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05
Sep
Nas - “Bye Baby” (Live)
…well…barely. Here’s the tail end of Nas’s performance of his new single, “Bye Baby.” Nas was in Miami to help Timbaland promote liquor brand, Sutra, over the long weekend. After Nas, Tim brought Missy out, who performed a couple of new joints. Unfortunately I’d had too much Sutra by the time she hit the stage to even notice what was happening.
06
Aug
Jacob Sutton & Lil Buck
Ever since the amazing collabo between Yo Yo Ma and Lil Buck that was filmed by Spike Jonze a few years ago, I’ve been yearning for more Buck stuff. And of course listening to cello incessantly. Check out the above video, with Buck clad in Givenchy from head (or waist) to toe, dancing around a spinning box. Dude is wild. Still not really into Azaelia Banks tho.
05
Aug
Cris Cab f.Wyclef - “No Woman, No Cry” (Live at Grand Central)
Miami native son, future pop star and CMP homie Cris Cab pulled off a great hometown show a couple of weekends ago at Grand Central, the night before I left for Las Vegas no less. He happened to bring out Wyclef Jean as well, who helped Cris out with a rendition of the Fugees’ classic cover “No Woman, No Cry.” Cris is definitely doing his thing and bound to blow up from here, as told by countless teenage/twenty something girls going gaga for him from the crowd. Check the above video as Clef tunes up his guitar and makes his grand entrance.
28
Mar
Yuna - “Live Your Life”
Ill music is ill music, no matter where it comes from, but I’ma be honest, I didn’t think I was gonna be posting many tracks from those from the hijab-o-sphere. Well, the artist above, Yuna, is Malaysian (the “good Muslims”….well, kinda) so I guess it doesn’t count.
The young lady in question is apparently a Malaysian sensation who’s been doing her thing since the ripe age of 0. Check out this vibed out track over Pharrell-assisted production. Towelhead’s debut US release via FADER drops later this year. Download by RCRD here.
26
Mar
AZ - “My Niggas”
Whoooo! AZ Sosa bringin it back to that classic New York sound today with none other than the legendary Buckwild on the boards. Here’s hoping we see Doe or Die II sooner than later. Download the joint here
15
Mar
Lenny Kravitz f.Jay-Z - “Storm”
Many incarnations of “Storm” have floated around in the past 8 years. It started off as a demo with altered lyrics and what was undoubtedly the predecessor to a surprisingly hip-hop-friendly beat. A solo version with a much more traditional Kravitz homofied sound can be found on one of Lenny’s mid-aught releases. It was remixed by Just Blaze into an R&B vibed track (the first to feature Jay-Z vocals) which saw the light of day during one of his guest hosting gigs on Shade 45 a few years back. It was even shopped to Michael Jackson as a demo (and ultimately released with the gloved one’s lyrics over an inferior melody as part of his posthumous Michael release.) And then there is, of course, the banger you’re listening to right now.
What does all of this tell us? Probably that Lenny thought this was a monster track. Unfortunately, the joint never realized its potential. If only we could’ve waded through all the BS versions and pushed the hell out of this one, the track could’ve been playing in every high society party spot in 2004. Instead I’m posting it on my blog.
This will be the first and only song posted on CMP featuring a black jew. I do, however, reserve the right to exercise the Sammy Davis exemption at any time.
18
Feb
Oh, my patient subjects, I really appreciate your tolerance of my insolent day job over these past few months as it’s really taken away from my primary duty of being your sole and authoritative cultural guru. Really, you’re quite gracious for having waited, but now your desires can be wholly fulfilled, for the BEST OF 2011 MIX IS FINALLY UPON US. And only 2 months late…
It took me a while to put this together, because as you know, doing something as magical as dragging and dropping pirated MP3s takes a lot of work and concentration. Seriously, this is my personal curation for your aural pleasures, and if you click the title link above, then choose “Best of 2011,” you’ll find 3 zip files which when downloaded and decompressed, contain my top 151 jams of last year.
As usual, there’s an electric mix of tunes in line with the taste of most of you have come to love and idolize: a substantial hip hop bent supplemented by some R&B, post rock and tolerable electronica (both of the club banging and chill waving sort).
Some stats:
But enough about me, what’re you feeling? Download, listen, enjoy and let us know.
15
Feb
Niggas in Paris at Midnight
Who hasn’t wilded out to Jay-Z & Kanye West’s “Niggas in Paris” at least 15 times this year? Furthermore, high brow readers of Call Me Prince undoubtedly adored Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, one of 2011’s finest films…but both seemed to be missing something.
When The Throne’s latest video dropped, you might’ve been disappointed that the boys didn’t take to Paris a la G Unit in the “Window Shopper” video. You also may’ve had 3-5 epileptic seizures. And when kicking back in the theater and watching Owen Wilson act like a complete pussbag, weren’t you thinking “this would be way better if there were more designer label references and gyrating asses”
Well my friends, your prayers have been answered with the “Niggas in Paris at Midnight” which brings you the best of both projects (club knocking beat, views of one of the world’s finest cities) without the unnecessary nonsense (Kanye in a skort, dialogue). To be honest, I think the video mash up fellas could’ve done a better job with some more interesting cuts, but the concept in and of itself was worthy of a post. I’m jus sayiiiiiin
04
Dec
Wu-Tang Clan x Gil Scott-Heron - “Gil’s Pinky Ring Pt.1”
I generally avoid listening to mash up albums. It’s not that they always suck, it’s just that….well I don’t have time for cliche played out concepts. But, when I saw a 3 track EP featuring my favorite hip hop collective of all time and one of my favorite soul singers ever, I figured it’d be worth a listen.
The above two-and-a-half minute gem put together by DJ 2-Tone Jones is an absolute banger and a highlight of the mini-EP, bringing together a selection of verses from the Clan’s “Uzi (Pinky Ring)” off the overlooked Iron Flag LP and GSH’s seminal classic “The Bottle.” I’ll go 50/50 on the other tracks. The EP can be downloaded here
Album Rating: 4/5
20
Nov
Quadron - “Simili Life”
Quadron first hit my radar in late 2009 when someone played me a copy of “Slippin,” a whimsical, dulcimer-infused pop song with a fairly infectious hook and intoxicating allure (yea I said it). At the time I couldn’t tell if the then unknown group would ultimately become a cult-y pop sensation or whether they’d go the route of most bands that produce “indie” pop tunes that I dig and become, for lack of a better term, personal one hit wonders.
It wasn’t until a full year later that I got around to downloading the Danish duo’s 2010 full-length debut, the self-titled Quadron. CMP readers know that Swede musicians have a tendency to put a spell on the kid, but who knew that just across Kattegat Bay (two-time middle school National Geography Bee winner, bitches!) there was another musical hot bed for me to discover.
Quadron is a beautifully chilled out LP, weaving through a number of sub genres but ultimately rooted in R&B of the neo soul persuasion. This collage of sounds clashes wonderfully to create a sound the band describes as “electronic soul.” Contrary to how that aural description may ring with you, the sounds are organic and harmonious, and at times full-on soothing. While one track might sound like a jazz composition, a la Koop’s meticulously chopped sample approach , the next is a spot on ode to doo wop soul, hand claps and all. Shit I can practically hear the background dancers on “Pressure.” The band explores trip hop, anthemic pop, folk and even modern Danish music before the record is through. A 8.5/10 with ease.
Sorry kids, no download link on this one. I’m hoping that if you pay for the album, the band may be able to afford per diem to come tour the US.
