Here is a sneak peak at what we will be checking out Saturday.  It will be a challenge to see everything but a few notable must-sees we would like to mention are Little Dragon, Zemaria (from Brasil), Das Racist and Diplo.

March 19th

ARTIST TIME VENUE ADDRESS
The Lonely Forest 10:00 AM Aus Convention Center
Tapes ‘N Tapes 11:30 AM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Art vs. Science 12:00 PM Maggie Mae’s Rooftop 323 E 6th
Aussie BBQ 12:00 PM Maggie Mae’s Rooftop 323 E 6th
tuneyards 12:40 PM The Mohawk 912 Red River
Bombay Bicycle Club 1:00 PM San Jose Hotel
Jamie XX 1:00 PM Fader Fort 1101 E. 5th Street
Fitz and The Tantrums 1:30 PM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Royal Bangs 1:30 PM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Tapes ‘N Tapes 2:00 PM Aus Convention Center Radio Day Stage
Datarock 3:00 PM Cedar St Courtyard 208 W 4th
Electric Touch 4:00 PM The Speakeasy 412 S Congress
Tapes ‘N Tapes 4:00 PM Lustre Pearl 97 Rainey St
The Naked and Famous 4:00 PM Cedar St Courtyard 208 W 4th
Grouplove 4:30 PM Music Gym
Augustana 5:00 PM PureVolume House 504 Trinity St
Little Dragon 5:00 PM Cedar St Courtyard 208 W 4th
Theophilus London 5:55 PM W Hotel 200 Lavaca
!!! 6:00 PM French Legation Museam 802 San Marcus
Black Milk 6:00 PM Buffalo Billiards 201 E 6th St
Voxhaul Broadcast 6:00 PM PureVolume House 504 Trinity St
Portugal The Man – CHOP SHOP Party 6:30 PM Brush Square Park 405 E 5th
Pains of Being Pure at Heart 7:00 PM Cheer Up Charlie’s – poolside
Bright Eyes 7:30 PM Auditorium Shores Stage Lady bird Lake
Grouplove 7:30 PM W Hotel 200 Lavaca
DJ Babu 8:00 PM Fuze 505 Neches
DJ Nu-Mark 8:00 PM Venue 222 222 E 6th St
Ztrip/DeLaSoul+more 8:00 PM Austin Warehouse District 4th and Colorado
Electric Touch 8:30 PM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Zemaria 8:45 PM Kiss & Fly 404 Colorado St
Black Milk 9:20 PM Buffalo Billiards 201 E 6th St
Dirty Vegas 9:20 PM W Hotel 200 Lavaca
Eli Paperboy Reed 9:30 PM The Phoenix 409B Colorado St.
Casiokids 10:00 PM The Parish 214C E 6th St
Young Empires 10:00 PM 501 Studios 501 HWY 1-35
Awolnation 10:30 PM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Eliza Doolittle 11:00 PM Cedar St Courtyard 208 W 4th
Gold Panda 11:00 PM Lattitude 30 512 San Jacinto St
Royal Bangs 11:00 PM 501 Studios 501 HWY 1-35
Panic At The Disco 11:30 PM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Zuzuka Poderso 11:45 AM Prague 422 B Congress Ave
Art vs. Science 12:00 AM Maggie Mae’s Rooftop 323 E 6th
The Almost 12:00 AM The Bar Bat 218 E 6th St
Ty Segall 12:00 AM Mohawk Patio 912 Red River St
Los Lonely Boys 12:15 AM The Phoenix 409B Colorado St.
Neon Trees 12:15 AM Emo’s 603 Red River St
Grupo Fantasma 12:30 AM Habana Bar 708 E 6th St
The Bravery 12:45 AM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Jay Rock 12:50 AM Venue 222 222 E 6th St
Bad Veins 1:00 AM Skinny’s Ballroom 115 San Jacinto St
Diplo 1:00 AM Friends 208 E 6th St
Innerpartysystem 1:00 AM Dirty Dog 505 E 6th St
Operator Please 1:00 AM Maggie Mae’s Rooftop 323 E 6th
Kendrick Lamar 1:05 AM Venue 222 222 E 6th St
Cults 1:30 AM PureVolume House 504 Trinity St
Das Racist 2:15 AM PureVolume House 504 Trinity St
 

It’s day three!  How are your feet surviving?  Loads and loads of shows today, be sure not to miss out.

