Fela Soul

Here is a nice free mashup from Gummy Soul of De La Soul and Fela Kuti. I love me some De La, I won't act like I am the most well versed Fela scholar in the world though. I basically just know what genre he ruled, that there are some musicals about him, and he is highly regarded as a pioneer, innovator, and legend. Here is my chance to learn some more I guess. A little bit about the project from Gummy Soul:

What do you get when you put together afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and rap pioneers De La Soul? You get Fela Soul; a musical tapestry created by Gummy Soul artist Amerigo Gazaway. More than just a clever title, Fela Soul is an 8-track, 33 minute journey into the world of afrobeat rhythms, funky horn riffs, and classic hip-hop gems. Using dozens of hand-picked samples from the Nigerian instrumentalist and political figure Fela Kuti, and 8 carefully-chosen acapellas from the Native Tongue rap trio De La Soul, Amerigo seamlessly intertwines the two into something completely new and original.

Check out Gummy Soul's site, grab the mix here and check out the sample below. 

Eye Candy

Emilio Rojas, "Breaking Point" from Erojasmanagement on Vimeo.

Emilio Rojas is a talented emcee.  One of the newer dudes on the scene who I check in on from time to time.  He has a really nice flow and a distinctive voice.  Here is his video for the title track his upcoming project “Breaking Point” presented By DJ Green Lantern and Billionaire Boys Club. This was filmed in Europe while on tour by Zerotrois.


STS is on the same list as Emilio.  He goes hard on a track.  This is his video for, "Cliche'."  I admire his rapid fire delivery and the bravado that comes through in his voice.

Jean Grae and Talbi Kweli with the extended  cut of their video, "Uh Oh."  Two well respected pillars of the hip hop scene.  Jean is on the top of my female emcee, list even though she hates the differentiation.  Talib is on my top emcee list overall.  Both are signed to Talib's Blacksmith label.

Lana Del Rey's video for “Video Games.”  Nice mixing of old footage with the new.

Exile: Intro to the Outro

I am a certified Exile groupie, I just renewed my membership last August.  So I am sort of mandated to grab anything that he blesses with his touch.  He just dropped a free mixtape presented by LRG and Dirty Science.  It has all Exile production and was mixed by him as well. 


"The mixtape features past achievements as well as brand new exclusive music from MF Doom, Bun B, Blu, Fashawn, Aloe Blacc, Dag Savage (Johaz & Exile), Co$$ and others.

Exile’s first self-produced rap album entitled “4TRK MIND” drops October 4th, via Soul Spazm x Dirty Science."


1. Intro To The Outro – DAG SAVAGE aka Johaz & Exile (Exclusive)
2. Evolve – Pharoahe Monch
3. Leimert Park – Co$$ (Exclusive)
4. Growing Pains – DAG SAVAGE aka Johaz & Exile ft. Fashawn, Blu and Exile (Exclusive)
5. Brolic – Bun B (Exclusive)
6. Freedom Remix – Fashawn (Exclusive)
7. Slowly – ADAD (Exclusive)
8. Your Life – MED ft. Blu
9. Give It Up – Strong Arm Steady ft. Guilty Simpson and Talib Kweli
10. Flawless – J. Mitchell ft. Co$$
11. Count Your Blessings – Emanon aka Aloe Blacc & Exile
12. Below the Heavens Medley – Blu & Exile
13. Cold Hearted – Blu & Exile
14. Pearly Gates (Non-Album Version) – Mobb Deep ft. 50 Cent (Exclusive)
15. Disturbed Remix – Blame One ft. Sean Price and Fashawn (Exclusive)
16. Klepto – Exile (Exclusive)
17. Mic Jackson – DAG SAVAGE aka Johaz & Exile (Exclusive)
18. Wait For Me – Big Sean ft. Lupe Fiasco
19. Forgive Us – Emanon aka Aloe Blacc & Exile (Exclusive)
20. S.O.F. Remix – Fashawn (Exclusive)
21. Boy Meets World Medley – Fashawn
22. Samsonite Man – Fashawn ft. Blu
23. New Seasons – Blu & Exile (Exclusive)
24. Tema Do Canibal – BK-One ft. MF DOOM (Exile Remix) (Exclusive)
25. And They Say / Outro – MED (Exclusive)

Download it here.

