Al Quetz a.k.a Quetzal - 'Drums Come From Africa'

In the last few years I have really gotten into original African sounds, particularly music from Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and north Africa.

Being a drum-head myself, this instrumental LP right here is a sweet combination of those lovely African rhythms and programmed hip-hop drums.

Judging by this pic from his Bandcamp page, we're gonna see a vinyl version. 

Swell.

It is pretty easy to get bored with a lot of "Instrumental" projects these days but there's some really good ideas going on here from Quetzal (who regularly teams up with Onra for production work).

Some of the beats are pretty fruity, and I love that!

Highly recommended.

Monday Five, 14th February, 2011

Delayed.

Server shut down on me last night.

This week it's drum heavy.

One. Al Quetz a.k.a. Quetzal - 'Drums Come Africa' LP
Two. James Blake - 'I Only Know (What I KNow Now)'
Three. Chief - 'Fantastic Weekend'
Four. Do The Dilla - 'A Tribute to the Drum Master' EP
Five. Toro Y Moi - 'New Beat'

Dilla's Birthday II x Scienz of Life

Recorded not long after the Ledge passed in 2006, Scienz of Life's track 'Dilla Forever'.

A coasting hand-clap beat with guitar loops and verses gushing in praise for the genius that was/is James D. Yancey.

Pick up the free DL for your Dilla appreciation week soundtrack.

DTMD x Loan For The Lonely/The Struggle Is Real EP

Ohhhh yeah! More DTMD!

Can't wait for the album to be honest. 'The Basics' EP from January 2010 is D.O.P.E, I thrashed it hard when it first got on my player.

This is another little teaser of their  soulful beats and raps. My pick, 'The Struggle Is Real'.

Enjoi.

Bonus s**t: The sweet video of 'You' from 'The Basics'.

Monday Five - 7th February, 2011

Settle down now, settle down...

One. Droop-E - 'High In The Sky'
Two. Baby Huey - 'Hard Times'
Three. Azymuth - 'Os Cara La' (Sean J. Period Remix)
Four. Shawne Jackson - 'I Can't Make It Without You'
Five. Terrace Martin feat. 9th Wonder - 'Never Stop Lovin' You'

Load that shit up!

Kev Brown x Instrumentals

Everybody digs a bit of Kev Brown in their lives.

Here's his DL latest gifts to the world of beats, 'Instrumentals Vol.1' from his Bandcamp page.

Mean Kev! Mean!

While we're on it, how about some 'oldie but goodies' for some ear massage...

Dilla's Birthday

Dilla's birthday.

Here's Stray Phrases banging out their version of the entire Jay Dee classic LP 'Donuts' at Brooklyn's The Tea Lounge last Thursday.

DL HERE

Bilal - 'Levels' EP

Highly sweet EP from Bilal coming off the back of his solid 'Airtight's Revenge' LP from late 2010.

When you see a remix roster of Flying Lotus and Sonnymoon, plus the fact the original version is produced by Shafiq Husayn of Sa-Ra Creative Partners; like Fresh-Up it's gotta be good for ya.

The video for the track also doubles as the directorial debut for the one-and-only Steve Ellison a.k.a Flying Lotus!

Head HERE for a little more info on the background from Fly-Lo himself.

Check the audio at i-Tunes and the lush vid below.

FULL SCREENThe Sounds of VTech / Bilal Levels   

Aloe Blacc X Auckland

Ohhh yes! Getting to packing my records for this one on Thursday night.

Aloe Blacc hits town with his 3-piece band on the 27th at AK City's Backstage.

I am lucky enough to playing DJ support as well as the NY City residing David Dallas.

Have to pack some funk, soul and hip-hop heat to keep all ya'll in a party mood.

See ya there...

Monday Five - January 24th, 2011

Damn I've been busy...

I miss music!

One. Jaylib - 'Louder (Blast Your Radio Theme)'

Two. Gardens & Villa - 'Orange Blossom'

Three. Ghostface Killah feat. Black Thought - 'In Tha Park'

Four. EPMD - 'Boon Dox'

Five. Attica Blues - 'Tender' (Organized Confusion Remix)

Sample & Flip #7

Who dat?! Why it's Keni Burke of course. 

Read the 'T' fool.

Well, first 'Sample & Flip' of 2011 and my is it a goodie!

Not only are the following some killer jams, but they are among my fave tracks ever. Lets kick this off.

'Rising To the Top' by Keni Burke is a stone-cold classic. That bass line, keys, piano, smooth as fuck vocals...

Rick James, ahhh RICK JAMES. Crazy party-monster funk-bass legend. The Mary Jane Girls were his protegees.

He was behind the (probably literally on many nights) on this party heavy-hitter. Even better, here is the live Top of the Pops version from 1983...

Now if you aint' already lickin' your lips, then you better, cos' you have a lot of lickin' to do before you can out do the master, LL Cool J!

Marley Marl put in one of his best all round production efforts on LL's super-dope LP from 1990, 'Mama Said Knock You Out'; actually his last great record.

All-time jam 'Around the Way Girl' utilises them Keni Burke samples masterfully. Even better, here's classic footage of LL performing on Arsenio.

Check it...

Arguably one of the best hip-hop producers ever, Pete Rock was without a doubt at the peak of his production powers on 1994's 'The Main Ingredient' LP.

NOBODY has flipped the chorus piano riff from 'Risin' To The Top' as well as Pete did on this one; 'Take You There'.

Here's the original video in real 90's style.

Meanest!...

And just cos' he's one of the best contemporary producers around, let's put a full stop on this installment with Madlib's 'Pyramids'.

There-it-is.

Monday Five - 10th January, 2011

Well, first post for T-11 and it's a Monday Five. 

One. Electric Wire Hustle - 'Waters'

Two. Droop-E - 'High In the Sky'

Three. Electric Wire Hustle - 'Experience'

Four. Jimi Hendrix - 'Little Wing'

Five. Electric Wire Hustle - 'Tom Boy'