New Music: Bizarre Tribe - 'Runnin'

The idea of an album mixing acapellas from The Pharcyde with beats from A Tribe Called Quest holds very little interest for me. That's until I figured out who was behind the project.

The good chaps at Gummy Soul are rather good at taking the notion of a mash up and making it classy (check out their Fela/De La album from last year for proof).

So after sleeping on the first single from their upcoming new release when it arrived in the in box a few days ago, I've done a little double take.

New Music: Common - 'No Sell Out'

I've got no idea when 'No Sell Out', a recently unearthed tune from Common with No I.D. on the boards, was originally made.

It would make sense that it was intended for Com's The Dreamer, The Believer (released last year), but the whole sound of this tune dates back to an earlier time.

Video: Major Lazer - 'Get Free'

Major Lazer locked down the Northern summer a few years back with their monstrous debut, Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do, thanks in no small part to the digital destroyer 'Pon De Floor'.

Now the surviving Lazer Diplo is back with new collaborator Jillionaire (original partner Switch has gone his own way) for another stab at it - albeit at a more sedate pace if recent single 'Get Free' is anything to go by.

ChrisCo (Feat. Jon Connor & Elzhi) – 'Straight Up'

With a busy few weeks on the cards, things might quieten down here until mid-September - but I've always got time to post up some freshness from the one and only DJ Premier.

Preem's latest escapades see him link up with a gentleman by the name of ChrisCo for 'Straight Up', a mellow, piano-laced joint that'll undoubtedly get steady play in my gaff.

Mix Tape: Slaughterhouse - On The House

Is there any wisdom in dropping a mix tape just over a week before dropping an album proper? Up until now, I'd have said absolutely none.

In fact, it seems rather stupid to me. But even this Grumpy Old Man With A Beard™ is willing to concede that I sometimes get it wrong. Okay, okay, quite often.

So when Slaughterhouse - the pin up posse for underground fan boys the world over - dropped their new mix tape On The House a mere eight days before their Shady Records debut is due, I thought they'd shot themselves in the foot.

New Music: Ana Tijoux vs ATCQ - '1nce Again' (DJ Massivo MashUp)

Stop! For those of you who have seen 'DJ Massivo MashUp' in the title of this post and are rapidly heading for the exit, believe me when I say I haven't gone all happy hardcore on it.

Not at all. In fact, it couldn't be further from the truth. Because as it turns out, this mashup by Massivo is actually a tasty little rework of your favourite group and mine, A Tribe Called Quest.

New Music: Kendrick Lamar - 'Westside, Right On Time'

It's a case of best 'til last today, with Kendrick Lamar - the top dog in the Top Dawg Entertainment stable, if you ask me - turning in his contribution to #TDEFamAppreciationWeek.

'Westside, Right On Time' sees Kendrick joined by Young Jeezy, with the pair trading verses over a solid beat from Canei Finch.

What else? Nothing. I have a Pharcyde-assisted hangover (good show, fellas), and I can barely type. Seriously, I have nothing. Hold me.

New Music: Aaliyah - 'Rock The Boat' (Question Remix)

It's been a fair few years since much-loved songstress Aaliyah fell victim to a tragic fate, losing her life in a Caribbean plane crash back in 2001.

But despite the time that's passed since her passing, the love that she seems to inspire doesn't seem to be waning even one little bit.

Am I in that mega-fan camp? Hmmmm... confession time: I'm not the world's most knowledgeable or devoted Aaliyah-ite, truth be told.

New Music: Chester Gregory - 'High Love' (Freddie Joachim Remix)

Time for a bit of Saturday morning smoothness to ease you into the weekend days. And if it's smoothness you're after, why not go to your man Freddie Joachim?

After releasing a lovely compilation of remixes and some original production a few months back, Freddie continues to drop niceness, with a particular beauty surfacing a few weeks ago.

Freddie has taken on Chester Gregory's 'High Love', stripping and rebuilding the original and adding some superbly soulful flourishes to give the track a totally different feel.

New Music: Busta Rhymes - 'Make It Look Easy'

I've always got time for a little Busta Rhymes, but I'm particularly interested in his latest album, Year Of The Dragon.

Why? Well, because after 16 years of solo albums, and a good few years of Leaders Of The New School, Bussa Bus is entering uncharted territory: he's giving away his music for free.


Just so we're clear, I'm not talking about a single, or a mix tape: Year Of The Dragon is a legitimate Busta Rhymes album. And it's free.

Flying Lotus - 'See Thru To U' (Feat. Erykah Badu)

Flying Lotus and Erykah Badu on a track together? That'll work.

Of course, when you get a couple of creative types like these two into a studio, there's a pretty good chance they're not going to come back with the same old, same old.

And I certainly wouldn't call 'See Thru To U' a stock-standard tune.

