Musings Of Chris Lakey

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (6.14.13)

1) BLACK ATLASS - “Paris”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV_Ss20Rgzw  ::  Dark and sexy and sultry…love this tune and the video is pretty dope too. He has an acoustic version i highly implore you to check out which rivals this original. 

2) A$AP FERG - “Work”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es0sDqWnAZY  ::  I know this came out last year but it is one of my favorite hip hip songs in a long while.  The remix not so much…love this tune…

3) YOUNG GALAXY - “New Summer”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foUTbkMZ2x8  ::  I love the hazy foggy feel of this tune and then it breaks through on a good hook.  Definitely a summer sunset song.

4) EL-P + KILLER MIKE - “36” Chain”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eztVHdgHmkk  ::  Seriously there may not be a better duo in hip hop right now. El-P and Killer Mike are ridiculous together! Can’t wait for this album to drop.

5) RUBY ANDREWS - “You Made A Believer Out Of Me”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iUEnNEK76A  ::  Some classic soul for you right here! Jaaaaaaaam.

6) CARTER - “Uncut”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jag27BB2kIY  ::  I absolutely love how it goes from chill to dance all so very effortlessly…

7) MOS DEF feat. DJ SHADOW - “Six Days”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFrxuVo4oI0  ::  One of my favorite DJ Shadow songs and Mos Def songs.  This is a prime example of a sample used beautifully…”tomorrow never comes until it’s too late”!

8) FREEZE-TAG - “Fall In Love”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmwhJWU-unU  ::  Another woozy bassey one with haunting vocals…i love this shit ha!  But in all honesty i love how this one opens up throughout the track.  Listen…you’ll see what i mean…

9) THA DOGG POUND - “If We All F____”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0r5bURLmUQ  ::  Honestly one of the best west coast gangster hip hop albums ever (and one of the most slept on). Every song banged hard!

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (6/7/13)

1) WU TANG CLAN – “Family Reunion”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWWHP_Xp0Mo  ::  My goodness how timeless is the Wu Tang Clan…ever so.  While many older rap acts either fall off, try and change their style so much they lose their identity or other reasons, the Wu remains timeless.  This is a laid back jam, but is so Wu at the same time.  The sample, the soul, the lyrics etc..  Wu Tang truly is FOREVER!!!

2) DISCLOSURE feat. ELIZA DOOLITTLE – “You & Me” (TORO Y MOI remix)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrmTuh22yG4  ::  Secretly, Disclosure’s album is one of the best of the year!  Anyways this remix from Toro Y Moi, is just some sickness.  So groovy…this tune is a jam you should definitely have in rotation this summer!

3) MNEK – “Put Your Self In My Place” (KYLIE MINOGUE refix)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL-Z39Y4kpo  ::  Hmmmm this is an interest tune indeed.  It is kind of like a Boyz II Men-esque type singer,  jumps on a beat maybe Miguel or The Weeknd would get on, but I like the way it works out in the end.  You really wouldn’t hear a R&B singer as such over a tune like this, but bravo because it is well crafted.

4) OMN – “Betwixt”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4b53MrVob0  ::  This is just an infectious bending chill electronic tune that haunts over and over the words “I Don’t Think I Can”.  Weirdly enough this is kind of an inspiring song.  I can imagine hiking to this as a soundtrack but persevering through…okay, back to the song, I love the build and then the minimalism.  Good song from an 18 year old!

5) JUNGLE – “Platoon”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JkDzNOgO3U  ::  This is just one of my favorite music videos of 2013.  That is all…

6) J. COLE – “Niggaz Know”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX8_Mg1pXYQ  ::  Not going to lie, I am not a big J. Cole fan….but from what I have heard from his forthcoming album…this thing is going to be very special.  The best part is that he has NO FEATURES (HEAR THAT RAPPERS, STOP PUTTING 100,000,000 OTHER RAPPERS ON YOUR ALBUM, NO ONE HAS TIME FOR THAT SHIT!)…okay anyways, this song is definitely an ode to Biggie’s flow, but J. Cole beasts this thing!

7) BECK – “Defriended”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDSjOM42HZU  ::  New Beck always brings a smile to my face.  I love the drum programming on this one. Beck is so out of the ordinary and is a godsend to music and music lovers.  Seriously…if ordinary is over here then Beck is over there and doing it over there right.  In my book he’s like the Samuel Jackson of music, just one cool dude.

8) BEACON – “Between The Waves”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOUgUvTTjdc  ::  Taken from my favorite album at the moment (star date June 3^rd).  The whole album is incredible…

9)  LUTHER VANDROSS – “Never Too Much”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv7y6PKEYms  ::  This song came on, on my shuffle when I was getting ready for work one day this week and pretty much it was a dance party thereafter.  Kept it on repeat and no lie took me like 20 minutes to put on my shoes as I just wanted to dance and sing…while my cat looked on at my crazy ass!

10) READY FOR THE WORLD – “Oh Sheila”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbL2lMn34Oo  ::  This is my favorite (yes I rank them) drum intro in an upbeat song ever!  For some reason I think Daft Punk should incorporate this instrumental in their live sets…come on do it!  Such a good tune!

