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House/Electronic, Jazz/Blues/Gospel, Remix

New Music: Little Dragon

Little Dragon - Test

Little Dragon - Constant Surprises

So the other day I got this weird email from someone with the title, “Good R&B Music” and a link to the MySpace page for Little Dragon. Of course, I always get random emails like this, but damn is this not one of the best things I’ve heard so far in 2008.

Little Dragon hails from Sweden and rests in that area of music called unclassifiable. The only thing I can describe it as is a mix of soulful R&B as well as jazz, downtempo, and some trip-hop elements. Led by the ultra soulful styling of Japanese songstress Yukimi Nagano (don’t tell Estelle) and indie folk rocker Jose Gonzales, Little Dragon is probably one of the most soulful and soothing downtempo album since Zero 7 dropped Simple Things in 2001.

If you’re a fan of J*Davey, and I know most of y’all are, then definitely check this one out. The group is making a short swing through the West Coast right now and will be playing the Roxy in LA tomorrow night. You can also cop their self titled album, on Amazon (import) and iTunes.

myspace.com/yourlittledragon

Tags: Jose Gonzales, Little Dragon, trip-hop

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Hip-Hop, Jazz/Blues/Gospel, Negroclash!, R&B

Review: Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)

Erykah Badu
New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War

When I first heard the track “The Healer” on Erykah Badu’s 4th full length album, I thought that homegirl had lost it. Even though the track was set to a dope Madlib beat, and is probably the best head nodders in a long time, it sounded like a long winded rant by a crazy homeless woman. So after my initial excitement I asked myself….”has Erykah lost it? Is she pulling a Lauryn Hill on us?”

Ms. Badu hasn’t lost it. Although New Amerykah doesn’t measure up to her first CD and won’t come close to her greatest effort (Mama’s Gun), the Dallas, Texas songstress has managed to create some downright amazing R&B in a time when the genre has lost focus–with neo-soul all but dead, and young singers like Keysha Cole taking over radio. Badu has managed to find her niche in the world, and she shines on songs like, “Soldier,” “Honey (Bonus Track),” the sultry “Telephone,” and the introspective, “Me.”

You can tell that Badu has come of age on New Amerykah and has found her niche. On “Me,” one of the more personal tracks from this reclusive singer, she puts it all out in the open. With lyrics like “this year I turned 36/damn it seems it came so quick/my ass and legs have gotten thick yea/its all me” you can tell off the bat that she’s not trying to chase the current trends in R&B.

For over 10 years, Erykah Badu has been ahead of the curve for contemporary R&B, and on this album, she raises the bar even higher.

Tags: Erykah Badu, neo-soul, New Amerykah

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Jazz/Blues/Gospel, New Music, R&B

New Music: Erykah Badu - The Healer

Erykah Badu - The Healer (zShare)

I heard this last week on Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide radio show but never got a chance to rip it. Fortunately someone got around to it because this is a killer track. I gotta admit, even though I loved Oh Word’s Baduizm parody, I’ve been a Badu fan since day one. I got my backpack strapped on tight and ready to go! This song, The Healer, produced by Madlib, is from Badu’s upcoming album Nu AmErykah which drops next month. It is a definite head-nodder and one of the best songs to drop this year so far.

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Hip-Hop, House/Electronic, Jazz/Blues/Gospel, Negroclash!, Pop

Vote in the Okayplayer Awards

Okayplayer just set up their first ever online awards. Check the site to vote. The application is a little buggy (it just erased my votes when I clicked on another link) but I’m positive that the results will be way better than MTV can come up with.

Is it me, or did the end of the year sneak up on y’all too? Good Lawd, 2007 went by fast. Anyway, I’m starting to compile my lists for the Top Albums and Top Songs of 2007 a month or so in advance. Last years list came off a little half-assed (I got about 5 emails from people saying that I listed a couple songs twice) so the 4 week buffer should give me more than enough time to get it right.

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Jazz/Blues/Gospel, R&B

New Queen Latifah - Trav’lin’ Light

Queen Latifah - Poetry Man

Queen Latifah is one of the few artists from rap’s golden era that has been able to remain relevant (and rich) in the hip-pop decade. But unlike most rappers who try and pen that next “comeback album,” the Queen has gone in a different direction, starting a successful production company, acting career, and a new life as a jazz singer.

I’m starting to appreciate the Queen more as a jazz singer than a hip-hop artist. Her first foray into jazz, The Dana Owens Album was a straight banger in my mind and she dives even more into old skool jazz and r&b with her second Verve release entitled Trav’lin’ Light. This time she covers such notable females as Nina Simone, Shirley Horn, and Sarah Vaughn.

The album drops September 25th, and I’ll hopefully I’ll have a full review by the end of the month.

(much props to Free Hip Hop Now for this)

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Album Preview, Jazz/Blues/Gospel, New Music

Miles Davis, Nas & Olu Dara

Mp3: Miles Davis, Nas & Olu Dara - Freedom Jazz Dance

I’ve been listening to a lot of jazz lately (more on that soon) and no one epitomizes jazz like Miles Davis. In tribute to Mile’s and his impact on jazz, a new CD entitled Evolution of the Groove is being released next week. The CD is a remix and rework of Miles Davis tracks based on previously unreleased material. The CD includes Carlos Santana, as well as Nas and his daddy Olu Dara, who got together for a remix of “Freedom Jazz Dance.”

The track itself is so-so at best, and Nas’ one verse in the middle seems to be inserted at the last minute (it wasn’t). I’m not really a fan of these jazz remix projects, so I’m a bit skeptical about the release at the whole. However, I’m not gonna pass judgement until I get my hands on the full album. (hat tip: Spine Mag)

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