Pablo is dead, long live “Saint Pablo.” Kanye West‘s new song, presumably named after/dedicated to his newborn child Saint West, has leaked online, featuring vocals from the effortlessly fly Sampha and some classic hip-hop samples (“UFO” anybody?) augmenting the moody piano and bass groove. Classic ‘Ye material, a sound maybe more in line with album cuts from his crowd favorite My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy than the euronazi arthop of Yeezus or the gospel-drill hybrids of The Life Of Pablo. The agile rhymes over the top make reference to recent events in couplets that work almost like lyrical time stamps, living proof that he just made the muhfuckers up last night, the rap equivalent of holding up today’s newspaper in your videotaped message to police.
That’s taking the leak sonically, that is. Taken chronologically, “Saint Pablo” is sort of a bridge between the ever-changing TLOP (which just got a reboot on TIDAL yesterday, with changes to 12 out of 19 tracks) and the forthcoming Turbo Grafx 16. TGFX16 is of course, only the 2nd of a rumored 3 Kanye albums to drop this year. The way things are going, however, I’m starting to suspect that when Kanye referred to SWISH (or WAVES or whatever it was called at that point, somebody check the time stamps, please) as the ‘album of the life’ what he actually meant was that he’s just going to keep working on and tweaking this same album for the rest of his life, making additions and changing the name and the track sequence in an ongoing series of software-like iterations–and presumably charging you a dollar every time you need to upgrade ’cause TLOP 6.0 is no longer compatible with the flash plug-ins on your OSXX (or whatever). Now that would be some real Steve Jobs type shit. Go ‘head Kanye.
One look at the track list of Robert Glasper‘s soon-to-drop sonic salute to the genius of Miles Davisand it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer star-power of the album’s roster. And while we’ll only have to wait another week for the full reveal of Everything’s Beautiful, Glasper has just relinquished what could be the album’s most coveted collaborative effort, “Violets,” featuring production from 9th Wonder and vibrant verbal from the one and only, Phonte. Chopping up one of Davis’ most acclaimed cuts, “Kind Of Blue,” Phontigallo’s melodic delivery over some wavy wonders from 9th is the perfect score to some lazy Sunday merriments, whether they be of herbal or alcoholic persuasion. And though it’s one short of a full Little Brotherreunion, “Violets” should get you salivating at the prospect, and warmed-up proper for the album’s official release next Friday, April 1st. Hear Phonte and 9th Wonder join Robert Glasper on the latest Everything’s Beautiful drop down below and pre-order your copy of the album via iTunes today.
Everything’s Beautiful Track List:
1. “Talking Shit”
2. “Ghetto Walkin” featuring Bilal
3. “They Can’t Hold Me Down” featuring Illa J
4. “Maiysha (So Long)” featuring Erykah Badu
5. “Violets” featuring Phonte
6. “Little Church” featuring Hiatus Kaiyote
7. “Silence Is The Way” featuring Laura Mvula
8. “Song For Selim” featuring KING
9. “Milestones” featuring Georgia Ann Muldrow
10. “I’m Leaving You” featuring John Scofield and Ledisi
11. “Right On Brotha” featuring Stevie Wonder
With all of A$AP Rocky and Tyler The Creator‘s recent wheelings and dealings, it’s easy to forget about the Mob’s glorious past of bigging-up NYC. And so, to answer some prayers (and just remind you that the rest of the crew is still rocking) young Rocky, A$AP Nast and A$AP Twelvyy have crossed the streams to release something heads will hold and cherish; the vintage-set loosie “Presidents,” instantly recalling Hov’s legendary ’95 cut, and certainly not without intent. All three show up in a big way, weaving in and out of the cut some eternally laid-back wordplay, proving without a reasonable doubt, that the A$AP Mob is here and here to stay. You can listen to the latest from the Mob down below, just be sure to catch Rocky as he hits the festival circuit this summer, the dates for which are listed just under the player.
