Wow! Swedish beatmaker extraordinarie Freddie Cruger (Fredrik Lager) has teamed up with Anthony Mills to form the duo Wildcookie. Heroine is the first single to be lifted from Wildcookie's debut album, Cookie Dough. Cookie Dough is released on Tru Thoughts Records on 21st February 2011 . We can't wait!
Now here's a treat. A lil' documentary from BBE on Byram Joseph a.k.a. Slakah the beatchild. Covering his music making, touring and collaborations. Appearantly he got his Beatchild alias from his mother because he kept dancing in sync with household appliances like the washing mashine (!) We just love BBE and Slakah's video productions. Warm, old school and futuristic at the same time. Check it out:
At the moment there's a new version of his Something forever album out on BBE with new bonus tracks. We're looking forward to great new things from Slakah and his two other monikers Slakadeliqs and Art of fresh in 2011.
Sweden's finest Erik L is back with new material and we're kicking off the new year with two Beathearts exclusive downloads and a mixtape! The two tracks are from his amazing collaboration with Dynamite MC (Reprazent, Full Cycle): Doh rey me and So what now. Get them while they're still available below!
No wonder he's getting international recognition and airplay from people like Gilles Peterson and Benji-B when you listen to his spaced out soulful beats and look at the list of collaborations: Frank'n'Dank, Illa J (yes it's Dilla's brother), Kissey Asplund, Detroit CYDI, Supersci, Ernesto and Dynamite MC.
Just before christmas Erik released a mixtape of past and future productions entitled On display (Soularp Records). The tape is mixed by another Swedish hero, DJ Devastate, who released his debut album on BBE a while back. Download the goodies below:
03 Erik L - The Future Is Already Here (Feat. Supersci)
04 Erik L - So Cruel (Feat. Favorite Flava)
05 Erik L - Doh Ray Me (Feat. Dynamite MC)
06 Erik L - Heaven (Feat. Favorite Flava)
07 Erik L - Want U To Need Me (Feat. Favorite Flava)
08 Erik L - Never Fall In Love (Feat. Cerebral Vortex & Stray)
09 Erik L - Go Harder (Feat. Frank n Dank)
10 Erik L - Pretty Lies Remix (Feat. Ernesto)
11 Erik L - Big (Feat. Frank n Dank & Serious)
12 Erik L - Nothing Under My Breath (Feat. Numb)
13 Erik L - Clappintheyhands (Feat. Detroit CYDI & Stryfe)
14 Erik L - Hey Cat (Feat. Cerebral Vortex & Kissey Asplund)
15 Erik L - Angels
16 Erik L - Somone To Hang On To (Feat. Hanna)
17 Erik L - Allright Ok Remix (Feat. Stray & Hanna)
18 Erik L - Higher (Feat. Frank n Dank & Illa J)
19 Erik L - Make Her Dance (Feat. 7even Thirty)
20 Erik L - Future Flow (Feat. Hezekiah & 7even Thirty)
21 Erik L - The Truth (Love Of Music)
22 Erik L - Musical Addiction
23 Erik L - So What Now (Feat. Dynamite MC)
24 Erik L - Soul Symphony Outro
Next up we're really looking forward to Erik's full lenght album with his Favorite Flava collective (Erik L, Stray & Paul Mac Innes) scheduled for a 2011 release.
2010. What a year! It's about that time when we all sum our memories and experience from the year past. We decided to compile some of the best releases, tracks and trends from 2010 in our view. Not in any particular order or ranking. Just a few pieces of amazing music that never left our headphones during the last 12 months. Here we go!
Thestrom's 2010 picks:
Jay Electronica: Exhibit A, B & C.
These days it doesn't happen very often that we're blown away by a new MC, but Timothy Elpadaro Thedford a.k.a. Jay Electronica did just that. With amazing storytelling skills backed by Just Blaze's cinematic beats his exhibit A, B & C stopped me in my track everytime it popped up in my headphones. We're very much looking forward to an official album release in 2011.
Jay Electronica - Exhibit B
Jay Electronica - Exhibit C
Mala (Digital Mystikz) - Return to space South London dubstep pioneer Mala dropped his highly anticipated album "Return II space". It was released on his own DMZ imprint and hasn't left my daily commute playlist since it dropped in July. He has such a unique sound that blends that deep dubby laidback vibe with menacing beats and dirty basslines. It was the mindblowing soundtrack to one of the hottest summers of the decade.
Robert Glasper - Dillaludes Dilla passed almost five years ago but he's still very much present. Robert Glaspers unreleased live performance of his stunning dillaludes was one of my strongest musical memories of 2010.
Jazz pianist, Robert Glasper, worked with Dilla several times and the dillaludes are his ode to the late James Yancey. He recreates the vibe of some of James Yancey's finest moments together with his live band including drummer extraordinare Chris Dave. We challange you to unveil what classic dillatracks he's covering...
Mark Pritchard/Harmonic 313/Africa HiTech Mark is a longtime Beathearts favourite. Every since the days of his Jedi Knights and Global Communication projects I've followed his every release with great anticipation. 2010 was no exception with absolutely stunning tracks, remakes and collaborations with people like Wiley, Steve Spacek and others. We have very high hopes that a full lenght Africa HiTech album will see the light of day in 2011.
2010 - Year of the Afrobeat We never saw it coming but 2010 turned out to be the year when Afrobeat came back. Cratediggers turning to south central Africa instead of south central Los Angeles for crate digging. The spotlights were turned back on Afrobeat legends such as Ebo Taylor who after all these years got a new record deal and released his first album in years.
Afrobeat parties seemed to pop up everywhere and the tribute/cover mixtapes never stopped coming. One of the better productions was J.Period and K'Naan's The messengers.
Finally, and I never thought I'd say this but, Jay-Z, Will Smith and Questlove put together a stunning broadway show (!) entitled Fela covering the life story of Fela Anikulapo Kuti. It raised the awareness of Fela's (and Africas) amazing muscial heritage to a whole new audience.
Kanye did his "comeback" late 2010, and got nothing but good reviews. The album is a little rugged, but no doubt this makes my top 5. Quality music.
Kanye West - Devil In A New Dress feat. Rick Ross
Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives
This collaboration was quite a match! Combined political criticism, humble awareness and hard-hitting attitude results with a beautiful album.
Nas & Damian Marley - Patience
Apollo Brown - The Reset
Detroit hiphop at it's best, dillauesque wonderful samples and fantastic guests. The mellow "Seasons" is one of the best tunes this year.
Apollo Brown - Seasons feat. Stik Figa
Benny Tones - Chrysalis
New Zeeland's Benny Tones has crafted a masterpiece, with rhythms and beats out of this world.
Benny Tones - Fire Fly feat. Mara TK
Black Milk's Album of the Year and Nottz's You Need This Music share the last spot on my list.
These two marvellous beatmakers each made heavy music in 2010. I've got a soft spot for Nottz smooth melodies, though equally for Black Milk's massive music!
Black Milk - Deadley Medley feat. Royce da 5'9'' & Elzhi
