Saturday is Classic Saturday #32

There’s no disputing today’s classic.  Looking for an old school breakbeat classic to get the block jumping?   Steal power from a nearby street light, thrown down some lino and bust some moves.  A staple of B-Boys and B-Girls everywhere that has the Kool Herc seal of approval so who am I to argue?

James Brown – Turn It Up or Turn It Loose (1969)

Take his advice kids.

Listen in Spotify

Jay Electronica. No longer underground?

I’m a long time listener of Gilles Peterson, close on 12 years now since he joined Radio 1, and way back in January 08 he featured a then unknown (to me) rapper going by the name of Jay Electronica. The guy comes with a flow part MF Doom, part NAS over soundscapes part Madlib part Jaydee. Yeah I know. Big names to be throwing around but seriously, they’re not lazy comparisons, the guy has cajones.

His first “official” single Exhibit A, produced by Just Blaze, is a quality piece of work;

but it’s Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) which got tongues wagging and brought him to Gilles’ attention. A 15 minute track (which kicks off the aforementioned podcast) with snippets of film dialogue, Jay’s raps, based on the soundtrack to the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is classy. The following youtube video has nine minutes of Act 1, trimmed due to youtube length constraints, but it’ll show you this guy is special.

All of this stuff is in the public domain by the way.  Put your super google technique to good use and you’ll find his discography spread across the blogosphere somewhere.  Make his Wikipedia Discography entry your checklist if you wish.

Anyway, it seems Jay is making a break for the overground now (in the UK at least) Already making waves towards the end of 09 in the states, his Exhibit C EP is up on iTunes (and Exhibit A) for you to invest in and with Zane Lowe rinsing it on his show the other night we might finally see him get some wider recognition.

Lets hope so because the hip hop most people be listening to at the moment is not doing the art form any favours.  Yeah.  I’m looking at you Black Eyed Peas…

R.I.P. Roc Raida

New just in…

Sad to hear that Roc Raida of the X-Ecutioners has passed away.   A family statement reads;

Anthony Williams p/k to the world as The Legendary Grandmaster Roc Raida has passed away unexpectedly today September 19 2009. He is survived by his wife, three lovely daughters, mother and friends. Raida was recently in an mixed martial arts accident, something that he has been practicing for several years. Although he had under gone two surgeries with great success,  was released to an inpatient physical therapy facility and was in great spirits the past few days. This morning he started to have complications and passed. The family asks for privacy at this time.”

R.I.P.

New De La Soul Album and a blinding Wale track

At last, a new De La Soul longplayer is on the horizon according to a recent interview at EW.com.   It’s been nearly 5 years since The Grind Date and ‘You’re Welcome’ and is slated to be released in early 2010.  At this rate they’re rivalling the Beasties at time between albums.

Also popped up today on his Twitter is a new (old but reworked)  Wale track.  “Hot Shyt,” featuring Black Thought (of The Roots), Peedi Crakk, Young Chris, and Tuphace is as the kids say “a banger”. When I were a lad it were a crappy firework.

If you liked that download Wale’s free mixtape, The Mixtape About Nothing, from last year. You won’t be sorry for long…