Cauze - It Aint

This is a video I shot and directed for Cauze, an artist out of Miami by way of the Bahamas and now living in LA. I'll get more in-depth about the experience and all that stuff later when I have some time and energy. For now, just check it out. Pass it along if you don't mind. I think lifelong Goodie Mobb/Outkast fans will appreciate the inspiration in the hook.

"It Aint" from CAUZE on Vimeo

You can check Cauze's debut album, Supplication, here and his blog here. ... Good dude. Hit him up. Tell him I sent you.

Tracklisting for Brandun Deshay's Volume 3 Mixtape

Brandun Deshay is an upcoming cat originally from Chicago, doing his thing in L.A. right about now. His newest mixtape, Volume 3, is set to drop the last week of May. Kid is worth a listen. Check the video below directed by the illustrious, Carey Williams. Kid is worth a view. The font is a bit small, but. ...

I stole this post from my boy, Carey Williams, because we're working on his blog.

Todd Rundgren - Time for the Music Industry to Evolve (Video, Pt. 1-3)

No idea is original, and everything that seems so new and innovative has probably been around for over 20 years.





Pretty much.

RIP Baatin of Slum Village

I was just looking at an article yesterday about how Slum Village was getting back together. I don't have any details about what happened yet. I think SV is one of the best to ever do it (with or without Dilla). We lost a good one. Rest in Peace and power, sir.

Baatin is probably on his way to Dilla's villa in Heaven with a DJ bag full of vynil for Dilla to sample. You know what love is.

Thought you knew Baatin was polygamous.

Afronaught (Afronaut) - DJ/Producer

Sorry for not knowing about this man sooner. Don't tase me, bro!

I've heard the name, "Afronaught," a million times over the years, but I never really heard the music, not knowingly. I was put onto Afronaught by a really good friend of mine who spent some time in London as an A&R for Sony. God bless him.

Afronaught aka Afronaut aka Orin Walters is a London-Based Breakbeat DJ/Producer. He's also known to spend quite some time in Puerto Rico. He also spun some house music in Chicago in he '90s. He's considered a pioneer of West London's breakbeat scene and is also a member of the DJ/Producer collective known as Bugz in the Attic. His style of production is known for being more soulful than others.

Listen. Enjoy. These two songs are merely the tip of an enormous iceberg.

"Transcend Me" (I've been listening to this repeatedly since I became aware, about three days now.)


"Now or Never" (Let the beat build on this one. It's worth it.)



And now you're happy. See how that works?

Afronaught on MySpace

Ning

Bugz in he Attic


And because it's only right.

Before the Music Dies - Documentary

If you have an hour and a half to spare, I highly recommend this.

"This documentary explores the reason why so few companies currently control the music played on the radio and for sale at retail stores, and whether corporations really have the power to silence musical innovation."

Here are a just few things you will encounter watching this documentary:

- How Clear Channel was born
- Erykah Badu's easy-to-follow-steps to super-stardom for girls
- Why Wynton Marsalis' music students are full of crap
- Why Sunday should be important to you if you're a musician
- Some great musicians you've probably never heard of

This is good stuff right here. Enjoy.

Nyle - Emcee

Nyle (formerly NyelLee) is a New York City emcee (read: more than a rapper) originally from Philadelphia. Nyle. ... Nyle? ... attended (not sure if he still attends) NYU? ... And studied abroad in Ghana? Wait, an educated rapper? Rappers and college? How the hell does that work? What will they think of next?


I won't say too much, because I want to introduce you to him the way I was, via the video below. Here, Nyle along with 37,000 other people take Lil Wayne's, "Let the Beat Build," and breathe enough life for 10 cats into it.

Beware; this is art. Good thing schools are cutting budgets on programs that help kids do stuff like this. Last thing we need in this country is creative genius. Shout out to the best music video director on Earth/budding film director/editor of half of what you see on TV for putting me on to this.

*steps off soapbox, lets the beat build*

Nyle "Let The Beat Build" from Nyle on Vimeo.

Normally, I wouldn't list all these credits, but they deserve it. The following was pulled from the video's Vimeo page.

This video was filmed in one take, with audio being recorded simultaneously with the film. The video features Nyle (www.nyleraps.com) and is produced by Last Pictures (www.last-pictures.com) and 194 Recordings (www.myspace.com/194recordings)


Director- Chadd Harbold
Producers- Golda McCormick, Nyle Emerson, Chadd Harbold
Director of Photography- Adam Newport-Berra
Steady-Cam Operator- David George Ellis
Assistant Camera- Andy Kromphardt
Gaffer- Greg Golko
Key Grip / Transportation Captain- Bobby Olsen
Assistant Director- Keith Haskel
Art Director- Heidi Goldstein
Editor- Bryan Gaynor
Post-Production Supervisor-Dan Berk
Music Producers & Engineers- Katie Buchanan & Alan Gordon
Music Pre-Production-Brian Lee
Mixed by Mykael Alexander
Mastered by Nyle Emerson
Assistants- Chase Culpon, Jacob Blumberg, Dana Sedgwick
Colorist- Vladamir Kucherov

TEACHER
Phil Swetz

VOCALISTS
Danni Lee
Elle Varner

BAND
Isaac Teel (drums)
Mitch Friedman (Bass)
Daniel Mensch (Piano)

HORNS
Al Barrentine
Kevin Birk
Julian Taylor

STRINGS
Molly Fletcher (violin)
Cameron Orr (violin)
Alexandra Jones (cello)
Kristine Kruta (cello)
Liz Hanley (violin)
Hana Segerstrom (violin)
Patti Kilroy (violin)

OTHER
Marlene Desiree (Dancer)
Josh Pikulin (Guitar)
Katie Buchanan (Banjo)

HOMEBOY CHOIR
Plateno Man
Syanide
Maverick
Odudu Akpaeti

SPECIAL THANKS
Priska Neely

Nyle's Web site.

Nyle on MySpace.

And just for kicks, here's the original.

Paul Pre - DJ/Producer

Just download this, and thank me later.

For the record, before I begin, Paul Pre puts out a mix about every month. ... I'm still listening to the Oktober mix from last year. Paul Pre is a Hip Hop/Down-tempo/Electronica DJ/Poducer from Kiel, Germany. Do yourself a favor, and check him out.


Here are a couple of quick snippets from from his Pandasession mix series. Frankly, I don't think they're a fair representation of what Paul brings to the table. So, I highly suggest you check out his Web site or his MySpace page.





I'm more familiar with Paul as a DJ, and I think he has a great ear for setting a soulful vibe than anyone with functioning ears can get lost in. I don't really want to talk much. You really should just go, and scroll down to the gray box on the right with the squiggly lines.

Nosaj Thing - Producer

For the record, before I begin, producers are my best friends. I'm going to start shining some light on them as well as other artists you should be aware of.

Nosaj Thing is an L.A.-based, Electronica/Experimental/Hip Hop producer on L.A.-based Alpha Pup Records. He is scheduled to drop an LP titled, "Drift," on June 9.

Here he remixes Flying Lotus' (Another producer you should already know about and whose stuff I will post later), "Camel." I've been losing myself in this record for a few days now, and it sort of feels weird doing it by myself; so, please join me. It has a futuristic, tribal vibe. Material like this reminds me that it's not all bad in the world of Urban music and why I love it so.



I also recommend listening to, "Coat of Arms." Now let's get some Auto-Tune on that thing. I kid. I kid.

Nosaj Thing on MySpace

SNL - MC Palin. ... Kind of

That's Young Pay-Lin, @!#$&. You betcha.
I spotted this at HipHopDX.
They have the lyrics here.



Gunshots. ... Classic.