Archive for the ‘music’ Category
fresh like uhh, impala uhh July 14th, 2010
With summer here - or has it passed [?] - it’s time for an album to accompany it. I might be getting ahead of myself here, but Carnival is practically around the corner, and if you’re not excited enough already you will be after you download the latest compilation from Jamaica-born and South Florida based Chinese Assassin DJs - Hot off The Press (Fresh Fries 2). Some tracks you’ll probably have heard [Serani and Lady Saw's take on OMG], some you’ll probably hear [Pitbull and Machel Montero's Awrite], and some you might never if you don’t download it…
Chinese Assassin DJs - Fresh Fries 2
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mira como tu me tienes June 29th, 2010
Hold Yuh is up there. I’m talking top five tracks of the year, and staking a firm case for a place amongst the all time greatest. In my personal opinion that is. But the sleepy, seductive melody was confined to my iTunes until this Latin remix from Oakland-based duo Panameño Los Rakas [above] came to my attention. At first when I looked it up I stumbled on Supanova’s inferior effort but soon I came across what I was looking for. The beauty of Gyptian’s original [below] is it’s simplicity, so rather than muddy the water with superfluous glorification, I’d rather let la musica do the talking. Los Rakas above. Gyptian’s original below. Que Los disfruten…
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won’t get none of your CDs back June 22nd, 2010
With a new post long overdue, the weather over here hotting up, and Uk music positively scorching right now, the stage is set. The subject of today’s return to the stage has been inspiring madness and disturbing the peace from Bow to Belgravia for a minute already, but it’s never to late to recognise talent. Tempa T’s Next Hype is undoubtedly one of the biggest Uk tracks to stay below the mainstream radar over the last 6 months, and is by the same right acknowledged by the industry as being game changing. I can say I’ve heard it in some guise or other at least 40 times this month already and it still sounds every bit as good as it did the first time.
*I wasn’t going to post the original video - in favour of the two alternatives - but then I watched it again, and couldn’t help laughing at Westwood being mugged off. Again. So switched my decision. Plus Tempz is sporting the Pars “R” Us tshirt and a flat top? Need I say more.*
The other two videos [below] seem to capture the breadth of Next Hype’s influence, through musical diversity. The second combines comedy and raw talent [including Tempz and JME], and serves to educate the less open minded amongst us as to the character and validity of the grime scene. Arguably more importantly though, could it help dispel the the misconceived perception that all grime artists are bipolar maniacs with a lust for vice and disorder? The first, by contrast, is no less inspired [and undisputedly original], and errs towards a more melodic and soulful interpretation of Tempz’s original hype. Whichever side of the fence you sit on, both in terms of grime as a genre, or the musical melting pot that is Ned and the Slow Jams, you’d be hard pushed to deny the ever-growing infuence and appreciation of a genre that is younger than most of us…
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my mother asked me: is this bragging really necessary April 29th, 2010
Donnis first came to my attention via a freestyle I heard of him over Rhi-Rhi’s Rudeboy. Next I heard Gone - the most critically claimed track off 25 year old former US Air Force member’s Diary of an Atlanta Brave mixtape. First I liked it, then I loved it, and then I saw a couple of bottles of Belvedere INTENSE in his video. The rest is history. Download the mixtape from 10Deep here
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they say hello they say hola and they say bonjour February 25th, 2010
I stand by my statement last week that the US music industry is strides ahead of ours over here - but UK music is experiencing a rebirth, and growing from strength to strength. These are beautiful times for us, and tracks like this can hold it against the best. Pass Out is masterfully produced and Tinie Tempah’s lyrics are pertinent and true. Like him, I used to listen to You Don’t Want to Bring Arms House, and I’m pissed I never got to fly on a Concorde…
download here
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all black everything February 17th, 2010
Jay Z is king. Musically he is unequivocally superior. In business he has proven to be up there with the best. And his 14 year career is marked with too many achievements to list. Success was a word coined to describe people like him. But…
Empire State of Mind Part II, the solo version from Alicia “Augello Cook” Keys is perfect, even without the king of rap’s midas touch. Her vocals are so silky smooth that they sum up everything that is alluring about New York: the city lights, the cultural diversity, the American Dream. I can’t argue that she is an astoundingly talented musician, but apart from in a couple of exceptional cases, I am not amazed, or touched by her. With this song however, she has achieved something amazing: whilst reaffirming that the US music scene is way beyond that over here (can you imagine Beverley Knight coming up with a track of this stature about London?), she has made me wish I was American. Ok New Yorkers are a different breed from most Americans, but the principle is there. What’s more her voice is so seductive I’d give up everything I’ve got and up sticks in a flash to share that life with her.
This is already, and surely will always be a classic of our times…
Download here
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go lower than the grades on your report card February 5th, 2010
How Low has got more than a touch of You’re a Jerk about it - but typically from Luda it’s balanced with a dirty south twang. Add Ciara’s silky vocals [don't watch her lyrics] and Pitbull’s trademark Miami-Latin flow and this official remix is as close as it comes to the complete package. Listen/download here, or catch it in your local hip hop spot…
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pain in the neck October 6th, 2009
Whether you love autotune or hate it, whether you love Jay-Z’s D.O.A or hate it, and whether you love T-Pain or hate him, what he said about Jigga while on stage in Las Vegas last weekend was foolish and shortsighted. However, this apology - in the form of a remix of Drake’s Successful - is sincere and humble. For that he deserves respect - despite his lack of dignity earlier in the week. If you didn’t know about the bad blood between T-Pain and Jay you may well have missed the storm [in a teacup?] by now - but listening to this, especially the 3rd verse [3minutes 07seconds], will fill you in on the latest [and possibly final] chapter in the story…
And if you like it enough, you can get hold of the download here
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dirty cash i want you / dirty cash i need you more October 1st, 2009
Please forgive me. Tim ‘The Big Dog’ Westwood doesn’t really deserve one line on here - but in this special case I’m going to break that unwritten rule and post one of his videos. For the plain and simple reason that no matter what anybody says, for some inexplicable reason he attracts the biggest names on his show, and by the law of averages every now and then he’s bound to host something special. Like this freestyle from Dylan the Villain. Not only is Dizzee freestyling over New Boyz’s You’re a Jerk, but he continues to mention Patrón and his fitted cap collection. For those reasons - plus the fact that his album has just dropped - here it is…
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i stay geeked up September 23rd, 2009
This track is simply too dope to be ignored. The hook is overly catchy, and the neon video equally attractive. At the very least you have to give the New Boyz props for a) sporting skinny jeans in a hip hop video [even if you hate them], and b) getting cool kids across the globe triumphantly proclaiming I’m a jerk…
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