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Collectors Item - Music, Art and Life
Madlib Rocks With The Soul Surplus Band For The Madlib Sample Pack


If you've been following The Loop Digger Madlib in the 2010's, you'll know he's been doing some cool things in collaboration with musicians. Such is the case with Madlib's first-ever sample pack featuring the instrumentation of Soul Surplus. Like his own Library imprint Madlib Invasion, Madlib creates with this band to invent grooves that set a new precedent for beat making. 

Presented by the 100% royalty-free sound provider known as Splice, The Madlib Sample Pack offers stems from beats created by Madlib and Soul Surplus. Listen to the playlist of stems here at Splice to experience the raw sound which this duo create as each instrument is revealed. From track to track, you can hear the unique and eclectic ear of Madlib derived from years of crate digging.



27 melodic Loops, 46 drum loops, 40 drum one-shots, and 18 resampled chops, for over 200 sounds total. 

Soul Surplus is:

Bass: John McNeill, Keys: Joel McNeill, Drum Kit and Percussion: Pudge Tribbett, Guitars: John Smythe


"Thick Heat" by Soft Cuff Turns Up The Temperature on Psychedelic Funk


The impact of "Thick Heat" by Soft Cuff is likely to feel like breaking a sweat from the intensity this band delivers. Raw and edgy compositions evoke the rebellious persona of this band who burn from beginning to end. If you've ever thought of the feeling of music as being "warm" this album is a good example. "Thick Heat" pushes the barometer of psychedelic Funk, exceeding various degrees of warmth through the sensory effects of music.

Witness Beauty In Bloom With The Music of Jimetta Rose & Black Is Beautiful Experience


Like the presence of nature itself, Black appears beautiful as two bands express the divine essence of humanity. Join Jimetta Rose & Black Is Beautiful Experience in a celebration of life with songs that offer healing, happiness and enlightenment. On "Beauty In Bloom" harpist Brandee Younger lends her strings to compositions that exemplify beautiful progression. "Sleeping Beauty" by Jimetta Rose is equally as beautiful in it's approach of calm and meditative Jazz Fusion. Her combination of spoken word and singing projects the confidence and joy of the Black experience. With this divine sound, we bear witness to the dawn of a brighter day in the form of music.
 

Beyoncé Goes 80's R&B With B.B.& Q. Band on "Wishing On A Genie"


Feel the magic as Beyoncé's lovely voice projects one R&B classic over another in this special moment of mashup artistry. The synth-driven groove of B.B.& Q. Band's "Genie" creates a magical moment of music with the addition of "Wishing on a Star" (originally by Rose Royce). Envision your greatest wish come true with two heavenly songs that make the impossible seem achievable. 


For 2026, B.B.& Q. Band celebrate the 40th anniversary of "genie" with a blue vinyl and digital reissue featuring bonus tracks. Get your groove on like it's the late 80's and your chilling in the Bronx, Brooklyn or Queens as a classic of R&B is refreshed.

In '88, Public Enemy Perform & Interview on The Joan Rivers Show


Brothers Gonna Work It Out in '88 as the socially conscious movement known as Public Enemy takes the stage. Watch as Chuck, Flav, Terminator X and The S1Ws ignite a pro-Black explosion which leaves it's devastating impact upon American media. PE challenge both Joan Rivers and the audience who offer some push-back on PE's music and views of society.


For sale: I've got an original Public Enemy tour ticket, the original 1988 promo poster for "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back", plus more collectors items. Check them out at my eBay storefront (link at the blog's sidebar).

Drift Away To The Japanese Jazz Fusion of SOUND FUJI & King Records


Like a walk down Sunshine Avenue on your best day, SOUND FUJI explores King Records' legendary catalog for a blissful journey into Japanese Jazz Fusion. Feel the vibe as this label presents unearths exceptional, rare and unknown musical gems. These two gems in particular feel like the joy of a summer getaway in the funky approach of George Duke. As one of the archives of one of the most prestigious labels in Japan, SOUND FUJI offer a musical atmosphere designed for your escapism. 
 

Dance To The Spectrum of Life on Leon Ware's "For The Rainbow" (Laroye's Remix)


A laid back tune becomes an electrified Broken Beat jam as Laroye sets the mood for dance. Get up to the sound of the legendary Leon Ware as Laroye makes the jam pump on "For The Rainbow". What was once a meditative song about loving life now takes on a new identity fueled by energetic rhythm. You now have a new reason to embrace the beauty of life as these two musical minds meet. Our world is indeed a rainbow not only from the love that exists, but the spectrum of musical vibrations.

