Fashawn, "Memory Lane"

Fashawn tackles Nasty Nas' classic with uncanny technique.

Fashawn, "Memory Lane"

His debut solo album, Boy Meets World, is out now.

Black Milk's won 2010 before it's even begun

Black Milk, "Keep Going" off of the forthcoming Album of the Year

Happy Holidays

Sick of the holiday music yet? I was lucky and managed to only be in two retail establishments between Thanksgiving and Xmas that played cliche xmas tracks. Here's something that's festive but will hopefully be more refreshing than what we've all had to put up with for the last month. Merry Mary!

10cc, "Dreadlock Holiday"

(no, 10cc isn't a Jamaican band... you could probably figure that they're from England after the first verse ..."I don't like cricket--I LOVE it!" Regardless, you get the vibe. Peace, mon.)

Scratch: The Documentary

Whether you're into hip-hop, are a DJ, admire DJ's, have seen a DJ Hero commercial, have heard scratching on a Comedy Central station id, listen to the radio, listened to a "DJ" yell over an emcee's verse, or have a pulse you need to watch Scratch. It's the most complete documentary of the DJ culture made to this point and is respected by the truest of heads. It doesn't go in-depth into any one element, whether it be beat digging, competitions, the history, the future, the founders, or the techniques. But that's not the point. You'll get a holistic view and it's up to you to dig deeper. Watch it in full on youtube by following the link while I try and get a handle on a flare.

80's vs Hip-Hop dance night @ Shamrocks TONIGHT!

10-2. No cover, big sound, cool lights, good music. Shamrocks is located here. See you there!

Mux Mool, SKULLTASTE teaser

Mux Mool will be dropping a digital-only single January 26th called "Lucky Linda." His debut album, SKULLTASTE, should be out early next year. The below is an excerpt taken directly from the Ghostly International site in a valiant attempt at describing the indescribable.

"At first blush, Mux Mool’s “Lady Linda” seems an unconventionally low-key choice as the first single from the hyperactive producer. “Lady Linda (from Mux Mool’s debut full-lengthSKULLTASTE) doesn’t come roaring out of the gates—rather, it takes its time, shifting from foot to foot like a trench-coated figure in an alley, clutching a bone-dry breakbeat with a pocket full of vintage keyboard tones. But as the track progresses, the underlying sophistication of Mux Mool’s homespun hip-hop begins to take hold and “Lady Linda” reveals herself, blossoming with lush Detroit strings and a melancholy melody. By contrast, B-side “Hog Knuckles” picks up the pace with a deft cut `n paste guitar riff and a blithely stuttering beat. Taken as a whole, then—a warm, sweet A-side and a tart B-side—Mux Mool’s first single may in fact be the perfect introduction to the multifaceted artist. As with all Mux’s best work, the music’s pleasures lurk just below the surface."

2009 Top Ten Lists

The year isn't quite over yet but to avoid any influences from other lists and get ahead of the crowd I'm compiling my list now. Enjoy! Debate!

Top 10 Albums (in particular order)

1) The xx, xx (Young Turks)

2) Metric, Fantasies (Metric Music Int'l)

3) Florence & The Machine, Lungs (Island)

4) Mayer Hawthorne, A Strange Arrangement (Stones Throw)

5) P.O.S, Never Better (Rhymesayers)

6) Black Blondie, Do You Remember Who You Wanted To Be? (self released)

7) Lookbook, Wild At Heart (self released)

8) Exile, Radio (Plug Research Records)

9) Prof & St. Paul Slim, Recession Music (Stophouse)

10) Empire of the Sun, Walking On A Dream (EMI)

Honorable mentions...

