Mic abuse: December 2015

Wednesday, 23 December 2015

Listen To The-Dream Cover Sam Cooke w/ His IAMSAM EP

Tuesday, 22 December 2015

Little Simz Shares Free ‘AGE 101: DROP X’ EP feat. Jesse Boykins III, Mick Jenkins + More

Little Simz is on the quite roll, folks. Just yesterday we heard her and BADBADNOTGOOD in an unholy musical union on “Our Conversations” for Red Bull Sound Select’s 20 Before 16. And less than a day later, we’ve been gifted yet another installment of her AGE 101 EP series. DROP X finds Simz linking with an impressive roster, including Isaiah Rashad, Jesse Boykins III, Mick Jenkins, Tiffany Gouché and SiR (most of those on the album’s brokenhearted opener “Just A Dose.” Slip into the holidaze with a free stream and download of Little Simz’s AGE 101: DROP X below and peep the full itinerary of her forthcoming tour dates to catch the British beat bomber in-the-flesh at the front-end of the New Year.

Tour Dates:
Jan 17, 2016 @ Pumpehuset – København K, Denmark
Jan 19, 2016 @ Posten – Odense C, Denmark
Jan 22, 2016 @ Miłość – Warsaw, Poland
Jan 24, 2016 @ Flex – Vienna, Austria
Jan 29, 2016 @ Exil – Zurich, Switzerland
Jan 30, 2016 @ Club Bonsoir – Berne, Switzerland
Feb 03, 2016 @ La Maroquinerie – Paris, France
Feb 05, 2016 @ Melkweg Theater – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Feb 06, 2016 @ Zoom Club – Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
Feb 08, 2016 @ O2 Academy Birmingham – Birmingham, United Kingdom
Feb 09, 2016 @ O2 Academy Bristol – Bristol, United Kingdom
Feb 10, 2016 @ Waterfront – Norwich, United Kingdom
Feb 12, 2016 @ Belgrave Music Hall – Leeds, United Kingdom
Feb 13, 2016 @ Manchester The Deaf Institute – Manchester, United Kingdom
Feb 15, 2016 @ Glasgow Garage – Glasgow, United Kingdom
Feb 16, 2016 @ O2 Academy Islington – London, United Kingdom
Feb 17, 2016 @ The Haunt – Brighton, United Kingdom
Feb 23, 2016 @ Goodgod Small Club – Sydney, Australia
Feb 24, 2016 @ Howler, MELBOURNE, Australia
Feb 25, 2016 @ The Tbc Club – Brisbane, Australia
Feb 26, 2016 @ Chevron Festival Gardens – Guildford, Australia

The post Little Simz Shares Free ‘AGE 101: DROP X’ EP feat. Jesse Boykins III, Mick Jenkins + More appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Bonobo Drops World Groove Brilliance On A New NTS Radio Show

Bonobo (aka Simon Green) is launching a new ongoing musical series. It’s called OUTLIER, and will feature a series of live events. The series will grow as 2016 unfolds, becoming “possibly…small festivals, all-nighters, or one- or two-day parties. Maybe a radio show, maybe a label. I want to start putting together a more cohesive thing,” Green told Billboard earlier this month. “I’m trying to bring that European warehouse party vibe out here,” he added.

One of the first iterations of OUTLIER is a new radio set Bonobo dropped on NTS Radio this week–a two hour show of absolutely fantastic world grooves that includes American jazz, afrobeat and much more. Listen to the full radio show below, and keep an eye out for more OUTLIER events happening soon, over on Bonobo’s facebook page.

TRACKLIST
Louiz Banks – Song For My Lady
Mammal Hands – Kandaiki
Holy forest – Africa Calling
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – What It is
Seven Davis Jnr – Try Me
Monte Booker – Baby (Feat. Ravyn Lenae)
Session Victim – Crystal Maze
Kemback – Awaken
Rival Consoles – Pre
George Fitzgerald – Full Circle (Bonobo Remix)
Henry Wu – Dubplate Special
Roman Flugel – Teenage Engineering
DJ Richard – Vampire Dub
Chrome Sparks – bMoonraker
Kiasmos – Drawn
Auntie Flo – Su La (Feat. Anbuley)
TCB – 2nd Touch (Roman Flugel Remix)
Frankey & Sandrino – Acamar
Abra – Fruit
Jlin – Unknown Tongues
Zora Jones – First Light
Clap! Clap! – Serendipity
Mo Kolours – Tears and Sand
Throwing Snow – Glower
Axel Boman – 1979
Tee Mango – Tribute

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Snoop Dogg Waves His Flag High For Hometown On “I’m From Long Beach”

These days, Snoop Dogg is known far less for his slinky hallmark bars and much more for being the weed mascot for hip hop and pop culture at large. Seriously, the man went and started his own social network and media house for stoners earlier this year, which shouldn’t necessarily overshadow the very funky, but also very underwhelming Bush LP he put together with Pharrell, but it should be noted that your boy’s weed industry exploits are definitely getting the bulk of the shine in 2015. And that’s fine and all, but it’s kind of a shame that we haven’t heard the Doggfather really stretch out on a cut in so long.

Snoop has felt that drought, and answered the call today with a little hometown anthem. “I’m From Long Beach” finds the rapper-turned-weed-mogul finally put in a fresh 16 for the old heads to rock to. Put the top back, spark the L and unwind with the legend Snoop Dogg down below. And if it’s good your earhole, take it home with you by copping on iTunes today. Those looking to step into the foggy mind of Snoop, should refer to his journalistic endeavors on GGN and let the hilarity ensue.

The post Snoop Dogg Waves His Flag High For Hometown On “I’m From Long Beach” appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Monday, 21 December 2015

Raven Sorvino Drops Pretty Pink EP + Video For “My My My”

Raven Sorvino

After heating things up with singles featuring Gangsta Boo and Mélat over the last few months, Houston/LA emcee, Raven Sorvino comes through with her brand new EP, Pretty Pink. Along with the Gangsta Boo and Mélat features, the 5-track EP also has an assist from Lucille Ghatti, while WoddysProduce handles all the production (J Hyphen co-produces track #2). Raven looks to pay homage to her late father (James L. Pink), a prominent figure in the Houston community, as well as to empower fellow boss women (with a very intentional all-female supporting cast) with her latest release. Get some words from Raven on the project, as well as her new video for Pretty Pink track, “My My My,” below.

Pretty Pink is a new chapter in my book. It’s my signature sound that you get from WoodysProduce and myself just more vast. He and I are both progressing in our careers and this is what it sounds like. A continuation of sounds and creativity from our last collab Queen Of HeArtz. New flows and sounds with an all female cast to support.

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I wanna play at the Afropunk festival for dancers!! :)

Hey all. Good morning to all you good peeps out there. I’m not even going to front….I love what I’m seeing with the Afropunk festival and want to play(aka deejay) there!

