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.

I’m not going to make excuse on why I haven’t posted in over 2 weeks. I been damn busy, and It doesn’t even matter. All that does matter is that I got some things for your earholes. Chalk this up to the “things i’ve been feeling recently” series. Meanwhile, sit tight cause we got goodies in the can and some special things lines up (Gabe, what up?!).

DJ Spinna - Dillagence (One 4 Jay) (feat. Phonte of Little Brother)
The homie JDL got at me about this cut. Likely part of the whole homage wave of cuts that started coming out after Dilla passed, this was releases as a 45 by Spinna and made it on the Mick Boogie & Busta Rhymes DILLAGENCE mixtape (though that version has Busta running his mouth on the cut). This is pretty crazy actually. It features Phonte from Little Brother doing his best Dwele impression. He runs through a mess of “classic” Slum Village and Dilla lines. Spinna is the dude… more on that later.

Lil Wayne - Always Strapped
“Strawberry paint, seats vanilla puddin”. nuff said. Weezy is crazy with it. is this dude ever gonna release another album or just pump out 50 tracks a month for mixtapes? Why is this shit so catchy? Oh yeah, Juelz Santana is on this cut too if anyone cares. YOUNG MONEY!

Dark Sun Riders - Dark Sun Riders
Man, I slept on this album bad in 96. Recently it’s been back in my earholes in heavy rotation. I’ve been an X-Clan fan for a while yet for some reason never really caught up with Dark Sun Riders. Brother J formed Dark Sun Riders after X-Clan split up in 94 (before the reassembly of X-Clan). This cut is definitely good shit though. You gotta give it up to artist/bands that have songs that are their names…

BONUS CUT
Dark Sun Riders - Dark Sun Riders (Ultra Jazz Mix)

Pete Rock - Heard Em Say f. Vanessa Sanchez
Pete Rock with a Kanye West cover AND on the positive tip? What’s going on. This is dope though, and I think the 12″ is from 2006 actually. Pete is making moves as of late and coming with a new album for 08. The new Jim Jones (We Roll) cut is cool by me, I ain’t mad. I got high hopes for the new album. Hit up Metal Lungies on the Pete Rock comeback already.

LASTLY… FUCK that new Michael Jackson and Akon shit . Seriously, what the fuck is this? I heard this shit in the car the other day and nearly ran that shit off the road. Y’all need to leave them Michael Jackson songs alone. MICHAEL… shame on you!

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.

Man I can’t believe I haven’t done a Black Milk post yet! Producer and MC Black Milk recently he released his first proper album Popular Demand after a few mixtape, EPs and one offs (did Sound of the City even get distribution?). I’ve been giving it a lot of spins lately, and it’s worth the listen. The production alone is refreshing. This cat chops up shit like crazy and keeps it soulful (a hem… see here and here). You gotta love that.

One half of the production team BR Gunna, Black Milk stepped out on his own and is picking up speed. Hailing from Detroit, his sound definitely has the knock of the D (see: Dwele, Dilla, PPP), matter of fact we start of making beats for Slum Village. People have been taking notice too, so don’t sleep (see: Monch below)!

Black Milk - U (feat. Ty & Kory)

Black Milk - So Gone

Black Milk - U’s A Freak Bitch

BONUS CUT

Pharoahe Monch - Let’s Go (feat Mela Machinko)

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)