This track will be a smash at my mom’s new years party. She’s gonna act all cool and pretend she discovered it herself without giving her son any credit, yeah… she’s like that. Jusss kidding ma!

Ok, i’m not gonna front, I didn’t know any of Issa Bagayogo’s stuff but this track from his new record on the very big world music label Six Degrees is enough to make me want to hear more. It’s definetly got that Mali vibe (from what I’ve heard from there), an undeniable mix of african music with very subtle electronic undertones…

Heat!

Play - Donu Kan

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Official Site - Six Degrees Records

Another music legend is gone, R.I.P. Issac Hayes.

Singer, musician, arranger, producer, film score composer, grammy and academy award winner, owner of a basketball team (that was wayyyy before Jay-Z decided to buy the New Jersey Nets), and of course, the voice of South Park’s Chef.

Hayes had a very productive and influential (he did the epic and orchestral 10 minute soul songs a couple of years before Barry White did it) career with close to 30 albums and/or soundtracks released, 3 grammy awards, most of them on the legendary Memphis soul label, Stax Records, home to Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Booker T & the MG’s and others…

Originally Hayes was the in-house songwriter and producer for most of the Stax hits in the 60’s but following Otis Redding’s tragic plane crash in 1967, he was put forced into the role of the saviour of Stax records.

Click here for a good BBC tribute to Isaac Hayes

Here are a few tracks for your reminiscing pleasure.

“Walk on by” as sampled by Pete Rock, Hooverphonic, 2Pac, BIG, and so on…

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“Do your thing” as sampled by Big Daddy Kane

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“The Look of Love” as sampled by Snoop, Special Ed, Jay-Z, Mary J Blige, etc…

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Yup. It’s true. That’s right. Huh-huh. Q-Tip’s new record is coming out.

You’re an intelligent person so there’s no need for me to tell you how important Q-Tip is a major reason why most of us who grew up in the nineties started listening to hip-hop in the first place. What you do need to know is that the man is still relevant in today’s music landscape and that he’s tired of hearing about A Tribe Called Quest reunions.

Check out the really good SPIN interview that came out a couple weeks ago. The album titled “The Renaissance” features collaborations with D’Angelo, Andre 3000, Norah Jones and Raphael Saadiq.

Play - Getting up

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(courtesy of XXL magazine)

Download… shhhhh!

Q-Tip’s Myspace

Shawn Jackson is another new Cali guy that is further proof that it’s one of the most exciting Indie scenes worldwide: Blu, Exile, Flying Lotus, and so on… Big up to my mans Scott C for bringing this guy to my ears’ as well as dropping some of his tracks last time we Dj-ed together.

Check out Shawn Jackson’s album out on TRES Records. It’s an instant classic. One of years’ highlights so far for sure…

“FEELIN’ JACK”

“GO THERE WITH YOU” ft. Ty

Brand new EP from Miss Amy paying tribute to some of Ska legends. 4 covers on this lovely 7″ inch including versions of The Specials, Toots & the Maytals and this timeless Sam Cooke classic.

Check it!

Play - Amy Winehouse - Cupid (Sam Cooke)

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God bless those germans! This is a mind blowing mix that perfectly shows the new era of DJ mixes containing more than 30 tracks, most of the times 4 playing on top of the others with effects. This is for anyone who likes Gui Boratto, Rhyhtm & Sound, Trentemoller, and all that German goodness…

Official Site

Wow, now this is what i’m talking about! Dubstep for me is usually very hit or miss, especially Dj mixes. Haven’t heard one I really liked yet but this is it. This is the sixth edition of the compilation put out by Tempa Records (Benga, Skream, Horsepower Productions) and although I can’t say I’ve listened very carefully to the other 5 as much as this one… this is definetly worth your time.