I don’t care if it’s in a tent with 100 festival goers. I rock soulful house music, afrobeat, and rare grooves. Check out my latest mix here. It is a live recording from my recent appearance on Morgan State University radio(WEAA). Hope you enjoy.

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Mixtape Monday:The Gaslamp Killer, DJ Rashad Hayes, DJ Matman + More!

We’re very pleased to bring you what may be the final Mixtape Monday roundup of 2015–a final batch of audio presents, gift wrapped and nestled under the tree just for you and yours. And given that’s the case, we’ve determined to go out in style with a dynamic duo set from The Gaslamp Killer, shot on video by the great folks at Boiler Room. Further on down the line we’re bringing you new sounds from DJ Rashad Hayes, Complexion and some vintage holiday-inspired Cookin’ Soul goodness. It’s time to end the year on a high, funky note. Mixtapes begin now.

The post Mixtape Monday:The Gaslamp Killer, DJ Rashad Hayes, DJ Matman + More! appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Little Simz & BADBADNOTGOOD Connect On The Syrupy New Joint “Our Conversations”

Let the records show that Little Simz and BADBADNOTGOOD are a natural fit. The UK emceestress and the jazz punks may exist on the fringes of the hip hop realm, but when their sounds collide it’s a beautiful thing to behold. As the final installment of Red Bull Sound Select’s 20 Before 16, they put their respective good foots forward, concocting the lush, string-stirring loosie “Our Conversations,” marrying Simz’s penchant for blazed bars and BBNG’s astral arrangements in a heady and unholy union.

It’s always a pleasure to hear some of the new school’s most promising come together under one groove. Hear Little Simz & BADBADNOTGOOD’s cap to Red Bull Sound Select’s 20 Before 16 campaign down below and if you’re looking for a glimpse at Simz live and direct, peep the full itinerary for her sprawling European and Australian tour below.

The post Little Simz & BADBADNOTGOOD Connect On The Syrupy New Joint “Our Conversations” appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Sunday, 20 December 2015

STREAM The ‘ClairVoyant’ Mixtape From Teedra Moses

Singer/songwriter Teedra Moses celebrated her birthday this year with the release of the new 13-track ClairVoyant mixtape. The project is a soul drenched compilation that arrives just months after the critically-acclaimed Cognac & Conversation LP. ClairVoyant packs thumping trap and broken beat joints in with reworks of tracks from Kanye West, Drake, Sade, Mary J. Blige and other 90s classics. Check the tracks below to stream the ClairVoyant mixtape. Purchase the Cognac & Conversation LP via iTunes.

The post STREAM The ‘ClairVoyant’ Mixtape From Teedra Moses appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Amy Winehouse x Mokoa & Mogul – “Stronger Than Me” (Remix)

EU producers Mokoa and Mogul rework Amy Winehouse‘s 2003 Frank LP standout “Stronger Than Me” into a monstrous dance jam. Blending deep house and disco with Winehouse’s dirty soul, the producers emerge from the lab with a gargantuan track propelled by the highs and lows of her signature vocal and some decidedly sick chords. Check the track below to listen to “Stronger Than Me” (Mokoa x Mogul Remix). Download the remix via toneden.io. Grab Amy Winehouse’s Frank LP via iTunes.

Spotted at HT.

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REVIVE Audio: Killiam Shakespeare x Chris Turner – “21st Century”

Philadelphia based groove collective Killiam Shakespeare celebrates their self-titled debut LP with an exclusive stream of the new single “21st Century” featuring Chris Turner. The project, which landed Friday via Ropeadope Records, boasts appearances from Turner, Jennah Bell, Ebony Joi, Louis Fouche, Wayne Moore, Dwayne Wright, Noel Scales, Dayne Jordan, Randy Runyon, Dai Miyazaki, Pablo Batista and Adam Blackstone. A sonic snapshot of their varied influences, the Killiam Shakespeare LP finds band members Corey Bernhard (keys), Steve McKie (drums), Andre Pinckney (bass), Anthony DeCarlo (guitar) and Aaron Draper (percussion) serving up a hard rocking 13-track collection that plays well beyond the purview of your standard freshman release. Dig into the track below to listen to “21st Century.” Purchase the Killiam Shakespeare LP via iTunes. Get more via REVIVE.

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Saturday, 19 December 2015

Beneficence x Masta Ace – “When The Sun Comes” (prod. KON Sci)

Newark representative Beneficence teams with Masta Ace on the Basement Chemistry single “When The Sun Comes” produced by KON Sci (of Minds One). The track is the second single from the 19-track project due out on January 29th via Ill Adrenaline Records. Masta Ace is one of a handful of legends on the Basement Chemistry lineup, including Inspectah Deck, MC Eiht, El Da Sensei, Chubb Rock and Dres (of Black Sheep). Scratch Academy‘s DJ Noumenon provides the cuts on the lush true school production packed to the gills with radiant imagery and righteous lyricism. Check the track below to listen to “When The Sun Comes” Pre-order the digital download of Basement Chemistry via iTunes. Purchase the project on CD and limited-edition vinyl via Fatbeats.

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Big Cats Shares Beautiful New Instrumental Track “Take A Step”

(photo by Scott Heins for Okayplayer)

Minneapolis beatmaker Big Cats shared a gorgeous bit of sonic gratitude with his fans earlier this month in the form of “Take A Step,” an instrumental(ish) cut full of immersive vocals, tape-delayed drums, cello, clean keyboards and lush echoing drums. The cut was posted as thank you for the 100,000+ plays he’s gotten on SoundCloud so far, and if it’s any indication of where his sound is headed, he should be getting 100,000 more very soon.

“Take a Step” features vocals from Claire De Lune of Minneapolis duo act Tiny Deaths, and was recorded directly to cassette tape with Big Cats (aka Spencer Wirth-Davis) playing piano and handling the drums. Much of the sound we hear was sourced from improvised in-studio sessions, and in a text message, Cats told Okayplayer that the process is very similar to the one that gave birth to his upcoming album, What If It Doesn’t Get Better. That project is due to drop sometime in the next year, and will feature more of the dense soundscape-style stuff we’re treated to here. Listen to Big Cats’s new cut below, and make sure you doing it with a good pair of headphones–there’re some gorgeous textures at work on this one.

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Chet Faker Shares Spacey New Archival Cut “Underground”

After breaking out into the open with his last year’s LP Built on Glass, Australian electro-crooner Chet Faker has kept a relatively low profile throughout 2015. Faker did team up with producer Marcus Marr to share Work, an EP replete with dancefloor tempos and an extra-synthetic veneer of sensuality, but fans of his solo work have received only a few remixes and a funky one-off single, “Bend,” to tide them over.

