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
May 7, 2013
Title: Twelve Reasons to Die
Artist: Ghostface Killah
Label: Soul Temple Records / RED
Genre(s): Hip-Hop
Released: April 16, 2013
A concept album album based on a revenge-themed horror comic book, Twelve Reasons to Die from Ghostface Killah is vintage Wu—inventive rhymes paired with classic production.
The story behind Twelve Reasons is an amalgamation of Italian giallo and blaxploitation: Tony Starks (GFK’s alter ego) is an enforcer for a Mafia crime family. After striking out on his own and falling for his ex-employer’s daughter, Starks is murdered and his remains are melted into vinyl LPs that resurrect his vengeful soul when played. Think J.D.’s Revenge meets The Don is Dead.
April 24, 2013
Artist: De La Soul
Title: Get Away (feat. the Spirit of the Wu)
Hood: Long Island, New York USA
Genre(s): Golden Era Hip-Hop, Boom Bap
Released: April 17, 2013
Social: Facebook Twitter
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April 22, 2013
Artist: Little BIG Things
Title: Little BIG Things – The Mixtape
Hood: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Genre(s): Soul, Jazz, Funk, Rare Groove
Released: December 2012
Super soulful and jazzy at the same time, this mixtape give you everything you need for that mid day pick me up. Enjoy!
Description from Soundcloud:
The Little Big Things Crew brings you their first release: Little BIG Things – The Mix Tape, an all 7-inch mix of funk, soul, disco and boogie tunes mixed, cut and scraped by Philadelphia crate diggers Personify, FROZ1 and Case Bloom. We dug deep in our collections to compile a mix guaranteed to have your deck on blast from start to finish. Little records – BIG TUNES. Bang it loud and enjoy. And next time you’re in Philly, be sure to check out The Little Big Things Crew at The Trestle Inn’s Souled Out every 2nd Friday for the best whiskey sours in the city, Go-Go dancers, and the illest funk, soul, disco, boogie and latin 45s.
Tracklist:
1.) Sisters Love – Now Is The Time
2.) Rudy Love & The Love Family – Does Your Mama Know
3.) The Turtles – Buzz Saw
4.) Jimmy Norman – Gangster of Love Part 1
5.) Chuck Womack and The Sweet Souls – Ham Hocks and Beans
6.) B.E.H. – In the Middle of Blind Alley My Mind’s Playing Tricks on Me (Little Big Things Edit)
7.) Mocambo Allstars – The Next Message (Kenny Dope Mix)
8.) Lee Fields – I’m The Man
9.) Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Band – What Can You Bring Me
10.) The Meters – People Say
11.) Lou Courtney – Hot Butter N’ All Part 1
12.) The Herb Johnson Settlement – Damph F’aint
13.) Jimmy Jones – Time and Changes
14.) Bernard Wright – Chillin’ Out
15.) Crown Heights Affair – Move Your Body and Soul
16.) Brother to Brother – In The Bottle
17.) Joe Bataan – The Bottle (La Botella)
18.) Gil Scott Heron – New World Revolution
19.) Kool & The Gang – Caribbean Festival (Disco Version)
20.) Yambu – Sunny
21.) Crown Heights Affair – Dreaming on a Dream
22.) Freeez – Southern Freeez
23.) Secret Weapon – Must Be The Music Instrumental
24.) Skyy – Here’s To You
25.) D-Train – You’re the One for Me
26.) Donald Byrd – Think Twice
27.) The S.S.O. Orchestra – Faded Lady Instrumental
28.) George McRae – Look at You
29.) Gwen McRae – Funky Sensation
30.) Linda Clifford – Runaway Love
31.) Universal Robot Band – Dance and Shake Your Tambourine
32.) Ronnie Laws – Always There
33.) Weldon Irvine – I Love You
April 2, 2013
Artist: 1/2-E
Title: The Untitled Album
Hood: Salt Lake City, Utah
Genre(s): Hip-Hop
Released: August 29, 2012
You Will Like This if You Like: Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Bone Thugs & Harmony
Social: Facebook Twitter
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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
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March 14, 2013
Enjoy this latest installment of TVOne’s Unsung music documentary show, which features legendary soul and rhythm and blues group, Mint Condition. Throughout this ep, you hear from friends and family and learn more about the highs and lows of this incredible group that spawned a string of hits including “Breakin My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)”, “Swingin” and more. We learned a tremendous amount about the group and have even more respect for them after seeing the show. Enjoy!
Description from TVOne:
Right from the start Mint Condition stood out from the pack with a sound that blended funk, rock, R&B and jazz. Their 1991 breakout single Breaking My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) was a smash on both the R&B and pop charts and was followed by Top Ten singles U Send Me Swingin, Forever in Your Eyes and the timeless ballad What Kind of Man Would I Be.
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March 7, 2013
Enjoy this latest installment of TVOne’s Unsung music documentary show, which features legendary soul and rhythm and blues group, The Whispers. Throughout this ep, you hear from friends and family and learn more about the highs and lows of this incredible group that spawned a strong of hits over their impressive 50 year career. We learned a tremendous amount about the group and had no idea they faced the drama they did. Enjoy!
