Claude Von Stroke x Kevin Saunderson

This remix of History Elevate 5 is a heavy, bass rumbling, sea floor crawling, dirty, elephant footprint sized tune. Many of you should already know who these prolific deejays/producers/musicians are, especially the latter.

Stays Grinding

Got a couple of tracks from an MC out of Seattle, Washington named Taybot.

They're off his Taybot /Phil & Numberman mix-tape.

He's hungry, focussed, definitely has potential, three good reasons to post these tunes. Will be keeping my ear out for any future releases of his.

Downloads:
Jingle
Never Be Done

Here Comes the Sun

One of the freshest tracks of the year is from (BMore via Philly) producer Fusion UNLTD. "The Sun" (Cold Fusion LP, ABB, 2009) features Little Brother, Nickelus F, Hall of Fame and Skillz. File under: soulful, timeless, life-affirming, feel good joint.

MP3: Fusion UNLTD - The Sun

Related Links: Fusion UNLTD's space

Keelay & Zaire - The Times feat. Blu, Fortilive, Nino Moschella

So you probably would have seen this blogged about back in November. Anyway just found it in the Inbox. Here's an Insightful track on the hustle of life from SF's Keelay, VA's Zaire and guests.

MP3: The Times

Checking for everything right now with this Los Angelian's name on it.

I'm sure a lot of other folks are too.

Related Links:
Kee & Zee's Ridin High space
Keelay's space
Zaire's space
Keelay & Zaire's space
My X Music's site

Some new Knux flavor

So I was umming about posting this coasting mellow dope new track from The KNUX (representing CA via N.O.). The main reason being that it’s most probably been posted on all the other Hip Hop and new music sites that you check on the daily.

Then I thought f it, I’m a fan of the fresh new sounds these guys are bringing to the table. Not new in the sense of out there, but new as in having an original style, swagger and most importantly having a refreshing sound of their own, while paying homage to their influences. To me this is timeless, it may just remind you of that time in your life when you first wore out a mix, song, cut the needle back and fourth on a piece of wax you couldn’t hear enough times on a turntable not meant for scratching. This is that headphone blastin', school lunchtime J break type music, for Hip Hop heads to zone out to, pump in their ride, throw on whatever portable music device they’re rocking. It's that laidback, crack a brew, BBQ, cruisin’ in the whip, summer heat.

Download: The KNUX Fire

Remind Me In 3 Days drops on the 28th

A universal beat tape aka Skillz

DJ Blueprint sent out an email last week with a heads up to a truly awesome project he has been compiling. Entitled Skillz (a universal beat tape), the concept is gather an array of timeless instrumental backdrops from a slew of rising producers. Blueprint's aim with Skillz is unearthing a bunch of talented, unheard of beat makers from around the world. I have not stopped listening to the sample mix.
I am keen to hear the finished effort.

Rather than double up, visit Blueprints This is Tomorrow and grab it from there and check these artists Space’s to hear more fresh audible produce while you’re at it. Shout out to Blueprint. Shout out to all the producers who provided some great music on this one (Check the track-list below)

Reel Chemistry

I remember back in 1999 hearing about an obscure rap record from 1989 called Peace of Mind from Boston's Top Choice Clique while watching an hour long independent Hip Hop documentary called Open Transport (the brainchild of Cassidy Gearhart & AndrÉ Stringer. If you heard DJ Ivory's Hear No Evil volume 2 mix, it may have been your first chance hearing this classic. It was mine.

Here is what Boston icon, Hip Hop recording artist great Edo.G had to say about the group and their debut single:

"Top Choice is the most underrated, under appreciated group to ever come out of Boston. Their live stage show was incredible and 'Peace of Mind' is a bona fide Hip Hop classic... and not just a 'Boston' classic."
(from the UGHH album review)

Ever since that moment I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground for all Top Choice Clique and Jawn P material I can come across so it was a welcome surprise when scrolling messages to stumble across one from Papa D (Brick Records). Brick Records just recently released the 1994 A&M shelved Top Choice release Reel Chemistry. I am keen to hear it.