March 18th

ARTIST TIME VENUE ADDRESS
BMI Brunch 10:30 AM Four Seasons 98 San Jacinto Blvd.
Yoko Ono interview 11:00 AM Room 18ABC
Savoir Adore 12:00 PM Hotel Vegas 1500 E 6th
Cults 1:00 PM Emo’s 603 Red River St
Pint Shot Riot 1:00 PM Jovitas
Ty Seagul 1:00 PM Club de Ville 900 Red River St
OM party 1 pm -10 pm W Hotel 200 Lavaca St
Database 1:00 PM W Hotel 200 Lavaca St
Gold Pand 1:30 PM East Side Drive In 1001 E 6th
Foster The People 2:00 PM Emo’s 603 Red River St
MIS 2:00 PM Aus Convention Center Dot Com Day Stage
The Vaccines 2:00 PM Stubbs / Spin 801 Red River St.
Toro y Moi 2:15 PM Emo’s 603 Red River St
French Horn Rebellion 3:00 PM W Hotel 200 Lavaca St
Young The Giant 3:40 PM Stubbs / Spin 801 Red River St.
Art vs. Science 4:00 PM Bar 96 96 Rainy St
Cults 4:00 PM French Legation Museam 802 San Marcus
Death Letters 4:00 PM Guero’s 1412 S Congress
Miami Horror 4:00 PM W Hotel 200 Lavaca St
The Naked and Famous 4:15 PM Emo’s 603 Red River St
Boxer Rebellion 4:30 PM The Phoenix 409B Colorado St.
MNDR 4:40 PM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Skrillex 4:40 PM Stubbs / Spin 801 Red River St.
ZYNC Cocktail Party 5-7 pm Lanai Rooftop 422 Congress
Friendly Fires 5:00 PM Emo’s 603 Red River St
Tapes ‘N Tapes 5:00 PM Skinny’s Ballroom 115 San Jacinto
Ellie Goulding 5:15 PM Fader Fort 1101 E. 5th Street
Dum Dum Girls 6:00 PM Lustre Pearl 97 Rainey St
Red Fang 6:00 PM Dirty Dog 505 E 6th St
The Cool Kids 6:00 PM Fader Fort 1101 E. 5th Street
Flaming Dr. Peppers contest 6:30 PM Touche 417 E Sixth St
Poirier 6:30 PM Loft 718 718 Congress Ave
Bombay Bicycle Club 7:00 PM Red House Pizzeria
Grouplove 7:30 PM W Hotel 200 Lavaca St
Matt & Kim 7:30 PM Fader Fort 1101 E. 5th Street
Red Fang 8:10 PM Dirty Dog 505 E 6th St
Ninjasonik 8:30 PM The Phoenix 409B Colorado St.
The Vaccines 8:30 PM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
MNDR 9:00 PM La Zona Rosa 612 W 4th St.
Noah & The Whale 9:00 PM Lustre Pearl 97 Rainey St
Beach Fossils 9:20 PM Buffalo Billiards 201 E 6th St
Skrillex 9:30 PM Emo’s 603 Red River St
The Kid Daytona 9:30 PM Venue 222 222 E 6th St
Mac Miller 9:45 PM La Zona Rosa 612 W 4th St.
Los Rakas 10:00 PM Venue 222 222 E 6th St
Savoir Adore 10:00 PM Easy Tiger 709 E 6th
The Airborne Toxic Event 10:30 PM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Outasight 10:30 PM The Phoenix 409B Colorado St.
Zuzuka Poderosa 10:30 PM Frank 407 Colorado (w/ 4th)
Art vs. Science 11:00 PM Vice
Tapes ‘N Tapes 11:00 PM Rusty Spurs 405 E 7th
Das Racist 11:00 PM The Phoenix 97 Rainey St
The Black Lips 11:00 PM Lustre Pearl 97 Rainey St
Chateau Marmont 11:10 PM Barbarella Patio 710 Red River St
Skrillex 11:10 PM Maggie Mae’s 323 E 6th
Fitz and The Tantrums 11:15 PM Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop 400 Nueces
Dum Dum Girls 11:20 PM Red 7 Patio 611 E 7th St
Donnis 11:30 PM Palm Door 401 Sabine
Asher Roth & Nottz 11:30 PM Emo’s 603 Red River St
Dev / The Cataracs 11:45 PM The Phoenix 409B Colorado St.
The Kills Stubbs / Spin 801 Red River St.
Chromeo 12:00 AM La Zona Rosa 612 W 4th St.
Little Dragon 12:00 AM Lustre Pearl 97 Rainey St
Miami Horror 12:00 AM 501 Studios 501 HWY 1-35
Pains of Being Pure at Heart 12:00 AM Buffalo Billiards 201 E 6th St
Republic Tigers 12:00 AM Maggie Mae’s 323 E 6th
The Black Angels 12:00 AM Cedar St Courtyard 208 W 4th
Zion I 12:00 AM Beauty Bar 401 Sabine St
Skrillex 12:00 AM Mohawk Patio 912 Red River St
A-Trak 12:15 AM Beauty Bar 401 Sabine St
EPMD 12:40 AM Venue 222 222 E 6th St
The Raveonettes 12:50 AM Rusty Spurs 405 E. 7th St.
Bombay Bicycle Club 1:00 AM Latitude 30 512 San Jacinto St
Flosstradamus 1:00 AM 501 Studios 501 HWY 1-35
The Naked and Famous 1:00 AM Maggie Mae’s Rooftop 323 E 6th
Art vs. Science 1:00 AM Habana Bar 708 E 6th St
MSTRKRFT 1:00 AM Mohawk Patio 912 Red River St
 

