DJ Center - Feel what I'm feeling (mixtape)

While we're still on that DJ Center (Emil Herscher) buzz we stumbled upon this. An inspirations mixtape with jazz gems from the basement. Originally released as CD 2 of a Giant Step release, it has now gone out of print and Emil decided to put this out here for our listening pleasure. Enjoy!

Tracklist:

Rahsaan's Intro
Like It Is - Yusef Lateef
Death & Resurrection - Ahmad Jamal
La Polomeinding - Roy Haynes
Lower Egypt - Pharoah Sanders
Coltrane - The Descendents of Mike & Phoebe
John Coltrane - Clifford Jordan Quartet
Queen of the Nile - Young Holt Unlimited
Yesterday's Child - Lucky Thompson
Slipping into Darkness - Ramsey Lewis
Tin Tin Deo - The Junior Nance Touch
Celestial Blues - Gary Bartz NTU Troop
Kera's Dance - The Awakening
Sausalito Night's - Kenny Burrell
Oriental Flower - Elvin Jones/Jimmy Garrison
Love Song - Anthony Williams
Rahsaan's Goodnight

Download: DJ Center - Feel what I'm feeling mixtape

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DJ Center - Everything in time (Remixed)

Just back from a short summer break and this was cooking in our mailbox. DJ Center a.k.a. Emil Herscher is a Brooklyn based DJ and producer who put out his great debut album Everything in time last year (listen here).

Next step is a remix album due for release in October. The album features Beathearts heroes DJ Spinna and Waajeed as well as J.Rawls, DJ OBaH, Sam Champ, Captain Planet, DJ Eleven and others. As a warm-up for the upcoming album Emil will drop a selection of the remixes as free downloads. First up is his Chaka Khan remake You got the love featuring Gretchen Parlato remixed by Sam Champ and Buscrates 16-bit Ensemble. Listen and download it below



As a bonus, here's DJ Center's dope set from the N.Y. release party for the vinyl version of "In a song" of the album.

Download: DJ Center - Live @ Mono+Mono New York (March 2011)

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Beathearts rewind #25: Thelma Houston - You used to hold me so tight (1984)

Found an interview with Idris Elba (a.k.a. Stringer Bell a.k.a. Luther) the other day where he reminded us of this amazing Thelma Houston track. Produced by the masters of late 20th century R&B, Jam & Lewis, this groove has definitely passed the test of time. Check the track below in a Ray K edit.

By the way, if you for some reason haven't checked Idris Elba's in the stunning TV-series The Wire (HBO) or Luther (BBC) you're in for a treat...


Download: Thelma Houston - You used to hold me so tight (Ray K extended edit)

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A Tribe Called Quest - Tribute part 4

Waiting eagerly for an opportunity see the Tribe documentary Beats, Rhymes and Life in Europe we keep recieving these bomb tribute tapes. Starting of with Applejac, M-Rock and J-period, next up is New York DJ/producer Mick Boogie who has teamed up with Undrcrwn for this stunning mixtape.

"A Tribe Called Quest is one of my favorite groups of all time... in any genre of music. After seeing Michael Rapaport's amazing documentary on the group, I felt inspired to put together a mix and this is the end result. This is NOT a greatest hits mix. This mix is for the true Tribe fans only... the die-hards who know every lyric and remember every interlude. I thought it would be cool to basically create the "lost" Tribe album... with all the rare songs, demos, limited-edition remixes, and collaborations you may have missed over the years."

Download here: www.mickboogie.com/excursions/excursions.zip

Tracklist:
1) Excursions Tour Guide Intro
2) Can I Kick It? (Spirit Mix)
3) Check The Rhyme (Mr. Muhammed’s Mix)
4) If The Papes Comes
5) One Two Shit (f/ Busta Rhymes)
6) Wild Hot (f/ Busta Rhymes)
7) Jazz (Re-Recording Mix)
8) Oh My God (Remix)
9) Scenario (7 MC’s Mix)
10) Scenario (Remix)
11) Sh.Fe. MC’s (f/ De La Soul)
12) Mr. Incognito
13) How Ya Want It? (f/ De La Soul & Jungle Brothers)
14) Bonita Applebum (Hootie Mix)
15) That Shit (f/ J Dilla)
16) The Chase (Original Demo Mix)
17) On The Road Again (f/ Jungle Brothers)
18) Midnight 2008
19) Lyrics To Go (Tumblin’ Dice Remix)
20) You Can’t Hold A Torch (f/ Busta Rhymes)
21) ICU (Doin’ It)
22) Description Of A Fool (Groove Armada Remix)
23) Electric Relaxation (Propellerheads Remix)
24) Stressed Out (Raphael Saadiq Mix)
25) Peace, Prosperity and Paper
26) Buggin’ Out (Live)
27) Scenario (De La Soul Demo Mix)

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Stereo MC's - Spring selection mixtape

Just stumbled over this. Not exactly spring in the air but the mix and the selection from UK old school beatmakers Stereo MC's put together is definetley worth putting forward again. While waiting for the upcoming Waajeed genre breaking project, Electric Street Orchestra, this mixtape put us in the right mood. How can you not love a mixtape that combines Riot music and Jamie XX with Bambaataa and Can?

