoahe Monch! Both shows hosted by Hot97's Peter Rosenberg & SiriusXM's Tora...

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Polyrhythmics- Cabbage Alley/Thanks You (single)

This week, the group Polyrhythmics will be doing a couple of shows at the 2014 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (click here for the band's tour dates). To help celebrate the occasion the fellas decided to share an previously unreleased track with their "...generous fans and the Crescent City [itself]".So enjoy some heavy, Clavinet driven Nawlins funk as the Polyrhythmics cover...

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Stanley Ipkuss- Wrapps (single)

Bay-Area emcee & beatsmith Stanley Ipkuss drops a brief but memorable slice of hip hop on his newly released single "Wrapps". Over a swaying, left-field track that's filled with stoned guitars and lo-fi drum samples, Ipkuss uses his distinctive voice to spit a steady barrage of intricate rhymes and ill lyrics. I'm diggin' the track for its dope combination...

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News: New music from Crunch 22?

While my  inability to speak more than one language has hampered by desire to keep track of all the latest news surrounding some of my favorite international bands, Google has been able to translate a few bits of news here and there. For instance, the Israeli deep funk band Crunch 22 just posted an interesting pic on their website that hinted that the band...

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Repost: Cloak Dagger- Noc Boots vol 2 (LP & mix)

(words courtesy of Cloak Dagger & Noc Boots Recordings) The ever soulful Noc Boots bootleg, edit and remix series run by NYC's own Cloak Dagger has returned with yet another lusty installment. In-line with the series sensuous debut compilation, Noc Boots 2 brings that tropical disco infused heat just in time for the looming celestial spring into summer....

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Calibro 35- "100 Guests" Live @ French Culture (live session)

Italian funk outfit Calibro 35 recently shared this video of the band  performing live at French Culture a few weeks ago... Look, I'm gonna be honest with you...I don't know anything about this video. English is my first and only language, so I'm unable to discern even a small amount of background info in regards to this session. What I do know is this: It's Calibro...

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"...Buy The Album When I Drop It!" (April 21st, 2014)

A round-up of new music that I'm feeling and want to share with the world ...but may not have been able to write about on the blog. Including new releases from producer STB, the duo i.deals, Tim Love Lee & Shawn Lee, and more ...

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Midaz the Beast- Gotta Get Ova (single)

Midaz the Beast's latest entry in his "New 52" weekly single series is just monstrous man! The track is called "Gotta Get Ova" and it showcases Midaz passionately spitting over a classic sample that's filled with tense strings and ghostly vocals. Midaz uses every part of this track, from his opening growls to his closing lines, to give the song...

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Repost: JVNTG- Cry 4 U (instrumental)

(Reposted from the Svnset Waves site) "British sample master JVNTG released a new single called "Cry 4 u". The emotional and vibey feel of the song pulls you in right from the start. This is the perfect song to listen to while cruising down the strip late night with a car full of friends. ...

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Scarface- No Problem (official video)

New video from Scarface!  What else is there to say? If that first sentence didn't make you press play, then leave my blog immediately and never come back. .....I'm dead ass serious. ...

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Lyric Jones- Love's Trail Mix (EP)

After giving fans a taste of her new work with a single here and a video there, emcee/musician/world conqueror Lyric Jones finally releases her latest project, an EP entitled Love's Trail Mix, to the world. On this project Jones makes inroads for claiming the title of "best-storytelling-raps-in-the-game"  as she gives fans a brilliant selection of cuts...

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Electroom Accostap- Black Host (LP)

When I first heard about Electroom Acoostap's (one the many monikers for DJ/multi-instrumentalist Orlando Diaz Corvalan) plan to put together an album of beats built around gospel funk/religious jazz samples, I thought to myself "...finally". At the height of my crate digging frenzy, I spent many hours wading through the virtually  untouched "gospel" sections...

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Unda- Gwan Nasty (instrumental)

This past winter was an especially harsh one for yours truly. Many of my days were spent shivering in my car while driving to and from work. Fortunately my copy of the Off The Cuff EP from producer Unda made a lot of the trips much more bearable. So it should come as no surprise to hear that I was more than a little amped to hear that the Switzerland based beatmaker...

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Memorecks- The Body Bag Lean (mix)

Producer Memorecks drops a 30+ minute mix of unreleased beats and remixes on his new "The Body Bag Lean" mix. This is an impressive showcase of Memoreck' filled with bumpin' futuristic tracks and uptempo, trap influenced beats that will no doubt make even the most uptight listener want to get up move. All killer, no filler! Dig the sounds...

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Ensilence- Buddha Smoke (single)

While I'm relatively new to the works of lyricist/writer Ensilence, I absolutely count myself as one of her fans . After recently hearing the young wordsmith doing her thing on a track with singer Iman Williams, I found myself on a hunt for more tracks to check out. What I soon discovered is that this young lady has been busy making music (and more) for a while...

