Shawn Lee does it again...

Shawn Lee and I only go back a few months. I ran into the fellow by accident out on emusic. Decided to give him a listen (who wouldn't listen to an artist called "Shawn Lee & Clutchy Hopkins", right?). I fell in love with the first collaboration. At the time I wasn't sure which piece I was diggin? Was it Lee or Hopkins? Now that I hear Shawn Lee on another project, I am sure.

Now he is back again. This time he is in collaboration with Bei Bei. She started playing the Gu Zheng at the age of seven and "and received her professional musical training, majoring in the Gu Zheng at the Central University of Nationalities in Beijing, China and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in Hong Kong from several Gu Zheng masters such as Li-Jing Sha, Mu-Lan Hai, Chun-Jiang Teng, and Ling-Zi Xu". So to sum it up, the woman has chops. She is incredible on this instrument. Shawn Lee is equally as skilled in the production. Together they are match made in heaven. The most interesting album I have heard all year.

Dj Zinc Mixtape Archives

Humpday is almost over! Its was really hard to get going this morning but I
have found a solution. There was enough DJ Zinc Mixes on soundcloud that it got me through the entire day. Best part about it, they were
absolutely free. You can either stream them off soundcloud if you
want to preview them or download them directly to your pc.

Haven't heard of Dj Zinc? Think Diplo vs Dj Krush vs Franki Chan. Hot Electro House
mixed in a b-boy style. Lots of energy and original tunes. The
September Crack House Mix features 5 of my all time favorite tracks.
I can't wait to download more. Enjoy peeps.

Link: http://www.soundcloud.com/zinc

The Presets Surprise

Last week I found a interesting mixtape by Kim Moyes, 1/2 of The Presets, on one of my favorite blogs - Stoneyroads. The note that went along with it said that Kim was recording the 64 minute mixtape for modsquads modcast while in the studio working on the new album. This was a surprise because I didn't even know that they were recording or that Kim (plays drums and keyboard) was a DJ. Usually if the musician is talented they have a good taste in music but where it is iffy is that they may or may not be able to spin. I downloaded with optimism.

I didn't know what to expect but I have been more than pleased with the Mixtape. For a guy that plays drums and keyboards for a living he sure has a hell of a talent mixing tracks. Some of the stuff that put on here is like nothing I have
heard before and its amazing. Very cool instrumental builds and vocal
centered electronica weave back and forth for over an hour. If you are a fan of the presets and like music in that genera, this is a must have. Go check out Stoneyroads and download the mixtape here

Throwback Tuesday - DJ Cam's Mad Blunted Jazz

In my opinion DJ Cam's Mad Blunted Jazz (Double Disk) is one the best Trip Hop release to this day. I really like the first disk, don't get me wrong but I absolutely love the second live disk. I get chills when I think about his live set. It takes me back to a time when even an older cd like Mad Blunted Jazz (First heard it in 2000) was new to me. Although I have grown out of my -I-eat-breath-everything-hip-hop-or-trip-hop related phase of my life, I can still jam out to this classic. Dj Cam created a timeless piece of music with this. It sounds as relevant and unique today as it did 14 years ago. Enjoy...

TOBACCO

A few nights ago I heard this artist on my Nosaj Drift Pandora playlist and bought the album as an impulse. The track I heard was "Hairy Candy" and it made stop what I was doing and check the track. I was going to drop it here after this paragraph, but I found a sick version with Aesop rock mashed together with TOBACCO by the one and only hood Internet.



TOBACCO is from start to finish one of the more intriguing Trip Hop albums I have heard in a long time. I am only categorizing it as such because that is the most familiar sound that I can attach to it. Their 2008 release "Fucked up Friends" album starts with a swift punch in the face. The track Street Trash is dark, distorted, and beat heavy.



The album is filled with complex cosmic instrumentals that will have even the Hip Hop heads nodding their heads. After buying the album I learned that TOBACCO is an offshoot of Black Moth Super Rainbow. I find this very interesting because I never cared too much for BMSR's music but my love for "Fucked of Friends" will make me re-listen...

You know what Febuary Means... NYPONYCLUB!

SBA long time favorite New Young Pony Club has their new album "the optimist" releasing in February in the UK with a US release date of March 1st. Here are a few videos to wet your appetite. I can't wait to hear what else they have been cooking up. If you like "Lost A Girl", the NYPC are giving it away for free on the website (link above).