Uptown gold....

Harlem's Cash = Monster Rap (i.e. this dude is way, way ahead of his peers)

I'm always happy when a rapper comes along who reinvigorates my passion for the music. I'm even happier when it's a New Yorker. When they're from uptown, where I was born and raised, it's the icing on the cake. Harem's Cash is just that MC. I've heard bits and pieces of his music for a minute now but I finally got around to downloading his mixtapes. I was really impressed. He's extremely lyrical, has an excellent flow, a great voice, as well as great choruses and concepts for his songs. Some of his choices of original beats weren't as impressive but they were definitely different and well produced. The Government, his main producer, certainly pushes the envelope. How he isn't signed and on the radio with all of the cornballs that are out there I'll never know. But it sure wouldn't be the first time.

CHECK HIM OUT HERE

PLUS HERE'S A LINK TO HIS MOST RECENT MIXTAPE

Depth Charge...

Floating Points - " Vacuum EP " ( Eglo Records UK 2009 )

A couple of months ago I picked up what would become my favorite House track is quite a while at Turntable Lab. It was on a label I knew little about from an artist I had heard of but associated with downtempo, experimental electronic stuff. That track was "Vacuum Boogie" of off the "Vacuum EP" by Floating Points on Eglo Records UK. From what I've read the man behind the EP has just recently started working in the House Music realm. If this is any indication he has a bright future ahead of him.

It's a record that has the elements I love in a track; deep, dubby, spacey, melodic and bass heavy. I was hooked from the first time I heard the hard, lo-fi drums which start the song. From there Floating Points builds up the track nicely, adding sounds after sound until the full groove is revealed in all it's sonic glory. Yeah, it's that good. One of those 12's I've listened to repeatedly at one time, happily getting up to put the needle back to the beginning again and again.

CHECK IT OUT HERE. Enjoy...

BUY IT ON VINYL HERE. Unfortunately, the record seems to be sold out at both Turntable Lab and Dopejams, the only two U.S. retailers I've seen the record stocked in. So that means ordering it from overseas unless the 12" can be tracked down domestically. You can always buy the digital version but I'm a vinyl guy so I'll let you figure that out on your own.

In Fashawn...

Fashawn - " Boy Meets World. " ( One Records )

I'm back after a looong break. Work and life got in the way for a while. One of the things that inspired me to return is a great new Hip Hop album which may be under the radar for a lot of people. It's "Boy Meets World", a collaboration between Fresno, Ca MC Fashawn and one of my favorite current producers, LA's Exile. Like Exile's last collabo "Below The Heavens" with Blu, this album is produced entirely by him and has a cohesive sound which isn't heard much anymore nowadays in the era of multi-producer LPs.

The record touches on a wide array of subject matter with a fresh, conscious yet streetwise approach. Fashawn has an energetic style and doesn't really sound like anyone else, which is always nice considering how many rappers lack originality in 2009. I like the fact that he can be substantive and thoughtful without being preachy. Oh yeah, and he's only 21 years old. Definitely one to watch in 2010 and beyond.

Exile comes with his usual sample-driven style which while definitely similar in some respects (particularly on this album which has many piano/keyboard heavy tracks) maintains an eclectic feel. Also, he still has some of the best drums in the game right now, which is something I look for in a producer. If you get a chance check the album out and support the artists.

Here's a link to "Freedom" one of the standout cuts from the album.

Here's a link to it's Amazon page. The album is worth previewing at the very least. Cop it if you have the dough....

$, Money,$....

A lot of people are feeling like this lately....The mix of a recession and gentrification can be a deadly brew.

Brown Baggin' it....

Brown Bag All Stars - "I'll Remain" (Produced by Tailor Made NYC)

I just added a track I produced for good friends Brown Bag All Stars to my Mixpod. It's actually the song you're hearing right now. The mp3 was just leaked online and is already getting a lot of blog love. I'm really glad people like it, this is one of my favorite beats and BBAS really do their thing lyrically. In the near future look for songs I produced for Brown Bag Member Koncept on his upcoming EP as well as his new mixtape "Konverses V.2"

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Syreeta & Stevie get housed...

Rainer Trueby - "To Know You " (Compost Recs White Label 2009)

Great House reworking of the 1972 classic "To Know You Is To Love You" by Stevie Wonder's protege, Syreeta. The original was written by and featured Stevie. This new mix is great, using snippets of the original smartly to build a great Deep House track. This is on a limited edition white label released by Compost Records out of Germany, a label usually known for Deep Techno. I was fortunate enough to be able to track down a copy here in NYC. It's a very recent release so 12"s should still be floating around. Easily one of my favorite club records of 2009.

CHECK OUT THE REWORK HERE

CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL VERSION HERE

My mixtape's better than your album....

WALE & 9th WONDER - " BACK TO THE FEATURE " MIXTAPE

I don't plan on posting much new Hip Hop on here, there are a million blogs out there for that, but I will on occasion when it's a project as good as this one by one of DC's finest, Wale.

I've been a fan of Wale's since I first heard the "100 Miles & Running" mixtape a couple of years ago. Since then he's kept working hard, growing as a lyricist and songwriter. Add to that 9th Wonder's consistent boom bap production and a bunch of established and up & coming MC's and you've got one of the better releases of 2009. And yes, like has been the case for years now, this free mixtape, or "street album" really, is better than of the most official releases that are out right now. Enjoy...

DOWNLOAD IT HERE