Electroom Acoostap- Black Host Inspiration (mix)

After releasing the impressive Black Host LP last month, producer Electroom Acoostap decided to put on his DJ hat and prepare a funky mix of  "heavy spiritual loops" for his fans to dig into. The set is called "Black Host Inspiration Mix" and, as the title suggests, it features 45 minutes of rare spiritual & gospel grooves- the sort of which helped to...

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MDMay- Come Close (Rework) (single)

Singer/songwriter Ego Ella May and producer Mini-D, who connect to form the future-soul duo MDMay, recently released their unique take on the neo-soul classic "Come Close" as originally performed by rap star Common and the legendary Mary J. Blige. Where most artists would stick pretty close to the script when it comes to a track that's pretty much universally...

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ADaD- Gumbo: The Stolen Arts EP (album)

When it comes to witty and unpredictable emceeing, few can hold a candle to Chicago's own ADaD. As a writer, ADaD pens rhymes with enough attention to detail to make his verses play out like scenes from a movie. And as a performer, you would be hard pressed to find a lyricist with a voice, style or delivery that more infectious than the trifecta utilized by the...

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Stress Boogie- Glow (single)

Even though this new "Glow" single is my initial introduction to New Jersey rhymesayer Stress Boogie, the independent emcee/producer has been making his mark on the hip hop scene for a while now. And on his latest offering, Stress not only does his thing on the microphone, he also fires up the MPC and constructs a live "staking-my-claim" type anthem that's sure...

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Daryl Donald- Kept (album)

Centering his sound around cooly emotive tones and spacious soundscapes, producer Daryl Donald strikes a distinctly ambient-breakbeat chord with his debut album Kept. From the start, the all-instrumental affair creates a far-reaching, late-night vibe with the aptly titled album opener "Planets". Through the use of lush keyboards and stripped down rhythms, the track...

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Moods- Voodoo (instrumental)

Brand new chill-out groove entitled "Voodoo" from producer Moods.  (words by Moods) "I have been listening to D'Angelo's Voodoo album a lot lately.  Reeeally love the sound of the whole album so I was inspired to do this piece. Enjoy!...

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DJ Harrison & Friends- Polytoned (album)

Here's a really mind blowing mix of spaced out, jazz-funk driven, hip-hop and soul music (whew) entitled Polytoned from producer/multi-instrumentalist DJ Harrison. The set recalls the warm, lush sounds of 70's electric jazz yet each track has a decidedly dusty hip-hop grit glowing at its edges. After setting an almost ominous tone with the fluttering sounds of...

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Dudley Perkins- Me and My Brudda (aka The Cut) (official video)

Watch Dudley Perkins fire up the grill, break out the veggie burgers and vegenaise, and put it down in the kitchen in his new "Me and My Brudda" video. The song (which was originally titled "The Cut") is from Dudley's most recent album, Dr Stokley, which is available now at your favorite music spot. ...

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Tigermoth- Riddim Killa (rmx)

Back in February, Australian beatsmith Tigermoth and the Sinister Jazz record label released the instrumental album Traversing Karma digitally and made plans to press up vinyl copies of the project at some point in the future. And while a quick trip to the Traversing Karma page on Bandcamp still does not show an option to purchase vinyl copies...

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Repost: Jazz Spastiks- Move (feat. Apani B Fly) (official video)

(words courtesy of Jazz Spastiks) Apani B Fly has a wild adventure in a hand drawn, cut out paper world on the official video for the track "Move" "Move" is from the new Jazz Spastiks album entitled The Product, which is available now at your favorite music spots.! ...

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Sair- View (album)

On his recently released album View Portuguese keyboardist/producer Sair taps into the cosmic and puts together a tightly crafted electro jazz offering that ranks right up there with some of the best projects to come out of the late 70's/early 80's fusion-jazz scene. Channeling the same sort of experimental music-making style that made the late George Duke such...

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Ida Divine- IG My Shoe Game (official video)

There are probably a couple of different ways that I could set up this write-up, but honestly the only thing that comes to mind right now is to speak plainly. So here goes... I'm really digging Ida Divine's new video for the single "IG My Shoe Game". As hinted at in the video's title, "IG My Shoe Game" is a 4 minute look into the life of a young woman with a healthy...

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Qwill & The Soul Review- Ghost (single)

With varying degrees of success, I've been trying to keep tabs on the band Qwill & The Soul Review since hearing their impressive Live @ Dimension Sound Studios project last year (check out my review of the project from the previous incarnation of this blog here). During the chaos of trying to make sure that all of my "favorite musicians" contact info...

