Gilles Peterson has been a champion of new music for the past 10 years thanks to his BBC Radio 1 program, Worldwide, as well as being the head of several influential record labels, the latest being Brownswood Recordings.  But the music isn’t just new, like…it’s not the new Justin Bieber or Katy Perry record.  The music is hot nonetheless.  It is usually unique, urbane, and unheard of by the masses.  It is music that has that thing that transcends language, race, and other cultural barriers that we inflict upon ourselves.  With this newest retrospective compilation, Gilles Peterson presents:  Worldwide, billed as “A celebration of his syndicated radio show,” we get a glimpse into the world of newness that Gilles has been exposing us to throughout the years, as well as a hint of where music will be heading in the near future.

As a retrospective, it highlights just how influential Gilles has been and still is.  Artists who may have floundered in the underground trenches of the music scene are given a chance to see daylight and get the praise that they are due.  As a compilation, it’s a well-rounded, groove-minded collection with an unabashed display of diversity.  The songs all represent the progressive vision of soul, jazz, hip-hop, Afrobeat , and electronic music. I like the fact that the songs are not so eclectic that you end up saying to yourself, “What the fuck is this?” but moreso “Hmmm…that’s kinda hot.  Where can I get more of that?”  Your head will stay in “bop” mode for the majority of this set.

Jay Dee – Rico Suave Bossa Nova
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Amy Winehouse  – Take The Box
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These songs that Gilles has chosen stand on their own as studies in quiet confidence.  As a cohesive unit, the songs paint a picture of the man that chose them.    Gilles proves time and time again not only does he have an extremely discerning ear, but he also has a sense of who may end up having longevity in the game.  There are a lot of artists on this 2-disc album that you guys may recognize:  Dwele, Vikter Duplaix, Jose James, Herbert, Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Jay Dee, Amy Winehouse, M.I.A.  and Jill Scott to name a few.  The common denominator is that Gilles has been right there supporting their music from the very beginning of their careers, constantly  having his finger on the pulse of greatness, and a lot of these artists have moved on to higher levels of musical prominence.  Coincidence?  I think not.

Quasimoto – Come On Feet
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The thing that makes listening to this album fun, as well as most compilations really, is researching those names that you don’t instantly recognize.  By doing this, you will either uncover some other hidden gems by the individual artist, or you will make it a point to remember the artist so that you can keep up with any upcoming projects they may have.  Which is just another way of saying you’ll become a fan, and fans are what artists need to survive.  What better fan can an up-and-coming artist have than Gilles Peterson?  He is the consummate tastemaker, and by opening our ears to new music, he is doing both the artist and the listener a huge favor.  Here’s to another 10 years of fresh new sounds from the worldwide underground.

Tracklisting
CD 1

01 – Nitin Sawhney – Tides
02 – Cinematic Orchestra feat Roots Manuva – All Things To All Men
03 – Quasimoto – Come on Feet
04 – Qtip – Lets Ride
05 – Erykah Badu – Green Eyes
06 – Jill Scott – He Loves Me [Lyzel In E Flat]
07 – Herbert – The Audience
08 – Jay Dee – Rico Suave Bossa Nova
09 – Dwele – Too Fly
10 – Amy Winehouse – Take The Box
11 – Gotan Project – Triptico
12 – Dizzy Rascal – I Luv U
13 – M.I.A. – Galang
14 – Vikter Duplaix – Manhood

CD 2

01 – Sa-Ra – Rosebuds
02 – Steve Spacek – Dollar
03 – Outlines – Just a Lil’ Lovin
04 – Recloose – Dust
05 – Amerie – 1 Thing
06 – Seun Kuti & Fela’s Egypt 80 – Many Things
07 – RSL – Wesley Music
08 – Sebastien Tellier – La Ritournelle
09 – Little Dragon – Twice
10 – Jose James – Dreamer
11 – Theo Parrish – Goin’ Downstairs (Part 1)
12 – Benga – Emotions
13 – Darkstar – Aidy’s Girl Is A Computer

Download: DDoff – The Labor Daze Mix

Labor Day is around the corner, and while everybody on the East Coast seems to be bracing for this hurricane, my West Coast homie Ddoff is chillin’ with this quick mixtape that ended up in my inbox. It’s a dope, quick mix of tracks from Lauryn Hill, Q-Tip, Mike Posner, Big Boi, and more. Check it and follow @DDoff on Twitter.