Friday, Chet Faker delivered at least a little more for his parched listening base in the form of “Underground,” a spacey instrumental track uploaded to SoundCloud with nothing but a single #archive tag serving as description. Consisting of percolating drum patches and some extremely sparse instrumentation, it’s more than likely just a demo that never quite grew into fruition. Even so, it’s a perfectly lovely listen, full of the nocturnal sense of longing that Chet Faker imbues into much of his music. Listen to “Underground” below and check out the singer’s West Coast year-end tour dates after the jump.

Chet Faker 2015 Tour Dates:

Mon, Dec 28 The Observatory, Santa Ana, CA, US
Tue, Dec 29 The Observatory North Park, San Diego, CA, US
Thu, Dec 31 Mezzanine, San Francisco, CA, US

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Cookin Soul Shares A New Kit Of Drum Sounds Used By Freeway, Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs, YG, The Game + More!

Christmas is still a week away, but Spanish production duo Cookin Soul have shared a fantastic gift with any production-inclined hip-hop heads who might be out there, hanging up their stockings. It’s called The Main Ingredients Drum Kit, and just like their Jet Sounds release last year, features some of their high-caliber kick, snare and synth tones, isolated and formatted for beatmakers everywhere to take advantage of. If you’re looking to add a infuse your sound with some punchy funk, this is the way to do it.

The full drum kit was released through The Drum Broker, and a sample of what’s included was posted to SoundCloud late Friday night. Beat sounds used on tracks released by Curren$y, Pusha T, Mac Miller, YG, The Game, Evidence, AZ and Freddie Gibbs are all in there. Listen to the sample below, pick up the full package for the bargain price of $25 here, and read the full specs after the jump.

Drum Kit Features:
-430 sounds from Cookin’ Soul’s personal stash…

-19 folders full of drums, basslines, 808s, percussion, fills, fx, instruments, vox

-Exclusive adlibs, chants and vocals taken from original studio recording sessions

Features the drums from the following records & more:
CJ Fly (Pro Era) – Still the Motto
CJ Fly (Pro Era) – The Error
Cookin Bananas – Aqui te pillo aqui temazo
Cookin Bananas – Cambios
Cookin Bananas – Cerveza y Cigarrillos
Cookin Bananas – Cuanto Hablais
Cookin Bananas – Todo sobre mi desmadre
Cookin Soul – NY State of Mind
Chuuwee – Bikini Bottom
Gucci Mane – Pop your Back
Evidence – Amsterdam
Freddie Gibbs – My Nigga
Freddie Gibbs – Possible
Freddie Gibbs – Walk in with the M.O.
Freeway – Rose n Bo
Isaiah Rashad – Food For thought
Joell Ortiz – Food For thought
Krondon – Hot Tamales
Mac Miller – Genius
\Marcelo D2 – Eu Tenho o Poder
Max B – Lip Sing
MC Melodee – Check out Melodee
MC Melodee – Games you Play
Mickey Factz – Flyin Ballons
Nipsey Hussle – A million
Nipsey Hussle – Best Rapper
Nipsey Hussle – Blue Dream
Nipsey Hussle – Durban Poison
Nipsey Hussle – Girl Scout Cookies
Nipsey Hussle – L.A. Confidential
Nipsey Hussle – Northern Lights
Nipsey Hussle – OG Kush
NORE – Student of the Game
Redman – Boss
Styles P – Kick in the Door
Tek – Notta Game
The Game – Baggage Claim
The Jacka – Gotta Rap
Willie the Kid – Get Yours
YG – Block Party
YG – Driving like im loco
YG – Creepin
YG – G Thang
YG – Grindage
YG – Mansion Party

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Coin$ x Black Thought – “Throwback” (prod. Mizzy Beatz)

Taking it back to spit fire fundamentals, Philly spitter Coin$ teams with Black Thought on the hard hitting loosie “Throwback.” The boom-bap inspired heater produced by Mizzy Beatz finds both MC’s dropping heavy bars against the careening instrumental without breaking a sweat. Coin$ packs in plenty of slick talk, which is offset by a straight shooting treatise from Thought that hearkens back to “75 Bars.” A choice Jay Z sample rounds this joint out. Check the track below to listen to “Throwback.” Get more via coinsismoney.com.

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Rainy Milo – “How Pretty You Look” (When You’re Telling Me Lies)

UK songstress Rainy Milo returns to the surface with the new single “How Pretty You Look” (When You’re Telling Me Lies) produced by LO with some help from Daje. The ambient ballad is the first sign of life from Rainy Milo ahead of her forthcoming EP. She explained the inspiration for the track in conversation with NYLON:

“I wrote this song when thinking about how easy it is for someone you love to lie to you and how blindly we can allow ourselves to believe what we want as a way of avoiding pain,” Milo told us in an email. “This track was me getting over a painful truth.”

Check the track below to listen to “How Pretty You Look.” Get more on Rainy Milo at rainymilo-official.uk.

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!llmind x Timbaland – “The Force” (Turn Up)

Super producers !llmind and Timbaland team on the Star Wars inspired single “The Force” (Turn Up) ahead of Timbo’s forthcoming King Stays King mixtape, which drops on Christmas Day. The highly-anticipated tape boasts appearances from Kehlani, Young Thug, Rich Homie Quan, Migos and some unreleased material from Aaliyah. Packed with sound bytes from Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi, “The Force…” is a trapped out dream come true for club kids and fans of the celebrated sci-fi series. As expected, !llmind and Timbo put on a clinic in proper percussion that bodes well for what’s to come on King Stays King. The track also comes packaged with some dope fan art from Naturel. Check the track below to listen to “The Force (Turn Up). Keep your ears open for more from Timbaland.

Spotted at 2DBZ.

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Unseen 60 seconds with Downton Abbey cast | BAFTA Celebrates Downton Abbey

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Friday, 18 December 2015

OKP Premiere: su na & Alo Lee Conjure Up Warm Beauty On “Blood”

On his newest single “Blood,” su na has lit a fire–you can feel it in the track’s warm and crackling sub bass and almost even see it in the bright synth flickers that float above it all. There’s haze over everything–a grey but comforting smoke. The Minneapolis producer pairs blossoming chords with a driving, bone-dry drums to create a bit of hyper-modern R&B that stands high, high above the present-day SoundCloud scene. But then, he’s not the only one involved.

London vocalist Alo Lee works in tandem with su na on “Blood,” delivering slow and immersive melodies that bridge the gaps between each beat. “We have the same blood,” Lee croons on the hook, reminding us that the petty differences that divide us are only ever imagined. “We really are all just people at the end of the day- people just trying to get through life,” Lee told Okayplayer. “We cast so many judgements on one another all the time and it needs to stop.”

Okayplayer is very pleased to present the world premiere of “Blood,” a track that su na (real name Alec Ness) himself sees as a crucial step in the right direction. “This one really hits the direction I’ve been working toward. A darker Rnb sound with an emphasis on shuffle and groove. I wanted to drop this single before my next EP project comes out,” he said. That new EP will be six tracks, and reportedly they’re already mastered and ready to be rolled out. In the meantime, “Blood” is your holdover; listen to the gorgeous new single below.

