Audio Absinthe

The smooth and stylish José James is back with his sophomore release, Blackmagic.  He’s been called a jazz singer for the hip hop generation which is particularly fitting for his collaborations with Flying Lotus who produced several songs on the new album.  Blackmagic was released on February 1st.

MP3: José James – “Blackmagic (Produced by Flying Lotus)”

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Blackmagic (Brownswood, February 2010)

When I heard about the upcoming collaboration album between Nas and Damian Marley, I wasn’t expecting much.  They’re both great artists but I thought a collaboration between the two wouldn’t amount to anything substantial.  I have to admit, “As We Enter,” the new track and first single from Distant Relatives, is kind of impressive.  Nas and Damian sound good together, trading rhymes back and forth over an otherwise lackluster beat.  In terms of lyrics and delivery, the two artists are on fire, but the music itself is a little bland.  I’m still not expecting to be blown away by the album but it’s definitely worth checking out.

MP3: Nas & Damian Marley – “As We Enter”

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(Single available on iTunes on February 23rd)

On January 1st, The Knux announced via twitter the release of a new 5 song EP.  The Fuck You EP can’t strictly be called hip hop.  It’s a blend of many genres and styles which is what gives The Knux they’re distinctive gritty, alternative electro-hop sound.  ”Floozy” and “Fuck You” are classic Knux style skateboard hip hop tracks while the rest are a little more experimental.  The EP isn’t too impressive but it seems like that’s kind of the point.  That’s also not to say you won’t enjoy it.  The name of the EP says it all, clearly these guys aren’t trying to impress anyone.  They’re making music for fun, and it shows.  To anyone who’s not into it, I think they named the new EP for you.

MP3: The Knux – “Floozy”

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MP3: The Knux – “Fuck You”

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Fuck You EP (January 2010)

Thanks to Eric B for this one…
“Strange Fruit” was originally intended for Common’s album, Finding Forever, but the song didn’t appear on that album when it was released back in 2007. The beat, which is produced by Devo Springsteen, ended up on Cassidy’s album, B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story (2007) and still features John Legend singing the hook. Nina Simone’s version of the Billie Holiday classic (“Strange Fruit”) was sampled in creating the song and the version below with Common was just leaked online last week.

MP3: Common and John Legend – “Strange Fruit” (Download)

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Back in March, DJ D Sharp put together a mix tape for Lateef the Truth Speaker but it wasn’t released on any major online distributor like Amazon or CD Universe until November (it’s not available on iTunes).  Truth Is Love is a collection of songs featuring Lateef taken from albums released in the last 10-15 years but it’s comprised mostly of Lateef’s more recent tracks.  Overall, I was a little disappointed with this mix tape.  Back in the 90’s, Lateef was at the top of my list of rappers because of projects like Latyrx and the Solesides collective which turned into the Quannum.  Lateef was an incredible emcee with a distinctive delivery unmatched in style and creativity.  Unfortunately, most of his new stuff is just not that great anymore. Some of his old school fans are much more critical than I am but I can definitely understand where they’re coming from.  Except for a couple of tracks, including “Lady Don’t Tek No” hidden at the end of “That Old Pair of Jeans”, Truth Is Love doesn’t have too much to offer.

MP3: Lateef and Fatboy Slim – “That Old Pair of Jeans”

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Truth Is Love (November 2009)

I can’t wait for the BlakRoc album (The Black Keys hip hop project featuring songs with artists such as Mos Def, Q-Tip, RZA, Raekwon, Ludacris, Jim Jones, Pharoah Monch, and more).  I posted a little about the project not too long ago (here) and recently came across the two tracks below.  I love the Raekwon track and even though RZA isn’t great on the track with Pharoah Monch, the music speaks for itself.  This is some serious blending of hip hop and rock.  To all other projects which have attempted to blend the two genres, prepare to be blown away…
BlakRoc will be released on iTunes and independent music stores on black Friday, November 27th.  You can preorder the album here.

