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Kai Alce Cubic Moon
Kai Alce Cubic Moon

Mixtape Monday: Rampage Sound's Raw & Rugged Exclusive Premiere, Plus DJ Neil Armstrong, Kai Alcé + More!

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Keep the champagne and statuettes coming--the awards ceremony is still going strong. Mixtape Monday is once again upon us, and that means Okayplayer is bringing around the best the leading, supporting, and guest star DJs from all across the global soundscape in order to keep your head nodding, toe tapping and hip shaking. This week we're proud to bring the exclusive world premiere of Raw & Rugged: Gold Edition, which was hand-crafted by DJ Rampage's Rampage Sound Global collective. What's more, DJ Neil Armstrong has returned with a bevy of new releases, including a love-driven tape of "come hither" cuts and the sequel to his legendary Warm & Fuzzy mixtape.

A little farther down the rabbit hole Okaydeep alumnus Kai Alcé brings us a new set of moonlit house beats and London remix king fwdslxsh offers the perfect set to drift to. It's as diverse and top-shelf as a Mixtape Monday ever was, so get to paging forward and enjoy the best new set on Earth--no acceptance speeches, please.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

DJ Rampage and Okayplayer are such a heaven-made match that it's hard to believe this hasn't happened before. Still, it's about damn time, and Okayplayer is very proud to present Raw & Rugged: Gold Edition, a set of all-90s hip-hop that cuts through the clutter with its relentless boom-bap. Rampage has made big waves in recent years as Lauryn Hill's live DJ, and his Rampage Sound Global collective is a force to be duly reckoned with. That crew also includes Fatfingaz and Yos, and the entire collective was responsible for the greatness you're hearing on the R&R tape. The Big Daddy Kane hits early, and De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Gangstarr and EPMD all follow in proper fashion. It's been a while since we did it this golden-age-of-hip-hop proper, so enjoy the gems (and the ace scratch connects from Rampage's crew). If you just can't get enough, cruise on LargeUp to enjoy even more of the funky tea that RSG's been brewing.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

There are mixes, and then there are DJ Neil Armstrong masterpieces. The NYC-based mix legend is busy with a giant-sized grip of new ventures, the most amazing of which is his long overdue Warm & Fuzzy Part 2 mixtape, which isn't so much a set of songs as it is a weekend-length getaway to somewhere...sensual. You won't find the set anywhere online in its entirety--Armstrong is strong arming this one into a paycheck, and trust us when we say it's wroth the cash. The entire package includes a cassette tape USB drive loaded with the mix, plus a CD copy and a (yes) thong bearing the Warm & Fuzzy logo. One listen to the lovers' anthems that round out the mix and it'll all make sense--prepare for Bob Marley interwoven with Disclosure, plus the Isley Brothers, Ginuwine, MJ, Toni Braxton and more. Stream the mix's lead-off preview track below and consider ponying up for some sounds made by one of the best mixtape-crafters in the game.

But wait! We can't be blamed for teasing you with but a preview of Armstrong's greatness. Also brand new from him is the For The Love of Queens set, an all "hold your boo" mix of love tunes that feels just a little more club-ready than the sensual Warm & Fuzzy affair. Made up of rare and not-so-rare tracks released all within the last six years, the mixtape is also top-notch Neil and flows effortlessly from bar to bar. How does the guy manage to produce so much andprepare a new food-based project? Scratch your head as you knock to these sweet sounds--we'll do our best to keep you in the loop.

01. Drake – "Hold On We’re Going Home" (OVO Sound/Young Money)

02. Eric Bellinger ft. Treasure Davis – "What You Want" (Exclusive)

03. Mapei – "Don’t Wait" (Downtown Records)

04. Jordan Bratton – "You Said" (1009 Record/RCA)

05. Drake – "Best I Ever Had" (Young Money/Cash Money)

06. Maxine Ashley – "Between You & I" (i am OTHER entertainment)

07. Daley – "Look Up" (Republic Records)

08. Tinashe – "Midnight Sun" (Exclusive)

09. Jennifer Hudson – "No One Gonna Love You" (Arista/Sony)

10. Lee Fields & The Expressions – "My World Is Empty Without You" (Truth & Soul)

11. Kendra Morris – "If You Didn’t Go" (Wax Poetic Records)

12. Lee Fields & The Expressions – "Do You Love Me (Like You Say You Do)" (Truth & Soul)

13. Marsha Ambrosius – "Far Away" (J Records/Sony)

14. Kendra Morris – "Today" (Wax Poetic Records)

15. Maxine Ashley – "By Your Side" ( i am OTHER entertainment)

16. Adrian Marcell- "My Life" (Republic Records/Universal)

17. Elli Ingram – "High Love" (MTA Records/Island)

18. Adrian Marcel – "Wrapped" (Republic Records/Universal)

19. Janelle Monae ft. Miguel – "Primetime" (Bad Boy/Atlantic/Warner)

20. Mayer Hawthorne – "Thin Moon" (Stones Throw Records)

21. Anthony Hamilton – "I’ll Wait" (To Fall In Love) (RCA/Sony)

22. Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band – "Strictly Reserved for You" (Daptone Records)

