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.
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
ATN TX: Robyn is coming!
On tour with Katy Perry this summer, the duo is making a stop in Dallas this Thursday, the 28th. After the concert, Robyn will be playing an exclusive DJ set at Rio Room, and we have a pair of tickets to give away!
To celebrate the launch of their EPIC Summer Series, Rio Room has given us a pair of tickets to give away to our readers! To be entered for a chance to win, simply RT this tweet (please be sure to do it manually--that is, write "RT @LOOSELIPSmik blahblah" because Twitter doesn't show me everyone who hits the RT button), and tomorrow I'll pick a winner at random! No Twitter? No problem. Just Like Us on Facebook and leave a comment on the contest post! Or if you're the type who doesn't like to risk their luck, tickets are $20 and are only available online, so be sure to buy in advance HERE.
Now on to the music.
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Unfamiliar with Robyn? She's the original Swedish electropop goddess. Active since the mid 90s, she's been burning up clubs and radios all over Europe, before finally seeing stateside success and Grammy nominations for her amazing Robyn in 2009. Last year's Body Talk made nearly every critic's Years'-Best List, and now with her Katy Perry tour, she's finally looking like a bonafide international pop star. Having collaborated with some of the greatest producers and DJs in the game (Royksopp, A-Trak, Bloody Beetroots, Kaskade to name a few), you can bet her DJ set is going to be a dancefloor frenzy. Don't miss it.
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.
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.
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.
On the subject of European artists who have never made it big in the states: Dizzee Rascal. I love Dizzee Rascal. Dizzee Rascal is a fucking genius. Dizzee Rascal is one of about 10 rap artists who’s work I actually enjoy and will listen to voluntarily. Shall I continue or do you get the gist? The point is, the US needs more Dizzee. I know I’m not the ultimate source on rap music (one of my faults), but if you want to hear some serious spit, check out the lightning-fast delivery on his second CD, Showtime. Or just check out anything he's made, you can't really go wrong.
Anyway, guess who has a new single out? Yep. Dizzee Rascal…kind of. Technically it’s a song by DnB producers Chase & Status called Heavey which merely features Dizzee charging away on vocals, but anything with the name ‘Dizzee’ in it is cause for celebration. I’m not going to post it here, as it’s a little grittier than I like to feature—I’ve found that DnB is more of an acquired taste, and some people hate it—but you can pick it up over at Stoney Roads, here. Don’t worry though; after all of this gushing about Dizzee I’m not going to leave you empty-handed. I’ve been meaning to post Dance Wiv Me for ages, and the renewed Dizzee-lation that Heavey spurred in me makes this the perfect opportunity. Released in the summer of 2008, Dance Wiv Me was a collaboration between Dizzee, Calvin Harris, and singer Chrome. It’s a shuffling, sexy, mid-tempo pop song featuring vocals by all 3 men (RIP Calvin Harris’ voice). It was a #1 hit in the UK for about a month, and rightfully so. Further proof that these Europeans know what’s up.
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.
Today I’m bringing you Part 2 of Loose Lips’ 2010 Wrap-Up/’Other’ Best, but these songs are of a bit different nature than those I posted yesterday. After recent repeated journeys through my music library, I realized I hadn’t posted nearly enough of the instrumental music I loved this year. In fact, according to Loose Lips’ archives I hardly posted any. Consequently, I decided that these next 10 songs (11 actually, but I’ll get to that in a second) should serve to fill in all the posting gaps I had this year. Unlike those electronic songs posted yesterday, these 11 instrumental songs (‘instrumental’ meaning music made by a traditional band/solo artist setup, or ‘music that would still sound ok without electricity’) do represent my top 10 ‘best’ or most favorite of the year. Unlike yesterday, where I simply posted the songs in alphabetical order, today’s list is ordered by preference, with the exception of song 11. Song 11 (Kanye) actually might be my number one, but doesn’t quite fit into the ‘instrumental’ criteria, so I chose to tack it on as an afterthought. These songs span a multitude of genres, from pop rock to blues to psychedelic to soul, and everything in between. Despite the discrepancy, they’re all fantastic, and deserved more attention that a quick write-up in a year-end list. In retrospect I wish I had gotten around to it. Thank goodness there’s always next year.
