free downloads, mp3, album reviews, concert reviews, interviews, documentaries
May 9, 2013
Last month, we got a chance to hang out with Miami-based Hip Hop duo, The Vagabonds, and their long time friend and soulhead contributor, Jay Fingers. Read more of this post
April 23, 2013
As we ponder the impact of the recently passed Richie Havens, we wanted to take a look back on a few of his most popular performances. We turned to YouTube and came upon these 3 amazing performances, which demonstrate the immense passion and soul this Brooklyn born for which this musician was best known. We thoroughly enjoyed these and know you will too. Read more of this post
March 26, 2013
We are in love with this new street art project that has descended upon the Big Apple. Street artist, Jay Shells, has created a series of street signs which include rap lyrics. If that wasn’t enough, he has gone around the City and affixed these signs in the areas mentioned in the lyric. Read more of this post
March 22, 2013
Artist: Kendrick Lamar featuring Jay-Z
Title: B*tch Don’t Kill My Vibe Remix
Produced by: Soundwave
Mixed By: Ali
Hood: Compton, California & Brooklyn, NY
Genre(s): Hip Hop
Label: Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath, Interscope
Released: March 18, 2013
Social: Facebook Twitter
Read more of this post
March 14, 2013
From the sounds of this thorough review from The New York Times, hip hop legend Big Daddy Kane and his current “grown up” soulful music explorations with his band the Las Supper are a hit with the Blue Note crowd this past Monday in New York. Enjoy!
From NYTimes.com:
Last September, at the inaugural concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Jay-Z brought out just one guest, Big Daddy Kane. It was the student offering the spotlight to the teacher: a show of respect, of civic pride (like Jay-Z, Big Daddy Kane is from Brooklyn) and a compliment. It was also an opportunity, one that Big Daddy Kane took advantage of, showing in just a few minutes why he was worthy of the gesture, and the stage. Read more of this post
March 12, 2013
According to Rolling Stone magazine, an animated series starring his children is in the works. Given many in the hip hop nation are mourning his death and the recent 15 year anniversary of the day he was shot, this news comes at a great time:
Notorious B.I.G.’s children will star in a new animated series about the late rapper’s recording studio. According to the Associated Press, House of Wallace features 16-year-old C.J. and 19-year-old T’yanna Wallace Read more of this post
March 9, 2013
Title: The Best of the Notorious B.I.G.
Artist: DJ M-Rock
Contact: email | facebook | twitter | youtube
City: Toronto, Canada
Release Date: March 9, 2012
From DJ M-Rock:
“I’m pleased to drop this brand new Best of Biggie for all his fans. On top of that, I’m happy I made the march 9th death anniversary deadline. Long story short, I was working on another Valentine’s tape because the first was so well-received, and then Cabbie said I should really do a March 9th BIG tape. It made sense because it’s been long overdue and the timing. That was it, my RNB tape had to get pushed back.”
Kudos brother! Thanks for making that happen for us all. Read more of this post
March 2, 2013
Directed by: Michel Gondry
Produced by: Dave Chappelle, Michel Gondry
Written by: Dave Chappelle
Starring: Dave Chappelle
Music by: Corey Smyth
Cinematography: Ellen Kuras
Release date(s): September 12, 2005 (Toronto International Film Festival), March 3, 2006 (United States)
Running time: 103 minutes
Performers: Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Common, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, The Fugees, Bilal, Dead Prez, Cody Chesnutt, John Legend, Central State University Marching Band, A-Trak
We are pleased to bring this you this monumental music film/documentary, which includes some of music’s most important performers. Several years ago, comedian Dave Chappelle brought the World to Brooklyn for an amazing time. This film showcases that great day. Read more of this post
March 1, 2013
Thanks to our friends over at GiantStep.net for hipping us to this live recording from one of our favorite new bands with an amazing new sound from down under. We recently brought you some music from Hiatus Kaiyote and now we are happy to listen into to this recording. Enjoy and look out for these guys. Read more of this post
February 26, 2013
Artist: Petty
Title: Short But Sweet
Released: February 26, 2013
Hood: Nashville, Tennessee USA
Label: Gummy Soul
You Will Like this If You Like: Outkast, A Tribe Called Quest, Ludacris
Social: Twitter
Last year, we brought you two releases by Amerigo Gazaway, Freak the Funk and Bizarre Quest, A Ride to the Pharcyde, two soulful releases from label Gummy Soul. Since then, these cats have teamed up with rapper Petty and combined his lyrical prowess with Brooklyn, NY’s own Stuyvesants. As you may recall, The Stuyvesants released a few critically acclaimed instrumental hip hop albums infused with rare soul groove samples. We absolutely love their sound and passion for the groove and this collaboration will certainly add to their profile.