A$AP Rocky Tour Dates:
Apr 16 @ Coachella – Indio, CA
Apr 23 @ Coachella – Indio, CA
May 27-28 @ Sasquatch Music Festival – George, WA
May 29 @ Minnesota State Fairgrounds – St. Paul, MN
Jun 16-19 @ Firefly Music Festival – Dover, DE
Jul 24 @ Randall’s Island Park – New York, NY
If time has proven anything at all, it’s that Mick Jenkinsand Kaytranada make for one of hip-hop’s best current pairings. Perhaps you caught wind of this on either one of Mick’s stud EPs or more recently on the lustful heater “Your Love” or shot-firing loosie “HeadAss.” Well, today they step out once more with undeniable chemistry, sampling BADBADNOTGOOD on the slick new banger “The Artful Dodger.”
The track — featuring additional production from THEMPeoples — finds Jenkins on a tear, breezing through stuttering, glitched-out wonder, laced with teetering synth lines and a hard-as-hell knock. It comes as the very first taste of the south-sider’s soon-to-arrive debut album, The Healing Component, which is being readied for a 2016 release. You can hear Mick Jenkins and Kaytranada connect once more on “The Artful Dodger” below, just be sure to sit tight. There’s plenty more on the way from Jenkins and Kay’s 99.9% LP is just weeks away from landing.
Kaytranada Tour Dates:
05-05 Berlin, Germany – Astra
05-06 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
05-07 Cologne, Germany – Live Music Hall
05-10 Reims, France – Cartonnerie
05-11 Utrecht, Netherlands – Tivoli
05-12 Paris, France – Le Trianon
05-13 London, England – Troxy
05-14 Brussels, Belgium – Les Nuits Botanique
05-19 Montreal, Quebec – Metropolis
05-20 Toronto, Ontario – The Danforth Music Hall
05-24 San Diego, CA – Observatory North*
05-25 Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre*
05-26 Orange County, CA – The Observatory*
05-27 San Francisco, CA – Mezzanine*
05-28 Seattle, WA – Showbox
05-29 Portland, OR – Euphoria
05-31 Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre
06-01 New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
06-03 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
06-04 Philadelphia, PA – The Roots Picnic
06-11 Manchester, England – Parklife Festival
06-12 Brighton, England – Wild Life Festival
06-18 Barcelona, Spain – Sónar Festival
07-03 Vancouver, British Columbia – FVDED
07-23 New York, NY – Panorama Festival
07-29 Montreal, Quebec – Osheaga Festival
08-13 Marseille, France – Positiv Festival
08-18 Hasselt, Belgium – Pukkelpop
08-20 St. Poelten, Austria – Frequency Festival
08-21 Biddinghuizen, Netherlands – Lowlands
Snakehips, a UK-based production outfit comprised Oliver Lee and James Carter, first landed on the scene with their massive hit “All My Friends,” featuring Chance The Rapper and Tinashe. But it seems their eye for collaborations knows no bound, as the follow-up single “Money On Me” arrives, strung together by the melodic rasp of, you guessed it, Anderson .Paak; the one-man tidal wave of 2016. It’s a ride-out-with-top-down type of joint, fit with dizzying trap drums and jabs of synthesizers, akin to what you might have heard on Paak’s debut, Venice, swaggering and effortlessly cool. It’s but our latest taste of what’s to come, as Snakehips readies their All My Friends EP, slated to arrive on April 15th via RCA. Tune in down below and hold tight for the next episode.
Snakehips Tour Dates:
Apr 01 @ Ronda – Utrecht, Netherlands
Apr 02 @ PALLADIUM – Geneve, Switzerland
Apr 15 @ Coachella – Indio, CA
Apr 16 @ Fox Theatre – Boulder, CO
Apr 21 @ The Novo – Los Angeles, CA
Apr 22 @ Coachella – Indio, CA
Apr 23 @ The Glass House – Pomona, CA
Jun 12 @ Wildlife Festival – Adur, United Kingdom
Sep 08 @ Bestival – Isle Of Wight, United Kingdom
Oct 06 @ KOKO – London, United Kingdom
Unless you’ve been spending your time in a sound and internet-proof dome over the last year, meteoric r&b presence, Gallant, has likely already slipped onto your radar. The campaign began when “Weight In Gold” got the Zane Lowe stamp of approval and ever since, he’s been the road building towards his close-up with the debut Ology LP. Today, just short of a week until the album’s official release, an early peek arrives courtesy of the good folks at NPR. You can stream Gallant’s debut down below and if it’s good to your earhole, as it has been to ours, you can pre-order your copy via iTunes ahead of its official April 6th release. You can also catch him on the road throughout the next few months, supporting ZHU on a seemingly endless run of dates, which are available for your perusal just below the player.
