Shawn Jackson single preview:
“Maan Up!” (feat. TaRaach & Big Tone)
b/w “Here We Go Again” (feat. Co$$ prod. Exile)



Hot off the heels of releasing two critically acclaimed albums in 2008, Rhode Island native/L.A. resident, Shawn Jackson, is already going for it 2009 by releasing two new singles in the last month.

The most recent one being the 12″ EP and digital single of my personal favorites from the First Of All album - the “grown man business” anthem, “Maan Up!”. The track features Fresh Selects favorite, TaRaach holding it down on the beat, scratches & a guest verse, joined by Big Tone on the hook. The 12″ also features another album highlight, “Fix Ya Face” produced by Jack Sample Pros, and the vinyl-exclusive C-side, “Here We Go Again” featuring Co$$ & produced by Exile. Being that the song is vinyl-only, I have the exclusive free download of “Here We Go Again” for you guys below. Before that, there’s also full-length streams of “Fix Ya Face” and “Maan Up!,” as well as the exclusive rough version of the track’s instrumental, taken straight from a Raach Box beat CD.

Also out now is Shawn Jackson’s collaboration with UK-based producer, Ben Grymm, the five-track 7″ EP, “Back In My World.” You can find a free download of one of those five songs, “BloodSweatNTears” at the bottom of the post.

Sorry, folks - no bonus tracks this time around. I’m not really sure if anyone was really checking them before, so I’m trying decide if they’re still worth the effort. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.



Shawn Jackson feat. TaRaach & Big Tone “Maan Up!” (prod. TaRaach)


TaRaach “Maan Up! (Instrumental)” (beat CD version)


Shawn Jackson “Fix Ya Face” (prod. Fly Jack & Chordz of Jack Sample Pros)


DOWNLOAD: Shawn Jackson feat. Co$$ “Here We Go Again” (prod. Exile)

BONUS DOWNLOAD: Shawn Jackson & Ben Grymm “BloodSweatNTears”

SUPPORT: Buy both the “Maan Up!” (Tres Records) & “Back In My World” (High Water Music) singles in stores now

January 6, 2009 / , , , , , , , / 3 Comments

ALBUM PREVIEW:
Havana - Entervention
(prod. Trackademicks, Brook d’Leau, GB & more)




Three years after the release of her debut album, Havana, is back with her sophomore offering, Entervention. Where her first LP, L.I.F.E., featured production from the likes of Waajeed, Zo!, Nicolay, and Symbolyc One providing a mellow, soulful backdrop - Entervention has a decidedly west coast house party sound. Providing that sound are some of Cali’s most forward thinking producers, including Brook d’Leau (of J*DaVeY fame), GB, Trackademicks and BeatStreetS. Lyrically, Havana goes even further introverted and autobiographical this time out, but she still manages to keep it balanced with plenty of future house party and club favorites still sprinkled throughout the album.

Entervention is currently scheduled for a February 17th release date through the Detroit-founded and San Diego-based label, Skoolcraft Music Group. To preview the album, I have an exclusive first listen to four tracks from the LP. In downloadable form I have the first single, “Nitelife,” which is produced by and also features Honor Roll member, Trackademicks, and “It Ain’t New,” co-produced by Bay Area collaborators, BeatStreetS & 1O.A.K. To go along with it, I’ve also got streams of the 80’s throwback, “In Touch” produced by GB, and a track from Havana’s new group, Match’d Frantic with MC, Bennie Herron, “Not Affected,” produced by Brook d’Leau. All four songs are still rough, unmastered versions - so be sure to check the album when it drops next month for all of the final versions.

Stream or download the songs below, and then, stay tuned after the jump to three of my favorite tracks from her first album, LIFE: Living In Fearless Emotions.



Havana “In Touch” (prod. GB)


Match’d Frantic (Havana & Bennie Herron) “Not Affected” (prod. Brook d’Leau)


DOWNLOAD: Havana “Nitelife” (feat. & prod. Trackademicks)

DOWNLOAD: Havana “It Ain’t New” (prod. BeatStreetS & 1O.A.K.)

