DOWNTIME

Posted: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 | | Labels: , , , , , , , 0 comments


DOWNLOAD: DOWNTIME

This mixtape is inspired by Duke Hugh, a producer from the Netherlands, who is prominently featured on the mixtape.  His recent beattape and remixes of Oliver Daysoul's new project with Oddisee are so serene yet lively that I imagined it being a backdrop for a nice day, a good conversation with a friend, or music for a road trip.  Not wanting to simply mash his two recent projects together, I paired his music with current songs, and some old ones, that I felt complemented his sound.  What ensued was Downtime.

The covers were inspired by the recent video project, Hi-Fi, by director Bante and artist Moussa Kaba.  Nothing too fancy but images that reverberate simplicity, welcomed melancholy, elegance and tranquility like the Blue Note covers of yesteryear.


TRACKLIST
01 Steve Mason - Boys Outside (Keep Shelly In Athens Remix) // 02 Duke Hugh - Sweet and Lowdown // 03 Olivier Daysoul - In The Now (Duke Hugh Bossatronic Remix) // 04 Duke Hugh - Derby-Dana // 05 Electric Wire Hustle - Chaser // 06 Robin Hannibal - Transit (Instrumental) // 07 Casa del Mirto - Brother // 08 Von Pea - New Pair // 09 Electric Wire Hustle - Perception // 10 Musiq - I Luv Her // 11 Duke Hugh - Lovesong // 12 Bilal - Levels // 13 Olivier Daysoul - Labor (Duke Hugh Futuresoul Remix) // 14 Jazzanova feat Vikter Duplaix - Wasted Time // 15 Duke Hugh - Polaroids // 16 Foreign Exchange - Everything Must Go // 17 Duke Hugh - It's All Good // 18 N.E.R.D. - Inside of Clouds // 19 Yesterdays' New Quintet - Rocket Love Pt. 1 // 20 Gretchen Parlato - Weak // 21 Kenton Dunson - Stranger // 22 RJD2 - Work // 23 Dudley Perkins - Falling (Instrumental) // 24 Duke Hugh - The Blue Marble

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TWTRCON MIXTWEET VOL.2 BAY ABRIDGED EDITION



Download the MixTweet: Volume 2

Six months ago Anne Weiskopf, VP of Business Development for Modern Media, asked MVMT and Nick James Music to curate a mixtape for TWTRCON NY 2010, a one-day conference featuring case studies, workshops and mini tutorials about real-time tools from the world's leading brands and social media practitioners. We dubbed the project "The MixTweet: Volume 1" and filled it with music inspired by the Twitter experience. The release was a success, serving as the background soundtrack to the day's events. We heard Martha Stewart was tapping her foot to Blitz the Ambassador's "Something to Believe."

Six months later, Weiskopf made a request for "The MixTweet: Volume 2," so we partnered with the local tastemakers at 38th Notes to create the score for TWTRCON SF 2010. 38th Notes is founded by Coolhand Luke (aka Lukas Brekke-Miesner) and co-conspired with his brother Sean and best friend Niema Jordan. Together they've hammered their stake in the ground as the premier blog for music and entertainment in the Bay Area. A blog highlight is their “Bay Abridged” mixtape series where they showcase new music from local artists. Thus, making “The MixTweet: Volume 2” a special Bay Abridged Edition was fitting. Nick James, an Oakland native, pairs his music production and design artistry with activism and youth education. MVMT is chiefly cultivated by Rolando Brown, who leads a collective of MVMT MKRS that make valuable contributions to a variety of artists, community developers and social entrepreneurs. Together, we've combined to create a unique platform to showcase local Bay Area music talent.

The mixtape mimics the pace of our virtual movement, with a sonic funk and electronic pulse that's reminiscent of the fast, collective flutter of our Twitter message exchanges. "MixTweet Volume 2" highlights a diversity of talented Bay Area artists, with all new, exclusive music in a uniquely designed package. 100 CD's will be given away by @hp_pc at the Envy Computer Station at the conference.

