Whenever these two cats get together musical niceness is delivered hot out the oven. This real nice laid back joint produced by one of my favourite beat conductors in the game mr Fly-Lo…suits Jose’s flow and dulcet tones…not confirmed whether this is off Jose James’ latest project but faaaaack it. It gwans!
It’s been a busy ol’ morning, so only just getting round to hearing / posting this. Peep the first single taken off Kanye & Jay’s forthcoming collaborative album Watch the Throne. I need to listen to this properly through my Dre’s or system speakers, but on first listen – I think I like what I’m hearing, maybe.
Download: KanYe West & Jay-Z – ‘H.A.M’
“Random beats and bleeps for free. Will update with new freebies from time to time” – Kidkanevil.
Nuff said, really. This is a nice likkle treat.
“ZoOoOoOop” is killing me right now. You hearing those Timbo influences? Big speakers please, big speakers! This also includes Kidkanevil’s massive reworking of Jazmine Sullivan’s ’10 Seconds’. Brap.
Lets keep it UK for a minute…
Atlantic Records latest signee Mz Bratt is about to take over this ting. I got to hear ‘Get Dark’ the other night while on Nihal’s Review Show on Radio 1 – Mz Bratt and I were on the panel along with DJ Dev. As a blogger it’s always a little awkward listening to a track when the artist is sitting right next to you, because you really don’t want it to be rubbish. LOL. Thankfully though, soon as this tune got going – I was on it. I quickly made sure to tell Bratt to pass me the .mp3 asap.
This beat, this beat right here is hard. You hearing that, right? Massive. That aside, Bratt is spitting fire – she’s got a great voice (something I always say people overlook when it comes to emcees). And what Mz Bratt has here is something I generally find lacking in many female emcee’s (especially in the UK) – and that is personality. There’s reason why Nicki Minaj is massive, she brings personalty – and lot of it. And while I beg your pardon for making such an uninspired comparison, I hope you feel my point.
If this is what Mz Bratt is bringing, I look forward to hearing more…
Ah man, I hate it when people cover Prince. I find it near impossible to remain objective, I mean – no one can cover Prince, right? Well, Miss Bailey Rae reckons she can and has done so by reworking the classic ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ – but unfortunately, once again, I can’t really get my head around it too tough. I just can’t help comparing it to the original and keeping it 100, I’m not sure Corinne’s voice works here. Have a listen and see what you think…
The track comes off The Love EP, Corinne’s forthcoming extended player…
Download: Corinne Bailey Rae – ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’
Shouts to SB
Here is a real nice slice courtesy of Sun down Ac-Proooof. Produced by 9th Wonder this is perfect post work chilling music. As always anything produced by the mighty 9th gets my instant seal of approval…
Download: Actual Proof – ‘Dream’
Tinie steps on this remix and I’m not sure I dig the instrumental….yet (Those claps are super swagadocious!!) no matter how brass the bars are….Willow still goes hard! (Speeakz’ yoooot!)
So…after being really dissapointed by the Daft Punk efforts this nice likkle gem comes courtesy of that beatsmith Pixelord hailing from Russia and I dig the glitchy start and the gun-finger skank option at around the 1.24 mark…defo worth digging the good headphones out for. If you missed his ‘Fish Touch’ EP track I posted peep it here
Download: Pixelord – ‘Tron Legacy’ (Remix)
Our good friends over at RBMA just released their latest Podcast giving us all a “glimpse of what’s currently cooking in Academy labs around the globe”. Featuring 11 tracks (including some tasty exclusives) from a number of a brilliant artists/producers including 00Genesis (pictured), Tokimonsta, Kidkanevil, Gaslamp Killer & more, this is something you should really listen to through fat-off speakers or deafening headphones (#staysafe). Tracklist after the jump…
Download: RBMA Podcast #4: Spring Breaks (right click, save as)
If Drake had his own gig in The Comeback Season/So Far Gone days, J Cole at Koko last night would of been everything it could of been. As far as debut concerts go, J Cole had it all. An electrifying crowd, a packed out-filled to the roof venue and a shockingly good back catalogue based off nothing more than the internet and some mixtapes.
I felt like I was apart of history as I excitedly entered the ram packed London venue. Roc Nation’s first signing, J Cole’s first ever solo gig in the UK and London was playing the proud host. No affiliation to Jay-Z. No attachment to Drake. Everyone in the place was there to see him.
As I made my way through the mob of twenty somethings, there was a palpable buzz in the air, everyone was waiting to enter Cole’s World. Discussions of favourite tracks and first discoveries of Cole filled the room, whilst Semtex braced the crowd for what was to come, dutifully dropping the bangers.
