New Yasiin Gaye- I Want You Til The Summertime (Soul Mates remix)

This is everything…….

 

Pharoahe Monch – Bad Motherfucker and UK tour

Words defy just what a perfect slice of pure hip hop this is, from the man Eminem quite rightly thinks is ‘incredible’

‘Who put these pussies on top, putting out their pussy music, call it pussy pop’

Taken from the forthcoming PTSD album

Pharoahe is in the UK touring, just about now, 

Feb 8th – Dublin – The Sugar Club

Feb 14th – Bristol – Sip The Juice

Feb 15th – Brixton – Plan B

Feb 18th – Sheffield  – Tuesday Club

Feb 19th – Liverpool – The Kazimer

Feb 21st – Brighton – Concorde 2

Feb 22nd – Leeds – The Warehouse

Feb 23rd – Southampton – Roxx

Feb 24th – Norwich Arts Centre

 

Mela Machinko – 9am Blues

Hot on the heels of Hov Said It Best, Mela Machinko released 9am Blues just before Christmas. It looks like its got a re issue over the past few weeks, or at least some fresh publicity.

An 8 track EP, 9am Blues is perfectly timed for my personal journey from work each day; and that is pretty much the perfect time to play this. 9am Blues resonates for those who are a fed up of the 9-5 humdrum. Its a perfect January and February listen; when the world is a cold and dark place, and when the bills that need paying take precedent, sadly, over the day dreams that can’t really grow til the sun comes out again. There’s hope for day dreamers, however, as Machinko tells a story of hope in the simple things in life on Sing ‘Try to get a job but nobody hiring, all I can do is sing’.

Production wise this goes from hip hop to pop to blues to jazz; really its just good music, and accompanied by Machinko’s awesome soulful vocal talent. There’s less vocal acrobatics than just great singing here. Mela hits the spot if you love 60s soul and by rights she should be a huge star for hipsters listening to old Northern Soul records. Lyrically playful, its hard to avoid joining in on the ‘I need a job, I need money’ harmonising on the brilliant Employment, with its hammond organ solo.

On Trying Something New a laid back jazz club vibe, and the line ‘Ever since I was a child I always had a dream that I was free’ kind of breaks your heart before Mela proclaims, ‘I’m embracing change…I’m trying something new’. If you haven’t gone to the bandcamp page to buy this, maybe its time you did too.

 

 

Jamla is the Squad

 

The scratches, into a mellow laid back jazz beat, ‘Its 2014, hip hop gets labelled a lot of things, or should I say, a lot of things that aint hip hop gets labelled hip hop. We’re here to make it real clear; Jamla is the Squad, now lets get into it.’

When Jamla records do something, they do something special. 9th Wonder is a name synonymous with the highest quality beats and his talent is ever expanding and evolving. 9th’s olw Jamla label works with some of the finest wordsmiths in any genre at the moment. This mix tape isn’t a free one, but its well worth parting with some hard earned to get in on this. For its 25 tracks, Jamla is the squad delivers on all levels. As if to prove the point, if you can put 25 tracks out and Talib Kweli, Phonte and Elzhi feature on just one you know there really is No Competition. 

Walk On By showcases the vocal silkiness of Heather Victoria singing the chorus of the classic Dionne Warwick track, with GQ providing the commentary on the stories of every day life we walk on by each day of the week without dwelling on the details of. Its those kind of stories that the rappers that feature on this record do best, the every day, thoughtful pauses on reality. 15 Minutes of Fame is a complete and utter smooth soul, but with a blues sensibility. Amidst this you get Chicago wordsmith, ADD 2 providing some grit and grime, yet always over that ‘top of the class’ production, not just from 9th but from other members the Soul Council such as Khrysis, Eric G and Kash.

The whole tape is acts as a showcase for 9th Wonder ability to spot real talent for people that like real music. Regular helpings of Rapsody and Heather Victoria hold the listener in, introducing them to some of the newer names on the label as they get the chance to showcase their skills.