So, the Hip Hop world rejoiced when we heard that this year will mark the ‘official’ return of Lauryn Hill. News broke (and we reported) that Ms Hill would be performing songs from her classic Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album at this years ‘Rock the Bells’ festival. But, we all know the types of performances this lady has put on over the past few years and so, our/my excitement (even though I’m not attending) was met with natural apprehension.
Well, one of these videos will reassure those, like me, who have their doubts and the other will, I’m afraid, do the opposite. I’ve put the good one up top. Hill’s performance of ‘Turn Your Lights Down Low’ was pretty decent. Her voice sounds good and she sings it the way it was meant to be sung. BUT ‘Doo Wop (That Thing)’ was performed rather erratically, sped up way too fast and just not done well. You can peep that after the jump. The sound quality on ‘Doo Wop (That Thing)’ is better than the video above.
Let’s hope the ‘Rock the Bells’ performances are much better.
Ohhhhhhh yea! The Roots & Blu on one track? I’m down. Add Patty Crash to that mix, we got something really, really, really special. Just listen, download and get your head around this dopeness. Damn. Update: How the heck did I forget to mention Phonte? #PARR.
You can call KanYe many things but not creative isn’t one of those thing. Sampling a song from the music ‘Wicked’ is pretty genius. Something not many folk could do…or think of for that matter. Need that new album.
To celebrate his show at Sonar this year, Hudson Mohawke dropped a brand new track on Bleep. ‘Snap Dragon’ is a sound clash of funk, garage and soul – bit of everything in there. I highly recommend you listen to this loudly – it’s bananas!!! Massive fan of Hudson Mohawke, so always happy to get new music from him. This is no exception.
I was meant to be going to Sonar this year, but wasn’t able to in the end. But it’s all good, our contributor, Zayns is out there and will be posting all the goings on via Barcelona.
We dropped the first instalment of our collaboration with Remedy is Music yesterday featuring Soul singer Kaana Ellie. Today, we drop our second episode; this time featuring singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran.
This guy is crazy talented and a brilliant songwriter, check him out performing ‘A-Team’ and ‘Loose Ends’ backed by the Remedies.
Just so you know, ‘Remedy Rehearsal Rooms’ is shot in just one take, so what you see is really what you get – with that in mind, press play and see what we captured.
This series is going to feature a lot of different acts and I for one am genuinelyexcited about what we’ve got to come. Please share your thoughts and let us know what you think of this. And let us know who you’d like featured on ‘Remedy Rehearsal Rooms’.
I say ‘new’, but I’m sure I heard this a while ago on Bilal’s myspace (yes, sometimes, just sometimes I do still check myspace lol). Either way, this isn’t on Bilal’s new album Airtight’s Revenge which we reported will be dropping in September. This is just something to tide us fans over. And I’m good with that, loving this. And don’t forget, London – you can check Bilal, along side Fatima & Muhsinah live at Deviation on July 17th – more info here.
Hawthorne covers Daniel Johnston’s ‘Held the Hand’ – a song I wasn’t previously aware of – and does so brilliantly. It’s a really short clip, but I like this a lot. I’m definitely a fan of Mayer Hawthorne, however I have come to realise over the years that I can’t listen to his music when I’m in like, an upbeat mood. Lol. The dude does love a minor chord – I’m not mad at it though. Haha.
Brand new track from KiD CuDi taken from his upcoming second album Man on the Moon II. This is ummm, its…Mad emo. Lol. Not entirely what to make of it but I don’t think I like it – at all. Sorry. Have a listen and let us know what you think.
I went to the movies (#orangewednesdays), came back to find after like 10 years, Dre decided to drop a new track. What timing. Anyways, as promised, Dre’s new single features Jay-Z and is titled ‘Under Pressure’. I said I’ll believe it when I see it, well, I’m seeing and believing. The song is tagged to f*ck, and isn’t the final mastered version but it’s here at least.
Was it worth the wait? Dre could have put out the greatest song ever recorded and it still wouldn’t have been good enough. That’s the problem with waiting so long to put music out. But at the risk of sounding negative – I really hope the rest of Detox comes harder than this…
“I want to set the record straight for everybody who’s been waiting to hear my music.The song that’s on the internet is an incomplete song that I’m still working on. When it’s ready, you’ll be hearing it from me.”
Love Jean Grae. Love, love, love her. Always have. Always will. Check this interview where she talks about female emcee’s, the Nicki Minaj/Lil’ Kim beef and the future of the femcee.
Using live instruments: guitars, bass, piano, strings and synths, Cookin’ Soul together with French producer Spike Miller and electronic Spanish producer VibaSound have reworked Drake’s entire album in to something completely new. So, not only do you now have Drake’s Thank Me Later, you now have Thank Us Later too. Oh and this one is legally free too. Word.
About to download this myself, but knowing what their previous projects have sounded like, I’m not worried about recommending this to you. Enjoy. Back cover art/tracklist after the jump…
Grammy nominated soul artist Bilal is set to make his much antipated return with a brand new album entitled Airtight’s Revenge which is set to drop September 14th.
“It’s a mix of jazz, hip-hop, soul, blues, and experimental free music,” says Bilal. The album is said to touch on various subject matters including love, polotics and relationships. It’s also said to “demonstrate the singer’s growth as an artist’. On speaking on the personal nature of the album Bilal talks about a song titled ‘Little Ones’ where he explains “My youngest son has Sickle Cell and my oldest son has Autism. This song is for them,”. Co-produced by Steve McKie (Jill Scott, Vivian Green, Estelle) the album features production by Nottz (KanYe West, Drake, Snooop Dogg), 88 Keys (Mos Def, Macy Gray, Musiq Soulchild), Shafiq Husayn and Tone Whitefield. (Source)
Could I be more excited? Erm, not really. Not only do we get a new album from Bilal this year, but us Londoner’s also get the chance to see him live on July 17th at Deviation. Get your tickets now peoples.