11) DEATH – “Politicians In My Eyes”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcRhnSEwVlo  ::  I have done long ass rants on other social media (mainly my twitter and instagram) about how great Death were.  In short, 3 black dudes in Detroit in the early 70s doing punk music before punk even existed.  My brother told me about them, I researched the hell out of them, got to meet them at SXSW and seriously I am a fan!!!  This is my tune, I can sing you all the words too.  I love punk with social commentary in it! They have a documentary up on iTunes…

12)  EL-P + KILLER MIKE feat. BIG BOI – “Run The Jewels”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAmLk1NYp3s  ::  Last year’s Killer Mike + El-P coming together was one of the best things to happen in rap music in a long time.  El-P’s spacey ass production mixed with a killer mc on the mic (pardon all the puns) was #thankyoubasedgod!!!  Anyways this is just another smash from them and throw in Big Boi from Outkast.  Hell yeah!

**The mixtape of the week comes to use from RYAN HEMSWORTH in the Mixmag DJ Lab.  Can’t find a soundcloud link so you’re just going to have to enjoy it off of Youtube here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwNbs8gWwL4&feature=player_embedded.  I will be knockin’ the hell out of this in my car this SUMMER as it goes from trap (I mean the real trap rap, to electronic trap, to chill wave, to light disco to 90s R&B to everything in between…you know what a real DJ should do)!!!  Dude what is the tune 19:00????????????

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (5/31/13)

1) ALT-J (ELLIE GOULDING cover) – “Tessellate”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Js93QbP-oE  ::  Ellie Goulding has covered a bunch of songs in the recent past, my favorite up to this point was her Active Child cover…well this cover is next level.  She takes one of the most unique bands out there now, Alt-J, and totally smashes this cover!  It is beyond excellent…and ohhh yes there is a saxophone solo in the middle of it!  Bueno!

2) FLEETWOOD MAC (ELSIE cover) – “Go Your Own Way”  ::  https://soundcloud.com/#elsiemusic/elsie-go-your-own-way  ::  Sticking with sick covers, check out this awesome cover of “Go Your Own Way” by singer/songwriter Elsie.  I absolutely absolutely love what she did here and the cover did this song justice! Her other material is solid too, definitely one to put on your radar (palindrome)!

3) FYFE – “Conversations”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXVolYJ6Cms  ::  I have featured FYFE a couple times now and each time he never fails to disappoint.  This song is just very interesting and I love how FYFE’s voice sits on top of the music.  Seriously this guy has talent (and his songwriting, I am digging).

4) FMLYBND – “Electricity”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9YMogtMamk  ::  This song is just dope and something I can’t wait to dance to at a pool party this summer with a drink in hand or late night at a house party with friends.  This video is cool too.  Really really feeling it.

5) MARIKA HACKMAN – “Bath Is Black:  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atWGdL2nOgY   ::  I will not lie, “singer songwriter” music is very hit or miss with me…this though is the ish I like.  Unique, peculiar, interesting, good voice and good songwriting.  I IMPLORE YOU…watch this video….AWESOMEST (not a word) ASS SHIT EVER!

6) FRACTURES – “Twisted”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3EMzMQ1w58  ::  This song is my joint.  It came out a couple weeks ago but glad they have a video for it.  Seriously some great vocals on this and I love the shadow shot of him singing.  “I don’t know why…but I’m sinking”.  This is the lick!

7) PHOENIX – “Trying To Be Cool” (BREAKBOT remix)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_1OnDBADa0  ::  Summer tune!  Summer tune!

**The Mixtape of the Week is from TIPPER with a really cool Downtempo Set.  Some real interesting chill music to vibe out to.  I just think in all honesty we need to bring back the term “downtempo”…if it is unfamiliar to you…it was such a great sub-genre of music.  You can check out and dload the set here:  https://soundcloud.com/christoff/tipper-shambhala-downtempo-set

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (5/24/13)

1) HAERTS – “All The Days”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX2YN6pDOvE  ::  Haerts has only two songs and this, their second, is just as great as their first (“Wings”).  “Wings” was on constant rotation when I was in TX for SXSW this year.  Unfortunately didn’t get to catch them live, but I am a big big big fan of theirs. 2 for 2!

2) KANYE WEST – “New Slaves”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWSkZ9ig3LE  ::  From the roll out of the song on the sides of buildings to the SNL performance to more important the song itself, Kanye is knighted into legendary status.  Yes I am a fan/stan what the f ever! “I’m bout to wild the fuck out / call me Bobby Bouche”.

3) HANS ZIMMER – “Leave No Man Behind” (from the Black Hawk Down soundtrack)  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcxQfCZ_9V8  ::  This is my favorite piece of music ever in a film and always makes me think about soldiers/war/the consequences of war/death/dying/helping your fellow man etc..  The imagery that Hans Zimmer paints with this music is simply brilliant.  Seriously it always chokes me up with emotion listening to this one…

4) SOURCE DIRECT – “Concealed Identity”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUA7EZ5eNgU  ::  If you may or may not know, I am an immense drum n bass fanatic (yes drum n bass is still around…) and though I love all styles, my favorite producers ever in the genre were this two from London called Source Direct.  Their material was dark, hard, chaotic, but all at the same time beautiful and they could produce the shit out of a tune.  This is one of my favorite (seriously if you like this genre of music check out their album Exercise The Demons).

5) BLACK HIPPY (KENDRICK LAMAR + SCHOOLBOY Q + AB SOUL + JAY ROCK) – “U.O.E.N.O.” (remix)  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFaz2GN8FKY  ::  A strong crew of rappers just rapping their asses of on this trippy ass beat.  Kendrick beasts the shit out of this track…actually they all represent.  Seriously one of the best crews in rap right now!

