Music Review
Cassie - RockaByeBaby Mixtape
12/04/13 00:50
All Good Things has got a new free mixtape for you via datpiff from perennial R&B favorite Cassie. It features unreleased tracks with a roll call of some of the best artists in the urban music scene from the past five to ten years like Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross and more. We've thrown up a sample track featuring the latter so give it a listen and if you want to hear more, it's all for the taking right here.
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Panther & The Supafly - Real Men
25/03/13 14:48
First formed several years ago on the west coast, when the five members of Panther & The Supafly come together it's like a megazord of sound. Their tracks take influences ranging from tru skool hip hop, bass, jazz and rock, all blended together as you'll hear in their tune "Real Men". Now located in Montreal, they have continued to build a reputation as true showmen in the industry which is obvious from this high energy filled six minutes but I've heard it's nothing compared to experiencing it live. So have a listen and show some love for Panther & The Supafly so they might tour across America where we can see it for ourselves.
Atu - What You Like
27/12/12 20:22
Need something soothing while you wait for your post holiday hangover to finally go away? Then drift off with December 2012's "What you Like" by Ann Arbor Michigan's "Atu". It's a nice little piece of instrumental hip hop that waking or sleeping, leaves the listener feeling content. And after your head stops spinning if you want even more from Atu then it can be found here via his Twitter.
The X’s Top 10 Under-appreciated, Eclectic Mcs
13/12/12 14:52
I’m a connoisseur of hip hop and this list has taken me a while to comprise because there are some who deserve to be here who aren’t here - because it’s my top 10 – not 12 or 15. That said, I do like some commercial hip hop. I can get down with some Kanye, E40, Jay Z, Whiz, 2 Chainz and all them but my passion is for the underground. In life, it’s tough to go left when the majority is going right but these are the types of auteurs who shape and define counter culture in my opinion. I feel these guys are some of the true geniuses of hip hop regardless of how well they sell. Here's a taste of each of them. Enjoy.
1. Doom – Guv’Nor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW-9TcDTKa8
2. Deltron – Madness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzj9F-ShaHE
3. P.O.S. – Purexed - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JHbUuWzVNE
4. Pigeon John – So Gangster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZdoYCUKk-U
5. Sage Francis – The Best of Times http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA8hzUDXvtk
6. Slug – Happy Mess http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U34i_jmE1Kg
7. Brother Ali – US http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsPaYZ26Cw0
8. F. Stokes – My Simple Town in the USA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWxWfxINlck
9. Murs - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hiHi4mLbQU
10. The Grouch - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENSWHwyweiE
As I completed this list I realized there are quite a few missing from an arbitrary “Top 10” so I wanna hear some of yours in the comments below. – The X
oOoOO - GRoWNuP (Danny Brown's Grown Up Remix)" Review
01/12/12 20:36
Another day, another Grown Up remix. But this is one that I had to share because as great as the original by Detroit's Danny Brown is, oOoOO's interpretation makes this chill, tru skool jam into a ruff tru skool throwdown. If you like music by artists such as Aesop Rock or Murs then oOoOO's GRoWNuP will be right up your alley.
Nataly Dawn and Jack Conte = Pomplamoose
29/11/12 03:56
"We Try" - Ivy
24/11/12 02:23
I’ve always liked Ivy. They make such catchy pop confections it’s hard to resist an Ivy tune, which is probably why their music has made its way into some of the most popular TV shows and movies out there. “We Try” is the un-released track as b-side on 'Lost In The Sun' single. I wasn’t especially fond of this Ivy album (there’s a first for everything), but I like this particular song a lot.
"A Tribe Called Red - Electric Pow Wow Drum" Review
19/11/12 04:14
Since I don't know any good Thanksgiving songs, I'll instead be using this as an opportunity to celebrate our native brothers and sisters, without whom there would be no Thanksgiving or even America now as we know it. Native production team A Tribe Called Red technically comes from one of those other countries with native North Americans, but this doesn't change the fact that the cultures which make up those from North American tradition have created some incredibly beautiful works, of which we should all take notice.
A Tribe Called Red often mixes traditional native music with modern synths and beats to make a blend of old and new that is unlike anything else out there. Some of their tunes would fit in perfectly with any dancehall, soca, dubstep or many other types of playlists you already know and love. I especially love the track included here (my neck almost hurts from how hard I've been whipping my head back and forth). So if you like this then there's more, and even better, it's free.
You can download "Electric Pow Wow Drum" and the rest of the album it's from here on their website at absolutely no cost. Then, just maybe, you'll have a new favorite holiday album of your own that you'll be throwing on for years to come. However you celebrate though, have a happy Thanksgiving from everyone here at AllGoodThings.