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

We never knew we loved house music so much until we got more closely acquainted with Kai Alcé. The Atlanta-based, Detroit-tested DJ has facilitated multiple connections between Mixtape Monday and the deep house scene, while in the meanwhile he himself continues to produce top-tier product himself. His latest offering, a 90s-minded batch of hypnotic steady beat grooves is entitled Cubic Moon and is guaranteed to stretch your dancefloor comfort zone out to a bit more "lunar" scale. Listen below:

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Art by Jesse Hernandez

Remember when we commented last week that this new revitalized stream of Wax Poetics mixtapes is a beautiful thing indeed? Rewind and replay that thought, because the magazine is back yet again presenting a fiercely creative mixtape from DJ Platurn. His Siete Galaxias, Volume 1 is a journey Southward through the rarities of Texas, Central America and beyond, the mix cuts a course from dramatic guitar ballads all the way to string-laden soul and more than a little funk. If Serge Gainsbourg and Sergio Mendes hopped in a VW convertible and took the scenic route to a Buenos Aires midnight patio party, this would the the sort of joints they'd listen to along the way. Read much more about the mixtape over at WaxPo and enjoy the equatorial & airy sound.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Before you R&B futurians think we're leaving you snubbed this week, get set for Fwdslxsh's absolutely brilliant Music to...Drift To, which comes presented by i-D. The London-based champion of remixes and left-field productions has designed one of the better future-R&B mixes we've heard in a while, which packs inventive chops of Tinashe, James Blake, Bonobo and more. If you're down with Ta-ku, Mr. Carmack, Sango and more, you best do yourself a favor and proceed with fwdslxsh. You can read a little more about the mix over at i-D.

Tracklist:

James Blake - "Retrograde" (salute Remix)

StewRat - "Through"

TroyBoi - "Don't Be Judging"

Sorrow - "My Love"

Fwdslxsh - "High Tide"

Bonobo - Return to Air

yung sherman + haydn ~ "shut it down"

Aywy - "Voyeur"

Jeremih - "F**k U All The Time" (Dpat Remix)

Lapalux - "DNY GLVR"

KAASI - "Caroline Street"

Tinsahe ft Schoolboy Q - "2 On" (Fwdslxsh & Kource Edit) (unreleased)

Esta & IAMNOBODI - "Staying In Tonight"

Rochelle Jordan - "Visions"

P.Morris - "Beloved"

Karma Kid - "In My Arms" (Maths Times Joy Remix)

Daniel Caeser - "Violet"

Promnite - "Used to Be" [Unity]

Eric Bellinger - "Jump the Gun" (Sammy Stache Remix)

Twinsmatic - "Oh Boy"

Last Night In Paris - "Untitled" Pure EP (unreleased)

KC - "Got Ur Bitch" (Prod. Fwdslxsh) (unreleased)

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

There's no use fighting it--we're going to be immersed in love-loaded Valentine's Day mixes from now until the beginning of March. Might as well embrace it, and embrace is all-too-easy with Shout Out NY x United Crates's new Box of Chocolates mixtape, which brings some of the tenderest boom-bap ever made all under the same sweet heading. Joints from Method Man & Redman, Common, Slick Rick and many more--they're all here with the mission statement of making a little love in the club.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

One of New York City's unsung mixtape professionals, Will Coloan returned last week with a brand new After Hours mix, which homes right in on that sultry "closing time" vibe. An absolutely absurd India.Arie remix leads the way through Raheem DeVaughn, Jesse Boykins III and a host of other beautiful tones. Enjoy this delicately sewn-up set and the good Mr. Coloan a proper dig.

Tracklist:

Love Jones Intro

India.Arie - "Brown Skin" (Remix)

Teyana Taylor - "Request"

Alicia Keys ft. Maxwell - "Fire We Make" (Remix)

Raheem DeVaughn - "Strip"

SLK - "Ride"

The Dream - "IV Play"

Marsha Ambrosius ft. Charlie Wilson - "Spend All My Time"

Jesse Boykins III - "Prototype"

Inc. - "Black Wings"

The Weeknd -- "What You Need"