6) BOARDS OF CANADA – “Reach For The Dead”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jTg-q6Drt0  ::  Not going to lie, a very influential Canadian artist hipped me to this group in a meeting I had with him and since he did…hooked.  Love this new song of theirs!

7) BILLY STEWART – “Cross My Heart”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geYdxyYMpxU  ::  For those who DITC, they’ll recognize that this is the original tune Just Blaze flipped in Jay Electronica’s “Exhibit C” song.  This is just classic music that is forever timeless.  I love discovering where hip hop samples come from (the original tunes), and then falling in love with the original tune even more…case…in…point.

8) CLASSIXX feat. NANCY WHANG – “All Your Waiting For”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouumkR2osjs  ::  Just put this into your Summer 2013 mix!  Trust me…do it.

9) DJ VADIM feat. MOSHUN MAN – “The Terrorist”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpvKDi7j4LI  ::  Every hip hop DJ should have this in their crate.  This album was a secret hip hop classic by the Russian producer known as DJ Vadim and this song is an instant head nodder.  I used to cain the crap out of this on the decks (no I wasn’t some battle DJ, but DJ Craze pretty much owned this one in his routines).

10) MAYA JANE COLES feat. KARIN PARK – “Everything”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OvpiEilNbs  ::  Maya Jane Coles is one of my favorite DJs that I honestly only discovered in the past 6-8 months.  This is the single from her forthcoming album and it is just so damn groovy, funky and moody.  If you like to dance I highly implore you to check her out when she is in your town…you will dance and dance and dance and dance and dance…

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (5/17/13)

1) MAYER HAWTHORNE feat. JESSIE WARE – “Her Favorite Song”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIfdjIko3Uw  ::  Some funky soul with a touch of rock from Mayer Hawthorne and Jessie Ware.  I like the rawness and dirtiness of this tune before it smooths out.  Definitely a cool song for summer to jam out to at BBQs and pool parties.

2) MIRAGE – “Let’s Kiss”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nikc_-mJzPY  ::  Funky…electronic…voicecoder.

3) GILBERE FORTE – “Pray”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyzU0tXkMps  ::  Dude…the Fiona sample kills it for me.  This tune is HEAT!  Then the bass kicks in properly.  Dude can rap his ass off too…good video too.  All around this tune is solid.  Just dloaded his free mixtape too so I’ll report on that later.

4) FLUME feat. JEZZABELL DORAN – “Sleepless” (MANILA KILLA remix)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH2MJcPno-4  ::  The original of this tune is sick and Manila Killa did the remix much justice…just how a remix should be done.

5) BADLANDS – “Sleeping Beauty”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZDNtCcpDPo  ::  This is apparently Badlands first song ever and it is good.  Dreamy with a tinge of darkness.  Hopefully they can continue to build on this to make great music.

6) THE WEEKND – “Kiss Land”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN84vAqO9NY  ::  Any time the Weeknd drops anything I’ll cover this.  This is apparently the single from the forthcoming album and of course it drips sexiness so I am down!

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (5/10/13)

1) TRICKY – “Hell Is Around The Corner”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIxnSyqS0XM  ::  Ahhh the days of “trip hop”„,anyways this is a classic tune from Tricky (who is coming to LA…I am excited!).  So I threw it back on this one.  Trip Hop was so underrated as a genre…it is like New Jack Swing.

2) CHANCE THE RAPPER x NOSAJ THING – “Paranoia”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYetKuoUyjg  ::  Sorry this is the second week I have covered Chance The Rapper, but it is because his new mixtape is just so remarkable!  Unconventional in his own way, he has great beats, he can actually rap his ass off and is beyond interesting.  On this one Nosaj Thing delivers a ridiculous beat even in its subtleness.  I highly implore you to dload Chance’s free mixtape.  I have been giddy over it since it dropped.

 3) THE 1975 – “Haunt // Bed”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpYt_METXeU  ::  Bassy dream synth styles here that builds as it continues to thread along.

4) TWIGS – “How’s That” ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7CTo2-bAA8  ::  I featured Twigs a while ago and post that couldn’t find too much more on her but like 4 songs.  Well this week she dropped a new song which is HEAVY!  The kicker though is how dope the video is, check it out.  I hope she stays in this mysterious lane ala The Weeknd…dude though…the video…go click it!

5) JOSH SCHROEDER – “Paraglide”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqMH2nxXTYo  ::  I am not kidding when I say I actually really really like ukulele music especially done right.  I have a whole playlist of ukulele tunes that I love listening to when hiking or running or driving up PCH (I know so cliché).  Anyways this is such a great song and it has made my Ukelele Playlist (whooopty whoot)!

6) A TRIBE CALLED QUEST – “Date Rape”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks0kDOZ4Vy4  ::  The very first hip hop song I learned every word to (and I mean it).  And yes still know every single word (and the ad libs) and yes I change my voice rapping from Q-Tip to Phife. “I won’t cry over split milk / if you won’t let me / take you to the Hilt(on)”.  Ohhh and the next song on the album is classic too.  Arguably the best hip hop album ever.

