Same Girl

T-Pain and his vocoder join "Kellz" and "Ush" on the remix. And kelly on the freestyle at the end. ha.

MP3: R. Kelly - Same Girl (Ft. T.Pain & Usher)

Kanye Delayed, 50 talks big

This isn't the real cover art despite what Amazon may say, apparently it's pre-cover art..
But the main gist of this is.. Graduation has now dropped back to meet 50 Cent's release date of September 11th. The reason for this; "extra time for promotion"... Well, 50's talking rubbish about it as per usual.. there's history between the two, mainly on his side, however its all pretty pathetic. I just want the album.
sohh.com have more..

To keep up with the release dates of the next few months.. Go here.. and let me know if i've missed anything via the comments..

This is the Girl

33 Days Till Graduation

And i'd be lying if i said i wasn't hyped. More so now that i've read the little track run through.. Thanks to Jesus Piece.. place to go if you want your hip-hop from someone who knows its roots.

1. "Good Morning"
Has a sweeping and majestic sound to it. Article seems to suggest that there are strings. Not clear whether this is considered to be an “Intro” or one of the twelve tracks.
2. "The Good Life"
Produced by Toomp, Samples MJ (PYT). Featuring T-Pain. Also has Jon Brion strings on it according to the journalist.
3. "I Wonder"
Kanye’s favorite song (though he says that all the new songs are his favorite). In the song he provides advice on life (from another interview).
4. "Homecoming"
Featuring either Chris Martin or John Legend. Has a really beautiful piano sound. Reminiscent of Kanye’s sound on the Dropout.
5. "….?"
Unknown track title. The beat, again, has an 80s feel to it.
6. "Can’t Tell Me Nothing"
7. "Drunk Hot Girls"
Kanye says it will be your favorite song after you listen to it 4 or 5 times, and that, at first, you will be thinking, I’ve never heard anything quite like that.
8. "Here We Go Again"
Features scratches and co-production from DJ Premier.
9. "Stronger"
10. "(The Glory)"
The song is not mentioned in the article, but we have enough reason to believe it is on the album somewhere, and I’m just placing it here, though there is NO info to suggest it should be.
11. "….?"
12. "Good Night"
Featuring Mos Def. Song is about his grandparents and was written the day they both died. His grandfather died in the morning, and he asked his grandmother how she was going to go on after his death, and how she was going to live without him. A few hours later, she died. According to the article, the way he told this story was very moving, and the song itself is brilliant, as is the whole album.

Madlib

Everyone knows Madlib.. the creativity is beyond comprehension. Yesterdays New Quintet - Yesterdays Universe came out yesterday, 15 new tracks, each arranged, produced and dreamt up by Madlib. It's good. Information @ stonesthrow.

MP3: Otis Jackson Jr. Trio - Bitches Brew

That above is the artwork from the new record.. Which you can get from Itunes or emusic...

As well as the work with YNQ, Madlib's also been working on his beatKonducta series, Volumes 3 and 4 will come out on August 28th. . For this trip in the series Madlib visits India for his inspiration, using influences there to produce a soundtrack for a bollywood film (doesn't exist as of yet I am led to believe).. Again, Its good.

This isn't from the aforementioned release, instead from Stones Throw Hella International release from early this year. More to come from Beat Konducta in India nearer to the release date..

MP3: BeatKonducta - Chrome Dreams


Whether you can make sense of him or not, its all in the music to see.. one of the most creative cats going!!

Remix Action

Aaron Jerome and Daisuke Tanabe have just come off a productive remix swap. Daisuke brought some more electronics to AJ and Yunguns "Late Night" (get you a date as soon as I get it myself), while AJ puts in a remix on "Station".
Both artists you want to be watching this year..

Out Today

Soil and "pimp" sessions - Pimpoint. Out on Brownswood.. JUNO

MP3: Soil & "Pimp" sessions - Red Clay

Ntjamrosie - Patience 12". Out on Appletree Records.. JUNO

Heat

One for summer. Guess it's off the new Wyclef material which is supposed to appear in September. Even Akon isn't that annoying - give it a few listens at least. Also featuring Wayne and Nia.