I got the title track for y'all - a heavy Nineties East Coast Boom Bap tune with Middle Eastern and Psych influences present throughout.

Listen here

Excelerator's Pjanoo remix

Here's DJ Excel's (Philly to Cali) fresh, tailor made, dance floor lava rework of that Eric Prydz track that you may have heard.

This heavy remix is off the EP full of heaters that he's working on with Baltimore's DJ Excel.

Nas - How We Live feat. Termanology

Dope, heartfelt unreleased joint featuring two of the best emcees of all time.

Lovin' that Lyrics To Go meandering rhythm towards the end of Term's verse.

Charles Bevel - Overheard

(Off Meet Mississippi Charles Bevel, 1973)

Tune of the day, quite possibly. Shout to BB&S

Timid MC - Let Freedom Ring (Video)

(Video direction courtesy of Kanin Murphy, typography by Anita Rani, beat by Domingo)

Haven't heard of Timid before, but after watching the clip above, i'll be checking for his music now.

Let Freedom Ring is from his album No Time For The Jibba Jabba.

Monday feel the vibe throwback joint

Isaac Hayes - Vykki (Disco Connection LP, 1975)

Be sure to check out DJ Frenzie's tribute to Isaac Hayes here

Here's what Frenzie had to say about this edition of his Groove Therapy radio show, tracklisting follows....

"A little bit of a different vibe for this episode. Gave me a chance to play some west coast rap, which admittedly I don't usually touch - But seeing as Isaac was such a huge influence on the west coast sound it made perfect sense to profile some of the tracks that have been heavily inpired by him..."

15 August 2008 - Tribute To Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes - Ike's Mood (Stax)
Kurupt feat Daz - Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha (Antra)
112 - call My Name (Bad Boy Entertainment)
Cypress Hill - Whatta You Know (Ruffhouse)
Sir Isaac & The Do Dads - Blue Groove (Volt)
Isaac hayes - Walk On By (Stax)
Hooverphonic - 2 Wicky (Columbia)
Wu Tang Clan - I Can't Go To Sleep (Loud)
El Michels Affair - Walk On By (Ubiquity)
Guru feat Isaac Hayes - Night Vision (Virgin)
Ashanti - Rain On Me (Def Jam)
Jay Z - Can I Live (Roc A Fella)
Isaac Hayes - The Look Of Love (Stax)
Smif N Wessun - Stand Strong (Wreck)
LL Cool J - Hollis To Hollywood (Def Jam)
Geto Boys - Mind's Playin' Tricks On Me (Rap A Lot)
Above the Law - Just Kickin' Lyrics (Ruthless)
DJ Quik - Born & Raised In Compton (Profile)
Isaac Hayes - Hyperbolicsyllablecsesquedalymistic (Stax)
Public Enemy - Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos (Def Jam)
Inspectah Deck - Trouble Man (Loud)
Isaac Hayes - Joy (Stax)
Spice 1 - Money Or Murder (Jive)
Comptons Most Wanted - They Still Gafflin (Orpheus)
Marley Marl - He Cuts So Fresh (Uptown)
Mary J Blige - I Love You (MCA)
Biz Markie - Make the Music With Your Mouth Biz (Cold Chillin)

Take Two

Here are a couple of songs I've been digging lately.

First up is Tampa's Rahim Samad (pictured above) with a slice of dope called John Horse.

Second, is the latest from revolutionary Bay Area rapper Paris, a heavyweight, potent, timely track - Don't Stop The Movement, from his forthcoming "Acid Reflex" album (cover pic below), dropping on September 9th, through Guerilla Funk.

Koolism - Tapes (Audio)

Hear it here....

I've been a fan of these guys music for as long as I can remember. Hau has always been a beast on the mic, I never tire of what he brings to the table lyrically, conceptually and topically. Danielsan never fails to tear it up when on the Wheels of Steel, he is one of the most talented producers this country's ever produced, his Passing of Peace remix to me is one of the most amazing songs of all time, an eye opening, potent, meandering epic journey through soundscape.

