Photo courtesy of  Mel D. Cole

Yasiin Bey takes The Throne‘s wildly popular “Niggas in Paris” and turns it into a social/political jawn “Niggas in Poorest”.  Bey is gearing up to drop his Top 40 Underground project, Bey will take forty previously released songs and put his spin on em.. What songs would you like to see Yasiin cover?

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I was just talking with Couch Sessions writer @CM_3 at the Happy Hour yesterday about the best star powered duos in hip-hop, and it instantly became a discussion about Black Star. Hard to believe that is’ been 12 years since they last put out a project. There were always hints about a proper reunion from both sides (when we interviewed Talib a few years ago he talked about it) but this leaked Madlib produced track may be hinting at something for 2012. Was Mos jealous that that other duo released this week? Who knows. Either way it’s a great day for hip-hop.

If you’re a serious hip hop head then you probably peeped the dopeness of producer Ski Beats many moons ago. The first time I learned the name was when I went searching for the person responsible for lacing the world with Jay Z’s monstrous “Dead Presidents” off of his 1996 classic, Reasonable Doubt. Since then he’s gone on to  produced dope beats for Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Camp Lo and the ultra hot “Just Blaze” for Fat Joe.

Originally from North Carolina, Ski (né David Willis) who also reps New York -  is gearing up to drop his upcoming solo album debut titled 24 Hour Karate School, which will feature Jay Electronica, Joell Ortiz and Ras Kass. The first single and video is for “Cream of the Planet” which co-stars Mos Def and it’s an automatic banger. The beat goes extra hard and has a nice light jazz backdrop – and Mos’ flow is jive bananas. Yeah, 24 Hour Karate School is without a doubt on my music radar. Peep it. NOW.

Download: Mos Def x Robert Glasper – Dilla Tribute, Ann Arbor, MI

I’ve been avoiding the “Dilla-mania” that arises on the anniversary of his death and his birthday. Don’t get me wrong, I think J Dilla is one of the best hip-hop producers of all time, but I get mad when cats who didn’t even know who Dilla was 10 years ago start claiming that he’s the G.O.A.T. just because it’s the culturally acceptable thing to do. I’m glad his work is getting more exposure, but as Mos’s photographer Cognito said last week, we need to be into our icons in life just as much as we are in death. (That goes for Michael Jackson too).

Rants aside, I did think that this Mos Def x Robert Glasper Dilla tribute to be fitting. They covered 16 of my Dilla songs for some lucky Michiganders, including”Stakes Is High and “Fall In Love.” Check it: (via Blind I and BamaLoveSoul)

01. Black Radio
02. Fantastic
03. The $
04. Interlude
05. E=MC2
06. Jam
07. Ms. Fat Booty
08. The Look of Love
09. Players
10. Bass Solo
11. Jam
12. Interlude
13. Paint The World
14. Interlude
15. Stakes Is High
16. Fall In Love

If you’re in Los Angeles this weekend, do yourself a favor and head over to the HVW8 Art & Design Galley, right off of Melrose Avenue. Enter the small, square shaped gallery and you will find Mos Def: Ecstatic Moments, a collection of photographs from the past two years of Mos’ travels as he promoted his Grammy nominated album, The Ecstatic. And it was during Grammy weekend that the exhibit opened, to pay tribute to the man behind over a decade of hip-hop hierarchy.

We caught up with Cognito, the man behind the lens and the curator of the event, during a sunny day in Los Angeles earlier this week.

You’ve been working with Mos Def for 12 Years now. How did you get to become his personal documentarian?

I was doing college and record promotion for Rawkus [Records}, and I was doing event promotion down in Atlanta. In fact, I was the first person to bring the Lyricist Lounge to Atlanta. Mos was supposed to host it, but he missed his flight or some shit so Talib and Hi-Tek ended up hosting it. For the next one we did the next month, that's when Black Star came out and he came down. And I pretty much started documenting him from that point on. When Black on Both Sides came out, I toured with him.

Describe for me your photography style.

I'm not really a pose photographer. I like to capture the moment how it is. I like to be that fly on the wall, to capture the real essence of what's going on. [The photos in the gallery] are only two years worth of work, starting from the recording process, to the trip that we went to in South Africa in April, culminating to the shots we did at Jimmy Fallon and Dave Letterman over here. And he’s not really the type of person that would really allow people to photograph him. When fans would take photos he would be like “Nah, chill.” He likes to keep his private space. But we’ve just grown a rapport and every time I was around I would just always take shots.

Do you shoot film, digital or both?

I shoot both. Film and digital. I’ve been documenting him from a video standpoint as well too. I’m an industrialist. I might have a video camera in one hand while taking pictures in the other.

So will this documentary be released any time soon?

Quite possibly.

