Redman takes a step in a new direction of songwriting from his traditional roots of Northern-East Coast funk, towards a style that might remind you of today's southern hip hop sound in his song "Oh My". This was strong to me on the first listen, from the crackling of the vinyl record static on the intro until the end. Red adopts a new style and molds it toward his own personality as an MC, sounding like he's having fun on the track as usual without sounding forced, giving you impressive delivery and new rhyme flows. The only outstanding differences from his traditional sound on this are the chorus and beat.

It's quite a step in another direction for Redman which is the point where opinions between old and new fans may differ, but I think if your ear for hip hop is broad enough between classic and contemporary sounds, "Oh My" will probably sound like a banger to you. I look forward to his upcoming album in anticipation that I will hear an artist who has grown artistically and is willing to experiment with new sounds to challenge the outlook of our total hip hop artform.


Classic Material:
I decided to bring out some vintage treats from Redman to add to the fanfare of this latest song. The first time after I finished listening to "Oh My", I started to compare it to his older material, and was inspired when I realized how far he's progressed as an artist since the days of appearing on EPMD's Rampage, managing to still hold his own today as a solo artist.

This video shows Redman and Method Man promoting their albums back in 1994, Tical and Dare Iz A Darkside. Redman speaks on the meaning behind the album title and explains his relationship with Rocafella, a friend who he dedicated the debut single to.

Here's the Mecca Don, Soul Brother #1 and Soul Brother #2 Grap Luva in a 1993 performance for their solid b-side song "It's Not A Game" on BET's Teen Summit. I remember there seemed to be a certain unexplainable magic that groups had around this time, from the genuine bond they shared in creating music which touched the positive, inspirational side of the spirit. C.L.'s lyrics are as deeply written as anything I can think of from "Mecca" on this song, even today I'm still picking up on the meaning of certain verses. Pete's adlibs and the awesome chorus add a nice touch to the song and give the sense of unity between them as one of hip hop's greatest duos.

I already knew Mecca & The Soul Brother was a classic at the time this performance was broadcast, but when I realized Pete & C.L. were allowed to perform a b-side, non-album cut on network television, I realized this album may be more more influential than I initially thought.

Check out the official video for "It's Not A Game" if you haven't already, it's got great cinematography and black & white visuals, an essential part of the Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth catalog.

This concert with an all star line-up of hip hop greats took place at New York's Knitting Factory 1/20/10, it was an event to promote greater awareness of Diabetes. This was other event in my hometown which I couldn't make due to work, but thanks to this great photography my Mel D. Cole and video footage I have something to look back and reflect on. Take a look through the slideshow and witness a who's who of classic hip hop music and culture attending this important event.

I feel fortunate to have anyone in my family who is not affected by diabetes right now. As I get older, I realize some overall improvements that could be made to help the people of inner city communities where most people in hip hop come from. When I travel to upper class communities outside my own neighborhood, the marketing of food and beverages changes drastically, from junk foods to more healthy and organic. I think the change of community values and awareness starts with the people who are willing to make a difference, like this great collective of MCs did at the Knitting Factory. Rest in peace to Killa Sha who recently passed away from diabetes.

I was happy to come across this great compilation of under-the-radar material from the legendary De La Soul. This mix by DJ Low Key contains rare b-sides and guest appearances from the Long Island hip hop trio who have been consistent in releasing quality material for years, whether or not commercial markets and media have chosen to embrace them. If there is one thing to be learned from this compilation is that the music of De La Soul will stand the test of time as an example of outstanding originality, musical refinement of cultural pioneers and life inspiring messages in hip hop. Listen to this to uplift your spirits and be inspired by a group who have been making heads nod since 3 Feet High & Rising.