Tour Dates:
Apr 15 @ Coachella – Indio, CA
Apr 22 @ Coachella – Indio, CA
Apr 26 @ Fox Theater w/ ZHU – Oakland, CA
Apr 28 @ Commodore Ballroom w/ ZHU – Vancouver, Canada
Apr 29 @ Showbox w/ ZHU Seattle, WA
Apr 30 @ Roseland Theater /w ZHU – Portland, OR
May 04 @ The Depot /w ZHU – Salt Lake City, UT
May 05 @ Ogden /w ZHU – Denver, CO
May 07 @ Skyway Theater /w ZHU – Minneapolis, MN
May 08 @ Concord /w ZHU – Chicago, IL
May 09 @ Royal Oak Theater /w ZHU – Detroit, MI
May 11 @ Terminal 5 w/ ZHU – New York, NY
May 12 @ Terminal 5 /w ZHU – New York, NY
May 13 @ Echostage /w ZHU – Washington, DC
May 14 @ Electric Factory /w ZHU – Philadelphia, PA
May 16 @ Phoenix /w ZHU – Toronto, Canada
May 17 @ New City Gas /w ZHU – Montreal, Canada
May 18 @ Royale /w ZHU – Boston, MA
May 21 @ Fillmore /w ZHU – Miami Beach, FL
Jun 17 @ Firefly Music Festival – Dover, DE
I wish more editions of Mass Appeal’s Rhythm Roulette ended this way. They often have producers (and in many cases producers/emcees) crafting up some surprisingly dope joints, and we never hear the full track used. Luckily, this isn’t the case with Big K.R.I.T.’s recent appearance. After consistent clamoring from the fans after K.R.I.T.’s recent appearance, Mass Appeal has liberated the full version of his song “Sticks & Stones.” Check out Krizzle’s latest, below.
Bryson Tiller has really come a long way in the last year. T R A P S O U L catapulted Tiller into stardom, and his rise continues. This is further evidenced by The Weeknd remixing one of the many bangers, “Rambo,” off of T R A P S O U L. Listen to the two r&b stars collaborate below, and let’s hope there’s some more The Weeknd x Bryson Tiller music to come.
Straight out of the L.A. music scene, the mysterious a race of angels makes his way onto our radar with this smooth new single. I’m pretty sure I know who this is, but a race of angels is leaving the past behind and moving forward with this new moniker with a new EP set to drop next month via Fresh Selects. Listen to the L.A. singer/songwriter emote on his lush new single “Hiding In The Light.” Look for a race of angels’ Before The First Goodbye EP to drop on April 8th.
I generally like everything Sir Michael Rocks puts out, but he really put his foot in this new one. Sir Michael Rocks brings out that jungle funk on his latest joint “How Are You So Calm.”
If Kanye and Pharrell had a baby in hell watching Animal Planet that was kidnapped and raised by the alley mechanic, that would be me.
The track serves as the lead single off of the second installment of Sir Michael’s Populair EP series, Populair Part 2. The EP will feature 7 new tracks with no guest features. Look for the EP to drop on April 8th.
There really isn’t much to say about Moses Sumney that hasn’t already been articulated in some shape or form. Bottom line, the man can damn near do-it-all, crafting intricate sonic suites on-the-spot, providing himself with the only sonic or moral support he needs. And though he’s proved to be a more than capable vocalist, his output has been rather scarce, save for a handful of loose, acoustically-driven cuts that he’s shared since the release of his debut EP, Mid-City Island, which arrived all the way back in 2014.