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Dubstep Allstars Vol 6
01. Peverlist - Gather
02. Peverlist & Appleblim - Circling
03. Pinch - Get Up (Feat Yolanda)
04. 2562 - Moog
05. Martyn - Suburbia
06. Jus Wan - Action Potential
07. 2562 - Morvern
08. Harajuku - TRG & Selector Dub U
09. Peverlist - Infinity is Now
10. Skream - Percression
11. RSD - Pretty Bright Light
12. Mungo’s Hi-Fi - Babylon
13. Komonazmuk - Bad Apple
14. Komonazmuk & Gatekeeper - Cheeky Herbert
15 . TRG - Decisions
16 . TRG - Put You Down (Ramadanman refix)
17 . TRG - Broken Heart (Martyn’s DCM remix)
18 . Geiom - Reminissin (Feat Marita - Dubplate version)

It’s official. Flying Lotus is a beast. Some spacey 2012 hip-hop stuff right here. Not usually the biggest Lil’ Wayne but this is a pretty bad-ass collaboration.

Play - ROBO-Tussin’

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Flying Lotus’ MySpace page

I still got love for you Fred even though you ditched us and moved to San Fran, even though you made me wait for the “St-Viateur” track i’ve been bugging you about for 3 years. I hope we can play the Festivus #3 party again in 2008, if not i’ll come meet you wherever so we can spread a little hate to some needy folks! Bratislava, Shawinigan, Sao Paulo, I’ll be there…

Show some love too y’all. Buy Fred’s hot new record out on OM Records and come out to Academy this Saturday June 12th. .

Play - St-Viateur

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Could this song be a secret tribute to the St-Viateur Bagels? Quite possibly…

Listen to all the tracks RIGHT HERE!

Great behind the scenes video for the new Al Green album produced by Questlove of the Roots and James Poyser. Featuring collaborations with Anthony Hamilton, Corinne Bailey Rae and John Legend… also gotta love the fact that he talks in the third person in the vid. “Al Green is back bayyyybe!”

Play - What more do you want from me?

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Benji B brings you a massive show tonight with special guest Flying Lotus in from the USA…
Listen back to hear tracks from his ‘1983′ album and the ‘Reset’ EP.. plus some exclusive tracks and remixes..

Tracklist:
Erykah Badu - My People (Universal)
J Dilla – Drive Me Wild (CDR)
Morgan Zarate Feat Eska & Ghostface – Sticks & Stones (CDR)
After 1 – Unknown (CDR)
Slum Village – Go Ladies (Platinum Village Remix) (CDR)
Tawiah – Broken (CDR)
Flying Lotus – Rickshaw (CDR)
Flying Lotus – Benji Beat (CDR)
Flying Lotus – Blank Blue (Warp)
Flying Lotus - Auntie’s Lock (Warp)
Flying Lotus – Angel Cake (Warp)
Flying Lotus – Untitled (CDR)
Flying Lotus – Dancefloor Stalker (Warp)
Flying Lotus – Camel (Warp)
Flying Lotus – Melt (Warp)
Flying Lotus – Mustache With Sprinkes (CDR)
Flying Lotus – Comet Course (Warp)
Flying Lotus – Spicy Samich (Warp)
Flying Lotus – Interference (CDR)
Flying Lotus – My Chippy (CDR)
Flying Lotus – Juicy Revenge (CDR)
Flying Lotus Feat Andrea Triana - Tea Leaf Dancers (Warp)
Flying Lotus Feat Andrea Triana - Tea Leaf Dancers (Last Minute Remix) (Warp)
Flying Lotus – Bad Actors (Plug Research)
Flying Lotus – Orbit Brazil (Plug Research)
Flying Lotus – Aboriginal (CDR)
Flying Lotus – Sangria Spin Cycles (CDR)
Flying Lotus – Untitled (CDR)
Mia Doi Todd - My Room Is White (Flying Lotus Remix) (Plug Research)
Flying Lotus Feat Dolly – Roberta Flack (Warp)
Flying Lotus – Fall In Love (CDR)
Flying Lotus – Electric Candy Man (CDR)
Burial – FlyLo X Burial 4 (CDR)
Samiyam – Untitled (CDR)
Samiyam – Untitled (CDR)
Burial – Archangel (Hyper Dub)
Daedelus – My Beau (Ninja Tune)
Dabrye – Magic Says (Plug Research)
Big Boi Fear Andre 3000 & Raekwon – Royal Flush (CDR)

Benji B’s Deviation show page on BBC 1xtra

Oh yes, it’s here… the 8th studio album from the Roots (10th overall I think), second with the Def Jam label. On first listen this one is very dark and synthy, even more than 2006’s “Game Theory”! Not too much fluffy stuff here.