Eye Candy

Space Oddity from fourseventy media on Vimeo.
I saw this awesome illustrated book by Andrew Kolb a couple of weeks ago. It pairs his amazing 60's retro style animation with the lyrics to David Bowie's, "Space Oddity." Four seventy media has combined the two in this video. The combination is a sympathy extracting, heartbreaking, work of cuteness. *Wipes tear away* Check out Andrew's site here. Update- you may want to watch this video pronto. I checked out Andrew's site and all of the lyrics are blurred out. It smells like the lawyers are circling. Way to squash free promotion!


High Wheel by Maider Lopez from maider lopez on Vimeo.

The High Wheel is an art project created by Maider Lopez  for the OK Center for Contemporary Art. Pretty mesmerizing I'll put down a token for a ride on that thing.



Another video from the Stones Throw video contest.  This one is by Matthew Wood for Madvillain’s “Fancy Clown.” Like Insane Clown Posse without the suck.


This is a well executed corporate sneak attack by Chipotle.  Awesome animation and Willy Nelson covering Coldplay with a nice crunchy message of  sustainable farming.  *honks horn on fixie*


I was not completely sold on the first release by Blakroc.  I love the Black Keys and I listen to hip hop, it sounded like these two factors should have worked out in my favor and they would have gained an insta-fan.    I don't know what went wrong but the execution was not what I was expecting and I barely ended up listening to it.  Blackroc 2 looks like it could be shaping up to be better.  Although this is mainly based on the fact that I love the Black Keys and listen to hip hop.  There isn't a huge amount of information released in this trailer besides who will be featured on the album.  I just know that if you say Black Keys, Sean Price, Jay Electronica, Curren$y and The Cool Kids, my ears perk up.  Here's hoping they pull this off.  

Jamie xx's BBC Essential Mix

Jamie xx of The xx recently played a two hour BBC Essential mix. I have had the pleasure of hearing Jaime play live and his beats have that shake your fillings loose kinda rumble.  That whole xx album was on heavy rotation after seeing them live.  Near the end of his set here he busts out his remix of Radiohead’s lead track from TKOL, “Bloom.” The track will appear on the Radiohead remix collection TKOL RMX 1234567, out October 10 in the UK and October 11 in North America.  You can stream the whole mix below.

Jamie xx Essential Mix by Young Turks

Eye Candy

Cookie Monster covering Tom Wait's, "God's Away on Business." And you thought he was just concerned with stuffing his face with cookies. Perhaps the state of the world drives him towards his addiction of confectionery delights, don't judge him!!! He is a tortured thinker.


Dumbfoundead's ode to green. Green is a lovely color, he should have Kermit do a guest verse on the remix.


Evidence and Fashawn. The first time I ever heard Fashawn rap was on an Evidence cut. He did a guest vocal and I was like who dat? Who would have thought that a couple of years later I would accidentally be let into the room while he soundchecked where I could make googly eyes at him and tell him the treble was too low.


BRAIDS - Lammicken from Mark Webber on Vimeo.
Braids, who will be coming to town for a show at the Bottom of the Hill are an excellent band. Sometimes I wish their songs weren't 9 minutes but if you have some time to kill, you could be taken on a worse sonic expedition than this.


Little short film on the singing doorman. He seems to be a happy man, I can't say I approve of vocalizations at work though. My co-workers are fucking horrible singers.


MÖBIUS from ENESS on Vimeo.
Pretty awesome stop motion street installation.


This is my favorite song from Donald Glover in his Childish Gambino form. Someone decided to match up the lyrics to, "Freaks and Geeks" with scenes from his NBC show Community.


Mac Miller is nice, he just has that delivery that an emcee should have. I am a fan of the kid.

Mayer Hawthorne Album news

Mayer Hawthorne's major label debut (Universal Republic) and second solo album drops  Oct 11th.

New art just dropped and a release date of October 11th has been announced for Mayer Hawthorne's new album, "How Do You Do." I am looking forward to the album, we'll see if anything changes with his step up to the majors. I don't really understand the move away from Stone's throw, but I can't claim to understand the behind the scenes workings of a music label. Not sure how the deal worked out or what Peanut Butter Wolf's level of involvement will be. I am sure it's more money more distribution for Mayer, I just hope the music stays gold and Stone's Throw is somehow involved. He will be heading out on tour to support the album so be on the lookout for him to roll through your town. Check out the video for, "A Long Time." It's his ode to Detroit which will be on the new album.