Today, he offers us a studio take of “Everlasting Sigh”; a stunning hymn that was amongst the very first we had heard from him. In its current form, Sumney’s vocal swells twist and bend ever-so-gracefully, and with pristine clarity. The live component of Sumney’s work may have been what caught you, but his studio work will keep you. Hear the latest from Moses Sumney down below and scroll on to peep his forthcoming tour dates. Stay tuned for his next transmission. You won’t want to miss it.
Tour Dates:
05/13 – Arcosanti, AZ @ Arcosanti
05/21 – Durham, NC @ Moogfest
06/03 – Barcelona, ESP @ Primavera Sound
06/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Getty Museum
07/15 – Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
You can’t mention Black Milk‘s without harking back to the many moods, phases and faces of the Detroit maestro. His latest finds him further exploring the deceptive depths of his live band, Nat Turner, excavating new ground and paths of rhythm, culminating in the upcoming release of The Rebellion Sessions. And while we were treated to just what a live and direct BM suite might sound like with the release of the non-album cut, “The Rebel,” today we’re gifted “The Knock,” which caries with it a jazz-inflected backbone with flares of afrobeat and funk pulsing through. You can hear the latest from Black Milk & Nat Turner down below, just be sure you scroll down to see his full slate of tour dates. The Rebellion Sessions is due April 4th and can be pre-ordered via iTunes today.
Tour Dates:
Mar 30 @ Star Theater – Portland, OR
Apr 05 @ Thunderstruck Valley – Grand Junction, CO
Apr 08 @ The Vanguard – Tulsa, OK
Apr 09 @ Gabe’s – Iowa City, IA
Apr 10 @ Slowdown – Omaha, NE
Apr 11 @ 2720 Cherokee – St Louis, MO
Apr 17 @ Majestic Theatre – Detroit, MI
Apr 19 @ Highline Ballroom – New York, NY
May 13 @ JC Den Eglantier – Antwerp, Belgium
May 14 @ Cactus – Brugge, Belgium
May 24 @ Pumpehuset – Copenhagen, Denmark
May 25 @ Fasching – Stockholm, Sweden
May 26 @ Brooklyn Bowl London – London, United Kingdom
May 27 @ Le Romandie – Lausanne, Switzerland
Jun 17 @ The Studio at Webster Hall – New York, NY
River Tiber seems to be Toronto’s on-deck dude, recently linking with Kaytranada for the inaugural offering from his soon-to-arrive full-length solo debut, 99.9%. And while “Bus Ride” served as a proper introduction to Tiber’s cool crooning ways, today he gets a well-deserved close-up, premiering the swoon-worthy new single “Illusions” on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 program this morning. The track hosts a reunion with Kaytra as well as contributions from Pusha Tand production big-wig, Doc McKinney(a frequent collaborator of The Weeknd.) Hear River Tiber discuss how the collaboration came together as well as the song itself down below. You can also catch him on the road with Kaytranada during a four-date stretch in Cali.
Kaytranada Tour Dates:
05-05 Berlin, Germany – Astra
05-06 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
05-07 Cologne, Germany – Live Music Hall
05-10 Reims, France – Cartonnerie
05-11 Utrecht, Netherlands – Tivoli
05-12 Paris, France – Le Trianon
05-13 London, England – Troxy
05-14 Brussels, Belgium – Les Nuits Botanique
05-19 Montreal, Quebec – Metropolis
05-20 Toronto, Ontario – The Danforth Music Hall
05-24 San Diego, CA – Observatory North*
05-25 Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre*
05-26 Orange County, CA – The Observatory*
05-27 San Francisco, CA – Mezzanine*
05-28 Seattle, WA – Showbox
05-29 Portland, OR – Euphoria
05-31 Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre
06-01 New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
06-03 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
06-04 Philadelphia, PA – The Roots Picnic
06-11 Manchester, England – Parklife Festival
06-12 Brighton, England – Wild Life Festival
06-18 Barcelona, Spain – Sónar Festival
07-03 Vancouver, British Columbia – FVDED
07-23 New York, NY – Panorama Festival
07-29 Montreal, Quebec – Osheaga Festival
08-13 Marseille, France – Positiv Festival
08-18 Hasselt, Belgium – Pukkelpop
08-20 St. Poelten, Austria – Frequency Festival
08-21 Biddinghuizen, Netherlands – Lowlands
In just the last year alone, DMV dynamo, Oddisee, has treated us to heaps of visceral vibrations, leaning heavily on the jazz, soul and funk canons, bending them through his supremely innovative lens to forge something new and infectiously odd. Last week, he snuck out the lush (and free!) surprise EP, Alwasta(which is still getting all of the burn,) but today, we have the pleasure of announcing that yet another Oddisee project will drop with anvil-like force by spring’s end. On May 13th, he’ll drop The Odd Tape; a 12-track instrumental album that cycles through a-day-in-the-life like nothing you’ve heard before. Imagine a round-the-clock sonic sojourn with Oddisee as your guide and devoted curator.