7) GROUP HOME – “Supa Star”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZCNnDSKJsM  ::  Was talking to my boy from Brooklyn this week and we were reminiscing of what he thought LA was like based off of rap music (before ever visiting).  This was in the 90s.  He thought it was all gangs, shootouts, crooked police, high speed chases, but mostly gangs (thanks to 2Pac, Dre, Snoop, Quik etc.).  Got me thinking and I remember seeing this video by Group Home back in the day and was convinced that NYC was all dudes hanging on corners, shooting dice, abandoned buildings, jaywalking, corner stores, and essentially wildin’ out…ohhh how so right I was, ha! Kidding my New Yorkers (but I think it does give certain parts of NYC character in a sense).  Classic beat by Primo and I love Lil Dap (maybe the first ‘Lil’” rapper in NYC…someone look it up)!

***The first mixtape of the week is courtesy of MAYA JANE COLES and her new Essential Mix (BBC).  It is some dope house and you can check it out here:   https://soundcloud.com/mayajanecoles/bbc-radio-1-essential-mix-4th

***The second mixtape of the week is courtesy of FOUR TET and their Beats In Space mix.  Four Tet are really making a name for themselves with their music and remixes (even Atoms For Peace co-signed them by remixing their work).  If you like it odd (like me) this is for you definitely (you can stream/dload it here):   https://soundcloud.com/timsweeney/fourtet

***Lastly one of the best music interviews ever…NARDWUAR vs QUESTLOVE (2103):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8X7Re7PbPY

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (5/3/13)

1) OWL EYES – “Closure” (GIRAFFAGE remix)  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2b0QO_KLLM  ::  Spacey, bassey (or is it ‘bassy’), head noddin’, cosmic, chopped n sampled.  The bass on this one thumbs as Giraffage chops up Owl Eyes vocals beautifully.  The ending is dope too as it slows into a slurrrrr.

2) N8 ST9 – “Morning Hero”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JlKB95POJg  ::  Upbeat indie electronic tune.  Simple yet effective.

3) CLAMS CASINO feat. DOOM – “Bookfiend”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYLQJA6FhcQ  ::  Dude…this has been a long time coming.  Doom and Clams Casino!  Anything Doom touches is gold and I am a huge fan of Clams Casino (seriously his “I’m God” beat is one of the best instrumentals I have ever heard).  This one has been on rotation over and over and over again with me this week.  They need to do more.

4) J. COLE feat. YOUNG JEEZY – “Kenny Lofton” (prod. By CANEI FINCH) ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9gvHwgwkok  ::  Gonna be honest…this one here I put simply for the beat. Canei Finch produced the hell out of this tune. Not because he did anything complicated, but sometimes (actually most times) the simpliest thing is the most hard to do.  He also is responsible for the incredible beat “Westside, Right On Time” which is bananas too.  Definitely a producer who needs to be on the radar.

5) MT WOLF – “Veins”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFHJDw7CHdE  ::  This tune is pure bliss.  Seriously the subtle turns in it makes it so dope.  Her voice is amazing that if you aren’t paying attention you’d think she was singing in another language…kind of weird.  Also stay till the end when they drum it up a bit…literally.

6) CHANCE THE RAPPER feat. AB SOUL – “Smoke Again”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1aFTjvKnv8  ::  Credit due to my brother for hipping me to Chance The Rapper.  He is weird, odd voice, sings a bit off, lyrics are on point then off point, but man he is quite interesting.  Looked up a few of his live shows and he’s legit (gets crowd hype, knows how to perform live etc.).  Anyways this song is great as he is joined up by Ab Soul on this cool tune off of his new mixtape, Acid Rap.

7) DJ QUIK – “Loked Out Hood”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FANc-6cUrJ0  ::  So this week Jason Collins (who I played high school ball against and who my brother went to school with) who plays on the Washington Wizards came out of the closet this week (1^st active pro athlete to do so in USA).  The article he wrote in Sports Illustrated is outstanding and I would encourage you to read it.  Anyways in the article he talked about his first rap album ever was Quik Iz The Name by DJ Quik when he was 14.  I think I would be safe to say that if Dr. Dre is the king of west coast rap producers, DJ Quik is the people’s champ!  Anyways here is a classic cut off of Quik Iz The Name!

8) SHABAZZ PALACES – “Free Press And Curl” (Live)  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br2pvioqusU  ::  One of the most interesting rap groups in the last 5 years is Shabazz Palaces.  Based out of NYC they comprise of a multi-instrumentalist and ‘Butterfly’ of the defunct group Digable Planets.  Now these guys are easily in their 40s, but seriously run circles around 95% of hip hop today.  The music is crazy creative and the lyrics/flow/vibe is just plain dope.  I posted a live version of this song above, but also check out them doing a full live performance here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djFrCb03-OI.  This is just seasoned veterans of their craft just doing the damn thing.

***The mixtape of the week is courtesy of NICOLAS JAAR and his live set at Boiler Room NYC.  Set is just just really really good.  You can check it out here:  https://soundcloud.com/kathe-rina/nicolas-jaar-boiler-room-nyc(you can also YouTube it, if you want to see him actually in the mix, mixing it).

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (4/26/13)

1) SIA – “Kill And Run”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tqJVn6S85o  ::  This song is so fucking spectacular.  Sia straight NAILS IT!  One of my favorite songs of 2013 so far (top 10)!

2) ASTR – “Operate”  :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4xuM05T_tU  ::  This is like some dope indie meets trap and it is done really well.  This tune is heavy…tell me it doesn’t have you boucin’!

3) NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS – “Animal X”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCwMPHYg7AU  ::  This was released for Record Store Day 2013 and it is almost as if Nick Cave is really doing some dark sultry spoken word.  Anything he touches is gold and his voice is so damn distinctive…

4) MADLIB/QUASIMOTO – “Planned Attack” ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0sPtj57inQ  ::  This is just vintage Quas + Madlib.  Man after hearing this track had me playing The Unseen this week.  Classics!

5) KANYE WEST feat. GLC and CONSEQUENCE – “Spaceship”  :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTjugAgCR6M  ::  My favorite Kanye west song ever!  The flip of the Marvin Gaye sample is tremendous cause it is so simple but so damn effective and his verse on this is probably my favorite from any of his songs ever.  I remember waaaay back in the day (literally like 70 people in the crowd) seeing him perform this with GLC “The Knockout King”…it was one of my concert highlights of life.  “yeah I stole never got caught / take me to the back and pat me / askin’ me about some khakis / but let some white people walk in / I bet you they show off they token blackey”, ha!  First Kanye song I learned verbatim (and consequently I can’t listen to the Marvin Gaye original tune anymore without rapping over it…thanks Yeeezy).

6) FOUR TET – “Pyramid” (ATOMS FOR PEACE remix)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diesGQRz3Q4  ::  I love Four Tet (one of the best things I saw at Coachella, Yuma tent dancing like crazy) and mix in an Atoms For Peace remix.  Nigel and Thom Yorke did this song interesting justice.  Dare to be different!

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (4/19/13)

1) DAFT PUNK feat. PHARRELL and NILE RODGERS – “Get Lucky” (Radio Edit)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aqzm_RuFlk  ::  Really not too much needs to be said…The Robots are coming back for your soul!  If I see you at a party and this song comes on and you don’t even slightly nod your head, I am not kidding…I will DE-FRIEND you.  The great thing about this song (and Daft Punk) in general is that it is all about non-pretentious dancing (whether you have the moves of James Brown or you have two left feet).  Dance people and don’t be afraid…it is one of the best joys of life!  And please please please please let’s not remix/trap out/dubstep out/mashup the album so quick after release because honestly all you’re doing is probably going to ruin it…just let it breathe for a while.  Sorry to sound crabby, but it is true.

2) POLICA feat. JUSTIN VERNON – “Tiff”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_vx7AMkUMU  ::  I love Polica…I love Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), song is perf!  Channy’s vocals once again are entrancing and so right for a song like this.

3) JOSEF SALVAT – “Hustler” ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6DPoIGHwmQ  ::  “I’ve got the heart of a hustler / Playing a dangerous game”…wow this song is so beautiful!  Who is Josef Salvat?  Definitely  check out this beautifully awesome song. 

4) SZA – “Wings”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCIDjynUSso  ::  I put Sza’s free EP in my blog last week (seriously go download it), but I had to just mention her song “Wings”.  Whereas many in this sub-genre of futuristic electronica R&B are doing spacey/minimalist songs, I love how lush her production is.  Check it out on this tune.  The beats are HARD AS FUCK but it is still sexy and sultry as hell!

5) COMMON feat. COCAINE 80s – “Congratulations”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWIH_oPUZWM  ::  This ditty from Common is such a great head nodder with a great story behind it.  I like Common in this zone.

6) LONDON GRAMMAR – “Wasting My Young Years”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kA3P26H2c  ::  This song is beautiful and her voice is unique (it’s like a bit ‘off’ but that’s what gives it a crazy amount of character and depth). Fin.

7) BIG K.R.I.T. – “R.E.M” ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maFrnrE0m9c  ::  Big KRIT is a pretty underappreciated rapper and producer.  He flipped this James Blake sample nicely.  This mixtape is pretty solid too.

8) CHILDISH GAMBINO – “Think Of Me” (prod. by CUT CHEMIST)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WXbvI7_m60 ::  Another underappreciated rapper, Childish Gambino has lyrics.  This is a cool tune produced by Cut Chemist.  Just a rapper rapping solidly!

9) MR. LIF feat. EL-P, JEAN GRAE and AKROBATIK – “Post Mortem” ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uE5yH8crgg  ::  One of the finest MCs to come out of Boston, Mr. Lif!  This song takes it back, the beat by El-P is killer.  I still have fond memories of beat juggling this instrumental on my Technics.  Lyrical fire too!

***The mixtape of the week is by ISAAC FERRY and it is a live Funk Mix NYC Fashion Week @ The Standard.  So if you like Funk music you should check it out stream/download it:  https://soundcloud.com/isaacferry/funk-mix-nyc-fashion-week-the

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK + COACHELLA PICKS (4/11/13)

1) TNGHT – “Acrylics”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm7XRkpkti4  ::  Massive tune from TNGHT.  I just like that their beats are very layered and the layering is as important as the bass or the stabs.  Can’t wait to see them at Coachella.

2) EAZY-E – “Boyz In Da Hood”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGeNDnYcQOA  ::  This is up because a couple of weeks ago I forgot to blog it on anniversary of Eazy-E’s death.  Was he the best rapper, no…best writer, no, but he is responsible for being the ring leader of rap music’s best group ever (yeah…ever)…YES!  NWA is my favorite rap group ever (got a huge poster of them in my office with Cube with that jeri curl looking like a menace) and yes this is the song everyone knows, but it still is hard as hell (btw Cube wrote it while taking the bus to Compton from LAX).  Also the real version of the song is like 10,000 verses ha.  RIP Eazy-E!