The Roots are really embracing the Internet as a good tool to reach people interested in the next level of hip-hop and music in general, they put you 3-4 videos even before the album came out, released not album tracks available for download only and don’t really have a clear cut radio type single for the album. The Roots have such a good following that like Radiohead did with their “In Rainbows” CD, they can tweak the rules of the music game and people will still support them and buy their music or go see their shows…

And on that note, buy their music &/or see their shows!

Essential tracks:

Rising Down (Hum Drum) (featuring Mos Def, Styles P & Dice Raw)

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75 Bars

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Criminal (featuring Truck North & Saigon)

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Up There (Unwritten)” (featuring Mercedes Martinez)

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Videos:

The Roots - Get Busy

The Roots - 75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)

The Roots Official Home - Okay Player

Guru, half of legendary hip hop duo Gangstarr, in interview and selecting some his classic influences alongside producer Solar and 1Xtra’s Ronnie Herel.

Jackson 5 – ABC
The Blackbyrds – Rock Creek Park
Roy Ayers – Everybody Loves The Sunshine
Herbie Hancock – Rockit
Run DMC – Sucker MC’s
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – It’s A Demo
Public Enemy – Fight The Power
Big Daddy Kane - Raw
Soul II Soul – Back To Life
Sade – Smooth Operator
Eric B & Rakim - Eric B Is President
Wu Tang – Protect Your Neck
Dr Dre – Still Dre
Rufus feat Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody

Click here to check out the show

1773 is a collective of 2 emcees from Chicago, IL. The group name comes from the areacode of Chicago, 1-773.

I’m just discovering these cats so i’ve only heard a few tracks but so far i’m very impressed. For anyone who likes Little Brother, Blu, Lone Catalysts, J.Rawls, etc… you gotta check out these guys.

Start with this one:
Play - Sound of Life

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Amongst the biggest names in dubstep right now along with Skream and Burial, Benga just released his new record called “Diary of an afro warrior”.

Here’s one of the standout tracks for me.

Play - ZERO M2

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This is the video for the massive “Night” track which was actually voted 2007 track of the year of Gilles Peterson’s BBC Worlwide show

Benga’s MySpace page

Haven’t listened to the whole album enough to go into a full review but I have to say that this song is pretty outstanding. Beyond the Amy Winehouse comparaisons that all the music media seem to be jumping on, I would compare her much more to another UK singer, slightly older… Dusty Springfield.

This track is pure vintage timeless soul…

Play - Warwick Avenue

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Links :
MySpace Page
Official Site

