From the vault

Dear Dilla, you shaped my perception for music in ways I can't describe in words. Music has always touched my heart, but your music moved my soul. You had a gift of making the most creative music using samples from the most unlikely sources. I'll never understand why someone like you, who could have given the world so much more, would be taken way so soon. Dilla, you "literally" changed lives and you probably saved lives too, because when you make music "straight from the heart," it's not just music anymore.

You will always be my favorite musician of all time....

Thank You Dilla, Rest In Peace

---- I DO NOT OWN ANY PART OF THIS TRACK --- I'm simply trying to express my soul, support my favorite artists and help spread good music to those who might not have heard it.

J Dilla - Tribute By Robert Glasper (feat. BIA B)

2 Times

Sy Scott & Trackstar Freestyle

“Bubbles (So High)” is the very latest single from Cazal Organism to drop on Delicious Vinyl (October 14). Featuring vocals from singer Dezi Paige and rapper K-Natural, the song talks to listeners of allowing everyday LA life to wash over you and enjoying the high that it brings. The production boasts Cazal’s signature touch as soaring foamy synths are grounded by whirring, hip-hop accented beats.  

The accompanying music video is a fittingly dream-like visualization of the song’s sudsy sentiment and celestial groove. Directed by Dina Juntila, the video sees Paige and K-Natural drive around Los Angeles in a kaleidoscopic homage to California’s trippy side. 

“Bubbles (So High)” is the first single from Cazal Organism’s forthcoming, yet-to-be-titled, EP. With the direction of Michael Ross, aka Mike Floss, the EP will see the jazzier edge of Cazal’s production style complimented by collaborations with an array of local talent including the likes of Casey Veggies, Dezi Paige, Joe Styles and K-Natural. --  Alice Price-Styles

Cazal Organism "Bubbles (So High)" (featuring K-Natural & Dezi Paige)

Prod. By: King I Divine
Emcee: ScienZe
New Joint from Divine Scienze "Open Bar"
Off the upcoming Instrumental album "Modes Of Chill"
 by King I Divine.
Drops January 27th!!
Share the love!
Photo: aaronisnotcool

Divine ScienZe - Open Bar

Lyrical Lunatics - The Vibe (rare 90's boom bap)

Purchase LP, CD, Digi or Vinyl Deluxe Pack --> https://illa-j.bandcamp.com/album/illa-j

From deep musical origins in Detroit, rapper/singer/songwriter Illa J has been slowly navigating his way through the oft-turbulent waters of Hip-Hop since the tender age of 13, when the young John Yancey aka Illa J wrote his first rhyme alongside his brother, the late great J Dilla. After his brother’s passing in ‘06, he began teaching himself piano, bass and taking vocal lessons while finding himself touring the world and recording a slew of Dilla-related projects, notably being an active member of Slum Village until 2014. His first solo album, '08s Yancey Boys and the Frank Nitt 2013 collaborative album Sunset BLVD were both released on seminal label Delicious Vinyl. Feeling the need for a change creatively as well as geographically, in 2012 John moved to the future music hotbed that is Montreal ultimately making the connection with Canadian producers Nick Wisdom & AstroLogical aka Potatohead People (whose acclaimed Bastard Jazz debut album Big Luxury in Spring 2015 featured Illa J on two hit singles). The success of their initial collaborations inspired the team to dive into the studio and embark on Illa J's new self-titled solo album, and present an entirely fresh sound of his own.
 
The album Illa J, produced without any samples by Potatohead People alongside a few groundbreaking co-producers, showcases a more mature and at-ease Illa J who is equally comfortable on top of an electronic boogie-inspired beat (“Universe”) as he is getting grimey over a trunk rattling G-Funk joint (the Kaytranada co-produced “Strippers”). On tracks like the sparse, Rhodes driven “Cannonball” (co-produced by Montreal’s Noo Bap), and the early 90s Spiritual / Acid Jazz inspired “Sunflower”, Illa flexes his muscles through both song and rhyme. And of course being true to his roots, the classic Detroit boom-bap sound is ever present on joints like “French Kiss”, “Perfect Game” (quite possibly Rap’s only ode to bowling), and “Never Left”, a touching tribute to his brother and a call-out to abusers of Dilla's legacy.  Vancouver mainstay MC Moka Only contributes invaluably to the cohesive sound of the album as well, providing signature smoothed-out vocal choruses to tracks like “She Burned My Art”, “All Good Pt. 2” and “Who Got It” (co-produced by Mosaic). Dropping Fall 2015 on Bastard Jazz Recordings, Illa J is a brilliantly-produced, diverse, and long overdue solo effort from Yancey.


