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Collectors Item - Music, Art and Life
Singer Stacy Ryan Re:imagines A Chet Baker Classic on "Like Someone In Love"


May your heart flutter to the soulful sounds as Stacy Ryan breathes new life into a Chet Baker classic. "Like Someone In Love" is transformed from the somber mood of the original into a delightful R&B tune. What once resembled the feeling of being at a Jazz lounge becomes a ray of sunshine as you enjoy the company of your significant other. 

This one as well as other gems on this compilation are sure to be the soundtrack for your romantic mood. Stacy leads the way to happiness with emerging talents of music who draw inspiration from the charming Jazz persona of Chat Baker.

You've Got A Friend With The Blissful Soul Music of SpaceArk & The McCrary


Like a wishing well or magic carpet, the magical Soul music of SpaceArk & The McCrary is your chance to get away. Although each band has their own approach to music, each album is sweet and soothing to the soul. Each digital reissue introduces us to their rare recordings of the 70's and songwriting that overflows with feelings of happiness. The result is a warm embrace of music that reminds us of the best things in life, like the presence of a good friend.

 

In '91, Gangstarr Introduces "Step In The Arena" On British TV


Add this one plus the full instrumental album below to your "Step In The Arena" experience. We get more insight behind Gangstarr's classic sophomore album as The Guru & DJ Premier sit with UK TV. Here what Sunset Vinyl has to say about this interview:

"In this early UK television interview, Gang Starr — Guru & DJ Premier — introduce themselves to British audiences for the first time.

Filmed at a pivotal moment in hip-hop’s evolution, the duo reflect on their roots in New York and Boston, the influence of family and street knowledge, and the philosophy behind their music. They discuss rap as a “voice of black youth,” the social realities that shape their lyrics, and the importance of bridging understanding between cultures.

The conversation also explores:
The fusion of jazz and hip-hop
Working with Spike Lee and Branford Marsalis
Why jazz deserves renewed respect
Educating listeners through rap
Underground credibility vs commercial trends
The rise of “gangster rap” and staying true to their own style
The vision behind their album Step in the Arena

Guru and Premier explain how their creative partnership works — from Premier’s production to Guru’s lyrical approach — and why they see rap as both an artform and an educational tool.

A fascinating snapshot of Gang Starr at the beginning of their UK breakthrough — thoughtful, socially aware, and laying foundations for the jazz-rap movement that would define the early 90s."



Here's a dealer on eBay who has the instrumental vinyl for "Step In The Arena" on sale. If you decide to buy it or anything else through my link, you'll support the blog because eBay compensates me as a member of their Partner Network. The copy I got of "Step In The Arena" instrumentals was a test pressing which if I can recall correctly, I got at Beat Street in Brooklyn.

Mikey D'Struction Taks Hip Hop With Apathy & Rocks The Mic Live In The 80's


Two destructive lyricists share stories of their admiration for Hip Hop in this 2026 interview by Apathy. Queens legend Mikey D'Struction is today's guest who tells his story of rocking mics while exchanging his undying joy of Hip Hop with Apathy. Press play for an interview that's sure to make you smile whether your a DJ, MC or casual listener.

Big Phrodee provides some rare audio of Mikey D'Struction at work from the years of '84 and '88. This series of performances by Mikey D includes a hilarious cover of T La Rock's "It's Yourz".


Hear Fredro Starr Freestyling At An '89 Park Jam + The Instrumentals of Onyx's Debut


Veteran Queens NYC DJ Cutmasta Jt provides rare audio which represents Hip Hop in it's purest form. One of the recordings includes a young Fredro Starr letting the lyrics flow live in '89 at Baisley Park. Cutmasta Jt is on the wheels of steel at this moment plus other park jams, such as the renowned Redman & Biz Markie performance at Montibello Park. Check out Cutmasta Jt's Soundcloud page for more gems plus others which may not be posted which you can DM him about.

Nod your head to the ruff rugged and raw sound of Onyx's Def Jam debut below.
 

Funk Night Records Presents: "Cinema (The Essential Library Vol 1)" by Initials MB


"One year after Brighter, Initials MB returns with his 6th album Cinema, an instrumental record extending the momentum initiated with Bang bang! (released in 2023 on the le pop club label). Cinema immerses the listener in a retro, cinematic atmosphere, where a gentle nostalgia floats — like an idealized vision of 1960s film music. The artist’s signature sound is fully present: a delicate blend of light pop, baroque influences, and psychedelia. Carefully crafted arrangements bring together violins, vibraphones, and 60s organs, crossed with subtle acid-tinged fuzz guitar lines. Dreamlike jazz-inspired choirs and a lyrical voice carry the album, giving it a unique sense of reverie."

Monica's "Before You Walk Out Of My Life" Receives The Soul Bounce of NYC Alowicious


Enter the genre-bending and soul-drenched sound of a band who love the 90's as a Monica classic gets flipped lovely. With their jazzy Soul rework, NYC Alowicious leave their stamp upon Monica's "Before You Walk Out Of My Life". This is just one of numerous covers that show their command of R&B/Soul and unique soul persona. Enjoy a cover that brings a whole new swag to this tune as NYC Alowicious let it all hang out. The delightful vibe of this song receives a new dose of happiness based upon a reimagining which brings joy to the notion of love's departure.