Honestly, we really dug this record. It has classic boom bap feel musically and knocks throughout on that front. Vocally, we really like Petty’s flow, lyrics and presence on the tracks. At times, he sounds like Andre’ 3000‘s harder cousin and at other times, he just lounges back in the groove like a Southern Kendrick Lamar or a mellower Meek Mill. Aside from these obvious influences, this record sounds refreshingly positive, lush, soulful and deserves your time for sure. Read more of this post
February 20, 2013
Artist: Mario Biondi
Title: Sun
Hood: Catania, Italy
Released: February 1, 2013
Genre(s): Soul, Jazz
You Will Like This If You Like: Barry White, Omar, Icognito, Ed Motta
Ok, this is real music. PERIOD. Last year, we were amazed by Brooklyn’s Gregory Porter and his incredible sounding voice. Now, it seems this year, we will be digging this Italian with a huge voice and sound to match. From the first track and utterance from Mario, you know immediately that you are listening to something special. We must agree with soulcuts.org who said this project is “the first essential soul purchase of 2013.” If this isn’t enough, Mario is joined by iconic legends like Omar, Chaka Khan, Leon Ware, Al Jarreau, James Taylor and many more. This is not an album, this is an event people. Get on board. Read more of this post
February 14, 2013
Artist: Phony Ppl
Title: Phoneyland
Genre(s): Soul, Hip-Hop, R&B
Hood: Brooklyn, New York USA
Released: January 17, 2012
You Will Like This if You Like: Tony! Toni! Tone!, Bilal, Pharcyde, Little Brother
Social: Twitter
Brooklyn has been a cultural hub for some time. Hip Hop, Jazz, and soul (among other) have flourished here for decades so it is no surprise that we would be hearing some of the most fresh sounding grooves coming out of the thorough borough. Last year, we were all over the Stuyvesants with their trippy soulful grooves. And now, it seems we are going to be spending 2013 chilling to another exciting group from the Stuy.
Phony Ppl‘s album Phoneyland had us from the first orchestral track, Genesis, but then when we heard the Tony! Toni! Tone! feeling vibe of 4 The First Time, we knew we had hit on something solid. Read more of this post
February 7, 2013
Artist: Nina Sky
Supporting Acts: Kitty Pryde, Chippy Nonstop
Venue: 285 Kent, 285 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, NY Directions
Time: 8p
Price: $10
We really want to hit this tonight. Looks like a good show. And who doesn’t like ‘Move Your Body’? Enjoy.
From the Village Voice:
The first sisters of reggaeton and dancehall—best known for their hit “Move Ya Body” and hooks on N.O.R.E.’s “Oye Mi Canto” and “Mas Maiz,” as well as Major Lazer’s “Keep It Goin’ Louder”—Nina Sky (a/k/a Nicole and Natalie Albino) returned last summer with the stellar r&b-influenced mixtape Nicole & Natalie. Who knows what they’ll be playing tonight at 285 Kent, where they share the bill with rappers Kitty Pryde. The former just released her D.A.I.S.Y. Rage EP, the official follow-up to YouTube favorites like “Okay Cupid” and “Orion’s Belt”; the latter, if nothing else, raps over some elastic Bay Area post-hyphy beats. The only guarantee is that you’ll break a sweat.