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Klim Beats- Bong (instrumental)

I guess with it being 4/20, it's almost fitting that my first post of the day is entitled "Bong". Producer Klim Beats dropped this chill little number a few days ago and it has been getting love from his fans ever since. The instrumental is comprised of tight drum chops, funky guitar notes, and a few trippy vocal samples to give the whole thing a laid back, hazy feel. Do...

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The Myele Manzana Trio- Montara (cover)

Musician Myele Manzanza, who many may know as the former drummer for the group Electric Wire Hustle,  and his band The Myele Manzanza Trio recently wrapped up a tour that saw the group travelling to Sweden, Hungary and Germany. At some point during their travels last month the trio (which includes bassist Matt Dal Din and the legendary Mark de Clive-Lowe on...

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CoryaYo- Unknown (instrumental)

CoryaYo, a beatmaker and DJ from Iowa (that has been featured on the blog before), just put out this funky little instrumental entitled "Unknown" that is one of the livest head-nod beats that I've heard in a minute. What makes this track a winner is it's bouncy, low-end heavy groove which CoryaYo creates with dusty kickdrums, a neck snapping snare sample, and a...

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Digi Crates Radio- Something For 420 (mix)

Listen...I do NOT smoke weed. I'm not even about to pretend like I get down like that. However, if I did smoke weed* I imagine that I would really like to hear something like Bob Marley's Legend album or some Al Green while I was getting high. But, according to this new "Something For 420" mix from Digi Crates Radio, I'm clearly waaay off base. It seems that some...

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STB- Sexyways (Bump) (instrumental)

Beatsmith Collective representative STB (aka Stan the Beatsmith ) just dropped a stunning new track called "Sexyways (Bump)" that most likely won't be featured on his forthcoming concept album EX3. The beat layers a winding maze of warm synthesizers and 90's (?) R&B vocal samples over a rock solid foundation of trap-influenced drums. If you dig what you're hearing,...

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News: Westsound Recording Co. posts a bunch of new music on their Soundcloud page

And just like that (!), the folks over at Westsound Recording Co. just posted about 10 new heavy funk & soul instrumentals on their Soundcloud page (here). Take a listen while you can cause there's no telling how long these tracks will be available....

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Ville- Feel It (official video)

All too often young rap artists trying to make a name for themselves are met with resistance from fans my age. The reasons may be varied, but they often stem from the older generation's deep love where hip hop culture has been and our unwillingness to accept where hip hop is going. I'll admit that I'm not the biggest fan of many of today's rap stars, but I certainly try...

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Sons of the Sweet Potato- Awakening Exp.02 (LP)

The record label/beat making collective known as Sons of the Sweet Potato really know how to put together a  beat tape! On their new full-length project Awakening Exp.02 the production crew gives their listeners an impressive selection of jazzy, sample-heavy hip hop instrumentals that ranks alongside some of the genre's biggest names. While other group-themed...

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Siji- Lagos Lullabye (official video)

After going on a bit of a hip hop music bender for the past couple of days, discovering Siji's new video for the track "Lagos Lullabye" yesterday was a nice change of pace. The single (which was featured on the blog last month) is dedicated to the frantic pace and sleepless energy of the city of Lagos, which holds the distinction of being Nigeria's most densely populated...

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Revisited: Shabaam Sahdeeq- Do You (single)

I missed this single when it first made the rounds about a year ago as the B-side of the single "Motion Picture". The cut is called "Do You" and it features one-half of the legendary Polyrhythm Addicts, - namely Shabaam Sahdeeq and DJ Spinna. There's no surprise that the song is a burner that showcases killer lyrics from Sahdeeq and some high spirited intergalatic...

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Bahamadia- I Confess (Ka-Yu rmx) (single)

Producer Ka-Yu recently shared a remix that he whipped up for the Bahamadia track "I Confess". I believe the track is from an upcoming project that the young Holland-based beatmaker is planning to release through the label Art In Melodies but I came across it while checking up on the folks over at Darker Than Wax. This remix is some really smooth stuff with it's touches...

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Memorecks- Skyline (Live Beat Set) (live session)

If you follow producer Memorecks then you've most likely had a chance to catch one of his amazing live beat set videos. On his most recent video, "Skyline (Live Beat Set)", Memorecks fires up his Maschine MK2 Controller and sequences a couple of live beats while taking in the city lights of Toronto (?) at night. Everything from jazzy hip hop to futuristic...

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Stik Figa- The Pookey Tape (LP)

Admittedly I slept on rapper Stik Figa for more than minute. That changed, however, when I was exposed to the clever lyricism the Mello Music Group artist has shown on his recent works. I recently featured his single "Tuco" on the site and mentioned the impending release of a full mixtape from the Kansas-based emcee. Well Stik Figa, along with the...

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Blakk Soul- No Love Lost (LP)

I know this blog is relatively new, but I feel like I'm unable to feature soul music on here as often as I would like to because.... well... because I'm not really feeling too many of the artists making "soul" music today.  For better or for worse, modern R&B and soul music has more pop music leanings than I'm comfortable with. That's not hate, I just know what...

