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J Dila J Period Soundwaves Radio Mixtape Cover Art
J Dila J Period Soundwaves Radio Mixtape Cover Art

Mixtape Monday: J Period x J Dilla Exclusive Premiere, King Mono Afrobeat, Prince Paul + More!

The Roots Holiday Party shot by Mel D. Cole for Villageslum.com

Mixtape Monday is back again, all set to turn the clock forward on your weekly sonic schedule. In a particularly excellent roundup we've got the exclusive online premiere of J Period's recent J Dilla Minimix, which played on Los Angeles's Soundwaves Radio recently in celebration of #DillaMonth. Great things continue to come in small packages with Prince Paul's latest It's Not the Size of Your Mix... installment, a brief but brilliant set that includes joints from Alkaholiks, Boogiemonsters and many more. Beyond that, an all-African(ish) groove mixtape from King Mono is thick with Fela vibes, plus sets from Cosmo Baker, HWLS, BamaLoveSoul and a throwback disco ride circa 1976. You tired from that lost hour of sleep? Too bad. It's monday morning and these mixtapes ain't hearing no excuses.

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

The beautiful thing about J Dilla's catalog is that his catalog offers almost an infinite number of ins, outs and beautiful sample source material for DJs to sink their decks into. Brooklyn regular J Period put on a top-level Dilla tribute session out in Los Angeles late last month, working in tandem with SoundWavesRadio. His Dilla MiniMix is definitely beyond the scope of what we usually hear from Yancey-minded mixers, and focuses on some of the less obvious joints of the GOAT's career. Put it this way: you've never heard a J Dilla tribute mix with this much Busta Rhymes. And that's a great thing--Dilla's catalog is a labyrinth of dopeness, and for these 32 minutes J Period navigates it with ease. Okayplayer is very proud to offer the exclusive premiere of the mix, which you can listen to below.

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

And the Afrobeat goes on. King Mono and Tummy Touch Music A&R Tim Love Lee In a classic "battle mixtape," Lee and the Mono boys go back and forth throwing modern hip-hop, loads of throwback African tracks and just about everything else back and forth, creating a mix that's grounded in the classic Nigerian sound but loaded with vocals from different decades and continents. Fela Kuti, Run the Jewels, Van Halen (!) and more. When DJs compete--you win.

Tracklist:

Little Shalimar - "Lady"

Smoota - "Comb Away the Tangles"

Run the Jewels - "Get It"

Chin Chin - "Stay (J Boogie Remix)"

Fela Kuti - "Fefe Na Efe"

Antibalas - "Dirt and Blood"

Van Halen v King Mono - "Corriendo Con El Diablo"

Steve Arrington - "Nobody Can Be You"

Chin Chin - "Go There With You"

Antipop Consortium - "Ghost Lawns"

EL-P - "Drones Over Brooklyn"

Run the Jewels - "Job Well Done"

King Mono - "Big Bass Drum"

King Mono feat Tiombe Lockhart - "Tiger Tiger (OK Tiger)"

Reverend Vince Anderson - "Water Into Wine"

Chico Hamilton - "The Dealer"

Biggie Smalls v King Mono - "Can I Get Wit Cha"

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

Only a month ago Prince Paul dropped part one of his It's Not The Size Of Your Mix and from the jump we were convinced he was on to something. Now the DJ is back with the second installment in what's becoming an artful series. Nothing but choice old school tones on this one, with plenty of gritty drums and horn hits. Joints from Alkaholiks, Boogiemonsters, Rampage and more. Prince Paul is like an some kind of Jedi Knight of mixing. Press place and feel the force.

Nicky Siano Wax Poetics 1979 Live Mixtape Cover

Throughout the 1970s, a members-only club tucked away in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood bore witness to some of the greatest dance nights of the 20th century.The Gallery, a funk and disco joint that openly welcomed members of all ages, races and sexual orientations, boasted one of the most advanced (and massive) sound systems on earth, along with what some say was the greatest talent to ever man the decks pre-Ronald Reagan. Nicky Siano was his name, and he had a reputation as a flamboyant live wire who could select, mix, crossfade and chop records with a skill that some claim is still unparalleled to this day. Armed with only the rudimentary turntable and mixer technology of the 70s, Siano relied on his own ear and nigh-invincible internal sense of rhythm to craft inventive sets that kept New York dancing late into the steamy nights.

Wax Poetics, blessed souls that they are, has published a fascinating profile of Siano and his years atop the decks at The Gallery, and it's absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in the legacy of these things we call mixtapes and DJing. Siano, now in his sixties, will be revitalizing those vintage Gallery grooves for one night only at a pop-up club night out in Coney Island on March 21st. There's more information about that event here, and below you can listen to one of Siano's Gallery sets, dating back to 1976. It's a joyful ride through disco and funk, faded meticulously from track to track by an expert hand. Siano's love of the music and its scene inundates every minute. Listen to it and enjoy your trip back in time.

