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Hip-Hop

New Cut Chemist MP3s

Cut Chemist - The Garden
Cut Chemist - Storm (feat. Edan and Mr. Lif)

Most people know Cut Chemist as the DJ for LA’s backpacker kings Jurassic 5, trip-hop king DJ Shadow, as well as the little known (at least around these parts) hip-hop band Ozomatli. However, after 12 years of touring with both acts, the dude finally had the time to sit down and record his latest album, The Audience’s Listening.

Although only 12 songs made the final cut, the dude recorded over 100 songs for the album. In addition, The Audience’s Listening is sample heavy, drawing on Brazilian influences, espically on “The Garden”, which has one of those Portishead meets Thievery Corporation edges to it. “Storm” goes in the other direction, reminding me of some 80s Technotronic vibe and features Boston rappers Edan and Mr. Lif. However, you would be doing yourself a disservice if you called it a hip-hop album since it crosses so many genres of music.

Still, its a good look. Check it out.

The Audience’s Listening drops on July 11th.

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Hip-Hop

Crispy Negro

So it is true that Crunchy Black is out of 3 6 Mafia. I'm not sure if this matters to you or means anything in “the real world” but it is significant for a few reasons: a crew that started w/6, 7 members is now down to 3 (Project Pat) and who knows where he stands w/them considering he just got outta jail. Also their star power (production), outside their own work and the oscar jawn, is slumping. Granted they can still flip samples on some top 10 sh-t, but they're getting lazy. HCP needs to get it together ASAP before Lil Wyte leaves, hahaha.

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Review: Shambhala - The Lotus Of…

Shambhala The Lotus Of… Buy from CDBaby.com

Shambhala - African Sunflower
Shambhala - Enlightenment

If y'all know me in person, then you would know that there aren’ttoo many albums that I would define as absolute “classics.” To me, a classic is an album that 1.)Redefines or creates a new genre (The Chronic, Get Crunk, Who U Wit), 2.)Creatively excels and sets the bar of a genre to new heights (Stankonia), or 3.)Withstands the test of time (The Low End Theory, Uptown Saturday Night).

It’s too early to say if Shambhala’s The Lotus Of will fulfill those three of my requirements yet. But it fulfills number 4 - Can be placed in a car CD player and not leave for the duration of a 3 hour car trip.

That’s what happened to me on a trip to Virginia this past weekend. The Lotus Of was so damn good that I had to hear the album over again, not once, but twice after the first playing. That my friends, is a bold step for me.

But damn, the beats on this album are sick, as well as the unique and skilled lyricism of Born Infinite and Aqua, who make up the DC-based group.

Of course, when one thinks of a “local rapper,” you think of some wack ass MC rapping over beats jacked from some dude’s Soundclick site. However, Shambhala redefines that label, with production rivaling some of the best “national acts” in the biz. In fact, its the production of this album that first draws you in. DC stand up!

This album is a must buy. Cop it at CD Baby.

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Girl Power Tuesdays

I have a love hate relationship with the ladies. I love them, but they always seem to hate me. Alas, I'm offering up these MP3s as a peace offering to the other sex, so maybe I can broker a deal and we can “hug it out.”

Nikki Jean - “A Song” - This girl is talented. I mean, true talent, not that Pro Tools/AR driven talent. She’s a musical prodigy. Not only does she front one of the hottest bands outta Philly (that’s not named The Roots), but she’s respected artist in her own right. I see big things in her future.

Janelle Monae - “Lettin' Go” - I was feelin' this track when it was released on Big Boi’s “Got Purp, Vol 2″ compilation last fall. Fellas, do your girl a favor when she’s stressed from work. Play this track. You'll thank me later. (Bonus: Check the interview at Concrete Loop)

Lily Allen - “Smile” - So according to the internets, Lily Allen is supposed to be the next hotness from the UK. Homegirl is like a combination of Amy Winehouse, Nelly McCay and The Streets. Of course, the last thing I need to hear on a Tuesday morning is the rantings of some insecure British chick, but her…um, “cheeky” humor (humour?) makes it worthwhile. (props to Miss Hipstah)

J*Davey - “Relax” - I've got so many inquires this track since it was on the Podcast that I decided to post this track separately. I don’thave any info on this track at all (Filthy, can u help a brotha out?), but its been floating around the 'net for months, so its lookin' like another white label release.

Nelly Furtado - “Maneater” (Live Lounge acoustic performance) - Um, didn’tHall and Oates do this song about 20 years ago? Apparently, the maneater won’tdie. The gist of this song goes like this: Stone doesn’thave a chance of picking up Ms. Furtado at a club. Damn.

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YouTube of the Day: Fatlip

It’s 9:39 PM as I type this and I'm still working on client projects. You know what that means….

It’s YouTube time, holmes.

