un|herd sound

nowadays at rockthetropics.tumblr.com

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From Okayplayer: “25 years after the release of their classic LP Low End Theory, watch as a mural honoring A Tribe Called Quest goes up at the site of their iconic 1991 video for ‘Check The Rhime.’”

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Grandaddy Announce Full Return, Share First New Music in a Decade

"Way We Won't" and "Clear Your History" are the California rockers' first releases since their disbandment in 2006.

BEST NEWS.  

Two brand-new singles inside.  Full-length forthcoming.

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I’m off to Japan in April!

Planning pretty extensively, but if you have recommendations for record stores or cool live music venues in Tokyo, Osaka, and/or Kyoto, leave me a comment!

And in case you were wondering, yes, scoring a reasonably-priced vinyl copy of Happy End’s excellent Kazemachi Roman (風街ろまん) is absolutely on the must-do trip list.

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Katy Perry or Ghostface Killah? #EhBeeFlashBack #tbt

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From Ambrosia for Heads: "Slimkid3 (Tre Harbison) and DJ Nu-Mark released a jewel of an LP last year, on the Delicious Vinyl label no less. Among the highlights within the self-titled effort is “King,” alongside Diamond D and K-Natural. For the video, the quartet (hailing from legendary crews including The Pharcyde, Jurassic 5, and Diggin’ In The Crates) get the animation treatment—and done spot-on."

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My favorite songs of 2014, one video at a time.  This one's also my favorite video, hands down, of the year.

Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar: "Never Catch Me"

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My favorite songs of 2014, one video at a time.

Pharoahe Monch: "Broken Again"

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My favorite songs of 2014, one video at a time.   

Mo Kolours: "My Little Dog"

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As it turns out, the blues was alive all along -- it just took a rock and roll detour and hid out in New Orleans, materializing in the form of 25-year-old Benjamin Booker.

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Brilliant bossa-lounge cover of Daft Punk and Pharrell's Get Lucky by my new favorite group of the month, The Stepkids.

[howtofreestylerap-blog]

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Via howtofreestylerap.

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Raekwon puts a verse to the Isley Brothers' iconic cut Footsteps In The Dark for his latest Throwback Thursday installment.

Raekwon pulls a Ghostface on the Isleys' classic track.  I don't blame him: the beat is irresistible.

[trainofthoughtcollective]

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Frank in the ocean.

Via trainofthoughtcollective.

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J Dilla's The Diary 12" out soon

Mark your calendars: This gorgeous clear vinyl 12" featuring three tracks from J Dilla's fabled The Diary album will be released May 6 by Pay Jay Recordings. Get your clicking fingers ready.

"Give 'Em What They Want" was produced by Dilla, while "The Doe" and "So Far" were produced by Supa Dave West, and all feature Jay Dee on vocals -- a welcome treat, since this outstanding emcee's mic skills are often overshadowed by his legendary production work. 

Quick backstory: Long a part of Dilla mythology, The Diary was recorded for MCA in 2002, and then apparently shelved by the label due to "internal changes" (probably the result of its subsequent Geffen takeover). It is said to feature Dilla rapping over tracks produced by his favorite beatmakers, including Pete Rock, Madlib, and Nottz. No word on when or whether the full-length album will be released in its entirety.

For more info and a stream of "Give 'Em What They Want," head over to Rappcats. 

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Prolific much?

The third (and ostensibly final) installment of former wunderkind emcee Blu's Soul Amazing mixtape series is out now, and available for streaming or for a $10 virtual purchase. Looks like it’s a mix of older tracks and new songs, featuring some pretty cool collabs (Kendrick! Mela Machinko! Pac Div!). 

A hearty snack before the main course, forthcoming double album Good to Be Home, drops around Mayish.

[snakeyed-g]

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?uestlove, via 816am.

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Like Fine Wine, These Get Better with Age: The 10 Best Rap Albums from 1989

These projects were amazing at the time of their release.  The mark that they and their creators made can even be seen in current Hip-Hop.  Here are the 10 best rap albums from 1989 and the reasons why Hip-Hop and pop culture wouldn’t be where they are now without them.

Sidenote: I just broke out Paul's Boutique after time immemorial the other day, and damn, does that album rock.  Forthcoming post on the insane "Loose Booty" sample flip on "Shadrach."