Humpday Throwback: Bobby "Blue" Bland - Ain't No Love In The Heart of the City

Bobby "Blue" Bland is another Blues and Soul legend who has provided us with decades of great music including this classic below, Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City, released in '74 (and still being sampled today).

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS EMCEE ARISTADOE - WHO'S GONNA BITE (VIDEO) ft. Gleams, Amandy Exchange

In this video filmed at Washington Square Park in New York City, ARISTADOE, Gleams & Amandy Exchange touch on today's watered down mainstream corporate controlled copycat music scene by asking you "Who's Gonna Bite My Style."  The song is from the soon to be released album, Pride & Glory.  If you like what you hear, sign up for stay linked to the Pride & Glory blog and purchase his mixtape ALL JOKES ASIDE at the following links:
BUY ALL JOKES ASIDE @ AMAZON
BUY ALL JOKES ASIDE @ CDBABY

JUSTICE FOR JORDAN MILES! Pittsburgh MC & Activist Jasiri X Music Video "Jordan Miles"

Jasiri X tells the story of Jordan Miles, the 18 year old honor student who was brutally beaten by 3 undercover Pittsburgh Police officers while walking to his grandmother’s house. “Jordan Miles” was mixed by Diezel and directed by Paradise Gray.

Call Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala at 412.350.4400 and demand he file charges against the 3 police officers who brutally beat Jordan Miles.

For more info go to
http://justiceforjordanmiles.com/

“Jordan Miles”

 

Posted by Jasiri x @ http://www.jasirix.com/

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HUMPDAY THROWBACK: ISAAC HAYES- WALK ON BY

R.I.P. to the man and the legend Isaac Hayes.  A song writer, musician, singer, and actor in the entertainment world gave us so many classics.  Below I share one of my favorites, WALK ON BY (FULL VERSION).

OCEAN- THE ILLUSTRIOUS: I AM NOT A RAPPER III (ALBUM REVIEW)

Being the first Ocean album I have yet to hear, I’m late.  Ocean has some serious skills.  The first three joints, on The Illustrious: I AM NOT A RAPPER VOL. III, are brilliant (The Introduction, Playing For Keeps, May Day).  If a music listener is looking for a range of content throughout an album, Ocean has it from beginning to end.  The production is super clean.  The record is a great representation of both The Illustrious Few and Ocean.  There is something on this album for everybody (for those who appreciate Hip Hop- which I am confused how anyone couldn’t as there is a Hip Hop musical element to practically all music but that is a whole different can of worms). I really did not expect this album to be arranged so well (shame on me for knowing how well respected Ocean is within the local scene and for knowing how professional The Illustrious Few are through previous offerings).   

On The Introduction, Ocean comes out swinging with bars and a flow over such a simple yet smooth and clean instrumental that reminded me of something that should have been on The American Gangster Soundtrack.  I said I’ve been sleeping but it’s the music industry that’s asleep on so many independent artists with Ocean being one of those.

 

Playing For Keeps has such a rawness to the beat it reminded me of the rawness of Cuttin’ Headz (ODB, RZA). Even though the two sound nothing alike musically or lyrically, they both have an old school feel with a new school twist that stick out on both of their respective albums with Playing For Keeps being the most fresh and up-to-date. 

On May Day, Ocean flow on this cut brings another dimension of his artistic versatility which is present throughout the album.  The music production is incredible throughout the album with it changes of pace but Ocean as an artist displays his mastery of his craft through his ability to flow with all of the music.  If you research the history of May Day, you will find it to be filled with murder.  Ocean murders this track.

Don’t think for a second that the album falls off after the first three songs though.

So Illustrious , How you Doin? , Loco , Bitch Niggas , Color Blind , Cold World III , High Life , Miss Communication , Who Turned Off The Lights , Blow , Decleration Of the Illustrious are all great additions to a well planned and executed offering (I enjoyed numbers five through ten and fourteen out of the final eleven cuts the most).  There are a lot of different sounds and flows throughout the rest of the album that really show Ocean’s musical experience and capabilities.  Ocean is another artist for which the sky is truly the limit in regards to his potential success.  After you listen to May Day below, support independent Hip Hop and download this free album at http://ocean85fresh.bandcamp.com/album/the-illustrious or by clicking the album pic above of an artist ready to make serious moves in music.

