Nothing more to say than that, really.

Props to Ian on this one.

…to take you into the weekend…

…enjoy it.

I told you Anjulie’s story a few months back, and now with her album in stores, it’s only right that I let folks know.

To purchase the album on Amazon click here.

Check out the write up the NYT did on her album: Critics’ Choice – New CDs by Anjulie, Mindy Smith and the John Patitucci Trio – Review - NYTimes.com.

Also, the video for her debut single, “Boom,” was recently nomiated for breakthrough video at the VMAs. Check it out after the jump…

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I’m kind of kicking myself for not making it out to this show and kicking it at the crib instead. At least D was nice enough to bring his camera along to capture to moment. Check out the details…

Big Daddy Kane breaks down the making of Ain’t No Half Steppin.

The NYT was there to. Check out what they had to say: Returning Home, Big Daddy Kane Finds a Much-Changed Brooklyn – NYTimes.com.

And check out the other True Hip-Hop Stories here.

Another Part Of MJ, by LIl' Dave

Of my friends, the one of the best ears for music is probably DJ Junior, out of Philly. That being the case, it make perfect sense that his PNC, Lil’ Dave, is behind this MJ mix Another Part of MJ. I’ve been crazy busy lately, so I didn’t get a chance to check this out until today, but I’m glad I did. Check out the info below…

Ok. I know there a million Michael Jackson tributes out here right now. As much as I hate to be trendy, I felt the need to put something together anyway. I hope this mix stands out from everything else people are hitting you with. Instead of playing all the obvious classics we all know and love, I pulled together all the remixes, remakes, re-redits, b-sides, and demos I could find. The result is a mix of hiphop, reggae, house, samba, boogie, and of course soul…

Listen to it here…

Another Part of MJ

Or download it here: Another Part Of MJ, Mixed by Lil Dave.

For more music from Lil’ Dave & Junior, check out their podcast. Check out the tracklisting after the jump…

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Yes, I’m alive…

I think one of the most underated hip-hop producer’s today, and has been for a while, is Chicago’s NO I.D.  He’s been putting it down for YEARS, having come into the game with Common Sense, to mentoring Kanye West, to most reecently putting in work with Jay-Z on American Gangster and Blueprint 3 and it’s first single, “D.O.A.”  

That all said, I’m glad to see him starting get some mainstream shine. Check out a video below where he speaks on the making of “D.O.A.”…

Also, check out a link to a ‘greatest hits,’ compiled by yours truly, below….

Download: NO I.D. – A Sampler.

video via RapRadar.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here last only cause I’ve been dealing with some stuff. It’s basically too long of a story, so I’ll leave it at that. Anyway, I figured I’d welcome myself back by bringing you the latest from Sparkle Motion. I haven’t listened to it yet, so I can’t fully cosign it, but based of the last two joints I think this one will do the trick. Check out the info below…

Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for the ultimate quiet storm: Sparkle Motion (DJ Yoda & TOBE$) are back with their latest mix “Slow Jamz Vol. 1″.

Sip on some Evelyn Champagne, take your pants off to Luther Vandross and get your sheets wet with some Keith Sweat – this mix is all about that classic-ass 80s Soul and R&B, carefully compiled to ensure your skip button takes a well-needed vacation.

Check out a link to download and the tracklisting after the jump. Also, be on the lookout for their next mixes Miracle Blendz Vol. 1 & Flight School Vol. 2….

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OBD, Return To The 36 Chambers

I came across this the other day and felt it only right to share. Artist Logan Walters took on the task of redesigning some classic W-Tang Artwork and giving it the Blue Note Records feel. Peep the words from the man himself…

A little while ago I put a bunch of Wu-Tang (both group and solo) albums on my computer. 21 of them, in fact. I inherited some mild OCD from my mom, and as anyone who has seen my iTunes can attest to, it manifests itself in weird ways. I need to have decent-quality album art for every album on my computer, which currently equals over 90 gigs. The problem was that almost all of the Wu-Tang album art was horrible (ODB’s two albums being the only real exceptions) — no offense to the original designers, but as iconic as they might be they’re looking pretty dated these days. So, armed with inspiration from what Olly Moss and others are doing (as written about by me here, and later by Kottke here) and a book of Blue Note Records covers, I set out to remake all 21.

Check out all the artwork here or check out a few more designs after the jump…

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Soul Power! Got to see this one. As soon as I get this cast off, I gotta check this one out. Check the synopsis below…

In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The dream-child of Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with The Rumble in the Jungle, the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary WHEN WE WERE KINGS. SOUL POWER is a verité documentary about this legendary music festival (dubbed Zaire 74), and it depicts the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, among a host of others. At the peak of their talents and the height of their careers, these artists were inspired by this return to their African roots, as well as the enthusiasm of the Zairian audience, to give the performances of their lives. The concert has achieved mythological significance as the definitive Africa(n)-American musical event of the 20th Century. SOUL POWER is crafted from the extensive outtakes that remained after making WHEN WE WERE KINGS, which documented the epic title fight, but relegated the music festival to a small, supporting role. The outtakes have remained vaulted for the past 34 years, until now. Lensed primarily by celebrated cinematographers Albert Maysles, Paul Goldsmith, Kevin Keating and Roderick Young, SOUL POWER finally provides todays audience the opportunity to experience this historic musical event in all of its magnificent, filmed glory.

Via Ian.

Since I posted the trailer for this not too long ago, it’s only right i bring you the full feature. Check it out below…

As part of the Scion Easy 10 series, Anthony Marshall made this short 17 minute doc about one of our living legends, Brooklyn’s finest, BDK. Watch as Kane returns to his Brooklyn hood and gives us some great behind-the-scenes insights.

via OKP.