As mentioned in late May, available at brahma.com/gillespeterson , is a Podcast series presented by Gilles Peterson that explores Brazilian Music. With the two first episodes out of a total of six already available, download the latest here , before it hits the site July 1st.

Producer, arranger and songwriter Arif Mardin passed away yesterday in New York City after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 74. Mardin was the first student to attend the Berklee College Of Music with a Quincy Jones scholarship. Throughout his tenure at Atlantic Records from 1963 - 2001, he produced the likes of Bee Gees, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Average White Band, Barbra Streisand, Phil Collins, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack and Bette Midler . Most recently...

With a definite date set for the release of Outkast's 'Idelwild,' August 25th, the album cover has now been revealed. Additionally, a track from the forthcoming album is now streaming on Outkast's official homepage: http://www.outkast.com/. Let us know what you think of it...

With a possible late August release date, the latest news on DJ Shadow's forthcoming album, 'The Outsider,' is that it will feature a host of guests including Keak da Sneak, E-40, Droop-E, the Federation, David Banner, Phonte from Little Brother, Q-Tip, Sergio Pizzorno and Christopher Karloff from the Brit-rock outfit Kasabian. We still have yet to hear any tracks, but from we can tell, the long wait will be worth it.

Summer is turning out to be good for shows here in NYC, especially on the free tip. Mentioned a few weeks back in a summer roundup, after hosting Kenny Chesney, Prince and Mary J. Blige, Kanye West and Pharrell are set to take the Good Morning America stage on August 4th. The only hip-hop act on this year's bill, it's looking to be an event not to be missed. Although, starting at 7am, some of us might need a little coaxing to get out of bed.

After playing at this year's Cochella, it looks like downtempo duo Thievery Corporation will hit the road again to play a handful of dates, mostly on the West Coast. According to a statement, "You can expect to see two percussionists, live bass, guitar, sitar, and horns, with Rob and Eric at the controls. The toasting of MC’s Roots, Z and Sleepy Wonder as well as longtime Thievery chanteuse Loulou, Brazilian songstress Karina Zeviani and newcomer Alana Davis complete the lineup." Tour...

The combination of music and art can sometimes be nauseating or a bit too hipster, but when it is the Plaid boys and director/animator/visual artist Bob Jaroc (Flaming Lips, Go! Team), it makes for something special. A joint audio-visual album, get a sneak peak of Plaid latest offering 'Greedy Baby,' here at the album's microsite.

In for a double night, Ben Watt will bring the mean and sultry Balearic vibe of his brand new and heavily acclaimed 'Buzzin' Fly Vol 3' mix compilation to Cielo on August 1st and August 3rd. Celebrating 25 years in music, 10 in clubland, expect trademark Deep House chased down by modern Electro minimalism from one of the world's leading DJs. Tickets on sale soon at Giantstepstore.net

Slated to make his Warner Music Group debut with 'Ear Drum' in September, Talib Kweli latest album will feature a plethora of guests including Jean Grae, Norah Jones, Strong Arm Steady, UGK, Kanye West and production by DJ Hi-Tek, Kwame and Rick Rubin. The first release off Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Entertainment imprint, Kweli last studio album was 2004's 'Beautiful Struggle,' which was released on Rawkus Records.

The feature track in the Sony Bravia TV campaign, Jose González will perform "Heartbeats," his acoustic cover of The Knife's breakout hit, tonight on NBC's Last Call With Carson Daly (1:35am). Also, along with Giant Step's SummerStage Show this year, Jose González will be performing on the following dates: Fri 6/16 Los Angeles El Rey Theatre Sat 6/17 San Fran Bimbos 365 Club Sun 6/18 Portland Doug Fir Lounge Mon 6/19...