Tracklist:

1.ZEDS DEAD---RUDEBOY ORIGINAL MIX
2.SHE'S LOST CONTROL---JOY DIVISION
3.AFRIKA BAMBAATAA AND THE SOULSONIC FORCE - --BOOTLEG
4.FORGIVE---BURIAL BUFFALO GALS INTRO---MALCOM McLAREN
5.RIOT MUSIC---DONAEO SHY FX RADIO MIX
6.VICKY ANDERSON---THE MESSAGE
7.SING A SIMPLE SONG---SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE (EDIT)
8.I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU---GIL SCOT HERON/JAMIEXX
9.I MIND---JAMES BLAKE
10.GET WILD---KANO/BOYZ NOIZE
11.BABYLON---CONGOROCK
12.RHIANNON---FLEETWOODMAC
13.WHERE YOU SHOULD BE---SAM FRANK/SKREAM
14.STAY---DAVID BOWIE
15.CAN YOU FEEL IT---ORIGINAL CONCEPT
16.I WANT MORE---CAN
17.WE LIKE TO DANCE AND STEAL THINGS---SPOKES

Download it here: Stereo MC's - Spring selection mixtape

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Beathearts rewind #25: Ty - Groovement part.1 & 2

As a follow up to us rewinding Roots Manuva's Witness the other week, here's a strong contestant for the dopest UK banger from Ty a.k.a Ben Chijioke. A long time Beathearts favourite, Ty's all four albums have been on high rotation in our headphones over the years. Groovement is taken of Ty's second album Upwards (2003). Part 1 was on the album but the extended groove (Part 2) was only available on the 12". Get it via Boomkat!


Ty ft. Bembe Segue - Groovement part 1 & 2

As a bonus here's Ty's amazing live session of The rain from the 2003 Upwards album. Recorded live at the Deviation show on 1xtra a couple of years back. If anyone's sitting on more radio ripped tracks from this stunning session we'd love to hear from you: beatheartsblog@gmail.com.


Download: Ty - The rain (Ty's deviation re-lick live)

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Beathearts meet Slakah the Beatchild (Exclusive interview)

Artists: Byram Joseph a.k.a. Slakah The Beatchild
Date: July 26th 2011

BEATHEARTS MEET SLAKAH THE BEATCHILD (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)

For all Beathearts regulars Byram Joseph is no stranger. We covered his music and collaborations several times before. 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 Byram's music and video productions. Warm, old school and futuristic at the same time. We recently got a chance to interview the man and pose the questions we wanted to ask for a long time. Read the whole thing exclusively here at Beathearts. Enjoy!
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Beathearts: Beatmakers and drummers have always been a great source of inspiration for us. People like Karriem Riggins, Chris Dave, Madlib, Questlove, Kenny Dope and of course Dilla's music was one of the reasons we started to write about soulful underground music. Are you a drummer as well? When/how did you start making beats?

Slakah: Yes, I am a drummer. After the rhodes, its my favorite instrument. One summer when I was about 8 my family took a trip down to the mother land of Carriacou (Grenada) and there was a rehersal studio. We walked by and the drum kit caught my eye, I walked in and asked if Icould play, and the owner said "sure". At this point I had never touched a drum kit in my life, but when I sat down, i dropped a basic beat and kept time and my mom was like "wtf?!". Okay she didn't say that, but she got excited and enrolled me in drum lessons when we got back home.

Beathearts: Everytime you drop a new beat tape it's such a treat! Our favorite tracks of your Beat tape Vol.3-4 are Macheeto, Anti-gravity, Butterfly effect and How to forgive. It's the kind of beats that takes you to other places with your headphones on your daily subway commute. Could you tell us the story behind those tracks and are there any plans of how you're going to use them?

Slakah: Well the legendary DJ Mark Farina heard Macheeto and asked if he could feature it on the classic Mushroom Jazz sereies, vol 7 to be exact. I was so honored because I remember when I was coming up I had Mushroom jazz 1-4 and was such a fan and always wished I could be on it and BAM! Not only one beat but he used TWO beats of mine! Hurray for me! As for the other beats, I think the element you like with those ones are the nostalgic banging drums, but maybe more so its the chord progression. Chord progressions are extremely important to me, they really give a song an emotion. I hate typical predictable ol' chord progressions... I like when the music can make me stop what im doing and take it in, process and say "Ohh...OH? okay!".