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New Royce Da 5’9″ Song Proves That He’s A Force Beyond Nature

Although Royce Da 5’9″ may be best known for his associations to Detroit, Eminem and Carlos “6 July” Broady, the super-talented lyricist manages to dazzle on his own quite frequently. After body-bagging a track which featured fellow legendary wordsmith, Black Thought, earlier this month — Royce is delivering fierce bars as if he trapped in a cage with a gazelle and his words are pride of lions.

Leaking on Ambrosia For Heads as an early holiday gift, “They Don’t Make Them Like This Anymore” serves as an ominous reminder of the Motor City MC’s devastating lyrical ability. “I wanted to do something different for the people who’ve always supported me and my music, so I gave out my number and to everyone who texted me I sent them the song before I sent it to anyone else,” he said in a statement about the track.

Based on the artwork alone, Royce could be hinting at more work brewing on the horizon.

“They say the clock’s tickin’,” Royce says, opening his first verse with a declarative statement, which has us thinking that it may be an indicator that something new (possibly with DJ Premier) is forthcoming. Ultimately, “They Don’t Make Them Like This Anymore” proves that Royce Da 5’9″ can promise that death is certain to any lackluster MC attempting to clutch the mic.

Listen to the song yourself below, and share your holiday cheer with Royce Da 5’9″ by hitting him on Twitter.

H/T: Ambrosia For Heads

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SBTRKT Spins J Dilla, Outkast, Erykah Badu + Unreleased Tracks On The BBC

UK electronic producer SBTRKT continued his excellent BBC Radio 1 Residency Thursday night, spinning tracks from Outkast, Erykah Badu, J Dilla, Grimes and more. In addition to the choice selections, the DJ played plenty of his own material, much of it yet-unnamed and unreleased. It’s a hypnotic and eclectic hour of music, and you can listen to the full radio rip of the set below.

“If you’ve enjoyed these and want me to continue producing DJ mixes next year let me know,” he wrote on his SoundCloud page. We’d have to strongly request that he keeps this good thing going.

Tracklist:

OUTKAST – THE LOVE BELOW (INTRO)
GRIMES – LIFE IN THE VIVID DREAM
CRAIG MACK – FLAVA IN YA EAR
BUSTA RHYMES – WOO HAH!!
KANYE WEST – GEORGEOUS FEAT RAEKWON & KID CUDI
HORACE BROWN – THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE
FOXY BROWN & BACKSTREET – GET ME HOME
SHYE BEN TZUR, JONNY GREENWOOD & THE RAJASTHAN EXPRESS – JULUS
OUTKAST – GOD (INTERLUDE)
AMERIE – WHY DONT WE FALL IN LOVE (KAYTRANADA EDIT)
ERYKAH BADU – WHATS YO PHONE NUMBER/ TELEPHONE (GHOST OF SCREW MIX)
SBTRKT – IMO
SBTRKT – UNTITLED
RUSTIE – GLOBES
DJ DAHI – DROP
SBTRKT – FRIGHT
FLYING LOTUS – OSAKA TRADE
SBTRKT – UNTITLED
TWEET – OOPS (OH MY)
ADELE – CHASING PAVEMENTS (SBTRKT REMIX)
J DILLA – SO FAR TO GO (FEAT COMMON AND D’ANGELO)
SBTRKT – UNTITLED
TAME IMPALA – EVENTUALLY
SBTRKT – UNTITLED

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Recap: London App{y} Christmas Drinks

Did you miss our App{y} Christmas Drinks?

With over 40 guests, we had a business card raffle and one lucky winner got the most wanted present of the season: the Star Wars – The Force Awakens BB-8 Sphero Robot. The holiday atmosphere was set with a big Christmas tree and decorations and a selection of the best festive music. Everyone celebrated the Christmas spirit(s) with mulled red, sparkling wine and Christmas beer. The canapé selection offered festive food including mince pies, candy canes, gingerbread men and pigs in blankets. The event was attended by App Strategy Workshop speakers, App Alliance members and fans, and startup app developers, and it offered a great networking opportunity for everyone in the mobile industry.

Did you miss our App{y} Christmas Drinks in London? We had business cards raffle and one lucky winnner got the most wanted present of the season: the Star Wars – The Force Awakens BB-8 Sphero Robot.

Posted by Application Developers Alliance on Friday, 18 December 2015

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Thursday, 17 December 2015

Pusha T’s ‘Darkest Before Dawn’ Has Finally Arrived [Album Stream]

Pusha T has made it incredibly easy to be a fan as of late. The Virginian vice-rap specialist took over the reigns of Kanye’s camp, dropped a grip of muscular and subversive singles, then announced not one, but two new projects to land in less than a year’s time. One of those projects, namely the Darkest Before Dawn mixtape, has officially hit the internets to stream in full. The record features a whos who of guest spots, including Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, J. Cole (the three of which landed on yesterday’s surprise leak “M.P.A.”,) a prominently-featured The-Dream, the incomparable Jill Scott and plenty more. Stream Pusha T’s King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude mixtape down below and if it’s good to ya (as we’re sure it will be) grab your copy on iTunes today. Peep his freshly-announced touring itinerary as well.

Tour Dates:
03/03 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Vogue Theatre
03/04 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
03/06 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
03/08 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
03/09 – Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco Theater
03/12 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
03/14 – Dallas, TX @ South Side Music Hall
03/17 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
03/20 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
03/21 – Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
03/22 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend
03/23 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero Theatre
03/26 – New York, NY @ PlayStation Theater
03/29 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
03/30 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
04/01 – Montreal, Quebec @ Club Soda
04/02 – Toronto, Ontario @ The Danforth Music Hall
04/04 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
04/05 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
04/06 – Minneapolis, MN @ Mill City Nights

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Hear LAKIM’s Potent Flip Of Janet Jackson & Missy Elliott’s “BURNITUP”

By now, you should know that you can count LAKIM to come through with the remixed heaters on the steady. He’s tried his hand at Sade, even flipped the incomparable Rick James, but today he returns with yet another stone cold recreation for your to step with. This time around the vicious Virginian puts the chop to Janet Jackson & Missy Elliott‘s collaborative dance-floor burner “BURNITUP,” injecting all kinds of atmosphere into a relentless groove that brought a pair of legends together on one very funky cut for a rare, but wholly enjoyable team-up for the ages.

Step to LAKIM’s potent remix of Janet Jackson & Missy Elliott’s “BURNITUP” below. And if you haven’t yet peered into the endless abyss of dopeness that is his Souncloud page, you owe yourself a visit, hell, maybe even a stay. If you’re looking to put a little loot in his pocket for, you know, all the non-free projects he’s put out over the years, head on over to his Bandcamp to peep the catalogue and keep your ear to the ground for more from the mighty Soulection selector in the weeks and months ahead.