We talked earlier about how you put this exhibition together in under a week. What was your inspiration for putting this together?

With him getting two Grammy nominations I thought it was a perfect time to honor his presence while he’s here. We’ve had a lot of our greats pass away in the past couple of years, be it Dilla or Bataan, or whoever, and now everybody wants to talk ‘Dilla Dilla Dilla’ or whatever, but you weren’t saying that while he was alive. Let’s praise our heroes while they’re alive. Let’s stop waiting until they die. It’s not about immortalizing him, but fuck, it’s Mos Def. What’s he’s saying, people want to see.

Did Mos come through yet?

Yeah, he was actually here the first day. The crazy thing about this wall is that  these were the lyrics for Casa Bey. He came in and was like “wait a minute, that’s not right. You got a sharpie?” And next thing you know he was going through scratching out and editing his stuff [on the wall]. I could’ve scripted that. I could’ve never messed the words up on here and have him come in and do that. It was meant to happen. And it coincides with this photo here. This is the verse he was writing for the new Madvillan album. When I took this flick I was watching him do it and I was like damn, that’s a page out of his rhyme book right there.

Mos Def: Ecstatic Moments runs through February 6th at the HVW8 Art + Design Gallery in Los Angeles. More information can be found at Frolab. Also, follow Frolab on Twitter.

For all you Mos fans out in LA check this out. From now until February 6th you can check out an exhibition sponsored by HVW8 Art & Design Galley (also the location), Union LA and Frolab showcasing rare performances and behind the scene photo’s of Mos Def  -taken by photographer/film maker Cognito. The event is in honor of the two Grammy nominations Mos received and for his latest album The Ecstatic. A limited edition T-shirt to coincide with the exhibit will be exclusively available at Union LA. Via: Kanye Blog

For more info go to: www.frolab.com/ecstatic

Gorillaz- Stylo (feat Bobby Womack and Mos Def)

Right on the heels of their headlining addition to the Coachella festival this April, the newest Gorillaz single, Stylo leaked almost like clockwork today. The track gets a +1 from me for featuring legendary soul singer Bobby Womack, as well as Mos Def. Their latest album, Plastic Beach drops in March and will feature such artists as Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Little Dragon and Barry Gibb (of the Bee Gees) just to name a few. This is gonna be fire. (Thanks SoulCulture UK for the look.)

UPDATE!!! The full tracklisting is as follows:
1. Orchestral Intro (featuring Sinfonia ViVA)
2. Welcome To The World Of The Plastic Beach (feat. Snoop Dogg & Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
3. White Flag (feat. Kano, Bashy & The National Orchestra For Arabic Music)
4. Rhinestone Eyes
5. Stylo (feat. Bobby Womack & Mos Def)
6. Superfast Jellyfish (feat. Gruff Rhys & De La Soul)
7. Empire Ants (feat. Little Dragon)
8. Glitter Freeze (feat. Mark E Smith)
9. Some Kind Of Nature  (feat. Lou Reed)
10. On Melancholy Hill
11. Broken
12. Sweepstakes (feat. Mos Def & Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
13. Plastic Beach (feat. Mick Jones & Paul Simonon)
14. To Binge (feat. Little Dragon)
15. Cloud Of Unknowing (feat. Bobby Womack and Sinfonia ViVA)
16. Pirate Jet

All in all, 2009 was a great year. 2010 is proving very unpredictable, which in the end, makes the business of writing about music more exiting. I cant’ wait.

The Top 15

15.) Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

French group Phoenix showed up on a bunch of people’s “year end” lists in 2009 and rightfully so. The band managed to fill our need for uptempo rock music, mimicking such US acts like The Rapture, and were rewarded with exposure from a Cadillac commercial and radio airplay here in The States. 2010 should bode well for this band.

14.) Mayer Hawthorne – A Strange Arrangement

Michigan hip-hop producer turned LA based soul crooner Mayer Hawthorne  surprised us in 2009 with his delectable album, A Strange Arrangement. Just when you thought the whole “blue eyed soul” era of music was dying, Mayer comes through and drops such neo-classics as “Green Eyed Love,” and “Maybe So, Maybe No.” Word is, his next album is even better.

13.) Lushlife – Cassette City

In a world where most of the underground is jumping around about Jay Electronica and Mos Def, little known Philly beatmaker Lushlife rolls through and drops one of the best hip-hop albums in recent memory. Yes, it’s “backpacker”, and “left field,” but Lushlife’s laid back beats are  the perfect compliment to a lazy Sunday afternoon.

12.) Passion Pit – Manners

With Empire of the Sun, Miike Snow, and Passion Pit dominating critics lists this year, it’s safe to say that the pseudo-urban white male electro crooner (yeah I made that up) has dominated 2009. Passion Pit started off this year with their iconic track “Sleepyhead,” and their album has been a favorite ever since.  The Boston-area group crafted an album that is both eccentric and accessible at the same time. Even though the blogs sometimes get it wrong (Neon Indian?), Passion Pit is most certainly worth the hype.

