Future Classic: Babyfather (Arca + Dean Blunt) “Meditation”
Hyperdub, the small but influential British label founded in 2004 by Kode 9 keeps up the pace this time with a project called Babyfather which features production by Arca and Dean Blunt (Hype Williams). Most of Hyperdub’s biggest recent releases have been at the hyper speed tempo of Juke/Footwork music …
Forgotten Treasure: Channel Live “In Your Area Freestyle” (Awesome 2 Radio)
A recent re-discovery of mine as I was walking on a beautiful Montreal winter morning. I was scanning through hundreds of old songs on the old Ipod and my ears perked up as soon as I heard the opening bars with that beautiful Upright Bass jazz sample. I used to this track …
Forgotten Treasure: Cru “Ooh Wee” (1999)
This post is really about three things: The year 1999 in rap music, Cru and their song Ooh Wee but more than anything, I wanted to share my thoughts on a very important man in the realm of rap music: the late, great Chris Lighty, who passed away under dubious …
Future Classic: Knxwledge “WrapTaypes”
via All City: We’ve got 100 of these WrapTaype Packs: Limited Edition Gatefold full colour vinyl. Beats by Knxwledge / Art by Gangster Doodles / Raps From Your Favourite MCs Full Colour A3 Print 29.7cm x 42cm + T Shirt A3 Prints designed by Gangster Doodles featuring everyone on this Record… First …
Future Classic: Little Simz – Age 101: Drop X
via Little Simz: “Firstly I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me thus far. This year has been a special one. After releasing my debut album I wanted to round up the year nice, felt right to release another Drop solely for the people who …
Frank The Butcher & DJ 7L Present “It’s The Roc” Original Samples Mix
After their stellar Bad Boy Records mix Frank the Butcher and DJ 7L are back with the original samples to some of the biggest Rocafella records tracks. As always, the blends, vocal samples and mixing are world class but damn these samples are fire. The ROC production team (including Just …
Future Classic: Les Gens d’Air “Les Gens d’Air”
Independent Hip-Hop is a tough genre to evolve in especially if you are over the age of 25. Standards, quality and creative arcs are often met head on by the harsh realities of self-promotion/production. Many have given up but it’s a breath of fresh air when a project like Les …
The “Donuts” knit sweater by Stones Throw
The folks at Stones Throw have teamed up with Shredders Apparel on a “Donuts” inspired knit sweater to celebrate the 10th anniversary of J Dilla’s classic solo album, this February 2016. It seems the cult surrounding Jay Dee keeps intensifying every year with Dilla Day Celebrations worldwide, album reissues in every shape and …
Future Classic: Elaquent “Less is More (Lo Definition)”
“I made a beat tape called In Colour in 2007. Consider Less is More (Lo Definition) a revisit to that time. Raw material. Dusty sample flips, jumpy basslines, unquantized drums, loops. This one is for the beat heads. Back to the basics.” – Elaquent Canada-based hip-hop producer Elaquent returns with …
Future Classic: Fredfades & Ivan Ave “Fruitful”
In the long line of classic hip-hop producer/MC duos you probably won’t find many from Europe, much less from Norway. But hip-hop isn’t the US centric movement it used to be, which is probably for the best since a lot of the more progressive artists come from unlikely spots all …
NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxledge) Release “Link Up & Suede” EP
via Stones Throw: “R&B vocalist Anderson .Paak and producer Knxwledge are working together as NxWorries (pronounced “No Worries”). Last Spring, they debuted with the single “Suede” which quickly found the ears of Dr. Dre. Anderson .Paak went on to record eight tracks with Dre that appeared on his album Compton. …
Future Classic: Jonny Drop “Mind Field” (Albert’s Favourites)
We are happy to present a first peek at the first release on the promising new UK-based label Albert’s Favourites, founded by Scrimshire, Dave Koor and Jonny Drop. via Albert’s Favorites: “Though an experienced beat maker, until now Jonny Drop is best known in London funk and soul circles as one quarter …