This doesn’t fit into my usual area of coverage, but… the Muppets celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2009. To celebrate, they got together at the end of the year to cover Queen’s classic “Bohemian Rhapsody”. If you haven’t seen it, you need to check it out. This is nothing short of amazing. Animal steals the show… da-da?
Posted in videos and docs.
By needles
– 2010 February 5
Let’s keep the Wu moving… I feel like I’m listening to a Nas + AZ track produced by L.E.S., but this is the Rebel INS. Maybe he was inspired by brethren Ghostface rhyming over all those non-looped R&B tracks, but Deck kills Anita Baker’s “Mystery” on his own right. Apparently it’s from a mixtape called Traveling at the Speed of Light while Standing Still that was supposed to drop back in September, but I never saw the mixtape. Or maybe he is still eating his pasta with the lobsta sauce…
Inspectah Deck – Dreamcatcher | mixtape
Posted in good music.
Tagged with rap, soul-rap.
By needles
– 2010 February 1
It seems that I keep on having reasons to say “I’m back!” and “Hello again!”. So it is with great pleasure that I say HAPPY NEW YEAR… I’M BACK! Short and simple – OB4CL2 was probably one of the best rap albums of 2009, but definitely a piece of work that was greater as a whole than in parts. Isn’t that what buying an “album” is supposed to be about though? I’ll let Raekwon wish you all a happy new year as well… but before I do that, my brother sent me something interesting earlier today. What do you think: the craziest double-off-beat genius flow ever or some crazy-wack off-beat mess that should have embarrassed PtheG into hiding? Now I’m hungry… feed me Chef:
Raekwon – Happy New Years! | web only
Wu-Massacre – Meth vs. Chef II | bootleg
Posted in good music.
Tagged with hardcore-rap.
By needles
– 2010 January 27
Well, it’s been a little while since I posted. Unfortunately, that has been a trend for me lately. I have moved a few times and have had a small bit of trouble getting Internet access at the new crib…but that problem is now solved! What better way to reenter the scene then to put my man LEO37 and the PPF House crew on blast. I first met LEO37 when I was gigging in Taipei. We hit it off instantly. The cat has a nice flow and is type ILL with the freestyle. The PPF hail from Canada and cover a wide range of artistic talent, from music to visual arts. Check out their website here. They continue to pump out new material on a regular basis. This particular mixtape actually hit the web this past spring, but it is my favorite so far. Check out two of the tracks below and judge for yourself:
PPF House – Glorious (f/MAGNOLIUS) | mixtape
PPF House – Sometimes Things Go Wrong (f/LEO37, The Worst Pop Band Ever) | mixtape
Posted in recommended mixtapes.
Tagged with cool-rap, jazz.
By needles
– 2009 December 9
I think this post is much more for me than anyone else, so apologies in advance. I just broke a fever yesterday (rather rapidly actually) and I was not able to listen to any music on the subway today, it just hurt my ears too much. I got home and threw on some house music that I had recently reviewed from Giant Step, and surprisingly I just had to keep making it louder and louder… what therapy! A bit of background: Roy Davis Jr. is from Chicago, but his sound is currently a pleasant mix of soulful house and electro-house. God Life Music is his second solo album. It seems to be working getting my brain reoriented, so let me share:
Roy Davis Jr. – Hold U | Nice + Smooth Ultramedia
Roy Davis Jr. – I Have a Vision | Nice + Smooth Ultramedia
Posted in good music.
Tagged with soul-house.