11.) Mos Def – The Ecstatic

This album went from a collective “bleh,” to being one of the best albums of the year. Yes, I didn’t like this album at first, but after a number of listens, it continued to grow on me and almost made the top 10. Even though Mos really needs shift his career back Back On Both Sides era, The Ecstatic is a competent effort whose potential is only realized when listened to from beginning to end.

10.) Miike Snow – Miike Snow

While the US was jumping over Passion Pit, the Swedes were already knee deep in Miike Snow. The Stockholm-based group crafted a beautufl collection of left-field pop in their self-titled album. From upbeat tracks to ballads, this album simply wins, and like other Swedes, their visuals are simply out of this world. We already know: Sweden Stays Winning.

9.) Dam-Funk – Toeachizown

LA’s Dam-Funk brings back the 80s with his double disc “Toeachizown,” and album so steeped in back in the day nostalgia that it should come with it’s own bottle of Afro-Sheen. All jokes aside, these types of albums tend to be a huge FAIL if not done correctly. However Dam has curated an album that blends the sounds of the past with the sound of the current so seamlessly and effortlessly that most people cant’ tell if it dropped in 2009 or 1979.
8.) The Kickdrums – Just a Game

Yes, this was a free album, but I would have GLADLY paid money for it. With a sound that mimics fellow Ohioian RJD2, the duo crafted low-fi masterpieces, and unfortunately this album seemed to be overlooked by many in the music press. The transition to hip-hop producer to Radiohead-esque composer might be a daunting task, but Ohio’s The Kickdrums did it like it was nothing.

7.) MSTRKRFT – Fist of God

Unfortunately this album was a love it or hate it type of deal. I love it, the rest of the world seemed to hate it. EDM purists went at MSTRKRFT for “selling out,” while hip-hoppers were left scratching their heads at some of their greats rhyming over 120 bpm. I think the combination is brilliant, and the collaboration with John Legend, “Heartbreaker,” should’ve been a dance club staple.

6.) Alex Goose – The Blueprint 3 Outtakes

Even though none of these tracks ever got on Hova’s album, Alex Goose’s seamless blending of 60s and 70s orchestral samples makes for some of the best hip-hop beats you will hear this year. Let’s all hope that Hova reconsiders these tracks for The Blueprint 4.

5.) Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3

Speaking of The Blueprint 3, well, Jay managed to defy the haters and drop one of the most successful albums of his career. Yeah, Jay phoned it in lyrically, and some of the beat selections are off, but tracks like “D.O.A,” “Off That,” and the pop-tinged “Run This Town,” and “Empire State of Mind,” make up for that.

4.) Skyzoo – The Salvation

The most slept on album of the year, HANDS DOWN! Skyzoo dropped The Salvation this year and nobody listened. It’s a damn shame, but it also shows the shrinking market for East Coast hip-hop in this country. Every song on this album is a BANGER, and produced to perfection thanks to the talents of Just Blaze, Illmind, Black Milk, and 9th Wonder.

3.) Major Lazer – Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do

Say what you will about the hipsters, but their community has spawned some of the best, creative music this decade. Diplo and Switch created one of the best dancehall/reggae record that I’ve heard in a long time. From the club banger “Pon the Floor,” to the radio-friendly “Keep It Goin’ Louder,” to the Auto-tuned baby, this album has something for everyone. After the success of M.I.A. and others, the question needs to be asked…when will the industry give Diplo a seat at the table?

3.) Drake – So Far Gone

Drake is 2009′s success story and So Far Gone is his canvas. While it seems like everybody and their mama dropped mixtapes (including our site), Drake was the only one that harmoniously blended all of his influences–from a duet with Swedish songstress Lykke Li, to rapping with Lil Wayne over Jay-Z’s Ignorant Shit, giving the hipsters AND the hoods something to love. Add to that, the singles that were produced by his Toronto-based production crew–Best I Ever Had, Successful), getting worked onto radio without a major label deal and you have the epitome of the . Want further proof? Drake released this free mixtape to stores and still outsold many rappers proper solo efforts.

2.) Calvin Harris – Ready For The Weekend

With the cost of production equipment falling to record low prices, it seems like everybody is a “producer” these days. However, not everyone has the skills of 25 year old Calvin Harris, whose sophomore CD combines the styles of house, electro, disco and everything in-between. The result, a light, fun, danceable, “floor-filler” of a CD that is the most well-rounded release this year.

