First song is Mos Def’s brand new track, “Quiet Dog”. It’s the second single from his upcoming album, The Ecstatic. I really just like Mos Def’s vibe. Not only does he flow over whatever beat he’s on with ease and edge, but his lyrical abilities combined with his distinctive sounding voice really separate him from everyone else. This new track is good but it’s definitely not his best work. But I do love Mos over percussion heavy beats. And since the track is new, I think it should be treated like every other new tracked that is leaked on the internet- it should be remixed a thousand times by a thousand different people. These days, artists can pretty much tell how popular they are by counting the number of remixes that exist. Although, it wouldn’t work that well for hip hop unless you’re as big as Lil’ Wayne or Jay Z (see song number 5)…
Mos Def – Quiet Dog
Second song is another new track that was leaked this week. Actually, it even sounds like it might be a demo. It’s Justin Timberlake’s new track, “Bigger Than The World”. I think the track is good if it really is a demo, because it could be really tight with some work, but I don’t know… I mean, I know he’s pretty much the biggest male pop star out there but I think I have this weird thing keeping me from really getting into Justin Timberlake. When you’re in a group like N’sync, even if you make great music, the fact is, you were in a group like N’sync, and that’s a tough one… I mean come on, it’s N’Sync, you get what I’m saying. But a lot of his stuff does sound a little over-produced. I think my real problem is with the whole genre of pop because that’s usually what happens.
Justin Timberlake – Bigger Than The World
Third song is “Bolingo Ya Bougie” by someone I only recently came across for the first time, Franco, a amazingly prolific song writer, guitar player, and arguably a music pioneer. He’s a very well known name in world music, so I’m just going to let AllMusic.com handle this:
“There’s no doubt that Franco was, in every sense of the word, a big man in African music. Sometimes weighing in at 300 pounds, he also earned his nickname as “The Sorcerer of the Guitar,” making it sing like no one before, with effortless, fluid lines. Also an accomplished composer and vocalist, Francois Luambo Makiadi remains a towering figure even in death, probably the greatest the Congo (later Zaire) has ever produced, and as the leader of the long-running O.K. Jazzgroup, he was one of the fathers of the modern Congolese sound.”
Franco – Bolingo Ya Bougie
Fourth song is by Mayer Hawthorne, one of Stones Throw’s newest artists. The song is called “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” and it sounds like it could have been released over 40 years ago, aside from the Solomon Burke, “Get Out Of My Life Woman” drum loop which was actually released 40 years ago. He’s doing the whole Motown thing I’ve talked about. Just listen to Raphael Saddiq’s last album, released in 2008 but sounds like 1960’s Motown.
Mayer Hawthorne & The County – Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out
Fifth song is “99 Anthems” from the new Jay-Z + Radiohead mashup- Jaydiohead by Minty Fresh Beats. You can download the whole album off the Jaydiohead.com website. I’ve already written a little about mashups on AA before. And while this mashup might seem like it would be awful, it’s actually not bad at all. Minty Fresh Beats, whoever they are, really did a great job. Especially since these Jay-Z vocal tracks have already been used for a ton of mashups (like Dangermouse’s Grey Album and, my favorite, Gamble & Bluff’s Beggars Can’t Be Choosers which you should ask me about if you’re interested in hearing it, you probably won’t find it online).
Minty Fresh Beats’ Jaydiohead – 99 Anthems
—
—
—
Remixes
Covers