These are hands down two of the best hip-hop videos ever:

Fatlip - “What Up Fatlip?”

Jay-Z = “99 Problems”

Read the rest of this entry »

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Light Posting Today

Posting is gonna be light today. Working the double shift to feed my kids. Devante wants some new Bapes….

I’ll be posting later tonight. Until then, check out former Couch Sessions writer Miss Hipstah’s new blog called Miss Hipstah Says, which is by far the most extensive entertainment blog in the Caramel City (that’s DC for you international readers) right now. Show her some love.

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I’ll Teach You How To Stunt : Summer of ‘06 (Pt. 1)

What it do people? It seems like summer started….tuesday. It went from ehh to man its hot to why is every store saying their AC is broken in a matter of hours. Now that shorts, short sleeves, and G Nikes are in effect mode I'm gonna put you up on game on how to have the fly gear this summer, what to download on your ipod for that bus trip to NY, and basically everything you need to have maximum uppage of your G…

Musically Stone blessed you with the Summer Sounds podcast and should've been bumpin that now, but in case you've slept I'm drop a few gems to keep your music game trump tight:

I keep it way mid-90s so It Was Written and Reasonable Doubt get major burn as well as other mid 90s gems.

We all know albums SUCK now a days, but mixtapes are where its at. You can’tgo wrong (most of the time) with the heat supplied by MixUnit or Gangsta Grillz.

Being that its hot you gotta keep all excessive weight off you to stay cool so cop a shuffle and call it a day.

Now I really don’tthink the West can be brought back by a bunch of 35-38 year old rappers, but with new projects from Tha Dogg Pound, Ice Cube, and Too Short (?), its lookin like an ok summer for the west (GAME really is THAT dude out there, he even fccks w/the hipsters).

I'm not really an R&B dude, so I'm not even gonna lie and say I know what is droppin from that genre this summer. The best bet for keepin your love game tight this summer is the afformentioned Love Break cd. People this cd is that deal. Real songwriting, emotion, and overall good music. Man I can’tspeak enought about this cd and try to get enough people to get copies of it.

Still droppin this summer that I know of : Pimp C, Skateboard P, Lupe, and……u keep me posted and I’ll listen to Devin the Dude.

After the jump read about where to cop the flyest gear, the 6 mixtapes I am trying to drop this summer, and the couch sessions intern program (Stone lets get it crackn w/the young impressionables!!!)
Read the rest of this entry »

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Movie Preview: District B13

It’s Paris 2010. The French government has walled off the mostly minority and poor sections of Paris from the rest of the city. In turn, the areas get more dangerous. Drugs, crime, and lawlessness ensue, of course. But there are two men, yes two men, who aren’twilling to accept the status quo.

What ensues is a buddy action film. In French, of course.

But why are people raving that District B13 is the hottest action movies of the year? Well, remember that Nike commercial showing the dude being chased by the chicken? Well, that’s what the first 20 minutes of this flick is supposed to look like, sans chicken, of course. The film’s motion draws heavily on the pakour (free running) movement. In fact, the actor who plays Leïto, one of the the main characters is none other than parkour creator David Belle. Also, like many of the Asian films such as Ong Bak, which this movie draws inspiration, the actors use no special effects and wires.

The flick has an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (that’s good people) and getting stellar reviews across the board. I'm definitely putting this on my “must see” list.

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Pop

Nelly Furtado - “Crazy”

Nelly Furtado - “Crazy”

Is it me or is everybody and their baby mama is doing a cover of Crazy. First there was Ray Lamontagne, then that tramp Paris said she’s doing one, and now Ms. Nelly Furtado is taking a stab at it.

When Miss Hipstah sent me this track, the first thing I guessed it that this must be from BBC1’s Live Lounge and it turns out I'm right (yeah I want a cookie). It’s a cool acoustic cover, but dosen’thold up to some of the other Live Lounge covers from the past.

PS: The acoustic version of “Maneater” is off the hook. I'll get ya'll the MP3 when I get the time.

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New Music

New Music: Muhsinah

So a friend who reads the blog daily (or so she says) but never comments (hint hint), reminded me that I haven’tposted about any “new music” in a while, and that they goal of the blog is “supposed to be about new music, isn’tit?”

Simma down girl.

But seriously, I'm still about new music, I haven’theard any underground ish that’s worth posting. That’s until I stumbled upon Muhsinah’s profile on MySpace. Its the best “experimental soul” that I've heard since I got onto that A Race of Angels CD last August. It’s like a J*Davey meets 9th Wonder type vibe. Add a dash of Sy Smith for flavor and you have some of the best soul coming out of DC (stand up!) right now.

Do yourself a favor and cop her Oscillations EP from CDBaby, and keep on the lookout for a future show by this talented artist.

Muhsinah - “Millions” (audio clip)
Muhsinah - “Construction” (audio clip)

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