Category archive: Audio

Paul White is living up to all the hype! Another weighty 7″ dropping on the increasingly exciting One Handed Music label..

Hot on the heels of Bullion’s niche-anthem ‘Get Familiar’ comes the second solo transmission from another peculiarly talented London beat-smith, Paul White.

For You And For Me is an oddly intoxicating marching tune that shows that in hip hop in 2008, the most fun is to be had in the fringes. Paul’s passion for prog takes a decidedly exotic and somehow military turn and ends up with the kind of wide-eyed creation that his has peers in a froth.

We Want It All is pretty old-school in comparison: a rough drum break, filthy bass and all sorts of curious and wonderful voices add up to three of the best minutes sample-based music will have all year.

Along with a handful of fine remixes and his mesmerising beat-tapes, 2007’s debut single The Dragon Fly marked Paul out as a leading light of the increasingly captivating ‘beat scene’. Plaudits fell at his feet: Dazed & Confused enthused that he “embodies all that is good about a new generation of producers”; illustrious peers such as IG Culture, Danny Breaks and Ashley Beedle signalled their respect and key folk such as Benji B and Gilles Peterson launched him on the airwaves (the latter featuring him in his ‘Beat Generation’ special amongst the pick of the new breed).

A library producer by trade with BBC and Channel 4 credits to his name, Paul crafts his psychedelic gems in his South London rooftop studio, The Skylight, from whence the sounds of a beguiling and unique debut album are beginning to emerge… Get the “7 on Rushhour.

Paul White – For You & For Me

As a prelude to the release of Black Milk’s upcoming LP, Tronic, on October 28, Fat Beats Records and HipHopDX present ELEC. This free mixtape highlights 25 of Black Milk’s finest works since the release of Popular Demand in March 2007. Featuring an all-star lineup of emcees and producers that include Busta Rhymes, Jake One, Pharoahe Monch, Kardinal Offishall, DJ Khalil, Bishop Lamont, as well as Detroit reps like Elzhi, Royce Da 5?9?, Guilty Simpson and more.

Black Milk ELEC Mixtape

New Mix from BTS Radio founder Andrew Meza on Kpfk.

Andew Meza kpfk Mix

1/7th of Michigan Hip-Hop heroes The Athletic Mic League [AML] and 1/4th of production powerhouse The Lab Techs, is standing on the verge of something huge. He has been instrumental in boosting the careers of fellow crew members Buff1 and DJ Haircut (Stones Throw Records’ newest acquisition). Now that he’s produced pivotal tracks for nearly every notable Detroit Hip-Hop artist and beyond, released multiple albums with AML and toured extensively throughout the US and Europe, this Producer/Emcee/DJ is finally ready to expose the inner workings of his mind to the world. The Golden Hour serves as an introduction to the unorthodox genius of 14KT, and is the first of several solo full length albums already completed.

In Medical terms, the Golden Hour is defined as: the first sixty minutes, after the occurrence of major multisystem trauma. It is widely believed that the victim’s chances of survival are greatest if he or she receives definitive care in the operating room within the first hour. “When I read this, it hit me that I felt I was in the “Golden Hour” of my career; the time between life and death. Thinking of all my disappointments, accomplishments, mistakes, failed plans, sacrificed time, relationships, confusion, lost opportunities, sound identity crisis, times of laziness and hard work, I felt like I was going thru somewhat of a major “trauma” in my music career and the next projects I put out will be like my “medicine” or “definitive care” in the operating room [the studio].” 14 KT 

14 KT – Less Than Enough Feat. AB

14 KT – Ypsilanti

+ Dwele – Feels So Good
+ 2000 Black – Simple Sacrifice
+ Kid Sublime – Something About Your Love Ft. Nicky Guiland
+ J. Rawls – Digital Funky
+ D’Angelo – Spanish Joint
+ Full Crate – Robin, Micha & Noah
+ ?? – ??
+ Aaron Jerome – Reason To Ft. Katherine De Boer
+ Ben Westbeech – So Good Today
+ Mos Def – Umi Says
+ Minus 8 – Starlight
+ ?? – ??
+ Saint Germain – Latin Note
+ Byron & Onra – Mr. Suave

Download Full Crate & FS Green Mixing Monthly

Peep this quick Nike I Am 90 Sound Series clip (via Heavy).  The series focuses on European musicians who share the Nike Air Max 90 attitude.