 

Stream The John Carraro Collection, A Renowned Breakbeat Dealer To Hip Hop

By JR on 10:47 AM

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I was cleaning my room recently and stumbled across a print catalog that John and his wife sent me back in '95. The catalog is a hand-typed collection of his inventory of vinyl for sale which is a wealth of Jazz, Funk and Soul. I met them as a teen while digging at the 57th St Holiday Inn record convention in Manhattan NYC. For those looking to reminisce on the days of The Roosevelt, revisit crate digging grails or learn about albums you may have not heard before, enjoy. John Carraro is known for supplying Hip Hop royalty with breaks and samples that would eventually become Hip Hop classics.


Browse the Jazz Hunter John Carraro collection here at my Google Gemini and enjoy hours of good music. With the use of AI, I've created a browsable database of his record collection from digitizing the print catalog he sent me. 





Truth Causes A "Cause For Concern" With Psycho Les, Tragedy Khadafi & Da Beatminerz


When it comes to New York Hip Hop, this presentation is the truth as die-hard practitioners of the culture connect. There's not a mic that might go uncheck based on the lyrical dedication of Truth, Psycho Les and Tragedy Khadafi. The funky beat comes courtesy of Da Beatminerz who provide us with something that feels like "Street Level" in '94. From Truth's new album "Nostalgia Therapy 2".

Here's some nostalgia below courtesy of Dope Folks Records and my cassette deck. Some early Psycho Les production and an interview with Tragedy Khadafi & Imam Thug.

Cymande Doc Set To Drop, While "Bra" Receives A Modern Twist of R&B Smoothness

By JR on 8:12 PM

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Everything's gonna be alright once you press play on this smooth cover of Cymande's Funk classic "Bra". Even if you've never heard the original tune before, this version offers a plentiful dose of happiness and originality. As a result, you're bound to return to it for a musical uplift. SlowDripMedia utilizes AI to create a cool take on "Bra" featuring an upbeat adrenaline rush of R&B sound. This one is bound to make you feel like a winner as the Funk gets replaced with an arrangement that feels victorious like the hero at the end of a movie.

Prepare for the official Cymande documentary below, a long-overdue celebration of Funk greatness featuring Maseo of De La Soul, Masta Ace and others.

Music Is Your Sedative With The Hip Hop of Es on "New Year New Outlook"

By JR on 8:00 PM

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Leave the blues behind as Es, DJ Close and Fyhlox offer freedom of the mind in the form of the beat, cuts and rhymes. 2026 presents a "New Year New Outlook" for Es who projects thoughts that are optimistic, self-aware and focused on maturity. A classic sample from the Funk band Cymande reverberates throughout the track to support Es's positive message. The result: a Hip Hop sound to reassure you that it's alright and better days are soon to come.

With over 40 years of performing, the British Funk juggernaut known as Cymande are still funkin'. Enjoy their 2025 performance on KEXP below which includes the song "Bra" used on "New Year New Outlook".
 

Classics by Fela Kuti & The Meters Take A Caribbean Twist With MitchumYacoub & The Appetizers


Like birds of a feather, funky music flocks together as demonstrated by these covers which fuse intercontinental styles. MitchumYacoub & The Appetizers take us to the Caribbean with their groovy takes of Fela Kuti & The Meters. As each band gets loose on the rhythm, experience each classic anew in a sound that projects a vibe of joy and togetherness.

 

In R&B, Singers Andriah Arrindell, Lori Jenaire & Deborah Bond Weigh The Scale Of Love


Whether it's the love you seek from your significant other or the search for love in humanity itself, this is music which beats to the rhythm of life. Like the power of your heart's pulse, the emotions run strong within these singers who make music a source of hope and love. Join Andriah Arrindell, Lori Jenaire & Deborah Bond on a journey of life as each visualize a path toward greater compassion, togetherness and peace on earth. The scale of love is balanced by the lovely musical vibrations of these songbirds who define the complexity of the heart.

In '94, Brother Arthur Uses Hip Hop to Unite Black People on "What You Gonna Do"


Brother Arthur bears armor in the form of the beat and rhyme in a call for Black people unite and let's all get down. The renowned Skull Snaps drum break sets the pace for a pro Black explosion which sheds light on American oppression. Let this DJ Premier-cosigned song be the catalyst for you to stand up to your oppressors. Brother Arthur's social awareness is not only here to provoke your head to nod, but put you head in a book to understand society.

Go Far Out With The Brazilian Jazz of Grupo Um's Previously-Unreleased "Nineteen Seventy Seven"


"Fifty years after its recording, Nineteen Seventy Seven finally comes to light as an essential document of the Brazilian jazz avant-garde. Recorded in 1977 and kept unreleased for decades, the album marks another chapter in the history of Grupo Um, a collective that emerged from Hermeto Pascoal’s creative circle in São Paulo during the height of the military dictatorship's repression." - Far Out Recordings

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