3) ATU – “The Way I Feel”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb7qA7rrRhc  ::  A 1:24 snippet of pure unadulterated sexiness!  More from Atu…please…like…now…wait…I mean…now.

4) FLOBOTS – “Handlebars” ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLUX0y4EptA  ::  This song is amazing but the video is one of my top 5 videos of all time.  The story of it is so damn compelling.  It is a stunning piece of storytelling via pictures and makes you really think about innocence, the loss of innocence and for me a reflection of where one is in life to where one began (when times were simpler).

5) YASLIN BEY (aka MOS DEF) – “The Light Is Not Afraid Of The Dark” (prod. by KANYE WEST)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRKCMtJjY7w  ::  Mos Def (I’m not calling him Yaslin Bey) dropped my favorite hip hop album of all time, Black On Both Sides (and #2 album ever besides Stevie Wonder’s ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’) and he continues to amaze me (though I wish his release schedule was more consistent).  Anyways as always he rides the beat perfectly, his wordplay is excellent, he makes me think and head nod.  Also don’t fret with Kanye on production…one thing about Kanye, as over the top as he can be, he can jump right back in his production bag (or rhyming) and keep it simplistic yet still effective.

***The mixtape of the week is actually a free EP download from SZA.  It is ‘alternative R&B’ but seriously the production on here is amazing and SZA is amazing over it.  Go and download this ish and bump the hell out of it.  Pick it up here:  http://www.mediafire.com/?ab5yaltarg3zru2.  You can preview the tracks on SZA’s soundcloud (say that 10x fast) here:  https://soundcloud.com/justsza

Lastly I am off to Coachella and wanted to share with you my 5 things I am most excited to see.  Fortunately I have seen a lot of the acts before and it is damn near impossible to pick 5 things, but if I had to pick 5 things with the ‘holy shit there is no way in hell I’m missing them’ list here it is:

*TNGHT – Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaatz!!!! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ia34yXU1gw

*2 CHAINZ – Yeah f-you I love 2 Chainz (hell I wish they had Waka Flaka at Coachella I’d be there too).  This can either be the best thing ever or the worst…who cares cause 2 Chainz in my mind is straight hilarious and hipsters getting turnt up will be…ha!  Please please please play “banz to make her dance” so everyone with 100,000 wristbands on and think they are important can think the song is about them! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVjeKltMVJs

*BAT FOR LASHES – “Glass” is one of my all time favorite songs.  I love this band. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeLNuQdfcQw

*RONI SIZE – Now I heard he’s bringing Reprazent with him.  If he is…hell-f**kin’-o!  Btw MC Dynamite is the best dnb MC living period (always #1 is Hyper D). - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwI0gbGEyuI

*WU TANG CLAN – Up from the 36 chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaambers! *anyone I see with Wu Wear on during this set I’ll buy you a beer*…can we petition for Shyheim ‘aka the Rugged Child’ to roll through with Remedy and Cappadona and Sonz Of Men and Killarmy and Killah Priest and Gravediggaz (damn seriously I could go on with all the Wu Affiliates) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuZVbShtNeU

*If RONI SIZE doesn’t bring Reprazent then I’m replacing him with JAMES BLAKE or DEAP VALLY

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (4.5.13)

1) DAUGHTER – “Medicine” (THE CHAINSMOKERS remix)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB2xFHAP9f8  ::  Liking this remix here.  Great build and the voice of Daughter is so smokey over this almost trancey-esque tune

2) SZA – “Aftermath”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqOmwHBV1eM  ::  holy shit this tune is so dope!  I don’t know who WNDRBRD is, but he/she/them produced the hell out of this song and Sza’s voice is fucking perfect!  Sza is amazing (new fan here)!

3) CHLOE HOWL – “I Wish I Could Tell You”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKLhnEFwH2c  ::  This video is odd but very cool.  The tune is good too.  Late night steez right here.

4) KID CUDI feat. TOO $HORT – “Girls” ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seQJMvsUYV0  ::  Cudi!!!  Add in Too $hort!!!  Nuff said. “I see pretty girls everywhere I go / every everywhere I go / every everywhere I go” *so many colors and sizes…so many surprises*. Brrrrrrap!!!

5) JAMES BLAKE feat. RZA – “Take A Fall For Me”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPC0ZdU9Jqg   ::  Are you kidding me…James Blake’s album is going to be a fucking classic!!! Fucking RZA murks it so insane. I seriously have listened to this song 100 times.  So good (I need to know that wailing sample in the background…DITC!)

6) BJORK – “Pluto”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-QNxD56p_U  ::  My third favorite (yes I rank them) artist of all time, I included this old joint from Bjork because her tix to the Hollywood Bowl went on sale and it spurned me to relisten to Homogenic (which sonically is one of the best albums ever [not to mention electronic albums. Seriously if you are a producer in electronic music and want to hear a non-edm ‘stadium status’ electronic album, this is the one to study]).  “Pluto” is quite crazy, but I love it…the distortion, the beautiful chaos…nothing is funnier than me trying to sing the shit out of this shit ha!

7) DANNY BROWN – “Express Yourself”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1Wbg0SJZyo  ::  Danny Brown fits so ill over this spacey ass trap beat.

8) RYHE – “Open” (S O H N remix)  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0BczePr2P4&feature=player_embedded#!  ::  Killer remix by one of my favorite remixers of late, SOHN.  Does this beautiful song much much justice!

