[Album Stream] The Azari & III Album is Fantastic

Another one I missed from last summer!

I can probably count the number of truly great (non-compilation/DJ Mix) house music albums on two hands. This self-titled album by the Toronto act, Azari & III just might be one of them. Fantastic. I was getting early, classic Trax Records vibes in places while listening to the album which I just got put up on in the last week or so. Y’all need to check this out, serious!

[album stream via Hyeptrak]

Introducing New Artist: Quadron – Baby Be Mine (Michael Jackson cover)

Out of idle curiosity I was listening to the Think Like a Man soundtrack with a great deal of skepticism today and got put up on the Danish future-soul duo, Quadron via their very quirky but more-than-solid cover of Michael Jackson‘s “Baby Be Mine.” I got curious and then found this…

Bonus:

Check out a collab between Quadron and soul artist, songwriter & producing legend, Leon Ware (Marvin Gaye, Minnie, Ripperton, Maxwelll). This sounds in pocket with Ware’s trademark layered, silky smooth sound as heard on albums he produced like my Top 10 All-time fave, I Want You by Marvin Gaye. I can’t front, if these cats are holding their own working with soul and R&B’s all-time greats, the future bodes well for them.

[“Orchids in the Sun” soundcloud via Kevin Nottingham]

[Album Review] tAz Arnold – rAd americA

Before Taz Arnold aka TI$A ever brought his branded snapbacks to all the cool kids, I knew him as a musician, albeit one of a very eccentric caliber with his brethren in SA-RA.

He and his creative partners not only make some of the rawest, dirtiest funk out of LA and NY respectively, they also come armed with philosophies and spiritual messages that aren’t always reflected in their music per se, but show that these guys are educated and would like to affect people in a number of different ways.

Taz was always the wilder one in SA-RA, from his appearance to his solo work. He’s made songs that range from endorsing Barack Obama to freaked out jazz-funk street music (“$outhSide Blood Cuz’n”) not to mention an array of interesting visuals you can find on YouTube that really allow you to experience this personality and his philosophy although in the end his enigmatic persona doesn’t get any clearer.

In 2012, he’s already released two projects, a 2-song EP titled, Louboutin $yndrome employing a style I can best describe as sound collaging. There’s a somewhat chaotic approach to the production reminiscent of the 90’s production crew, The Bomb Squad. Continuing with this heavy sample, collage style, we’re now introduced to the second project, the Rad America LP, a fast-paced project that works like the musical version of what a lot of news channels look like nowadays with multiple things happening simultaneously. The perfect music for the tabbed browser information consumption era we live in now.

I first came across Rad America from my email subscription to tisavision.tv but went searching for a download link which I found along with many slanderous and dismissive comments. By no means will I scale this LP between good or bad because I recognize that it’s valuable in the indie music lexicon and the Internet age. I don’t have a whole lot to say in terms of what songs you should listen to or whatever from the album because that’s not what Rad America is about. It’s about offering people an experience, and if you make it through to the end of that experience, it’s clear what his mandate, ‘We Run This Art S#!T’ is all about.

Themes run the gamut here, from talking about freaky girls and shouting out GOD, to mentioning the gold under the rocks in San Fran as well as introducing an extension of his ‘branding’ with the ti$A te$lA gAng. There is a lot to digest here, and I am interested in exploring what else I discover with repeated listens to the album. Take the challenge for yourself though and see what you get out of your journey through Rad America!

— Brendan Philip

Download: tAz Arnold – rAd americA HERE

Check tAz Arnold out online: Website | Twitter (@tAzArnold) | Tumblr

Hit the jump to watch the ti$A Mission statement:

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[Music Video] Sarkodie – U Go Kill Me feat. E.L.

MP3 Download: Sarkodie – U Go Kill Me feat. E.L.

This is wild old (it’s from last year) but I just got up on it from hearing it this morning on G98.7. Straight out of Accra, Ghana. Pure fiya!

[MP3] Bassnectar – Ugly (Keys N Krates Remix)

The homies, Keys N Krates do it again. They’re really developing a distinct sound here. Can’t wait ’til they apply it to their own, original material. In the meantime, enjoy this monster remix of Bassnectar‘s track, “Ugly”

Keys N Krates online: facebook | twitter | website