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Big K.R.I.T. – Live From The Underground [LP Stream]

by Eddie "STATS" on May 28, 2012 NEWS

Big K.R.I.T.‘s Live From The Underground--maybe okayaplayer’s most-anticipated LP of the season?–drops in 8 days. But you don’t have to wait more than 8 seconds to hear the whole dang thing in all it’s crunktabulous glory, because it is streaming on NPR right now as part of their First Listen series. So let me dispense ... Read more

Audio: TiRon & Ayomari “®adio”

by shamz on May 25, 2012 NEWS

West side residing duo TiRon and Ayomari are back at it with some new music to close out the week. T&A bless us with a little something you won’t find on the “®ADIO” (D.K. on the beat). The song will appear on the upcoming project, HNGRY, set to drop in July. [Audio clip: view full ... Read more

Audio: Meshell Ndegeocello X Miguel Migs, “Petit Mort (Moody Downtown Remix)”

by Eddie "STATS" on May 25, 2012 NEWS

Meshell Ndegeocello taps rhythm specialist Miguel Migs for a remix (dancefloor dub, really) of her get-under-your-skin compostion “Petit Mort.” Migs plays Larry Levan to her Talking Heads, augmenting the original song’s naive melody with a steppers groove and funky drumclaps that wouldn’t be out of place on the dancefloor of any downtown loft party circa ... Read more

LargeUp Audio: Five Steez “Divine Appointment” [prod. DJ Illout]

by Eddie "STATS" on May 25, 2012 NEWS

Words by Nico Simino, courtesy of LargeUp Jamaican MC Five Steez is an artist who, given enough exposure, could well become what folks would call a “rappers’ rapper.” Blessed with lyrical prowess and accompanied by minimalist, 90′s-era boom-bap, Five Steez reminds me of a lost tradition in hip-hop: straight-up-rhyming. His newest song, “Divine Appointment,” is co-produced by London’s DJ Illout, and features a ... Read more

MC Melodee X Cookin Soul – Check Out Melodee [Mixtape]

by anto on May 25, 2012 NEWS

Just like her homeboy Chuck Inglish, Amsterdam’s dutch mistress MC Melodee is taking that “bringin’ 88 back”-ish seriously. Her brand new, DJ Whoo Kid-hosted mixtape, Check Out Melodee, doesn’t only allude to Eric B. & Rakim in name, but also takes it back in sound to the golden days of cowbells, 808s and scratch samples. ... Read more

Audio: GLC “Cathedral (prod. Blended Babies)” feat. Raheem DeVaughn

by shamz on May 24, 2012 NEWS

GLC‘s long awaited collabo album with Blended Babies, Cathedral, is set to drop on Monday. We got a sample of the project with some slow ridin’ custom Chevy music last time around, now today The Ism brings the horns out and takes y’all to church with the album’s title track featuring Raheem DeVaughn. Check back ... Read more

Audio: Unreleased G.U.R.U. Freestyle Circa 1994 [Belgian Radio]

by Eddie "STATS" on May 24, 2012 NEWS

Continuing in the spirit of Throwback Thursdays, we bring you a rare bit of rap archaeology from the deep in the archives of DJ Premier–an unreleased and little heard freestyle from Preem’s Gang Starr co-founder G.U.R.U., kicked over the immortal “Mass Appeal” beat during an interview on Belgian radio circa 1994. Get a blast from ... Read more

Audio: Cocaine 80s “Unchain Me/Love 3x”

by shamz on May 24, 2012 NEWS

As promised, more white. Cocaine 80s continue to kill it with more new music to supplement your Thursday. Today’s leak is of the double feature variety with “Unchain Me/Love 3X.” Unlike the last jawn, Fauntelroy keeps it mellow and acoustic with both of these songs. Still no word on a project, but they’ve already leaked an EPs worth ... Read more

Audio: Leela James “Something’s Got a Hold On Me” + Behind the Scenes Footage

by anto on May 23, 2012 NEWS

It’s been a while since we last heard from Leela James. Now Leela is back with a new project and it’s gonna be an ambitious one. On July 31 she will be releasing her album Loving You More… In the Spirit of Etta James and as you might be able to deduct from the title, ... Read more

TALWST – Alien Tentacle Sex [EP Stream]

by Eddie "STATS" on May 23, 2012 NEWS

Northern alien (Canadialien?) and okayplayer-featured First Look artist TALWST dropped his EP Alien Tentacle Sex on the planet yesterday and not surprisingly it is a brilliant mess of dark, innovative genre-bending soul. The frequent illangelo collaborator arrives at a sound that is 0bviously an incestuous cousin of The Weeknd‘s druggy pop sound–so close in fact that it prompts ... Read more

Okayfuture Audio: SBTRKT “Gamelena”

by Eddie "STATS" on May 23, 2012 NEWS

The man of a millions masks (SBTRKT, I mean) has announced that he’s ”back in the studio. working towards eps/ album/ etc.” and as proof he offers this bleepy slow-house juggernaut called “Gamelena.” Sounds like an ill video game–and so does the title. By way of metadata, ‘TRKT offers these words: ”something new – no plan for ... Read more