The announcement doesn’t come without a gift. He’s also shared a taste of the new project today with the release of “No Sugar No Cream”; a lush and lovely banger to usher in those first moments of the day, anchored by dashing drum work, a subterranean low-end and warbled synth chords, all wreaking of triumph. Rise and grind with Oddisee’s “No Sugar No Cream” below and pre-order your copy of The Odd Tape on iTunes or Bandcamp today. Be sure to catch the feels live and direct, as he embarks upon a sprawling US and European tour this May in support of the record, the dates for which are listed just under the player.
Tour Dates:
5/3/2016 Middle East Downstairs – Boston, MA
5/6/16 Mainstage – Morgantown, WV
5/7/16 Strange Matter – Richmond, VA
5/8/16 Kings Barcade – Raleigh, NC
5/11/16 Jack Rabbits – Jacksonville, FL
5/13/16 Orpheum – Tampa, FL
5/14/16 Backbooth – Orlando, FL
5/15/16 Side Bar – Tallahassee, FL
5/16/16 Parish @ HOB – New Orleans, LA
5/20/16 Foundry at SLS – Las Vegas, NV
5/21/16 El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
5/22/16 Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA
5/24/16 Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
5/26/16 The Independent – San Francisco, CA
5/30/16 Sasquatch Festival – Seattle, WA
6/4/16 Bunbury Festival – Cincinnatti, OH
6/12/16 Northside Festival – Brooklyn, NY
6/25/16 Glastonbury Festival – Pilton, UK
6/27/16 O2 Academy – Oxford, UK
7/7/16 Les Ardentes Festival – Leige, Belgium
7/8/16 North Sea Jazz Festival – Rotterdam, Netherlands
7/9/16 Open Source Festival – Dusseldorf, Germany
7/10/16 Cactus Festival – Bruges, Belgium
7/16/16 Melt! Festival – Gräfenhainichen, Germany
7/19/16 Valkhof Festival – Nijmegen, Netherlands
7/23/16 Hip Hop Open Festival – Vienna, Austria
7/27/16 Blue Balls Festival – Lucerne, Switzerland
7/29/16 Appletree Gardens Festival – Diepholz, DE
7/30/16 Stuttgart Festival – Stuttgart, DE
No, we’re not fooling you. In celebration of A Tribe Called Quest‘s blockbuster debut hitting the quarter-century mark, People’s Instinctive Travels On The Paths Of Rhythm is heading back to vinyl in a big way. Though the proper 25th anniversary was observed almost exactly one year ago (commemorated with a collector’s edition 45 reissue of the album,) People’s Instinctive Travels… will finally make the leap to a 2xLP gatefold, featuring potent remixes by Pharrell, Cee-Lo and J.Cole, as well as a fully remastered suite from the legend, Bob Power. It was the anniversary of this album that last brought the full Tribe roster together, culminating in an appearance and performance on The Tonight Show with the mighty Roots crew by their side. And as we continue to remember and celebrate the legacy of Phife Dawg in the wake of his tragic passing just last week, there may not be a better way to salute the fallen Five Footer.