Day Two of the festivities begin and it is sure to be a busy one!  Don’t forget to drink some Lone Star beer and eat some brisket at Ironworks.

March 17th

ARTIST TIME VENUE ADDRESS
Downtown Brunch 11:30 AM Cisco’s Retaurant 1511 E 6th St
Sounds from Spain 11:30 AM Brush Square Park – east tent 5th and Neches
WBR 12 pm-5 pm Hotel St Cecilia 112 Academy Dr (at Congress) Suite #1
SESAC brunch 12pm-3pm Driskill Brazos Balcony 604 Brazos Street
*Harry’s Gym 12:00 PM Cedar St Courtyard 208 W 4th
Savoir Adore 12:00 PM Barbarella 615 Red River St
Pint Shot Riot 12:00 PM Antone’s
*Theophilus London 12:30 PM Red River Garage 505 E 9th St
*NEW WEST 1:00 PM The Belmont 305 W 6th / till 6pm
Boxer Rebellion 1:00 PM Home Slice Pizza
Pure Volume Badge Pickup 1:00 PM PureVolume House 504 Trinity St
TREME bands 1:00 PM The Ghost Room 304 W 4th / until 5pm
*Gentry Music Party 1-5pm Dirty Bills 511 Rio Grande
OM party 1-6pm W Hotel 200 Lavaca St
tuneyards 1:15 PM The Parish 214 E 6th
*Foster The People 1:30 PM Red River Garage 505 E 9th St
Henry Butler 1:30 PM The Ghost Room 304 W 4th / until 5pm
Young Empires 1:30 PM The Phoenix 409B Colorado St.
Toro y Moi 1:30 PM Waterloo Records (inside) 600A N Lamar
Pete & The Pirates 1:45 PM Barbarella 615 Red River St
*Revolver 2:00 PM Brush Square Park – west tent Trinity & 4th
Cults 2:00 PM Cedar St Courtyard 208 W 4th
Neon Hitch 2:00 PM PureVolume House 504 Trinity St
Revolver 2:00 PM Brush Square Park – west tent 409 E 5th
The Answering Machine 2:15 PM Fader Fort 1101 E. 5th Street
*Tinie Tempah 2:30 PM Red River Garage 505 E 9th St
Letlive 2:30 PM Emo’s 603 Red River St
Devotchka 3:00 PM Aus Convention Center 500 W Cesar Chavez
Eliza Doolittle 3:00 PM PureVolume House 504 Trinity St
Innerpartysystem 3:00 PM PureVolume House 504 Trinity St
Mona 3:00 PM La Zona Rosa 612 W 4th St.
The Vaccines 3:00 PM Cedar St Courtyard 208 W 4th
*Friendly Fires 3:30 PM Red River Garage 505 E 9th St
Boxer Rebellion 3:30 PM Antone’s 213 W 5th St.
Grouplove 3:45 PM Lovejoy’s
*Chateau Marmont 4:00 PM Brush Square Park – west tent Trinity & 4th
*SECRET ROADS SXSW BASH 4:00 PM Bar 96 till 6pm
Chappo 4:00 PM Elysium 705 Red River St
Dirty Dozen Brass Band 4:00 PM The Ghost Room 304 W 4th / until 5pm
Foster The People 4:00 PM Cedar St Courtyard 208 W 4th
Naked and Famous 4:00 PM Lustre Pearl 97 Rainey St
Savoir Adore 4:30 PM Valhalla 710 Red River
Tinie Tempah 4:30 PM Fader Fort 1101 E. 5th Street
Frank151 Showcase 5pm-2am Austin Music Hall 208 Nueces
Pains of Being Pure at Hear 5:00 PM Club de Ville 900 Red River
Raphael Saadiq 5:00 PM Cedar St Courtyard 208 W 4th
Skrillex 5:00 PM Cheer Up Charlie’s
The Sounds 5:00 PM The Phoenix 409B Colorado St.
*Matt & Kim 5:30 PM Red River Garage 505 E 9th St
Jenny O 6:00 PM The Dean Frederick 902 E 5th, Suite 101
