Michael Franti & Spearhead - The Sound Of Sunshine

Michael Franti & Spearhead - The Sound Of Sunshine
(Rock/Reggae/Acoustic/Alternative)

Franti has grown into one of the best musicians of our generation with his mass appeal for people from all walks of life. If you ever look around at a Franti show you will see old, young people, hip-hop heads, hipsters, rockers etc... There is something about the simplicity in his music that makes it so easy to enjoy. Franti's style has come a long way since the hip-hop influenced albums back in the late nineties to now with his more alternative "poppy" sound. One thing has always remained with Franti and that is the music has always held its meaning through content that hits you on a sub-conscious level. The Sound Of Sunshine will be another stepping stone for Michael Franti to stretch his music out as far as he can with those good vibrations we call music. The Sound Of Sunshine will hit itunes on Sept 21st. You can pre-order the album HERE. For fans of Blue King Brown, John Butler Trio, Mishka.


Michael Franti & Spearhead - The Thing That Helps Me Get Through Download!

Michael Franti & Spearhead - Hey Hey Hey Download!

Grynch x Sabzi - My Volvo Remix

Grynch x Sabzi - My Volvo Remix - (Single) - 2010
(Hip-Hop)

Sabzi is back at it again with his legendary remixes and this time its for Grynch's ode to his Volvo. This beat is absolutely glorious with its multi-layered synths over some very cool drum patterns complete with hand claps and various other sounds that I have no idea what they are. I am sure there are probably 15-20 separate tracks in the session for this remix instrumental and would be quite the task meshing all the wonderful sounds together. Thank god for people like Sabzi who can compose beautiful beats like this because life just got that much better today from this beat. I suggest making this beat your alarm clock so its the first thing you hear in your day. Especially if you are one of those people who hit the snooze button because this beat will have you popping out of your bed with a smile. Download the single complete with a clean and instrumental below in the embedded bandcamp player. For fans of Blue Scholars, Common Market, Macklemore.


Grynch x Sabzi - My Volvo Remix Download!

Sapient - Barrels For Feathers

Sapient - Barrels For Feathers - 2010
(Hip-Hop)

Sapient is the hip-hop version of slithering reptile with his slippery beats and forked tongue raps that attack your reptilian brain through the deep dark pads and thick grimy synths. The production style Sape possesses is in a league of its own and will always be recognizable. Sape is also one of the most prominent members of Sandpeople and more recently with The Prime with Luckyiam of the Living Legends. Barrels For Feathers is his latest endeavour that features Eligh, Pigeon John and LMNO. Click HERE to cop this via itunes. For fans of Sandpeople, The Prime, Living Legends.


Sapient - Diamond Snares Download!

Crown & Nefast Beatmakers - Just Listen

Crown & Nefast Beatmakers - Just Listen - 2010
(Hip-Hop/Jazz/Soul)

You can bet every corner of the world has talent when it comes to hip-hop production and these 2 cats from France will further more shine some light on the hip-hop scene in France to a worldwide audience by linking up with some quality emcees from around the globe. You will see the likes of Vancouver's Sonreal, San Diego's Main Flow, Portland's Braille, UK's Mc Killa, New York's Raekwon and Mr. Metaphor plus resident french emcees spitting en francais. As far as I am concerned the beats all over this album are as good as it gets and perfectly exemplify the beauty of hip-hop production and its juxtaposition of genres. You can get this album via Amazon HERE. For fans of Jazz Liberatorz, Dela, DJ Brasco.


Crown & Nefast Beatmakers - Let Me Be Misunderstood Ft MC Killa Download!

Crown & Nefast Beatmakers - Nothing Beats The Passion Ft Braille Download!