Tracklist:

01 The Twitter Score [0:39] by Indy Mogul | @indymogul
02 It's A Shame [3:51] by  Raphael Saadiq | @rayraysaadiq
03 Right Now [3:52] by Do D.A.T. | @dodatamen
04 Abrazame [3:42] by Los Rakas | @LOSRAKAS
05 Top Of The World [3:41] by The Cataracs | @thecataracs
06 TWEET IT [3:42] by Seedwell | @Seedwell
07 I Got Soul, I'm So Wasted [4:36] by Wallpaper. | @Wallpaper
08 Nightcap [4:36] by F.A.M.E. feat. Mike Baker | @MKBKRTHEBKMKR
09 Hands Up [3:07] by Erk Tha Jerk | @erkthajerk
10 Liquid Love [4:08] by Chris Turner | @lovechildct
11 Day Dreamer [2:47] by Moe Green | @MoeTheDreamer
12 Dreams [2:31] by Droop-E | @DroopE707
13 Foxy Girls [3:04] by The Getback | @rafaelcasal @chinakahodge @daveeddiggs
14 Smarts [2:53] by Fear & Fancy | @fearandfancy
15 Our Time [3:17] by Alexander Spit | @AlexanderSpit
16 Many Stylez [4:32] by ZION-I | @ZIONI
17 Seat Filler [2:39] by Siaira Shawn | @SiairaShawn
18 What Twitter is For (Skit) [1:10] by Some Grey Bloke | @somegreybloke
19 Nothing Compares 2 U [3:26] by Goapele | @Goapele
20 Grapevine [3:27] by DLRN | @dlrnmusic
21 Circus Lights (Nick James Remix) [7:45] by Ill-Literacy | @ill_literacy @iamnickjames



Download the MixTweet: Volume 2

ABOUT TWTRCON

TWTRCON is entirely focused on the business use of the real-time web.  We produce the TWTRCON Business in Real-Time conference, a one-day event that features case studies from leading brands, workshops led by social media practitioners and mini tutorials about real-time tools.  We also collect and publish social media business case studies, statistics and videos on our web site at TWTRCON.com. Our goal is to create a resource and a place — both online and at our events — where business people managing real-time strategies can exchange ideas and best practices.  


TWTRCON is produced by Modern Media, a team of people dedicated to driving innovation in the media industry.  We started out as an agency, and still work with many clients to produce events and marketing programs.

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ROSA PARKS REMIX

Posted: Friday, November 12, 2010 | | Labels: , , , , , , 0 comments


Andre 3000 - Rosa Parks (Nick James Remix) Download Snippet


I've been wanting to do a 3000 project for a while and am finally getting into it. It's going to be a joint collaboration with singer, Siaira Shawn, where she adds choruses and verses as well. Given that most of 3000 acapella are just one verse, I wanted to fill the tracks with new music. Not to mention, Siaira is dope.  Thus, it should knock hard. Oh, and that isn't the cover.

Stay tuned.

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CALYPSO BLUES

Posted: Friday, October 1, 2010 | | Labels: , , , 0 comments


Click Link to Download Audio

Download Nat King Cole - Calypso Blues (Live)


Over a month ago, Theophilus London with the help of a live band covered Nat King Cole's classic, Calypso Blues.  Even though Theophilus brings amazing new energy to the song, Nat's version as well as the accompanying video can't be replaced.  Not to mention Calypso Blues was one of the first songs Cole reordered and he got to perform it on his show which was the first television show hosted by an African-American.  He originally recorded it in the early fifties but the version must people hear is from 1961.  In 1965, Motown paid tribute to Nat and Marvin Gaye covered it at the age of 26.  Stream and download Marvin's rendition here.  

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SEARCH FOR THE NEW LAND

leemorgan

Click Link to Download the Album


Lee Morgan - Search for the New Land


My friend for over a decade, Danny Wheeler, once came to my apartment in Berkeley years ago with this Lee Morgan album.  He comes in and sits down and tells me to put this on immediately.  We played the 16 minute song without talking to each other.  The song finishes and he asks me what I thought about it.  I talked about the musicality of it and referenced other songs of that era and he did me a favor and appeased my lack of imagination and proceeded to provide an amazing interpretation. He talked about the song title first, "Search for a New Land," as it related to the intro and outro of the song; explaining that it sounds like the end of movie or an epic.  If you listen closely, the beginning of the song sounds like a song just ended not a new one beginning.  Hence, Morgan's intro emphasizes the end of an era, moment, or experience and the importance endings have when beginning a new journey.  To embark on something new, something old (whether liberating or confining) usually is the catalyst for change.  This is why the introduction arrangement is strategically placed throughout the entire song.  It signifies a change in the narrative.


I've always referenced this song and that conversation to different experiences I've been through. Without words this song reveals an inevitable truth that fleeting moments, unfortunate experiences, fallouts, overstayed welcomes, or life transitions can be melancholy but there is nothing we can do about change.  It will come and when we must search for the new land metaphorically (or even figuratively given the state of our planet), welcome it or you will remain in the purgatory of antiquity.


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GROWING APART (TO GET CLOSER)


Kendrick Lamar - Growing Apart feat. Jnene Aiko


I've been knocking Kendrick Lamar's new mixtape hard.  Get it here.

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NORMA ELIZABETH JAMES

grandma_and_dad

Norma Elizabeth James (October 16, 1928 - August 16, 2010)

She called me double trouble
She called me gorgeous
She called me a rascal
She called me Too Cool
She called me everything because she thought everything of me
As I thought everything of her
Until the next time we meet
I will say what we always say before signing off
I love you and hope to see you soon 



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RBG + LIFE IS LIVING


This Sunday, Red, Bike & Green is putting together a phenomenal ride spanning the city of Oakland for the Life is Living Festival.  Spread the word, bring your bike and ride out from East Oakland to West Oakland and enjoy my hometown and then enjoy one of the best events of the year.

Life is Living Ride
Sunday, October 3, 2010
12noon
Starting Location: Coliseum BART
Ending Location: Bobby Hutton Park/DeFremery Park in West Oakland

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NOTE TO LUPE

Posted: Saturday, August 21, 2010 | | Labels: , , , , , 0 comments

lupe_pharrell

Diggy feat. Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell


Lupe,

It's good to hear you on a Pharrell produced song as always but I'm dismayed to see it as a feature for Diggy Simmons.  As people await your album, you have had public battles with your label and a spirited debate with a seemingly irate ex-producer.  Yet, amidst all this, this song surfaces.  Please, just drop an album with Pharrell or an album period and everything will be okay.  This song is great until Diggy laughably says he feels like Big Meech.  I teach 3.5 GPA having 16 year-olds who think they're Big Meech, thus I don't want to hear it from another 16 year-old when I leave the classroom and enter my car.  Stop doing features and just drop your album.  

Peace and Blessings,

Free

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FONZWORTH IS ON TO SOMETHING

Posted: Friday, August 20, 2010 | | Labels: , , , 0 comments

fonzworth


Fonzworth Bentley - Fireside Chat


This song is a bit old but it crept pass me.  When I recently heard it on the new G.O.O.D Mixtape, I immediately thought to myself how refreshing his presence in Hip-Hop is.  Yes, I know this is the former "man servant" of Diddy who many verbally lambasted constantly, but I respect how he has maintained his vision.  In an era where Rick Ross can get away with stealing drug dealer's names as well as being an ex police officer, it's good to see a Black college graduate promote himself as well....a Black college graduate.  His cashmere references get a bit corny but at least his propensity to talk about ascots makes a laughable moment with people in your car rather than some misogynistic overtone you may hear in another artist's song.  Plus, Greener, C.O.L.O.U.R.S, and Everybody are all good!   Surprisingly good.  C.O.L.O.U.R.S had Pimp C on it!?  I think his album will knock.


He's come along way from this:


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