Art vs. Science 7:00 PM Annie’s West 706 W 6th St
Random Impulse 7:00 PM Latitude 30 512 San Jacinto
Theophilus London 7:00 PM 508 House 508 E 8th Street
Mac Miller 7:20 PM Fader Fort 1101 E. 5th Street
Outasight 7:30 PM Habana Bar Backyard 709 E 6th
Wiz Khalifa 7:35 PM Fader Fort 1101 E. 5th Street
Wiz Khalifa 7:35 PM Fader Fort 1101 E. 5th Street
Adrian Lux 8:00 PM The Phoenix 409B Colorado St.
The Strokes 8:00 PM Auditorium Shores Riverside Dr & S 1st St
Foster The People 8:30 PM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Trouble Andrew 8:30 PM Austin Music Hall
XV 9:00 PM La Zona Rosa 612 W 4th St.
Cults 9:00 PM Central Presbyterian Church 200 E 8th St
Noah & The Whale 9:30 PM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Donnis 9:30 PM La Zona Rosa 612 W 4th St.
Neon Hitch 9:45 PM Habana Bar Backyard 709 E 6th
Cee Lo 12:00 AM La Zona Rosa 612 W 4th St.
Bear Hands 12:00 AM Driskill / Victorian Room 604 Brazos Street
Devotchka 10:00 PM Lustre Pearl 97 Rainey St
Fitz and The Tantrums 10:00 PM Rusty Spurs 405 E. 7th St.
Wiz Khalifa 10:00 PM La Zona Rosa 612 W 4th St.
The Lonely Forest 10:20 PM Maggie Mae’s Rooftop 323 E 6th
Calvin Harris 10:30 PM The Parish 214C E 6th St
Portugal The Man 10:30 PM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Lupe Fiasco 10:50 AM La Zona Rosa 612 W 4th St.
Friendly Fires 11:00 PM 501 Studios 501 HWY 1-35
The Black Lips 11:00 PM Club de Ville 900 Red River
Kids of 88 11:00 PM Easy Tiger Patio 709 E 6th St
The Kills 11:00 PM Emo’s 603 Red River St
Black Milk 11:15 PM Scoot Inn 1308 E 4th St
The Death Set 11:15 PM Beauty Bar Backyard 401 Sabine St
Spank Rock 11:30 AM Elysium 705 Red River St
Boys Noize 12:00 AM Elysium 705 Red River St
Chico Mann 12:00 AM Speakyeasy Cabaret 412 Congress Ave
J.Cole 12:00 AM Kiss & Fly 404 Colorado St
Cold War Kids 12:00 AM Lustre Pearl 97 Rainey St
Grouplove 12:00 AM Latitude 30 512 San Jacinto St
Middle Class Rut 12:05 AM Maggie Mae’s Rooftop 323 E 6th
MNDR 12:00 AM Buffalo Billiards 201 E 6th
Moby 12:00 AM Karma Lounge 19 W 8th St
Poirier 12:00 AM Spill Bar 212 E 6th St
Miami Horror 12:15 AM Beauty Bar Backyard 401 Sabine St
TV on the Radio 12:30 AM Stubbs 801 Red River St.
Benny Benassi 12:30 AM The Phoenix 409B Colorado St.
B.o.B. 1:00 AM Kiss & Fly 404 Colorado St
Bombay Bicycle Club 1:00 AM Klub Krucial 614 E 6th St
The Hours 1:00 AM Maggie Mae’s Rooftop 323 E 6th
Toro y Moi 1:00 AM 512 Rooftop 408 E 6th
The Hours 1:05 AM Maggie Mae’s Rooftop 323 E 6th
The Bravery 2:00 AM PureVolume House 504 Trinity St
Innerpartysystem 3:00 AM PureVolume House 504 Trinity St
Theophilus London Habana Bar Backyard 709 E 6th


 

We are in wonderful Austin, TX for this year’s SXSW.  Great music, great BBQ and great People!  Below are some of the bands we will be checking out.  Be sure to check back for our SXSW roundup!