Mp3: Wyclef Jean - Sweetest Girl (Ft. Akon, Lil'Wayne, Nia)
Mirror: Yousendit

My favourite NightClub

Video Moved HERE

The concept was dreamed up by German company Balestra Berlin: take dozens of 1000 litre tanks, fill them with illuminated liquid, and arrange them into a temporary club space. And the whole thing is wired up so that VJs can synch the walls up to the music.

Kubiks Light Show is moving south in Europe.. latest dates booked are Barcelona and Lisbon.

Ntjamrosie - Patience

My favourite label at the moment is that dutch imprint, Appletree. . Since meeting them all in London a few weeks back I've had this cd on constant rotation.. in between my little fits of bass of course. Ntjamrosie is the fourth release from Appletree, following on from Sotu The Traveller, Beau Love and the brilliant first volume of the Smoothies Mix Series - something you can still go and grab free of charge. Just use this link - Right Click Save As - and for the tracklisting here... For those who like their soul, jazz, funk and hiphop.. It's definitely something to be checked.

Anyway, Ntjamrosie is the next artist to drop from the camp, with a debut 12" dropping on July 16th. On her myspace, she describes the sound as BuluSoul, which I guess comes from her birthplace; Cameroon. Boasting an amazing voice, the soul is there in abundance. The production on the lead off single "Patience" by label mates Nelson and Djosa is perfect, your constantly aware of it, but not once does it draw your attention away from the wonders of Ntjamrosie's voice.

The A side also contains two other tracks , "Bia Yon" and "Squeeze In The Breeze".. in both the standard remains equally high, maybe less suited to the club.. but I can see both creeping into any Peterson set. On the B side comes the remix treatment.. INT and Sotu The Traveller both producing brilliant versions of the lead single "Patience".. Both are certainly capable of making people move.

While it's very early on in her career, I can't help seeing shades of Erykah Badu..however that could just be because Stones Throw recently shared a Madlib produced gem of her's thats been stuck in my head since I first heard it. Eitherway, if she continues to work with producers who understand her sound this well.. Appletree Records could be onto a bit of a winner.

One of my releases of the year to date, and I've got this feeling it still will be come December time.

Anyway, for your listening pleasure, courtesy of the folks at Appletree..

Mp3: Ntjamrosie - Patience
Mirror: Yousendit

Ntjamrosie Myspace
Appletree Myspace

Big thanks to Nalden and the guys (no idea how to spell the names).. Sorry about that.

This Is The Girl

Uk HipHop's posterboy comes with a new album soon. First single off it drops August 27th.. featuring that bloke Craig David. Acoustic Version for you all.

MP3: Kano - This Is The Girl (Ft. Craig David) (Acoustic)
Mirror: Yousendit

Kanye & Sting - Message In A Bottle @ Live Earth

On another video note.. go see Common at BET's 106 & Park where he drops yet another brilliant freestyle.Common Freestyle.

Disco LoveStoned

Justice with some more disco.

MP3: Justin Timberlake - LoveStoned (Justice Remix)
Mirror: Yousendit

Hunting For Witches

Crystal Castles Remix of "Hunting For Witches"

MP3: Bloc Party - Hunting For Witches (Crystal Castles Remix)
Mirror: Yousendit

Production Saves The Day

Goodness knows the concept of the T.I album, I've listened to it a few times, and as I thought, the content is pretty dry. Lyrically, I dont think he can get better, the album tends to bore me as each track is reminiscent of the one before it, with only the production and a possible guest spot setting them apart. Luckily, excluding that sham with Eminem, which I don't wish to dwell on, the production is pretty sharp. Nowhere more so than on "Tell Em I Said That" produced by Timbo's protege; Danja.

MP3: T.I - Tell Em I Said That
Mirror: Yousendit

Can I draw your attention to...

Just a quick update on a few new things i've added..