Hidden Chapters of Hip Hop Invites Marley Marl, Psycho Les, Fredro Starr & Other Greats


Hosts Ben Bacardi and Big Jeff have a vast knowledge and genuine love of the culture, which reflects in the questions and depth they bring out of each guest. Enjoy this emerging podcast which sits down with pillars and innovators of Hip Hop. It looks like they are making an effort to get classic stories you may have not heard anywhere else. Marley speaks about new music to come plus inventing New Jack Swing with Heavy D. 


 At my eBay storefront (link on the sidebar of my blog) you'll find collector's items by each of these artists. This includes the limited-edition deluxe vinyl reissue of "Street Level" with 2 bonus tracks plus more gems. I've also got some cassettes for sale of Marley's In Control and Future Flavas shows and the promo poster for "Intoxicated Demos".





Mellow Out To The Funk-Fueled Sunrise of Japanese Outfit ZEROSEN

By JR on 10:55 AM

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Like the invigorating feeling you get from witnessing a sunrise, ZEROSEN is a source of musical vitality. Their vibrant arrangements fuse Funk and Soul to create a delightful atmosphere that'll make you want to celebrate. In the enduring art of conveying escapism through music, ZEROSEN excels with their own unique and attractive sound.



For 2026, Victor Entertainment Japan presents a 7" pressing of "Sunrise" b/w "Son Of Pin Head". They also offer reissues of these two albums on clear vinyl with obi-strip. Get your copy and browse the rest of Victor Entertainment Japan's catalog here at Juno Records.
 

Hi-Tek Celebrates 25 Years of "Hi-Teknology" With An LP & Instrumentals Vinyl Reissue

By JR on 8:58 PM

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In celebration of its 25th anniversary, "Hi- Teknology" continues to make heads nod with its first- ever instrumental release on black-ice colored vinyl. Colemine Records does the honors in bringing these previously released instrumentals to wax. If you already had the chance to download these digitally, now's your chance to actually hold and spin this great album.

Jessica Care Moore Soul Searches Through Poetry & Soul on "The House That Poems Built"


"The House That Poems Built" demonstrates the range of Soulful House music, going beyond the groove into a new world of imagination. The deep poetical mind of Jessica Care Moore paints worlds of joy, hope and rebellion as she envisions a history of Black excellence. To support her poetry are lively arrangements which thump and tell stories of their own. The bounce of "The House That Poems Built" is driven by lush instrumentation which parallels the defiant attitude and optimism which Ms. Moore conveys. So enjoy this wonderful journey of life, one which is supported by the power of poetry and music.
 

Elevate Your Fist To The Black Superhero Hip Hop of Tobias & Nottz


You can tell by the cover art that this duo think differently about the music they create. Like the figures of your favorite comic book, Tobias & Nottz stand as Black Superheroes with a powerful imagination for Hip Hop. 

The 2026 single "Back Of The Line" is a declaration to pump ya fist to the adrenaline of high-powered beats and rhymes. Tobias holds his own to the undeniable head nod sound of Nottz resulting in your satisfaction of realizing some Hip Hop heroes have arrived. The flipside is an aggressive posse cut as Tobias is joined by some more lyrical superheroes Chaundon of Justus League, Figga 4 and Praise.

 

Beat Butcha, Zygote Market & Fel Sweetenberg Attack Hip Hop With Carnivorous Fury


The dangerous sounds of producer Beat Butcha, Zygote Market and Fel Sweetenberg are the perfect trio to get you amped. You're bound to feel like walking down a dark alleyway at night as this crew remind us how threatening and sinister Hip Hop can be. Prepare for firepower in the form of beats and rhymes as the lyrical four-5th pops on ya for 2026. Beat Butcha, Zygote Market & Fel Sweetenberg project the sound of Hip Hop like the sudden impact of ammo from a gun.

 

In '90, Big Daddy Kane, Mister Cee, Scoob & Scrap Lover Rock The Stage


Check out a rare 30 minutes of BDK demonstrating his command of the microphone and stage. This is a journey through Kane's classics with Mister Cee who provides the cuts. Prepare for a display of lyrical sophistication and raw vinyl-based Hip Hop sound. Below, an Aussie photo collector provides rare shots of Kane while he's on the set of "Smooth Operator".



Drummer Jon Onabowu Lives For The Moment on "Now's The Time"


The joy of life is evident as Jon Onabowu writes songs which reflect a remarkable feeling of hope and desire.  "Now's The Time" is your ascension in the form of music, a moment to realize new potential with each tune. We witness a wonderful progression of fusion as Onabowu's rhythm excites and his compositions uplift. The result is a musical wonderland with the emergence of musicians who turn your speakers into a joyride you're sure to remember.

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