Enjoy a preview of more new music in the making as DXA take you into their studio environment. Their music is the type that makes me wonder what fun they must have had during recording in the tradition of Hip Hop which sounds like fun and made from the heart without concern for corporate interest or mainstream trends.

My favorite song from Don Streat's "Return of The Boom Blattt!" mixtape, great drums and back to back flows from each lyricist with the classic "hard as hell" LL Cool J vocal sample on the chorus. This mixtape mixed by DJ Grazzhoppa features production by Alkota, Illmind, M-Phazes, Ditcher2Productions, Demon Beatz, Sev Da Producer, Craig RIP, Vinyl Frontiers, Muneshine, Rik Marvel and more! Artist features include: Praverb, Ruste Juxx, Third Kind, Bmore Melanie 7-5, Royal Flush, Angela Jones, and more!

"The Calling" is featured on Salem Psalms present Beatz & Lyrics 2 Go Vol. 2, the project recorded completely during the A3C festival, one of the largest hip hop festivals in the southeast on the festival grounds in the Unique Squared Mobile Studio & Salem Psalms Library which is an earshot away from the festival. This compilation contains a lot of soul as each artist gives their all on the mic for the purpose of fun, displaying skill and finding therapy through music.

If there's anybody you can count on to attack the mic like a pack of Rottweilers in 2012 and beyond, it's New York's Brown Bag All Stars crew. This song is the first leak off the free 2DBZxBBAS EP: Brown Label Pt. 1 (Drops Monday 2/13) Brown Bag AllStars "Rottweilers" (Produced by J57)

Derrick Carter questions Dawaun Parker about his impressive discography as one of the most promising producers to emerge from Dr. Dre's Aftermath production team. Hear details about how Dawaun crafted well-known songs for Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Raekwon in addition to studio equipment discussion, musical influences and more!

Damu the Fudgemunk and Raw Poetic remain deep within the classic tradition of jazzy sampled loops and entertaining lyricism of life and Hip Hop. Kilawatt 1​.​5 - Hole Up / Streamline EP features Damu refining his identity as a producer with a stylistic approach from the 90's which combines the feel of loops with long solo performances on the vibraphone for a unique Jazz/Hip Hop sound.

Red Charon is deep in providing sounds of raw and aggressive darkness. This Detroit producer brings battle-ready energy to his beats with strong drumming and an imaginative approach to sound selection. From the title of each track you can probably tell he's one to think outside of the box by drawing influence from popular cinema. Once you hear the music, it's clear Red Baron is taking a unique approach to production while giving you the good old neck-jerk reaction of Hip Hop.

Enjoy this moving sax and vocal tribute to Jay Dee by saxophonist Joe Edwards and vocalist David James. Pretty nice for someone who just recently discovered Jay's work before performing this tribute cover of "Fall in Love". Hear more of what Joe Edwards has to say about this song below:

"As Dilla's birthday nears (Feb 8th), events are happening across the globe celebrating a life that touched many. Instrumentals so often take the backseat to whatever rapper is on a track, but in Dilla's case an awareness and appreciation for his mastery are evident (and deserved). Just search "Dilla"on twitter any given day and hear the resounding chorus of a grateful community. Though I count myself in the category of folks who were introduced to his work after his passing, I'm thankful for friends who helped me delve not only into his output, but also that of those he influenced: Common, The Roots, D'Angelo, Slum Village, Erykah Badu, etc. His discography reads like a who's who of folks on our iPods. This is my spin on two of his most famous works. I played with the timing a bit. Hope you enjoy. RIP Dilla. 

Many thanks to David James on vocals

 The end samples an orchestral piece by Miguel Atwood Ferguson. His album, Timeless: Suite for Ma Dukes, has finally been released on amazon.com. It's gorgeous...definitely worth a purchase."

The soulful and melodic instrumental grooves of Tensei's "One EP" is something to remember in the vein of outstanding Hip Hop groove-based music which features the emotional elements of a live ensemble. The Chicago based production crew Tensei comprised of Simple X and Midas Wells present an instrumental project which merge a number of different musical influences into one futuristic approach and distinct musical identity. Each track presents a mood of it's own, from the West-Coast bounce of "The Minotaur", the Jazz-fusion sounds of "Three's" or the fusion of reggae and Hip Hop rhythm on "Smash Mouth" as Tensei bring a refined sound which is pleasing to the ear through exciting experimentation and ideas.