SUPPORT: Havana’s Entervention album in stores everywhere February 17th

BONUS TRACKS: More from Havana produced by Waajeed, Nicolay & Zo! after the jump



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January 2, 2009 / , , , , , , , , / 7 Comments

MIXTAPE PREVIEW:
House Shoes presents The King James Version


Just when all the over-saturation and post-mortem bandwagoners almost had me putting all my favorite Dilla shit back on the shelf - in comes the official torchbearer, House Shoes, to re-ignite the spark. His forthcoming mixtape (in the truest sense of the word), The King James Version, is a smoke-filled trip through the used crates of the late beat pioneer that reminds us all (because some of you apparently need it) just why James Yancey is the G.O.A.T.

With all the bullshit posthumous mixtapes that came out with Dilla’s name & likeness unfairly attached to it (as previously discussed here), this is one of the few that does his legacy justice. It’ll have you pulling out all your favorite Dilla CD’s, records, and illegally downloaded beat CD’s (you know you got em) again with a newfound respect for his craftsmanship with each secret revealed.

The King James Version is the first of an on-going series that will be released through a limited run of CD’s sold directly by Shoes himself, starting on January 9th. Below is a free download of the first track of the five that will appear on the CD, as previously heard on his Shoes House podcast. For a (much) better write-up of KJV, check out Hubert’s Frying In Vein blog.

Also, stick around after the jump for three bonus tracks that showcase House Shoes’ own, often slept-on, production skills with Detroit classics he produced for Finale, Elzhi, and Decompoze.


DOWNLOAD: House Shoes “The King James Version: Chapter I: Verse I”

SUPPORT: Cop The King James Version directly from House Shoes on January 9th

BONUS TRACKS: 3 House Shoes productions after the jump


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December 29, 2008 / , , , , , / 12 Comments

A bruk xmas gift from Daz-I-Kue


Some quick holiday selections for you guys today, both coming from Bugz In The Attic member and broken beat pioneer, Daz-I-Kue. I’ll let Daz introduce the first joint himself…

“Easy

Hope all you your Xmas arrangement is going well.

Anyway I’m just want to give a little xmas tune to you as a way as a thanks for all your support so far. So check it, this a a festive rendition of old christmas hymn “Midnight Clear,” done with such soulful elegance by Rasiyah. We done this a few years ago and it came out on an obscure comp, which at this point I can’t recall what its recall… lol, but all I know it didn’t even reach the shops, and I think the time is right to give it an airing once again. (note: it was Media Creature’s Eclectic Christmas compilation from 2003)

So find the link below and enjoy

Peace and Blessings for the holidays, and make 09 a biggun for ya

Daz”

To go along with Daz-I-Kue’s personal xmas gift and keeping up with the holidays & family vibe, I’ve also got an exclusive remix from Daz of the Sister Sledge classic, “We Are Family.” This white label dub takes the original song in a completely different, but equally club-friendly, direction as his official remix of the same song for Garth Trinidad’s Atlantic remix project, Atlantiquity. This dub is from 2005 and has been highly sought after from both being up on Daz’s MySpace page for a minute as well as being played out frequently by various DJ’s - but it has never officially been released. Downloads for both tracks are available below.

After the jump I’ve got streams of the aforementioned Atlantiquity remix of “We Are Family,” plus some of Mr. I-Kue’s recent works with one of my new favorite labels, DJ Junior’s Recordbreakin, in the form of remixes for both L.A. songstress, Joy Jones, and ATL rap duo, DnS.

Big ups to both DJ Jamad for the lookout and Sake 1 for the last minute assist.
And oh yeah - happy holladays, everybody!
I’ve got one more coming for you guys tomorrow - so be sure to check back.


DOWNLOAD: Daz-I-Kue “Midnight Clear” (feat. Rasiyah)

DOWNLOAD: Daz-I-Kue vs. Sister Sledge “We Are Family (Dub)”

BONUS TRACKS: 3 more Daz-I-Kue remixes after the jump



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December 24, 2008 / , , , , / 6 Comments

PPP presents…
Karma Stewart - The Karma EP


As Soulbounce announced last week, today marks the online release of new PPP starlet, Karma Stewart’s The Karma EP. For those who don’t know, Karma is an up-and-coming singer from Austin, Texas now living in L.A., whose best known (so far) as the voice of PPP’s latest single, “On A Cloud.”

After the success of “On A Cloud,” some people tried to pigeon hole Karma as a “throwback singer.” While Ms. Stewart definitely has some classic Motown grace and gospel-tinged strength behind her voice, with this EP she presents a few alternative sides to the story with a sound that she describes as “experimental with an edge of funky soul.” And according to her, even this is “just a taste of what I’ll be bringing to the table.”

