This bassline is probably my favorite in rap right after ATCQ’s “Buggin’ Out” and Dead Prez’ “Hip Hop.” Jeru The Damaja – “Ya Playin’ Yaself” (Official Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IpZCd0bdCE Shouts going out… Continue reading
From the Fugees to Nas to the Wu-Tang Clan, the output of Philadelphia soul outfit the Delfonics is an oft-mined hip-hop sample staple source. The haunting lilt of “Stop and… Continue reading
Hypnotic kick-drum stomps and Instagrammed roller-disco vibes courtesy of New York producer FaltyDL and Ed Macfarlane of St Albans, UK indie-dance trio Friendly Fires. FaltyDL ft Ed Macfarlane of Friendly Fires –… Continue reading
This is special. Two sublime and subaqueous folk acoustic cover versions of two hip-hop classics. Mos Def’s “Umi Says” & the Pharcyde’s “Runnin” by B.J. Smith (Folk Acoustic Cover Versions) Download… Continue reading
Mini-Jessie Ware the singer meets mini-Julio Bashmore the producer. There are many best moments in this video, but the bestest is at 1min 49sec. Jessie Ware – “Sweet Talk” (Official Video) … Continue reading
When Paul McCartney’s not busy reuniting and fronting Nirvana, he may find his catchy Christmas synth-singalong “Wonderful Christmastime” being sampled and flipped into a R&B cut for the festive season by Detroit’s Black… Continue reading
So here it is, the year that was. Here are my 50 favorite songs of 2012. 50. My Morning Jacket – “Outta My System” (Washed Out Remix) 49. Alt-J – “Tessellate” 48.… Continue reading
From a few years back. Nothing as sweet to the ears as some chopped-up, warm, and soaring Beach Boys harmonies over some steady-strollin’, hi-hat-happy, ice-cold Dilla beats. Respect to the man like Nathan… Continue reading
Ambient electronic R&Business from Sydney, Australia that sounds like an album cut from James Blake’s debut. Guerre – “For Qwanisha” (Free Download) Download “For Qwanisha” (and the equally mellow, moody excellence… Continue reading
Questions drop into blues guitar chord puddles amidst gently insistent vintage drums. Arima Ederra ft Blu – “Questions” (Produced by Bhonstro) (Free Download) Download this track for free here.
My favorite song of all time gets the cover treatment again, this time from LA’s Decoders, who take the psychedelic soul of the original and infuse it with upbeat samba. The Decoders… Continue reading
Too early? Cornershop ft TRWBADOR – “Every Year So Different” (Official Video) From director Chris Curtis: “The song inspired me to go down a rabbit hole of bygone, bucolic happenings and… Continue reading
LA’s Jason Chung is the somewhat palindromic Nosaj Thing. Nosaj Thing – “Eclipse/Blue” (Official Video) “Eclipse/Blue” features vocals by Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino. It is the first single off Nosaj Thing‘s… Continue reading
90s jungle forever! Footage from One Nation’s New Year’s Eve 1997 drum ‘n’ bass event featuring DJ Hype, DJ Zinc, DJ Brockie, Mickey Finn, Skibadee, MC Det, and MC Stevie Hyper D. … Continue reading
Soulful French rap by Lille, France’s Pink Tee. Pink Tee – “It’s Yours” (Official Video) It goes without saying that Pink Tee has got the colorful patterned shirt game on lock.… Continue reading
I think this settles once and for all that the true identity of the unknown rapper known only as Captain Murphy is, in fact, quite probably, Hollywood movie star Elijah Wood. Did not… Continue reading
The kick drums on LA’s Anenon warm and mellow remix of Gold and Soil’s “Where or When” are so wonderfully soft that listening to this is like being hit over the head repeatedly… Continue reading
Officially endorsed by Thom Yorke and company who provided these fans with the band’s recorded audio feed from this performance. Fan-Filmed, Multi-Cam, Two-Hour Live Performance by Radiohead at the Roseland Ballroom in… Continue reading
Some real rhyme origami here from Homeboy Sandman. Homeboy Sandman – “Illuminati” (Official Video) Homeboy‘s poetry is illuminating.
