Here is another year’s Rap Up from the great Mad Skillz!  I think he’s being a little polite in this one, but it’s still worth checking out:

Wrap%20Up%202008%20radio%20rough.mp3

Happy New Year

Peace!

Alice by Pogo

These are two of my favourite MC’s here rapping over beats by the legendary J Dilla.  Now these tracks have been available since the summer, but I thought I’d share them anyway,for those who hadn’t copped it!

Description is from the Stones Throw site: In late 2005 Ghostface Killa as well as MF DOOM were both recording over tracks from J Dilla’s instrumental opus, Donuts, which saw release the following February. Some of these were released on Ghostface’s Fishscale in 2006, while others, including a Dilla-Doom project, were postponed indefinitely at the end of J Dilla’s passing. Two of these tracks, “Sniper Elite” as well as “Murder Goons,” are presented here on behalf of the first time. The two are taken from two sequential songs off Donuts, meant to mix together. We are presenting the two songs unmixed, plus the two mixed combined as a bonus track.

“Sniper Elite” featuring Doom: uses a brilliant beat from Dilla and Doom’s flow is on spot.  The only shortcoming being that Doom only comes in after 30 seconds and the track is only 1:59.

\”Sniper Elite\” featuring MF DOOM

“Murder Goons” featuring Ghostface: really demonstrates Ghost in his element, flow’s on spot, words tight, his energy is there, an awesome track.  Both tracks beautifully produced by Dilla.

\”Murder Goons\” featuring Ghostface Killah

Purchase the digital ep (including the bonus mix of the two tracks) here.

9th Wonder & Murs Present: Sweet Lord

This is the third helping of Murs and 9th Wonder released so far, and Sweet Lord sees them continue to develop their sound.  This was released as digital download before Murs For President, and is due to be released in physical format soon.

9th’s production is perfected as the album unfolds, and he integrates his incredible knowledge of soul records into each track, check the sample used in “Marry Me”.  Murs also steps up for this project, he lays down everything from lighthearted verses to personal experiences to inspirational raps for everyone.

This album shows a more grown up side to Murs and 9th, compared to some rappers more ignorant material being released.  Definitely go cop this here for free!

Enjoy

1

Holla readers,
The new Kanye dropped a few days ago. I’m not going to talk about the album, I expect this would have been covered on every other hip-hop related blog on the Internet already. I’m intrigued about one thing though; On Kanye’s blog he says that he “did not leak” RoboCop (a track off his new LP 808s and Heartbreaks).

Now I’m pretty new to the way Kanye deals with the marketing of his self and product, but in saying that, to me implies that he’s purposefully leaked material before to generate hype. Can anyone clarify this? The whole Internet seems to be buzzing with Kanye, and I’m not surprised. Look at his blog, so much well targeted marketing. Love Lockdown dropped a while back and he’s since been slowly wetting our appetites in an expertly timed manner: video drops, shows, more leaks… I implore you, does it even matter that the album is a musical anti-climax?

RoboCop
RoboCop

This post is all about the remixes, and the two I have been listening to a lot this month.

The first is the Cool Kids remix that 9th Wonder did a while back premiering on the Green Label Sound site. I think it’s good what the Cool Kids are doing with Green Label Sound. Although it’s sponsored by Mountain Dew, they are reaching out to a wider audience without ’selling out’. They and Mountain Dew positioned themselves well business-wise with this move in my opinion, and after-all if the music is good that’s all that matters. It’s a win-win situation for everyone, similar in business terms to what Flying Lotus managed with Adult Swim to promote his beats and achieve recognition. I’m guessing that more upcoming artists will be taking this cross-media approach, grounding themselves with internet readers and also in more mainstream media with it having little effect on their image.

The Cool Kids - Delivery Man (9th Wonder Remix)

And something different. This is from Popnoname, an excellent German eletronic artist with Touch from the remix lp of his new album Surrounded by Weather and remixes by….. The Field!! Get it at boomkat now, hear it below.

