J-Live? Trust me. He's good.

Before I even talk about him, listen.

J-Live - Feel Like Spittin' (produced by Da Beatminerz) from Reveal the Secret EP
J-Live - Wax Paper (produced by Prince Paul) from The Best Part
J-Live - Braggin Rights Revisted (produced by Premier) from The Best Part

Now you know. Why isn't J-Live blowing up charts? I dunno. That's the state of hip hop I guess. Everything J-Live is on, is friggin great. The majority of his albums are just plain ridiculously good. Go get one and find out for yourself. He's worked with Premier, Prince Paul, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Spinna. Braggin' Rights Revisted is a classic for the mixtape and it looks like his new EP Reveal the Secret(came out yesterday via BBE Music) will be chocked full of classics too. A lot of MCs these days look to gimmicks and guest stars to make their albums more 'interesting' or 'appealing'. J-Live just raps like his life depends on it. Trust me. He's Good.

more J-Live --> website --> buy

Toofer Toosday - Eliot Lipp & Blu

ONE

Eliot Lipp is not your average DJ. There's no flash. There's no showboating of 'skills'. There's just smooth electronic funk. Maybe it has something to do with him growing up in Tacoma, Washington. All that rain washed away the sparkle, but fueled the soul in him. If you're looking to sit back and write, draw, or stare into space tonight, then do yourself a favor and check Eliot Lipp.

Eliot Lipp - Digital Disko (off of City Synthesis)
Eliot Lipp - Dark Party Mix live in San Francisco
Eliot Lipp - Electro Mix

more Eliot Lipp --> website --> buy

TWO

Blu and Exile are bringing back LA hip hop with his recent album Below The Heavens. That's a bold statement, but sometimes we need bold statements. While the indie rock side of my brain is fed often, it's rare that I come across some hip hop these days that truly fills me up. Maybe that's just the mood I'm in right now. So be it. In the tradition of the Pharcyde and Jurassic 5, Blu and DJ, Exile(who you may remember from Emanon) have put out a solid hip hop album, with good production and lyrics that could stand alone and still be entertaining. What appeals to me about Blu is that the truth really comes across in his lyrics. Sometimes some MCs don't present themselves as believable, but Blu's rhymes about life paint a detailed picture of who he is and what he's thinking.

Blu - Good Life(Show Me) featuring Joseph and Aloe Blacc

more Blu --> website --> buy

Toofer Toosday - Hippity Hoppity

So I've been a little down on hip hop as of late. There just hasn't been anything recently that I've heard that has made me stop whatever I was doing and say DAMN THAT'S DOPE!!! That was until I heard these two tracks.
edIT - Night Shift(featuring Abstract Rude)
more --> website --> buy
&
Sharkey & C-Rayz Walz - Jumping Off At The Jumpoff
more --> website --> buy
Thanks to Analog Giant for pointing me in the direction of edIT. Great stuff!

Monday Mystery Tour #2

Okay. So nobody took a stab at the first mix challenge. JB said he knew all but one track...but that just doesn't cut now does it JB? Oh well, here's the track list solution:
1. Soul Position - Keys
2. Lovage - Stroker Ace
3. Susan Christie - Paint A Lady
4. A Tribe Called Quest - Get A Hold
5. Of Montreal - Cato As A Pun

If you like the challenge, please try again for this weeks round. Just remember that you have a week to get your answers somewhere posted on this blog. If you ace it then you will be forever immortalized on the sidebar of this blog. Get crackin'!
Monday Mixdown #2

Peanut Butter Wolf's B-Ball Zombie War!!

Peanut Butter Wolf has done it again. B-Ball Zombie War has dropped and is without a doubt fantastic. The album features new Qtip, Talib Kweli, and J Dilla stuff. There's also plenty from the rest of the Stones Throw crew plus Supreme Team(Madlib and Karriem Riggins). If you're a fan of hip hop...scratch that...if you're a fan of music, then please go get this. Also PB Wolf has put together a stonesthrow podcast(#24) showcasing the album for free download. If you haven't subscribed to this podcast go ahead and do it now. It's been consistently awesome with live dj sets featuring J Rocc, PB Wolf, Madlib, and Egon.
B-Ball Zombie War Podcast

More Stonesthrow --> website --> buy

Oh and there's a live show. For tour dates go here.

Toofer Toosday #2

Here's more music floating around my vast database of sound.

Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan

Wax Tailor - Positively Inclined feat. Marina Quaisse

The first one is off of Rogue Wave's newly released "Asleep at Heavens Gate". Pretty much everything these guys produce is fantastic, so don't hesitate to pick this one up. They also have a completely change of pace cover of the Pixies' "Debaser" available to stream on their site.

The second is from a french dj Wax Tailor. I picked up a couple albums of his on Emusic. Most is standard trip hop. Not bad, but over time it could fade in my music library. There are some stand outs like Positively Inclined that make getting these albums worthwhile. If you can read french you should check out his myspace page.

The Enigma That Is Clutchy Hopkins

Who is Clutchy Hopkins? Only one thing is known for sure. He's a musician...of some sort. Some hints are dropped on his myspace page...but they're a little strange:
"When Clutchy was just 20 years old he traveled to the Far East and was under the tutelage of Rinzai Zen monks in Japan for many years investigating silence and the rhythms of silence in music. Later, he studied Raja Yoga in India to master and articulate the movements of the body and its relation to sound."
He's worked with MF DOOM and Dudley Perkins(that's where I came to find an interest in him) and even Walt Disney:



Apparently he's signed with Ubiquity Records and might have a release at some point.

Clutchy Hopkins - Air (feat. MF DOOM)

Clutchy on Myspace
Clutchy Hopkins' Official Site

The Humble Magnificent

Edan and Insight Live in Las Vegas

There comes a time in every person's life when they are in need of something truly amazing to validate an otherwise mundane life. Edan is that thing. Straight out of Maryland to Boston, Edan has the triple threat arsenal of talent at his side. If your in mood for comical/battlerhyme/word play/experimental lyrics over top of gorgeously layered psychedelic instrumentals, then Edan is the place and the mf-in time. Emcee/DJ/Producer Edan puts it all on the table for everyone and their mother to enjoy. Oh by the way, he's very good. Check 'im out.

Edan - Beauty

Edan on Emusic

Edan on Myspace

Edan's Official Site

Slow Driving

If today's a day where you're gonna do some slow driving through the countryside then do I have a track for you. I know what you're thinking. Hip Hop and the countryside? That's just plain gooble-D-gook. Trust me. I bring to you one of my all time faves, Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf. With raps like old school LL Cool J and production like no one on earth(PB Wolf is the greatest), it's hard to not listen to this on repeat. Enjoy!

Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf - Methods


Get it on Emusic
PB Wolf/Stonesthrow Records Site
PB Wolf on Myspace

So this is it...

So music is good, right? I mean really good, right? I'm glad you think so 'cause that's what this 'lil blog is about. Every couple of days there'll be something new to audiophonically(not a word) peruse. Today's bite relates to my food themed title.

Beastie Boys - What Comes Around

Somehow the Beasties are still making good music. It's amazing to me how anyone can throw a line like "I'm all mixed up like pasta primavera" into a rap and have it still be amazing. In fact I look forward to those cheesy lines on every single Beastie Boys album. Hope this song puts a smile on your mug.