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Are we at war with our truth?

Can we all proudly say that we are living in our truth completely? Do some of you feel pressured to hide that special spark about yourself out of fear?

Judgement Day:

Not in the biblical sense. I’m not going to tap into religion on this one. I’m leaning towards the soul, the Hue-man, Black. Why do we judge? Why do we care about the opinion of others?

We live in a society that cares too much bout the most irrelevant issues. Issues like; Who wore it better?. How about we focus on how to strengthen our community and work together as a family. No matter what we look like or how we dress, the shape of our hair to the sole of our shoes. We are family. We have to support each other, or we will become lost as a nation.

No judgement zone!

Vanity can lead to the destruction of Hue-manity

Envy – He who envies others does not achieve peace – ((Buddah))

Conformity

Calamity

Afflictions

misguided

Stay true! Be you!

Titania Scarlet……..

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Hear Kanye West, A$AP Rocky & The-Dream Join Pusha T On “M.P.A.” (prod. J. Cole)

With Darkest Before Dawn just a few hours away from its official release, Pusha T‘s got the world by the balls and doesn’t appear to be letting go anytime soon. But before we get there, a new (and hopefully final) leak has made way to the internets in the form of “M.P.A.,” which features Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, The-Dream and all over a piano-led J. Cole production. So yeah, the star-power here is immense. The track itself, however, is a bit underwhelming, both lyrically and musically, across the board. Dream’s harmonies ,on the other hand, are something to behold and cherish. But don’t take our word for it, have a listen below and peep the full list of Pusha T’s freshly-announced tour dates while you’re down there. Pre-order your copy of Darkest Before Dawn on iTunes today ahead of tomorrow’ official release.

The post Hear Kanye West, A$AP Rocky & The-Dream Join Pusha T On “M.P.A.” (prod. J. Cole) appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Interview: IAMNOBODI Speaks Out On Racism and Making Music In A “Mad World”

It only takes a few seconds of perusing SoundCloud to realize it: IAMNOBODI has been putting in serious work. That effort though, lies in the quality of his new material, rather than the frequency of his uploads. While other prolific modern beatsmiths seem hell-bent on posting new tracks at a Twitter-like pace, the Germany-based producer moves more selectively. There’s a poise to his online presence.

On his latest single “Mad World,” however, IAMNOBODI lets it all out. The song is a 9 minute tour de force, encompassing walking jazz interludes, impassioned pleas for racial justice and, in its final minutes, plenty of the dynamic progressive hip-hop that the young artist has become known for. OKayplayer recently spoke IAMNOBODI about its composition, his new work and how he finds his place in a world so ridden with madness and strife.

OKP: First off, what’s on your mind right now? It feels like you’re letting these samples, these speeches, especially the first one from William Hayden, are pretty clearly a call out for justice and a better world. Just fill us in on your view of the world right now.

Nobodi: That’s what it really is to be honest. There’s so much going on in the world right now and instead of helping and care for each other we treat each other like shit. I notice that everyday again and again. We live in a time where a man like Donald Trump is running for President! In a time where f.e. people in North Korea don’t know what Facebook is because one man is dictating and controlling everything! It’s 2015 and racism is still a major issue all across the globe. So ‘Mad World’ really is an attempt to encourage people to think about that a little bit.

OKP: Musically there are so many joints in here, some of them dense and some a little looser. Did you make these all during the same time? Were they extras you had lying around that you decided to put together recently? Or were they all composed newly, for “Mad World” specifically.

Nobodi: It’a bunch of ideas i had but i never really found time to finish it. So one day i just sat down and finished it. It’s some newer material in there, for sure. But this is not an EP, Sampler, Album or anything like that. It is more like an audio experiment. That’s what i would call it. My official album is dropping early next year and it’s called Wide Awake In A Dream.

OKP: Have you ever worked on a single track that’s this long?

Nobodi: Not really. I am a very musical person though so i always try to do something different. But speaking on a single track, probably not. I wanna do stuff like this more often for sure. I might go ahead and drop a part 2 smile emoticon

OKP: Many of the comments on the track are thanking you for a thoughtful piece of music. It seems people are feeling that “Mad World” is an experience–how does that make you feel to hear that? Was that your goal?

Nobodi: Absolutely! It feels really good because it shows me that i’m definitely not alone with my way of thinking. People want change. I was talking to a good friend of mine a couple days ago and he told me this: “It’s 2015! Look at the times, man. If you’re not saying something, leave!”. That stuck with me, you know? I think we should start to re-think our shit big time!

There’s nothing wrong with turning up in the club , having fun and all that but we definitely need more balance. At the end of the day there’s people going through real life shit and they need something they can relate to.

OKP: What sort of power do you think music has to speak out about problems in the world?

Nobodi: A lot. It might sound crazy but I really believe that music has the power to actually heal. I have people walk up to me after shows, telling me that my music changed their lives or helped them get through certain situations or tough times. It happens a lot. And that’s crazy to me! So just imagine, if bigger artists would realize the power and responsibility they have and use it to draw attention on things with which people can identify. Man, it would make a big difference. But luckily we have some good folks like Kendrick or J. Cole who are doing it the right way.

The post Interview: IAMNOBODI Speaks Out On Racism and Making Music In A “Mad World” appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Celebrate “Star Wars” With P.SO & 2 Hungry Bros’ New Space-Age Banger

Even if you’ve been living beneath a bantha for the last six months, you’re probably aware that the latest installment in the Star Wars series is about to drop. The first “midnight” screenings of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens begin in a little over four hours, but P.SO & 2 Hungry Bros have delivered a last-minute catch up session, for anyone who still hasn’t seen the sci-fi epic’s earlier installments. Over a dusty, jazz-inflected beat that’s honestly way way tastier than you might expect for a light-hearted track like this, P.SO spits the tale of Episode IV: A New Hope. That means you’ll be catching bars about Luke on Tatooine, Obi Wan Kenobi, the first Death Star, Han Solo and the dramatic defense of Yavin. Oh, you thought we weren’t nerds to? We’ll see you at tonight’s screenings–we’ll be the hip-hop heads nodding to this joint way up ahead of you in line.

“The two fan boys are wishing all fellow Hip Hop heads, comic book heads, and Jedi/ Sith lovers a Happy Holiday with this upbeat take on Star Wars: The New Hope,” P.SO wrote of the new cut. Listen to “STAR WARS for Dummies IV (A New Hope)” below and check out more of P.SO’s material here. May the force, and the beats, be with you.

