Teju Cole Okayafrica Mixtape Africa In You Earbuds
Welcome back to Mixtape Monday, in which we present you with the best mixtapes, DJ sets and sound collages to hit the internet. This week is getting off on an especially uptempo foot thanks to the the exclusive premiere of "Shakti Volume 1," the latest mixtape from DJ Shiva, a mix loaded with breakneck DnB drums and creative electro remixes of some of your most-beloved hip-hop cuts. Immediately following is Okayafrica's very special "Africa In Your Earbuds" mixtape collaboration between author Teju Cole and Chief Boima. Beyond that, new sounds from DJ Nu-Mark, Prefuse 73, Ralph Hardy and more.
Like the god of transformative destruction that she takes her name from, DJ Shiva's style is one of disassemblage, and on her brand new "Shakti Volume 1" mixtape the producer takes some of our most-beloved tracks from the realms of hip-hop and R&B and turns them into dance floor burners, packing feverish drum-n-bass beats and icy synthesizers into unexpected corners of your mind. The mix features cuts from Beyonce, J Dilla, DJ Rashad and many more, and Okayplayer is very proud to present its exclusive world premiere. Listen below and get ready to move. Here's what Shiva herself had to say about "Shakti":
"This mix is the first of my new SHAKTI series. A dedication to the divine feminine energy known in Hindu mythology. A title chosen for me to bring full circle my evolution as an artist. With a name like Shiva I welcome the new cycle with the frequencies and tones that have been speaking to me;juke/footwork, special blends and edits, tied complete with the sounds of the signature siren Goddess Bjork for the Shakti in us all."
Shiva will release a new album, The Art of Allowing, on Alpha Pup Records July 24th.
Tracklist:
Teddman - Hindi
Taso - SaxXx
DJ Rashad x DJ Spinn x Taso - Luchini VIP
6Blocc - Midnight
Hade + DWFL - Rollin' // DJ Rashad & DJ Lucky - Love You
DJ Rashad - She a Go (feat. Spinn & Taso)
Jo Def - I Go
David Banner - Like A Pimp
oriJanus - Heads High
Fracture, Sam Binga & Rider Shafique - Back It Up
oriJanus - 40
RL Grime x What So Not - Tell Me (Ganz Flip)
Dream Continuum - Giv a Lil Luv
Shiva - Dark Moon
ETM - JukeMonk
Bjork - Lionsong
Beyonce - Mine (Machinedrum RMX)
Skygaze - Float
DJ Spinn & DJ Manny - What U Need
Jo Def - U Mnd
Braille - Everyone's Crazy (Machinedrum Remix)
Inc. - You Already Know (Habitat Remix)
Adam F - Circles (Phillip D Kick Edit)
DJ Rashad - Let U No (feat. Dj Spinn)
Oveous - Fall In Love (J Dilla Tribute)
Artwork by Underdog
Okayafrica's "Africa In Your Earbuds" marked a historic achievement last week, bringing in author, writer, educator, photographer and critic Teju Cole to share his personally-curated soundtrack to a night in Lagos, Nigeria. A beautiful collision of passions literary, musical and personal, the mixtape is one of the finest sets to be published by OKA and was sewn together by the talented Chief Boima. Cole also provided an extended written piece to accompany the music, and we've copied only the beginning of the tale below. Head to Okayafrica to read the full piece, and listen to the vibrant, captivating soundtrack below.
One Night In LasgidiIt doesn’t really get good until about 1 am, but you do want to be there by then, because you’d like to get in at least two solid hours of dancing by the time the clubs shut down. Afterward you run the gauntlet of cops on Falomo Bridge. “Oga, anything for us?” “Ehn, don’t worry, on my way back.” And on the way back, you lie. “Officer, I already saw you before na. You no remember?” Naturally, you’re not trying to drive to the Mainland at that hour. You’ve made arrangements to sleep in some Island neighborhood, assuming you’re not rich enough to already live there: Ikoyi, V.I., Lekki 1, Lekki 2, Lekki 3, Ajah. At this hour, you’re taking the uncannily clear roads at speed, stopping not even for traffic lights. The breeze is blowing, the great lagoon sleeps. Twenty-one million people are in whatever form of shelter they call home, these human energies at rest, numerous as the stars above the endless city. The past two hours begin to come back to you, a blur of moves and bodies, and the two or three things you saw and were reluctant to believe, good things, bad things, badt guys, as Lagosians say, and bad gyals dem.