Slakah - Macheeto


Slakah - Butterfly Effect


Slakah - How to forgive
Beathearts: We haven't been able to locate Vol 1-2. Where they officially released and if so are they still available somewhere?

Slakah: Ah, you're not missing out on much, the majority of the beats carry over to the new tapes. Beats I sell get removed.

Beathearts: And of course we have to ask what's your plan going forward with the beat tapes?

Slakah: I am going to release vol 5 some time in the near future and it will be 100% new beats unlike previous versions which as mentioned had beats that carried over. However, after Vol 5, Vol 6 will go back to being private and I am not going to leak them. They will only be given to people who are very interested in production.
Download: Slakah - Beat tape Vol. 3
Download: Slakah - Beat tape Vol.4

Beathearts: Who we're your musical heroes when growing up?

Slakah: M.J. J-Dilla, Bob Marley, Wil.i.am, Wyclef (everything before Carnival), Pete Rock, Ali Shaheed Muhumad, The Roots.

Beathearts: And your inspirations today? What artists/records have recently blown your mind?

Slakah: Spiral Beach (disbanded), Tingsek, Deer Hunter, Little Dragon, The Sylvers, Hazel & of course Dilla. He will never leave the ranks...

Download: Little Dragon - After the rain (GB remix)
Beathearts: For a long time there we're few artists/groups that could pull off a great live instrumentation hiphop/soul set. We covered The Robert Glasper Experiment earlier. El Michels Affair is another example - we love what they've done with the wu-tang tunes on Truth & Soul back in 2005. Booty Cologne and Grafisk Musik are great but rare Nordic example. Another example is Elzhi & Will sessions Illmatic tribute. And then there's of course the Roots. We haven't been fortunate enough to catch Slakah live yet but your videos have a live feel to them and we have high expectations. What is your live set-up like? Fixed set? Jam sessions? Invited guests?

Slakah: It really depends, but I like having it minimal. So me on rhodes or guitar, a drummer and bass player. But sometimes its more people on stage. Good thing with live setup is you can vibe out and not be restricted to say a CD with the music on it.
Beathearts: You described in the BBE documentary that work under several different monikers: Slakah the beatchild: soulful electronic beats. Slakadeliqs: the live experience more rock influenced. Art of fresh: Uptempo soulful club tracks. From a marketing perspective we guess it's somewhat tricky to use several aliases but we absolutely love your blending of styles. Two of our favorite mass-alias-producers are Mark Pritchard and Madlib who are doing great working under several different names. What are your plans going forward? Are there any more aliases/constellations coming up?
Slakah: Yes! Look out for Sandie Black (Ayah + Beatchild). The only reason I have these various aliases is because the sounds are SO different I don't want to upset people when they say, buy the second Soul Movement album and it sounds COMPLETELY different. Personally I love consistency from artists. If they want to experiment or deliver something different, its nice to give us a heads up.

Ayah - Believe (Directed by Slakah)

Beathearts: To us, your Art of Fresh tracks have that same positive vibe as those first Jungle Brothers uptempo tracks such as What u waitin' 4. How did Art of Fresh come about? How did you hook up with D.O. (Defy the Odds)? Who were your influences starting up Art of fresh?
Slakah: D.O. and my self started the AoF as a side project for fun and I tell you, its a LOT of fun. When we write joints for AoF we always do it very lightheartedly. And Not much thought goes into, just the same heart that I put into all my productions. But there is a for sure a different vibe in the AoF than there is with my solo stuff or Slakadeliqs stuff.

Art of Fresh - Get free (2009)

Download: Jungle Brothers - What U waitin' 4 (Durkin re-edit)

Beathearts: You already worked with Shad, Drake, Divine Brown, Ebrahim, Häzel, Tingsek and D.O. (Defy the odds)? Are there any dream collabs?

Slakah: Common and Q-Tip and on the singing tip Erykah Badu and Jill Scott.
Beathearts: Drake was on several Soul Movement tracks and from what we hear you're both from Ontario? How did the two of you hook up? Any plan of more joint releases in the future?
Slakah: When he was coming up we would do sessions all the time, we respected each others talent. I've not heard back from Drake in years now. Not sure if the music of Soul Movement vol 1 or Room For Improvement is on his agenda at the moment but who knows...
Beathearts: Of course we need to ask you about your Swedish connections. How did you first meet Tingsek? The rumor says you heard Tingsek's World of its own, was blown away and contacted him via Myspace? What was your first project together?
Slakah: Yeah that is all true, back when myspace was poppin'. Our first song together is actually on The Slakadeliqs album (To be released). We since then have done a number of songs together some of which feature on his album "Restless Soul" and my "Something Forever" (Special Edition). He's is a super talented dude and like a big brother to me. If you have not heard his music, do yourself a favor and buy his albums!!