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Skanks- Martyr Music (Astronote rmx) (single)

I'm only just now becoming familiar with NY-based emcee Skanks after stumbling upon this Astronote-produced remix of his single "Marytr Music" this morning. And while I haven't had a chance to get real deep into his past work, I have no problem saying that this dude is arguably one of the rawest emcees making a name for himself today. From start to finish, Skanks...

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News: Sorceress- Dose (new release)

(words courtesy of Wonderwheel Recordings) Sorceress (formerly known as Funkommunity) is a 5-piece band from New Zealand. Their 2011 debut album Chequered Thoughts received worldwide acclaim and saw the band tour Europe and Japan the following year. Fast forward to 2014, and the band announced a new name: Sorceress and a new studio album: Dose.  While previous...

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Repost: P.SO the Earth Tone King- The Bullsh*t (single)

(courtesy of P.SO The Earth Tone King) The "Kill My High" B-side track entitled "The Bullsh*t" is a dope non-album track flexing an ill piano loop by producer Jinesis and more lyrical gems from P.SO The Earth Tone King. Discontent with merely creating the hip-hop flavor of the month, P.SO The Earth Tone King’s latest creative undertaking is designed to stand...

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Various Artists- Stratford CT | Confero (album)

Almost two months after releasing the impressive Midi Life Crisis album from producer Walkie Talkie, the folks over at the Stratford Court record label are back with a brand new batch of cutting-edge future sounds on their latest compilation  Stratford CT | Confero. The album is a dizzying set of genre-blurring compositions that range from 80's influenced,...

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News:Third Coast Kings- West Grand Boulevard (new release)

Brand new set of heavy, deep-funk burners from the Third Coast Kings! (words courtesy of ThirdCoastKings.com and James Keovongsak) The wait is over! Record Kicks proudly presents West Grand Boulevard, the new much awaited album by Michigan’s finest deep funk combo Third Coast Kings. Available now on LP + limited edition transparent 45, CD and digital download. Limited...

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Precise- Ladies Love Mixtapes: The EP (album)

I'm a fan of concept albums in hip hop. Building a whole project around a central theme or story can be off-putting to some fans, but when it's done right, this method of music making can lead to some really classic tracks (see Prince Paul's  A Prince Among Thieves LP). So when I had a chance to check out this new Ladies Love Mixtapes: The EP project...

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Big Tone- Clear (EP)

I just happened to come across this recently released Clear EP from Detroit's own Big Tone while checking up on the group Clear Soul Forces and I gotta say, this joint is live as hell! After listening to the first couple of tracks, I ended up buying the whole release because it's just that dope.  From the start, Big Tone sets a soulful tone (no pun intended...well,...

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Lyric Jones & Friends Concert Recap (live session)

On May 4th, Lyric Jones and a host of featured guests performed at the M Bar venue in Los Angeles, marking Jones' first official concert in the "city of angels" since recently relocating to California. While I'm sure that many of her fans were able to go to the show and enjoy all of the good live music, others were unable to attend and show support. If you, like...

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Funk Bast*rd- Darker Than Wax & Cascade Records Presents: "Feelings In Colour" Teaser (mix)

Darker Than Wax co-founder Funk Bast*rd just dropped this dope teaser mix featuring tracks from the upcoming Feelings in Colour double LP that hits your favorite music outlets next month. The album will be a collaborative effort between the labels Darker Than Wax and Cascade Records and will be an amazing trip through the realms of future funk...

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Che Grand- Botswana (instrumental)

New music from Che Grand! I definitely felt like writing a post about this new instrumental track called "Botswana" as soon as I heard it on Grand's Soundcloud page. While Che doesn't give us any of his signature verses on this one, we are given a solid little number that's loaded with dancing rhythms that have an almost worldbeat feel...

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Samurai Del- Aphrodite (instrumental)

While producer/beatmaker Samurai Del (formerly known as Delfonic) may not agree with me on this one (see below), I think his latest instrumental is just the sort of chilled-out instrumental backdrop that's perfect for bumpin' in your headphones while traveling on public transit. The track is called "Afrodite" and it's a hazy, downtempo number that's filled with...

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Jeepz- Reality is Overrated (LP)

You really need to get into this heavy set of funky instrumentals from Ontario-based producer Jeepz. The LP is called Reality is Overrated and it's a tight collection of cuts that takes the raw but still timeless sound of sample-based beats and gives it a fresh feel through the use of inventive arrangements and inspired source material. Fans of thickly layered, boom-bap...

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Gas-Lab- Moods (LP)

Revisiting the jazz-influenced hip hop sound that he thoroughly explored on 2013's Jazz Hop album, producer/multi-instrumentalist Gas-Lab continues his experiments in sound with his newly released Moods LP.  The album is a sun-drenched affair that mixes the sleek electronic sounds of modern broken-beat and hip hop with the organic feel of traditional jazz...