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The Year In Review: Okayplayer’s Top 15 Songs Of 2015

As we noted in our year-end look at 2015’s best albums, music was full of impressive outings from the likes of Drake, Kendrick Lamar and celebrated newcomers such as Thundercat and GoldLink. Messages about sexual liberation, angst against police brutality, brokenhearted-ness, and what happens when your girl starts wearing less and going out more adorned the airwaves and internet.

With sounds so spacious and fresh, these tracks allowed a new generation of artists to step up into the spotlight and connect in a way that was original and made an impact in the format. Artistry continued to be pushed to the limits with more and more acts attempting to fill their works with pure heart, emotion and impact that would not only crush records on-and-off the charts, but it would set into motion just how powerful music is during this time of human strife and confusion.

This list isn’t meant to be in ranking order, might we add. It is an attempt to salute the top songs of the year, so, without any further ado — here are Okayplayer’s Top 15 Songs of 2015.

Happy New Year to you all!

The post The Year In Review: Okayplayer’s Top 15 Songs Of 2015 appeared first on Okayplayer.

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J. PERIOD x EVERYTHING COLLECTION (8GB USB MIXTAPE)

J. Period

The homie J. Period has been hooking the OKP community up with rare gems and exclusives for over a decade now. Just a quick glance at his tag will show you some of the work he’s put in. Last year, to celebrate 10 years of mixtape excellency, he dropped a limited edition box set. If you missed out on it then, J. Period is bringing it back with even more to offer this time around. On Friday, J. Period drops his 8GB USB Everything Collection Mixtape, just in time for the holidays. Custom made in the shape of a cassette tape, the fully loaded USB contains J. Period’s complete catalog. Every remix project, documentary, demo, DJ 12”, outtake, unreleased gems, all-new mixes, they’re all in there (including the sequel to his highly acclaimed collab w/ Q-Tip & the latest J. Period x Black Thought Live Mixtape).

Along with the custom USB, you also get an autographed, hand-numbered, commemorative book (w/ graphic art from Fuse Green & an essay on hip-hop from Adam Mansbach). This collection is limited to 100, so head over to J’s site to find out more and place that order ASAP. We’ll be giving one away via our Twitter account, so make sure to follow and keep an eye out.

J. Period

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Wednesday, 16 December 2015

Kehlani Takes Aim At Her Haters w/ Her Latest Banger “Did I”

Kehlani

Kehlani didn’t really give us much time to marinate on her last slow jam “Tore Up,” before she came right back with heat. The Cali songstress turns up the aggression a little bit with this new jawn “Did I.” Kehlani’s got bars for her haters on this one, listen to her put the competition in her cross hairs on this Pop & Oak produced banger. Kehlani’s been on top all year, not surprising to see her close the year out strong with this one. Listen to her latest, below (I didn’t even catch that “Intuition” flip ’til the end).

spotted miss info

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Listen To The New EP From Tiffany Gouché – Pillow Talk

Tiffany Gouché

Pillow Talk would be the perfect title for the latest Ep from Tiffany Gouché. The Inglewood singer/songwriter/producer comes through with 8-tracks of straight up baby making music. If you can’t get the job done with this one playing in the background, I don’t know what to tell you. Production is handled by Nate 3D, Dk the Punisher, SiR, and Gouché herself. You can stream/purchase the project in full, below. Expect more from Tiffany in 2016.

<a href="http://ift.tt/1IvI2Pj">Pillow Talk EP by Tiffany Gouché</a>

The post Listen To The New EP From Tiffany Gouché – Pillow Talk appeared first on Okayplayer.

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60 Seconds with… Robert Webb

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60 Seconds with… David Mitchell

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Tuesday, 15 December 2015

PJ “Crazy”

The jams keep coming from LA singer/songwriter PJ. I’ve gotta guess a new project is on the way, as she has been dropping joints pretty regularly the last few weeks. For her latest effort, PJ sings a song of inspiration with “Crazy.” The track has the songstress pondering if it’s crazy to always look at the good in the worst of situations. Listen to the latest from PJ, below.

The post PJ “Crazy” appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Terrace Martin Adds Some Jazzy-Goodness To Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright (II)”

Kendrick Lamar is the man on everyone’s lips whether for good or bad.

The 11-time Grammy nominee and all-around good kid in a m.A.A.d city has in his discography this generation’s protest anthem in “Alright,” which charismatically seams in the rage of a people with the positive chant that has been yelled from Cleveland to Los Angeles.

Produced by Sounwave and Pharrell for Kendrick’s To Pimp a Butterfly album, the song couldn’t get any better, no? Wrong! Longtime collaborator and creator, Terrace Martin, has remixed the “Alright” track, adding some jazzy-goodness to it that drips through the tweeters so deliciously.

Before playing this track, the important relationship between Lamar and Martin goes back all the way to his Kendrick Lamar EP. In a chat with The FADER this past summer, K-Dot told the magazine that jazz wasn't in his playlist, saying, "I don't even think that I actually [listened to jazz] before." If you take a look at his beat selections, you'd agree that he has always had jazz influence in his work by using his voice as an instrument.

To exemplify just how important this remix is, we'll just let Terrace Martin speak on the song. "This song speaks for the world," he said. "It's pure love being poured out from a place of hope and faith," which finds Martin's alto-saxophone adding some chill ferocity to the original. "I wanted to do this remix as my part to continue to push the message of love and to celebrate change! My only goal with all my music is to help and spread good vibes. I'm just happy we are helping to push a positive energy around the world."

For that, express your thanks by pressing play on the Soundcloud below!

Also, keep in mind that Terrace Martin's Velvet Portraits is on the way soon.

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Recap: Amsterdam App Strategy Workshop

The Amsterdam App Strategy Workshop took place on the 10th of December at the Rockstart Accelerator in Amsterdam. With over 100 attendees in the beautiful Dutch baroque ballroom, speakers included industry experts from Uber, Swipe & Shop, Branch Metrics, Picnic, Bux, Newzoo, Touch Instinct and more.

Fireside chat with Uber: Mastering Mobile Design

Kicking off the event was a Fireside Chat with Jelle Prins, Design Manager at Uber, and moderator Dmitriy Kostin, CEO at Touch Instinct, in which the audience found out about the early days of Uber, designing concepts across different cultures, for example “You wouldn’t use a black envelope for China, as it is a symbol of bad luck!”. Jelle also talked about their exciting growing portfolio with services like UberPOOL, where you share your Uber with other riders and UberEATS.

Panel One: Market Your App the Organic Way

Speaking on the topic of Marketing Your App the Organic Way were Ruben Vermijs, Digital Marketing Leader at Picnic, Pamela Neelis, Founder & Product Owner of Swipe & Shop, Robbert Bos, CPO & Co-Founder at BUX and Nicholas Duddy, Founder of Miratrix. Oliver Kern, ‘Chief Mobilizer’ at Mobilizer, moderated the panel.

Is there space for innovation in a deep dark red ocean?