Tingsek & Vindla String Quartet - Something special (Tingsek/Slakah)

Beathearts: As you probably know Tingsek is a part of a musical family of artists like Timbuktu, Chords, Måns Mernsten (Damn!), Albin Gromer and others. Is your Swedish connection only with Tingsek or have you worked with any artist over here? Any releases? Future projects?
Slakah: Thanks to the homie Tingsek, I've come to be closely aquainted with Timbuktu, Edda Magnason, Måns (I call him Måns Monster because he's a beats on the keys) and many many more! I love the Swedes...So talented and free minded, relaxed and innovative, "Squeol" (cheers) to Sweden! Not sure if that made sense but in my head it did.
Beathearts: One of our favorite tracks of yours is The war within ft Ebrahim and Tingsek. From what we hear it was put together to promote a minitour of Detroit that never came about. Is that true? It sure has a somewhat different, harder Detroit vibe to it. Could you tell us the story of how that track came about?
Slakah: Well the first night Ebrahim arrived in Toronto (He is from Vancouver which is on the other side of the country) we sat down and started making beats, and War within was the first beat that I came up with. I felt that it would be a cool collaboration track for us to do. That night Ebrahim and myself recorded the hook and verse and when Tingsek arrived the following day he did his verse. I decided to use this track to promote the entire tour that we had set up which included Montreal, Toronto, Sarnia and Detroit which got canceled. Its one of my favs too, every time I hear it I get great memories of those guys, the band and tour.

Slakah, Ebrahim & Tingsek - War within
Beathearts: Finally, what can we look forward to from Slakah in 2011/2012?
Slakah: The Slakadeliqs in 2011 and Soul Movement vol 2 in 2012.

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For more info on Byram Joseph's music check sources below:

Blog: beatchild.wordpress.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/slakahthebeatchild
Twitter: twitter.com/Beatchild
CDBaby: Art of fresh
BBE Music: Something forever (special edition)
Boomkat: Soul-movement-vol-i

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Aktion - Groove the funk (1975)

Remember that vintage Aktion 13 Nigerian funk track we covered the other week? Well, here's their legendary album from two years later Groove The Funk. Absolutely stunning piece of music but unfortunately no plans for a reissue. Essential!

Artist: Aktion – Groove The Funk
Label: Clover Sound CXL 2001
Format: Vinyl, LP, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: Nigeria
Released: 1975

A1 Groove The Funk
A2 Sugar Daddy
A3 I Don't Have To Cry
A4 My Baby
B1 I've Got To Hope For Tomorrow
B2 Masqurade
B3 I'm In Love
B4 Tell Me Baby
B5 Play With Me

Download: Aktion - Groove the funk (1975)

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Benedek f. Dam-Funk - That’s My Jam!

Benedek & Dâm-Funk's That's my jam is the type of tune that puts a smile on your face from the first few bars. It has the same kind of vibe as Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince's Summertime video if you remember? "The temperature is about 88, hop in the water plug just for old time's sake". Due for release on Proximal Records on August 16th.


Download: Benedek ft. Dâm-Funk - That's my jam (Benedek's midnight cruser mix)

While waiting for that release the nice people over at Proximal has put out a free tape of future funk entitled Beat Stew vol.3. The compilation features 22 tracks with artists such as Devonwho, Benedek and Mathewdavid. We especially enjoyed the mindblowing tracks from newcomers (?) Bearclaw (track 2) and Wake (track 16). Don't sleep. Download below.

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Beathearts rewind #24: Roots Manuva - Witness (Karim South Miami high re-edit)

Almost exactly 10 years ago Rodney Hylton Smith a.k.a. Roots Manuva dropped what must be one of the dopest UK bangers of all time. Witness (1 hope) is not only a track that has passed the test of time it has often been covered by live hip hop crews such as Booty Cologne. A while back we stumbled upon this slik re-edit of the track put together by Barcelona based Karim Chehab. Get it below!


Download: Roots Manuva - Witness (Karim South Miami high re-edit)

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Björk - Crystalline (Edit;Erase version)

To drop a new tune by Björk might not be the obvious choice but we have to give credit where credit is due. Most artists we write about love breaking boundries and don't care about the norm. In your minds it's that kind of attitude that push music forward. Björk has never been one to compromise. Her new album Biophelia was released on July 19th as an app for iPhone/iPad. The main concept of the album is available for free and then the ten songs/sub-apps will be released for purchase during the weeks to come. App based releases - the next logical step after Spotify mobile - ace!

Creative move from Björk but in the end we don't really care if our new tunes come from a handed CDR, released via Bandcamp, vinyl 7" or dropped in our inbox. It all about the music and Björk delivers. Check her first single Crystalline below in an Edit;Erase version. Chopped up beats, deep subbass and moody chords - just the way we like it.

Björk - Crystalline (edit;erase Remix) by edit;erase

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