[MP3] Maxwell – Lake By the Ocean

New Maxwell! It’s been a minute since the understated but brilliant, BLACKsummers’night album (2009 to be exact) but it’s long-anticipated follow-up, blackSUMMERS’night is finally coming July 1 and here goes the first single.

[MP3] Black Thought – Making A Murderer Feat. Styles P (Prod. by 9th Wonder)

NOW THIS IS HIP-HOP! We’re on a good roll here, let’s keep it going….

[MP3 + Music Video] Listen to New Music From Kaytranada: Glowed Up Feat. Anderson .Paak / Illusions

Whoa, two of my current favorite acts, Kaytranada and Anderson .Paak connect like Voltron for a track from the forthcoming (on May 6) official debut full length album by MTL’s finest entitled, 99.9%.

Bonus:

I should have posted this last week in the lead-up to the excellent Pusha T show in Toronto but here’s a track, “Illusions” produced by Kaytranada in conjunction with Doc McKinney (The Weeknd, Esthero) and T.dot’s River Tiber featuring with King Push, recorded at Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles for Red Bull Sound Select.

[MP3 + Music Video] Phife Dawg – Nutshell (prod. by J Dilla)

I missed the tribute at The Apollo yesterday but this new posthumously-released Phife Dawg single & video, “Nutshell” is EVERYTHING! Pure hip-hop, top to bottom. And a beat made J. Dilla??! Could not be more fitting. Love it! #RIPPhifeDawg

[MP3] Listen to Two Tracks by Drake/OVO’s New Act DVSN: One in a Million (Remix) / Let’s Get It On

First is a remix/mash-up of Aaliyah‘s “One In A Million” interpolating Prince‘s “Purple Rain” and the second a very radically remade ‘tribute’ to the late, legendary soul singer, Marvin Gaye‘s late night, baby-making classic, “Let’s Get It On.”

So, are we sold on these latest proteges of Drake? I’m not saying they’re bad at all but I feel like I heard this sound done better by Maxwell 20 years ago. Just sayin’! Their album is out though so I need to dive into it a little deeper and see if my thinking on them evolves based on that. More to come….