By needles
– 2009 November 2
It has been nearly a month since my last post, and I’ve been through more “life changes” than I have room to shake a record at, so I’ll spare you the details. I have written about Wale before and will continue to put on blast new artists that are willing to reach outside of their comfort zone. The track is short, but sweet… After picking it up in August, I read that Wale wanted to make something that paid homage to the West African parties he used to go to as a kid. I’m not sure if this is going to find it’s way onto his upcoming album, Attention Deficit, but if it is a sign of his creative direction, the album is definitely going to be worth copping. Apple Juice Kid loops up Bunny Mack’s 1979 calypso single “Let Me Love You”, which was a hit in the UK and in New York’s post-disco scene. I encourage you to check out both Wale as well as Sierra Leone’s own Bunny Mack with the original:
Wale – My Sweetie | Allido / Interscope
Bunny Mack – Let Me Love You | Rokel
Posted in good music.
Tagged with calypso, rap.
By needles
– 2009 October 14
She is back…and what a way to do it! In this age of Autotune and re-crafted vocals, Whitney Houston returns to the scene with a masterful blend of pure uptown-funk crafted by none other than Swizz Beats and Alicia Keys. They chop, filter and loop up one of my favorite Loleatta Holloway track from her self-titled 1977 album, “We’re Getting Stronger”, truly an apt description for the new, huskier and sexier-voiced, Whitney. She easily outshines her contemporaries with a raw and infectious track worthy of a spin on the Studio 54 dancefloor. Check out both tunes below:
Whitney Houston – Million Dollar Bill | Arista
Loleatta Holloway – We’re Getting Stronger (The Longer We Stay Together) | Gold Mind
Posted in good music.
Tagged with uptown-funk.
By needles
– 2009 September 15
My apologies for the hiatus; I have been bouncing around the country and making some moves, but I am now back in The Lab and ready with some fresh music. The sonic assault from southern Cali continues (what’s up New York? Brooklyn where we at??)… Pac Div has been dropping gems for a few years, but a few months ago dropped their very strong mixtape: Church League Champions. Of course, it’s full of sports metaphors, but lyrically they touch on a lot of issues and cover many styles. Pac Div also recently made an appearance on the wonderful L.A.U.S.D. compilation/mixtape that I posted on last month, along with fellow Cali rappers U-N-I, who I posted up the month before that. Apparently Pac Div is now signed to Motown / Universal, who will be putting out their full-length sometime this year. You can check up on Pac Div on their website, but be sure to download their mixtape here. In the meantime, here is a taste of one of the stronger cuts from the mixtape:
Pac Div – Whiplash | mixtape
Posted in recommended mixtapes.
Tagged with rap.
By needles
– 2009 September 14
Nike has been doing a series of mixtapes (Nike+ Original Run) aimed at runners for a few years now. Since 2006, The Crystal Method, Aesop Rock, LCD Soundsystem, Cassius and A-Trak have all done running mixes. Earlier this year, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of 3 Feet High and Rising, Nike tapped de la Soul for their 6th in this series, and de la’s first new music since the very solid The Grind Date. All the production is credited to Flosstradamus, but I really feel the influence (or work) of AOI-era de la and Supa Dave West beatcrafting. “Baby Phat”’s production comes to mind as soon as I hear “Big Mouf”. What do you think?
de la Soul – Big Mouf | Nike
Posted in good music.
Tagged with rap.
By needles
– 2009 September 2
I think I first heard of Joyo Velarde through the Soul Sides website. I have since learned that she forms half of a power couple with Lyrics Born, so any of you that are fans of his or Latryx’ music are probably already familiar with her work. She has a strong and well-rounded singing voice, but it’s Melanie Veloria’s production that really made me a fan of this track. The horns that begin to blow in the second verse are icing on the cake. She has a video for this single up on her website right now as well. But don’t take my word for it, listen to her yourself:
Joyo Velarde – Take You Home | Quannum
Posted in good music.
Tagged with neo-soul, uptown-funk.
By needles
– 2009 September 1
This doesn’t fit into my usual area of coverage, but… the Muppets celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2009. To celebrate, they got together at the end of the year to cover Queen’s classic “Bohemian Rhapsody”. If you haven’t seen it, you need to check it out. This is nothing short of amazing. Animal steals the show… da-da?