Firstly.. over on the right theres "Looking Forward " post link.. Started this up in June but forgot to update it completely. I'm going to be updating this time i promise, basically its just albums/EP's/Singles/12" that i'm looking forward to complete with their release dates. I think it'd be nice if some of you readers let me know on what your looking forward to (through the comments on that post).. Then i'l add it to the page.

Secondly.. go add me on last.fm ... If you haven't got it, go and get one, its a valuable tool for those who want to discover more music. My profile page is here.

Thanks, and I hope your enjoying it alll.

Funky Monkey Party

My good friend DJ Sandro Chikovani dropped through the other day to give me the heads up on his first gig on UK soil. . Playing alongside other up and comers Dj Otimo and Dj Sikha it is sure to be a quality outing. If you like your house and are in the London area on the 12th.. head over to the Anam Bar and take advantage of the free entry..

Hit the event myspace for more information.. Here

Sonar Kollektiv: Ten Years, Who cares?

Ten years has passed since the Sonar Kollektiv Label was formed. To celebrate (and I am rather late on this) they've released a double CD package titled; "Ten Years: Who cares?". CD1 is single tracks which illustrate the sheer diversity the label has blessed us with since its birth. Featuring tracks from Jazzanova, Micatone, Fat Freddy's Drop and newest sensation Outlines (Grab their album).
CD2 is the mixing. Mixed by label pioneers Jazzanova, the hour long selection is slightly a more house-bound collection with tracks from the likes of Ame, George Levin and Markus Enochson.
Despite the musical differences, both CD's are well worth the listen.

Get the tracklistings at Resident Advisor, and after get the CD.

Favourite track off the non- mixed CD has to be the Jazzanova rework of Fat Freddy's Drop. .

MP3: Fat Freddy's Drop - Flashback (Jazzanova's Mashed Bag)

If you like the sound, let me know...

She Wants It

50 calls in Timbo and JT for this track off Curtis. . Killer synth provided by you know who, however I can't help thinking that these three had the potential to come up with something a little bit better. . It'l most likely do well in the charts regardless.. Still waiting for the Robin Thicke collaboration - that one really is good.

MP3: 50 Cent - She Wants It (Ft. Timbaland & Justin Timberlake)
Mirror: (YouSendIt)

Other 50 news; rumoured to have enlisted Jeezy on a new tune for Curtis... and it seems he's waging war on the rest of the failing G-Unit camp, despite plans for a new album, he's cut financial support he was previously supplying after shedding out nearly 8.5 million dollars of his own money on them. . Lastly, theres the incident with "hypeman" HotRod, who he recently removed from the stage due to HotRod's apparent lack of knowledge regarding 50's lyrics.
Why HotRod has a career I do not know. .

Mailbox

Not having been around for too long, the majority of what I get sent doesn't really stimulate me enough to spend ten/fifteen minutes of my life writing about it. But I guess the good comes with the bad and of course, I appreciate everything that I get sent!
The latest release that has stood out is the new Erland EP titled "The Defining Moment".. (Out on July 4th on BlackVan Records). Minimal Downtempo at heart, the EP brings the electronics when required, and when you feel you need a change - in comes a big slice of soul. The balance is perfect, so where I often lose interest in a lot of minimal releases, Erland ensures that this is one that bucks the trend. Standout tracks are "Bangers and Mash" and "Clockwork". .

Out, as I said, on July 4th. Available from; Beatport, Dancerecords and Itunes.

UPDATED:

MP3: Erland - Pushpop

Thanks to Stephanie for hooking me up with it.

don't make me get old skooool

Second Video from Maths and English.

Tears Dry On Their Own (Al Usher)

Favourite track off the latest Winehouse album. For the single release the track has just been remixed by Al Usher, and then New Young Pony Club. I refuse to talk about the latter, however the Usher rework is very nice indeed. . adding some more soul and for me, topping the original.

Here it is on zshare because divshare seems to be awol.

MP3: Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own (Al Usher Remix)

Stronger Cover