Interscope recording artist Wale will be kicking it at Next Beachwood from 8pm-10pm this Thursday, so I found it only right to throw up a track from his brand new mixtape “More About Nothing”. It’s a follow-up to his Sienfeld themed “Mixtape About Nothing” and you can grab that right here.
New Slum Village from their recent, and final, album “Villa Manifesto”. This track features Dilla, Posdnuos from De La Soul, and even some Phife Dawg at the end. What else do you really need to know? Hit play.
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.
This rhymer should need no introduction. Dom Kennedy has had it cracking in LA for quite some time now, with a total of four mixtapes under his belt. The most recent, From the Westside with Love, is full of dope laid-back beats and rhymes. Dom recently shout the video for “1997″, above.
Free Energy is a great band name. So its only right that a band with such a free-spirited sound have an appropriate name. This song feels like speeding down the highway in the summertime in a convertible with all your friends. A simple and modern breed of classic rock that’s as catchy as it is fun… check it.
New music from The Roots is too good to pass up. Questlove feels the band’s late night gig has contributed to their 10,000 hours rule achievement, and this new record is going to be the proof. This is the title track from How I Got Over, which drops tomorrow. It features guest spots from John Legend, Blu, Joanna Newsome, Phonté, and more.
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
LCD Soundsystem’s new record This is Happening is a very versatile one. Its good for dance parties, good as putting on for background music, and good for analyzing your current definition of cool. Full of 7+ minute long electro-jams, “Pow Pow” is a good starting listen.
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.
Flying Lotus. If you aren’t hip by now, its time to get out of the cave you’ve been living in. The Cali born producer is pushing the boundaries of hip hop, dub-step, and jazz with his new album Cosmogramma, and critics are taking notice. Be sure to give it a listen and check out my favorite track above.
