





Been swamped today so this is going up crazy late. Regardless, I want y'all to have a good time and so do The Skatalites.
Aesop Rock will drop his first solo record in 5 years on July 10th (Rhymesayers). I'm stoked. He's been busy lately with projects like Hail Mary Mallon (with Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz) and The Uncluded (with Kimya Dawson) but I'm excited to see him occupying his own territory again. Listen to the leaked cut, "Zero Dark Thirty" over on Soundcloud and then dig the super creepy teaser for the album. Real talk? It's super creepy.
If this track doesn't jump start your day proper - then you lose. The Fab Four mashed up with The Godfather himself, James Brown. Dig it.
I thought I'd have my fill of Biggie cuts after all the remincing and such last week. Alas, I can't get enough. Dig this remix by Alex Madsen. B.I.G. over Stevie Wonder? Yes please.
By the late 80's Def Jam had become the go-to label for all my hip-hop needs. Run DMC, The Beastie Boys, L.L. Cool J were all well established. Then came the political movement with acts like Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions. In 1989 BDP dropped Ghetto Music - fusing boom-bap and reggae with overtly political rhymes. This was my favorite cut on that album.