Needles » good music

Beanie Sigel – I Go Off (f/50 Cent)

needles — Mon, 03 May 2010 04:18:01 +0000

Once again, yours truly is jumping up with old beef. I know the now-well-publicized intra-Roc rivalry is nearly half a year old, but this song knocks so hard, I just couldn’t resist sharing it with you all. Also, I have never posted anything from Beans from before, and I really need to hook him up for a bit. 50 is hanging on tight to any chance he can cause trouble… but this is from the man who wants to make a dance album (Black Magic) next – In da Club 2, anyone? Nevertheless, enjoy the Broad Street Bully in top form:

Beanie Sigel – I Go Off (f/50 Cent) | mixtape

Mad Skillz – Up All Night

needles — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:47:37 +0000

Mad Skillz has been working on some new material lately that sounds like a refreshing return to form. “Up All Night” has been playing in my head continuously for nearly a week. I think it’s Chaka’s vocals making it sticky. Rik Marvel loops up Rufus’ “What Am I Missing” for the beat – simple, but it works well here, given the subject matter of the track. This is apparently slated to appear on his forthcoming Infamous Quotes which at this time is hard to tell whether it will be a full album or a mixtape. In the meantime, check out the new Skillz:

Mad Skillz – Up All Night | ???

E-40 – The Server

needles — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:07:05 +0000

I was one of those brontosaurus in the ’90s who slept on E-40. I’ll admit it. Hate him or love him, Fortywater introduced a lot of slang, not the least of which most rap fans attribute to other Doggs in the game. In the ’00s he continued to push the envelope as he attempted to take the Yay’s hyphy movement national. Unfortunately, we were merely left with the snap-crunk residue at the end of the day, but don’t hate on Charlie Hustle… he keeps it movin’. Witness the first single from his upcoming double-album, Revenue Retrievin’, “The Server”. I recently DJ’d a wedding for two good friends of mine (with my mello, Jon Oliver). With a Senegalese groom and a bride from Jersey, I took it upon myself to embark on a two-week crash course in West African music, learning everything I could about soukous, zouglou, mbalax, coupé-décalé and a pound of other styles. My untrained ears perked when I heard the new E-40 joint, and although I can’t place the style, let alone the song that the producer (Rick Rock?) used here, it definitely caught my attention. So, let me know what you think, even if you aren’t grippin’ the block like flyers. I just wish Jay-Z would have put half as much effort on his 11th album as E-40 seems to be doing here:

E-40 – The Server | Sic Wid It / Warner Brothers / BME

Si*Sé – This Love (The Crystal Pharoah Remix)

needles — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:43:37 +0000

I think this New York City group is about to release their second album this month, but I have only recently heard of them. They seem to be very jazzy, trippy and electronic; however, I would probably categorize their latest single, “This Love”, as neo-soul (no, it’s not dead!). The version I’m posting today is a remix that flings the track right onto the disco floor… and I’m a sucker for a good, new slice of the uptown-funk. If you don’t believe me, peep the Joyo Velarde and Whitney Houston posts from September. But for now, check out Si*Sé:

Si*Sé – This Love (The Crystal Pharoah Remix) | Si*Sé

Goapele – Milk & Honey

needles — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:16:47 +0000

I was digging through a “crate” of new stuff from last summer and I stumbled on this track that I had forgotten to share with you all. Goapele, Yay Area siren of soul music with a hip hop heartbeat (sounds cheese, but y’all know what I mean), is back in the studio working on a new album. It was supposed to drop a while ago, but these things happen, and I’m sure it will be worth the wait.* I ain’t mad at the auto-tune on this either. When you use it as icing on a cake it can be a beautiful thing. But don’t take my word for it, check it out for yourself:

Goapele – Milk & Honey | SkyBlaze / Columbia / Sony BMG

*Sade’s Soldier of Love on domestic vinyl – March 30th…

Inspectah Deck – Dreamcatcher

needles — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:29:36 +0000

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

Raekwon – Happy New Years!

needles — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:05:44 +0000

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

Roy Davis Jr. – God Life Music

needles — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:14:23 +0000

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

Wale – My Sweetie

needles — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:50:36 +0000

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

Whitney Houston – Million Dollar Bill

needles — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:01:57 +0000

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