We can all agree that 2016 has been a truly terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year. Really, the only redeeming thing this year has done for us is produce new albums from Rihanna, The Knowles Sisters™, Kanye (we’ll ignore the last month), Frank Ocean, and Chance. That’s nothing to bat an eye at but…
[record scratch]
[freeze frame]
We’re not even going to talk about them. This year we’re here to celebrate the low-key bangers. The songs we found while we were waiting for Frank to finally drop that album. The songs we discovered in the deep dark recesses of Spotify. The songs that made us scramble to ask Siri who it was… and not even Siri could tell us. These are the best songs of 2016 that you haven’t heard. It won’t quite make up for the dumpster fire of 2016 but it’s the least we could do.
Boiler Room TV presents a new episode this week featuring ?uestlove behind the boards. The entire set is a tribute to J-Dilla and features some unheard Roots rehearsal tracks of Dilla beats. I would recommend just downloading the podcast, instead of watching the whole video. These broadcasts always contain a bit more NY hipster douche than I can stomach. As always, someone from the youtube comments section sums up my feelings completely:
I love The Bolier Room concept, but it almost always pisses me off. You have a world class DJ spinning mind blowing sets and what do you have going on in the back ground? Bored looking hipsters looking at their smart phones while half heartedly shuffling about to the beat. Can’t they get a crowd that’s gonna let off and enjoy the experience instead of just tweeting about it?
I picked this little gem up yesterday at Unique Thrift.
We all remember the classic film; but what about the album it inspired? This late 90’s comp included the likes of Will Smith, Jermaine Dupri, Snoop Dogg, Ginuwine, a young Alicia Keys, The Roots, D’Angelo, Trey Lorenz (his name will be the answer to a jeopardy question one day), Nas, Emoja, ATCQ, an early Destiny’s Child, 3T, De La Soul, Buckshot LeFonque, and the legendary Danny Elfman.
A smooth jam from The Game and hometown hero Wale. I’ve never been the biggest Cool and Dre fan, but this might actually redeem them from the travesty that was Celebration (real Bone Thugs fans feel me on that).
Who is that singing in the background? Cool or Dre? Some of those ad-libs are borderline humorous.
It’s offically summer. You know how I know? Nope, it has nothing to do with the heat that people are bitching about on twitter. It is because Arthur King’s annual Summer Mix is here. I almost didn’t want to post this so all you aggregating savage blogs don’t get a sniff, but this man deserves more shine. I’ve been following the guys work since I stumbled his Pop Sh*t mix about 5 years ago. Arthur is a maestro of seamless transitions, remixes, and edits of jams that go hand in hand like Kells and underage girl.
So check out the first 25 minutes of his Summer 2011 mix NOW:
The kicker? If you like what you hear, you will have to buy it. from France.
Sidebar: That guy Knobbz is probably downloading this off the strength of the .gif mixtape cover alone.
If you like what you hear, I’ve procured some personal favorite jams from Arthur’s soundcloud, after the break. Stay tuned, I’m going to try to share the older Summer Mixes soon.
I mentioned Koncrete a couple of months ago. His mixtape, Well Grounded, is set to be released on March 26. He just sent us a freestyle, on the much used Over beat. This dude has a ridiculous flow, and he is definitely an artist to watch.
Today marks the Kickoff of the The Soul Tour at the Kia Collective in DC which will feature Wale, Dan Deacon, Ponytail, and the Creepers rocking out through out the weekend in a warehouse in Washington DC.
Next weekend, Kia moves on to Philly where MGMT will be joined by The Drums, Amanda Blank, Popo, YACHT and Francis and the Lights.
All the shows are free except you need a ticket for the MGMT shows that you get by test driving a Kia at the respective Collective location Friday through Sunday from noon – 8pm.
ML will be in the building Space in DC on Friday night to catch the homie Wale, and on Sunday for MGMT.
DC Location: 3330 New York Ave, NE
Philly Location: 23rd Street Armory 22 South 23rd St
This is some gorgeous throwback soul perfect for your next BBQ. Video is on point too; ladies love cool Mayer. A Strange Arrangement drops in September.
This song is actually a cover of a song by Detroit group New Holidays. O-Dub at Soul Sides has the scoop.
