Monthly Archives: April 2010

Big Boi – Shutterbugg (produced by Scott Storch).

With “Shutterbugg,” Big Boi proves that radio-friendly hip-hop in 2010 doesn’t have to be cookie-cutter R&B bullshit. Big Boi seemingly jumps on the electro bandwagon, but “Shutterbugg” is actually distinctly Outkast and not some Kid Cudi knockoff. Precisely spat double time flow with an A-town twang. And that Auto-Tune on..

Flying Lotus – Do The Astral Plane.

This is FlyLo at his most extravagant. The quiet little electro ditties from 1983 and Los Angeles are gone. “Do The Astral Plane” is the soundtrack to an epic alien space battle, but instead of fighting, all the aliens are getting their groove on because the music is so nuts...

Joell Ortiz – Project Boy (produced by DJ Premier).

Chalk this one up as another classic for DJ Premier and a career highlight for Joell Ortiz. The paranoia and urgency of the song are incredible.”Project Boy” sounds like boom bap’s last hurrah. Capone-N-Noreaga will appear on the remix. Sphere: Related Content

Royce da 5’9″ – On Fire (ft. Crooked I).

(image) The Slaughterhouse alliance was formed to highlight the group’s lyrical prowess, so each verse and even each line stands on its own. When two or more them get on a song together, it becomes a contest of who can deliver the most clever, memorable, or otherwise impressive punchline. Some..

Sene – QuarterWater (produced by GODlee Barnes).

2009 saw Blu (aka GODlee Barnes) step away from the mic and toward the boards. He produced Sene’s jazz-heavy debut album A Day Late and a Dollar Short and two weird little EPs, NoSleepForADay and HerFavoriteColo(u)r. It seems as if the California native stepped away from the spotlight ever since..

Reflection Eternal – Midnight Hour (ft. Estelle).

(image) I’ll say it again, Revolutions Per Minute will be Hi-Tek’s best work. Every song we’ve heard off the album has had a vastly different sound and it’s all heat. This is what happens when artists shake any conceptions of “real” hip-hop and just make good music. Update: video here...

Onra – Long Distance.

80s soul. So funky. Think Keni Burke or “Sexual Healing.” Album drops May. Download: Onra – Long Distance via Rhythm Incursions Sphere: Related Content

MC Eiht – So Well.

(image) “So Well” is a strange marriage of East and West. MC Eiht smears his California flow over a New York style soul sample. DJ Premier is wearing the executive producer hat for MC Eiht’s album, so it’s required listening. Download: MC Eiht – So Well (produced by Brenk) via..

Janelle Monáe – Tightrope (ft. Big Boi), Video.

The video for “Janelle Monáe’s “Tightrope” is a rare example of a video enhancing the song. I don’t think I’ll ever listen to this song again without thinking of the crazy dance party in the video. Monae & co. can move! Grab the audio and give it some burn. via..

Donny Goines – My Window (produced by Statik Selektah).

Untagged version of the Statik Selektah produced cut off Quiz Knows a Mixtape. Statik proves that there are still interesting ways to flip a soul sample. I would guess this is a leftover from Statik’s album 100 Proof (The Hangover). Download: Donny Goines – My Window (produced by Statik Selektah)..