Buy LP, Digi, CD

Illa J - Cannonball (prod. Potatohead People & Noo-Bap)

This one of them tracks I played at the Beat Cinema Beat Battle Vol. 9

Let The Flies Go By[89]

Thought it was a shame this slice of fried gold couldn't be found on Souncloud. As the first experimental rap song ever made and with cover art by Jean-Micheal Basquiat, this is truly a historic record. 

Originally released in 1983 by record label Tartown. Initially distributed merely as a test pressing, it is notable for being featured in the hip-hop documentary film Style Wars and having a cover designed by famed New York graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The result of a disagreement between Rammellzee and Basquiat, the track has been cited as having an influence on artists such as Beastie Boys and many experimental hip hop artists due to its chaotic, abstract sound. Due to the rarity of its original pressing, it has been called the Holy Grail of rap records.

The track was initially intended as a battle rap between Rammellzee and Basquiat, following heated arguments between the two. Rammellzee, an influential graffiti artist himself, accused Basquiat of being a fraud. In turn, Basquiat claimed he could out-rap, out-dance, and out-paint anybody. The duo eventually settled on "Beat Bop" acting as an outlet for this tension. With links to Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat was the toast of the New York art world during that period. Rammellzee, on the other hand, describes himself as being an "up-and-coming con artist". Basquiat therefore agreed to pay for recording, pressing and eventual release. Despite this, both Rammellzee and K-Rob had the power to overrule Basquiat on the record's content:

"He wanted to say his own verses... me and K-Rob read them and started laughing, and we crushed up his paper with the words he had written down and we threw it back at him face first."

The result was a ten-minute track featuring Rammellzee and K-Rob on vocals, under the direction of Fab Five Freddy, its production credited to Basquiat only (despite Rammellzee insisting that Basquiat did nothing but foot the bill). Speaking in 2008, Rammellzee reflected on the relaxed nature of the recording session by saying "we were just having fun". The record was eventually released in 1983, limited to 500 copies with custom art by Basquiat. It has also been distributed by Profile Records, in 1983 and later in 2001.

Various instruments are brought in and out of the mix throughout, the majority of them played by Al Diaz, a friend of Basquiat. These include a violin, an electric guitar, and a varied range of percussion. The vocals are delivered in a relaxed, chaotic and almost stream of consciousness manner, often overlapping themselves, with both rappers occasionally adopting fake voices. A heavy amount of reverb is applied to the vocals in a seemingly random manner, sometimes during the middle of sentences. The track ends by fading out during the middle of a verse, offering the listener no definite conclusion. Each version of the single has featured the instrumental of the track on the B-side.

The lyrics take the form of improvised role playing, with Rammellzee playing a pimp and K-Rob in the character of a schoolboy. Rammellzee's vocal delivery has been cited by Allmusic as a clear example of his "flights of wordplay, fantasy, and street surrealism". The lyrical abstraction present on "Beat Bop" is often praised, with a writer for The Guardian commenting that "people have been trying to decipher it ever since". However, perhaps as part of the characters adopted by each rapper, there are many clear examples of socially conscious lyrics present throughout the track, discussing violence, theft, and illegal drug use: "New York City is a place of mysteries / Drug addicts, dope dealers taking over the streets”



Rammellzee & K-Rob -  Beat Bop 1983 (read the story of the song in description)

AFTA-1 - La Samba3 Pt. 2

Originally released in 1971 on Rotonde Musique.

Pop Riviera

Nino Nardini - Latinova

Digital: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/motor-city/id1219100811?mt=1&app=music&at=1001lqHU
CD: http://smarturl.it/motorcitylp
LP: http://smarturl.it/motorcitycd
Deluxe: http://smarturl.it/motorcitydeluxe

The late, great J Dilla is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time.  Since his death in 2006, Dilla’s mother Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey has worked tirelessly to further her son’s legacy, and her latest effort is the new project Motor City.  Inspired by Dilla’s beloved hometown, Motor City is a collection of rare and unreleased Jay Dee instrumentals, hand-selected and sequenced by Ma Dukes.  Conceived as a “letter” to her son, Motor City is packaged in a limited-edition mailing envelope, complete with a handwritten message from Ma Dukes to J Dilla inside.  This 19-track collection is now available at physical and digital outlets worldwide.

Sy Scott & Trackstar Freestyle

DJ Cakedigga

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