Produced by group founders, Waajeed & Saadiq, and mostly written by Karma’s fellow cast member, Coultrain, The Karma EP is definitely a PPP family affair. The 4-track CD was originally sold at PPP shows all across Europe this fall - but now Karma & PPP have decided to give the EP away for free as a preview of both Karma’s upcoming album, and more immediately, PPP’s second album, Abundance.

You can preview all 4 songs below before downloading them all in one convenient .zip file at the bottom. And after the jump, stick around for my liner notes interview with Karma as well as three bonus tracks - including a live cover song, a collaboration with St. Louis rapper Wafeek, and a selection from the PPP “On A Cloud” Remix Contest from Tayreeb (note: I don’t know who won the contest so don’t ask - this is just one of the ones that I liked).


Karma Stewart “Look”
produced by Saadiq, lyrics by Coultrain


Karma Stewart “Waiting In The Wings”
produced by Waajeed, lyrics by Coultrain


Karma Stewart “Love Games”
produced by Waajeed, lyrics by Karma Stewart


Karma Stewart “Withdrawal”
produced by Waajeed & Saadiq, lyrics by Coultrain
additional backing vocals by Justin Pierre Bennett


DOWNLOAD: Karma Stewart - The Karma EP

SUPPORT: PPP’s single, “On A Cloud” featuring Karma Stewart, in stores now. Abundance CD/LP drops January 20th on Ubiquity Records.

AFTER THE JUMP: Liner notes Q&A plus bonus tracks from Karma Stewart



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December 22, 2008 / , , , , , , , , / 9 Comments

Johnson&Jonson “Mama Told Me” EP
b/w “La La Land” download


A quick weekend update for you tonight. Johnson&Jonson (Blu & Mainframe for the slow folk) have just released a new EP single for the track, “Mama Told Me,” off their self-titled album. Along with the album version, the EP also includes the instrumental version of the title track, the very noddable bonus instrumental “Do Right,” plus my personal favorite from the J&J album, “Hold On, John.” You can stream two cuts from the 4-track EP below.

As a bonus - I’ve also got a download of J&J’s “La La Land” (featuring Be Young of Pacific Division) which is exclusive to the Japanese version of the J&J CD. The track’s sample should sound familiar to R&B heads who have been paying attention this year… that’s all I’ll say on that. Big ups to Mike Check for putting me up on this one & credit due to Soul Assassins who (to my knowledge) had it first.

Also, after the jump, I’ve got three of J&J’s lesser known tracks from various compilations - including two instrumentals and a Blu solo cut - all of which are from 2006, when you were most likely still sleeping on Blu.



Johnson&Jonson “Mama Told Me”


Johnson&Jonson “Do Right (bonus beat)”


DOWNLOAD: Johnson&Jonson “La La Land” (feat. Be Young)

SUPPORT: Johnson&Jonson - Mama Always Told Me EP on iTunes now. 12″ in stores this week.

BONUS TRACKS: More rare J&J tracks after the jump



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December 20, 2008 / , , / 5 Comments

Exile - Radio Preview Pt. 2:
“Stay Tuned (Stay Here)” feat. Muhsinah
b/w “It’s Coming Down (Shafiq Husayn Remix)”


(For Part 1 of the exclusive Fresh Selects x Exile - Radio preview, click here)

For the second leak off of producer, Exile’s forthcoming LP, Radio, I have a preview of the album’s first single, including 2 non-album remixes. On the A side, we have “Stay Tuned (Stay Here)” which features Muhsinah adding vocals to one of the album’s instrumental highlights. Whereas the album version was a sound collage made up of a flurry of static, glitches and talk radio, Muhsinah’s vocals manage to breath new life into the track and adds a romantic touch to the otherworldly, “Stay Tuned.” The song was first debuted on CDRADIO a few weeks ago, and was recently included in Exile’s I Got The Radio mix for Red Bull Music Academy Radio, but I’ve got the exclusive, CDQ free download of the song for you guys.

I’ve also got your first listen to the single’s B side, an exclusive remix of “It’s Coming Down by Shafiq Husayn of SA-RA Creative Partners. While it contains some samples in common with Exile’s album version, it seems like Shafiq basically re-imagined his version from scratch, giving it a much more avant garde, stream of consciousness feel, which serves as a good balance to the more straightforward Muhsinah track on the flip.

