Future Classic: Brother Ali “The Bite Marked Heart” (Free EP)
Brother Ali offers up a free 7 song EP for your listening pleasure. The Bite Marked Heart features Phonte (Little Brother, Foreign Exchange) Stokley Williams (Mint Condition), Singer/songwriter Nikki Jean and Aby Wolf. Beats provided by Jake One and Ant. Ali is currently putting the finishing touches on his 6th …
Future Classic: Homeboy Sandman “Subject: Matter” (EP)
One of the labels best ever at picking up underground talent, Stones Throw Records (Madlib, Peanut Butter Wolf, J-Dilla, James Pants, Jonwayne, Dam Funk, Oh No,…) do it again and sign Homeboy Sandman (one of my favorite indie american MC’s). Listening to the homeboy’s third album, The Good Sun, it’s …
Forgotten Treasure: Bran Van 3000 “Drinking In L.A” (Dave One Remix feat. A-Trak)
An all-star, all-Montreal lineup on this hip-hop jam circa 1997. Not a big Bran Van 3000 fan myself, I came across this stunning remix about a year ago, when a record collector friend of mine hooked me up with this one as a part of a “100 vynils for 80$”-type …
Black Glovez ‘La Cypher’ ft. Aiza (Video)
Fun Fact: Lauryn Hill was 20yrs old when The Fugees’ The Score dropped. That really puts the idea of ‘young’ in perspective cause let’s be real those were definitely not some juvenile lyrics that she brought to the table. I guess it could be argued that Lauyrn Hill was some …
Future Classic: Del The Funkee Homosapien “West Coast Avengers”
Oakland-based hip-hop legend Del The Funkee Homosapien returns with “West Coast Avengers” a trippy-ass cover, all P-Funk sample-based, funky-fresh mixtape available for free via Datpiff.com. If you know the man already, you know how Del almost done did it all. From taking the G-Funk gangsta rap’s aesthetic and flip it …
Guest Mixes: Artbeat Montreal Remembers J Dilla
I’m so mad I couldn’t attend last night’s Dilla tribute. Furious. Not only did I lose out on a bevy of gorgeous wimminz dancing the night away to BadBadNotGood’s shmooved-out stylings as well as MIMS-affiliates Scott C and Simahlak‘s impeccable drops, but I also missed a prime opportunity to hang …
Raphael Saadiq “They Don’t Know You” feat. Common (Steve Spacek Prod.)
Back in 2004 Raphael Saadiq opened his studio doors to Spacek to producd an album for one of his sub labels, the album was supposed to be called “Pookie Blue Room” and features 10 songs produced by both Steve and Morgan with raphael singing on all of them and featuring …
Future Classic: Shash’u “4 Dilla”
Yeah in February for the past few years it’s been DILLA all day everyday. I think we would probably all get over it if the man didn’t have such a ridiculous catalog of production. Even as a Dilla head, when you think you know everything an unreleased nugget surfaces (like …
J Dilla & Steve Spacek “Look” (2007 Unreleased)
via BamaLoveSoul.com: So to my knowledge, the only Spacek/Dilla collaborations were Eve and Dolla. Well, let’s celebrate because more tracks have been unearthed! KCRW’s Mathieu Schreyer has not one but two tracks that have never blessed the ears of most mortals. He released one yesterday and plans to release them both on 45. Can’t wait …
Future Classic: Sina “From Love To Dust”
In the aftermath of the MIMS 24 Hours of Vinyl event, it hit me; I like Sina‘s From Love To Dust for the same reason I like Burial‘s music. They are both rich in textures and the vibes on those recordings are both haunting and cinematic. There is also some …
Monk.E & Sola “Voir ton Soul” Production by Kenlo (Video)
Montreal you don’t stop! Seriously I’m getting artistic seizures from all the treasures coming out of this city. Monk.E, the well-known Montreal visual artist and MC just dropped an amazing new video “Voir ton soul” produced by Ken-Lo, featuring Sola, and captured by Cemont Films. This beautiful love ballad is …
Forgotten Treasure: Lone Catalysts “Due Process” (2002)
Back in my skater days I used to love watching skateboard videos and listening to the accompanying tracks. I actually got into hip-hop because I heard some Nas instrumentals on a Girl skateboards video called ‘Yeah Right’. These songs used to stick in my head so much that I was …