***Update: December 27th, 2010: I've received a notice of Copyright Violation on this post from the DMCA. I don't know what song the claim is for, so until I figure that out I'm taking off all of the possible violators until I can discern the culprit. They're still available for streaming, so listen away.
1. Tightrope (ft. Big Boi)—Janelle Monáe [from The ArchAndroid]
This is the song of 2010. Ms. Monáe crafted the most creative, genre-encompassing, fresh, and inspiring work of the year, and Tightrope serves as its crown jewel. If you need any further proof of Monáe's genius, watch the music video:
2. Undercover Martyn—Two Door Cinema Club [from Tourist History]
Two Door Cinema Club exploded onto the scene this year with their unique yet familiar brand of youthful, exuberant power-pop.
The Black Keys had been on my radar for years, but it wasn’t until 2010’s release of Brothers that they got my full attention. After polishing and er, tightening up, Brothers saw the band doing what they had always done...but better.
I always tell people that Tame Impala sound exactly like post-acid Beatles. However, I don’t think they should be faulted for that, because sounding like the Beatles (in any of their incarnations) could never be less than ‘a good thing.’
2010 saw an emergence in neo-soul music, and may I say, it’s about time. Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed is a white boy who sings like a black angel, and Come and Get It serves to erase any doubts you might have regarding race as a factor in making excellent soul music.
Deerhunter is another band that I had known about for years but never paid much attention until 2010. This is probably the only rock song about Jesus that I’ll ever love, or even tolerate for that matter.
Minnesota’s Tapes ‘n Tapes are set to release a full length in early 2011, but gave away Freak Out this fall as part of a promotional campaign for the album. Thank goodness they did, as there was no better song of 2010 to help me put my shit in perspective.
Released by Forest Family Records, I loved this song even before I started interning for the label. Cults—who just signed to Sony—are going places, and in summer’s perfect big-sky-fresh-air anthem, urge you to do the same.
Indie rocks reigning princess and marijuana don, Benthany Consentino (lead singer/guitarist for Best Coast) proved that stoners can a) have feelings and b) make great music, too.
2010 marked a change in pace for everyone’s favorite folk hero, Sufjan Stevens. He ditched the banjo in favor of synthesizers, which in turn served as a kind of microcosm for the state of independent music today. Despite the lack of Americana on the album, Sufjan’s poignant and moving lyricism is no less profound.
What’s left to say about Kanye that hasn’t already been said by the man himself? My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was everything he promised it would be, and perhaps a little more. Though it's a hard call to make, Lost In The World is probably my favorite track on what is an absolute masterpiece of an album.
Check back tomorrow for Part 3: (Other) Best Remixes
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.
Tomorrow the fabulous Ratatat will be gracing the Palladium Ballroom for what is sure to be a fantastic show. For those of you unfamiliar with the duo, Ratatat are from Brooklyn, NY and were pioneers of the present day indie-electronica scene; though few have been able to match their technical and melodic prowess, or achieve the same kind of mainstream success the band has found. Their live show is a crazy audio and visual experience; if drugs are your thing I’d recommend them for this one. Their videoscreens basically beg you to be tripping on acid. Think their Shempi video, but weirder, with a lot more Indian people. Though maybe this time it will be more like their Drugs video. Just go see for yourself.
To help pump you up in preparation for the event here’s a few old school remixes from their famous Mixtapes. Released in 2004 and 2007 respectively, the two albums featured creative and catchy remixes of classic rap and hip-hop songs. If you want new material, support the band and go buy their LP4.
Theophilus London is an up-and-coming rapper from Brooklyn, New York. Generally speaking, I’m not the biggest rap fan, but Theophilus’ beats are smooth, sexy, and genre-bending. He incorporates everything from big band and soul influences—complete with horn section (be still my heart)—to Discovery samples. Theophilus is one to watch. And that name.
"I Want You", a Marvin Gaye cover, showcases Theophilus’ inherent knack for incorporating a range of different styles in one song to produce something that sounds uniquely his own. In addition to his rapping, bongos, horns, and soulful singing abound. It’s off his latest I Want You mixtape, which you can download in its entirety for free off his website. (I highly recommend that you do.)
Bonus: This clever little tongue-in-cheek song about meeting your girlfriend’s dad (who just happens to be the prime minister) features a perfectly-incorporated sample of Vampire Weekend’s “Giving up the Gun.” Like I said, keep an eye out for Theophilus; he’s going places.
