The folks over at Showing Out got a chance to listen to Erykah Badu’s upcoming album New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh (due out February 2010) and wrote a little something about what they heard.

I don’t need to tell you how much I’m looking forward to hearing this album. Erykah Badu is, hands down, in my top 3 contemporary artists around today. New Amerykah, Part I: 4th World War was my favourite album of 08, I reckon Part II will be the same in 2010.

20 Feet Tall (produced by 9th Wonder)

The album kicks off with the atonal fuzz found all over Part I, only this time it slips into an off-kilter, warbly duet with keys and vocals that float atop the instrumentation. “You built a wall 20 feet tall / But if I get off my knees / I might recall I’m 20 feet tall,” she sings. The track ends with children screaming.

Window Seat (produced by Erykah Badu and James Poyser)

“Window Seat” kicks up the pace into a thick, rich drum groove, paralleling the best of early neo-soul Erykah with its chalky bongo hits and sultry vocals. On the track, she sings, “But I need you to want me / And I need you to miss me / I need your attention / I need you next to me / I need someone to clap for me” before defiantly cooing on the chorus, “Can I get a window seat? / Don’t want nobody next to me.” The track ends with a sudden psychedelic smear of noise.

Agitation (produced by Shafiq Husayn)

With its fleshy bass line, this short tune throws some jazzy spice into the mix, with pulsating rhythm drums and a jazz piano line that plays the background to Badu chanting, “What a day.” The track abruptly cuts out.

Get Money (produced by Erykah Badu, James Poyser, Karriem Riggins and Thundercat)

Hip-hop purists will appreciate the blatant nod to Biggie and Junior M.A.F.I.A., as Erykah gives her own spin on the classic “Get Money” by flipping it into a warm, tantalizing soul groove. Over live instrumentation, Badu sings on the chorus, “Can’t turn me away / I believe in your heart / I always want to stay.” In the background, she casually sasses, “Get money!” Throughout the track, you expect her to just bust into a rhyme, but after riding out for a good couple of minutes, the track ends with a literal round of applause. Oh, and somewhere in there, Badu promises her man, “I’ll be your robot girl.

Hit the jump to hear about songs produced by Ta’Raach, J.Dilla, Madlib and more…

Continue reading this post…

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Mos talks on:

*His approach to making albums.
*That Mos/J Cole/Jay Electronica/Talib Kweli collabo.
*The genius of Slick Rick.
*Mos Def vs. Hollywood
*Turning down a role in ‘Tropic Of Thunder’

The Ecstatic is most definitely one of the best Hip Hop albums of 2009.

Peace, Love & Mos Def

Speeakz

Shouts to Semtex

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Above is an interview Jared Evans recently did with TheSource.com and below is another unreleased track that didn’t make Radio In My Head.

Jared Evan – “Gone”

Peace, Love & Jared Evan

Speeakz

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Ryan Leslie hit up the Mo’Nique show to perform his latest single, “I Choose You” off his new album Transition. While this isn’t the greatest song from the album, I must say -  I do prefer his latest offering over this debut.

Check out his interview with Mo’Nique after he jump…

Peace, Love & Ryan Leslie

Speeakz

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Alicia Keys performed her new single “Doesn’t Mean Anything” live on the Paul O’Grady yesterday. I must say, I know a lot of people aren’t feeling this one, but I really am. I liked it from when it first dropped and in the context of the new album – I like it even more.

Make sure you check out our exclusive video footage of Alicia performing a medley of hits at her album launch party in London earlier this week.

Peace, Love & Alicia Keys

Speeakz

P.s Damn, she looks good.

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Get that Blakroc album now!

Peace, Love & Blakroc

Speeakz

Click cover to download

Today’s a good day…

The Leftovers UnMixedtape is exactly what it sounds like: A compilation of one of the game’s most talented Emcee’s unreleased and featured works. Whether it’s a promo joint from a few months back (eLZhi and Black Milk – Deep), a feature from another artist’s project (Danny Brown – Contra feat. eLZhi), or just a rare gem from years past (eLZhi and DJ Dez – Living), these Leftovers would have passed for a fresh cooked meal if you didn’t know better. It’s raw, uncut, unmastered, fresh from the studio and ready for your ears. No DJs, just eLZhi and his comrades, your speakers and you. Without the Leftovers UnMixedtape, most of these songs would never have seen the light of day, so consider this a gift, and come get your grub on!

