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LA based production duo Rhye are purportedly concealing their identities, so while we can’t quite tell you who they are, we can say that their debut single is pretty rad. “Open” is a dainty, stripped down ballad liable to induce some shivers and floating sensations. Above, find a live ‘living room’ performance and below, stream and download the original track!
You may be familiar with Tensei as our winners of the November 2011 Next Step Contest. Of late, this Chicago-based production duo is gearing up for their upcoming full length album with an EP that’s setting quite the standard.
One showcases the producers’ deft technique in using live instrumentation and ’self-sampling’ to craft their music. The result is a set of some acutely groove-worthy jams. Jam after jam, folks. Get down!
Stream the full EP below and also download the bonus track “For The Love” for free!
Tensei – “For The Love” ft. Adad, Yaw, & Denmark [Download on Soundcloud]
Purchase One on iTunes
Your Facebook and Internet have nearly imploded with D’Angelo mentions in the last couple weeks, we know. But do the celebrations really have to stop? Who said we have to stop? No one. It’s like, a healthy implosion.
Okayplayer and Sam Champ have graciously contributed to more D’Angelo happy times with their D’Angelo Live! mixtape featuring our man live across stages worldwide. Now you, too, can get up out of your bed-ridden depression for missing D’Angelo in Europe. Boogie!
D’Angelo – D’Angelo Live! [Download on MediaFire]
A couple weeks ago, Sonnymoon dropped their 2012 EP. And without skipping a beat, they’ve already unveiled a remix! Below, find the Mndsgn remix of “Magicians,” which reinterprets the well known Brazilian tune, “The Girl From Ipanema.” Loving the juxtaposition of Anna’s quirky vocals against the slinky tropical track. Stream and download for free below!
Los Angeles bred Iman Omari is about to give some of these singer boys a run for their money. The uber stripped down, beautifully colored, and ultra sexy smoky video for “Worth It” reminds us of one of our favorites in recent time, Frank Ocean.
In case you are already itching for another fix (which you are), head over to Iman’s page for a free download of his recent Energy project.
Thank you much to our gal Christine Mehr for putting us on to this one!
In September of last year, we hipped you to a free track called “Curtains” by a little known Philadelphia based producer named Hectic Zeniths, and now we’ve got a lot more. This January the talented beatmaker dropped on us his gem of a debut album, Hectic Zeniths. And, what the eff – it’s free.
The multi-instrumentalist took close to three years to create this dense, layered project with original piano compositions, atmospheric samples, live instrumentation, synths, and stirring vocals.
And did we mention he’s also currently a high school math teacher? Artistic nerds = swoon.
Download Hectic Zeniths [MediaFire]
Posdnous and Trugoy (Dave) of De La Soul have adopted the monikers of Jacob “Pop Life” Barrow and Deen “D” Whittier to present their newly founded First Serve duo. Above, you can find a characteristically quirky intro to these fine young men.
On April 2nd, First Serve will be releasing a concept album centered around “the story of two young boys from Queens, New York with big dreams and larger rhymes.” French production team 2 & 4 will be laying down the beats for the project. Take a listen to the first single, “Pushin’ Aside, Pushin’ Along,” below – smooth like butter. In absolute delight we are.
At the very end of this post, you’ll also find The Goon Time Mixtape, which features the duo rapping over reworked instrumentals from Nas, Jay-Z, Jurassic 5, The Beatles, Aloe Blacc, Eminem, Run DMC, and B.B. King.
Magnetic and full of life, Novalima is a collective of four Peruvian musicians each based in various cities around the world. Below, we have a free download for “Festejo,” which is accompanied by a spellbinding live performance in the video above. Their addictive blend of Afro Peruvian roots music, dub, and electronic is emphatically welcome.
Look out for their upcoming album, Karimba, out January 31st!
Our man Lenny Kravitz is in full effect as you may have seen with his “Black And White America” video we posted in November. And today we give thanks to modern mixtape culture for bringing us a free Black And White America Mixtape. A Lenny Kravitz mixtape?! Yep.
Following up to his ninth studio album, Black and White America, the mixtape is essentially a reworked presentation of its tracks mixed and sprinkled with some exclusive re-edits. The work’s storytelling is strongly focused on racial integration and sonically melds together both throwback and future sounds. Stream and download the mixtape for free below!
Also, after the jump you can catch Lenny’s tour dates as well as his video for “Push.”
Download the ‘Black And White America Mixtape’ (Right Click + Save As…)
Purchase Black And White America (Album) on iTunes | Amazon
Suckers we are for some good instrumentals. UK producer J Biscuits put out a winsome EP called Quests this past December that we just can’t stop playing.
The eastern influences added to this mellow set of electronic hip hop beats are super appreciated. Yes, there’s a sitar in the mix, a little bit of freakage of what sounds like a traditional old school Bollywood tune, and a sample of some classic east Indian vocals. This makes us just a little weak.
Please do enjoy as thoroughly as we are – it has somehow, generously been made a free download. And also thank our pals over at Potholes In My Blog for sharing!