MARCH 16TH

ARTIST TIME VENUE ADDRESS
ASCAP Showcase 7:30 PM Dirty Dog 505 E 6th St
Little Red 8:00 PM The Bat Bar 218 E 6th St
Innerpartysystem 9:00 PM Prague 422 B Congress Ave
XV 9:00 PM Venue 222 222 E 6th St
Zion I 9:00 PM Mohawk Patio 912 Red River St
Chiddy Bang 9:15 PM Venue 222 222 E 6th St
Augustana 10:00 PM Barbarella 611 Red River St
Chappo 10:00 PM Dirty Dog 505 E 6th St
The Vaccines 10:00 PM Club de Ville 900 Red River St
Devotchka 10:30 PM Moody Theater 310 W Willie Nelson
Devotchka 10:30 PM Moody Theater 310 W Willie Nelson
Bliss N Esso 10:45 PM Venue 222 222 E 6th St
Streets On Fire 10:45 PM Dirty Dog 505 E 6th St
Gold Panda 11:00 PM Mohawk 912 Red River St
Hugo 11:00 PM Valhalla 710 Red River St
Royal Bangs 11:00 PM Buffalo Billiards 201 E 6th St
The Black Angeles 11:00 PM La Zona Rosa 612 W 4th St.
White Denim 11:00 PM Club de Ville 900 Red River St
Toro y Moi 11:15 PM Longbranch Inn 1133 East 11 St
Chico Man 11:20 PM Scoot Inn 1308 E 4th St
Gemini Club 11:30 PM Dirty Dog 505 E 6th St
The Black Lips 11:30 PM Emo’s 603 Red River St
Mac Miller 11:40 PM Mohawk Patio 912 Red River St
Flogging Molly 11:45 PM Moody Theater 310 W Willie Nelson
The Black Lips 11:50 PM Emo’s 603 Red River St
Cults 12:00 AM Windish Agency House @ ND
Ellie Goulding 12:00 AM The Bat Bar 218 E 6th St
Grouplove 12:00 AM Lattitude 30 512 San Jacinto St
The Naked and Famous 12:00 AM The Phoenix 409B Colorado St.
Letlive 12:05 AM Emo’s Annex 600 Red River St
Queens of the Stone Age 12:15 AM La Zona Rosa 612 W 4th St.
White Arrows 12:15 AM Dirty Dog 505 E 6th St
Casiokids 1:00 AM Beauty Bar 401 Sabine St
Fake Problems 1:00 AM Dirty Dog 505 E 6th St
Talib Kweli 1:00 AM Emo’s 603 Red River St
Tech N9ne 1:00 AM Venue 222 222 E 6th St
Chiddy Bang 1:30 AM Venue 222 222 E 6th St
Moby 2:00 AM PureVolume House 504 Trinity St
 

Wow.  What more can I say?  Beck’s Record Club is a brilliant concept.

Record Club is an informal meeting of various musicians to record an album in a day. The album chosen to be reinterpreted is used as a framework. Nothing is rehearsed or arranged ahead of time. A track is put up here once a week. The songs are rough renditions, often first takes that document what happened over the course of a day as opposed to a polished rendering. There is no intention to ‘add to’ the original work or attempt to recreate the power of the original recording. Only to play music and document what happens.

 

Addictive!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Coachella countdown… 29 days!

 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Mash-Ups aren’t just limited to music anymore.  Get ready for some pop-culture jamming with Lil Wayne’s Hustler Musik mixed with the theme to The Office by DJ Clockwork.

 

One of the feature songs from David Byrne & Fatboy Slim’s double concept record Here Lies Love (4/6 release) is Please Don’t featuring Santigold on vocals.  The video is made entirely of stock news footage of the widow of former Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, Imelda Marcos who interestingly seems to be the inspiration for the project.  Download the song for free and check out more about the project here on David Byrne’s website.