Nothing but pure funk and positivity every time from Pasadena, California’s Mr. Damon G. Riddick. Watch him perform new track “Trying 2 Survive (In the Big City)” live in Bangkok, Thailand below. … Continue reading
I’m renaming Cyber Monday “Cy-R&B-r Monday” and celebrating it every week of the year until the end of time. inc. – “5 Days” (Official Video) LA-based brother duo inc., formerly known… Continue reading
Only five songs deep on his Soundcloud page, Manchester, UK producer Werkha has created some Francophonic Brainfeeder-ish brilliance with his song “Le Roitelet.” It starts off simple enough, but it’s the Debruit-esque bass… Continue reading
Brussels-based production duo Eric P & LuiGi are MonkeyRobot. I like how “Brick Stomach” sounds like the sound of 1980s Detroit as reworked by Orbital if they were signed to Ninja Tune. I… Continue reading
Tomas Barfod (who for some reason I always want to call “Thomas Bar Food”) is the drummer for Danish electro-poppers WhoMadeWho. Featuring Swedish vocalist Nina Kinert, the original version of “November Skies” is… Continue reading
The stunning vocal prowess of Alice Russell paired with the comedic greatness of Harry Shearer is a potent combination. Alice Russell – “Heartbreaker” (Official Video ft Harry Shearer) “Heartbreaker” is out… Continue reading
17-year-old Flatbush, Brooklyn native Joey Bada$$ continues to shine with his tight and talented throwback rap. Joey Bada$$ ft Chuck Strangers – “Fromdatomb$” (Official Video) Joey Bada$$‘s latest mixtape featuring his… Continue reading
Future organic garage and dubstep rhythms from Leeds, UK live electronic seven-piece Submotion Orchestra. They join the ranks of my top-rated, best-loved Orchestras, which include Cinematic, Hidden, and BBC Concert. What Reprazent are… Continue reading
This latest song from the supergroup Atoms for Peace (Radiohead‘s Thom Yorke, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, legendary Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, plus drummer Joey Waronker and Mauro Refosco on percussion) takes… Continue reading
Sydney, Australia’s Harley Streten bka Flume melds warm electronic pulses and pitch-shifted R’n’B stylings. Flume ft Jezzabell Doran – “Sleepless” (Official Video) The 20-year-old’s self-titled debut album is out November 9… Continue reading
Hyperdub‘s resident MC and regular Kode9 collaborator the Spaceape pours forth future poetry on this solo endeavor. Spaceape – “On the Run” (Official Video) Experimental, tribal, anxious African rhythms.
San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA rapper Blu and hip-hop producer Exile caught my ear earlier this year with “The Great Escape,” which featured expertly cut beats and catchy, phased vocal samples, plus the… Continue reading
That starry soul-hop from outer space-via-Amsterdam. La Melodia is MC Melodee and producer I.N.T. I can easily hear Pharrell’s falsetto and his signature live drums lacing a remix of this one. La… Continue reading
Copenhagen, Denmark’s Karen Marie Ørsted is MØ. The tried-and-tested pop sound staple that is the handclap cleverly and effortlessly forms the backbone and steady propulsion of “Pilgrim.” MØ – “Pilgrim” (Official Video)… Continue reading
Couldn’t decide which new track I thought was more incredible from Ross Wakefield and Toby Vane aka London’s Part-Time Heroes, so I ended up posting ’em both! Taken from “Holy,” the third single… Continue reading
Vancouver’s Teen Daze sonically articulates the beauty of discipleship using upbeat LOL Boys-style jazz cymbals and dreamy chillwave synth swashes. Teen Daze – “Discipleship” Teen Daze‘s new album The Inner Mansions… Continue reading
Glastonbury, UK drum ‘n’ bass producer Eveson laces his “Things You Say” track with a slowed-down Amen break to simultaneously create some beautiful downtempo jungle and some beautiful uptempo chillout. Eveson –… Continue reading
Full-blast future-doo-wop neo-soul from Finland. Heikki Soini and Tiia Marjanen team up with rapper Ekow from Helsinki hip-hoppers the Megaphone State for a rare English-language excursion on “Love Affair.” The duo also… Continue reading
Bat for Lashes aka Natasha Khan’s latest parlor pop single “All Your Gold” mines and mimics the eccentric, operatic success of stars Florence and Marina (and their Machine and Diamonds respectively), but it’s… Continue reading
Tell me this ain’t a dope loop. Taken from the Chi-Lites’ classic “I Just Want to Hold You.” Listen to the sample lifted from the original at 3:05. More beats from the… Continue reading
South African emcees and kwaito specialists Ruffest (pictured below) meet South London Hyperdub beatsmiths LV. This one has some serious bounce.
Another day, another completely mind-blowing Four Tet remix. FaltyDL – “Straight and Arrow” (Four Tet Remix) It’s all about those shuffling, crusty and battered hi-hats that sound like they were frisbee’d… Continue reading
Guadeloupe’s Tysmé fuses 90s hip-hop flows in French with the electronics of the early 2010s. “Future School (Ipòp Elòj)” is produced by Toronto beatmaker Sunclef. Free download of Tysmé’s latest album… Continue reading
The Miami-based, Prince-ipled, and just plain wonderful sound of Induce! The Wonderful Sound Of Induce! – “Pretty” More sonic exclamations from The Wonderful Sound of Induce! here.
Los Angeles duo Rhye return with more Sunday afternoon soul. Rhye – “The Fall” Listen to the pair’s stunning debut single “Open” here. Rhye‘s The Fall EP is released October 9… Continue reading
Relaxed rhymes from Homeboy Sandman that are so spacious you could sail a zeppelin in between bars and not even touch the sides. Flute loops and piano keys courtesy of the producer Jonwayne.… Continue reading
It’s always Friday somewhere. Kind of. Well, technically, it isn’t, but it would be nice if it was. London’s Kai Gama and Dr Sydney Velvet are the MCs, producers, and brothers otherwise known… Continue reading
Nothing like a Rhodes-y stomp, scattered scat vocals, and shaking shakers coming together to literally make it good. An absolutely fantastic tune. Who is/are the White Lamp? Rumor has it that it’s… Continue reading
Boston bassist, composer, and producer Gizmo lifts souls with soul. More songs from Gizmo‘s latest album Red Balloon here.
Waves of Elliott Smith and Sigur Ros summit and swell on this song by Swedish melodic post-rockers Immanu El. “On Wide Shoulders” is graceful and driving, like the steady, patient course of a… Continue reading