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Evolve One- Ask The Lonely (instrumental)

Just came across this bumpin new track from producer/beatmaker Evolve One out of Seattle. There aren't too many beatmakers that can hold a candle to this guy when it comes to making classic hip hop tracks, and this new "Ask The Lonely" instrumental proves just how skilled my man is in the trade of that ol' boom bap. E.One really shows out on this one as he uses samples and...

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Ensilence- Vicious Visions (single)

When it comes to New Castle, PA-based poet/lyricist (and one helluva funny video blogger) Ensilence, I'll admit that I'm a relative late arrival to her fanbase. While that's not a crime in most circles, when it comes to music blogging, being behind the curve when it comes to up-and-coming artists can spell doom for a website.  I lead with that little editorial because...

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Gabriel Garzón-Montano- Bishouné: Alma del Huila (EP)

Many of you may already be familiar with the music of Gabriel Garzón-Montano, but I only recently became familiar with his work after hearing his single "Pour Maman" on a newly released mixtape from producer/DJ Bolts (here). That single, with its relaxed atmospheres and infectious arrangement, drew me to preview and then immediately purchase Garzón-Montano's...

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Printempo- PT08 (instrumental)

Here's a bit of subtle yet soul stirring music from the downtempo instrumentalist Printempo. The track is simply titled "PT08" and it showcases a cooly melodic arrangement of samples and sounds that effectively create a soothing yet extremely hypnotic scene for its listeners. While I'll readily admit that I wasn't familiar with Printempo's music prior to listening...

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Midnight Runners- Nights of Pleasure (free single)

And the heaters just keep coming. Less than 2 weeks after sharing a new track with their fans, the Midnight Runners production team are back at it again with more modern funk goodness for the people! If you head over to the fellas' Facebook page (here) you can download a free copy the new track "Nights of Pleasure" directly from the band.  All you have...

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Repost: Choklate- Whales (single)

New music from singer/songwriter Choklate.  I'm diggin this new track, called "Whales" which pairs Choklate's  soulful voice with a lush, orchestral backdrop to create a sound that hits listeners like R&B music with a slight progressive-rock twist. (words courtesy of London Tone Music & Choklate) We are thrilled to release a new single...

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Buggz- Heavy (feat. Catalyst) (single)

This new single "Heavy" is my introduction to Cali-based rapper Buggz, but man is it one hell of a introduction. The track is an impressive example of introspective rhymes from Buggz and guest lyricist Catalyst as well as some stirring production from producer Tariq Beats. A dope track that's not so much of a club banger, more like the type of thinking...

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Chester Goldbrick- 5158 (instrumental)

Enjoy some dope late night, cruising-down-the-highway, chillwave music from producer Chester Goldbrick courtesy of his newly released "5158" instrumental. The title is a reference to Goldbrick's mother, whose birthday falls on May 1st (i.e. 5/1/1958). The track is a nice little spaced-out, synth jam that sounds like some unreleased anime-funk from the Samurai Champloo...

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Khari Mateen- Live @ WXPN-FM (The Key Studio Session) (live session)

Like many of you, I was introduced to the music of producer/songwriter Khari Mateen through his contributions to the album Game Theory by the legendary band The Roots. That initial interest was strengthened by his work on Dice Raw's Jimmy's Back LP as well as Mateen's solo work on the 2013 album Qualia: Fall. If you're unfamiliar with the Grammy nominated,...

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BrandUn DeShay- Had Em All (single)

I just ran across this dope new track called "Had Em All" from Chicago's own BrandUn DeShay and I just had to share it on the blog. I'm only just now becoming familiar with the young lyricist and producer out of Chicago, but the stuff that I've heard so far has been crazy nice. On the cut, DeShay effortlessly mixes an addictively bouncy beat with a steady...

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Aru-2- EµZik (LP)

The cover art for Aru-2's most recent instrumental album, titled EµZik (pronounced "e-music"), may look like something from a surrealist's fever dream, but the music is far from being unsettling. Over the course of 13 tracks, Aru-2 cooks up a nice mix of hip hop, electronica, and future-funk that's filled with warm analog synths and thumpin' drum breaks....

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News: The Word of Mouth Tour 2014

This summer the hip hop group Jurassic 5 will be traveling the world in support of their international "Word of Mouth Reunion Tour". The tour kicks off on June 11th in Stockholm, Sweden at the Debaser Medis concert venue. From there the band will continue to travel the world before ending the tour in August at the House of Blues in Boston,...

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Aretta Hill- Void (official video)

This has been out for a while now, but for reasons beyond my understanding I'm only just now discovering it. Back in May of last year, singer/songwriter (and fellow Tennessee resident) Aretta Hill made this live-wire video for the title track from her debut album, Void. Making sure to match the song's no-nonsense attitude, Hill takes center-stage with...

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