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Dutchmassive- The Up Root (No uFcks given) (instrumental)

Producer Dutchmassive delves into the realm of atmospheric downtempo vibes on his latest instrumental "The Up Root (No uFcks Given)". While the track 's foundations are firmly planted on a lo-fi breakbeat that seems to move at a slightly detached pace, the majority of the beat is a swirling cloud of haunting pianos and trances-like samples that give the whole creation a...

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Ikebe Shakedown- The Offering (official video)

Today (04/15/14) marks the official release of Ikebe Shakedown's new album, Stone By Stone. And while the taxman just took a HUGE bite out of my music-buying loot, I can still afford to enjoy at least one track from the album courtesy of the band's new video for "The Offering". Watch as the fellas bring their high energy, afro-funk sound directly to the people in this...

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Diamond D- Superman (clean) (single)

Respect to Diamond D as he readies his new The Diam Piece project. Only a couple of weeks have passed since the D.I.T.C. founding member dropped the video for the track "Rap Life", yet a new track recently popped up on D's Soundcloud page.  The single is called "Superman" and it features Diamond spitting rhymes in his signature NYC-bravado style...

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i.deals- Knew It (single)

The delivery date for the collaborative album from producer IV the Polymath and emcee Jondis, collectively known as i.deals, is only a few days away. To celebrate, the duo is streaming a new track from the LP on Soundcloud. The track, which is entitled "Knew It" showcases just how well the two artist mesh when it comes to making music. With every line Jondis'...

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SicknessMP- Shoot Out! (instrumental)

This new "Shoot Out!" instrumental by producer SicknessMP really takes me back with it's punchy drum chops and Pete Rock-like horn samples. This is a really dope, head-nod type of track with some impressive cuts and scratches thrown in the mix just for good measure. I can almost hear someone like Malev da Shinobi or Bumpy Knuckles doing their thing on a beat...

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Sean Rosati- Round 1 (LP)

After releasing the single "Russell" just a few days ago, rapper Sean Rosati and his label Digi Crates Records just dropped his Round 1 mixtape online. The project features Rosati spittin his signature street-level lyrics over some bumpin head-nod beats from producers Hue In Esque, Burnt Bizkits, Al Dai, The Deli, KSG, and Dapt Beats. Classic boom...

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Jazz Spastiks- The Product (LP)

The Jazz Spastiks production team have put together a classic blend of jazz and hip hop on their latest full length project entitled The Product, which drops today. While the lion's share of the album is dedicated to the team's instrumental work (which draws heavily from vintage jazz music) the LP also features vocal appearances from a venerable list of emcees...

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VLXL- Rappity Rap Raps (The Mixtape) (LP)

Let me send a shout to the site 1 Big Hip Hop for putting me up on the crew VLXL. I've been sitting here listening to their latest release Rappity Rap Raps (The Mixtape) and wondering how I managed to alllow these guys to fly under my radar. I'll admit, I'm not tuned into every artist that's making waves on the indie scene, but these guys should be getting more...

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MNDSGN- Bed (Abnormal's Simple But Dope rmx) (instrumental)

Just stumbled upon this really mellow beat while visiting the Soundcloud page of producer Abnormal. The track is actually a remix of MNDSGN's "Bed" and it is an awesome spaced out number filled with relaxing Fender Rhodes lines, some haunting strings, and a host of ghostly samples* that weave in and out of the foreground. Where the original beat lacked a real rhythm...

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Dirty Art Club- Native's Blood (instrumental)

New music from the production duo Dirty Art Club. The cut's entitled "Native's Blood" and it's a somber bit of psychedelic-influenced hip hop for the people. Definitely something to give some spins in the late night hours. The track is from an album that the guys are still working on (?) and seems to follow in the same dusted, trance like vibes of their 2013 release...

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JuSoul- Quince & Soda (LP)

Man I'm glad to see that this project finally dropped! For a minute now, producer/beatmaker JuSoul has been dropping quick snippets of various beats from this Quince & Soda instrumental album, and yesterday the full length digi-LP became available for download. There is nothing but burners on this tape. Soulful samples, jazz-funk influenced keyboard work, dusty...

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Sean Rosati- Russell (single)

Just discovered some dope new music from Boston resident and wordsmith Sean Rosati. The track is a slick, sample-driven cut called "Russell" that features Rosati giving listeners sharp edged, street lyrics over a laid back track. Live sounds from the Digi Crates Records affiliate. The single is off of Sean Rosati's upcoming Round 1 mixtape, which...

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Westsound Recording Co.- Live @ The Westsound Get Down (live session)

While checking up on the deep-funk outfit Polyrhythmics, I came across this recording of a MONSTER jam session from an event called "The Westsound Get Down" that was held back in February. The recording includes amped-up, extended versions of two tracks called "Scarlett Fever" and "Potato Cakes" as performed by members of Polyrhythmics, the...

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