Another solid leak from Ne-Yo’s forthcoming Libra Scale album, things are looking up. Featuring Fabolous, this R&B slow jam is doing it’s damn thing right about now. Real nice melody, reminds me of something Donell Jones could have sung. I think when I get the the new album, I’ll just do a little re-edit in my iTunes, get rid of any David Guetta-esque tracks and chill out to this good-ish.

Download: Ne-Yo Feat Fabolous – ‘Crazy Love’

Off Aloe’s new album Good Things, out now.

I am on an XX ting tonight for sure people…This was dropped on Gilles Peterson’s show last night. A real dope remix of the XX’s VCR from that king of the refix…Fourtet. You know it makes sense

Download: The XX- ‘VCR’  (Fourtet remix)

Here is a new offering from producer and remixer extraordinaire….Jamie XX. Man behind the boards of those Mercury winning murkle murkers the XX. A really dope track that for me sounds like the love child of James Blake, J.U.S.T.I.C.E, Mount Kimbie and Jamie himself. The steel pans are smashing (he made the track because he had just bought some and wanted to put them to use) and this is definitely worth some ear time. Lovely….just lovely.

Download: Jamie XX – ‘Far Nearer’

Been waiting to watch this all day….I dig it. Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, and the Roots take us through a hip-hop history lesson featuring Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight”, Run-D.M.C.’s “Peter Piper”, Digital Underground’s “The Humpty Dance”, Snoop and Dre’s “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang”, Biggie’s “Juicy”, Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat”, Jay’s “Empire State of Mind” and more. I wish we had something like the Fallon show over here….but all our presenters are brass and the bands just dont cut the Roots quality mustard…..

This is better than that mediocre ish she put out yesterday, but the subject matter is so played out, it’s just boring. The production is pretty nice though. Ciara remains in her musical cul-de-sac.

Download: Ciara – ‘Shut Um Up’

Press play people. The mix starts with the banger ‘Nervous’ by Jessie Ware and SBTRKT himself…that track is going to be a serious serious smash!!! You can download the mixtape here. Check the tracklist…well worth some time!! It has some really dutty tracks sprinkled in for good measure (Karizma….Mount Kimbie….Seiji!! …my gaaard)

01. Jessie Ware & SBTRKT – Nervous
02. SBTRKT – Deep Sea Creature
03. Benga – I Come From London
04. Humanleft – Arnaud & Bernard
05. Cosmin TRG – Liebesunde
06. Mr De – Whoneleeone
07. Seiji – The King
08. Headhunter – Prototype (Modeselektor Remix)
09. Terror Danjah – Power Grid
10. Pearson Sound – Wad
11. Mount Kimbie – Carbonated
12. Girl Unit – IRL
13. SBTRKT – Fright
14. Greenmoney – Suh Mi Stay (Karizma Remix)
15. Altered Natives – Restless Natives
16. Joe – Claptrap
17. Distal – Tortellis Slave
18. Boy 8 Bit – The Keep
19. SBTRKT – Step In Shadows

Simply put, this is delicious.

A soft, yet powerful new song from the ever talented Nikko Gray entitled ‘Water On the Moon’. This winter listen with it’s sustained chords, backed by Gray’s angelic vocals, which at times drift from subtle musings to a full on powerful awakening, is something to behold. I’m so in love with this right now.

Delicious.

There’s a video of this creeping around but unfortunately Vimeo is playing up at the moment. Will post up as soon as I can.

Shouts to BLS

Been listening to a lot of Faith Evans this week – mainly her debut album and her Faithfully album, I love, love, lover her voice. So it bugs me to say that I haven’t necessarily been feeling her new material. It’s not terrible, not at all – it just isn’t enough. I need some more energy from her, I need that fire she used to bring. This sounds like an album filler. Unfortunate. Even her track with Keyshia Cole, which again, wasn’t terrible, should have been more.

Download: Faith Evans Feat Redman – ‘Party’

We’ve been tellin’ you about the Christian Rich guys for a minute now, here’s a brand new track featuring Colin Munroe called ‘Say My Name’. Hmm, think this one may be a grower. I like the hook, but not sure I’m loving the track as a whole just yet. Not to mention, I haven’t really forgiven Colin Munroe for his recent Prince cover. Lol. Artwork is dope.

Download: Christian Rich Feat Colin Munroe – ‘Say My Name’

Ok so this is going to be a crowd splitter…Here is a new version of Michael Jackson’s (….Floetry’s) ‘Butterflies’ by the beat-making clan MNDSGN…Who have been putting some pretty awesome beattapes out there…BUT, there are certain artist’s music whom I really can’t stand people touching, one of those artists is MJ. However, this track didn’t repulse me and after a couple of listens I added it to the iPod for further inspection and even started head-nodding with a slight Giggs-esque ‘Uuuuuuuuurgh’. You can make up your own minds!! Let the argument commence…

Download: MNDSGN -’Flybutter’

‘Speechless’ is Ciara’s second single off her constantly delayed forthcoming album Basic Instinct. Her first single ‘Ride’ got me mad hyped about the new offering, it’s one of my favourite R&B cuts this year (no, really.) but this? Nah, we’re back to mediocre again. Ciara needs to remain on top of those big club bangers, ‘llow these soft, uninspired slow jams.

Out to Sheila for sharing this golden piece of viral delight haha. What an absolute fuckery – Mike Tyson and Bobby ‘crack jaw’ Brown on some next hype with comedian Wayne Brady remaking Brown’s classic ‘Every Little Step’. The most jokes’ part has to be around the 3:02 mark where Mike Tyson attempts the running man – dude can’t find the beat. Haaa! Jokes, pure jokes!