Mix Tape: Frank Booker - Boogie Tape Volume Two

Frank Booker's most excellent Boogie Tape mix (which you can check out here) was on heavy rotation in AGOMWAB land late last year.

It seems I'm not the only one who was feeling it by the sound of things, so it's only right that the mysetrious music man gets back in the lab and drops off another installment.

Thankfully, Mr Booker is a rather obliging chap. So here we have it: Boogie Tape Volume Two is all go.

New Music: ScHoolboy Q - 'Party'

Well, well, well. Look at what we have here.

After predicting slackness around posting up the latest Black Hippy business that's raining down courtesy of #TDEFamAppreciationWeek, what have I gone and done?

I've posted the next cut in the series. Round of applause for my lazy ass! I guess it helps that the tune in question - 'Party' by ScHoolboy Q - is rather good.

New Music: Ab-Soul - 'Nibiru'/Jay Rock - 'YOLA'

Top Dawg Entertainment is a label that lives up to it's name, boasting some of the more talented hip hoppers doing the do these days (Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, I'm looking at you)

It seems that the Los Angeles-based label is pretty happy with their output too. So happy, in fact, that they've decided to roll out their own appreciation week.

Nothing wrong with blowing your own trumpet, I guess ('blow'? 'trumpet'? That's a prime candidate for a childish 'pause' if ever I wrote one.)

New Music: Evil Nine - 'The Black Brad Pitt' (Feat. Danny Brown)

To say Danny Brown loves the lay-deez might be a wee bit of an understatement, as a quick listen to his new tune with Evil Nine (a.k.a. Tom Beaufoy and Pat Pardy) shows.

'The Black Brad Pitt' - which will feature on an EP of the same name which is out in a few days - sees Brown basically shout about wanting to have sex over a wonky beat.

Or, as The Fadar (where I originally found this tune) eloquently puts it, "this is basically Danny Brown saying gross stuff to the soundtrack of a horror movie." Nail on the head.

New Music: Gensu Dean - 'Wantchu'

After an album and change of grimey, heavy hip hop fare, producer Gensu Dean has lightened up a little with his latest single.

'Wantchu' sees soulful geezer Olivier Daysoul float in to drop some vocal syrup on the situation.

Different? Yes. But Gensu makes the switch pretty easily, truth be told. This is all rather... well... nice, really.

No vigourous head nodding or beard stroking. Just a good laid back groove and some good singing. Simple.

New Music: DJ Khaled - 'Hip Hop'

DJ Khaled's never really been one to garner any sort of regular airtime in my house. But throw in an appearance from Nas and DJ Premier on a new tune of his? Well, that'll work.

Khaled has enlisted Nasir on vocals and Preem on the zigga-zigga for a J.U.S.T.I.C.E League-produced track by the name of 'Hip Hop'.

And if an appearance by a couple of titans isn't enough for you, a verse from the mighty Scarface (who also drops by) certainly will be. Heavy business.

'Hip Hop' will see the light of day on Khaled's upcoming album Kiss The Ring, out in the not too distant future.

New Music: Yungun - FRMX2 EP

Like a pretty big chunk of the world, I've been caught up in Olympic madness recently (which might just explain the lack of posts going on here).

But while I sit on the couch watching sport 24/7 (and pretending that I'm in expert in events I watch every four years - weightlifting and hockey, I'm looking at you), it turns out there's been other goings on in London.

Proud Brit Yungun has taken some time out from helping polish his country's growing collection of precious metals to drop off a new EP, FRMX2.

New Music: Estère - 'Culture Clash'/'Cruel Charlie'

It's nice to stumble across a little surprise in your own back yard - and that's just what singer/beatmaker Estère is.

The Wellingtonian sings in a couple of local groups (although I can't say I've heard of Brockaflowersaurus Rex and The Blueberry Biscuits).

But after picking up an MPC a few months back, she's started going for self, making her own beats and singing over them at live shows a'la Erykah Badu. That's good enough to get my attention.

Digging In The Crates: Manuel Bundy (a.k.a. Solephonic) - 'Jazzybizz'

One of the joys of being reunited with my vinyl collection after five-odd years overseas is rediscovering joints that I used to cane on the regular back in the DJ days.

I think it's safe to say that 'Jazzybizz' by Manuel Bundy (a.k.a. Solephonic) falls into that category.

Why? Well, one of the copies of this tune (which I rediscovered earlier this week) looks like it's been doused in Jaegermeister as a start. That's a caned record in my book.

New Music: Homeboy Sandman – 'Watchu Want From Me?'

The ever prolific Homeboy Sandman has a new album on the cards, teaming up with Stone's Throw to let off First Of A Living Breed next month.

And if that hasn't got the anoraks salivating already, the first leak certainly will.

Homeboy has teamed up with Oddisee on 'Watchu Want From Me?', and while Odd only mans the boards rather than the mic, it serves as a tasty taster.