Raheem DeVaughn: Bulletproof and Revelations 2010
From: Love and War Masterpeace (Jive, 2010)
This is a post I mean to have gotten up nearly a month ago.  Raheem DeVaughn might be one of the most under appreciated soul musicians right now.  His last album has a couple tracks which were absolutely outstanding.  Although ultimately his last [...]

Kashmere Stage Band: Getting It Out of My System and Al’s Thing

From: Texas Thunder Soul 1968-1974 (Now and Again,  2006)
Kashmere Stage Band just reunited this week in Austin for the premier of Thunder Soul, a documentary on the legendary school band down in Houston in the late 60’s and seventies.  Far and away the [...]

Aloe Blacc – I Need a Dollar
From: I Need a Dollar single Good Things LP (Stones Throw, 2010)
quick note:  the single on Itunes as it comes with an instrumental and 2 more tracks for 2 bucks.
So you may have remembered Aloe Blacc from his debut a few years back on Stones Throw.  Called Shine Through [...]

So I’ve been thinking about doing a new feature showcasing the best of the best of mixtapes.  This is the first one featuring tracks that popped up last February either on mixtapes or freestyles or what have you.  I may not do a full fledged writeup on everything and I am debating on making this [...]

Gang Starr: Full Clip
From: Full Clip (Virgin, 1999)
and Royalty
From: Moment of Truth (Virgin, 1998)
Over the weekend Guru of Gang Starr and Jazzmatazz suffered a heart attack.  He’s currently in the hospital and here’s to hoping he pulls through.  Along with DJ Premier, as part of Gang Starr they were responsible for some of the best [...]

Bei Bei and Shawn Lee: Hot Thursday and Little Sunrise
From: Into the Wind (Ubiquity, 2010)
I don’t know if there’s a more active artist out there outside of Robert Pollard and Lil’ Wayne circa 2007 than Shawn Lee.  Altogether in a little over a decade he’s had a hand in nearly 22 albums.  Some are solo [...]

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble: Gibbous and War
From: Self Titled (Honest Jon’s, 2009)
What better way to celebrate the Saints victory of which I’m not actually celebrating then to post some great Brass Ensemble music.  I had been trying to get this post up for a while but now seems like the perfect time.
Despite being indebted to New [...]

Black on White Affair: Bold Soul Sister, Bold Soul Brother
Mister Holmes and the Brotherhood: Thrift Store Find
The Overton Berry Trio: Hey Jude
There’s something about music from the Pacific Northwest.  It’s got this slightly weird bent almost disconnected vibe from everywhere else.  Which might explain why it’s been the home to Jimmy Hendrix, Louie Louie, [...]

Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits: Mwana Asingacheme and Take My Mistake as a Kiss
From: Africa (1980)
I think one of the reasons I initially was able to get into African music, especially highlife and Chimurenga was due to the fact that I loved Reggae first and that served as a great branch to to familiar [...]

Doctor Nico and African Fiesta – Save Me
Les Krakmen – Krakmen Twist!
Teta Lando – Muato Wa N\’gingila
From: Cazumbi African Sixties Garage Vol. 1 (No Smoke, 2009)
In the last year No Smoke has released two African garage rock compilations.  The second was released just a few months ago, however this post features songs from the first [...]