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MED BLU MADLIB – Finer Things (Feat. Phonte & Likewise)

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The dream is real! A Justice League of West Coast underground rap MED, BLU and MADLIB connect on the A+ “Finer Things”. Featuring the ultramelodic vocal stylings of Phonte (the Little Brother/Foreign Exchange rapper to home Drake owes a good chunk of his rap palette), “Finer Things” picks excellently right up in the heyday of this crew of artists. WE NEED MORE. Look for Bad Neighbor on October 30th.

reviewed by
10-16-15

Benny Sings – You And Me (Feat. GoldLink)

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Dutch veteran producer and singer Benny Sings (who had a memorable standout album in 2011 called ART) makes a slick serendipitous comeback after a long absence from the limelight with his new rhythmic-melodic hip-hop-inspired r&b-lustered smash hit single “You and Me” from his upcoming new Step Kids-mixed album called STUDIO that is out on November 27th via German label Jakarta Records and Dox Records in the Netherlands. New track “You and Me” (which we like for its stylish mesh of subtle-sensuous mellow-sublime beats, slick out-of-this-world vocals and cheery-guitar-groove-fed instrumentals) features the versatile vocal style and current-trend-bent flow of Soulection-artist VA-based emcee/vocalist Goldlink (who we recently covered for his Missy-sampling And After That, We Didn’t Talk LP knockout single “Spectrum”). We love the incredibly charming cohesive mesh of vocals on “You and Me” and look forward to hearing the lot of STUDIO which apparently only features one other track with a guest vocalist. We think Benny Sings made a wise choice to include Goldlink! Amazing collaboration. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

GoldLink Tour Dates:
Oct 15 @ Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN
Oct 17 @ Orpheum Theatre – Madison, WI
Oct 21 @ Egyptian Room at Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN
Oct 24 @ Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY
Oct 26 @ The Lyric Oxford – Oxford, MS
Oct 30 @ TOYOTA PARK – Bridgeview, IL
Oct 31 @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
Oct 31 @ TOYOTA PARK – Bridgeview, IL
Nov 01 @ TOYOTA PARK – Bridgeview, IL
Nov 06 @ McDonald Theatre – Eugene, OR
Nov 07 @ Knitting Factory Concert House – Spokane, WA
Nov 09 @ Showbox Sodo – Seattle, WA
Nov 12 @ Knitting Factory Concert House – Reno, NV
Dec 10 @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – San Francisco, CA
Dec 14 @ Shrine Expo Hall – Los Angeles, CA

Benny Sings (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
10-15-15

Krs. – Ever Blessed

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We last showcased Toronto producer, Noir Sound founder, and talented bootleg-rework style-setter Krs. for his heated and seductive deep-surface tropical-flamboyant shadowy-vibe artfully-beat-driven Demarco-inspired subtle-stinger bootleg, “Gyal Thing”. We are completely smitten with his latest “Ever Blessed” a beat-heavy steamy-sensual dance-grind-driven fun-wonder bootleg of Jamaican dancehall reggae artist Vybz Kartel. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Krs. (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
10-14-15

ACES – I’m Already Gone

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Ahhh, we love this one. “I’m Already Gone” is new from Brooklyn-based act ACES. Dipped in rhodes and finished with a cool alto that we adore, “I’m Already Gone” traffics in the recent/current R&B Sound of 2015 but adds a refreshing set of melodic turns and a star-level vocal that give the track added repeat-ability. Listen to “I’m Already Gone” below.

ACES Soundcloud

reviewed by
10-14-15

Leo Kalyan- Get Your Love (Fine Print Remix)

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B3 Recs’ Fine Print fit a sharp late night tones to Leo Kalyan’s latest, “Get Your Love”. The deep in the guts circadian synths and a potent low gain thump employed by FP shine “Get Your Love” with a nocturnal vigor. Look for “Get Your Love” on October 30th on Believe Records.

Leo Kalyan (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
10-13-15

Lettuce – Phyllis

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We love the intricately-woven brightly-laced wide-eyed cinematic scope and superbly-emotive groovy-guitar-fed horn-dazzled reverby-synth-tickled instrumental fundamentals of new gem track “”Phyllis” from NYC funk band Lettuce. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Lettuce (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
10-08-15

The Xtraordinair$ – No Pressure (Feat. Reggie B)

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Kansas City-MO-based production duo The Xtraordinair$ a.k.a. Leonard Dstroy, and Dominique Sanders, team up with Kansas City vocalist Reggie B on new one “No Pressure” a intricately-layered beautifully-vibrant seductively-lulling sensitive-soulful nature-inspired r&b-vibe-vocals-led track which is out via Paris independent collective Laruche Records. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

The Xtraordinair$ missouri (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
10-08-15

Raury – Forbidden Knowledge (Feat. Big K.R.I.T.)

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I first discovered Raury when he was on the 2015 XXL freshman class cover. He’s a young kid out of Stone Mountain, Georgia with a unique flair and style of music. His debut album All We Need is about to drop on October 15 and so far it’s going to be dope. Another song from the album dropped today entitled “Forbidden Knowledge” featuring Big K.R.I.T.; on the track, Raury proves his wisdom is beyond his 19 years as he unravels the forbidden memories of his past while trying to find himself in the present. Reviewed by Jake Goldstein.

Raury (YouTube)

reviewed by
10-08-15

Doja Cat – Men Like Lavender

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On the heels of her THC-produced early-90’s hip-hop vibe throwback track “Candy Salad” the ever-entertaining LA artist Doja Cat takes the cake with her new freestyle “Men Like Lavender”, a slow burning morose-moody scratchy-melodic tune which is packed with sentiment. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

DOJA CAT (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
10-07-15

A Tribe Called Quest & Busta Rhymes – Oh My God (Kaytranada Edit)

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B3 favorite Hatian-Canadian producer/mentor/industry-connector Kaytranada wows us yet again with classics on his top-notch club edit of Busta Rhymes featured Tribe Called Quest track “Oh My God”. Kaytranada creates a beautifully translated impeccable meld of dramatic piano chords, catchy well-timed vocal infusions and a vivaciously slick and stylized bass-line that we are caught up on. Great track. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Kaytranadacanada: (Facebook)

reviewed by
10-06-15

Camosorno – Jeep Radio (Feat. VINCE)

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We’re listening to the superbly slow burning sensual-erotic muted-atmospheric beats and brightly-inspired street-sultry vocal elementals of producer Cam Osorno on his seductively loquacious new r&b-infused hip-hop jam “Jeep Radio” which features the super-sexy flow of hip-hop artist Vince. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Camosorno (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
10-06-15