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

We got the jazz. Or, rather, DJ Rahdu's latest mixtape does. Using Madlib's Yesterday's New Quintet project as his guide, Rahdu has turned out a set of top-tier jazz tracks, each one loaded with silky-smooth sample material that's begging to get chopped up. Delivered via his BamaLoveSoul project/blog/launchpad for general dopeness, Rahdu's mix is drum-heavy, at times bringing in some of Madlib's own beats as a means of spicing up the gumbo just a bit. Rare and righteous, this might be the grooviest hour you'll hear all spring.

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

And let's keep things grooving, shall we? New York DJ Cosmo Baker took a spin through Eavesdrop Radio to spin a very lengthy guest mix of hip-hop, left field funk, avant-jazz and so much more. Baker dropped Tuxedo, Wu-Tang Clan, James Brown, Orchestre Du Bawobab and Big Daddy Kane on this one--consider it some syncopated spring cleaning for your eardrums.

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Tracklist:

Theme of Star Trek II

Theme From Star Wars

??? – "Congo"

Beastie Boys – "Brass Monkey"

Wu-Tang Clan – "Triumph"

People Under The Stairs – "Tuxedo Rap"

Tuxedo – "Number One"

Johnny Hammond – "Fantasy (Faze Action Tape Edit)"

Al Kent – "I Just Can’t Help Myself"

DJ Day – "What Planet What Station"

Jaga Jazzist – "Toccata (Invader Ace Remix)"

Whiskey Barons – "Tumbao"

Sunlightsquare – "I Believe In Miracles (Broken Party Animal Mix)"

ESKA – "Shades Of Blue"

Ibeyi – "River"

Jose James – "Every Little Thing"

D’Angelo & The Vanguard – "Sugah Daddy"

[Interview]

The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble – "Rise of the East"

Bernard Herrmann – “Diary Of A Taxi Driver”

Beethoven – “The Funky Devastate Pt. 2 (DJ Format Remix)

DJ Spinna – “Dillagence feat. Phonte”

Slimkid 3 & DJ Nu-Mark – “Bom Bom Fiya”

Blue Boy – “Remember Me (Jim Sharp Edit)”

Jan Hammer Group – “Don’t You Know”

Surprise – “Sweet Love”

Bobby Franklin’s Insanity – “Bring It On Down To Me”

Big Daddy Kane – “Extra Raw (Monk One BDK Vs Greedy G Edit)”

B.Cause – “In The Sea”

James Brown – “Funky Drummer (Jorun Bombay Make Me Sweat Edit)”

Freqnik & WDRE – “Pass The Peas”

Take 6 -“Spread More Love (DJ Shepdog’s 45 King Re-Touch)”

Unknown Artist – “Rigor Mortis”

Sunlight Square- “I Believe In Miracles”

The Jackson 5 – “Dancing Machine (Big Trudy’s DOmecracker Dub)”

Sandra Richardson – “I Feel A Song (In My Heart)”

Jesse Anderson – “Swing Too High”

Rimshot – “Dance Girl”

Maggie Threatt – “Soupy”

King Coleman – “The Boo Boo Song”

The Diplomats – “I Can Give You Love”

Dee Edwards – “Why Can’t There Be Love”

Orgone – “Funky Nassau”

Orchestre Du Bawobab – “Kelen Ati Len”

Gwen McCrae – “90% Of Me Is You”

Jazzy Jens – "Akula (Edit)"

Dele Sosimi – "Na My Turn (Paper Tiger Remix)"

Marc Meistro – "Soul Searchin’"

SBTRKT – "New Dorp. New York. (Captain Planet Bootleg)"

Potatohead People ft. Mosaic – "Broke The Pen"

Beat Spacek – "Gotta Get Some Music"

Vibration Society – "Spirits Up Above"

Mark de Clive-Lowe ft. Nia Andrews – "Hollow"

Kali Uchis – "Call Me"

The Rebirth – "Samurai"

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

Over at LargeUp there's a dancehall rager going on, and we'd be remiss to leave out all the great mixtapes from island artists. In that spirit, listen to MeLo-X & Jasmine Solano's Electric Punanny Vol. 5, an ace mix of dancehall-tinged joints that moves at a blistering pace through 50 songs in only 59 minutes. Joints from Mavado and Kalado keep things moving along, as does that one special Nicki Minaj remix you may have read about a while back... Turn it up and prepare to sweat--we recommend listening in a space with ample moving room.

Tracklist:

Zoelah - “Wine Up On Me” (Murlo Remix)

P-Money & Gappy Ranks - “Baddest” (Ape Drums Mash Up)

Dinamarca ft. Gnucci - “A.M.A.B.”

Chudney J - “Bounce”

Gage - “Throat”

Kalado - “Bad Inna Bed” (Schlachthofbronx Edit)

I Octane - “Elastic”

Gaza Slim - “Boom Body”

Mavado - “Born Fi Dis”

Alkaline - “Inna Yuh Belly”

Vybz Kartel - “Jamaica Land We Love”

Rayonne Hype - “Deya”

Gully Bop - “Pu**y Specialist”

Vbyz Kartel - “Pretty Position”

Busy Signal - “Gyal Yuh Good”

Reekado Banks ft. Tiwa Savage - “Turn It Up”

Kantana - “Mi Waah Si Di Girls Dem”

Popcaan - “Wine and Stop”

Mr. Vegas - “Pop One”

Vybz Kartel - “Early Morning”

Ape Drums - “Bookshelf”

Gully Bop - “Roun Here”

Vybrant Faya - “Mampi”

Nicki Minaj ft. Chi Ching Ching - “Hot Gyal” (Electric Punanny Remix)

Popcaan - “Love Yuh Bad”

Alkaline - “Young People Time Now”

RDX - “Turn It Around”

Shatta Wale ft. Davido - “Wine Ya Waist”

Realist & Kerry John - “Love Liquor”

Porgie & Murda - “Benup”

Darnella - “Out On De Road”

Benjai ft. H2O Phlo - “Phenominal”

Kerwin Du Bois - “No Apology”

Kcee ft. Wizkid - “Pullover”

Spilulu ft. Super Tonton & Mike - “Tombosha Bantu”

Jah Banks & Julio Bashmore - “Battle for Middle You” (BK Bashment Remix)

Maleek Berry - “Carnival”

Santana D Puppet - “Bounce On It”

Sekon Sta - “Bruk Down”

Olatunji - “Riddim In We Vein”

Skinny Banton - “Soak It Good”

Mr. One Hundred - “Headgone ft. Machel Montano”

Mr. One Hundred - “Axis Jab Jab ft. Bunji Garlin”

Meridian Dan - “German Whip” (Schlachthofbronx Edit)

Skepta ft. JME - “That’s Not Me”

Wildfire! - “Bondage Version”

Karima - “Bantu Juke”

Camille Safiya - “Beautiful Mindfuk”

Sevana Siren - “Bit Too Shy”

Kali Uchis - “Know What I Want”

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

Back once more with sounds of the new, sofie has unveiled the latest installment of her regular SOS Radio show, and it's as dark, sly, and groovy as ever. From laid-back/smoked out hip-hop to a little hyperactive electro, sofie once again covered all the bases of the new in a loosely-mixed fashion that recalls bedrooms and black lights.

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

This is it right here. Using strictly records from Damu the Fudgemunk's choice catalog, Soul Supreme AFK has put together a 20 minute tribute and it. f**king. knocks. This is some of the dopest instrumental hip-hop, acid jazz and moody trip-hop funk we've heard in a long while. There's really not much more to say: you need this mix in your life. Why are you still reading this? Get your best headphones and press play.

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

Let's end this week on a classic note, shall we? With this 2-hour long sprawling Jazz Appreciation mixtape, Marsellus Wallace has proved that his dust and grooves game is strong, featuring cuts from labels like Strata East, Kudu and CTI. From Italian swing to the spacey passages of Freddie Hubbard, Wallace's mix touches all the neglected bases of the global jazz scene and is a fitting end to this particularly excellent Mixtape Monday. Until next time, dear listeners--keep moving to it.

Tracklist:

1. Intro

2. Piero Umiliani - L'Uomo E La Citta (0:55)

3. Ken Duke and The Contemporaries - Some Other Time (1:50)

4. Bobby Hutcherson - Same Shame (5:56)

5. Freddie Hubbard - Lost Dreams (10:07)

6. Freddie Hubbard "Lost Dreams/Herbie Hancock "Wandering Spirit Song (Marsellus Wallace edit) (17:31)

7. Larry Nozero - Tune For L.N. (17:55)

8. Romano Mussolini - Mirage (22:11)

9. Seawind - The Devil Is A Liar (30:38)

10. Kenny Burrell - Do What You Gotta Do (32:43)

11. Doug Carn - Acknowledgement (37:37)

12. John Klemmer - Humbling Love (38:06)

13. Zerosen - Son Of A Pinhead (38:53)

14. Stanley Turrentine - Sunshine Alley (42:00)

15. Lou Donaldson - Alligator (49:51)

16. The Lyman Woodard Orchestra - Cheeba Pt. 2 (56:37)

17. Airto - Creek (1:01:07)

18. Shelly Manne - Scavenger (1:08:01)

19. The Baron Von Ohlen Quartet - Vonetta (1:11:46)

20. Donald Byrd - The Emperor (1:15:02)

21. Jack McDuff - Pocket Change (1:30:48)

22. Donald Byrd - You Are The World (1:37:29)

23. Barbara Moore - Hot Heals (1:41:45)

24. Piero Umiliani feat. Helen Merrill - My Only Man (1:44:26)

25. Ahmad Jamal Trio - Stolen Moments (1:47:10)

26. Urbie Green - Manteca (1:53:01)

27. Gene Russell - Me And Mrs. Jones (1:59:00)