Aleon Craft and SMKA collaborated on this whisper-y Atlanta-flavored remake of the OG Temptations hit “The Way You Do The Things You Do.” The Prologue Pt. 1 comes out March 15. Ain’t shit changed since ‘64.

Download: Aleon Craft – The Way You Do The Things You Do (produced by SMKA)

Bonus: The Temptations – The Way You Do The Things You Do

off The Temptations Sing Smokey

I dug Raheem DeVaughn’s songs with Ghostface and I was actually really excited when I heard they might be doing an album together, but I’ve never seen DeVaughn as a viable solo artist. “The Greatness” may have just changed my mind. This is what a “song for the ladies” should sound like. Mature and funky. Check his mixtape from January.

Random: every time I hear the vocoder on the intro, I think of “Black Superman.”

Download: Raheem DeVaughn – The Greatness (ft. Wale)

via Xclusives Zone

All praises due to Black Spade for the hazy soulful “New U.”

Download: Black Spade – New U (produced by J*Davey)

via Saturn Never Sleeps

Producer Flying Lotus adds R&B to his repertoire with this cut from Jose James’ album Blackmagic. “Code” is less jagged than your typical Lotus production and shows the West Coast beat-head’s versatility.

Blackmagic is out now, and it’s great soul-jazz listen, especially if you’re snowed in.

via minigolfpharaos

New Amerykah Part One’s mind-blowing sound came from Erykah Badu’s squad of ace underground hip-hop producers (Madlib, Sa-Ra, Karriem Riggins). So it’s surprising to see the quintessential mainstream rapper on the first song off New Amerykah Part Two. But the song still bangs, in a random Erykah Badu kind of way.

Download: Erykah Badu – Jump Up in the Air and Stay There (ft. Lil Wayne)

Update: here is the mastered version of the song that will appear on the album.

Download: Erykah Badu – Jump Up in the Air and Stay There (ft. Lil Wayne)

via Rap Radar

I’ve been waiting for more from Ms. Monae since Aaron hipped me to her earlier this week. The second single from The ArchAndroid is even more epic than the first. Equally fast-paced, but more serious, “Cold War” is an energetic me-against-the-world track with lyrics to match. Can’t wait for this album.

Download: Janelle Monae – Cold War

via The Urban Daily

A perfect slice of rolling, summery funk backed by a killer Big Boi verse. Bit confused why they’re leaking this now; “Tightrope” was clearly made for BBQ season. Janelle’s debut on Bad Boy, The Arch-Android, drops on May 18.

BTW, go see Janelle live if you ever get the chance, she puts on one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. Hit the jump for some upcoming tour dates.

Download: Janelle Monae – Tightrope (ft.Big Boi)

Via Janelle Monae’s site

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X.Obama, same campaign. Off the excellent 1.1.10 mixtape, which we’ve posted about already. Cop and listen, I’m already prepared to call it one of the best mixtapes of ‘10.

Download: X.O. – 1.1.10 Mixtape

No far out Madlib beats or abstract social pondering this time. Just sweet and smooth Erykah.

Download: Erykah Badu – Window Seat

via Rap Radar

Via The New York Times

Melvin Van Peebles is a pioneer in black cinema, having directed, written, produced, scored and starred in what many people consider the first blaxploitation film, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasss Song. The New York Times recently published a fantastic profile of Peebles’s attempt to turn Sweetback into a stage musical that’s essential reading, if only for passages like this:

In person Mr. Van Peebles is a throwback to the era of Afros and revolutionary rhetoric. His beard has gone ash white, but he still sports black leather vests and pants, purple-shaded glasses and vintage high-tops. He is rarely without a soggy cigar — occasionally lighted — or a bellicose zinger, like: “If somebody messes with me, it’s not a lecture they need. It’s a brick.”

Read the whole piece here.

Hip-hop fans may be more familiar with Peebles from Madlib’s prominent sampling of his music on his two Quasimoto albums; allegedly ‘Lib and Peebles were supposed to do a double album together back in ‘05, I wonder what happened to it?

Download: Quasimoto – Bad Character

Get up on a little of Peebles’ music too. Here’s “Come On Write Me” from his 1974 album, What The . . . . You Mean I Can’t Sing?!