Detroit Recording Artist/ Producer Rah Flair Brings You "The New Motown Sound"

Up-and-coming Detroit recording artist & producer Rah Flair shares his "feel good" music with us off of his album Notice The Difference (complete album review coming soon).  With the single DETROIT NIGHTS, Rah Flair lets you know where he from and what it is. If you love the old Motown music then Rah Flair easily transitions the listener into the new millennium, the new Motown sound, with his self proclaimed "feel good music." With the first video from the album Notice The Difference, Rah Flair flows through MOVE, a track that is sure to make you move with a contagious beat that will have you replaying it again.  Listen to DETROIT NIGHTS below, watch the MOVE video (both have received radio airplay), then support independent HIP HOP and hit the album cover above and download the album Notice The Difference.
 

 DETROIT NIGHTS



 MOVE

Full|REBEL|Jacket

Full|REBEL|Jacket. is artists Q (Anchorage, AK) & G (Dallas, TX),  transplants in Phoenix, Arizona. Described as a group "that go HARD on the BEATS, but get CRAZY with the CONTENT," this duo does not disappoint with their musical versatility.  Listen below to a sure to be underground classic worthy of mainstream attention and visit the Full|REBEL|Jacket website:

SPECIES- FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EYES (ALBUM REVIEW)

Musical and Lyrical Genius.  A Complete Musical Masterpiece.  Can those two phrases be used to explain an album?  They can when the album is a work of art like this one.  The production on this album is almost unparalleled in the music industry.  In our present day, time and time again we hear mainstream artists boast of production by some well respected mainstream name or label and how incredible the music is or is going to be, and so many times we are still left disappointed by these artists due to having ZERO control of their art and offering nothing different from the last artist or really not having well crafted their skills in having an album that makes complete sense from open to close.  This is much more than just throwing some songs on an album.

For those familiar with the group The Society Of Invisibles, Species album, For Those Who Have Eyes, may appear as another chapter in the groups book-although that is plausible it is not the case as this album is a book itself.  For those unfamiliar with the group or Species I must warn you that the world you are about to hear will make your mind see things that you will never get in mainstream anything.  The album is a musical movie or novel in your head with imagery painted so precise and pristine that you only need your ears and a third eye to see every part of For Those Who Have Eyes.

Origin of Species- The introduction is an instrumental with outstanding production that gets this story rolling and will open a door to a great lead into a path where every twist and turn of music and lyricism is new (even if you heard a sample or two before- you have never heard it like this) in that you won’t see what is around the corner until Species tells you.  Ironically, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859, a work of scientific literature which is considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology.  This introduction, Origin of Species is the foundation of the evolutionary path through this album’s biology.

Orchard of Orchids- When Species tells you to “take a walk with me…” on the hook (and yes that’s all I’m going to share), it will be a walk where you most likely will have no idea where you’re headed.  A lot of people think they H.A.M. these days but this song alone is harder than the ground they walk on.  Every step is like we are walking along the fence that stands between sanity and insanity, and it might just leave you wondering which side of the fence you were actually on.

Tunnel Vision- As I listened for the first time I waited until I got to the halfway point before I realized Species wasn’t going to drop any verses on this one.  It was another great instrumental with interesting samples and some great scratches that it didn’t matter, because it left me wanting to hear what was next like I was walking across a bridge over an abyss.

Oil & Opium- The track could be simply explained as an anthem of our times in a much realer sense than what the powers that be over our airwaves these days want us to think about.  It explains the reality of the present socio-political climate in an infectious dark realistic musical presentation.  But, this movie is not over yet.  When I first listened to the album all the way through this was my favorite (for those familiar with my thoughts on the world’s political climate this would be no surprise), but after having listened to the album numerous times in the same day, it is almost impossible for me to choose a favorite over choosing the whole entire story.

Natural Selection- Not a single verse or hook is dropped and yet the music and sampling is once again so genius and explanatory that it progresses the evolution of this album and transitions us into the next piece.

News Corpse, 7 Lettered Angel, Around the Corner’s Bend, and First Class Failure are the remaining tracks of the journey and each one is almost like opening “Pandora’s Box” and then you’re left realizing that we actually live in it.  Why am I not breaking down the rest for you?  You need to hear the album for yourself. 

There are parts of this story that For Those Who Have Eyes more than likely wish were not true.  The truth is that as beautiful and great life can be, there is no way to hide for long that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction with a huge emphasis on opposite.  It’s great to stop and smell the roses (taking the time to stop and appreciate what's around you), but it’s as important to acknowledge that roses grow most beautiful when fed shit and for every great thing in our world is a dark reality that we have to face and own up to.  Is that what makes this album so great?  Is it shit fed roses?  Remember, today ends so tomorrow can start.  What makes this album great is Species, The Premonist, Byron Badblood, Wizard of ODD, Erel The Rkatec and LES735.  Hit the album cover at the top or go here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/for...es/id446389745 and purchase it, you won’t be disappointed.

Humpday Throwback: The Honey Drippers - Impeach The President

 The Honey Drippers dropped this soul/funk classic way back in '73 (38 years later and the title is still relevant). I'm certain there is an artist somewhere out of the roughly seven billion people on earth sampling this beat while you're reading this.  Have at it and thanks for listening to another Humpday Throwback Classic!

DMV Stand up! A​.​Sesay presents: The "A Special" EP (free download)

After listening to about 50 artists that ain't ready yet, coming across The "A Special" EP was a real treat. A Sesay gives the listener incredible beats and production, and the featured artists raise the bar on each track (EP released in 2010)- DONT' SLEEP!  DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) music lovers should be proud in supporting these artists.  FREE DOWNLOAD (click the album cover).  Below is a couple tracks to listen to followed by a great video, A.Sesay presents D.O.E. C.I.G.A.P.O.M. Adversary & Napoleon Da Legend - Sinking With The Ship, that any city going through a unity crisis can relate to.  Enjoy!

Can't Hold Me Down ft. Erika Anderson, Dave East, Karnagie & Dagga





You Don't Know Me Dawg ft. Dagga, Muggsy Malone, D.O.E. C.I.G.A.P.O.M. & Bear Witnez

THE FEDERATION: Cold of the Night ft. Dark Spark (Video)

THE FEDERATION brings you real life rhymes over hardcore beats from the streets of Soweto, South Africa. On Cold of the Night, MrCee, Neon and featured guest Dark Spark narrate a chilling yet worldwide reality and the video brings the viewer to a window looking right into it.  After you watch the video below, support independent underground Hip Hop and purchase their 40 track album Hardcore Styles for Street Rap Preservation by clicking on the album cover picture above (hard copies only available in South Africa).

¡MAYDAY! ft. Del The Funky Homosapien- The Ride

"Ain't nobody makin' it out alive/ Born alone die alone that's the ride" is the hook on this new school track, The Ride.  ¡MAYDAY! (BernBiz - Vocals, Wrekonize - Vocals, Plex Luthor - Keys / Producer/Guitar, Gianni Cash - Keys/Bass, L.T. Hopkins - Drums, Nonymous - Percussion) is soon to be a household name in the music game with the backing of underground legend Tech N9ne's Strange Music label and his current All 6's and 7's Tour.  If you enjoy the sound of this new track featuring underground legend Del The Funky Homosapien, go ahead and hit one of  the ¡MAYDAY! links below and support.  There is also more music and videos on their homepage www.maydayonline.com



¡MAYDAY! 