There are only 50 copies for now. So let the luck of Lucien be on your side; no true-schooler’s bookshelf should be without this musical marvel. Pre-order your copy below and hold tight, as shipments will begin to roll-out on April 15th.
Chuck Inglish and Blended Babies are EV Zepplin. The Michigan emcee and the Chicago production team have plans of dropping their self-titled album on April 29th. EV Zepplin will feature contributions from Asher Roth, Boldy James, Alex Wiley, Buddy, Caled James, A$ton Matthews, and Nathan Santos. Says Chuck of the project: “EV Zepplin is me when life happens. I made an album from a part of my brain that I usually don’t entertain. But I let the music tell me what story to tell. And it told a real one; a more personal musical journey and pure collaboration.” Today, we get a sample of what’s to come with the first single “Chemdream” featuring A$ton Matthews. You can pre-order Ev Zepplin via iTunes.
There are a lot of really tight albums set to drop in the coming months, but you’d be real foolish to sleep on what Terrace Martin has on the way. The Cali musician has been steadily gifting us with gems over the last few weeks in the lead up to his upcoming solo album, Velvet Portraits. The latest preview comes in the form of this track “Push” featuring songstress Tone Trezure. This one sounds like it would feel right at home on the soundtrack of the Blaxploitation film of your choosing – it’s dope. Look for Terrace’s Velvet Portraits to drop this Friday (pre-order).
I swear fo’ god, Panda Express is some of the worst food on the planet. But for whatever reason it’s inspiring some dope music right here, so let me save my hate for the moment. If you are in possession of a radio or have stepped foot in a club in the last few months, you’ve probably heard G.O.O.D. Music’s Desiigner’s single “Panda.” Earlier today, Lupe Fiasco joined the stable of emcees who have tried their hand at said beat. Lupe takes “Panda” and flips it into this nearly 5 minute lyrical exercise titled “Express” – listen to him kill it, below. Look for Lupe’s next project, DROGAS, coming soon.
In 2014, Tame Impala member, Jay Watson, broke off to do his own thing, forming the group GUM and releasing their debut album, Glamorous Damage, the year after. Today, however, the band has shared a new remix of the album cut “Anesthetized Lesson,” provided by Tame Impala frontman, Kevin Parker. The remix is a clinic in glitzy synth work and dance-floor-fit rhythms, as bubbly and electric as anything we’ve heard from either Tame Impala offshoot. Stream the remix down below and catch both Watson and Parker on tour as Tame Impala all spring and summer long, the dates for which are listed just under the player. Brush up on GUM by grabbing their Glamorous Damage on iTunes today.
Tour Dates:
Apr 19 @ MacPherson Stadium – Yau Tsim Mong, Hong Kong China
Apr 21 @ The Star Theatre – Singapore, Singapore
Apr 23 @ Urbanscapes – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Apr 25 @ Zepp Tokyo – Tokyo, Japan
Apr 26 @ Namba Hatch – Osaka, Japan
Apr 29 @ Parkir Selatan Senayan – Jakarta, Indonesia
Jun 02 @ Primavera Sound – Barcelona, Spain
Jun 04 @ Forbidden Fruit Festival – Dublin, Ireland
Jun 09 @ Uic Pavillion – Chicago, IL
Jun 09 @ Bonnaroo – Manchester, TN
Jun 11 @ Bestival – Toronto, Canada
Jun 12 @ Bell Centre – Montreal, Canada
Jun 14 @ BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at Prospect Park Bandshell – Brooklyn, NY
Jun 15 @ BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at Prospect Park Bandshell – Brooklyn, NY
Jun 16 @ Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD
Jun 29 @ Open’er Festival – Gdynia, Poland
Jul 01 @ Roskilde Festival – Roskilde, Denmark
Jul 05 @ Market Sound – Milan, Italy
Jul 08 @ NOS Alive Festival – Lisbon, Portugal
Jul 09 @ BBK Live – Bilbao, Spain
Jul 11 @ Live Park Amphitheatre – Rishon Le Ẕiyyon, Israel
Jul 14 @ Colours of Ostrava – Ostrava, Czech Republic
Jul 15 @ Melt! Festival – Gräfenhainichen, Germany
Aug 31 @ Red Rocks – Denver, CO
Sep 02 @ Greek Theater – Berkeley, CA
Sep 03 @ Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA
With his Views From The 6 album looming heavy on the collective conscience of the rap game, Drake‘s been suspiciously quiet as of late. Likely in a home-stretch effort to cap off the album everyone’s been waiting for (whose cover has been cryptically blasted all over his hometown for months now.) But aside from that lone feature on Rihanna‘s megaton dancehall hit “Work,” 2016 has been barren of Drizzy’s half-sung hooks.