And as usual, I’ve added some bonus tracks after the jump - this time with the focus being on Muhsinah rarities. Included is “Soso,” from the original, self-released version of her current EP, Oscillations - which oddly enough, didn’t make the cut on the new version. Also, we have her producing for & appearing with Stacy Epps from Stacy’s self-released Ruff Drafts CD-R, as well as a bonus free download of her collaboration with Seattle producer, Jake One, made at the Red Bull Music Academy in Toronto last year. Also, stay tuned (pun intended) for an upcoming Fresh Selects exclusive from Muhsinah, featuring a remix by one of the Fresh Kept Secrets alumni.

You can stream the Shafiq remix here, cop the “Stay Tuned” download below, & check the bonus Muhsinah tracks after the jump.


Exile “Stay Tuned (Stay Here)” (feat. Muhsinah)


Exile “It’s Coming Down (Shafiq Husayn Remix)”


DOWNLOAD: Exile “Stay Tuned (Stay Here)” (feat. Muhsinah)Free download has expired. Check the stream above.

SUPPORT: Exile’s full “Stay Tuned” digital single is available now - 12″ coming soon. Radio CD/LP in stores January 20th on Plug Research.

BONUS TRACKS: More from Muhsinah, featuring Stacy Epps & Jake One, after the jump



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December 15, 2008 / , , , , / 16 Comments

FRESH KEPT SECRET: Super Viral Brothers


So… I’m not usually into the whole “ironically ignorant hipster dance” side of things - but when its done right, I really can’t be mad at it. And the Super Viral Brothers, in my opinion, are just that.

SBV’s are a new duo made up of singer Anthony Mills (AKA Mr. Calderon) and producer Olle Corneer (a pretty accomplished solo artist under the name Dibaba) - both hailing from Stockholm, Sweden. Their first offering as a group is a free “37 minute long stream-of-consciousness” entitled Flu Shot Mixtape.

The mix, which was supposedly made in a single day, finds Dibaba incorporating elements of everyone from The Velvet Underground to Aphex Twin, The Stooges to Portishead, Devo to Fela Kuti and a slew others, as the perfect backdrop for Calderon’s catchy-ass WTF-worthy lyrics like “We want hot chocolate and we want it now/Plus a polar bear rug to complement the style/An Eskimo stripper would be the shit right now - oh yeah!”.

The majority of Calderon’s lyrics are similarly riddled with drug references and innuendo of the most ridiculous kind - all sang with a sharp deadpan(?) delivery in some of the catchiest melodies you’re likely to hear on a free mixtape. You can preview three of my favorite tracks from the mixtape below before getting the full free download at the bottom.

Co-selection credit due to the homie Andres over at Classic Drug References for putting me on to this via CDRADIO.


Super Viral Brothers “I Don’t Do Windows”


Super Viral Brothers “The Invader”


Super Viral Brothers “Sellin Rocks”



DOWNLOAD: Super Viral Brothers - Flu Shot Mixtape

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December 12, 2008 / , , / 4 Comments

Finale “Jungle Music (All Day)” b/w
“Without You” (prod. M-Phazes)


For everyone who hit me up about the new Finale tracks from the Loose Joints unmixed-tape and asked for more - I got you. Fresh from Finale himself, we’ve got another pair of new tracks - “Jungle Music (All Day),” his take on Baltimore club/go-go music produced by Nick Tha 1da, and the introspective “Without You” produced by M-Phazes.

Finale also provided some insight on what inspired him to make the song: “A D.C. native told me they hated go-go and Baltimore club music. I’d been hearing the song on Nick’s page for about a week straight because the track is actually a tribute to DJ K-Swift (RIP). I asked him for the track and I think he thought I was crazy for picking that joint or either joking - LOL. So I told the chick from D.C. that if I rapped on a club/go-go joint I could make her start to dig that type of music again…so I was challenged to do it and when I sent it to her the next day she said she dug it….so there ya have it (Jungle Music) - LOL.“

Both “Jungle Music” and “Without You” are from an upcoming Finale mixtape of non-album exclusive tracks, which will be dropping in the coming months leading up to when his new album, A Pipe Dream & A Promise, is released in March. The album will feature appearances from Invincible, MonicaBlaire, and hip-hop pioneers, Awesome Dre & Prince Whippa Whip (Cold Crush) - not to mention one of the most impressive production line-up’s I’ve ever seen, consisting of: Dilla, Waajeed, Black Milk, Flying Lotus, Dabrye, TaRaach, Nottz, Oddisee, Kev Brown, Khrysis, M-Phazes, Apollo Brown, Slimkat 78, Dimlite, and Vaughan T (Lab Techs). Wow…. can we take a deep breath and read that list over one more time? ….DAMN!!!