Dub Kweli - Produced By Max Tannone (Free)

Dub Kweli - Dub Remix Project Produced By Max Tannone - 2010
(Hip-Hop/Reggae/Dub)

Max Tannone has been a busy man on the internets lately by feeding the masses with his remix projects. First It was the Jaydiohead mashup of Jay-Z and Radiohead and just recently it was the well received Mos Dub remix album. Dub Kweli will for sure see the same adoration as his previous projects with Talib Kweli over classic reggae tracks. You can get this for FREE HERE and download his other projects while your at it. My favorite tracks are posted below with 'Your Gospel' taking the instrumentals from Scotty 'Draw Your Breaks' x Keith & Tex 'Stop That Train' over the lyrics from 'Hostile Gospel Pt. 1' on Eardrum. 'Country Of Living' takes the lyrics from 'Country Cousins' from Talib's latest release over the dub from Scientist 'Ghost of Frankenstein' x Michael Prophet 'Sweet Loving'. And finally with 'Words High' which is a remix of the classic Get Em High from Ye's debut College Dropout over the dub instrumental of Jah Marcus 'Words'. For a complete list of all the samples check the file included in the .zip folder when you download it. For fans of Mos Def, Common, Kanye West.


Dub Kweli - Your Gospel Download!

Dub Kweli - Country Of Living Download!

Dub Kweli - Words High Download!

Kanye West - Monster Ft Jay-Z & Nicki Minaj

Kanye West - Monster Ft Jay-Z & Nicki Minaj - (Single) - 2010
(Hip-Hop)

Ye just dropped this track on his twitter shortly after announcing he will be releasing a 5 track EP with Jay-Z. Monster is track 2 from this EP that features 3 crazy verses from Jay Nicki and Kayne. Most notably with Ye's line: "Have you ever had sex with a pharoahhhhh? ahhh I put the pussy in the sarcophagus". For fans of Lupe Fiasco, Kid Cudi, Common.


Kanye West & Jay-Z - Monster Ft Nicki Minaj Download!

Everliven Sound - Freedom II

Everliven Sound - Freedom II - 2010
(Hip-Hop)

In 2008 Skit Slam and Cymarshall Law lit us up with their debut album (Freedom) that sparked a niche style and sound with production from the Swedish duo: The Beatniks. Freedom was an instant hit and was well received within music critics and tastemakers on the internets. Fast forward to now and we have the same setup its just 2 years later and the stakes have been pushed up a few levels. The production on Freedom II is an absolute standout with every track having a an encompassing feeling that allows the talent that Cy and Skit possess to make this album thick with quality. Do your musical mind a favor and get this album NOW: via itunes HERE. For fans of Canto I, EMC, Slum Village.


Everliven Sound - Hook Them Download!

Shin-Ski - Back To Basics Vol 1.

Shin-Ski - Back To Basics Vol 1 - Bootleg - 2010
(Hip-Hop/Jazz)

Shin-Ski is a Japanese producer with heaps of talent in hip-hop production from the land of the musically gifted. Shin-ski is best known for his work with American emcees Insight (Shinsight Trio), Othello, The Procussions, and Time Machine. This was ripped from a Bootleg LP so if you ever want to grab this in vinyl you better get digging or get your hands on this digitally. Shin-Ski absolutely kills it with the beat on his re-take on the classic Itssoeezzz from De La Soul, peep it below. For fans of Himuki, Nujabes, Jazz Liberatorz.


De La Soul - Itssoeezzz (Shin-Ski Remix) Download!

Potholes x Prefix Present - Summer Sampler (Free)

Potholes x Prefix Present - Summer Sampler - 2010
(Hip-Hop)

Potholes In My Blog and Prefix Magazine have put together a free mixtape showcasing some new talent as well as some already established artists. Featured on this project is Intuition, Hezekiah, Buff1, Moe Green, Slum Village, Cymarshall Law + many more. Intuition easily captures my tastes with Dear John and the way he raps about his laziness in the third person over layered acoustic/electric guitars, harmonicas and a yukalaylee?. Get this album HERE. For fans Atmosphere, Luckyiam, Slum Village.


Intuition - Dear John (Prod. Equalibrum) Download!

Moe Green - Masterpiece Download!