As summer winds to a close, we’re all struggling to find a way to hold onto the dream. Suff Daddy makes it a little easier with this little number, Pre Game Chillout.
The Berlin native captures the sound of 90s West Coast rap oh-so-perfectly A straightforward beat, simple synth melodies and jazzy bassline makes a man want to cruise around in his 6-4. The guitar riffs only add to mixture, a throwback to a simpler time when a producer only needed a few instrumental tracks to cook up something special. It’s refreshing to hear such a minimalist approach to beat making, and it goes hand in hand with the song’s title: chill out.
Check out more of Suff Daddy’s instrumental hip-hop on his Souncloud.
You know that age-old idea that when it comes to the arts - music, paintings, dance - the French do it better? Well it's mostly true. Take C2C, for example. Hailing from Nantes with a rap and jazz-influenced electro background, when it comes to DJ collectives they've upped the ante in nearly every category:
1. They're not just DJ's, they're turntablists. That means that unlike your all too common Serato 'DJ's, they don't just have turntables for show, they actually use them as instruments.
2. They aren't your typical DJ duo, but rather a foursome: Talent, squared.
3. They're the best at what they do: they won the DMC world championship (the ultimate prize for anyone interested in scratching) four years in a row.
Still not convinced? Have a listen to Delta, the first single off their debut album Tetra, which was released in December after 15 years in the making. And if that still doesn't get you going (or you just want more), check out this video of their live DJing set, and realize why anyone DJing with a computer isn't going to cut it anymore.
For today's post, I was debating between a sweet, melodic little indie number or Azealia Banks' ferocious 212. I decided on the latter; why not get this week started with a BANG.
In a word, Azealia Banks is fierce. She samples huge house tracks, snarls obscenities, and oh did I mention, is only 19. I'm tempted throw up the lyrics of this spitfire, stomping number to illustrate my point, but my dad reads this blog and I don't want him to have another aneurism. (Hey Dad, don't download this song.) And besides, I should probably just let this one speak for itself. Azealia doesn't need my (or anyone else's) help to get her point across.
I may not know a lot about hip-hop, but I do know of a few artists who I feel can do no wrong whenever I hear one of their songs. In this case, it's K-OS, the best rapper to ever come out of Canada. Then again, there's that one dude who was on Degrassi who played the kid who ended up in a wheelchair (spoiler alert!). Yes, I'm talking about the one and only Drizzy Drake. And wouldn't you know it, he's featured on K-os' latest track! It could be the greatest Canadian hip-hop performance of all time. Then again, this is coming from a guy who just received a reissue of Penfold's Amateurs & Professionals in the mail.
Regardless of my naivety to the genre, Faith Pt. 2 Featuring Drake is an absolute killer song. K-os delivers some of his best work since 2005's The Joyful Rebellion, punching in some freaking awesome rhymes. Drake is back to what he's best at - rapping. There's no R&B business, auto-tuning or Lil' Wayne cameos, just Drizzy showcasing his raw talent. Take a listen for yourself.
It's backkkk.
For those of you new to the blog, welcome to Comedown Sunday. It's a weekly shtick featuring music to help combat your hangover, on the day when you need it most. This week we have the smoky and sultry Orange U High? from Orlando-based experimental hip hop outfit Great People (who are apparently friends of a friend; thanks for the introduction Rachael). The kinda cheesy play on words is forgiven in light of the smooth beats, sexy female chorus, and ever reliable stoner rhymes. As we all [hopefully] know there's no better hangover cure than my girl mary jane, so this song is pretty pertinent.
Orange U High? You should be.
Orange U High? comes from the album Patchouli, which Great People self-released last month. You can download the single below, and buy the album at their bandcamp.
CREM is back, and this time he's the first guest contributor to our M!X series, with 11 tracks compiled in celebration of this years Lollapalooza--taking place this weekend in our hometown of Chicago.
Hello again, I can’t believe summer is almost over!
At least there’s one positive--it’s finally that time of year again. This will be my 6th straight Lollapalooza excursion, and I could not be more excited. There’s nothing I love more than enjoying my favorite acts under the beautiful Chicago skyline, and this line-up is stacked! My personal schedule includes Deadmau5, Explosions in the Sky, Ratatat, Pretty Lights, Afrojack, Beirut, Phantogram, DFA 1979, even some hip-hop with The Cool Kids and Atmosphere. I could go on…
This months mix is Lollapalooza-themed, with a couple extra goodies. I wanted to try and capture the more “chill” aspects of the weekend, choosing the songs and artists accordingly. All the songs pay homage to the scheduled acts, including remixes by/of the artists. In chronological order of performance, from Feed Me to Deadmau5, I hope to provide you with some relaxing essentials from Lollapalooza. The extra goodies meet the “chill” requirements as well, with sick beats from J. Dilla, Skream’s relaxed, cool summer jam, and a fitting conclusion from hip-hop legends Gang Starr. Because everyone should know your steez.