March 7, 2013
Artist: Sola Rosa featuring Olivier Daysoul
Title: Promise
Hood: Aukland, New Zealand/London UK
Genre(s): UK Soul
Released: March 1, 2013
You Will Like This if You Like: Omar
Kudos to our friends from Giant Step for hipping us to this super funky and exciting band (and singer) with an amazing sound. Following in the footsteps of UK Soul masters like Omar, Sola Rosa and this track deserve your time. Be careful though. This one will have your head nodding for real. Read more of this post
March 6, 2013
Artist: Vanessa Elisha
Title: Home to Me
Hood: Australia
Genre(s): Pop, R&B, Soul
Released: March 4, 2013
Social: Twitter Soundcloud Tumblr
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March 4, 2013
Artist: Georgia Anne Muldrow
Title: Akosua
Hood: Los Angeles, CA
Label: Mellow Music Group
Genre(s): Soul, Hip-Hop, R&B
Released: February 19, 2013
Mellow Music Group continues to roll on. The label that brought us super tight rapper Oddisee now introduces soul singer Georgia Anne Muldrow. While Muldrow has been on the scene for a while, this new project will put her in great company. This new hip hop infused groove, Akosua, is a great introduction to her and Mellow if you aren’t hip yet. Enjoy. Read more of this post
March 1, 2013
Ok, so after being lambasted for his teeth, music and clothing choices on Hot97 by Peter Rosenberg and being dissed by fellow (jealous) rappers, it now appears the hip-hop community is beginning to embrace Trinidad James. The rapper, who came out of nowhere last year with his ode to swagnifigance, “All Gold Everything”, received as much praise as condemnation. For the most part, the beef from fellow rappers goes a little something like this: “how could this crazy lookin dude from down South blow the F up after only rapping for 10 months and we been grindin writin maad lyrics and we still work at UPS.” Haters, get over it! Every rapper is not going to be Rakim and every song does not have to be complex to be entertaining. Read more of this post
February 28, 2013
Enjoy this latest installment of TVOne’s Unsung music documentary show, which features legendary soul and rhythm and blues singer, Eddie Kendricks. Throughout this ep, you hear from friends and family and learn more about the highs and lows of this incredible performer that spawned hits as a member of the Temptation and as a solo artist including “Just My Imagination” and “Keep on Truckin” among others. The drama and pressure of his rise to stardom really comes through. Kudos!
February 26, 2013
Earlier today, we brought you a fun new EP by UK hip hop soul collective Last Night In Paris. The group also recently released a video for the lead single, Breathe, which we included on our favorite tracks in the review. Watch out for these folks. We haven’t seen a collective like this since So Solid years ago. #get involved! Read more of this post
February 26, 2013
Artist: Last Night In Paris
Title: Rose EP
Hood: London, UK
Released: February 15, 2013
Genre(s): Hip-Hop, R&B, Electronica, Pop Soul
You Will Like This if You Like: Drake, The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, Rihanna
Social: Facebook Twitter YouTube
Eerily reminiscent of some of the more recent emo Hip Hop coming out of Toronto via Drake and his homey The Weeknd, the UK collective, Last Night in Paris, is continuing the trend with an atmospheric electronic offering. There is a lot to like on this LP, especially the moodiness and raw UK texture that differentiates them from their N. American counterparts. It is clearly an effort to leverage some elements of dance and pop to broaden the groups reach and we like it. The production, while very electronic, is varied enough to keep our attention and the vocal performances are engaging despite sounding rather American at times. We think you will enjoy this one. 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 21, 2013
DJ: Ushka
Title: Foreign Brown Mixtape
Genre(s): Bhangra, Hip-Hop, Latin, Dance
Released: February 11, 2013
Thanks to soulhead contributor, DJ and professor Adrian Loving for hipping us to this very solid mixtape which will definitely get your blood boiling. Read more of this post
February 20, 2013
Artist: Kevin McCall
Title: Definition
Released: February 14, 2013
Producer: Kevin McCall, various
Genre: R&B, Rap
Hood: Watts, CA USA
Social: Facebook Twitter
Kevin McCall gave R&B and rap listeners a new mix-tape for Valentine’s Day 2013. Although Definition is a pretty decent collection, the mix-tape would have been pretty damn dope if McCall would have stuck to writing and allowed heavy hitters, such as Chris Brown, to lay down the vocals.
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February 20, 2013
Artist: Astro
Title: Deadbeats and Lazy Lyrics Mixtape
Released: February 18, 2013
Producer: DJ Tech
Genre: Hip Hop
We are so happy to hear a young rapper who is not spitting the same old same old. This cat emerged onto the scene a while back with his internet sensation, Stop Looking at My Mom. Since then, The Astronomical Kid from Brooklyn AKA Astro has grown up a bit and has the lower voice to prove it. Lyrically, this album is fun, positive and funky. The beats are seriously reminiscent of the Golden Era of hip hop (Deadbeats?), which made our staff nod all morning. He offers old school storytelling in a very modern way. Read more of this post
February 20, 2013
Artist: Kevin McCall
Title: Definition
Released: February 14, 2013
Producer: Kevin McCall, various
Genre: R&B, Rap
Hood: Watts, CA USA
Social: Facebook Twitter
Check out this new mixtape from rising R&B singer, Kevin McCall.