Popnoname - Touch (The Field remix)

Also here is one old track from an old The Field lp that’s still one of my faves, proves that minimal music can always be suprising.

The Field - Love vs. Distance

All is well in the world of electronic music - there’s a glut of sick breaks and electro releases at the moment. Breaks heads everywhere whinge about breaks DJs playing house and “diluting the scene”, blah blah blah - but how can mixing house and breaks be anything but beneficial? Anything can go stale if it’s left to stand for too long, and innovating new sounds doesn’t necessarily mean replacing established ones.

If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it.

If you think other people won’t like it, don’t play it.

People will always vote with their feet. I like this one, have a listen.

db xx

1. High Eight - Coming To
2. Mr. No Hands - Boingy Boingy Zappy Wap
3. Rektchordz - Captain Fruit Legs
4. Cosmonaut & Satellites - Sweet Music (DBF Rmx)
5. Ben Hash Key - Saulted
6. Alloy Mental - God Is Green (Meat Katie Rmx)
7. Cheap As Chimps - Speaker Dirt
8. Blatta & Inesha - Stoned Walking
9. JELO & Deadmau5 - The Reward Is Cheese
10. Miles Dyson - Anthem
11. Splitloop - Pleasure Machine
12. Nick Supply - Hiznhiz (Stupid Fresh Rmx)
13. Funkasaurus - Atom Seed
14. Kid Blue - Way Back

Here is the new mixtape from The Cool Kids.

This is hot stuff right here:
That’s Stupid Mixtape

Enjoy

Glastonbury was awesome this year! I have three gems for you…

Since I can’t post video’s here at the mo, I’ve got the audio’s for you to check out.

First up is: Hot Chip and Wiley - Wearing My Rolex

Next up: Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris

Finally, all the controversy over bringing hip hop to Glastonbury was put to rest with Jay Z’s performance, he smashed it.  Here is the link to the video of Jigga performing Oasis’ Wonderwall then 99 Problems, in response to Noel Gallagher’s comments. Check it out:

click here to watch

Enjoy!

Here’s another breaks mix for your ears - this one’s a bit more electro-ey.

One of the great things about breakbeat is that you can fuse it with electro house and it’ll still sound huge. There’s a couple of examples of that in this offering; expect more of this in the future as my two main influences are breaks and electro house. Enjoy!

1. Plump DJs - System Addict
2. JHz & Chris Carter - Cracker
3. Myagi - Giorgio Marauder (Diverted Rmx)
4. Rennie Pilgrem - Eraser Drumz (Drumapella Mix)
5. Utku Sonmez - Brain Anatomy
6. Rennie Pilgrem - Coming up for Air feat. Sarah Whittaker-Gilbey (Koma & Bones Rmx)
7. Sharam Jey - Message To Love (Alex Metric Rmx)
8. JBass & JMekka - Freestyle (Robosapiens feat. Sneaky Kreeps Rmx)
9. Jude Sebastian - Rubber Man (Miles Dyson Rmx)
10. LXR vs. Andrea Doria - Freak Me (Dave Spoon Rmx)
11. JHz - Thumper
12. General MIDI - Milton (Digital One Rmx)
13. Agent Alvin & Dumpster - Panel Beater
14. Mesmer - Rowlacoaster (Mesmer Reprise)

Stainless Style by Neon Neon is an unorthodox concept album between some of the big underground names of Hip-Hop, IDM, electronica and indie rock and it somehow works really well. Boom Bip is one of my favourite musicians; if you haven’t already then check out Blue eyed in the Red Room featuring Nina Nastasia, and his collaboration with Dose One
Here’s a track from the album, Dream Girls

Speaking of Anticon another album I’ve been listening to has been Why?’s release Alopecia. They’ve produced some great tracks on this album - check out The Hollows here. Looks like this album could introduce Anticon to a more mainstream audience.