Enjoy the mix and easy listening.
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Stream the M!X on 8tracks and via the above player, download the M!X via the Zip Folder below, or grab a few choice selections from the Tracklist (in blue).
LOOSE L!PS M!X 03 : CREM de la Lolla
Because everyone should know your steez
Tracklist:
1. Melancholy Hill (Feed Me Remix) - Gorillaz
2. El Pico - Ratatat
3. Voices - Phantogram
4. Between Two Points (Jogger Remix) - The Glitch Mob
5. Double Love - Pretty Lights
6. Young G’s (Beirut Remix) - The Notorious B.I.G.
7. One Two - The Cool Kids
8. Brazil - Deadmau5
9. Summer Dreams - Skream
10. Last Donut of the Night - J. Dilla
11. You Know My Steez - Gang Starr
Download All Tracks (Right-Click and Save): Zip Folder
This artist I'm about to post has to be one of my favorite hip hop acts out there right now. In my opinion, Macklemore is the cream crop when it comes to the largely underrated Seattle underground scene. In a conversation I had with a friend of mine a few months ago, we got to the topic of our favorite scene in hip hop these days and when I told him mine was Seattle, he thought I was kidding. I wasn't. Not known as one of the typical hubs of the genre, Seattle doesn't get the respect that it deserves for putting out a ton of good underground acts. Blue Scholars are a group that has gotten a decent amount of exposure over the years, enough that they managed to drop their label for their most recent album--Cinematropolis (get that)--and fund the entire thing on individual fan donations. Who says this generation of music fans is apathetic and unwilling to pay for the art that they consume? But I'm not writing this post about Blue Scholars, although it wouldn't be a bad idea.
Macklemore is one of those artists that I honestly can't explain why they're not more popular. He tells stories through his music in a way that completely engages you, especially with the emotion that he puts into his verses. The other reason why I'm such a big fan of his music is because he works with Ryan Lewis. Also out of Seattle, Lewis is one of the most progressive producers in the game right now. Instead of your typical hip hop beat, Lewis' production feels much more like a musical composition. He doesn't fall into the usual repetitive nature of hip hop production, instead, his music breaks the mold and as a result I fing that it complements Macklemore's lyricism much better. My writing of this blog just got seriously stalled by the fact that I'm having the toughest time choosing which song to post. The problem: I have way too many favorite Macklemore songs. After much deliberation, I've decided on a song called Vipassana off of his most recent project, the VS Redux EP. Wikipedia tells me that Vipassana is a form of Buddhist meditation; well chosen title Mr. Macklemore. Listen to the song and you'll understand.
Exciting developments in the house. After months of begging, my brother (CREM - his initials) has finally agreed to contribute to LOOSE L!PS. If there's one person who can point me in the direction of my new favorite song, it's him (though I begrudgingly admit it). He'll be contributing a monthly wrap up of his latest gotta-have songs, which--if this month's group is any indication--are likely to become your favorites as well. I give you, Crème de la CREM.
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Hellooo out there. I have been invited to occasionally post a few tracks that aren’t necessarily the Loose Lips’ norm. I like to think of myself as a champion of musical diversity, and I’ll do my best to bring you a few monthly gems, but I primarily dabble in hip-hop, electronic, instrumentals, house, dub step, drum and bass, progressive house, some trance, even a few indie rock tunes. Basically anything that makes me push repeat again and again. These are this month’s indispensable tracks, ranging from super chill beats to a summer banger. Enjoy, this should be the start of something beautiful…
While the original is a hip-hop classic, this remix by Philippians certainly does it justice. Awesome beat, keeping the structure and feeling of the song intact while adding a unique electronic sound.
Pyramid is no stranger to Loose Lips, and this is simply another one of his great remixes. Great musical style and composition, this guy is an emerging staple in the electronic music world.
Sooo catchy. Martin Solveig does it again with this gem, teaming up with Phoenix’s Thomas Mars to create a summer banger. Just try to not replay this song, the chorus will be stuck in your head for weeks.
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Anybody remember me? I’m that guy that wrote a blog about a hip hop artist two weeks ago, then proceeded to drop off the face of the earth. Sorry about that. I’ll blame it on the fact that up until a couple days ago, I’d been living without the internet for the first time since the mid-nineties. Not having the internet leaves you with a lot of spare time that you have no idea what to do with. For me, that meant a lot of bad TV (think Auction Hunters, Lady Cops of Broward County, etc.). But I’m back!!!! One of the first emails I checked when I got back into my hotmail was from one of my favourite hip hop artists of the past 6 months who goes by the name Outasight. A NY native, Outasight is a one-man musical army. Although his music is technically hip hop, it tends to bridge a few different genres as he draws heavily from other musical genres, namely classic rock, blues and soul. He also has the rare ability to sing his own hooks, something that I find to be a huge asset for any MC.
The song that I’m posting is an official remix of the title track off of his recent Figure 8 EP. The original is a great song with a catchy piano beat providing a nice canvas for Outasight’s smooth flow and catchy vocals. The remixed version gets a little bit of tender lovin care from Discotech as they flip the piano chords and add in a few touches of their own. The result is a more upbeat, danceable track that can (and should) be thrown on at your next jam.
This was supposed to be a Comedown Sunday, then it was going to be a Comedown Monday, but now today is Tuesday so it's just a really chill song. Fakest Year Ever, (love that title) by New Jersey hip hop producer Clams Casino, is a downtempo instrumental jam driven by bending guitars, a steady piano accompaniment, and even well-placed synthetic woodwinds. Oh, and it's really good. Sometimes I feel like I'm having the fakest year ever; Clam Casino's production perfectly captures those moments of detachment, when I pause to tell myself "just take it easy." Clams Casino's The Rainforest EP comes out at the end of June on Tri Angle.
[found via Potholes in My Blog]
Hi everyone, this is my first blog as a member of the Loose Lips family so I’ll give you a quick bio about myself so I’m not just some random words on a web page. First off, my name’s Sean, I’m from Toronto (Canada, I think there’s at least one other city by that name in the U.S.), so if you’re wondering why I spell colour with an ‘ou’ – now you know. I’m in my early twenties and I’m currently trying to sweep up the last few bits of a business degree so that I can hopefully get a job that has absolutely nothing to do with my major. Professional blogger anyone? This gig just doesn’t cut it pay-wise. That’s probably enough for now… on to the nerve-racking first song of my time here:
I chose to make my first post about a song from my homeland, actually he’s from a few kilometers down the road from where I was born. Shad, or Shad K is a Canadian hip hop artist from London, Ontario, whose career has been picking up steam as of late. I was first introduced to his talents when I saw him open up for another artist about four or five years ago at a show in T.O. and was immediately blown away. What really separated him from artists I’d seen/heard in the past was when he picked up an acoustic guitar and proceeded to spit some of the most amazing bars I’d ever heard while playing a reasonably intricate guitar part. That song is called Rock To It if you’re inclined to hear it. Ever since I’ve been hooked and lately a lot more people have started to catch the Shad itch.
The reason Shad stands out from the pack is his ability to take on a variety of topics while providing wordplay that has you playing the song over and over just to make sure you got everything. The song that I’m posting – Rose Garden - is a perfect example of this, and his other strong point: His beat selection is always on point. The sample (you’ll come to realize I love finding the samples of hip hop songs) I believe is from an old country cover of (I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden by Dobie Gray, the best known version was performed by Lynn Anderson. This song was the lead single of his 2010 album TSOL that won him a Juno (Canada’s less prestigious version of the Grammy’s) for Best Hip Hop Album over Drake (thank God!). If you like the song, check out his other stuff and buy the album! It’s worth the money and Shad definitely still falls under the starving artist category. Last thing: Check out the video for Rose Garden, it’s pretty awesome.
I have to say, I don't listen to a lot of hip hop - I really wish I did. Regardless, I'm a big fan of all things Anticon Records. And I don't know how it slipped past me, but there's a big release coming from the Oakland-based, hip-hop centric label. Finally, there's a new 13 & God record on the way, and it's coming out next week. It's only been six years since we've heard anything from the electronic/hip hop supergroup. The collaboration continues between Themselves' underground hip hop and the electronic, indie-rock crooners from Germany - The Notwist. Old Age is the first single from new record Own Your Ghost, and it's a great indication of how the finished product will sound. It may be a little lighter than the heavy atmosphere of the 2005 release. The track is more or less like a Notwist song on steroids - the beats more refined and prominent, and Markus Acher's vocals definitely revitalized since The Notwist's 2008 release. The Devil, You + Me. Old Age is another great addition to the incoming slew of summertime songs. It's warm, upbeat and I can't get enough. It's an absolutely refreshing feeling to hear material from either side of 13 & God's coin. I'm just glad to be hearing it like this.
