Jan
14

The Bangz ft. New Boyz – “Found My Swag”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P1ZEyvlvXc I know that wide reader majorities dislike jerkin’ music, but I do not rely on Gallup to make decisions. If you don’t like this song at least a little bit, I suspect that you hate pop music on principle. Not that I blame you, but every now and then.  Don’t get me wrong —… Continue reading »

Jan
14

Unskippable Songs: Mack 10 – “On Them Thangs”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp7VbjybZIA If Rick James did not lapse into a Chappelle-ready self-parody, we would probably remember him as one of the funkiest men to ever live. Here, 88 X Unit deploys the “Mary Jane” loop with gusto. I always found “On Them Thangs” to be a pretty solid catch-all excuse. Example: “Son, why were you late… Continue reading »

Jan
14

Sach O: The Future-Bass of Sub Swara

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_tvD-Y7JEY Montreal masses (I’ve seen our stats, I know you’re out there), what have you got planned for this Saturday? If you said anything except the Sub Swara/Dig.it.al showcase, you’re probably one of those people who rate South Park ahead of the Simpsons. Hailing from NYC, Sub Swara is composed of DJ/Producers/Percussionists Haj, Dhruva and… Continue reading »

Jan
13

Killer Mike – I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind II

To promote the third installment of his I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind series, ex-Outkast affiliate and Grind Time guru Killer Mike is giving away part two gratis. Last September, Aaron Matthews eloquently captured what makes the album so exceptional, so no need to reiterate. For those new to the cult of the erstwhile Mike… Continue reading »

Jan
13

Sach O: Outkast – “B.O.B (Stenchman remix)”

A decade after the fact, pop music has finally caught up with Stankonia-era Outkast. From the dance music influence, to the druggy Funkadelic space personas, to the seriously questionable fashion sense, the impact of Dre and Big Boi’s final classic can be felt from LA to LDN and back to Bankhead. The first single and… Continue reading »

Jan
12

Robotic, Let’s Think Optimistic, You Probably Missed It

For posterity, a few links to stuff written elsewhere that you may or may not be interested in perusing. If not, may you be subjected to a fate worse than Jeff Zucker. First, humor me as I again shill for The Stylus Decade. The lists and essays are done and the site is destined to… Continue reading »

Jan
12

The Solved Mystery of Jay Electronica’s “Victory”

Chalk one up to the open-source ability of the Internet. Late Sunday night, Joey  flashed the bat-signal requesting help in determining the full tracklist of Jay Electronica’s Victory.  Before I even had the chance  to aid the mission, the problem was solved. If only the Internet could figure out Afghanistan, the Health Care fiasco, and… Continue reading »

Jan
12

Shlohmo And The Pros and Cons of Hotboxing The Cockpit

Shlohmo received the memo — that furtive Elders of Zion-esque protocol that compels me to write about artists who describe themselves on Myspace as a “tall, lanky, jewy-lookin dude from LA proper,” title songs “Hotboxing the Cockpit,” and create an aural aesthetic in the vein of Ras G, Flying Lotus, and Nosaj Thing. Like his… Continue reading »

Jan
11

Meet Cliff, Patrick, Gary Grice and My Man, C. Woods

“Connect and network, that’s the part of the game that no one understands” –Raekwon. So says the chef, which explains why two decades deep the Clan commands a stature that stands up to easy Beatles comparisons. No one will ever confuse the Wu’s run between 2000 and 2008 with the Beatles of 62-70, but the… Continue reading »

Jan
11

Sach O: Strong Arm Steady – In Search of Stoney Jackson

Sach O forms like Old McDonald: E I O. In Search of Stoney Jackson is Madlib’s 48 Hours. His Center of Attention. His Livin’ Proof. If those names don’t ring a bell, you’re probably not a fan of super producers giving away their best beats to seemingly undeserving rappers. That’s not a diss: I honestly… Continue reading »

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