I’ve seen Freddie Gibbs perform twice now (SXSW and Pitchfork Fest), and both times have affirmed that this man is as real as they come. He didn’t drop a word out of any verse during his entire set- I was very impressed. The Gary, Indiana emcee has a mixtape dropping August 3rd called “Str8 Killa, No Filla” as well as an EP titled “Str8 Killa” which will be available on iTunes. This smooth track above is on that mixtape, and you can grab a free download here.
Here’s another review of a recent mixtape that myself and GoodMike did over on Eighty81. It’s a good tape, read on for more and the link after the jump! Keep reading.
Jamie Lidell is a blue-eyed soul crooner who’s been around for a little while now. The guys over at Brigade were big fans of his last album Jim, and played it all the time. Compass is his newest release, and while it’s stylistically a lot more experimental, it provides an interesting listen. “She Needs Me” is one gem off the album, so take a listen above and hear for yourself.
See also – Enough’s Enough
Don’t sleep on this! Nas and Damian Marley have collaborated to create a truly unique album, a conscious hip hop record flavored with strong reggae and African themes. I applaud such an outside-the-box approach to making new music, and hold that taking risks like this is why Nas > Jay-Z.
This is a great record. Janelle Monae has the eccentricity of Lady Gaga, the soul of a young Michael, and influences ranging from Simon & Garfunkle to Mariah Carey. Super versatile and with plenty of substance, here’s a taste of The ArchAndroid through the folk funk of “Oh, Maker.”
This duo is set to explode. Alexis Kraus and Derek Miller are Sleigh Bells. A crazy combination of punk rock, hip hop, and pop, their new record Treats is siiiiick. Serious go-ham-music, it combines crunching guitars, hard drums, and female pop vocals for some catchy effects. Be on the look out for these kids.
The indelible Sharon Jones, and her Dap-kings. Their newest record “I Learned the Hard Way” may be my favorite so far from the soul singer, mainly on based on its consistency. While previous efforts were hit-and-miss, each song here hearkens back to early R&B/big band and seems pulled out of a magic time machine of funk. Her performance at SXSW blew me away, and I have no troubles dubbing her the female reincarnation of James Brown. Check out the track, “When I Come Home”.