***The mixtape of the week is courtesy of RYAN HENSWORTH and it has everything you want from R.Kelly to Henry Mancini to Janet Jackson to trap to indie to…whatever…check it out here:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rkx70

 

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (3.29.13)

1) TYLER, THE CREATOR feat. LAETITIA SADIER and FRANK OCEAN – “PartyIsntOver/Campfire/Bimmer” :: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=___HMip2H1Y :: Three new tracks off of Tyler’s anticipated album…I am a fan!

2) ACTIVE CHILD – “Evening Ceremony” :: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkj5wz8oiiY :: While I love Bon Iver I really love Active Child. his last album was great and this tune I hope is a precursor to a new one.

3) THE BULLITTS feat. YASLIN BEY (aka MOS DEF), JAY ELECTRONICA and LUCY LIU :: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXNzy12YIkU. :: Seriously Mos Def (as he will always be to me) and Jay Electronica need to drop albums already…

4) FYF – “Lies” :: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6Bgj_OJU3M :: Everything FYF has been putting out as of late has been quality.

5) PAPER DIAMOND & CHRISTIAN RICH feat. ANGELA MCCLUSKEY – “XIX” :: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4WbN6H9fCs :: love this tune…wow.

6) SCHOOLBOY Q – “Yay Yay” :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EeGB69Blwc :: First single from Schoolboy Q’s album and it is freaking dope as hell!!!

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (3/22/13)

1) KEATON HENSON – “Milk Teeth”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABON2M0D4qg  ::  In my Top 10 songs of 2013 so far…Period.

2) GLASS CANDY – “The Possessed” (Extended Runaway Edit)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI1SyRiki4E  ::  Kind of upset I missed Glass Candy this year at SXSW, but those are the breaks.  Anyways this extended edit of ‘The Possessed’ is chill and synthy.  Love the warped out waa waa sound (yes I said ‘waa waa’).

3) RUSTIE – “Triadzz”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aUl3mVId3w  ::  This sporadic instrumental tune by Rustie is heavy on bass, drums and a whole lot of in between.  Definitely a tune you have to listen to a couple of times to appreciate all that is going on in it, plus you’ll probably catch something you didn’t hear the first time.

4) HAR MAR SUPERSTAR – “Lady, You Shot Me”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzH-2kFMpus  ::  Some funky ass shit! Seriously this tune is awesome!

5) LIL WAYNE feat. JUICY J – “Trippy”  ::  https://soundcloud.com/hhcerecords-1/lil-wayne-ft-juicy-j-trippy  ::  Love hate relationship with Lil Wayne I have (talking like Yoda now)…anyways when he is ‘on’ he is really ‘on’ and this tune I love and Juicy J is steadily becoming the most hilarious rapper/character out there, but he is a producer monster (seriously old 3-6 Mafia stuff was just produced so well).  Anyways this tune knocks.

6) KENDRICK LAMAR feat. JAY Z – “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” (remix)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ5-Soe3NJ0  ::  Simply put…Kendrick’s 2^nd verse is the verse of the year so far in 2013.  Lyrically destroyed it…ohhh yeah some guy named Jay-Z is on this too.

7) NEKO CASE – “That’s Who I Am”  ::  https://soundcloud.com/fantasylabelgroup/thats-who-i-am-neko-case/  ::  Don’t be fooled (or cliché) because not all country is bad (actually some of the best songwriters are country writers in my opinion)…anyways I like this tune and as one commentor wrote…”nice as pie”.

8) ALELA DIANE – “The Way We Fall” ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg_BYEu2wJ4  ::  Alela’s voice is so great…not exactly pure sounding, but the tinge of roughness in it gives it life/character/a heart.  The music accompanying her is a thing of beauty and there are a couple different “movements” in this one song…love it.

9) DENIRO FARRAR – “Play No Games” ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5apLU45YQ4  ::  Damn how was I sleeping on this dude!  Definitely spitting some real rap shit over a ill ass beat that Ryan Hemsworth produced.  D-O-P-E!!!

10) SHLOHMO feat. JEREMIH – “Bo Peep (Do U Right)” ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrudElutfDc  ::  Ummmmm Shlohmo once again just shows why he is on another level producing and constructing just fantastic song.  I need to see him live.

11) PRINCE INNOSENCE – “Golden Hour” ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn2VLIn4O5o   ::  Power electro-synths + bass + then beat kicks in = Head nod factor at 10!

***First mixtape of the week is by…yes he who I blab about all the time…XXYYXX!!!!!!  This is his Boiler Room Set from a couple of days ago.  Peep it here:  https://soundcloud.com/platform/xxyyxx-60-40-minute-set-boiler.  I got to catch his set at sxsw and it was bananas!!! People dancing on stage, in the rafters, at the bar, on the bar, on the stairs…crazy!  Honestly if the first track on this mix doesn’t get you moving I don’t know if we can be friends.

***The second mixtape is something I meant to post before I bounced to Austin for the week of SXSW…better late than never as they say.  It is the M.I.A. – Matang Mix For Kenzo:  https://soundcloud.com/miauk/mia-matangi-mix-for-kenzo.  It is really good!

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (3/1/13)

1) PASSION PIT feat. JUICY J – “Constant Conversations” (remix)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jVWe-b-mkM  ::  This is an interesting remix as Juicy J jumps on this Passion Pit song and fits in like a glove.  Juicy J is a character, but musically he is on point (especially when he produces). This is a sweet collab.