Kissey Asplund illustrates the lifestyle of a singer in Stockholm.  Nice marriage of style, imagery and music.  The song is called “Silverlake” and it’s produced by Dorian Concept.

If you can find her album Plethora, pick it up without hesitation.  She also has an older EP called Fuss N Fight as well as a slew of random songs floating around. Drops Oct 22nd as a limited 12? vinyl, and digitally November 3rd.  Trees For Breakfast.

Kissey Asplund – Silverlake Prod. Dorian Concept

This is already the second promo of Black Milk‘s October 28th release Tronic, . This second song is called “The Matrix” and it features DJ Premier on the cuts, Pharoahe Monch and Sean Price. Black Milk already gave you two songs for free, so go and cop the rest of this album on October 28th.

Black Milk – The Matrix Feat. Pharoah Monch, Sean Price, DJ Premier

Known as Los Angeles’ “Ambassador of Boogie Funk“, dâm-funk represents the citizens of the Funkmosphere. Headquartered in the Culver City section of L.A., dâm (pronounced: ‘Dame’ as in Damon) spent the last few years cultivating a musical renaissance rooted in the early-’80s styles known as Boogie, Modern Soul and Electro-Funk.

For dâm, “Funk is not a fad – it’s a way of life”. When you listen to beats like the one above, which is the first time many people heard dâm-funk on wax, its clear that he might well have been responsible for some of those OG g-funk lines on some of our favourite records too.

As a DJ/selector, dâm attracts the most discerning Boogie Funk afficionados to his Monday-night Funkmosphere parties. But it’s not just collectors at the bar toasting to the melodic sounds. Anyone who grooves to the likes of Slave, Aurra, early Prince, Prelude Records and the like, will get a dose of those groups’ unknown contemporaries – more obscure but equally Funk-worthy.

Earlier this year Dâm-Funk’s Debut 12″ dropped on Stones Throw Recordings with Stunning Artwork and 2 amazing tunes – “Sidewayz” and “Burgundy City“, the latter being one of the most heavily rinsed records on the Deviation Radio Show in 2008.

The new Boogie sound of LA has come to life thanks to Dam-Funk’s vintage synths and futuristic vision. He plays all the instruments and uses no sequencers no computers. The LP “Toeachisown” will be dropping 2009 on Stones Throw Records.

Dâm Funk – 10 West (Snippet)

If you missed his legendary Boogie Funk mix via the Stones Throw podcast, the bad news is, it is no longer available. The good news is, you can download it here.  Via Benji B’s DeviationMusic

Hip-Hop group Now On which consists of Jackson Perry, IX Lives and Haircut just released their first album “Tomorrow Already”. The album contains productions from the Lab Techs, Jake One and Astronote, with appearances by Buff1 and Aloe Blacc. Buy the album here.

By the way Mayer Hawthorne is taking over. Otherwise knows as Haircut from Now On and the Athletic Mic League, catch this Stones Throw new artist maneuver the freshest blend of soul and doo-wop in the game right now. Check out Asideworldwide for al your Now On, Buff1, 14KT news.

Now On – The Answer Prod. 14KT

Mayer Hawthorne – It Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out (snippet)

The first work in a few years by soulstress YahZarah — a self-released mini album that finds her singing beautifully over kind of a gritty hip hop soul backdrop on a few tunes — and a mellower, more smoothed out groove on others! It’s been way too long since we’ve heard anything new from YahZarah, and she’s clearly ready to burst forward with a fresh new vibe — reintroducing herself with her Purple St James persona. Purp rolls with more of an uptempo hip hop soul vibe on a few tunes, plus a couple of sweeter jazzy soul ballads, including a duet with Raheem DeVaughn. Timeless beatcraft, with some grittier touches, plus a couple tunes with the sweeter indie soul groove that first hipped us to her. Her singing is as good as ever, and this is a promising Prelude, indeed! 8 tracks and an interlude, with “Four Alarm Fire”, “Real Good” feat Phonte of Little Brother, “U Turn Me On”, “Oooh Baby U”, “Where I Is”, “Come To Me” feat Raheem DeVaughn, “Natural” and “Tired Of Watching”. Get it on Dustygroove. YahZarah will also be on the next Foreign Exchange album “Leave It All Behind”.

YahZarah – Real Good Feat. Phonte