The crowd became slightly hesitant whilst grime act, Maxsta opened the show. There were mixed reactions, some were duly bopping their head, others were becoming even more impatient from the waiting. Personally, I don’t think it was the best decision to bring on such an act for this type of crowd, but Maxsta and his boys held it down.
Before anyone got any more weary, Cole came out and ignited the stage. The three balconies up top plus the standing area downstairs came alive as he went through the best of his (mixtape) discography.
Songs which I guess we can now call ‘classic’ like ‘Lights Please’ (watch his piano introduction – dude is talented!), ‘Dead Presidents II’, ‘I Get Up’ and ‘Dollar and a Dream’ from his second mixtape The Warm Up were easy hype vehicles, each one sending the crowed into even more frenzy.
When he mixed up the set with tracks from the recently released Friday Night Lights and debut mixtape The Come Up, it was clear to see that a lot of people, especially during this time in our generation, understood and related to what he has been saying. Highlights for me included ‘Enchanted’, ‘Blow Up’, and ‘Higher’. There is something about Cole that is constantly positive and intriguing to watch. Each lyric came through with heavy passion and a real sense of modesty. He stood appreciative and was grinning throughout. No hype man required, he just brought himself entirely.
A small part of me wished that Drake or Wale came out to join Cole on their respective tracks (‘In The Morning’ and ‘You Got It’), I realised the very request at such a strong night was out of pure greed.
Grateful for the opportunity and amazed at the sold out show, on numerous occasions Cole thanked London for coming out to see him. Astounded at the epic nature of the show, Cole complimented us all for jumping on him (pause) early, whilst he assured that others will catch up soon. Showing his gratitude even more, he jumped into the crowd during his last song ‘Villematic’, making sure he high five’d as many people as possible.
Overall it was nothing less than an impressive inauguration into the game. Full on, non stop and totally kept 100 throughout. This is hip hop 2011.
Cole World.
*Peep some footage here, courtesy of The Hip Hop Chronicle*
Brand new Pacific Division produced by Blend Babies, switch the big systems on, this is phat 808 saturation with some exotic fills.
New mixtape Mania! forthcoming in the run up to their major label debut Grown Kid Syndrome.
About bloomin’ time chaps. Left Coast was (and still is) such a strong breeding ground for rap acts, needs to regain momentum, release the long player already. Same goes for Blu while we’re on the subject…
Download: Pac Div – ‘Your Fucking Song’
Sumit does it again. Just a few hours ago J.Cole performed to a sold out crowd at KOKO, marking the rappers first solo gig in the capital. The PinBoard famalam were naturally in attendance and while I was peeved I couldn’t make it, from what I’m seeing on twitter – it was one heck of a show. For those, like me, who missed it – press play – it’s little compensation I know, but what else can we do? Lol.
For an artist who no album out – this is quite remarkable. J.Cole, continue doing your thing sir.
Previous: Drake Performs in London (Highlights)
I just discovered this and I am wholly addicted. On my 100th listen and I’m still zoning the f*ck out.
Long Arm’s style is very much engraved in Jazz, a genre he fell in love with as a child growing up in Russia. He began producing his own material while at University and after joining several bands, he gained enough experience to begin making the music he heard in his head. Atmospheric, airy compositions filled with live instrumentation and contemporary samples, this is something quite exciting.
After featuring on a number of compilations, Long Arm is now about to deliver his first solo project entitled The Branches due out on Project Moon Circle in February.
The album “is a reflection of a world, where human feelings and natural powers are bound together. Everything is correlated in this world. There is no alive-dead distinction. The season change depends just on state of mind. Every move, every wind breath, every sound brings an information opened for everyone who believes and ready to accept it, who hears and knows how to listen”.
Deep. Listen to the sampler here.
The albums first single ‘When Children Sleep’ is a brilliant reflection on what the forthcoming long player will bring. Subtly epic with it’s heartbreaking strings, sexy drum pattern and aerial tones – press play and just float…
Download: Long Arm – ‘When Children Sleep’
Producer extraordinaire Salaam Remi dropped this rather scrumptious unreleased gem from his vault via twitter earlier. It’s a live version of the ‘Mr. Magic’, a track he produced for Amy Winehouse’s stunning debut album Frank (one of my favourite LP’s of the past 10 years). I’m not going to get into why this song is so ridiculous (in a good way), I’d be here forever – all I will say is: this live version is giving me life right now.
Happy Sunday…
Download: Amy Winehouse – ‘Mr. Magic’ (Live Version)
Shouts to Dave
Mr Music, Ryan Leslie recently premiered a brand new track called ‘Beautiful Life’ live in Paris during one of his shows. The mid-tempo, which was written and produced in the French capital, sees Leslie both rapping and singing throughout. The track comes off his forthcoming album Les is More.
