Mayer Hawthorne, Koushik, Erykah Badu, Lee Fields
Been on an old-timey soulful, jazzy hip-hop kick for the past week or so, lots of Stones Throw, lots of Dilla-produced or associated, lots of sounds that feel like they came from the dustiest bins at the old record store. The photo above shows Lee Fields and sort of captures the color and attitude encompassed by these tunes in some way. They require an open mind to enjoy, but fans of classic soul, R&B and hip-hop should be able to dig it.
Mayer Hawthorne – Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out
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has been getting a resoundingly positive response for A Strange Arrangement, apparently getting props from the likes of superstars like Justin Timberlake and John Mayer. If you look past the hype, however, you will find an album that does what so many have tried (unsuccessfully) to do before– make a record that sounds like the authentic soul it was inspired by. Yet this music remains fresh and pertinent somehow, there are all-too-subtle hints of slightly more modern R&B grooves in the background.
Koushik – Wutucint
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is one artist I’ve heard bits and pieces of here and there, his eclectic beats are the type of short, light-spirited romps I enjoy. This track is incredibly laid back and chill, like being able to transport yourself into some vintage mid-century lounge and start editing and scratching on the room’s record player. Almost sounds like some kind of interlude to an old Beck album or something.
Erykah Badu – Didn’t Cha Know
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I have always been a fan of , I think her angle on hip-hop is appealing, so I was definitely feeling this track when I heard it. Maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that it was produced by none other than Dilla (RIP). The slightly nerdy way she sings, “think I made a wrong turn back there somewhere” makes me smile whenever I hear it. The song, in every regard however, retains a souful groove that exudes personality.
Lee Fields & The Expressions – Ladies
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I have mixed feelings about this track, but much in the same way as Mayer Hawthorne, I’m feeling the vintage vibes going on. Fields sings with heart and emotion, with a very palpable sense of what almost sounds like desperation. Caught in the web of infatuation, love, and temptation, the voice in which this is expressed comes from the past, giving the lyrical side of things a markedly more classic (and consequently detached) feel.
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on 17 Jun 2010 at 2:12 pm # Onra, Madvillain, Killer Mike, P.U.D.G.E. | Blog.H34 : Music, Design, Culture
[…] about what you’re hearing, than by the intricate production. It reminds me a little of Koushik or Metal Fingers for it’s textured jumble of sounds and cuts…I can only wonder what the […]