2) FYFE – “St Tropez”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvgzCy9dNPY  ::  This is just a good tune.  Starts off quiet and cute and then builds.  The horns and the drum programming are what make it for me.  This is screaming for a good remix (hence the word “good”).

3) TYLER, THE CREATOR – “Fish”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAdbR5Q-Tao  ::  With Tyler’s new album coming out soon, I have been going back listening to my favorite cuts from him and the OFWGKTA crew and this one is one of them.  Love Frank Ocean’s part too…more of a fan of his when he guest stars and he comes clean on this one too.

4) MO – “Pilgrim” (MS MR remix)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD26aZ2fP3Y  ::  I am becoming a huge fan of MO (the “O” actually has a slash through it, but I don’t know how to make it do so on my computer)…anyways this original song I have profiled before, here Ms Mr (who yes I love too) did this remix justice!

5) BLACK DOTS – “Captain, Won’t You Help Me?”  ::  https://soundcloud.com/loveourrecords/black-dots-captain-wont-you  ::  Some good psych-rock!!!

6) LITTLE BOOTS – “Motorway”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBUv5VZWHNo  ::  This is how you come back from a 4 year hiatus!  Freaking love Little Boots and this has been my jam all week!

7) RZA – “Do You Hear The Bells”  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaZDPpqy3gQ  ::  “digital, digital / Bobby Bobby Bobby / yo fuckin’ up the mic be my hobby”…this entire Bobby Digital album was so slept on.  This is my tune as RZA seemingly ramble raps for like 10 minutes straight (spelling his name no less than 4 times ha)…awesome!

8) GHOST BEACH – “Tear Us Apart” (CHAD VALLEY remix)  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miYIf81hxjg  ::  I love about anything Chad Valley touches right now and this is another good one.  Some synth-step (I just made that up and you won’t get the ‘step’ part unless you know electronic music)…whatever it is good.

9) THE WARRIORS THEME SONG (film) by BARRY VORZON  ::  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydL3svXFQ84  ::  So my new hiking trend is to hike up hills and run down them and this song has been my adrenaline boost.  First up I have a vintage Warriors poster in my office that stares at me every day, secondly this is one of my favorite movies of all time, thirdly I hope they never remake it (it won’t work) and fourthly…”can…you…dig…it”!

***First mixtape of the week is by DJ WILLZ  entitled ‘New Jack Swing Mix Pt. 1” and you can stream/dload it here:  https://soundcloud.com/dj-willz-1/new-jack-swing-mix-pt-1-old.  Ummm New Jack Swing was such a good genre of music and it literally came and went in 4-6 years in the 90’s.  Who cares cause those of us who were young and around when I was out, it was the ish!  Seriously I remember having danceoff’s with my friends and family to all these classic joints.  I may need to bust this mix out this summer at a pool party.

***The second free mixtape of the week is from DON PASCAL and entitled “Jazz & Samba Mix” to which you can get here:  https://soundcloud.com/don-pascal/jazz-samba-mix.  Just a great listen of jazz and samba fused together.  Great for background music that may get you grooving…

5 THINGS I WAS LISTENING TO THIS WEEK (2/22/13)

1) PHOENIX – “Entertainment”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86_TqlVQscQ  ::  They are baaaaack!  Love Phoenix so much and this is a great kick off for their new album.  Can’t wait until Coachella.

2) SIR SLY – “Easy Now”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzd8KwvR7LE  ::  This trio out of LA only has four songs out (this being the newest), but all four are excellent!  I just love the sound of the hook.  They are definitely on my radar…

3) THEOPHILUS LONDON feat. TROUBLE ANDREW – “Snow Angel”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brrgv-_2Ujohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB5RfOwrmWQ  ::  Theophilus London is only part of a handful of artists I feel can do rock, electro, hip hop and pretty sound comfortable over any genre of music (but sounding like he actually is a part of that particular culture).  Anyways he kills this song (and is that the tone from Kid A in the background???).

4) LITTLE DAYLIGHT – “Overdose” (TWICE AS NICE remix) ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljmro5W42mA  ::  Just a cool driving electronic pop tune!

5) LAURA MVULA – “Green Garden” (S O H N remix)  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8jglZVYWCk  ::  Ummm first up you should know of Laura Mvula.  Seriously she is straight up dope.  Secondly what S O H N did on this remix was excellent.  Nothing major, just enough to make it a great head nodder.

6) SHLOHMO feat. HOW TO DRESS WELL – “Don’t You Say No”  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP_pVPxWlrk  ::  I think I have featured Shlohmo a ton on this blog…and it is for a good reason, everything he touches I seem to like.  This tune with How To Dress Well is some spacey, electronica, soundscapey R&B that is in its own lane from say The Weeknd.  Tune!

7) THE POSTAL SERVICE – “Such Great Heights” (TEAM BAYSIDE HIGH bootleg)  ::  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d81npkEUjmQ  ::  Always a huge huge risk to take on remixing a classic/great/critically acclaim tune because 95% of the time it is shit and just spurns hate.  Team Bayside High however does this song justice!  Loving it.

***Mixtape of the week is kind of old but I stumbled across it this week and it has been on rotation every morning when I wake up (nothing like dancing in the shower, eh).  It is the Essential Mix from MAYA JANE COLES back from July 9, 2011.  Seriously if you love deep house, this one is for you!!!  You can stream/dload mix here:  https://soundcloud.com/r_co/maya-jane-coles-essential-mix