To go along with “Jungle Music” - here’s a brand new video to the track put together by Your Brutha Brub of The B.Q. Happenings, who has all done videos for Finale’s “Motor Music,” J*DaVeY’s “Lil Big Heads,” and more.

Check out the video below and then cop the two free downloads at the bottom. Also, stay tuned after the jump for bonus tracks highlighting 3 of Finale’s lesser known collaborations - including a track with Invincible from the Detroit Summer LAMP benefit compilation, an exclusive unreleased mix of his track with French producer, Dela, as well as an older track with UK producer Ghost that uses the “Welcome 2 Detroit” intro.




DOWNLOAD: Finale “Jungle Music (All Day)” (prod. Nick Tha 1da)

BONUS DOWNLOAD: Finale “Without You” (prod. M-Phazes)

STAY TUNED: Finale’s A Pipe Dream & A Promise in stores everywhere March 2009 on iM/Universal. Exclusive pre-album mixtape and leak tracks coming soon!

BONUS TRACKS: More from Finale featuring Invincible, Dela, and more after the jump



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December 4, 2008 / , , , , , , / 12 Comments

Circulations & Jay Scarlett’s New Worlds
w/ Guilty Simpson, SA-RA & more


Cutting-edge Japanese label, Circulations, have joined forces with European tastemaker & host of Amp Soul Generation radio show, Jay Scarlett, for the brand new compilation, New Worlds. The project was put together to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the HMV Shibuya store - one of the leading retail supporters of quality music in Japan.

To mark the occasion, they’ve gathered new and exclusive tracks from some of the most promising artists of this new beat/future soul generation - including Loose Joints alumni SA-RA and Ras_G, as well as Super Smoky Soul & Guilty Simpson, Quadron (which features Robin Hannibal of Owusu & Hannibal/Boom Clap Bachelors fame), Take, Hudson Mohawke, The Big Payback (Onra & Byron The Aquarius) with Reggie B, and plenty more. And these all come packaged with fresh cover art & design courtesy of Philly-based artist, Joshua Mays, who has also blessed covers for Waajeed (The War LP), Mark de Clive-Lowe (The Politik) & Jneiro Jarel (Three Piece Puzzle US release).

To give you a taste of what to expect from New Worlds, Circulations has blessed us with a free download of the track, “Knockout Kings,” a heavyweight bout between Japanese production trio, Super Smoky Soul and one of Detroit’s finest, Guilty Simpson. The song features Guilty throwing his typical K.O.-blows over SSS’s fresh approach to a familiar sample. The song will be released as both a limited-edition 7″ single, and a remixed 12″ in the coming weeks - so stay tuned for more info on both releases.

But before that, you can also preview two full-length songs below - SA-RA’s kinky quiet storm bounce, “Talk Sex”, as well as selector Jay Scarlett’s “I Can’t Help It” - a club-friendly, broken thump which also features British singer, Leon King.

And as always, stay tuned after the jump for some bonus selections. This time around I’m highlighting some of Guilty Simpson’s more low-key collaborations and past mixtape tracks, including tracks from Mr. Porter’s Runyon Ave. crew.

UPDATE: Last minute addition, courtesty of Stones Throw - a free download of Oh No’s new remix of Guilty’s “The Future” featuring MED, originally from the Ode To The Ghetto album.



SA-RA Creative Partners “Talk Sex”


Jay Scarlett “I Can’t Help It” (feat. Leon King)


DOWNLOAD: Super Smoky Soul & Guilty Simpson “Knockout Kings”

BONUS DOWNLOAD: Guilty Simpson “Futuristic” (feat. MED) (prod. Oh No)

SUPPORT: The New Worlds compilation is out now in Japan and will be on iTunes worldwide soon.

BONUS TRACKS: More Guilty Simpson rarities after the jump



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December 2, 2008 / , , , , , , , , , , / 10 Comments