...) Raveonettes, In And Out Of Control (Vice) *added 12/26 after finally getting a copy

...) Dam-Funk, Toeachizown (Stones Throw)

...) Raekwon, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx pt. II (EMI)

...) Lee Fields, My World (Daptone Records)

...) Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, (s/t) (Honest Jon's Records)

...) Eminem, Relapse (Aftermath)

...) Gossip, Music For Men (Columbia)

...) Kid Sister, Ultraviolet (Fool's Gold)

...) Luke Vibert, Rhythm (Soundofspeed)

...) Cage, Depart From Me (Def Jux)

...) Fashawn, Boy Meets World (One Records)

Top 5 Shows (in particular order)

1) Bettye LaVette (headline), The Budos Band ("SummerStage 09", Central Park, NYC, July 24)

2) More Than Lights (headline), Prof ("Dinkytowner final show", Dinkytowner (R.I.P), Minneapolis, May 30)

3) Prof and Rahzswell (headline), Big Zach, DJ Fundamentalist ("Drunk 3", Nomad World Pub, Minneapolis, Aug 29)

4) The Roots (headline) and guests ("The Roots present JAM", Highline Ballroom, NYC, July 28)

5) Lookbook (headline), Zoo Animal ("Lookbook, Wild At Heart CD Release", Kitty Cat Klub, Minneapolis, Oct 3)

Top 10 Music Videos (in particular order)

1) Lookbook, "Over and Over"

2) Kerli, "Walking On Air"

Kerli - Walking On Air from Blessthefall on Vimeo.

3) Brother Ali, "Us"

4) Miles Fisher, "This Must Be The Place"

5) Jay-Z, "D.O.A"

6) Empire of the Sun, "Without You"

7) Mayer Hawthorne, "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out"

8) Rhymefest, "Chicago"

9) Prof, "Rocketman"



10) Sha Stimuli, "Move Back" feat Freeway



10) Mr. J Medeiros, "Holding On"

Mr. J Medeiros : Holding On from Arthur King on Vimeo.

10) Alchemist, "Smile" feat Twista, Maxwell




Favorite video only I probably appreciate) Brown Bag Allstars, "Undeniable (Audible Doctor remix)" --- these guys run Fat Beats, the oldest hip-hop record store in NYC. I've hung out with most of the members and all of these shots were taken in the store.

Music Video of the Decade) Marco Polo/Masta Ace, "Nostalgia"

...now that is how you make a hip-hop video kids.

Adult Swim x Beaterator present ATL RMX

Adult Swim x Beaterator present ATL RMX (click at the top right of the page for a full zip)

Stand out tracks are the Prefuse 73 remix of "Dey Know", the HEALTH remix of "Goodnight" and the El-P remix of "I Got This".

Smashing Pumpkins' upcoming album

Billy Corgan and friends are back at it again with a new album coming not soon enough. They're leaking one track a month until it's done sometime late 2010. They'll also be touring behind the working album in the spring. "A Song For A Son" is the first release. Teargarden by Kaleidyscope is a massive project and will encapsulate 44 tracks! Smashing Pumpkins fans rejoice!

MTV Shows

Traktor + DMC Champion Rafik

And here I thought only techno/house DJ's used Traktor Scratch. This doesn't make me want to swap out my Serato, but I do have newfound respect for the capabilities of the "other" DJ software.

FELA!

The first Broadway show that I'd be excited to see. The cast performed on the Colbert Report yesterday.

BONUS: Fela Kuti, "Gentleman"

Drunken Post: Mux Mool's VJ

Mux Mool is the ma*fuckin* man! And now you can get a healthy dose of chopped-up retro movies, 8-bit goodness, and 80's visuals with your helping of electro beat bumps...

Keep a lookout on the Ghostly International label for upcoming releases. Props for the Big Quarters stickers!

***Drunken Post idea stolen from the seminal Minneapolis taste-making blog Switchblade Comb

Doomtree Blowout V

If you hurry to Fifth Element you still may get some of the last tickets. Don't forget to pick up False Hopes XV.

Sims & P.O.S, "Coup For The Kings" <-----free download via their website

Mike 2600 new EP and interview

THE Mike 2600 dropped a digital-only EP this week entitled "Ready To Rock" through Emynd & Bo Bliz's Crossfaded Bacon label. Cop it here. Peep the interview-worth-reading here. There's stuff in the interview for fans, upstart designers, graphic-design nerds, record fiends, food aficionados, and DJ's. It's also fun to check out this tastemaker's Top 16 on turntablelab.com.

Minneapolis Art Fri & Sat

Craftorama

Midtown Exchange

2901 Chicago Ave. S.

Mpls, 55104

Fri 3-8

Sat 9-5