Theo - Somethin For Me
Fuck it, I’m a softy - I like me some laid back ish. I’m not sure if this is just a jam on the album or not, cause he just rocks on an old 9th Wonder beats (see below). Maybe he dipped back and bought that shit. Anyway, I dig Theo - but more and more he reminds me a lot of Lupe. The first cut that got dropped was Sweetest Language (which is also pretty good). Apparently it’s Theo singing on the hook on that too, even though he needs some pitch correction it’s a good effort. The Birth mixtape is worth checkin out, and the album should be good (I hope).


Sounds Good With:
Amerie - Why Don’t We Fall In Love (9th Wonder Remix)

Skillz - Don’t Act Like You Don’t Know (feat. Freeway)
I actually saw Skillz on Rap City not so long ago… it was strange. He even wore his backpack. Honestly, the video they played was eh… and I can’t remember what song it was for (yes, they even played a Skillz video on Rap City). His album really ain’t that bad though, but I expected a little more. I think i’m just getting old! Anyway, this cut is a heater, and has my boy Philly Freezy on it. I think the production is a throwback to What We Do, gotta be.

Sounds Good With:
Freeway - What They Do (feat. Jay-Z & Beanie Siegel)

It’s been one hell of a week. If you haven’t heard, Isaac Hayes just passed away today. Circumstances unknown, but it is a tragic loss. The man was a legend. I’m not going to try to eulogize the man, but I will do a bit help to celebrate his life and the influence he’s had. Slip these in your rotation.

Isaac Hayes - Hung Up On My Baby (Tough Guys OST)
This is one of my all time favorites by Mr. Hayes. Give it some love today.

Isaac Hayes - Joy
I just played this song in my set this last Friday night. Damn.

Visioneers - Ike’s Mood I (cover version at 45RPM)
This is from my secret stash and I get asked about this cover nearly every time I play it. I’m giving it up here. They cover the cut at 45RPM, straight classic.

Mary J. Blige - I Love You (Remix) feat. Smif N’ Wessun
One in a long list of samples, see above.

El Michaels Affair - Walk On By


Jay-Z - Can I Live

RIP’s also go out to Bernie Mack and DJ Dee Rock (from my home town - Milwaukee).

Can I give a Soul Drop? I need to start doing this on the regular cause I always seem to be circling back to the funky business and throwing tracks around to people. Hip hop blog nothin… Anyway, I’ve been doing a lot of driving lately and the soul playlist gets a lot of love. Here’s some jammies for your soul holes.

Mavis Stapes - A Piece Of The Action
I gotta give it up to 4 Brother Beats for this one. I hadn’t heard this Mavis Staples albums before, but am always checkin in over there. So I grab it on a whim, and cot damn. I gotta say this album quick became a favorite. I can’t even say what the appeal is, it’s just solid and soulful throughout. The title cut is my jam. Shout out to 4 Brothers for doing their thing. “delicious, delicious, delicious”.

Curtis Mayfield - Trippin Out
It’s Curtis, what can I say. This one came on this morning when i was out and about and I was actually amazed i hadn’t written abotu this cut. This is one I carry in my crates almost all the time. Ski flipped this for Camp Lo’s Black Nostalgic it was a prefect mach (sorry for the sample spottin, but both cuts are favs). Their swag fit it to a T. Curtis is unfuckwitable.

Ohmega Watts - Groovin On Sunshine
OK, it’s not “soul” in the classic sense, but ti thinks it’s worth trying to give shine to some other OTHER soulful cats. I played the hell of that first Ohmega Watts album when it came out. It really hyped me up on hip hop production again to hear some raw funky shit like this come out. Not gonna lie, I still play it all the time. I haven’t really chimed in on his newer album, but sit tight Watts I’ll get to ya.

Marlena Shaw - California Soul (Diplo Remix)
I cannot front, my man Unite hipped me to this jammy. Normally, I’m not too much of a Diplo fan either (NO HATE-O), and the throwback remixes are a bit hit and miss at times but Diplo came correct. Let alone jumping on a soul classic, that was ballsy. This remix adds the bump for sure. Not mad.

One more classic summer jam for good measure…

Kool & The Gang - Summer Maddness
This song never gets old for me…

I may be a few days late on the blog-o-sphere… but it’s worth it. Now, I’ve had my ups and down with them Sa-Ra cats, but i gotta raise one up for this shit. Hate on Mr. West and 3000 all you want but this is FIYAH. Video is killin it too.

Here’s the straight audio.

Fonzworth Bentley - Everybody (feat. Kanye West, Sa-Ra & Andre 3000)

This is going to sound ridiculous, but I actually wrote this post a few weeks ago. For some reason I thought I posted it. Apparently I didn’t. Yeah, that’s how these last few weeks have been for me! On with with it… here’s some new ish.

Dwele - Open Your Eyes
OK, this is kinda of a strange. Dwele covering Bobby Caldwell’s Open Your Eyes, which people bug out on due to Common’s The Light. Funny how things come full circle like that. Anyway, Dwele is the dude so I’m not mad. His new album (dropping very soon - or likely by now) is pretty solid if you got love for neo-soul and the Detroit bump. There’s also a strange Dilla homage on there.

Giant Panda - Cinemax
The boys Giant Panda are back with a new album on Tres. I’ve given it a few listens and haven’t yet really absorbed it, but Cinemax is definitely a jam. Now I’m not going to go as far as to say the album ain’t hitting me right just yet, but let’s just say I ain’t warmed up to it yet. Their last effort was a new classic in my humble opinion.

Atmosphere - Shoulda Known
OK this isn’t THAT new but I wasn’t really checking for it. What the fuck is up with this beat? Ant done flipped his shit up. After the last album they gave away a little while back - I fully expected to hear more Atmosphere to be on the throwback style. I gotta say, this beat is kinda hot and not what I expected from them. Slug, those lyrics about drugs and girls are gettin a little old homie - but I’ll let it slide for this one.

Vast Aire - The Crush
I played the shit out of the Cannibal Ox album when it came out. There were a few things I learn from all that listening; one - El-P is actually a pretty dope producer and two, Vast Aire is a crazy nice MC. That album made me respect El-P. Anyway, I’m feelin this cut - though heard it possibly didn’t make the album.

Hustle Simmons - The Rundown ft. 84 & Fel Sweetenberg
A lot of buzz about these cats right now. Seriously, they had me at the horn stabs. Been playing this a lot lately though, and am excited to hear the album. Dig it.

EDITOR NOTE: Yo, if you can’t figure out how to download these file, click the titles.

EDITOR NOTE 2: Dwele’s Open Your Eyes was actually first released on the Detroit Soul compilation a while back. Thanks to my discriminating readers. I did however discover it was pruduced by the The Platinum Pied Pipers.