Jigga explains why he pays tribute to Notorious B.I.G on ‘The City is Mine’ and why, in general, he feels it’s necessary to pay homage to the legendary emcee on certain records. The video was presented exclusively to those with the official Decoded app (out now).
Little Dragon fans can stream the bands new album Ritual Union, in full, via the player found after the jump thanks to NPR.
Ritual Union is due out July 25th. Enjoy…
Here’s a new track from Björk, taken off her forthcoming multimedia album Biophilia. Like most things Björk releases, this calls for an open mind. ‘Cosmogony’ is out tomorrow on iTunes, as is the official Biophilia app.
… I was invited to attend Björk’s Biophilia show in Manchester last week, my review is on it’s way – but trust me when I say – this album is one of the bravest and most ambitious I think I’ve ever seen. Björk clearly knows no (creative) limitations.
Shouts to ANL
I have to say I am loving these summer mixes that keep dropping, here’s another one. With the countdown to Ben Westbeech’s forthcoming album underway – Strictly Rhythm have put out this summer mix that Ben put together.
If you are in a similar rainy, grey place like I am right now (London) then this might just brighten up your day a bit.
There’s More To Life Than This out on September 12th.
I never expected this video. Lol
It seems N.O.R.E is living out a few college dreams in this one. No feature from Pharrell , but the comedic moments make up for it.
A little bit of Dām Funk’s darker side is unleashed on this rare and random track.
“I arose 2day & decided 2 stay in the ‘Light’. I refuse 2 let the ‘darkside’ rule. This is why this latest creation: “Kill All Azzholez” aka K.A.A. will get the ‘delete button’ treatment by sundown. *It will remain eternally a ‘very rare 1′ within a brutha’s continuing musical evolution.”
Although Sir Funk has made it clear that this side will not be regularly exposed, I ain’t mad at him. I’m feeling those Prince/ Beat It/ MJ style guitars. Will appreciate it while it’s here.
Listen and download below, before nice guy Funk is redeemed and takes it down.
DOOM performs ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ with The Robert Glasper Experiment at Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. I do wish the video quality was better (a la Fatima’s) but soon as you press play – you instantly hear what’s good. Sounds super fresh.
DOOM is doing a few European dates this month including a show curated by Portishead (!!!) on July 23rd at Alexandra Palace in London. Info here.
Peep our homegirl Fatima, along side collaborator Floating Points (keys), performing two tracks off her sensational new EP Follow You. Inter-cut between an interview Fatima performs ‘Innervisions’ and ‘Mind’ – her voice on those tracks sound better than they ever have. I think the same can be said about Floating Points’ productions too – he’s out done himself.
Follow You, arguably the best EP of 2011 thus far, is out now. No hype.
Q-Tip brought out Kanye West during his performance of ‘Award Tour’ at the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival yesterday…
…Imagine that.
Mister Bibal provides a sexy little soundtrack for our (not-so-summer-like) summer days in the form of a new EP entitled Losange Jaures. Riddled with sexy synths, knocking basslines and funky rhythms this right here will have your ears smiling.
As for the name? Bibal explains “the idea is very simple, take “Los Angeles”, write it like “Losange Les”, then add the name of the street where Mister Bibal lives, “Jaures” and you get… That’s right, “Losange Jaures”.
Bump this, loudly. Listen & buy (€4) below…
And the Shabazz Palaces treats keep coming! Yesterday we dropped their free Daytrotter Session, today we offer a new track called ‘Bronny On a Breakaway’ – an iTunes bonus cut.
Like everything else on Black Out this, in all it’s avant garde’ness, bumps rather nicely. I genuinely can’t get enough of this band.
Shouts to HT
The beautiful Andy Allo is currently part of Prince’s NPG, and has just shared this recently recorded acoustic version of ‘Guitar’ (from Prince’s ’07 album Planet Earth). Hopefully Prince will be on hand to assist Andy on her second album.
Download: Prince & Andy Allo – Guitar (Acoustic)
R&B star D’Angelo is reportedly back in the studio making the third album fans have been waiting for for over a decade now. Yeah, you read that right, D’Angelo’s last release was the 2000′s Voodoo.
Over the years D’Angelo has been rumored to be in the studio with Mark Ronson, Prince, Raphael Saadiq, John Mayer, Cee Lo Green and Roy Hargrove – all great names to be associated with.
And yet here we are 11 years after his 1.7 million copy selling last release. After a sprinkling of guest appearances, arrests and notorious mugshots, weight gain, a drug problem, and a serious car accident – so much has changed for listeners and for D’Angelo. Can he win over a whole new generation of music listeners who probably haven’t even heard his ’95 debut Brown Sugar? Or will the same ravenous ladies who lusted over him in his now infamous ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel?)’ video still be there, even if that body isn’t?
I believe a good musician is a good musician anytime and good music will always be welcomes. And if current reports are true and D’Angelo is in fact in the studio with Roots drummer Questlove and bassist Pino Palladino, as well as producer/engineer Russell Elevado – then we have nothing to fear. The new album will hopefully be ready by the end of the year / early 2012 via J Records.
Click cover to download
Okay so, Wiley just dropped a new album called 100% Publishing in June. Now he’s got another release, The Chill Out Zone, which was initially scheduled to be released July 17. Now, instead of that plan, Wiley has decided to release it for free. As if all that weren’t enough Wiley put out a mixtape last week with DJ Whoo Kid, Creating a Buzz Vol. 1.
Seems like somebody’s determined to make this the summer of Wiley. Tracklist after the jump…
Musical odd ball Van Hunt returns with another new track called ‘The Savage, Sincere L of P’ taken off his forthcoming album What Were You Hoping For? due out in September. This track follows his last free offering ‘June’ which dropped last month.
Download: Van Hunt – ‘The Savage, Sincere L of P’