Pretty much, their tunes stay on repeat. You should try and check as many of their tracks as you can, see them live if you're ever down under and they're touring, simply because they continue to make timeless, authentic, soulful, good Hip Hop music.

I got the go-ahead from both Dan and Hau to throw up one of my favourite tracks of theirs, a laid back, funky ode to the once thriving cassette culture in Hip Hop - posted above. Give it a listen.

Here's their bio, as it appears on their My Space:

KOOLISM
Australian Hip Hop at it's finest. EST 1992

In 2003 a New York Times article credited Hip Hop duo Koolism as "the standard-bearer of Australian hip-hop" and marked them as a group to keep an eye on. A year later, the pair left Australia's major music industry night, the ARIAs, with the 2004 Best Urban Release award for their self-produced 3rd album, "Random Thoughts".

As a live act, the duo have a proven track record for leaving stages absolutely smoking at major events including the Big Day Out, Homebake and Field Day.
Clocking laps around the national touring circuit as if it's a marathon, demand remains high year after year for the group as a headline act and as support for major artists such as Jurassic 5, Black Eyed Peas and The Roots, to name a few.

With over 17 years each invested in their respective talents, the group have played an integral part in the evolution of the new independent music within Australia and have built a strong local industry with their contemporaries The Herd, The Hilltop Hoods and others.
Hot 97 Radio New York, Blast Magazine Japan, BBC's 1Xtra radio show among others have supported and recognised Koolism in the front line as Australian Hip Hop sound waves begin to break on internation shorelines.

2006 has seen the release of the fourth Koolism album, "New Old Ground". The album has received both critical acclaim from the music industry and an excited response from fans.

Front man and lyricist Hau (Langomi-e-Hau Latukefu) uses his Tongan heritage to bring strong positive energy to the mix and has a reputation as one of the finest wordsmiths and freestyle MCs Australia has to offer.

Renowned DJ and producer Danielsan (Daniel J Elleson) is one of Australia's top DJs and his production skills have seen him remixing tunes for Motown and Ministry. Respected for his own accomplishments, he is also found regularly filling the judges seat at notable DJ competitions (DMC).

Koolism's 1998 release "Lift Ya Game" is tagged as one of the classics of Australian Hip Hop. Each new Koolism release follows in its footsteps and the movement of Hip Hop culture, and music to which they are dedicated and which supports them, continues to grow stronger.

Koolism are currently working on their fifth album.

The Redland - Epic (Audio)

This track is a solid, stomping, trojan horse. Substantial, timely lyrics on it from the ATL duo too.

NY Oil - Hip Hop Ya Don't Stop

How can you not love a video like this? Seriously?

Here's NY Oil on why he made this clip.

"OK.. so as you see this video is dedicated to HIP HOP as I personally experienced it growing up in Staten Island New York. What i want to do with this video is open everyones eyes and make us remeber the True School the pioneers.. To remember the Golden Age.. and the little things that create our memories and love for this culture.

I want to remind you WHY YOU LOVE THIS MUSIC and WHY YOU LOVE THIS CULTURE!!

I think we've lost sight of what it's all about sometimes.. so this video is dedicated to that.. without having to crap on anyones region or era or style.. this is just about celebrating the music.

AND.. this is just PART 1..."

NY Oil's Hood Treason Delux 2 album is out now.

Jay Electronica - My World (Nas Salute)

Sparser beat than the origianl. No denying (this) Jay's version is nice.

Cover Art Still Matters

Vordul Mega knows that. Download the lead single Megagraphitti, produced by Dev One (most of you would have caught it on the great 2 Dope Boyz blog.) It's an ill track, channeling visions of chilling on the park bench with a bottle of Coopers or Heineken (take your pick), a Boom box and a joint in tow, without question.

For those who dig their Cannibal Ox (Vordul Mega and Vast Aire), there will be two reunion tracks on Vordul's forthcoming LP.

Do You?

Here's a dope new track from rising Boston MC J the S bka (Jake the Snake) feat. Joell Ortiz and Lee Wilson. J the S's "When In Rome...the Prequel to the Last Days" is out now.

Download Do You?

Shout to Matt C. at MAC Media.