Downloading this right now to listen. Enjoy. I know I will. Check the tracklist after the jump.

Peace, Love & eLZhi

Speeakz

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Wale just liberated a new freestyle he did over Timbo & Drake’s “Say Something”…

Wale – “Say Something”

Not really a fan of the original, but actually like what Wale does to this. Attention Deficit is out now.

Peace, Love & Wale

Speeakz

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Off Emilio’s incredible mixtape The Natural.

Peace, Love & Emilio Rojas

Speeakz

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Three/21 and Skullz Gang present the “Mixin’ Up The Medicine” music video for Juelz Santana feat. Yelawolf. Like the Bob Dylan sample, our concept pays homage to the original Dylan video as well as detailing the perspective of Juelz as a mad scientist character who must live in isolation in order to create the “medicine”. Lots of potion and tons of guns. Enjoy!

Video directed by Rik Cordero.

Peace, Love & Juelz Santana

Speeakz

Shouts to Three/21

This is ill…

From fury to folly, overwhelming enthusiasm to complete rage – madness is a term used to describe an extreme state or extreme journey, which tends to leave the participant altered, sometimes forever. In an era of political corruption, fast paced technology, and what some may argue as a cultural renaissance, madness is sometimes the term that fits best to describe the state we’re living in today. It is the madness that speaks to our generation, and The Madness (Onye-Ala) that Nneka and J.Period present to the world on December 15, 2009. Utilizing J.Period’s unique documentary-style approach to the mixtape, The Madness (Onye-Ala) is a collection of new and remixed tracks from Nneka, the Nigerian born singer/songwriter who is quickly making her stamp on the US.

Featuring guest appearances from heavyweights of all kinds, The Madness (Onye-Ala) includes exclusive new tracks from M-1 (Dead Prez), Jay Electronica, Zumbi (Zion I), Rakaa (Dilated Peoples), Aceyalone (Freestyle Fellowship), General Steele (Boot Camp Clik) & Talib Kweli.

Nneka Feat Jay Electronica – “Walking”

…I’m assuming you agree? Nneka is fast becoming a real force in music – it’s a good look. She’s had an amazing year and hope that in 2010 she continues to progress.

Peace, Love & Nneka

Speeakz

According to Billboard, Big Boi has finally finished his solo album Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Song of Chico Dusty. Not only that, but straight after his album drops (sometime in 2010), Andre 3000 will be releasing his solo project, followed (assuming they have the support from the fans) shortly after by a new Outkast album! Damn, that’s a lot of great music!

Speaking on his solo album, Big Boi said “every song that I put out sounds totally different from the previous songs I put out. I slow-cooked this album and, man, I’m just so happy it’s about to come out. I cannot wait to give it to the fans.”. He went on to discuss why there isn’t a concrete release date at this point, saying: “I’ve just been trying to make sure we’ve got the right avenues and the right brains and mindsets together to get the marketing and promoting behind it. When you work on something for, like, two years and 11 months, it’s like your baby. You want to make sure that everybody has taken the project the way they’re supposed to be taking it and the set-up is right”

I really hope we get to hear this album soon, Lord knows we’ve all been waiting for it. Not to mention new music from the God that is Andre 3000. All that and another Outkast album to boot – 2010, here we come!

Peace, Love & Big Boi

Speeakz



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Full video should be dropping soooooon! Looking forward to it.

Peace, Love & Don’t Die

Speeakz

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One of my favourite blogs (Moovmnt.com), caught up with one of my favourite artists (Muhsinah) for a chat while she was in Rotterdam. They discuss new the album The Oscillations: Triangle (out NOW!), her evolution as an artist and her future.

It’s a cool interview, so check it out…And buy the new album!

Previous: Muhsinah – “Lose My Fuse” (Prod. Flying Lotus)

Peace, Love & Muhsinah

Speeakz

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International human rights day (10 December) marks the anniversary of the United Nation’s historic “Universal Declaration Of Human Rights” on 10 December 1948. The UDHR set out for the first time in a single document the fundamental rights to which everyone, everywhere is entitled – including the right to life, liberty, security, the freedoms of opinion, association and expression, and the right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment (For more information: www.amnesty.org.uk/udhr)

‘‘Chase the Tear’’ is a reference to a paper tear-style “tear”, not a tear from an eye!

Portishead are so dope to me. A little different to what you’re probably used to on PBB, but dope is dope and we’re all about that.

Peace, Love & Portishead

Speeakz