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OSHUN – Asase Yaa (+Download)
Half-way through this project, I noted that the aura of Asase Yaa reminds of the ever relevant The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. While sonically, Oshun is within their own fresh realm, I feel that this project speaks directly to the present youth culture in a way that the aforementioned did, at its time of creation. It also reflects the ongoing change of consciousness and awareness of culture (specifically bblack) in America. Oshun delves beautifully deeper into the complexities of Afro culture, religion, and African identity in America. This thoughtful project also explores emotions from the feminine perspective, as well as promoting self-discovery, healing, unity, and growth of spirit. Of course,…
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FemaLe IntuiTion is sO NeXt LeveL (+Download)
Since more people are discovering this playlist I put together in December, I thought it would be nice to do a downloadable version for iTunes. I’m also on a bit of a roll after Mistah Rapsey of Staying Underground invited me to collaborate with him on his amazing, vibey series he has going called Year of the Collaborator. I had fun putting selections together myself, and it broke the ice for me to do mixes like this regularly. This allows me to share my favorite music in a more personal way. I have more of these in the works. This current mix is beautifully fluid in its themes, if I…
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Uzochi Phazora – Jungle Lost Adventures of Za
Just the name Uzochi Phazora, hints at the energy this being radiates. I discovered the music of Uzochi while looking for unique instrumentals for new songs I am writing. I found much more than that. There are two beautiful EPs she released, The Trap and Reality As Untold Fables, as well as Jungle Lost – Adventures of Za. Her productions are rich and story-like. Uzochi herself noted that Za is a tribal girl who ventures through the jungle and encounters traps, other tribes, and joy. My favorites are Za Caught In Bliss, Za Ventures Into The Jungle, and The Fall and Rise. I love to lay back and get lost…
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Alexandria – Bad EP
Alexandria dropped this stunning collection of thoughts and emotions around Valentine’s day, which I felt was fantastic, once I listened to it all. Not only is the r&b sound refreshing, the themes are as well. I always appreciate a project about love and its phases. It is actually rare to find one that is all about love and pain. In Anyone(intro) Alexandria smoothly says “Pain can make beautiful things if you don’t allow it to make you ugly.“ which I immediately nodded my head to, because it is exactly how I have viewed my past relationships. I clearly see that all frustration and pain I felt before shifted me to…
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Purple Ferdinand – Love Bound EPs & Video
Purple Ferdinand seems to be on a roll making new music since her Dragon Fly EP came out last year. She follows that up with Love Bound EP and a remixed version featuring beats from Sango, Lapalux, Andrea, and Fakear. Purple Ferdinand might have the most calming singing voice I’ve heard. My favorite is In My Dreams. Watch the beautiful video for the song and stream both versions of the EP below. You can also purchase Love Bound on iTunes or Amazon & Amazon (Remixed Version). In My Dream Visual Love Bound Love Bound Remixed
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Camp Nightmare – MANILA ICE: VOL. 1 (WINNER’S CIRCLE)
I have been listening to this ultra special project almost about every day since it dropped! It features Babe Slayer, Aly Cabral, Alexxx Sin$, Den Sy Ty, Ankhten Brown, Rh Xanders, Black Melona, Asign, Dreamboii Leonardo, Sextilian, and Luminnah. I am convinced that the more you listen to Manila Ice: Vol. 1, the more you’ll want to play this music over and over as well. This is so transcendent, that I was not sure where to start with describing how I enjoyed processing this music and what it represents. So, sharing straight from the heart,I connect with every song and the blissful, albeit changing moods I find myself in with…
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Danny Watts – Hide Away & Love For The Whole World
Danny Watts is an important artist who has shared two dreamy new songs over the past few months. Hide Away with Brandy Shanice and Love For The Whole World are two new gems I’ve been playing a lot lately. Something about the way he delivers his words is consistently gripping. As a person who cannot resist embodying and interpreting poetry in everything life presents to me, I enjoy his unique choice of wording. If I could somehow explain how I visualize his flow, it is as if he cradles you with it while telling a familiar, calming story, sets you down, and continues to rap circles around you. And you’re…
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Cub-J & Rub n’ Alc – Lil Pieces
The first we heard from Cub-J was his heart-based project Love Abuse. I still encourage everyone to take a moment to ingest his catalogue early. Love Abuse is truly well done and a surprise gem of last year’s bunch of musical treasures which came my way. In the same realm as that project, Cub-J latest’s single Lil Pieces is a personal chronicle of heart-break. He mellowly spits an honest (and somewhat eerie) flow over another beat by his constant collaborator, Rub n’ Alc. While the beat alone is soothing and easy to vibe to, the more you listen, it is a very vivid and dark love story. You can imagine…
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Oska Faro – OSKA FARO
Oska Faro is another dope prducer/lyricist combination, Soft Glas and Rufat. Many of the current artists I continue to feel inspired to feature intrigue me in very unique ways through their sound and overall personality, as well as style felt through the art. And well, I haven’t heard a voice like Rufat of Oska Faro. More than the inflection of his voice, there is a pure originality about this album that makes me happy. These two together perfectly exemplify my idea of this new wave of true individuals who have strong and positive messages to share with everyone. It also happens to, whether intentional or not, embody this generation in…
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Fast Life Society – From Time
Fast Life Society is a producer/lyricist combo that is Ed Weathers (Atlanta) and Aaron Watkins (Toronto), known as Villabeatz. I first came into the sounds of the Fast Life Society guys in person, almost a year ago, in some sweet twist of musical fate in Hollywood. Since then, I have been patiently waited for their project to be unleashed for everyone to discover and relate to. They recently made From Time available in collaboration with 808 mafia, and it might be the release that puts these guys on everyone’s radar! From This is packed with with a wide range of energy. Regardless of tempo, Ed Weathers tells his interesting stories…
