I get a lot of emails through this blog from a lot of artists trying to get attention for their little piece of the internet. I try and listen to what I can. Very generally speaking, most of it is mediocre at best. Few make the cut onto these hallowed digital pages ;) However, it’s always super-rewarding to find a gem amongst them all. Maehlib, AKA Thomas Kaske, is one of these cases. He sent me a track via SoundCloud and I was immediately intrigued by his atmospheric, downtempo hip-hop beats. Leaning heavily on jazz, Maehlib creates layered, head-nodding soundscapes. He’s quite a mysterious character, with almost no information about him available online. However he was kind enough to provide me the details over email.
Born and raised in East Germany, he moved to Berlin after school. He began DJ-ing at age 14, and then started to make beats 2 or 3 years ago, after being introduced to production by his brother, an electronic music producer. The two collaborate as odd/even. As you may guess from listening to his music, he is inspired by Madlib, hence the similar name.
You will find a collection of his beats available for download via his BandCamp page, and each one comes with different cover art which he also designed. The cinematic nature of his beats may be explained by the fact that he is studying film along with anthropology, so you’ll find a wide variety of samples in his music, from academics like Mcluhan or Niklas Luhmann to African music.
I highly recommend you check him out, and then let me know what you think in the comments.
German DJ Paul Pre, one of my favorites, has a new mix he did for Laid Back Radio in Belgium, featuring “chilled beat music”. As usual he comes correct with a selection of soulful, futuristic beats featuring AFTA-1, fLako and more (full tracklist below).
The Stereo MCs are back! They have a new album, Emperor’s Nightingale out on August 30th. “Manner” is the first, and pretty impressive single to be released from it, and as you’ll hear below, still features a strong hip-hop meets electro vibe. They sort of remind me of Daft Punk or maybe even Basement Jaxx in that they’ve mastered the art of still being prominently cutting edge with their musical influences, but giving it a polished, pop-friendly sound (and for once I don’t mean that as an insult, hehe) at the same time. Looking forward to hearing more of the new album. Listen/Download below and let me know what you think of the new song.
Jay Scarlett has just posted another wonderful AmpSoul mix. Described as Soul, Future Beats and Lovestep it features all kinds of soul, from classic to futuristic, expertly programmed by Mr. Scarlett.
Yesterday’s Machine is the debut release from King Britt’s Saturn Never Sleeps project, his collaboration with singer/artist Rucyl. The blurb from the label describes it as well as I could:
Their debut album, Yesterday’s Machine, combines an experimental create-in-the-moment vibe with inspirational lyrics and vocal sonics that range from Sade tones to Flora Purim’s ethereal layers. The result is well-crafted, intelligent, genre-pushing, electronic soul rooted in the duo’s collective years of experience and musical expanse.
Listen and download the album for free below, and also watch the video for “Grace”
Nas is set to return after several years since his last solo album. “Nasty” is the first single from the upcoming Life Is Good (although a name change is rumored to be in the works), due in September. “Nasty” has a classic Nas feel to it – bangin’ drums and Nas doing his thing solidly over the top. The track is produced by heavyweight beatmakeer Salaam Remi. Take a listen below. Definitely whets the appetite for the full-length wouldn’t you say?
Listen to Nas – “Nasty”:
[See post to listen to audio]
Zo! is a multi-instrumentalist / producer from Detroit who is on The Foreign Exchange Music label. His soulful hip-hop sound is a perfect match for that label, born out of the success of Phonte and Nicolay’s original Foreign Exchange collaboration. Just Visiting Three is the latest installment in Zo!’s series of free eps in which he reworks cover songs with the help of a slew of progressive soul vocalists like Eric Roberson, Sy Smith,Nicholas Ryan Gant and more.
Listen:
“Everything She Wants” feat. Phonte
[See post to listen to audio]
“Let It Go” feat. Nicholas Ryan Gant
[See post to listen to audio]
01. Black Cow feat. Phonte and Sy Smith
02. Let It Go feat. Nicholas Ryan Gant
03. Driving feat. Sy Smith
04. Marzipan feat. Eric Roberson and Phonte
05. Everything She Wants feat. Phonte
06. Same Ole Love feat. Jeanne Jolly
07. Playing Your Game, Baby feat. Anthony David
Heard this track on Raul Campos’ show on KCRW last night and immediately had to hunt it down. This is probably one of Tokimonsta’s best yet – a totally addictive & melodic downtempo soundscape perfectly complemented by the delicate vocals of Gavin Turek. As HomeWorkOnTheFire points out, the catchy, soulful nature of this track really distinguishes Tokimonsta from her Brainfeeder labelmates who rarely weave melodies into their tracks.
“Little Pleasures” is taken from the Creature Dreams EP.
You may remember Emily King from a few years back, from her song “Walk In My Shoes”. After she caused a stir with that track, she kinda disappeared. I have no idea what she’s been up to since then, but this EP, released independently has just surfaced. It’s less R&B than “Walk In My Shoes”, and has a folksier, but still soulful feel to it. Take a listen below and let me know what you think. It’s fairly low-key and mellow, but really allows her voice to shine. I think it’s a grower.
Hearing this new stuff from Freestyle Fellowship makes me nostalgic for my young hip-hop days, especially listening to Aceyalone’s “A Book of Human Language” for the first time and feeling pretty mind-blown. “We Are” is taken from a new album, The Promise, on the horizon (October actually) by Freestyle Fellowship and very welcome it will be!
Freestyle Fellowship, the legendary L.A.-based Hip Hop quintet of MCs Aceyalone, Myka 9, P.E.A.C.E., Self Jupiter, and DJ Kiilu Grand have announced their new album The Promise, set to drop October 4th on Decon. Nearly a decade since their last album under the Freestyle Fellowship moniker, their impromptu reunion show in Los Angeles in 2009 inspired the quintet to reunite and create The Promise. The new album contains fourteen songs, including guest production contributions from Exile (“Step 2 The Side”), Eligh (“We Are”) and Detroit-based Dilla-protege Black Milk (“Candy”).
Calling Freestyle Fellowship legendary is far from a hyperbolic claim, having made an indelible mark on hip-hop since the release of 1991′s To Whom It May Concern.Establishing themselves as one of the most prominent hip hop acts on the West Coast in the 90s, the five members of the group have exhibited breathless prolificacy, issuing a staggering run of solo albums, splinter groups and guest spots. In Freestyle Fellowship each member brings the strengths of their diverse musical backgrounds to the forefront, with Myka 9′s intelligent and meticulous rhymes, Aceyalone’s distinct rhythm and old school folklore, Self Jupiter’s creation of suspense and theatrical craziness, and P.E.A.C.E.’s southern demeanor matched in stride with his country swagger.
“THE PROMISE” TRACK LISTING:
1. Introduction
2. We Are (produced by Eligh)
3. The Write Here
4. Step 2 The Side (produced by Exile)
5. Ambassadors
6. Dart
7. Gimme
8. Government Lies
9. Introspective
10. Daddies
11. Candy (produced by Black Milk)
12. Know The Truth
13. Popular
14. Promise