Oliver Kern, opened the discussion by highlighting that the app market today has matured: “The app market is no longer a blue ocean anymore, it is deep dark red.” referring to the book “Blue Ocean Strategy” that focuses on uncontested market space, as the app market was considered in its first decade.

A personal approach

Ruben Vermijs, Digital Marketing Leader at Picnic, agreed that even social advertising is now an old and crowded space. He added that when everyone is screaming for attention, you have to find a way to be in the center, and sometimes the simplest solution is the one to choose. For example, Ruben personally sent a message through Facebook Messenger to the first 150 people, and that strategy had a much higher conversion rate for his app than any other form of social media advertising.

Pamela Neelis, Founder & Product Owner of Swipe & Shop which is published by Sanoma Media, added that she directly addressed the first consumers of her app by sending them a personalized email and asking them to come to the office and help with feedback and testing . The response was overwhelming: “I literally got 5000 emails back!” She added that often the people that you lose as customers are the most interesting to talk to.

New Channels for App Advertising

Nicholas Duddy, Founder of Miratrix, believed that social is also moving to new spaces. Apps like Vine and Snapchat offer new space for advertising and the opportunity to reach a new customer segment.

For others, more traditional methods of advertising also work: Robbert Bos, CPO & Co-Founder at BUX, believed that TV advertising is becoming more and more relevant for apps, especially for the ones in the game industry.

Presentation: Fueling Growth for Your App

Michael Winters, Operations for Europe at Branch Metrics, gave an engaging and informative presentation, offering a number of new ways to attract users including “deepviews”, with which you can experience the app before even downloading, ‪and personalized onboarding, where you can see your friends using the same app you are considering downloading.

Panel Two: Winning Strategies for Monetising your App

George Osborn from Mobile Mavericks was the moderator of a panel including the following speakers: Peter Warman, Co-founder & CEO at Newzoo, Christian Batist, Consultant on Game Monetization, Richard Hazenberg, CEO at Lunagames and Stefano Peruzzi, CEO at Entelligo BV,

On a Quest for Innovation

George Osborn started by highlighting a new trend: Media services are taking over the top 10 apps in the stores. Speaking about ranking, he immediately received a question from the audience: “How do you find original content on the app stores?” George answered that there is a huge amount of innovation in the App Store, but to find it you should also go beyond the top 10. Using the right key words and following indie developers is one way to discover innovative content, especially in games.

Free marketeers

Following the topic of winning strategies for app monetization, Peter Warman, Co-founder & CEO at Newzoo, reminded us that companies could utilize the potential of their most dedicated app users. “You have 5% free marketeers: they don’t pay but play a lot and may promote your app, so don’t forget them and use them. They can be your brand ambassadors.”

In-app video advertising

Richard Hazenberg, CEO at Lunagames, also focused on finding the right games and monetizing them. He believes that subscriptions have potential in premium games. He added that he would like to see more mainstream brands, including products, entering the adverting space in the app world.

Christian Batist also saw potential in gaining revenue from in-app videos that you have to watch to earn free in-game credits. However he said that there is a need for better video portfolios especially in the content for kids.

Want some more advice on great app strategy? Join our member center for top app content here

Tag yourself on the event pictures!

Find pictures from the event on our App Alliance Facebook

The Amsterdam App Strategy Workshop took place on 10 December at the Rockstart Accelerator in Amsterdam. With over 100…

Posted by Application Developers Alliance on Monday, 14 December 2015

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Chaz French Drops These Things Take Time Mixtape + “Remember” Video

chaz-french-remember

Following up on his buzz-heavy 2014 project, Happy Belated, DMV emcee Chaz French returns with his latest tape, These Things Take Time. Chaz comes through with 14 new tracks with features from GoldLink, Saba, Phil Ade, Eddie Vanz, and Lito Walker. You can stream the project in full, below, and cop it via iTunes. To go along with the release, Chaz also comes through with a video for track#2, “Remember” (directed by Shomi Patwary). Get it all, below, as well as some words from Chaz.

My first project (Happy Belated) was about my personal struggles and things I’ve been through. This time around I wanted to speak to the struggles of my fans and people who stumble across my music by addressing the struggles I feel like we all go through… Everybody has some type of struggle and that’s what’s shapes us as people. We gain strength as we endure the struggle. Just know that the struggle isn’t forever and it takes a little longer to get there when it’s real. All of our blessings are coming… These Things Take Time.

The post Chaz French Drops These Things Take Time Mixtape + “Remember” Video appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Monday, 14 December 2015

Get An Intro To Joey Dosik w/ This D’Angelo Instrumental Cover + Solo Joint “Game Winner”

Joey Dosik

For those not already up on game, enjoy this introduction to L.A. singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Joey Dosik. I’ve seen this man kill many a live performance out here in L.A. over the last year or so, but his recorded music is just as impressive. In honor of D’Angelo’s Black Messiah release (dropped one year ago today), Dosik comes through with this instrumental cover of the album cut, “Really Love.” Check it out below, and to get a better feel for Dosik’s talents, also listen to the previously released original song “Game Winner” (a personal favorite of mine), below as well. Look for Joey’s Game Winner EP, as well as a full-length album to drop in 2016. LA: Catch the vibes live as Joey Dosik will be opening up for KING at The Lyric Theatre tonight (12/15), get more info and tickets here.

The post Get An Intro To Joey Dosik w/ This D’Angelo Instrumental Cover + Solo Joint “Game Winner” appeared first on Okayplayer.

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Kendrick Lamar Talks Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown In New XXL Magazine Issue

Starting off the year, Kendrick Lamar was already one of the leading voices in hip-hop and the culture. Dubbed a “writer a war” by XXL Magazine back in January, this Compton kingpin shocked the world with one of the clearest, most concise and exemplary pieces of art in a long time — To Pimp a Butterfly.

The album has accompanied another tragic year where black lives did not matter to politicians and police. Throughout that madness of brutality and brouhaha, Kendrick’s magnum opus has become a rallying cry for those within the #BlackLivesMatter movement (“Alright”) and an example at the creative force people of color emit to cut through the bullshit of inequality.

As the year comes to a close and music pundits anticipating hearing Kendrick Lamar’s name during February’s Grammys (of which TDE’s franchise player is nominated 11 times) — XXL Magazine closes out 2015 with another op-ed for the venerable hip-hop publication. In an astonishing reveal, Kendrick not only covers XXL‘s Winter 2015 issue, he also penned his own cover story, which finds King Kunta reacting to his wild-and-crazy three-and-a-half years.

“It’s funny because I ask other artists about their experience with success,” the XXL excerpt reads from K Dot. “I wanna know what happened to them. Did you feel how I feel? When did everything change for you? When did you start noticing the ways you were acting differently?” he posits. From the time good kid, m.A.A.d. city dropped until when “Blacker The Berry” did, audiences were becoming well acquainted with the musings of Kendrick Lamar.