 

Broken Bells played The Troubadour in Los Angeles on March 14th and we were fortunate to score tix.  I had only been exposed to The High Road and was instantly into it as previously posted (and the video is certainly a strong companion to the wonderful composition).  I only had time to check out the album the day of the show and I think unconsciously I went into it with the preconceived notion that Danger Mouse had his production fingers all over this.

What I saw and heard next blew me away.  James Mercer made his name with The Shins…I honestly was in awe over his vocals…and completely with how great the band sounded.  Yea The Troubadour was packed and the kitchen was pumping out fries and hummus plates but I hadn’t been to a show in a long time where the sound out performed the quality on the record.  These guys sounded good and the instruments sounded better than the recording.

What?  That is exactly what I thought.  I mean, didn’t Danger Mouse have his magic touch on this.  He may of but these guys rocked.  They jammed and song after song James delivered with a tone that is both angelic and soulful.

 

These guys are totally freaky and awesome! Lovin it!!

 

http://skyactivity.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/jonsi-press.jpg

You may remember Jónsi as the vocalist and guitarist in the Icelandic band Sigur Rós.  He is now back with a new release as Jónsi (the first record was more of a collab with boyfriend Alex) and this new album Go is full of beautifully arranged strings, keys and flutes, making it a classical and cinematic musical adventure.  The video for Boy Lilikoi is perfect and you can also listen to the opening track Go Do and Tornado here.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

 

http://i28.tinypic.com/2rom3q9.jpg

Sting’s daughter Coco is knocking down the walls with with our lovely Sweede Robyn in this video for the single Caeser.  Loving this song and also digging Diplo’s remix, which kindda gives it a Santigold’s Starstruck vibe. You can catch I Blame Coco on tour this April with La Roux and a full abum is also due sometime this Spring.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

 

http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/wp-content/media/2009/11/WWPJ_Wall.jpgWe Were Promised Jetpacks played for a sold-out crowd at the Troubadour on February 26th in LA.  The Scottish act continues to pull it off live and had the audience singing along to every song throughout the evening. If you are going to SXSW, be sure to catch the band at one of their gigs:

Mar 17 @ 3:45PM   – Fader Fort
Mar 17 @ 11:00PM – Parish
Mar 18 @ 3:30PM – Galaxy Room
Mar 18 @ 5:00PM – Yard Dog Gallery
Mar 19 1:00PM – Mohawk
Mar 19 5:00PM – Emo’s East

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

 

http://radiomilwaukee.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/blakroc.jpg

BlakRoc, where The Black Keys and hip-hop intersect (via Damon Dash), is probably one of the best under the radar projects of 2009. The Black Keys urban venture features a line-up of hip-hop’s greatest, including Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, RZA, Ludacris, Q-Tip, Billy Danze of MOP and Raekwon to name a few.

Ain’t Nothing Like you (Hoochie Coo) ft. Mos Def and Jim Jones is one of the best tracks on the album:

For more on BlakRoc: blakroc.com

 

After much anticipation, Gorillaz‘ 3rd album Plastic Beach is almost here. If you can’t wait until Tuesday to drown your ears in paradise, the band has managed a brilliant takeover of guardian.com.uk and you can hear the entire record on their site now.  Stylo, the single, leaked a few weeks back featuring Bobby Womack and Mos Def, and is one of many favorites on the album.   Some Kind of Nature feat. Lou Reed is definitely a stand out track and Rhinestone Eyes, Empire Ants feat. Little Dragon, Melancholy Hill as well as Sweepstakes feat. Mos Def and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble are at the top of the list.  The closing track Pirate Jet leaves me with wanting more (in a good way) and once again, in their best Gorillaz fashion, the group managed to deliver a remarkable album  that continues to grow on you at every listen.

The video for Stylo just came out and you can watch the action packed Bruce Willis car pursuit here.

 

http://slavismyname.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/damian_marley_nas-distant_relatives_press_picturer_1flip-2009.jpg

Distant Relatives is an album I am looking forward to and believe will be one of the best records of the year. Damian and Nas cover a series of Africa’s issues, heritage and history, delivering a sound that is rich, powerful and anthemic, backed with a live band and spiced traditional samples.  The record comes out March 25th and proceeds will go to a project in the continent.

Strong Will Continue is a NIKE commercial waiting to happen… “only the strong will continue, do you have it in you?”… and it gives me the goose bumps every time I hear it.

http://www.realhiphopsince79.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/2crkl04.jpg

© 2012 THE DIGIRATI Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha