ERIC ROBERSON - HOW COULD SHE DO IT

DOWNLOAD :: ERIC ROBERSON - HOW COULD SHE DO IT

Old but been on repeat.

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DOWNTIME

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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EDDIE KENDRICKS

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SIAIRA SHAWN - IN BETWEEN LIVE

This past Sunday, Oakland singer Siaira Shawn performed at the Air Lounge.  She has performed there before but this time she performed with a band and performed the title track off her EP, In Between.  This is the first time I've ever heard my music played by a live band.  Thank You Siaira.

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BILAL UPDATE

I need some new Bilal!  The people watching part drags a bit but it's good to see him do an interview.  He seems to just pop up randomly at somebody else's show and scream for about five minutes.  Below is a performance from this February.  Siaira Shawn I want the scream he does at 3:15 please.  It is now mandatory, now execute.  The image below is now your inspiration.


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SIAIRA SHAWN - THE IN BETWEEN EP

I couldn't be more happy for my folks Siaira Shawn.  She has been putting in major work.  In a few days she is releasing her EP entitled, The In Between, which is a prelude to her debut album, The Outsider Inside.  I did the intro and outro as well as the album artwork.  Our track came out good but "Where You Are" produced by Will Bracy is my song right now.  When it drops I will have the link up.   

Support the new in the Bay.

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SADE - SOLDIER OF LOVE (REVIEW)

I love Sade but this album doesn't have the one to two tracks that make the album spectacular.  Diamond Life (1984) had “Smooth Operator,” “Your Love Is King,” and “Hang On To Your Love,” and those were the first 3 tracks of the album.  Promise (1985) had "Is It A Crime," "The Sweetest Taboo," and “War of Hearts.”  Again, those were the first three tracks.  Not to mention, “Jezebel” and “Fear” are amazing sonically and conceptually.  Stronger Than Pride’s (1988) first four songs, “Love Is Stronger Than Pride,” “Paradise,” “Nothing Can Come Between Us,” and “Haunt Me,” are classics.  Love Deluxe (1992) is a certified classic where discussing the beauty of the songs takes the length of an essay.  Finally, Lovers Rock (2000), had “King of Sorrow.”  With that said, Soldier of Love is not those albums.  The songs that stand out, wouldn't stand out on her previous albums, yet the album is still okay.  The problem is that nothing really grabs your attention except "Morning Bird" and possibly "Long Hard Road."  The tone of the album is slow and somber, which isn't anything new to Sade, but even though calm and intentional is her style, she usually conveys it with such gut wrenching passion like a "Pearls" or "Jezebel," that you don't mind the lack of tracks with energy, but instead welcome it.  I need more time with it.  I'm going to create my own best of and post it here.  Stay Tuned.

My favorite song thus far: Morning Bird
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SA- RA - MELODEE N MYNOR

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I love Sa-Ra for many reasons; their style of music, crazy outfits, philosophy, afrocentricity, etc. Sometimes though, their music can get a bit busy and hectic. The utilize a lot different rhythms and melodies in every song it is easy to be a bit lost while listening to some of their music. Everything is complex and layered. "Melodee N Mynor" is a song that is subtle and smooth and demonstrates their range as musicians. The soft trumpets remind me of Miles Davis Quiet Nights. 

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GET SOME SHUGGIE IN YOUR LIFE

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I was going vinyl for vinyl with my boy Aaron Nakai last night and he pulled out the Shuggie Otis after we did a samba set. I immediately thought about sampling Shuggie, but before I do that, enjoy Shuggie. This is his best record in my opinion. His Bill Withers-esq voice coupled with unique rhythms and sounds you still hear being utilized in music today is what makes him such an interesting artist. It's a trip that he never really blew up. While listening, you should be able to hear where contemporary artists such as Maxwell, D'Angelo, and Raphael Saadiq have benefited from coming after an artist like Shuggie Otis. I think he was ahead of his time.

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