Lack of posts, but not only am I super busy, I'm rather uninspired. I just have no time for new music because I can't stop listening to Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. This happens every once in awhile, just because it is potentially the greatest album of the decade. Perhaps of our generation. Don't fight me on this.
Here's an edit of the infamous and amazing Monster. Every one knows Nicki Minaj's verse is the best part of the song, and this edit whittles the 6-minutes-plus number down to 3.5, showcasing Minaj's spit in all of its deserved glory. I didn't make this edit, I actually can't remember where I found it (if you made it email me and I'll credit you), but whoever did...thank you.
As I’m sure you know, I think Star Slinger is fantastic. His unique blend of hip-hop, r&b, and house production styles is something unique and amazing indeed. He’s one of the top producers in the game right now and, after a year or so on the scene, has yet to put out a weak track. His latest success is a ‘refix’ of How To Dress Well’s Ready For The World. RFTW is a song that I had thought about using on Comedown Sunday for ages, but refrained due to its ghostly nature. The original is nothing sort of haunting—and I’m not sure if that’s the best hangover remedy. My problems were solved last night when Starslinger uploaded this track. Here he takes the ghostly, hazy production quality of the original and brightens it, while simultaneously upping the tempo via his now-signature breakbeats. The result is less eerie; in fact it’s practically dreamy, like a warm blanket of starlight was draped over the piece. As with most work Star Slinger does, he’s giving this track out for free (thank you sir). Grab it below, and be sure to head over to his Soundcloud to update yourself on his catalogue.
Cover Artwork (which I don't usually feature but this is so good) by Datahowler himself. Such a Renaissance man.
Happy 420. Or 204, if you're in Europe.
I don't smoke anymore, but everyone I know still does, so this ones for you guys. (It's also for everyone who just likes good music.) You should all be familiar with Datahowler by now, he's the Dallas-based spacey-psychedelic-electro-hip-hop producer (jack of many trades, as you can see). He's just released a live album, recorded at his first show at Club Dada in Dallas on January 15th, and he's giving it away for free on his bandcamp. As we've come to expect from him, it's lush, swelling, occasionally trippy, and always enjoyable. Preview the song Watchtowers below and then head over to his site to download the album a.k.a. your 420 soundtrack.
*If you're in Dallas or thereabouts, be sure to catch Datahowler tomorrow night, playing live at the Granada Theater with Yelle and French Horn Rebellion. For sure a show not to be missed.
You might remember Datahowler from a couple months back. If you don't (you should), he's the Dallas-based spacelectro (space + electro, get it?) master who is helping put Texas electronica on the map. This week's Monday Mixer [the weekly, multi-blog playlist started by Metropolitan Jolt that we contribute to] theme was 'Local Artists.' When I heard the theme I immediately thought of Datahowler, and shot him a request for a song. He went above and beyond and was kind enough to send along an exclusive, unreleased LIVE recording of his two sister songs Of Stars and From Suns. Though on his debut album, Slowdrifter, the two songs are separate, his live show fuses the two in a mist of twinkling keys, blissed-out guitars, and warm bass. This is a perfect representation of Datahowler's range of artistry (he did, after all, play every single one of the instruments on his album). Not only is this a killer live track--the fusion is seamless and silky--but the style incorporates everything from funk to lounge to psychedelic at parts. It's exotic and yet comforting, like a big sandy beach and a just-hot-enough sun.
I’m having a hip-hop love affair as of late. It started with Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Fridays, when I was first introduced to Miss Nicki Minaj. Though her guest spot on Monster was undeniably genius, when I started reading about her I prematurely decided I hated her. She and her alter egos were just too damn weird. But as time passed and I further explored her work, I realized the error of my ways. Her weirdness is what sets her apart from the rest of the female rap/hip-hop world. Well, that and the fact that she can spit like nobody’s business. Now, I can’t get enough of her. As you might have heard, this past weekend Kanye West’s Monster video leaked. I refuse to post the link or video here until the fully mastered version is made available, because it is so amazing it deserves to only get attention in all of it final polished glory. As I was trolling the internet after having watched the video, girl crushing on Minaj and wishing something half as awesome as Monster existed, I clicked on my SoundCloud and what did I see?! The heavens had opened and STAR SLINGER HAD JUST UPLOADED A NICKI MINAJ REMIX. In typical Star Slinger fashion (who is a genius in his own right), it utlizes choppy and repetitive vocals seamlessly tied together by original synth work, glittering chimes, and subtle bass. I went so far as to say this on the track comments…and I mean it. Star Slinger does it again, ladies and gentlemen (and again, and again, and again). In a month he’s embarking on his first US tour, be sure to check out the dates here, as you absolutely cannot miss him. Seriously. This guy is a legend in the making.
If yesterday’s song was meant to close your week with a moment of ambient reflection, today’s song is meant to jump start your new one with a burst of exuberant opportunism. I can’t take credit for finding this (it showed up last week on Altered Zones), but it nonetheless might be my favorite song I post for the rest of the year. The amazing Heart is brought to us by Vancouver’s Blood Diamonds. After hearing this song I scoured the internet for more Blood Diamonds’ material, but unfortunately there isn’t much, save for a handful of tracks on his soundcloud. This lack of repertoire makes Heart even more special—if this is one of Blood Diamonds’ first works I can’t even imagine how his sound will expand in time. Utilizing the same cutting-sampling-original-materialing hybrid employed by the likes of Star Slinger and Keep Shelly in Athens, Blood Diamonds crafts this beautiful tempo shifting go-getter, experimental enough to pique your interest yet melodic enough to hold it. Marimbas, pan pipes, and tribal drums are offset by swirling synthesizers and the jubilantly admonishing, “Get ready, cause here I come.” This mantra represents the perfect attitude with which to greet the day, the week, or the rest of your life, as the music provides the perfect theme.
This dropped only yesterday over at RCRD LBL, so it’s hot off the block. A-Trak is one of the world’s greatest DJ’s, and that’s not just personal opinion: he won the DMCs World DJ Championship when he was only 15 years old, and since then has gone on to win basically every major competition the industry holds. His collaboration with Armand Van Helden as Duck Sauce brought us summer’s dance mega-hit Barbara Streisand, and the label he co-founded, Fool’s Gold, is set to release their first compilation CD on the 25th. Still not convinced? He was also Kanye West’s tour DJ for a number of years, which saw him performing everywhere from the VMAs to the Grammys. CyHi da Prynce is an up-and-coming rapper from Atlanta, who is also Kanye’s new protégée. These two members of Team Kanye teamed up to bring us Ray Ban Vision, a slightly ridiculous but undeniably fun song about seeing the world through mirror tints. I hate to say it because I am the whitest person alive…but damn this makes me wanna get crunk. Turn this one on this weekend when you want to feel motherfucking fabulous.
I promised myself I would never post a song right after having downloading it from one of my favorite music blogs. I think it’s kind of a cheap move, like taking credit for something you didn’t discover. But I just can’t help myself with this one, because I really want to share it with everyone I know. And I guess in the grand scheme, we don’t all follow the same music blogs; and some of you don’t follow music blogs at all unless I tell you to come on here and download something (Hi Emily). So here’s to hoping most of you don’t catch my faux pas. Thank you to Et Musique Pour Tous for introducing me to this artist, and here you go.
The following song, Mornin’ is by Star Slinger. He’s a relatively new producer out of the UK, and I’m loving his stuff. His music is ‘Hip-Hop’ in the same way that RJD2’s work can be called Hip-Hop. In other words, don’t expect rapping about big booty hos here. Instead, Star Slinger utilizes a vast catalogue of samples, both vocal and instrumental, ranging from every genre of music from reggae to 80’s rock. He ties it all together with shuffling rhythms involving lots of bongos, lazer sounds, and the occasional synth motif. While original instrumentation is normally the standard in terms of ‘musical integrity,’ people who can sample the shit out of a song are just as impressive in my book. It takes a great ear and a lot of creativity to successfully assemble an entirely new song out of a handful of pre-made parts. The way Star Slinger combines all these different elements is no easy feat, and the end result is chilled-out hip hop with a whole lot of mojo.
Mornin’ is a joyous, filtered, shuffling celebration of love in the early morning. Pre-Afternoon Delight if you will. The vocal sample is from The Staple Singers’Let’s Do it Again, which unabashedly proclaims,
“Let’s do it in the morning, sweet love in the summertime…No worries ‘bout nothing, just getting good love.”