1.) Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Part II

Hip-Hop has become a Mexican Standoff. There are now several factions of the genre: Dirty South, hipster, NYC, “Street,” “Classic Golden Era Boom Bap,” etc and there are no plans for rival groups to get along (No Gucci Mane/Tribe collabos?) Out of the ashes of this mess rose Raekwon, who’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx unapologetically brings back the Wu-Tang era, but opened up room for new fans in the process.+

The rest of the Top 50 Albums Below:

50.) The Eels – Hombre Loco
49.) Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon: The End of Day
48.) Rhianna – Rated R
47.) Röyksopp – Junior
46.) Tanya Morgan – Brooklynati
45.) Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You
44.) Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
43.) Eminem – Relapse
42.) The xx – xx
41.) Gucci Mane – The State vs Roderick Davis
40.) Young Money – We Are Young Money
39.) Muse – The Resistance
38.) Wale – Attention Deficit
37.) K’Naan-Troubadour
36.) Laura Izibor – From My Heart To Yours
35.) Slaughterhouse- Slaughterhouse
34.) Diamond District – In The Ruff
33.) Snoop Dog – Malice in Wonderland
32.) David Guetta – One Love
31.) Miles Bonny – Scorpio INN
30.) Melanie Fiona – The Bridge
29.) Basement Jaxx – Scars
28.) Warpaint – The Exquisite Corpse EP
28.) La Roux – La Roux
27.) Freddie Gibbs – The Labels Tryin’ To Kill Me
26.) US Royalty – Midsommar
25.) Little Dragon – Machine Dreams
24.) Electric Wire Hustle – Every Waking Hour
23.) Danny Swain – Where Is Danny? (Demo)
22.) Fat Freddy’s Drop – Dr Boondigga & the Big BW
20.) Panacea – Corkscrew Gaps EP
19.) Ryan Leslie – Transition
18.) Florence and the Machine – Lungs
17.) J Cole – The Warm Up
16.) Blacroc – Blacroc

Mos and Talib start off 2010 their collab “History,” which was off of his album The Ecstatic. Unfortunately, as Talib told us in September, there is no sign of a Blackstar reunion (which would go over better than Reflection Eternal, let’s be honest), but we can dream can’t we?

Check a snippet of the Talib interview that we co-produced with Subsoniq last year. He talks about the song “History,” and why a Blackstar reunion might never happen:

Photos by Joann Gomez/Music Looks Like This. Please Support.

The 3rd annual Roots Holiday Jam went down this past weekend at BB Kings in New York City. In addition to the legendary Roots crew, the stage was graced by the cast of the hit Broadway Musical Fela, Brother Ali, The Hynotic Brass Ensemble, and surprise guest Mos Def! Check it.

BONUS: Video from Jay Smooth (via Nah Right)

Kansas City’s Miles Bonny has been running the game out in the Midwest for a hot mintue. As a member of the Infinite Sounds crew, Miles is a rapper, singer, trumpeter, and DJ. His newest release, titled Scorpio Inn, is in stores now. PICK THAT UP! Also check him out at MilesBonny.com, and check the video for Yes I Do (one of my favorite songs) below.

Name: Miles Bonny
Location: Kansas City, MO
Website: MilesBonny.com
Follow On Twitter

Shafiq “Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka”

Soul / future / past real goodness. Diverse. Strong time changes and use of melody. Just so solid musically. Historically important. Regarding pop music consumption; It is not necessary to make albums as diverse and solid as this, so when an artist does it it not only deserves respect but praise and thanks for continuing to push the boundaries and level of quality for all those still making music.

Mos Def – “The Ecstatic”

Mos Def and I should do a tour. I’m just saying. I can learn a lot from him, and in teh process learn alot about myself, and vice versa. We are similar folks, but he is a far better rapper Yo. I just love mos def.  I went to the Gil Scott Heron show in NY with my dad. I’m just saying… haaahaa

Chrissy Murderbot – “Chrissy Murderbot”

My man. I’m not on this album, but beyond that my whole family grooves and dances to this in our house and car. My man has rhythm and a buoyant and positive, energetic spirit. I everybody loves chris.

DJ Day & Miles Bonny – “INstant Saadiq”

It’s just solid. Day is a great engineer and composer. Saadiq is the man. A professional. I went to see him KC recently. That man has stars and truth in his eyes. much respect and thanks. Plus this version of “What’s life like” gets my soul stirring.

Ab & Daru – “A.W.I.P”

My peoples. INnatesounds Crew! Daru is the dood and Ab is talented with a great ear. They both do themselves well… and Im so happy this album came out. It’s sold well for being something very few people know about. It deserves it. It is musical gold. check it out yo.

Name: Shep
Location: Washington, DC

Only Built for Cuban Linx II – Raekwon

So Far Gone – Drake

The Estatic – Mos Def

Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z

The Salvation – Skyzoo