Ohnomite by Oh No (2012)

Kind of Like: Madlib, Black Milk, Raekown
Genres: Hip-hop, Funk, Soul
Buy/Preview: Stones Throw

Talk about a family of musicians.  Oh no's brother is Madlib, his father is Otis Jackson, and his uncle is Jon Faddis.  It's been a bit since I listened to some fresh hip-hop material and this is certainly quenching my thirst for that.

Like Madlib, he was cali-bred, but has since been infusing his west coast funk with east coast techniques; immersing himself into the underground NYC rap scene and working on projects out there.

This album is long and has a long list of quality names: MF Doom, Guilty Simpson, Frank Nitty, etc etc.  This is a good one, folks.

Listen Here:

B.Lewis - Plug EP [2011]

For Fans Of: MNDSGn, fLako, Madlib

Genres: Instrumental, Hip-Hop, Soul

Spotify: Facebook

Preview:

This sums up how I feel about this album:

"If Plug EP were a planet, it would have a loosely dub, house, break beat surface that’s absolutely soul to the core. But, of course, it’s not a planet. Instead, it’s an eight-track adventure with synth, electro-piano and hip-hop drum cracks that’ll only sound extraterrestrial."

Streampad: B.Lewis - Cancel That

Algiers - Blood 7 [2012]

For Fans Of: African drums

Genres: Gospel, No Wave, Soul

Spotify: Facebook

Preview: Blood 7 Inch

Regular SIGD readers will remember Algiers as the Indie Pop duo with former members of The Maple State and DARTZ!. This, however, is a whole different kind of group, but with the same name. The trio describe themselves as an "experimental gospel no wave soul pulp band". They're based in Atlanta, Georgia, or as they refer to it: "the rotten hub of the Ol' American South, wehre W.E.B. Dubois once saw a riot goin' on, and where the hell and high water swirls 'round the trees." Check out the vid for the song in the preview up top:

I was enjoying the song right away but the video made me get into it more. I like when that happens.

Soul Deep 100 (2012)

Kind of Like: James Brown, Edwin Starr, Jackson 5
Genres: Soul, Motown
Spotify: Not this mix cd, but you can find all the artists on there
Website: Facebook

This is a change of pace for you guys.  Time to stop pushing and shoving and just dance your ass off.  Soul Deep, like Funk Night, is another cool thing that happens around Detroit.  It's run by this DJ, Mike, that has a whole slew of old 45's from the 60's.  He does Soul Deep at Frank's in Wyandotte on Sundays, and at the Sky Bar in Detroit on Thursdays.

The biggest bummer about working the weekends is that now I miss Soul Deep on Sundays.  It's at a hole in the wall bar, but the drinks are cheap and a ton of young people show.  So, it's always a good time.

I go on Thursdays at the Sky Bar now, and I don't get why more kids don't come downtown to go to this one instead.  The Sky Bar is swanky as hell and there is no cover charge.  It is just a lot nicer of a place and they have cool lights and such.  I am all for a Detroit revival, and since kids are already coming out on Sundays, it would be nice to start seeing them come down to the one in Detroit.  They are known for their martinis, and even though I felt like a tool with a martini glass, two of those things had me in a...superb mood.

This album is a collection of the songs Mike spun for the New Year's Day Soul Deep.  He got them off of the vinyl retaining great quality and even added in the fade outs for a seamless dance session.

If you head out to Frank's this Sunday, he will be doing a special set in respect of the late Etta James that passed on the 20th.

Wait, I have to type all the artist names in the label section anyways.  Dammit.

Listen Here:

Will Sessions (2011)

Kind of Like: Nujabes, The Avalanches, Madlib
Genres: Hip-hop, Funk, Soul, Jazz
Preview:


Whether it be MF Doom, Madlib, J Dilla, or any other really cool vinyl records or reissues coming out, Stone's Throw is usually behind it.  I love their catalog, and whenever I find a good contemporary hip-hop record (or classic reissue) in there, I always see their logo in the corner.

People around Detroit may know Will Sessions as the organizers of the now-staple-of-Detroit-night-life: Funk Night.  It started as random meet ups at abandoned warehouses or swanky mansions that were advertised on facebook for the last friday of every month.  Eventually hundreds showed up every night.  It was great because there was no cover, it was BYOB (or anything for that matter) and there was great live funk bands and djs to dance your ass off to.  The police eventually caught on, and they were usually shut down earlier than expected.  If they weren't shut down, you could bet they kept going well into 5 or 6 in the morning.

They still do Funk Night, but it's at a venue.  So, there usually is a cover charge of 5 dollars (not bad), and you have to buy drinks from the bar and no smoking (bad).  Needless to say, they aren't the same as they used to be.

Now that these guys are legit, they are starting to gain a lot of recognition.  Listening to these albums makes me so proud of Detroit hip-hop artists.  In a world full of autotune and mainstream garbage, these beats, nay, compositions are incredibly intelligent.  Here are two releases that I have been listening to on repeat during my mass studying for my exams in all three classes next week (how convenient, college).

The Elmatic Instrumentals are a collection of beats that would put many bands to shame.  The Real Sessions is a collection of live performances by various Detroit hip-hop artists within the Will Sessions movement: Mayer Hawthorne,  Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, and Phat Kat.  The overall feel of Real Sessions is great, you get that feeling of being at the show, but it is still mixed really well.

Oh yeah, and Megaupload just got shut down by the feds.  The good news is that maybe now legislators will recognize they have the power to shut down sites that host pirated music without idiotic/far-reaching acts like SOPA and PIPA.  The bad news is that I have a feeling all the other sites like mediafire and fileserve will be next.

StreamPad: Will Sessions - One Love

undun by The Roots (2011)

Kind of Like: Common, Mos Def, De La Soul, Gym Class Heroes

Genres: Hip-hop, Soul

Preview: NPR

Happy December!

When NPR or somebody else is hosting a stream of a new album, you can bet somebody has leaked it one way or another.  I would hope you have at least heard of these guys.  They are the live house band for Jimmy Fallon's late night show.  Which, up until late, was the only reason I liked his show (it's gotten much better).  They are famed for their heavily jazz-influenced sound and live instrumentation.  So far I am digging the first few songs, really intelligent stuff, get at this.

Listen Here:

Ghost in the Night by Stereo Soul Future (2011)

Kind of Like: Girls, Cults, Wilco
Genres: Indie, Pop, Soul, Folk
Preview: Website

I am putting off writing the Saturday version of the Fest Hangover because it's going to long.  So, until then here is a band that probably could use a little exposure judging by their last.fm profile.  They are based out of Boston and just released this album a couple weeks ago.  This should appeal to fans of indie in general, and they seem to be nice guys as well.

Listen Here:

Funky Thursday: Sly & The Family Stone, Stanley Clarke, Edwin Starr, Jackson 5

Kind of Like: Funkadelic, James Brown, War, Prince, The Temptations
Genres: Funk, Soul, Rock, Motown, Pop
Preview: Boobtube


It's time to expose yourself to something a little bit outside of the box.  I've recently been buying lots of old funk records.  They are not only inexpensive, but they are fucking awesome.  I know Stanley Clarke wasn't as well received as the other bands on here, but I'm going to continue to force shit like this down your throats.    Here are a few records that I have been spinning lately.  Fact: Edwin Starr invented hardcore.

Listen Here: