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Beautiful Things Worth Saving Mix (+Download)
For the past couple of cloudy days, I pretended that I am the sun in the lives of those close to me, because it brings such joy to induce joy. The weather on the west coast has not been reflective of the warm, uplifting reputation it has, but we always have many ways to keep warm. Rain is wonderful for getting people to slow down, relax, and reflect. My new mix Beautiful Things Worth Saving debuted on Staying Underground this Friday, making it easy for me to shine some light into yours. Originally, Mistah Rapsey and I intended to collaborate, but we instead decided to leave this one as it…
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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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INDIELUV -SMRJMZ (+Download)
This morning, I caught a lovely Sunday morning vibe and followed it to my favorite ndeluv music. And then I wondered, as I do every time I listen to this particular artist, if he would be releasing something soon. I suppose that it’s natural for me to recall how he’s previously shared many gems at close intervals, such as Love Songs and Homade Bongs, #hoodmusic, playazworld, #8911, LUVYEAR, two other volumes of Summer Jamz, and #RIPRnB. His self-produced sounds are always pure, feel good, and fresh while also nodding to classic 90’s r&b and hip hop songs, here and there. With this influx of new generation artists in the spotlight,…
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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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NURI – Lightning EP
Nuri has been a stand-out producer to me since I first heard his work with Robb Bank$, who is one of a few artists featured on the Lightning EP I am streaming for you below. Others are Sir Michael Rooks, Austin Paul, and IndigoChildRock. Faery Teeth’s vocals also serve compliment his dark beats beautifully. The project is available on iTunes. Enjoy. twitter.com/_nuri soundcloud.com/nurimusic facebook.com/proclubnuri
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Uzochi Phazora – Jungle Lost Adventures of Za
Just the name Uzochi Phazora, hints at the energy this being radiates. I discovered the music of Uzochi while looking for unique instrumentals for new songs I am writing. I found much more than that. There are two beautiful EPs she released, The Trap and Reality As Untold Fables, as well as Jungle Lost – Adventures of Za. Her productions are rich and story-like. Uzochi herself noted that Za is a tribal girl who ventures through the jungle and encounters traps, other tribes, and joy. My favorites are Za Caught In Bliss, Za Ventures Into The Jungle, and The Fall and Rise. I love to lay back and get lost…
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Alexandria – Bad EP
Alexandria dropped this stunning collection of thoughts and emotions around Valentine’s day, which I felt was fantastic, once I listened to it all. Not only is the r&b sound refreshing, the themes are as well. I always appreciate a project about love and its phases. It is actually rare to find one that is all about love and pain. In Anyone(intro) Alexandria smoothly says “Pain can make beautiful things if you don’t allow it to make you ugly.“ which I immediately nodded my head to, because it is exactly how I have viewed my past relationships. I clearly see that all frustration and pain I felt before shifted me to…
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Camp Nightmare – MANILA ICE: VOL. 1 (WINNER’S CIRCLE)
I have been listening to this ultra special project almost about every day since it dropped! It features Babe Slayer, Aly Cabral, Alexxx Sin$, 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…