‘One Night In Lasgidi’ Mixed By Chief Boima Tracklist:
1) Good Morning (Kid Konnect Remix) – Brymo
2) Pon de ting – Sarkodie ft Banky W
3) Omo pastor – Aje Butter
4) Adonai (Remix) – Sarkodie feat. Castro
5) Yahooze – Olu Maintain
6) Gongo Aso – 9ice
7) Parcel (a BIG Nwa) – Phyno
8) Kini Big Deal – Wale
9) Oyoyo – J. Martins
10) Aye – Davido
11) Eminado – Tiwa Savage
12) 5 and 6 – Naeto C
13) Gobe – Davido
14) Jaiye Jaiye – Wizkid
15) Oliver Twist – D’Banj
16) First of All – Olamide
17) On top your matter – Wizkid
18) Durobucci – The Mavins
19) Thank God – Da Grin ft. Omawunmi
20) Like to Party – Burna Boy
21) Pete Pete – 9ice
22) Walking – Nneka
23) Iba – Asa
Progressive beatmaker Prefuse 73 rolled out a brand new live mix for Solid Steel late last week. Things begin smoothly with Siah and Yeshua Dapoed and from there build in intensity with plenty of hip-hop and soul. At every turn Prefuse keeps things dynamic and creative, rhythm-wise, so treat yourself to a certifiably choice session; pour a snifter and enjoy.
DJ Nu-Mark consistently comes forth with creative, out-of-left-field mixes and on his "Nu Crack City" set the Los Angeles selector delivers only the finest rare grooves. Saxes squawk and pianos pound on cuts from De La Soul, Soul Bossa Trio, Michael Jackson, Alkalino and more. Here's what Nu-Mark himself had to say about the mix:
This mix incorporates some multi-tracks, unreleased skits with a garnish of new and old music. This mix is intended to make a long car ride breeze by in a flash. Enjoy!
Composer-musician extraordinaire Mark de Clive Lowe went all-out last month to create a fitting tribute mix for jazz legend Herbie Hancock. It's a lengthy, remarkable piece of work that was recorded live in Los Angeles by Devil's Pie music and has thankfully been saved for posterity to enjoy. Here's what Lowe said about his creation:
"The first time I heard Herbie Hancock was the Miles live album My Funny Valentine/Four and More. It was the first time I'd heard that era jazz music and I remember being so blown away with the way Herbie and Tony Williams played together and interacted on that concert. That was the start of a deep admiration and love for the art, creativity and music of Herbie Hancock. I consumed everything I could that he turned his hand to - all of his work with Miles, his own solo records for Blue Note, sideman recordings with every jazz great in every decade since the 60s, his Mwandishi experimental crossover work, the Headhunters deep funk - there's nothing the man could not do. As a pianist he's the ultimate - harmonically so rich and inventive, melodically so lyrical, rhythmically so damn hip. I've been fortunate to see him play on numerous occasions all over the world. The first time was the VSOP band live in Japan along with Wayne Shorter, Wallace Roney, Ron Carter and Tony Williams. I was 17 at the time and can't really fully explain how amazing that was to me. He's one of my biggest inspirations and influences and through his huge body of work, a true musical mentor. In being asked to put together a tribute set, it was the perfect opportunity to go back through decades of his work and pick moments that I really love. I wanted to do more than just spin a set of tunes though, I wanted to take those moments and sample them, flip them, perform a live mixtape. It was the perfect way to share the man's music and how I feel about it. Enjoy!"
Tracklist (All songs Herbie Hancock):
Textures
Oliloqui Valley
Watermelon Man
Sonrisa
Trust Me
Steppin In It
Sun Touch
Twilight
You’ll Know When You Get There
Spank-a-Lee
Death Wish (Main Title)
Stars In Your Eyes
Butterfly
Chameleon
Fat Albert Rotunda
Calypso
Riot
Ready Or Not
Knee Deep
Hang Up Your Hang Ups
Wiggle Waggle
I Have a Dream
Kuru/Speak Like A Child
Jack Rabbit
Maiden Voyage
Survival of the Fittest
Nobu
St Louis Blues
DJ, presenter and music director Ralph Hardy fired off an excellent set recently in conjunction with the London-based Nang collective, treating us all to sounds both classic and cutting edge courtesy of Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, J Cole, Lemar, Common and more.
Our good friends at Boiler Room have been even more active than usual as of late, publishing mixes both live and ready-made by some of the most impressive up-and-coming producers and DJs on earth. Their latest set is 100% Silk--deeply immersive house, electro and other low-fi dance music that's so singular and lovely it defies nomenclature. Put it on and drift away to a dancefloor of some higher plane.
Soulection Radio made a monumental jump this month, launching a new weekly format on Apple Music's Beats 1 Radio. Now, their first show (which played July 4th) has been made available for streaming online and it's a thing of beauty. Label founder Joe Kay put on a blistering set that might go down in history as the ideal introduction to the Soulection sound, with cuts from J Dilla, Justin Timberlake, D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Twista, Sango, Esta, Mr. Carmack and more all getting their time to shine. It really is a wonderful thing to know that every saturday night will bring us new Soulection. Tune in below and enjoy.
Tracklist:
1. Lege Kale - Solstice
2. TEK.LUN – shush
3. swindail - zen zen hit the ten ten
4. Sango - Me dê Amor
5. Kendrick Lamar – Alright
6. J.Cole – ATaleof2Citiez
7. Weird Inside – just ask (oshi redo)
8. The Gap Band – Outstanding
9. ESTA. – Bryson Tiller - Don't (esta. remix)
10. Vic Mensa - Down On My Luck (esta. remix ft. Jarreau Vandal, Mr. Carmack,
Sam Gellaitry)
11. Michael Jackson – Cant Help It (Tangoterje Samba Remix)
12. Soho – Hot Music (Rolling With The 808)
13. oriJanus – Hot Remix ft. Tek.Lun & Zikomo
14. Flume – Left Alone feat. Chet Faker (Gravez x Ta-ku Re-Remix)
15. PYRMDPLAZA x J-Louis – Untitled
16. Elhae - Drive Me Crazyy
17. Mick Jenkins - Fresh Water (Feat. Drake) (Lege Kale Mash-Mix)
18. PYRMDPAZA – House Joe Kay Bump
19. SAM GELLAITRY - snake charmer (swindail edit)
20. TEK.LUN – If We Keep Falling
21. Gravez – All These Girls
22. hxns - good girl
23. Kaaris - Charge (Mr. Carmack Remix)
24. Hunt for the Breeze – Louis XIV
25. Twista – Overnight Celebrity ft. Kanye West (Instrumental)
26. Lakim - the world is yours
27. Nikes x Lefty x MoonDoctoR – $mokin Ha$h
28. Kendrick Lamar – King Kunta
29. Bain – After (Moods Remix)
30. Louie Lastic – Close2u
31. ESTA & Mr. Carmack – Untitled
32. J Dilla – Sycamore
33. Dwele – Feels So Good
34. Pharrell Williams – Can I Have It Like That (Instrumental)
35. Snoop Dogg – Beautiful ft. Hidden Beach Records
36. Justin Timberlake – Senorita
37. D.R.A.M. – Cha Cha
38. Justin Timberlake feat. T.I. – My Love (Instrumental)
39. Ginuwine – Final Warning ft. Aaliyah
40. Sly5thAve – Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe
41. Erykah Badu – Didn't Cha Know
42. Amy Winehouse – Stronger Than Me (Alby D bootleg)
43. RAVEN – Is It Real
44. Geode – Embrace
45. D'Angelo – Left & Right (Moodprint Remix)
46. Bassbear!! x Swisha Sweet - _take.Grime
47. Destruments – What You Won't Do For Love
48. The Internet – Girl (feat. KAYTRANADA)
49. Mura Masa – Lovesick Fuck
50. Cazal Organism – Bone Jelly (Pre Sax)
51. Zebrahim – beautifullest thing
52. Zebrahim – zizzle
53. J Dilla – Think Twice
54. Lisa Preston – It's a Gaye Thing (Marvin's Groove)
55. Ebrahim – iheartbobby
DJ Wicked has once again set loose a hip-hop heater of a mixtape, this time taking a varied approach with just one unifying theme: nothing but vinyl. 78 minutes of nothing but knocking beats courtesy of Blu, Statik Selektah, DJ Skizz and more. Get more acquainted with Wicked in a new video, produced by Ego Crushen Sessions.
And lastly, we bring you an old-school style beats session courtesy of Spexxx. Nothing but dusty samples, MPC cooking and a whole lot of head-nodding. It's the perfect cap on what's already been an excellent week, so until next time--keep moving to it.