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Let's keep the smooth and loving vibes going, no? East coast selector Cuurlzzz released this affectionate set last wee, entitled Because The Night's Not Over. It's a thing of beauty, loaded with throwback R&B from primarily the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. It's a little slower, a little softer but no less funky than the more modern-minded Valentine's Day sets you've been hearing. In truth it might be Okayplayer's favorite mix of all of February--it's that good. Marvin Gaye, The Blackbyrds, Bernard Wright, Delfonics and more--because love is a long-running thing and some of the tenderest recordings ever laid down come from that golden pre-hip-hop era of funk & soul.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Music collective/radio station Infinit has done nothing but gain ground in the last couple of years, and their VIBES series has been a favorite treat of those at the Okayplayer office. Now they've returned with Amsterdam Selection, a mix that sits somewhere at the crossroads between house, techno, future soul and R&B. The hour-long set was crafted by Amsterdam producer/DJ Blue, who went for a starry, "night time bike ride through the city" type feel and nailed it. Over a predominant presence of muted, tasteful beats the occasional banger rises an falls, giving the impression of riding past clubs and house parties at their peak. The mix never loses its pace and moves beautifully from one synth-soaked track to the next, and is a great primer of what's new and dope in the 'Dam. Listen below.

Tracklist:

Elhae - ‘Halfway Love’

Sevdaliza - ‘Clear Air’ (Jarreau Vandal Remix)

Teeko - ‘The hot’ (Instrumental)

SiR - ‘The bullet and The gun’ (HMLT edit)

Moni Mendoza - ‘Paradise’

Advanced Boi - ‘Advance yourself’

Singularis - ‘???????’

Chris McClenney - ‘All I want is you’

J-Louis ft. Zacari - ‘Heaven sent’

Koji. - ‘Eyes low.’

e.doza - ‘anyway’

Janet - ‘Go deep’ (Falcons remix)

Introbeats - ’New Jack City’

Kartell - ’Turn over’ (LA-NO remix)

Abhi//Dijon - ‘Young’ (Joseph L 'Étranger & Shaunic Remix)

CYGN - ‘Lost’

Tory Lanez - ‘Henny in hand’ (Fortune & Ekali Remix)

Jacob Marley - ‘Air Chrysalis’

Erick Rincon - ‘Danza de los muertos’ (Future Tribal)

JAHKOY - ‘Vacay’

Krs. - ’90s Love’ (jahkoy’s vacay flip)

Ness - ‘Keep on’

KRYONE - ‘Assim’

Ma7Hu - ‘Hight’

Troy Samuela - ‘Yams’

El. Train ft. Miki Rose - ‘Control’

Beyonce - ‘Mine’ (Machinedrum Remix)

Rosewater CTZ - ‘What a woman feels’ (Edit 2015)

Flako - ‘Kuku’

Paris Jones - ‘You like me’ (OZZIE remix)

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

So loaded down with funky beats it's practically buckling at the knees, Moving Castle's new mixtape has all the punchy guitars, rattling trap beats, flowing Rhodes keys and glistening synthesizers. The set was constructed by DMV-area selector Dirty Chocolate and contains one of the most surprisingly proper Shmurda remixes known to man. An all-around tenacious preview of what's to come from the Soundcloud set, Chocolate's mix is oh so sweet and we'll be keeping it on blast until next week.

Tracklist:

Penthouse Penthouse - "Ecstasy "

Dirty Chocolate ft. cavalier - "Dream Sequence"

Bobby Shmurda - "Hot N***a" (Exmag Remix)

Louis Futon - "Shoulda Knows" (Ganz Remix)

Milo Mills - "Ocean Gang"

Ludacris - "Fantasy" (Kush Jones & WALLACE Remix)

Zhu - "Faded" (Rusty Hook Remix )

Spectre Waltz - "Fffocus"

Muramasa - "Lotus Eater"

Dirty Chocolate - "Golden Tears"

Sam Truth - "Rua"

Hudmo - "King Kong Beaver"

Dirty Chocolate - "Hyper Speed"

Rafik - "Hide"

AlunaGeorge - "Superstar" (Lido x Cosmos Midnight Remix)

Seiho - "Wet Asphalt"

Harrison - "Can We Go Out"

Milo Mills - "Sweeter Than Rice Cake"

Avec Avec - "Moon Prism"

Olivia - "So Sexxxy" (Jailo x Sexxxy Panda Remix)

Help Yourself To My Love (Yung Bae Edit)

Cashmere Cat - "Aurora" (Rusty Hook Remix)

HYDRABADD - "Crystal Mist"

813 - "Prpl Drunc"

Dirty Chocolate x Bonae Bonae - "Wave"

Yung Bae - "Fall In Love With Me"

Harrison - "Selfish High Heels"

Dirty Chocolate - "The Peak" (Harrison Edit)

Yung Bae - ????

Arnold - "Plus & Minus"

Pa’s Lam x Neet - "I’m Coming To"

Harrison - "Happy Boy"