MP3: The Black Keys featuring Raekwon - “Stay Off the F*%$#n’ Flowers” (Download)

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MP3: The Black Keys featuring RZA and Pharoah Monch - “Dollaz & Sense” (Download)

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BlakRoc (November 2009)

Track Listing:
1. Coochie (featuring Ludacris & Ol Dirty Bastard)
2. On The Vista (featuring Mos Def)
3. Hard Times (featuring NOE)
4. Dollaz & Sense (featuring RZA & Pharoah Monch)
5. Why Can’t I Forget Him (featuring Nicole Wray)
6. Stay Off The F*%$#n’ Flowers (featuring Raekwon)
7. Aint Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo) (featuring Jim Jones and Mos Def)
8. Hope You’re Happy (featuring Billy Danze, Nikki Wray & Q-Tip)
9. Tellin’ Me Things (featuring RZA)
10. What You Do To Me (featuring Billy Danze, Jim Jones & Nicole Wray)
11. Done Did It (featuring Nicole Wray and NOE)

Jurassic 5 members Soup and Marc7 formed Portable Payback  and released their debut single “Relax” earlier this year.  The self-titled EP was just released in late October.  The focus of the former underground hip hop artists is clearly moving toward a more mainstream hip hop audience with production by John “BiggJohn” Myers (Ludacris, Usher, David Banner, Britney Spears).  A clear example of this is “Slick Talk” which is probably the most commercial sounding track any J5 member has ever made.  The club-banger style beat and the auto-tune singing are a serious departure from the classic style hip hop Marc7 and Soup are well known for creating.  Whether or not that’s a good thing depends on your own personal taste…
Check out the behind the scenes footage from the video shoot below.

MP3: Portable Payback – “Relax” (Download)

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Portable Payback – EP (October 2009)

People Under the Stairs released their 7th album, Carried Away, on Om Records earlier this month.  The Los Angeles duo are known for creating west coast style party hip hop with distinctively chill, sample heavy beats.  The sound of the new album is just as fun and cool as PUTS has ever been.  Tracks like “80 Blocks from Silverlake” and “Come On, Let’s Get High” are instant PUTS classics. These guys really know how to get head bobbing.

MP3: People Under the Stairs – “80 Blocks from Silverlake” (Download)

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Carried Away (October 2009)

Their sense of humor really comes through in their music and especially in the video for the single, “Trippin’ at the Disco.”  According to Thes One, Double K paid $654 “to have award winning Afro Stylist Cheryll Teegans do his hair for the video.”  Check it out here:

MP3: People Under the Stairs – “Trippin at the Disco” (Download)

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Carried Away (October 2009)

In an effort to promote Carried Away, People Under the Stairs have teamed up with Vans to hold a remix contest for the track “Hit The Top.”  The contest ends November 10th and the winner gets a pretty cool care package.  You can enter your email below to get the acapella, create your own remix, and then upload it to SoundCloud.com/PeopleUnderTheStairs.  Check out some of the entries below…

People Under the Stairs – ‘Hit The Top’ (Milky Williams Remix) by peopleunderthestairs

People Under the Stairs – Hit the Top (Jazzual Suspects Remix) by peopleunderthestairs

- Posted by Little -

A message from Little:

So I haven’t been around for blips n beats for quite some time now. Mainly I’ve been way too busy to keep up. Im a single, successful guy, what can I say?
I will try to keep up with my posts much more often now but I have decided I won’t take forever trying to write something witty or over the top informative about the songs. Frankly I have way too many recreational drugs to do and not enough time. If you like them, dig them and find out more on your own, or ask me via comments and Ill be sure to tell you more.

Salud,
Sean, the Dead Beat Dad of Electro Posting.

MP3: Visitor – “Los Feeling (Digitalfoxglove + Wonder Remix)” (Download)

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MP3: The XX vs Notorious BIG vs Tupac – “Runnin’ With The XX (QUIX vs. ELLIOT Blend)” (Download)

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Stones Throw released the beautifully psychedelic, hip hop friendly instrumentals from Koushik’s Out My Window.  I think you can still get it for free (via Stones Throw).  Koushik’s downtempo, low-key style is experimental but hard hitting with a rich, full sound.  The instrumentals album is the perfect companion for any hung-over, lazy Sunday…

MP3: Koushik – “Be With”

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MP3: Koushik – “Lying In The Sun”

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Download the full instrumental album (here)