February 6, 2013
Artist: Cheri Coke and Melo-X (Additional Bass by Andre Cleghorn on track 7)
Title: The X/COKE EP
Released: July 2012
Cover Art: MeLo-X
Photography: Mougabe “Purp” Saint Louis
We dig this new spacey project from producer Melo X and singer Cheri Coke. We really enjoyed the atmosphere of experimentation that abounds in this collection. Read more of this post
January 15, 2013
Shout out to Brooklyn’s J. Period and Illadelph’s best Black Thought from the World famous Roots on this one. What a great idea!
December 10, 2012
Artist: Bilal
Title: The Retrospective Mixtape (curated by Vikter Duplaix)
Genre(s): Soul, Neo-Soul, Hip-Hop, Electronica
You Will Like This If You Like DeAngelo, Erykah Badu, DAM Funk
Released: December 10, 2012
Rating: A
Check out neo soul singer Bilal‘s new mixtape ‘The Retrospection’, looking back on his career and curated by Master of the Mix runner up Vikter Duplaix. The Brooklyn based artist, who is best known for his classic anthem praising Black women, Soul Sista, Read more of this post
December 5, 2012
In this short documentary, JAY Z’s Life+Times takes an unprecedented behind the scenes look at the creation of JAY Z’s Barclays Center opening concerts. The highlight of this video is when Jay Z rides the subway to the show and sits next to an older lady who doesn’t know who she is sitting next to. Enjoy!
November 27, 2012
Title: Brooklyn Funk Festival
Venue: The Paper Box
Address: 17 Meadow Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206 Directions
Date: November 28 – December 1, 2012
Time: 7p – 4am each night
Headliners: Stepkids, HeaVy, Emefe, Zozo Afrobeat, BAM! and many others
Hosted by: Afrika Bambaataa
Tickets: $15 pre $20 day of show or $40 festival pass BUY
Age: 21+
This looks like a must attend function happening this week in Brooklyn. Featuring one of the most fun bands anywhere, HeaVy, this will surely be a great time. We highly recommend this.
Read more of this post
November 6, 2012
Title: THEESatisfaction Loves Anita Baker
Artist: THEESatisfaction
Genre(s): Soul, Hip-Hop/Rap, Psychedelic
From: Seattle, Washington USA
Released: October 1, 2012
Review by Ron Worthy:
We discovered THEESatisfaction a while back while strolling through the aisles of New York’s Other Music. As is usually the case, I go in with something in mind, pick that up, then immediately begin trolling for cool album covers or descriptions that grab my attention. On this day, I was genuinely lazy and asked for a recommendation. At the time, I had just purchased Shabazz Palaces LP, Black Up, and was looking for something a little less aggressive. At the suggestion of THEESatisfactions first LP, awE naturlE, I copped it and listened to the album on the way back to Brooklyn. Read more of this post
October 15, 2012
Title: Higher Ground
Artist: Tuac (pronounced “Tuck”)
From: Brooklyn, NY
Label: KPI
Released: October 2012
We are too proud to do our part for this incredible man and artist, Tuac (pronounced “Tuck”), who has been a friend of soulhead.com founder, Ron Worthy, for the past 12 years. Personal friendship notwithstanding, this new single showcases Tuac’s very capable and strong voice as well as his songwriting abilities. This very soulful uptempo song just makes you feel good from beginning to end and serves as the perfect lead single for Tuac’s forthcoming EP of the same name due out on KPI on November 6, 2012. This singer, who recently starred in the Bluest Note, a film featured at this year’s UrbanWorld Film Festival, is definitely on the rise and reaping the benefits of years of hard work and personal growth. We will certainly be on the lookout for this one.
soulhead Founder Ron Worthy, wife Dana Worthy and Artist Tuac