"Get Real - Back To Dust" Review
14/11/12 03:50
As November rolls along, the weather is getting darker and chillier for many of us across the country. So what would better complement that than some dark and chilled out music like Get People's new track "Back To Dust"?
It is a perfect example of what to play when the skies are so heavy outside your window that you can already feel the dampness in your bones. If you don't like gloomy days however then that's alright too. Get People has a member specifically dedicated to animation and visuals who's work shines through in the surreal, often kaleidoscope-like presentation found in this video.
It's comforting, it's relaxing and whatever your day is like wherever you are, "Back To Dust" will make it all the better when it's officially available on November 19th.
Toro Y Moi - So Many Details Remix (feat. Hodgy Beats) Review
06/11/12 19:19
Always working around the clock to bring you the best and latest in entertainment information (even when there is an extra hour on that clock) we have a hot new remix by Toro Y Moi and Hodgy Beats for you. A remix called "So Many Details".
Did I say hot? Sorry, I meant "cool" because Toro is one of the leading producers in the chillwave movement, which is known for it's smooth synthetic beats. Equally smooth are the vocals performed by Hodgy which makes this the perfect track to throw on when the lights are dim and the company is close.
The remix has more of an R&B vibe to it over their other work or even the original. If that's your thing too, be sure to give "So Many Details" a listen and watch for its official release on January 22, 2013 as part of the album "Anything in Return". Two months may sound like long ways off but if you like this one as much as I have, then it's definitely something worth remembering.
Did I say hot? Sorry, I meant "cool" because Toro is one of the leading producers in the chillwave movement, which is known for it's smooth synthetic beats. Equally smooth are the vocals performed by Hodgy which makes this the perfect track to throw on when the lights are dim and the company is close.
The remix has more of an R&B vibe to it over their other work or even the original. If that's your thing too, be sure to give "So Many Details" a listen and watch for its official release on January 22, 2013 as part of the album "Anything in Return". Two months may sound like long ways off but if you like this one as much as I have, then it's definitely something worth remembering.
The Rival - "Run, Run"
02/11/12 21:43
They recently caught a big break when Apple featured their song during their October 23rd Keynote during a segment devoted to the iPhone launch. It’s a nicely done section and I’m sure I’m not the only one who hurried to the net to find out who did the song. The interesting thing is that usually companies take the best snippets of songs like this and then when you actually hear the whole track, it doesn’t equal the sum of its parts. Not so in this case. There is particularly catchy bridge at the 2:47 mark.
Anyway, check this one out. It is definitely worth the download.
"MHz Legacy - Yellow + Blue" Review
02/11/12 18:06
Def Jux, you're back! Maybe you never left but it's been years so I'm happy to hear good music still coming out of your ranks, even if it is now from Man Bites Dog Records.
MHz Legacy has reunited to release a new self-titled album with Def Jux alumni such as RJD2, Slug and Oh No. It's quite the pedigree and their first released single "Yellow + Blue" lives up to what you'd expect from some of the realest artists currently in the hip hop game.
It has a very chilled, downbeat feel from Surock's production and also brings in west-coast MC, Blu to feature the lyrical talent which has gotten him attention as one of the best up &.comers of the past five years. The album or any of its tracks are available for purchase here but first get your taste of what's to come by streaming "Yellow + Blue" via Hypetrak right here
P.O.S. – We Don’t Even Live Here! (Deluxe Edition)
01/11/12 17:38
I discovered P.O.S. through my favorite Minnesota underground hip hop act, Atmosphere, who headline the Rhymesayers Entertainment slate. P.O.S. really represents one of the coolest things about being a non-conformist. He’s totally and unabashedly out of left field. He actually reminds me of who Pharrell may actually be in a parallel universe. Before I get into this review, to get the best understanding of who P.O.S. is consider listening to the track Out of Category from his previous offering, Never Better where P.O.S. spits some honest lyrics about who he is and how he got there. With his latest, We Don’t Even Live Here, P.O.S. is completely in his zone as a pure punk-hip hop artist. The first track Bumper is a great opener for what’s to follow. It’s pumping bass drum and modulated synth riff get you banging you head off the bat.
Throughout P.O.S. flows with such intent that if he had any insecurity about his standing as an emcee you could never tell. He doesn’t. I haven’t heard such passion since Public Enemy though here it’s much less specific to the African American experience and more to the human condition. And even though his lyrics are generally serious and cover social/political issues, he manages to have fun with it (note his recurring chuckles). Fuck Your Stuff is the anthem for anti-materialism and ironically is the closet thing to commercial you’ll find here with its use of the old school tr-808 classic snare. The production on How We Land is top notch as Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon provides his signature melodic, enhanced vocals blending smoothly with Stef’s own clean vocals. One of my
As a musician P.O.S. exists between worlds in a sense because despite his talent as an MC, very few mainstream hip hop heads may ever give him a listen due to the punk overtones and the alternative fans may dismiss him because he’s a black rapper in a very different way than the visually bi-racial Slug. Nonetheless, P.O.S. has more than earned his place among some of the genre’s best MC’s despite his lack of airplay. He offers something new, honest and uncompromising. Either you can Get Down with him or you can’t but if you’re more mainstream, I’d suggest doing a YouTube search for his track Optimism for a way of taking some honey with your first dose of P.O.S. We Don’t Even Live Here is the product of a continually advancing rhyme style and elevated consciousness that puts and keeps P.O.S. truly out of category.
