"They will say "Music" was reborn on 28th Feb 2012..." That was one of my many tweets today about this enormous release by Robert Glasper Experiment called "Black Radio". If you don't already have it, I suggest you run out and buy it now. I don't know how else to explain this? Imagine 12 tracks of sheer beauty...The terms "classic Soul music" "classic Jazz music", doesn't even scratch the surface. This really is something special. Someone said this album proves that "Dilla lives" and I have to agree because I cant put it down. If I had to choose 3 songs out of this "plethora of cuisines" it would be "Cherish the day" featuring Lalah Hathaway, "More love featuring King and "Always Shine" featuring Bilal/Lupe Fiasco...
If you listen to one album this year, please let it be "Black radio".
"...Big bird falling down on a mountain pass
Only thing to survive the crash
Black Radio
You wanna fly free go far and fast
Built to last
We made this craft
From Black Radio" (Mos Def)
I watched this documentary late last night and I couldn't tear myself away from the screen. I was very impressed by this poignant reminder why J Dilla was, and still is a "genius" of music. With interviews from his peers who are actually some of the greatest artists to ever walk this planet, everybody just had a great story to tell about Dilla. He affected many and moved a generation with his classic beats, to use the words "high esteem" still doesn't quite capture how people felt about Dilla....Common said "he was sent here to do music" Bilal said "that's how you know somebody who's really ill, by how humble they are" and the legendary Pete Rock said "when Q-Tip first brought me his beat tape, I was like floored!! like who is this? to the point where I bought a ticket to Detroit just to meet homie....
This was one of the first beatmaking videos I discovered on the internet, and in my opinion it has to be one of the most outstanding videos I've seen so far. It was uploaded quite a few years ago but I thought it was only right to post it now that my blogs up and running. These types of videos are dime a dozen on You tube and they all vary in terms of skill and quality. But this one stands out for me for its soulful content, integrity and genius. What I like about 20SYL (the producer), he uses a combination of eclectic sounds, samples and instruments to create this masterpiece called "far away". I would absolutely kill to get hold of this instrumental, so 20SYL, if you're reading this, give me a shout...
"Eric Lau - The Mission" is Probably the biggest Hip-Hop E.P of 2012 so far. It just sounds so polished and so big, only wished it was a full Album. The combination of Guilty Simpson and Eric Lau is like two heavyweights in a ring going round for round. How this sound was contained in a studio is beyond my belief...sonically it's perfection. Like all the great "producer/mc" teams that went before: Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Guru & DJ Premier and Eric Sermon & Parrish Smith, I can only see more classics coming out of Kilawattmusic if these two evolve this underground greatness. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself? ...hopefully this mission's far from complete.
I went through the vinyl collection the other day and I thought it’s time to drop a 90's Hip-Hop mix with some of my favourite tracks from the "Golden Era" I really value my vinyl collection and I remember how much it meant to me, to get hold of that new 12" record. This got me thinking about the old "digital vs analogue debate" I understand why some people will never appreciate something that’s in a digital format. Can you really appreciate something that you can just download in a minute? Probably not. Now before I go any further I just want to hold my hands up and say yes I'm "old school" but I've actually embraced "digital djing". The problem is when people see you with a laptop, they automatically think that you've just picked up a midi controller and become an overnight "auto sync" DJ. Unbeknownst to them is that this guy mastered his craft on vinyl 15 years ago and those same skills still apply to any deck he chooses to use now. Wishfully, I think that every aspiring DJ's first point of contact should be the Technics 1200's. I know this is not a realistic prospect when you're surrounded by digital tech and restrained by a budget. But I think that’s the only true way you can appreciate: learning how to scratch and blend by ear instead of just looking at waveforms and pressing buttons. But don’t get me wrong, this is not about "digital hating" I’ve got two midi controllers and I love mixing on them for various reasons (a mixture of convenience and a love of tech). People ask me for advice on what decks to buy and I always recommend the Pioneer DDJS1 which is kind of contradictive, but I think midi does serve a purpose and can be good if used correctly...
Ultimately "a good DJ" should have good timing and know how to select the right tracks at the right time and be able to read a crowd. So what I'm trying to say is that "no digitalness" can teach you flair, rhythm and knowledge of music. The medium I choose to mix with may have changed, but the music I play is still and will always be unbeatable...
Usually this is the space where I say a little something about the track.....but the title just about sums up this joint through and through... nice visualisation too.
Analogtronics.....the Album title says it all really. "Space age, intergalactic, interplanetary goodness meets soul" is how I would describe this masterpiece. Like so much good music, this is one of them ones I just stumbled across. Call it fate, I don't know, just knew this would be a memorable 2012 release and trust me I'm writing this whilst head nodding, trying to take in this beast. I mean, look at the Album teaser and tell me if your not drawn in instantly??
Broaden your musical palette...get: Union - Analogtronics immediately.
Tracklist:
01- Intro
02- Mystery Part 1
03- Time Leak Feat Talib Kweli and Sly Johnson
04- Coco Mango Feat Mf Doom
05- Light Odyssey
06- Good Morning Feat Moka Only
07- Song for Janasa Feat Rachel Claudio
08- Wings Feat Elzhi
09- Fallin Feat Rapper Pooh and Janic
10- Blue Wave
11- Preset Mars Feat Roc Marciano
12- October Rush
13- Digital Delight Feat Guilty Simpson
14- Space B Boy
15- Sky Dust
16- Baby Mama Feat Mani Hoffman
17- Mystery Part 2
I love this song....from the fantastic 2010 album "Sunstorm". Phonte really has established himself as one of the greatest. So versatile and forever soulful. I think that this generation can learn a lot from this guy. Theres no video hoe's over here...
"D' Angelo "Solo Medley" Live @ Paradiso Amsterdam 31/2/2012"
He's back people and sounding really good, the Amsterdam crowd sounded like they were amped off this performance. Maybe we'll get an album in 2012?
I've got my fingers crossed...