1. DJ Low Key “De La Extras #2 Intro”
2. Teenage Fanclub & De La Soul “Fallin (Remix)”
3. De La Soul “La La La”
4. Joel Turner feat Dave “You”
5. Big Pooh feat. Posdnuos “People (Remix)”
6. Eslam Jawaad feat. De La Soul “Rewind DJ”
7. Malcolm McLaren feat. De La Soul “Hey DJ”
8. De La Soul feat. Sean Paul “Shoomp”
9. De La Soul & Camp Lo “So Good”
10. De La Soul feat. Jazzy Jeff “Hold Tight” aka “Cobb Creek (Demo)”
11. De La Soul “Breakadawn (De La Soul Remix)”
12. Oh No feat. Posdnuos “Smile A Lil Bit”
13. J-Live feat. Posdnuos & Oddisee “The Upgrade”
14. DJ Jazzy Jeff feat. Posdnuos “Let Me Hear U Clap”
15. J Period feat. De La Soul “Excursions”
16. Adam F feat. De La Soul & DV Alias Khrist “Time 4 Da True”
17. Ty feat. De La Soul “The Idea”
18. Nat & Onda feat. De La Soul “It’s A New Thing”
19. Matt & Kim feat. De La Soul “Daylight (Troublemaker Remix)”
20. Jungle Brothers feat. De La Soul, Monie Love, A Tribe Called Quest & Queen Latifah “Doin Our Own Dang (Richie Fermie Mix)”
21. Queen Latifah feat. De La Soul “Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children”
22. Mint Royale feat. Posdnuos “Show Me”
23. George Clinton feat. De La Soul “Do Fries Go With That Shake”
24. Last Emperor feat. Masta Ace & Trugoy “Clear Day”
25. Rob-O feat. De La Soul & Pete Rock “Stay Away”
26. Truth Enola feat. De La Soul “Voicestress”
27. Bush Babees feat. De La Soul & Mos Def “The Love Song (Remix)”

A party, love song for the ages. This energetic jam from The Mac Band is one of my favorite examples of R&B's transition from the more organic, analog high tempo funk of 80's into another level of electronic, synth based sound going into the late 80's/early 90's which seemed to bring more depth and emotion. Only a select group of people could pull off this sound well, I think this song marks a new era of classic song writing within a collective of artists who brought new life to the traditional R&B dance sound. The rhythm and chorus is great throughout Roses, carrying the song with undeniable energy with a strong vocal performance and lyrics which set the tone for both romance and festivity.

The Mac Band consists of brothers Ray, Derrick, Charles, and Kelvin McCampbell and musicians Ray Flippin (bass), Rodney Frazier (keyboards), Mark Harper (guitar), and Sly Fuller (drums). The McCampbell brothers hail from Flint, Michigan.

Download: The Mac Band - "Roses Are Red" from their self titled 1988 album

Here is the official video of The Mac Band's Roses Are Red featuring the group members

Rockness Monsta visits WKCR studios and proceeds to go off on the mic for Bobbito and Lord Sear. As one of the best Hip Hop radio shows ever, 89 Tech 9 brings the best out in many MCs. This performance by Rock is no exception as he drops memorable lines both written and off the top.

This is a surprise duet performance of Ordinary People at the 2010 Monster Cable awards show in Las Vegas. I'm glad to see these guys together again after their live tribute to MJ, hopefully we can get some collaborative musical releases from them soon!

That's right, the legendary MC Lyte from Brooklyn New York is here to bring you an eclectic mix of music at her podcast, djmclyte.podomatic.com. You have heard Lyte the MC as one of hip hop's wizards of poetry, now you have the opportunity to hear her appreciation for music through a show of skills on the 1's & 2's.

I definitely appreciate that she is taking the time to do this for fans like myself, it's a pleasure to hear her spin records after years of admiring the great work as an MC and outspoken voice of African American culture. The collage of music Lyte brings spans generations of appreciation and consumption of music, from funk to disco, reggae, pop and current hip hop. This is just the type of learning experience I am excited to get from an artist who fused many genres and influences of music throughout her classic albums.

Here are a couple of the mixes (mp3 right-click & save)

Grown Folks Disco Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, First Choice, Chic and more
Pop Mix "All the goodies for the dance floor"

now head over to the official podcast page for all her sets at http://djmclyte.podomatic.com/

Cormega sits down for an interview with Lenny S, Maya The Fab & Big Lite of The Round Table to speak on his beginnings in the music industry, stories behind The Firm group, independence as a hip hop artist and his latest album Born & Raised. Check for the dope freestyle at the end of the interview too.

Try to tune into The Round Table show on rockmetv.net regularly if you're not up on them already. It is one of the most well put together hip hop online radio/TV shows I've come across recently, with good interviews in their archive of Pete Rock, Rockwilder, Large Pro, DJ Scratch, Tye Phoenix of Polyrhythmaddicts and many more.

This is a gem from soul vocalist Little Ann, deep, heartfelt soul singing on a mellow, slightly dark track which exemplifies trademark sounds of late 60's Detroit Soul. If you're into the style of slow, moody soul songs which focus heavy on the delivery of the singer common in the 60's with powerful vocal performances, take a listen. This song from the Detroit underground music scene of the late 60's has been reissued on Timmons records from Little Ann's "Deep Shadows" LP.

