Favorite Things Pt. II: Mega Mix

Last week I did something similar where I posted a collage of music--past, present and future. This week shouldn't be any different should it??? That, my friends, would be uncivilized. This time I merged all of the tracks into one track so it actually seems like a mix instead of a batch of links--links that took a long time to load--like last week. So without further to say, here's the link to the mix

Mega Mix

PS-I'm not a DJ, so don't expect coherency, matching BPMs or for it to make any sense at all for that matter. The only link between these artists are that they all produce good music.

New Common: Break My Heart

Common is probably the poster child for quality Hip Hop music that infuses passion, creativity and raw talent. I've supported him from Can I Borrow a Dollar to the present. July 31st, Finding Forever, his seventh LP will drop and from what I've heard it's sounding pretty good. Here's one of my favorites so far...

Common-Break My Heart

J. Burnett

JUSTICE † (Cross) Review

JUSTICE †, 2007 VICE RECORDS, ED BANGER

JUSTICE is comprised of Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay. Some considered the pair to be next in line to take DAFT PUNK'S throne after their depressing Human After All album and breathe some life back in the Dance genre. The † (or Cross) album released July 10, 2007 is JUSTICE'S first official release after a slew of dance remixes dating all the way back to 2003. With as much anticipation as a Harry Potter novel, † is here and all the critics including myself agree upon one thing which is that this album is decent; but certainly not great.

With all the hoopla and anxiety that led up to this album, I have to admit that this album was on the right track and JUSTICE definitely has cemented themselves as a group with a promising future. Songs on the album such as "Newjack," "Phantom II," "Stress," "Genesis," "One Minute to Midnight" and "D.A.N.C.E" are good songs paired with the all ready familiar "Waters of Nazareth" and "Phantom." The guys know how to expand sounds and they don't stop until your ears have been totally obliterated which is the only reason why I feel the album suffers. The loudness sometimes detracts from the actual musicianship and perfectionism put into the songs. Unlike DAFT PUNK, JUSTICE uses a arsenal of Lo-Fi sounds, distorted samples and Vocoded guitars as a crutch which says to the masses that we're louder, harder, and will rock you out of your happy disco existence. The songs are glitchy, industrial, and loud which is good or bad depending on the listener. As for The "Party," "Let There Be Light," and "DVNO" all of which left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I'm not sure why these songs were approved to be on the album. Uffie's style makes "The Party" sound contrived, "DVNO" is just a throwaway track with a throwaway singer, and well..."Let there Be Light" is just irritating and annoying. Last but not least, is "Valentine." You'll have to ask JUSTICE what they were thinking by putting this track on the album as I believe they probably wanted the remixers to do something with it. Anyway, I dig the album and I think it deserves to be in the middle of any DJ or avid music listeners catalog. Recommended Songs: "Genesis," "Newjack," "Phantom II," "D.A.N.C.E"

Check out the mini-mix.

Justice Mini-Mix

Van-Go Tha Hustla

Villains Gotta Eat Too: MF Doom MM Food Re-Release

Next Tuesday, July 24th, MF Doom is re-releasing MM Food. The LP originally came out in 04; dope album, not as good as Operation Doomsday or Madvillainy but definitely better than 97.3% of rap albums that came out since then and recently, for that matter, which would make it a damn good. I just finished listening to it actually and I enjoyed it (alot) and I hate on EVERYthing. If you haven't experienced MF yet, it would be a good starter and if you have...why not kick a few dollars to your favorite supervillain.

J. Burnett

The Noisettes

Imagine the Yeah Yeah Yeahs without the pretension of a female fronted Death From Above 1979; think about how excited you’d be. Based in London, UK the Noisettes are just that: exciting, dangerous, fresh and conscious (yea, all of those). The band is composed like so: fronted by Shingai Shoniwa (vocals), with Dan Smith on the guitar and Jamie Morrison on the drums. The Noisettes present an urgent sound on their debut, What’s the Time Mr. Wolf? On tracks like “Iwe” and “Don’t Give Up” you can see why they were invited to tour alongside bands like Muse, Babyshambles and Bloc Party. Don’t take my word for it though, London's ICA described Shoniwa's singing as "Billie Holliday on PCP." Rolling Stone named them one of their bands to watch. Still not convinced, listen to this:

Iwe

Don't Give Up

H. Moore

Damn I Slept on Tanya Morgan

Even I sleep on cats sometimes...I'm sure many of you neither didn't know or didn't care that I blogged for Hip Hop DX but I do and so does Donwill of Tanya Morgan. I used to just peep dude's blogs because he posted some funny ass Youtubery. I'm mad slow. I didn't even know he made music until they separated the guest artist's blogs from the resident bloggers. So, I see it and I'm like "oh, dude makes music...ok." Meanwhile, I'm hearing the band's name: Tanya Morgan this, Tanya Morgan that, from people who dug their music. Well after about 3 months of sleeping (like so)



I copped Moonlighting (as you should), their debut LP and from what I've heard thus far, sounds pretty dope. See, Hip Hop is okay...

Check Tanya Morgan out on Myspace if you're broke like me, but if you got the greenbacks, do your due diligence to a talented band who makes REAL Hip Hop here. ?uestlove gave his seal of approval. If that's not enough evidence they're dope then I don't know what is.

One Love

J. Burnett

Yay Area Slappin Ya Speakers: Honor Roll Clique's that Deal

I've been coppin alot of Bay Area heat lately; i'm diggin their electro, progressive, new wave, bright colors steez right now. Initially, this was going to be a Trackademicks post, then I said maybe I'll do a Josie Stingray post. Props to Fader for the put onage awhile back. Then, I found out they have a clique. Collectively, they're called the Honor Roll. In Clinton Sparks fashion, it may be recommended that you get familiar now as I'm sure they'll blow (no brokeback) soon. Here's the links for all of the members to give you a lil 101 on what's gonna be slappin in the Bay soon if not right now.

Honor Roll

Trackademicks (Nasty on the production tip)

Josie Stingray

DJ Tap 10

Mike Baker the Bikemaker

1of.A.kind (Sleeper Pick of the Clique)

Spank Pops

TRoyal

Mox to the More (Check out "Guzzlin Guiness")

peace

J. Burnett

Step Ya International Game Up

It's truly interesting to see the different takes people from different continents take on Hip Hop. Not really traveling much, due to my extreme level of broke-ocity, I do most of my learning in regards to the above via the web; thank God for hi-speed connections. So when I came across the Notorious MSG, I was a bit tickled (pause) and intrigued to see what kind of sound these guys had. It's a mash up of punk rock and rap that turned out to not suck balls. Check out their tracks here. Their level of gulliness is shocking. You've been advised!!!

J. Burnett

We Goin Digital

We REALLY want to know what y'all think. So Speaker's on AIM now. The screen name is Speakermag1. Add us to your buddy list, and not way at the bottom; not that you'd ever do that, right. Whenever you want to holler at us, do so. Preciate it. Oh, also we're on myspace too now. Check out the page.

peace

Management