"Humpday" Throwback: Sylvia Striplin- You Can't Turn Me Away

Every Wednesday (aka Humpday for those on their Monday-Friday grind), we will try to provide you with a classic to pay homage to the artists of yesteryear.  Today's Throwback is by Sylvia Striplin, a New York based Jazz/ Soul/ R&B vocalist, with You Can't Turn Me Away from her only released album Give Me Your Love, released in 1981 on Uno Melodic Records with the help of the great Roy Ayers. She had such a beautiful voice and I love the funk of this record.  Its a shame she only released one album.  Enjoy:

Straight Outta New Orleans! Watch Jon Mercure's Video: Moses' Pirates (I'm On)

 Merc brings you a powerful track in Moses' Pirates (I'm On), from his album Surrender To Win, with a can't stop won't stop type vibe.  The New Orleans artist, who started in the underground scene in 2000, is all about providing the listener with classic material.  Have a listen and look:

 

 

Ill-iteracy - Runaway (Album: The Ensembly Line)

Listen to "Runaway" NOW : 

Ill-iteracy consists of four Roanoke "Star City", VA born members: Chris Prythm, Speek Eazy, WiLL Spitwell, and Young Observe.  The group formed circa 1998, and their depth confidence and creativity shine on "Runaway."   Look out for my review of the complete album, The Ensembly Line!  In the meantime, go to their website www.ILL-it.com or click on their Twitter, Facebook, or Youtube links below:

Ill-iteracy:

Cut Throat Logic- With All Due Respect (Compilation Album Review)

3.75/5.0

The album really left me expecting more from a number of people who appeared on it due to previous work I had heard from them, however, it must be kept in perspective that music is an art form and what one person creates in a certain piece is not what you can expect out of every single other.   To be blunt, I felt 6/10 were worthy of attention, with 3 out of 4 of my least favorites placed in the middle of the album- meaning I enjoyed the beginning and the end of the album much in a way as how a movie or a book can have a great beginning and end (even if it drags in the middle) and still be considered memorable.  Even though I didn’t enjoy 3 or 4 songs out of the 10- that is still better than 99% of mainstream artists who usually only have 3 or 4 decent ones (and that is sometimes out of a 20 cut album).   

The strongest tracks of the album in my opinion were the following:

Blowin’ Up (JustUS, Deonte, Mellanin) is a great introduction track with sound production behind it.  It  begins with a B.I.G. sample for the hook “I’m blowin up like you thought I would/  Call the crib same number same hood…” which may actually be the weakest part on the track (depending on where the late Christopher Wallace ranks on your rap radar) - none-the-less it fits.  I got an almost “this is why I’m hot” type vibe from the beat but I would have to rate Blowin’ Up higher in comparison. 

My Bottle (JustUS, Tash, Knoc-turn’al, J.Beam) is almost reminiscent of Tash’s Alkaholiks days but this time it’s a CTL album.  I could see this playing in a club atmosphere being chanted by a room full of drunks so it is what it is and a solid addition (and I don’t even drink alcohol anymore).

Her Thang (D.Scott, Deonte) is a great fusion of an R&B hook and rap bars that’s relatable for those of us who have had a woman in our lives that is memorable in most every way from the time shared with them.

TAF (JustUS, KRS-1, Deonte) features JustUS & Deonte raising their bars up on a song with a HIP HOP Godfather/Legend, the one and only KRS-One.  The phrase, Today and Forever, really goes hand in hand for those that get what HIP HOP is- a culture.  This is by far one of the strongest cuts out of the ten.

Smiles and Cries (JustUS, Deonte, RoKnowledge) is an incredible reminiscing track and a great ending to an album.  RoKnowledge takes us out of the musical ride- wondering why this was the only song he collaborated on…..?

In my opinion (which probably seems outdated to today's youth) anyone who can get KRS-One on a track is not only HIP HOP, but is also relevant- from a group that’s been in the game for a decade and a half?  That’s like 30 rap years in today's rapworld.  Are you going to feel cheated by grabbing a compilation album that only has ten songs?  Do Tash, Knoc-turn’al, and KRS-One appearances not mean anything in your rap world?  Not only are all the CTL members talented but so are the rest of the guest appearances (do your history if you don’t believe me).  Oh- by the way, the best part of this album- download it FREE at http://ctlmusic.com/download/  So, don’t take my word for it- download the album for yourself and/or a friend and make your own opinion.

Watch Today & Forever f. KRS-One: