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)

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 fell off, i admit it. but, i’m back. no excuses… let’s get on with it.

Lifesavas are back from their 3+ year departure with Gutterfly. the follow-up isn’t as good as i expected, but that’s always the way it goes. this is still new in my rotation but there’s a few standout cuts already and a few surprises. first is Double Up - and it is straight up funky and the first cut on this album that stuck out. a surprise was A Serpent’s Love, which features Ish (aka Butterfly of Digable Planets) - good to hear him on some new cuts (sorry, wasn’t really feelin Cherrywine). it’s a little grimey, but good. last but not least is the title cut Gutterfly featuring Camp Lo (uh). them cats what’s UP (that’s a whole other post)! i think the cameo is really what made that cut for me. overall, the album isn’t too bad considering that lack of good albums this year so far (ah hem… Sa-Ra fell off). and yes, it seems to be a soundtrack for a movie that doesn’t exits…

PS now if you slept on Lifesavas, i’m throwing in another cut from 2003 - likely their biggest cut, that you may have heard. feed your earholes y’all.

Lifesavas - Double Up

Lifesavas - A Serpent’s Love (featuring Ish)

Lifesavas - Gutterfly (featuring Camp Lo)

BONUS CUT
Lifesavas - What If It’s True (from Spirit In Stone)

The buzz has been building over these Sa-Ra cats for some time. This is on some heavy keyboard, funk tip - think George Clinton, Dilla, ZAPP, with a touch of R. Kelly. Yeah I said it. They’ve been bouncing around labels for a bit, and still don’t have a proper album out (ABB, Ubiquity, Sound In Color, and finally Kanye scooped them on G.O.O.D. Music). But the 12″s, promos, remixes, covers and mixes have all had great shit on them. If the full album ever comes out and these guys haven’t blew their load yet, it will bang. Meanwhile, I am feelin them.

Sa-Ra - Death Of A Star

Sa-Ra - Hollywood

Sa-Ra - Starwarz

Sa-Ra - Fish Fillet (w/ Pharoahe Monche)