Honey ain’t beat just yet, so here’s the Internet Crates special dedication. Even though the single’s been out for a minute now – there’s a grip of remixes, and different verses on the beat now surfacing giving Honey some new life. I wanted to run em down, since I’m still feelin the cut and it feels fresh enough (also, since I have the new album in rotation – check the last post). Here’s what’s what…

Erykah Badu – Honey (Capt. Planet Remix)
I heard this first on Soul Sides. This is one that’s grown on me and it’s a bit different. I’m pretty sure this was done by the cat at Captain’s Crates, which is great site for those of you out there who don’t read it. This remix is pretty jumpin.

Erykah Badu-Honey (DJ Day Remix)
DJ Day is killin it again with this one. Makes me want to bust out Three Times Dope. Rumor has it there’s a limited 7″ coming out next month. Check in at olski.net to see what’s up with that – don’t sleep!

Erykah Badu-Honey (JBLOW Remix)
I’m throwing mine in too. I’d been listening to a lot of S.O.U.L lately and also been chopping up drums in some experiments… (Live 7 is pretty bananas) so, this happened to come out. I tried to make the cut slam a little more. Been playing it around the way a bit so I figured I’d give it up.

Here’s one more i’m feeling by Toba;

Osay’s verse is kinda dope and here’s a version with a Little Brother verse – kinda eh…

Lastly, here’s Badu doing Honey live. Interesting to hear the live interpretation on it.

SOUNDS GOOD WITH

Common – The Light (Remix For U) feat. Erykah Badu – WAY slept on remix. I ain’t feelin the Just Blaze version for 08.

Erykah Badu – Don’t Cha Know (Soulquarian Remix)

Well, I’m not sure this album will be a commercial hit for Erykah Badu but it’s def worth hearing and a bit of a surprise. She’s kinda going off on her own thing this time – it seems it’s her Electric Circus dare I say. Ironically, the first single (Honey) doesn’t really seem like an album track and more of an after thought (possible due to the need for a single?). It definitely sticks out a bit, but is worth the inclusion as it’s one of the better songs IMHO. Anyway, I just finished listening through it and it’s pretty interesting. The Sa-Ra boys are at the production helm for most of the album, which is pretty apparent and an interesting choice for Badu. There’s a little thrown in by Madlib, Kareem Riggins, The Roots crew and 9th Wonder as well. Gotta say, Madlib’s tracks are pretty nice, and not what I was expecting. The Sa-Ra cuts seems a bit too sloppy for my tastes (see prior Sa-Ra posts for my rants). All in all, it’s pretty damn good and a solid listen. Here’s a few for your earholes.

Erykah Badu – The Healer (prod. Madlib)

Erykah Badu – Soldier (prod. Kareem Riggins & Erykah Badu)

Erykah Badu – The Cell (prod. Shafiq Husayn for SA-RA)

Erykah Badu – Honey (prod. 9th Wonder)

I ain’t gonna lie, I’ve been djing at sushi joints and whatnot a lot lately and playing some cooled out sets. It’s a nice change from the more jumpin “club” vibe I’ve been doing on Saturdays for quite a while. It’s also a bit refreshing to make a point to pull things out the crates I don’t normally get to play. As of late, it’s been a slew of R&B, soul and “modern soul” getting rotations. Below, here’s some things I’m feeling for those who aren’t lampin with me at the sushi spots.

D’Angello – Me & Those Dreamy Eyes of Mine (Dreamy Remix)
A simple flip over a familiar beat, this time at Common’s expense. It fits so well, I ain’t mad. Only problem is every time I play this I get a request for the Common cut.

Dwele – Sho Ya Right
Man, this boy can belt it out. I’m a fan of Dwele in general, but it’s always nice to hear him on a more jumping beat. I’ve often though about counting the amount of times per album Dwele says “Dwele”. The number would be astonishing. What’s with that?

Kelis – 80’s Joint
This is a jam. I forget when I found this one first, but apparently it’s a non-album track from some soundtrack. Now, this ain’t the “Bossy” Kelis, it’s more the smoothed out version. It don’t matter, just play it and shake your shit.

Platinum Pied Pipers – Funk In The Hole
Damn. I cant’ even really say much about this cut. It does it for me at 2:10 or so.

Freddie Cruger – Pushing On feat. Linn
I wasn’t really feeling the Freddie Cruger album at first, but some cuts crept into my playlists. this one in particular is a keeper. There’s another cut on this album called “Special Lady” that I’m feelin. check for it.

So bump this shit on a mixtape, cuddle up, eat sushi or whatever and get down.

THOWBACK BONUS CUT

Jackson 5 – Almost There (Spinna Remix)
So dope. the homie JDL actually tipped me off to the record a while back. I never actually thought i’d stumble across the white label, but when I did I knew exactly what it was.

Partially inspired by that last Marco Polo Radar post, I wanted to take a sec and lay it down for Large Professor. This man is NICE on the production tip, always has been. I’ve always been partial to his remixes (which always make me grab records), but he’s also got some landmark production credits from Main Source to Common’s Resurrection to Nas‘ Illmatic (he produced; It Ain’t Hard To Tell, Halftime & One Time 4 Your Mind) . Though I’ve always preferred him as a producer VS MC – though he can hold his own. The man’s discography is not to be overlooked. I took a sec and made a point to revisit Extra P’s work and try to dig out some gems. I found more worth mentioning than I expected and this may be my longest post to date (until I do a DITC one). This is just the tip of the iceberg really…

Main Source – Fakin The Funk
This cut is just slammin. You should all know this cut.

Leaders Of The New School – What’s Next (Large Pro Remix)
I think I was a freshman in high school when I first heard this. I was all over the Native Tongue fam and What’s Next was a hard ass cut already. I was floored with I heard the remix.

Slick Rick-It’s A Boy (Large Pro Remix)
I admit, I never really paid too much attention to this 12″ until recently when my man LRS started pulling this out. The Large Pro remix kills the OG in my opinion.

Common – Resurrection (Extra P Remix)
What really needs to be said here? He also did another remix of this cut too, though I prefer this one.

These next two are straight classics. Both off his 96 album The LP.

Large Professor-Ijustwannachill

Large Professor-Mad Scientist

SOME EXTRA EXTRA P SHIT

Lord Finesse-Isn’t He Something (Larg Pro Remix)

Large Professor – The Rap World ft. Pete Rock

there’s loads of cuts from what may be the next Common album flying around (titled Finding Forever). includes production by Premier, Will.I.Am, Kanye West, Dilla and more. i’m only going to post a few i’m feelin, but if this is any indication of what’s going to make the cut then i predict the new album will be a highlight of 07. no idea if these are official or mastered, but check for it cause there’s some damn nice cuts. you go Comm!
Common – Black Maybe (feat. Bilal)

Common – The People (feat. Dwele)

Common – Southside (feat. Kanye West)