From DDoff

This collection contains songs of new and old; the DJ work is nothing too fancy on the switchboards, just a fresh batch of deep-fried goodness for your aural pleasure. Happy Labor Daze. — ddoff

Tracklisting
ABX of The Hood Internet – Shutterbugg In Miami (Big Boi vs. Foals)
Lauryn Hill – Lost Ones
Jazmine Sullivan feat. Fat Joe – Holding You Down (Remix)
Miguel feat. J. Cole – All I Want Is You
Q-Tip – Vivrant Thing
Dude Royal – Love High
Mike Posner – Deja Vu
Mac Miller – Don’t Mind If I Do
Wiz Khalifa – The Kid Frankie
Outasight – Dizzy
Onra feat. Olivier DaySoul – Long Distance
Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West – Erase Me
Big Boi feat. Vonnegutt – Follow Us
Nipsey Hussle feat. Lloyd – Feelin’ Myself

The Five One has been a band on the rise for a hot minute now, and they been on the move since playing SXSW this past March. If you don’t know, the band combines pop rock, hip-hop, and everything in between into an intriguing, forward thinking blend of music. The track, titled “Mandatory,” has been played since their trip in Texas (where I ran into them at the SPIN Lounge) and they dropped a video for it this past week.

The band gets props for their color coordination (Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue), and the light ragga influenced feel of Mandatory is the perfect way to end the summer. Check them out at thefiveone.com.

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The homies at US Royalty have been in the studio (with another homie Alex Goose) prepping their new album, which is dropping soon. The dudes have been connected with clothing line GANT for a a while now, and they have become the face of their Fall Campaign. The Fall/Winter lookbook, titled Dear Hunter and The Preppiest Catch features lead singer John Thornley filmed in some of the most picturesque woods I’ve seen in a while. On top of that, they dropped their new track Equestrian, which is available to download soon.

Check it.

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Sometimes Legends Aren’t All What They Seem?

I understand that Rock The Bells is one of the few underground hip-hop tours in existence, and I applaud everybody who works behind the scenes to pull an event like this off, not once, but four times.

And I understand that things go wrong, and that hip-hop shows (unfortunately) never start on time. As someone who is just getting into the promotion game, my heart goes out to everyone who put their ass on the line to make an entertaining show.

Having that said I believe that the DC iteration of Rock The Bells was one of the worst managed events I’ve been to this year.

If you follow us on Twitter, you already know about the 2 hour + delays for Lauryn, or the 1 hour plus delay for Snoop. Yes, delays are a part of the game but how you handle them are a different story.

Why not have a DJ play between sets? Even if DJ Premier couldn’t spin there are a lot of great local DJs that could’ve fit the bill. Why not have MCs fill the bill? Again, I don’t want to hate, but all of the boos, middle fingers, and “this is bullshit” lines were most certainly justified, especially for people who paid more than $250 for a single ticket.

And then there was Lauryn…

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I’m not gonna lie. I ignored the all of the rest of the talent on this year’s Rock The Bells lineup and focused specifically on one, Lauryn Hill. As a dude who just turned 30 this past weekend, I remember the day when I drove to the mall, walked into Sam Goody and purchased The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. At that point, riding off of the high of The Fugees, Ms. Hill became one of the leading ladies in hip-hop, and her 10 year absence made fans like me whet their appetites for her appearance at Rock The Bells.

But unfortunately, Lauryn is not ready for prime time. Like some cornbread that’s not quite done yet, she managed to fail the toothpick test (cooking people, you know what’s up!). Her sped up, rock influenced renditions of classics like “Lost Ones,” were simply not appropriate in a hip-hop setting that was drenched in nostalgia. Her voice and mannerisms do not bespoke of the confident MC we knew in the 90s, but more of a lost child. And her attire–a off-putting wig with a Yankees fitted–might not have been the best look.

Let’s face it. Lauryn might be a legend, but her time in DC was a clusterfuck. Not even a surprise appearance from Nas could change things. Especially since it was revealed that her delays were not because of her illness or technical difficulties, but because she wanted a pedicure.

But enough about the negativity. Rock The Bells was a positive experience and was a straight up family reunion, as I ran into people I knew and met new friends who traveled from places like North Carolina, Texas, and New York. They all descended on the Merriweather Post Pavilion in the name of hip-hop.

