This tune is so fu*king hard, I don’t even know what to say!!!
I’m so glad ‘Coat of Arms’ got a video release and I really like what they did with it too. Nosaj Thing’s production style is so inspired and so recognisable, I love it. Dark tones, painfully beautiful chord sections and a unique, almost-haunting, beat production makes this Californian native one of my favourite producers around at the moment. ‘Coat of Arms’ is one of the best tracks off of his (very dope) Drift album – so if you like this – you’ll love the rest of the LP.
I highly recommend you check Drift out, but before you do make sure you have some bad-ass speakers or headphones because to fully appreciate what this man does – you will need good audio outputs.
We interrupt our regular schedule programming for this public service announcement
The homie Amelia over at Put Me On It just posted a fantastic article which a lot of people (especially artists) need to read. Amelia’s ’12 Easy Steps To Get Featured On Blogs’ is a public service announcement (really, lol, it is!) and is exactly the reason why I love her blog so much. A couple weeks back she posted up an article called ‘The Real Point of Music Blogging’, which got a great response, especially from fellow bloggers – now she’s back with another brilliant feature.
This time she’s taken to her keyboard to explain, in 12 very easy steps, how indie artists, start up labels and PR’s etc should approach blogs to get their content featured. It’s so important for those who are trying to get exposure online to read and understand what Amelia is saying because I can say, without question, her sentiments are echoed across the blogosphere.
I get sent hundreds and hundreds of emails daily from artists, PR companies etc pushing new music/material and I truly love that, unfortunately 90% (or more lol) is not that great. Or even worse – not PinBoard-relevant (does my head in!). So to help us, help you – head over to PMOI and read Amelia’s tips – I really think (if you’re content is GOOD) they’ll help.
Didn’t even know this was in the works, but here we goes. Ci-Ci allows cameras to follow her around for a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ type documentary. About to press play so don’t know much more than that, hit play and check it out.
The phenomenon that is Janelle Monae performed a brilliant acoustic set at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco earlier this week. Running through an emotional rendition of ‘Cold War’, followed by ‘Smile’ & ‘Sincerely Jane’ – she once again, killed it. Will never bore of seeing this lady perform live. Peep ‘Cold War’ up top and the rest of the performances after the jump…
P.s I know a lot of people are going to find her getting ‘emotional’ during this song as contrived (especially given that she did so in the official video) but I really believe it. The words of this song are so powerful and clearly mean a lot to her. I could be wrong, but I’m OK with that.
I’m SO glad I’ll be back from my holiday in time for this!
Two of my favourite emcee’s, Pharoahe Monch & Jean Grae, will be hitting London’s famous Jazz Cafe for a special joint show come September 27th. That’s a massive look for Hip Hop, this type of show doesn’t come around a lot over on this side of the pond, so I’m crazy excited.
The first and only time I ever saw Jean Grae live was in New York City 2 years ago at the Highroom Ballroom – that was a dope night. Looking forward to seeing her again. And of course, Mr Monch will be bringing it as he always does.
P.s Don’t forget to check out our ‘Live in LDN’ round up post for August. And keep an eye our for September’s issue coming soon. Oh and while you’re at it, make sure you peep our ‘Carnival Special’ to get the low down as to where to be next weekend.
Today is a Jill Scott day in my household, specifically listening Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 right now, but I reckon I’ll get through Vol 2 & 3 too. And maybe that live album too haha.
Anyways – I’m currently on track 9 which just so happens to be one of my favourite tracks off this album (and probably one of my favourite Scott songs period). “The Way” is one of those songs that seemingly has the power to uplift your mood whether you want it to or not. A great morning song too. The melody is so beautiful, Jilly’s words are of course stunning and that chorus – ah, that chorus!!!
Love everything about this song. Let’s ‘rewind’ and enjoy it together, shall we?
Was listening to this all day yesterday, felt it was only right I shared it with you good peoples too. As part of Mary Ann Hobbs BBC Radio 1, ‘Future of Electronic Music’ series she featured an exclusive 45-minute guest mix from the one and only Joker. This mix is HARD, like – ridiculosuly so. If you like your dub-step hard hitting and grimey – this is for you. Not only that but he drops some next tunes too – when the ‘Woo Riddem’ hit – it was over. Ha.
The funkiest man on the planet drops an unreleased gem for us to enjoy. ‘Never Tongue in Cheek’ is laced with a nice back-beat (that boom clap is doing it right now), laid back chords and that oh so necessarily synth. DãM-Funk continues to bring Funk into 2010. This is what weekend listening is all about. Bless up the one and only, Mr Funk.
…My yoooot! Diggy gets both Lupe & Pharrell on this new track taken off his upcoming Airborn mixtape – that’s fu*king huge. Having Hip Hop royalty as your pops can’t help, but with all due respect to the guy – he can spit hard. Definitely gonna be checking out his mixtape when it drops – expect it right here when it does, obviously.
Two brand new N*E*R*D tracks off their new album Nothing for your listening pleasure. As we previously reported, we were lucky enough to attend the N*E*R*D album playback at the Present store last week and got to hear some of the new material. We noticed a heavy 70′s soul influence in some of the songs – this is evident on ‘Help Me’. Don’t think I’ve heard N*E*R*D like this before – it’s really quite different from their previous stuff. I like it. ‘Party People’ is a lot more traditional N*E*R*D, funky bassline, stadium music hook etc. It’s pretty cool still – gets mad live at the end!
Not the official video, but instead a lyric video (which for someone like me, a typography nerd, is bloody perfect haha). ‘FUCK YOU’ is a cool/funny track off Cee-Lo’s forthcoming album Lady Killer. This guy can literally sing ‘F**k You’ over and over and I’d still buy it. His voice is stupid. Expect the official video soon.
Official remix of KanYe’s first single off his new album fetauring Hov and Mr Alicia Keys…
…I’m confused.Update: Ok, getting a few people asking what I mean by “confused”. First up, I know I’m not alone in saying Jay’s verse is crazy weak. Where’s the ‘power’ in what he’s saying? Comparing his verse to Ye’s on the original – in this instance, no contest (and I have never said that before lol). Furthermore, production wise I feel like Swizz Beatz was trying to hard. It’s like he was trying to cram a million ideas into one 5 minute song. And the ending, I actually don’t know if it’s funny or inspired, the use of that sample doesn’t sit right with me at all. The only thing that does the song justice is KanYe’s final stint. He goes in, admittedly. I expected much more than this, maybe my expectaions where too high but for me – the original of this is 100% better. Share your thoughts…
Official remix and video for N*E*R*D’s single off their Nothing album.
…The crew and I had the chance to go down to the Present store where the band exclusively played some of the tunes off the new LP. Gotta say, the new stuff was sounding pretty nice – some 70′s soul influences on a couple of the tracks which was real nice.
Brand new video off John Legends & The Roots forthcoming collaborative album Wake Up which drops September 21st. The albums title track features Common & Melanie Fiona…