Listen to the mix on BBC Player

Tracklisting:
MYOMI- Sun In My Eyes (MJ Cole remix) (Southern Fried)
Dara Rolins - Slowly (MJ Cole 2-step remix) (Universal)
Kyla - Do You Mind (Control-S Electro-Step Mix) inCTRL recordings
Fracture/Compound - One Look Shook (Compound One)
Dizzee Rascal-Flex (Dave Spoon re-flex mix) (XL)
Joey Youngman-Brixton Bump (Fetish)
Ben Westbeech- Dance with me (MJ Cole remix) (Brownswood)
Bazeado Urubu- Non Telhado (MJ Cole remix) (Mr Bongo)
Lickrish Music - Over With You (Will Phillips remix) (AIM)
Wideboys & Clare Evers - Snowflake (4×4 M1 Organ Mix) Garage Jams
Sol Brothers - That Elvis Track (CJ Reign 4×4 Booty Mix)
Scott Tonic -Sweet Love (White)
Qualifide-Ruff and Tuff (MJ’s Cherry Vodka Remix) (Qualifide Recordings)
Charlean Dance - Mr DJ (Positiva)
Jill Scott - Golden (Grant Nelson Remix) (White)
Jill Scott - Getting in the Way (Accapella)(Hidden Beach)
Lenny Fontana - Spirit of the Sun (Bump & Flex remix) (Public Demand)
Caged Baby - Hello There (MJ Cole Remix)(Southern Fried)
Ear Dis - Hey Girl (Gusto)
MJ Cole ft Laura Vane - Watertight (Prolific Recordings
MJ Cole ft Elisabeth Troy - Crazy Love (Talkin Loud)
House of Pain - Jump Around(Micky Slim Remix) (White)
CJ Bolland - Sugar is Sweeter (Twocker Remix) (White)
187 Lockdown- Gunman (Calvertron & Will Bailey Remix)(White)
Matlok - Watford Gap (Prolific Recordings)
Wideboys - Woofer Excursion Test Garage Jams
T2 - Heartbroken (Powerhouse)
Rodney P Trouble (MJ Cole Remix) (Riddim Killa)
Deekline - 1 in front Vs MANDY (White)
MC Creed - Hooligan (Delmonte Rammo Mix) (Subjams)
Wideboys - Project Bassline Garage Jams
Tastemakers - There it is (White)
Matt Rock - What U Feel (Deadmau5 remix)(White)
Craig David - Hot Stuff (Control-S remix)(White)
Joey Youngman - Funk 45 (Fetish)
Jacquee Bennet - Just a Dream(MJ Cole Remix)(White)
MJ & the Wideboys ft Vula - Nothing But Trouble(Prolific Recordings)
Mustafa ft Elisangela -Bom Demais (MJ Cole Remix) (Tempogroove)
Guy - S’Mone You’re Mine (Prolific Recordings)

Little Dragon was definetly one of my best discoveries of 2007. Truly amazing album from start to finish. When I finally discovered the amazing and captivating voice behind Little Dragon I realised that I already had a had been DJing several songs with her as a vocalist. She has collaborations with some of the best in NuJazz and beyond like Koop, Hird, Sleepwalker, Stateless.

Links
Yukimi Nagano MySpace Page
Little Dragon Office Site

Little Dragon “Twice”

Little Dragon “Twice” Live version

Koop ft. Yukimi Nagano “Come to me” (2006)

The Knock Off:
Jay-Z “ROC Boys” - From his above average American Gangster LP.

The Real Deal:
Menahan Street Band “Make the road by walking”

New LP from the man Jamie Lidell, one of my favorites… taking blue-eyed soul to another fu*%ing level son! Seriously, for anyone who slept on his 2005 classic “Multiply” on Warp you must check out both these releases.

I’m still in my first listens of the new record so i’m not going to give you an incomplete review.

So far, “Figured me out” is the shit!
The download will only be up for a few days to tease you a little bit.
Check it: Figured me out

Vids :::

Live version of the “Little Bit More” remix by Luke Vibert

“Multiply”
Yes, it sounds like Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” but thats not a bad thing… right?

Links

Official Site
MySpace page

Direct download (Right click and save as:)
The DIARY Megamix

Damzo… you know my little hiphop nostalgic series I started with 1992 State of Mind, well… I was just about to start working on 93 State of Mind and I stumble upon this piece of genius work and suddently I dont feel like doing it anymore… Why? Cause this megamix just whooped my ass. Megamixes are usually the most annoying thing in the world, just imagine 800 records in 80 minutes. But this blew me away!

“Great! I couldn’t take it out of the CD player. I just needed to hear what was coming next!”
(Andy Smith - Portishead)
“A tour de force through the history of hip hop. A unique view of hip hop’s golden moments”
(DJ Food - Ninja Tune / Solid Steel)
“Bloody great! One of the best hip hop mixes I’ve heard in years.”
(DJ Format – Genuine Records)
“Oww.This sh*t is stoopid suuuun!! No turn left unstoned! Serious DJs and collectors will swear Chris has been raiding their collection! A mixtape king no question.”
(DJ Ollie Teeba - The Herbaliser)
“Megamixing at its finest… Original and essential!”
(DJ Plus One – The Scratch Perverts)
“An amazing piece of work!”
(Mr Thing – Former World DMC Team Champion)
“This mix is bananas! F***ing awesome! The best and some more”
(Marc Hype – Former ITF Champion)