After the Lauryn debacle, A Tribe Called Quest had a huge weight on their hands.

How do you change the misfortunes of a jaded crowd? By rocking the hell out of a show.

Photo by BONEY STARKS PHOTOGRAPHY (@boneystarks). All Rights Reserved. Please Support.

Using the hugely influential Midnight Marauders as a template always helps. Even though the show started off slow, with Q-Tip and Phife getting winded during the middle of their set, tracks like “Electric Relaxation”, “Sucka Nigga, and “Lyrics to GO,” made sure that the crowd stayed hype.

But the addition of Busta Rhymes ratcheted up the vibe in the pavilion to 11, marking the first (and best) surprise guest of the night.

After Lauryn was rushed onto stage for her fail, we were blessed with Wu-Tang.

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Now, after seeing several Wu-Tang shows in my lifetime, there have always been more than a few members who fail to make appearances. This was not the case with RTB as everyone was on stage including ODB’s first born son, Boy Jones, doing most likely the best impression of his father that I’ve seen. Ever.

A Wu-Tang concert must be a soundguy’s nightmare, as the actual show became a inaudible mess. But again, it’s Wu Tang, so like your drunk uncle, you give them a pass.

Photo by BONEY STARKS PHOTOGRAPHY (@boneystarks). All Rights Reserved. Please Support.

Finally, after another hour delay we get Snoop Dogg. Snoop’s set, complete with Doggysyle backdrop and cinema vignettes made specifically for Rock The Bells, was almost like a stage play than a concert. The West Coast MC, fresh from arriving from rocking the MJ pary in Brooklyn still has more swagger at almost 40 than most rappers do at 18. In fact, I was reminded that Doggystyle dropped when a young Calvin Brodus was still not able to drink legally. (But let’s keep it real…he drank more 40s and smoked more blunts at that age than you probably have in your lifetime.)

Unfortunately, however, all of the delays cause Snoop’s set to be cut short, thanks to Merriweather’s curfew laws. Even still, Snoop proved that he could rock a show even harder than the last time I saw him….when I was in college.

Was the DC edition of Rock The Bells worth it? I might have to marinate on that for a while. Again, I cannot hate on a wonderful organization which is striving to keep hip-hop alive, and the over 100,000 attendees at all four RTB shows is a good indication of things to come. However, next year, let’s hope they figure out how to minimize delays and put on an even better show.

This fall marks the return of the Future of Music Policy Summit which takes place at Georgetown University in DC for it’s 10th iteration, October 3rd-5th. In it’s 10 year, the FMC Summit brings together musicians, industry insiders, and policy makers to discuss music policy in the new Internet era.

Let’s face it, the Internet has changed music at a startling pace. We’re able to download songs from any artist in the world. We can access full albums streams from our mobile devices. And the cost of recording music, shooting video, and even booking gigs has steadily decreased with the ease of technology.

But where does the artist fit into all of this? In this era where big labels are cutting marketing and promotion budgets, how can the independent artist survive?

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These questions among other things will be be discussed in October, featuring panel discussions with such minds as Tim Westergren of Pandora and Tom Silverman of Tommy Boy Records. The discussions will range on everything from licensing tracks and breaking into the business to how the health care bill on Capitol Hill will affect the hip-hop artist on main street.

This is an unprecedented event in the DC area, and to encourage local artist participation, they are offering $20 scholarships for local musicians to attend the conference. More information about this can be found at the Future of Music site.

For more information about the Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit, visit their website.

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One of the trends that has made a comeback in the fashion industry is the are classic and almost vintage styles from the 50s and 60s, replacing the neon tackiness of hipster influenced 80 designs. And of course, the masses have adjusted. Sure, you might have your boat shoes and button downs, but the next accessory you might want to look at is the weekend carryall.

Most carryalls cost over $200, but this Novel bag from The Herschel Supply Co. is priced at a rather affordable at $75. In addition to a carry strap and ample space for weekend goodies, it also has a compartment to carry your kicks as well.

You can cop the Herschel Supply Novel Bag online at Richmond’s Need Supply Co. (via Uncrate)

For all of you R&B heads out there fretting over the lack of quality artists currently circulating the interwebs – fret no more. Darien Brockington just released his latest video for his single “Rain” and it certainly helped restore my confidence in the genre, which as of lately seems to be overshadowed by its counterpart, electro-soul.