Method Man/Freddie Gibbs/Streetlife - Built For This Review
19/10/12 01:08
From the soundtrack for the upcoming kung fu flick The Man with the Iron Fists comes this funky new track by Streetlife, Freddie Gibbs and Method Man. I know what you're thinking "a member of the Wu Tang Clan collaborating on an Asian themed project?" It's unprecedented, yes, but hear me out. They're really good at it.
"Built For This" combines the sounds of both eastern and western live instrumentals with the gritty lyrics these artists are known for, turning it into another great tune that just makes you want to pull your arms in and start bobbing your head.
The video splices in clips of the movie along with clips of Method, Gibbs & Street doing what they do best. So check it out and if you like what you see/hear then be sure to watch out for other tracks from the official soundtrack being produced by fellow Wu Tang alumni the RZA, as well as the movie itself being released to theaters on November 2, 2012.
REWORK: Philip Glass Remixed Review
10/10/12 22:00
"REWORK: Philip Glass Remixed" is a collaboration by many of today's top artists to create a tribute for one of the most prolific composers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Philip Glass has been working for decades creating minimalist cyclical beats but also operas and even soundtracks which have earned him academy award nominations. REWORK celebrates his 75th birthday by reworking some of his tunes into completely new sounds that can change entirely from track to track.
The tracks can be purchased individually if you feel you're only into certain types over others. But the whole album is here for you to stream, free of charge so I encourage all of you to give the whole thing a listen, you might be surprised and definitely never bored. If you prefer the real thing however, I'm sorry it won't be available on 8-track but it is getting physical releases on October 23, 2012 for both CD and LP formats which can be pre-ordered now from its official website.
LV - Ultando Lwaka [ft. Ruffest] Review
02/10/12 00:36
If you think that Die Antwoord is good South African music then you're missing the point. As much as I enjoy some of their tracks, they are a parody and one that then became a parody of themselves. They're like a ghetto version of Aqua now.
The real sounds of South Africa are coming from artists like LV. His music has synth, it has soul and maybe most importantly, it has bass. All of which you can hear in the single "Ultando Lwaka" from his August 2012 album "Sebenza".
Drawing influence from the cultural mosaic that is South Africa, this new track combines the sounds of grime with its own local flavor. Keeping that in mind, this one is not in English, so if you're really into lyricists then I hope you're also multilingual.
The video itself is nothing you haven't seen before. Ruffest MCs over interspersed clips of the dance floor and his bedroom but that doesn't take away from the tune at all. So check it out and if you like the sound of LV then it, as well as the rest of the album can be purchased digitally, here.
Ultraista - Small Talk
30/09/12 02:25
Produced by Nigel Goodrich of Radiohead fame, Ultraîsta’s first LP drops on October 2, 2012. This Four Tet remix is real nice, but don’t miss out on the original.
The original...
The original...
Bizarre Tribe: A Quest to the Pharcyde Instrumentals Review
30/09/12 02:17
Get ready to sit back with your favorite drink and drift off into instrumental sounds with one of hip hop's most respected acts. Gummy Soul's Amerigo Gazaway has remixed and re-sampled the original music used by A Tribe Called Quest for his new album called "Bizarre Tribe: A Quest to the Pharcyde Instrumentals." For those who don't know, A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group from New York City, first formed in the 1980’s, with notable members like Q-Tip, Phife Dawg & Ali Shaheed Muhammad. They created some of the greatest works in the genre with their stirring production and intelligent lyrics, but you won't hear any lyrics in this album.
Instead, Gazaway has gone through countless jazz, funk and soul tunes to get to the source of Tribe's music, creating something familiar while being entirely new. Chances are that you have heard bits, pieces - one or more of the songs used here. And as much as I like to hear new things, there's something to be said for hearing a classic, especially in a new way.
So I've come to especially like throwing the track Lyrics 2 Let it Go on repeat while I write this very review and to think that you too can get all this music mashed together for the price of just one album. Actually, it's for the price of none. That's right, the whole album is 100% free to download from GummySoul's Bandcamp page. So what are you waiting for? Go listen to this!
JJ DOOM – Keys To The Kuff
27/09/12 13:37