Audio: Slum Village x Skyzoo + Focus “Church” (Young RJ Remix)

by Eddie "STATS" on May 23, 2012 NEWS

“Church,” off the recent Slum Village mixtape/free LP Dirty Slums gets a tough remix featuring the homie Skyzoo and Focus. The beat from the prolific Young RJ comes in on some chipmunk soul but quickly chokes out the chipmunk and pours out some actual soul-soul on his grave. Call it black squirrel soul. Detroit knows what I’m talking ... Read more

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NYC: Talib Kweli X J. Pinder X Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew Live At LPR [5/28]

by anto on May 28, 2012 NEWS

Perhaps in an attempt to honor the world’s prisoners of conscience, Talib Kweli has chosen this Memorial Day as the starting point of his Prisoner of Conscious tour. Okayplayer is proud to join with Fusicology, Move Forward Music and Blacksmith in bringing you this momentous event, even as we stand by for an official release ... Read more

Video: Lauryn Hill “You Brought Me Love ” On As The World Turns [1991 TV Clip]

by Eddie "STATS" on May 25, 2012 NEWS

Before we say have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend we just have to say a quick happy birthday and god-bless-your-life to Ms. Lauryn Hill, born May 25th, 1975 (and seen above singing Roberta Flack’s “You Brought Me Love” as Kira Johnson on As The World Turns, circa 1991). Go, shorty. To the rest ... Read more

Video: Dave Dub “Superfly”

by anto on May 25, 2012 NEWS

Live from the underground. San Jose’s Dave Dub has been around for a while but as you might be able to deduct from his private eye swagger in this video for “Superfly,” dude likes to keep it rather low-key with just a hint of psychosis. And yet (or probably more because of that) Dave landed ... Read more

Video: Tall Black Guy Presents “Tempo Dreams” Vol. 1 Trailer

by anto on May 25, 2012 NEWS

Terrel Wallace AKA Tall Black Guy was featured on one of our recent Mixtape Mondays and now the beatmaker is back with a new project he assembled with the help of Bastard Jazz Recordings. The compilation entitled Tempo Dreams Vol. 1 will include the work of like-minded knob-tweakers such as Monkey Robot, Tensei, Ta-Ku, Chief, ... Read more

Win Tix, Be Photographer For A Day At UCLA JazzReggae Fest

by Eddie "STATS" on May 25, 2012 NEWS

UPDATE: We Have A Winner! Beaucoups congrats to Prophet16 and everybody else remember to get your tickets via the links below and see you there (and here and here) LargeUp and Okayplayer are offering you the chance to win a free pair of tickets to the 26th annual edition of the legendary JazzReggae Fest at ... Read more

OKP News: Elzhi Announces Tour Dates + New LP

by anto on May 25, 2012 NEWS

Music lovers from all across the globe showed Elzhi lots of love when he dropped his sublime Elmatic LP last year and now the former Slum Village MC is gonna show some love back. Hitting over 12 countries on an extensive tour this summer, the acclaimed wordsmith will be putting in some work to reap ... Read more

OKP News: ?uestlove Weighs In On The Pete Rock/Lupe Fiasco Sample Controversy

by Eddie "STATS" on May 25, 2012 NEWS

The Pete Rock vs. Lupe Fiasco controversy rolls on. I guess it was wishful thinking to imagine that it would be squashed so quickly. Since we last checked in with our heroes, Pete Rock issued a statement on the subject, declaring the matter resolved. You can read it in full after the jump but the ... Read more

Video: Reggie Watts Live at TED2012

by anto on May 25, 2012 NEWS

What other artists do you know that can speak at least four different languages (including both British English and Harlem Jive), talk about metaphysics, sing on some Barry White type ish, create songs ranging from techno to hip-hop to old school rhythm & blues, including one “about people and sasquatches and other French science stuff” ... Read more

Video: Ayah – A Closer Look

by anto on May 25, 2012 NEWS

The girl Ayah recently flashed her new artistic direction with the UK Garage-y, Slakah the Beatchild-produced tune “Keep Up.” In this behind the scenes look at the life of the talented vocalist, Ayah discloses to director Andrew Stephenson: “I’m in a place where I wanna do my Electric Circus. I just wanna do something different. ... Read more

NYC: Omar + Taylor McFerrin Live At Weeksville Heritage Center [6/2]

by Eddie "STATS" on May 25, 2012 NEWS

I am just assuming that next Saturday, June 2nd you, like me, will spend the afternoon shouting along with the words to “Paid In Full” in between frantically calling all your Philly friends, trying to find a couch to crash on that night so you can engage in one more day of Roots Picnic Madness. ... Read more

OKP News: Public Enemy to Release 2 New LPs This Year

by anto on May 25, 2012 NEWS

25 years and counting…if Public Enemy‘s career was a human being, it might be finishing up its master’s degree in political science right about now. In an interview with Billboard, Chuck D announced that his group is in fact far from done with schooling these kids out here. Late this year, the PE crew will ... Read more

Win Tickets To See Yasiin Bey Live In London

by Brainchild on May 25, 2012 NEWS

Legendary MC, talented actor, and all-around good guy Yasiin Bey is taking his energetic live show to the HMV Forum in London on Saturday, May 26th. The Black Star MC is joined on the bill by Mike Righteous and DJ Semtex. Tickets for the show are going quickly, but we’ve got ONE PAIR that just ... Read more