If your not familiar with him; D-Brock is most known for his work with The Foreign Exchange but has also released hotness with Little Brother, Pete Rock and the awesome 4Hero (“Give In” anyone?). “Rain” comes off of his latest album The Cold Case Files and it may be exactly the single he needed to propel his career into high gear.

“Rain” is a sexy ass song and video that showcases Darien’s stellar vocals & range, his ability to pen sensual lyrics  and his ultra fly steeze ( with styling courtesy of dope stylist Brian Short of TFTStyle).

I’m hella loving this song and I highly suggest you peep it below.

Darien Brockington – “Rain” (official music video) from D-Brock Music on Vimeo.

Cameras by mattandkim

You might remember the cheeky Brooklyn duo Matt and Kim from their up-tempo song “Daylight”, or from their video for “Lessons Learned” being the inspiration for Eyrkah Badu’s “Window Seat”. Fortunately they’re back with a new single, “Cameras,” and. The thumping beat it lives up to their prior work. The beat goes hard and the duo is able to blend enough pop, hip-hop, and hipster sensibility to please everyone. Check it.

Their new cd Sidewalks drops in November.

Ra The MC – Dreams

Download – Ra The MC – Heart of A Champion

Who says female MCs can’t rock? Everybody around these parts know that DC artist and He Said She Said/All Killer No Filler alum Ra The MC is one of the illest MCs around right now. HOWEVER, with this release Heart of a Champion, it’s solidified. On the 13 tracks, Ms. Ra GOES IN, dropping some of the best hip-hop I’ve heard all year. Add to that is AB the Producer who’s production style is on par with everybody in the game. Check it.

Tracklist

01. Pretend
02. The Grind
03. Intoxicated
04. One Shot
05. Dreams
06. One Life
07. Change
08. Pricey (ft. Ihsan Bilal)
09. Lights
10. Smile
11. Heart of a Champion
12. Good Friends (ft. AB the Pro)
13. Gone So Long (ft. XO)

Dennis Maple – Orlando (from Next Stop…Soweto Vol.3)

Strut Records released volume 3 in the three-part  ”Next Stop… Soweto” series, exploring the musical soul of South Africa. While volumes 1 and 2 focused on township jive and soul, hip-hop, funk and R&B, volume 3 takes retrospective glance to a vibrant and sophisticated jazz scene in the midst of apartheid.

With imported influence from American legends such as Count Basie Orchestra, Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker and a local infusion of more traditional marabi, a hipnotic rhythm, and kwela, a happy pennywhistle-based rhythm, South African jazz blossomed into its own category, mbaqanga, and in the 1950s found prominence on the world stage. Harsh apartheid restrictions, however, made it very difficult for any black musician to perform in the country at the time, and as a result many South African jazz musicians were forced into exile. Fortunately, many continued in their craft abroad, attracting international attention to the state of South African affairs, and returned home with the end of the apartheid in the 1990s.

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Next Stop Soweto Vol. 3 chronicles the jazz musicians who stayed in South Africa and performed in defiance of the apartheid government, with a slight twist of irony. The complex, cultivated, upbeat and even swanky rhythm does not depict the pain and suffering of a people under the auspices of apartheid, but rather celebrates an imported African-American brand of music imbued with local culture in a way that illustrates the freedom those musicians deserved and, yet, were denied. It is not the music of the downtrodden, but the proud and hopeful.

The two-part album features South African ‘jazz giants, ministers and makers,’ like saxophonist Dudu Pukwana, drummer Early Mabuza, pianist Dollar Brand, the Soul Jazzmen, Heshoo Beshoo Group and The Drive.

The album also features an unreleased track, Dollar Brand’s ‘Next Stop Soweto’ from the archives of the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Soweto was the home of the Cold Castle Jazz Festival, where many of South Africa’s jazz legends performed. In 1961, Dollar Brand, trumpet player Hugh Masekela and alto saxophonist Kippi Moeketsi played together, as the Jazz Epistles, at the festival and won first prize for jazz band.

As with previous volumes, the physical album features rare photos and sleeve notes by South Africa author on music and culture, Gwen Ansell.

This album comes highly recommended, if anything for its rich history, but primarily for its unique mode and elevated approach. Listen, and you’ll see what I mean.