If there's one project of 2009 that I'd like to have the instrumental version of, it is this project of deep hip hop production from The Strange Fruit Project. I appreciate albums where the music is imaginative enough to the point it tells a story on it's own, producer S1 and The Strange Fruit Project are an example of progression in hip hop songwriting and production.

Download Strange Fruit Project – “M.A.S.K.” EP Acapellas & Instrumentals (right click & save)

check out the lead single "Crash"

The Ecstatic by Mos Def turned out to be one of my favorite albums of '09, so I'm grateful to get a glimpse behind the scenes of the work in creating it. I really like talented, original artists who take time to reveal details behind their creative process, whether it's an interview, documentary or in the album liner notes.

One of my favorite MCs of 2010, Crooked I drops raw hip hop music for your ear, carrying the fundamental idea of an MC as a mic attacker, street intellectual and lyrical threat proudly into the new millennium. He speaks on the status of upcoming releases from him and Slaughterhouse, tour dates, and his feud with Benzino.

Flying Lotus is one producer to arise in the new millennium who has an interesting, futuristic sound which brings many elements of traditional hip hop production while pushing it toward a new direction. I can listen to his work and get all the basic feelings of sampling, dusty loops and heavy drums, while hearing fresh new ideas in his deep, experimental compositions.

The musical direction of Flying Lotus is an approach to use unheard of sounds, musical influences and sampling techniques, a rare category of forward-thinking, heavily creative producers who come from a background of traditional sound. This mix is a definite escape from the normal sound, but also an homage to classic hip hop sound, which is what I look for in finding new music.

Download or stream this mix here

Watch as this respected DJ and record collector of NY takes you on a tour through some of my favorite record stores in Manhattan's Lower East Side. What I think separates this from many other beat digging videos is that you can get a sense of the pleasant neighborhood surroundings and people which support these great record stores such as GOOD, Big City, TSL.

After years of shopping, I experienced collectors like myself gain as much of an appreciation for community as the record stores we visit and vinyl we buy. To make the journey from Uptown to the more diverse community of the L.E.S. and visit these stores is one thing I really look forward to each time, besides the opportunity to find some good records. If you plan a trip to NY for a record collecting trip, I recommend this video as a good introduction into one of the most ethnically diverse and historically rich parts of the city.

If you haven't listened to the funky and soulful sounds of Kon & Amir by now, hit their "On Track" series asap, then check out their radio show on Spine Magazine. I have alot of respect for DJs like them who work hard to bring original sound in their sets and provide education on gems of world music.

www.myspace.com/konandamir

and here's some general images of Lower East Side Manhattan, I really like the neighborhood, the Amir video is only a glimpse into what it has to offer:

Here's a free mixtape to prepare you for the follow up release from one of hip hop's great and influential duos, The Re-Union by Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek of Reflection Eternal mixed by Statik Selektah.

The package is a great balance between old and new, consisting of many classic R.E. songs and good early independent material from Kweli. I think it is a good starter compilation if you have just recently discovered Kweli & Hi-Tek's catalog, also a collectors item to listen to with pride, for the die hard fans who have been listening to them since the early days of Rawkus and the Cincinatti group Mood.

1. Intro
2. Revolutions Per Minute
3. In This World ##
4. Hip-Hop (Unreleased)
5. Back Again ##
6. Wishing On A Black Star
7. Just Begun ft. Jay Electronica, J. Cole, & Mos Def ##
8. Come Around ft. Termanology & Royce da 5'9 (produced by Statik Selektah)
9. Internet Connection
10. Let It Go ft. Dion
11. Testify ft. Styles P
12. Time
13. The Thrill Is Gone ft. Styles P (produced by Statik Selektah)
14. Can We Go Back The Reflection Eternal Classics:
15. Fortified Live ft. Mos Def & Mr Man
16. Chaos ft Bahamadia
17. The Express
18. Respiration ft. Common & Mos Def
19. Definition ft. Mos Def
20. RE:Defininition ft. Mos Def
21. Move Something
22. Ghetto Afterlife ft Kool G Rap
23. The Blast RMX ft. Erykah Badu
24. Good To You (produced by Kanye West)
25. Get By REMIX ft. Jay-Z, Mos Def, Kanye West, & Busta Rhymes (produced by Kanye west)
26. Back Up Offa Me
27. Piano (Hi Tek ft. Ghostface)
28. Music is Life (Hi Tek ft. Nas)
29. Hang Ups (NEW Reflection Eternal not on album)
30. Outro

All Joints produced by Hi Tek, unless noted.

take a listen to Come Around ft. Termanology & Royce da 5'9 below before you download: