Hip Hop

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Nxworries

If there’s one man that’s dominated our musical commute in 2016, it’s Anderson.Paak. The Oxnard native and super soul brother is a beast on the mic, while his discography so far askews the more trap-tinged productions of so many of his peers, favouring as he does a more melodic and old school orientated approach to beatmaking. Needless to say that, since dropping his sophomore album ‘Malibu’ at the turn of the year, we’ve had his sounds on constant rotation here, and now a new project is seemingly set to be released soon on the mighty Stones Throw Records.

Teaming up with renowned hip-hop beatsmith Knxwledge and following their hotly tipped first EP ‘Link Up & Suede’, aired last December, the duo are all set to unleash their full collaborative debut as NxWorries, titled ‘Yes Lawd!’. Anyone not au fait with the work of Knxwledge should head over to his Bandcamp right now, where you’re sure to find beat tape after beat tape available to download… prolific really isn’t the word on this one. An expert on muddied loops, sample chops, and heavy drums, he can certainly bring the funk as witnessed last year on Kendrick Lamar’s award winning album ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’, and here it seems he’s soon to be the perfect foil for .Paak’s buttery flow.

First up to bat from the longplayer (aside from the previously issued tracks from the EP) is ‘Lyk This’, a supremely flavoursome cut, which pairs bombastic drums and sampled strings with a brazen, self assured turn from the singer. It certainly has our collective heads bumping and promises much for an album that may yet feature on a few end of year lists!

The album ‘Yes Lawd!’ drops on Stones Throw Records, October 21st 2016. Stream selected tracks from the LP below.

Soul-Identity Radio

Just squeezing in the right side of May, here’s the stream and track list for our latest show on MEATtransMISSION radio.  2 hours of assorted Soul-Identity endorsed beats from the crates, a miss mash of soul, hip-hop, house and disco.

PLAYLIST

1. LSK – Hate or Love (Mahogany Mix)
2. Dwelogy & SV – Brandi [Flava Dré Brandizzle Blend]
3. Five Deez – Kissyface
4. Al Dobson Jr. – Nankoo on Keys
5. Bok Bok Feat Kelela – Melba’s Call
6. Slakah & The Beatchild Feat Ayah – Keep Up
7. Low Leaf – As One
8. Mark De Clive-Lowe – The Mission
9. Dele Sosimi Afro Orchestra – Ojoro
10. Te’Amir – Ballake
11. Dames Brown – Soul Fly (Extended Mix)
12. Seven Davis Jr. – One
13. Massimiliano Pagliara – It’s A Lately Thing
14. Chez Damier, Siler & Dima, Thomas Zander – Speechless (Rex Club Paris Mix)
15. Ron Trent – Future Shock
16. Mark E – Being Hiding
17. Ugly Drums – Don’t Let Life (Passing by)
18. Mome – About A Groove
19. Raw Essence – Disco Fever
20. Al Kent – Gee Whizz
21. Wood, Brass And Steel – Funkanova

LISTEN AGAIN

Soul-Identity Radio Show 18/05/14 by Soul-Identity Music on Mixcloud

Soul-Identity Radio

This past East Sunday, Rob once again dropped into the MEATtransMISSION radio studio to supply another two hours of Soul-Identity endorsed good music. This month there’s plenty of new beats and pieces to uncover, with a selection of exclusive Record Store Day finds as well as a few Bandcamp goodies and a tasty deep techno workout from Mike Davis which is forthcoming on the new Sector 12/12 label. Check the playlist below and dip in for a cheeky afternoon listen.

PLAYLIST

1. Dee Dee Bridgewater – Love From The Sun (Trio Records)
2. Bayeté – Free Angela (Thoughts… And All I’ve Got To Say) (Ninja Tune)
3. Visioneers – Smilin’ Billy Suite (Omniverse Records)
4. The Detroit Experiment – Space Odyssey (Ropeadope)
5. A Race of Angels – Just Begin (Wildheart Recordings)
6. Flava Dré feat Oz – Aurora (Bandcamp)
7. Tenderlonious – The Way You Are (22a)
8. Los Charly’s Orchestra – Rediscovering The Big Apple (Cy Gorman & Ennio Styles Remix) (Imagenes)
9. Nas – It Ain’t Hard To Tell (Large Professor Remix) (Columbia)
10. Jeru The Damaja – Ya Playin’ Yaself (Payday)
11. NSM – The Hype Rerinse (Jazzy Sport)
12. Nasdroic – Step Back (Instrumental) (Lucky Me)
13. IAMNOBODI – Adderall (Jakarta)
14. Moodymann feat Charlotte OC – Hangover (Moody Guevara Remix) (KDJ)
15. AD Bourke – Kid Jupiter (Five Fold Records)

* BURT’S BEAT *

16. Wolfram feat Haddaway – Thing Called Love (Legowelt Remix) (Permanent Vacation)

* HOUSE AND DISCO HOUR *

17. Domu – Sunshrine (Sector 12/12)
18. Mike Davis – Pedestrian Sound (Sector 12/12)
19. ESP – It’s You (Underground)
20. Mike Davis – Pedestrian Sound (Sector 12/12)
21. Terrence Parker feat Reno Ka – Finally (Baby Be Mine) (Planet E)
22. SSOL – Track 2 (SSOL)
23. Diesel / Jarvis & DJ Harvey – In The City (Moton)
24. Jakki – Sun Sun Sun (Pyramid)
25. Conquest – Body Movement (Instrumental) (Prelude)
26. Donna McGhee – Mr Blindman (Groove Line Records)

LISTEN AGAIN

Soul Identity 20/04/14 by Meattransmission on Mixcloud

Jesse Futerman

The Toronto beat maker follows up his trilogy of atmospheric Jazz drenched EPs for London label Jus Like Music Records with an album of unreleased tracks, b-sides and remixes.

There’s something a little melancholy about the music of Jesse Futerman. Whether it’s the siren calls of long forgotten Jazz divas excavated from the past that are often so richly sampled, or rather the moods that he creates with each additional layer of instrumentation, Futerman’s work is deep. Rooted in hip-hop, but with flourishes of soul, Jazz and electronica, the producer has already crafted three exquisite EPs for the Jus Like Music imprint and here he closes out this particular chapter of his work with the release of ‘Hidden Basement’, a ten-track exploration of previously unreleased beats.

At just over 30 minutes in length, it’s a short but engaging listen, one bubbling with a traditional hip-hop sensibility but twisted in way that somehow makes the end result sound otherworldly. In the process of constructing his tracks, Futerman pulls from a variety of sources to elaborate on the ethereal vibe he very often creates, a crisp kick drum or snare pushed front and centre in the mix to bring that little bit of bite to each piece. The first five tracks very much tread the same route, beat-driven downtempo sounds rich with samples derived from dusty old jazz records, film dialogue and a touch of psychedelic folk in places. The results are well produced and glide effortlessly along but it’s not until the producer pairs with Toronto associate Deebs on the excellent ‘Lonely Soul’ that we get a little something different, handclaps and a Moroder-esque synth workout pushing things in an almost nu-disco direction. There’s further experiments in four to the floor territory as ‘I Don’€™t Go Out Very Often’  turns into memorable late night jam heavily inspired by the late Terry Callier, while the all too brief ‘Futureman’ is perhaps the most straight ahead take on house with its analog synths and bassline throb. A pair of remixes close out the set, both firmly planted in beat territory, Kidkanevil dropping a tasty reflip of ‘A Good Man Is Gone’ (originally released on Futerman’s ‘Super Basement’ EP) while Ryan Hemsworth reworks the previously unreleased ‘Santiago’ into a bass heavy monster.

Overall it’s another inviting glimpse into the world of the producer and his ongoing experiments, and with a release forthcoming on the R&S affiliated Apollo Records, the future looks bright for the young Canadian. Stream the album below and head on over to Bandcamp to name your price.

Playing catch up? Complete the series >>
Jesse Futerman - Exquisite Basement EP Jesse Futerman - Fuse The Witches EP Jesse Futerman - Super Basement EP

Domu

It’s been nearly five years since Domu dramtically retired from the music business and producing in general, but today sees the surprise release of some fresh music from the much loved broken beat pioneer on new fledgling label Sector 12/12.

It’s no surprise to learn that Domu was one of our favourite artists, his rugged and fierce rhythms always guaranteed to mash up a dance, while as a DJ, his technical skill and dexterity behind the decks always resulted in an inspirational set or two (although not a live set, check out one of his last ever promo mixes from 2009). He was one of a number of leading producers who sustained the broken beat movement for over a decade, consistently pushing the sound in ever interesting directions to the point that his expansive discography is peppered with various aliases, assorted BPMs and genre-hopping.

The three track ‘Under The Weather’ EP is released digitally today and in true Domu style offers up three very different tracks to enjoy. ‘Rain All Day (VIP)’ finds his signature sound updated for a new decade, featuring as it does his trademark heavy breaks coupled with a recurring pitched up vocal sample and sweeping, atmospheric pads. ‘Sunshrine (VIP)’ takes things in a slightly housier direction and perhaps is the pick of the bunch, a heads down groove driving things forward while a bouncy bassline keeps things interesting. The final track sees the producer’s Umod alter ego revisited. ‘Rain Or Shine’ is a lush hip-hop inspired instrumental that slowly unravels into a soul fuelled beat with jazzy keys and electric bass. All that’s missing is a Nicole Kramer vocal and this would be vintage Domu circa 2001.

Who knows what lies ahead for the producer moving forward – it’s perhaps a little premature to think that he’ll return to a production schedule that amassed so many classic tunes in such a short space of time. However, this EP is a suitable taster to either introduce (or reintroduce) yourself to the man that we perhaps thought we would never hear from again.

You can stream all three tracks below and should you need them in your life permanently, head on over to the Sector 12/12 Bandcamp and add them to your collection.

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