Elsewhere in the self-penned piece, he examines the turning point in his life and career, how those changes affect his everyday life now and spoke on the social injustices that claimed the lives of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland and other people of color. “The past few years or so has been very politically charged and controversial. All of it has really struck a nerve with me because when you experience things like that personally and you know the type of hardships and pain that it brings first-hand, it builds a certain rage in you,” he explains.

Kendrick details an example that many young black boys and girls know too often in varying degrees. For me, it was being held at gunpoint by numerous state troopers who thought I fit the profile of a black man who stole two cars. Finding out that we were being filmed on camera by a racist white man with a CB radio was an eye-opening experience that was just one of many that I would go on to witness. For Kendrick, the memory of seeing the police kicking in the door, being stomped out by them and handcuffed on his front yard is a painful memory that exemplifies that point of To Pimp a Butterfly and his XXL op-ed.

“It brings back some of the most painful memories and deepest thoughts of real life situations that I didn’t even want to address on good kid. Or wasn’t ready to. Rage is the perfect word for it,” he writes.

With Kendrick Lamar now two full-length projects in and a world-slash-industry that is hailing him as “The Chosen One,” Kendrick admits that he is still trying to figure out who he is. “I’m sitting there thinking, ‘These kids are really listening to me.’ But why am I the one to get this opportunity?” That journey is one worth paying attention to, as Kendrick continues to put answers to questions that we all want, his latest evolution is the culmination of love and energy well-received.

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Rethinking the FTC’s Privacy Enforcement for Modern Technologies

Former FTC Commissioner Joshua Wright.

“Government regulators have instead been slow, and at times outright reluctant, to embrace the flow of data.”

Former FTC Commissioner Joshua Wright said this in a recent speech on the FTC’s privacy regulation. In the same speech he observed that during his time at the Commission, the FTC was generally apprehensive “about the collection and use of data…along with a corresponding and arguably crippling fear about the possible misuse of such data.” This approach to privacy regulation is contradictory to what consumers and businesses expect from the exchange of data.

Instead, the FTC should catch up with consumers by embracing the many benefits of data collection and retention, and avoid punishing companies where there is no evidence of consumer harm. In addition to the internal observations made by the former Commissioner, there are many public examples that demonstrate the FTC’s apprehension about data collection and suggest a change is needed.

Take, for example, the Commission’s calls for companies to practice data minimization – the principle of limiting the collection and use of consumer data to only what is needed. While limiting the data collected makes sense in some cases (e.g. a company should not collect a user’s social security number as their log-in), the FTC urges data minimization practices in broad strokes that encompass practices relied on by startups. The FTC justifies this broad policy because a company collecting and storing vast amounts of consumer data will be “a more enticing target for data thieves or hackers,” and that the consumer data will be used in ways consumers may not expect.

Image via Perspecsys Photos

While data theft does pose a potential harm to consumers, developers and businesses know that strong security practices, such as encryption, can mitigate this risk. Many companies already use this and other security tools to protect valuable consumer data. Companies are incentivized to protect the data they collect and store in order to protect their reputations and grow their businesses. To address the data theft concern, the FTC should continue to encourage strong data security practices, rather than insist on data minimization, an especially shortsighted idea that could set back the development of new products or improvements of existing ones.

Data is especially critical for startups that rely on it to help identify needed upgrades to a product or to meet unexpected user demands. While small businesses might find it difficult to gain a marketing toehold against their larger competitors, understanding their customer data can provide untold benefits in making customer-centric improvements that will drive growth.

The FTC’s insistence on data minimization is also out of touch with what consumers expect and desire. Consumers know intuitively that the services they enjoy relating to traffic, travel, banking, commerce, and entertainment, for example, rely on data. The increasing growth of the app industry is clear evidence that consumers are willing to share data when they receive value in return. Thus, consumers’ and developers’ interests are aligned – both seek a relationship whereby consumers willingly share data through apps, wearables and other devices in exchange for the benefits those services offer.

Some FTC privacy enforcement actions also demonstrate the Commission’s reluctance to accept data flows. In deception cases – typically where a company fails to fulfill a promise made in its privacy policy – the FTC should place a greater emphasis on identifying evidence of consumer harm.

In the FTC’s case against Nomi Technologies, Inc., Nomi (a startup providing retail tracking analytics) promised to allow consumers to opt out of Nomi’s service at any retailer using Nomi’s technology. At the time of the alleged violation, Nomi did not offer an opt-out in retail locations using Nomi’s services.

In its decision, the Commission concluded the misstatement resulted in consumer harm. While there is no doubt Nomi should have corrected its privacy policy, the FTC failed to show any evidence of consumer harm. Additionally, Nomi did not collect personal information, and was not required to offer an opt-out. Heavy-handed enforcement actions like this may lead companies to implement vague policies, or may encourage companies to eliminate policies and opt-out options altogether. The result is contrary to the FTC’s goals of offering increased transparency and consumer choice.

Urging data minimization and the Nomi decision are just two examples of the FTC’s overemphasis on hypothetical or nonexistent risks. Without an updated way of approaching deception cases – that considers evidence of consumer harm, and weighs the benefits of a product or service – the FTC risks leaving consumers with fewer options in the marketplace, and less information up front about how their information will be used.

As society moves towards a connected ecosystem, the FTC should modernize its approach to privacy regulation by accepting and embracing modern data flows. The Commission should avoid overly burdensome punishments to businesses where there is no evidence of consumer harm. Without a change, the next great idea could be stifled, and consumers will be the ones ultimately worse off.

Michelle Lease, Policy Counsel

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Hear Pharoahe Monch Body The Mic w/ A Blistering Freestyle On Dr. Dre’s ‘The Pharmacy’

Things have been quiet on the Pharoahe Monch front as of late. Last we heard from the Queens native, he was lining up with Talib Kweli and 9th Wonder on Indy 500, but the weekend saw him stepping into the booth with yet another living legend, blazing bars over a righteous instrumental on the latest installment of Dr. Dre‘s always-dope The Pharmacy program on Beats 1. Over 2-minutes of fiery funk chops, Monch goes off the rails; an A-1 performance for the ages, showing just how few emcees truly live with in his ranks and, of course, garnering the praises of the Doctor himself. It’s a rare showcase of the mighty wordsmith at work and it’s available for you to stream down below, courtesy of the good folks at Monch’s W.A.R. Media, who ripped his segment for all the world hear. Peep Pharoahe Monch’s blistering Pharmacy freestyle and hold tight for all the dope-ness that is to come from one of the best in the game to date, dead or alive. If you’ve yet to hear last year’s ferocious PTSD LP, jump back and peep or head over to iTunes to cop.

The post Hear Pharoahe Monch Body The Mic w/ A Blistering Freestyle On Dr. Dre’s ‘The Pharmacy’ appeared first on Okayplayer.

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