Track List

1. Acid Reign
2. For the Love
3. Let ‘em in
4. Fly Trap
5. The Minotaur
6. Threee’s
7. Smash Mouth
8. For the Love ft. Adad, Yaw, & Denmark (Bonus Track)
9. Fly Trap ft. Scarlet Monk (Bonus Track)
10. Smash Mouth ft. Scud One, Phenom, & The Ones (Bonus Track)

Credits

All songs written, produced, mixed, and arranged by Tensei
Guitar on Track 3, 6, 7, 10 by David Taylor
Guitar on Track 4, 9 by Greg Firak
Violin on Track 1, 2, 8 by Savor Faire
Harp on Track 1 by Brandee Younger
Sitar on Track 5 by Tyler Randall
Additional Keys on Track 1, 6 by Greg Spero
Background Vocals on Track 4 by Scarlet Monk
Background Vocals on Track 6 by Khari Lemuel
Lyrics on Smash Mouth Written by Tehray Hale, Stevin Levin, Khari Lemuel, & Yaw Agyeman
Lyrics on For the Love Written by Demetrius Barry, Bryan Braceful, & Yaw Agyeman
Lyrics on Fly Trap Written by Anna Helena Zimowska
Cover Art by Artwork - April Lynn, http://aprillicks.tumblr.com
Smash Mouth Vocals recorded at RGB Studios, Chicago IL


Released by: Plug Research

Soul II Soul are creators of classic tunes which feature some of the most memorable modern R&B vocal melodies known within it's genre. In the late 80's the UK act debuted with their hits "Keep On Movin" and "Back To Life" and created a pleasant marriage between the beat of Hip Hop and traditional R&B as Soul II Soul by presenting a unique style of breakbeat-driven UK Soul. Feel the vibes of Soul II Soul as they perform their best tunes live at Play, Japan, an hour-long performance of their catalog with sounds designed to make you move and feel good.

Check out this video interview with Soul II Soul's producer/vocalist/songwriter DJ Jazzie B at Play, Japan!, Liquidroom, Tokyo where he speaks with others on the significance of the RBMA and it's importance to the future of music.

Listen to part 2 of Soul II Soul Live at Play, Japan!, Liquidroom, Tokyo here.

"The collective that includes the Poets of Rhythm, Whitefield Brothers and Karl Hector & The Malcouns present a series of rare funk, jazz, soul and world-psych singles compiled as an album. Presale at Stones Throw Feb. 6th. Worldwide street date Feb. 28th.

It’s been nearly fifteen years since the vinyl-only releases by the various ensembles helmed by Jay and Max Whitefield – also known as the Whitefield Brothers and the nucleus of the revered Poets of Rhythm – were collated onto an Original Raw Soul album. The last – 1997’s More Original Raw Soul – largely contained the duo’s heavy funk and soul… well before the aughts’ Deep Funk revival that one could argue began with these two German siblings’ earliest recordings.

Fitting, then, that this – Original Raw Soul III – looks back at recordings dating back over twenty years but never once sounds dated or dull. There’s the garage funk of the early Poets incarnation the Bus People Express; the deep jazz of vocalist Bajka gigging with a Max Whitefield ensemble; the pan-African psych-jazz of the Whitefield Brothers. And that’s just three of the ensembles contained within. Original Raw Soul III’s sixteen tracks that span the gamut of forty years of musical innovation, recorded over the past twenty years, and presented anew today.

Contains two previously unreleased songs by The Transgressors, which also released on a 7” in conjunction with this album. Download one – the garagey funk number “Money For Born Money For Die” – below."



Tracklist:
1. New Process – Bus People Theme
2. Poets Of Rhythm – Summerdays (Inst.)
3. Transgressors – Will Power
4. Bajka – A Vision 1/3
5. Karl Hector & The Malcouns – J.B. R.I.P.
6. New Process – Freedom
7. Mercy Sluts – $600 Song
8. Karl Hector & The Funk Pilots – Funky Sex Machine
9. Bajka – The Only Religion That I Believe
10. Whitefield Brothers – The Bastard
11. Polyversal Souls – Muswell Hill Run
12. Transgressors – Money For Born, Money For Die
13. Karl Hector & The Funk Pilots – Free I Wanna Be
14. Whitefield Brothers – Savannahstan
15. Neo Hip Hot Kiddies Community – Hip Walk
16. Poets Of Rhythm – Flight To St. Vincent
17. Mercy Sluts – Banana Republic

1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 13, 16 , 17 produced by J. Whitefield, B. Baral, M. Whitefield (The Soul-Saints); 3, 12 by J. Whitefield, W. Holland, M. Whitefield; 4, 9, 11, 15 by M. Whitefield; 5 by J. Whitefield, Z. Curulija, T. Myland ; 10 by Whitefield Brothers; 14 by J. Whitefield

CD. 2012. NA5088. Released in conjunction with Transgressors “Will Power/Money For Born Money For Die” 7″. 2012. NA 7025.

Enjoy this digitally reissued album of Canadian Funk from Donald Seward, the keyboardist of the pop music group empirical Caesar and The Romans and bassist of the Romans. This 3 track album is packed with upbeat Hammond Funk grooves with a strong horn section and memorable arrangements, including a cover of Sly Stone's "Sing A Simple Song" and "Mongo's Boogaloo" by Mongo Santamaria.