And while I’m sure the majority of your will throw this to the side, a pair of Views From The 6 tracks have just made way to the internets, flaunting what could be some of Drake’s best material to date, even if they end up as throw aways. The first track, “Controlla,” features contributions from modern-day reggae giant, Popcaan, while the second, “These Days,” marks a true-blue ballad from the Toronto-based superstar. Hit the link below to put your ears on the latest from Drake. We encourage you to do so at your earliest convenience, as there’s no telling how long they’ll stay up on these internets. Views From The 6 has no firm date, but appears to be just around the corner, so stay tuned for updates.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but OVO’s dvsn is quickly becoming one of our favorite r&b upstarts. This past weekend, the once-veiled pulled the trigger on the their debut album’s release a full five days before it was initially slated to drop following a full-blown takeover of OVO’s Beats 1 program. Their seizure of the internet airwaves provided us with an intimate glance into their anxiously-awaited debut, along with some very purple remixes of r&b gems. Yesterday we got our morning started with a deep purple dose of dvsn’s “One In A Million” remix, blengin Aaliyah’s ’95 classic with eternal glow of Prince‘s “Purple Rain.”
Today, we bring you another dvsn remix that was tucked into the program, namely, their take on Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” Utilizing a similar palette of sleek, almost metallic, yet warm tones and scorching guitar work, dvsn make this thing sound like First Avenue in ’84. And we aren’t even close to mad. You can stream dvsn’s remix of “Let’s Get It On” down below, but if you’re looking to get properly acquainted with dvsn, grab a copy of their SEPT. 5th LP on iTunes today and hold tight for their next transmission.
I love how BOSCO switches up sounds like clothes and pretty much kills it with whatever direction she goes in. The latest example would be her recent pairing with Speakerfoxxx, the two have a new mixtape on the way via Fool’s Gold, Girls In The Yard. At the end of last week, BOSCO and Speakerfoxxx gave fans another sample of what’s to come with the dancehall inspired new track, “Shooter.” Listen to the anthemic new cut, below, and look for Girls In The Yard to drop on April 11th. NYC: Catch BOSCO in concert with T-Pain at Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 6th (get tickets here).
This one slipped through the cracks last week, so let’s go ahead and catch it now. OKP favorite Jesse Boykins III has plans of releasing a new project, Bartholomew, in the near future. The project is said to be a summertime soundtrack capturing Jesse current sound since recently moving to LA. As always, romance is the underlying theme with the music. Jesse recently gave fans a sample of what he’s working on with the release of this Chrome Sparks produced track, “Losing You.” Take a listen to it below, and expect much more from coming soon.
While we wait for Royce da 5’9” to drop his Layers LP next month, the Detroit emcee drops this new EP for the fans. Tabernacle: Trust The Shooter dropped earlier tonight, a 12-track EP from Royce with contributions from DJ Premier, AntMan Wonder, Mr. Porter, Nottz, Styles P, AraabMUZIK, Jake One, Kahlil Beats, S1, Smoke DZA, and more. Yeah, the production credits alone make this a must listen, and you already know Royce da 5’9″ rips those beats from start to finish. Listen to and download the EP in full, below. Layers will be out on April 15th.
Somehow it’s already been 5 years since the release of Big K.R.I.T.’s free album, Return of 4eva. K.R.I.T. has come a long way since then, but takes some time out to salute the grind with this new song, “So Bad.” K.R.I.T. handles the production on this one, while the bars serve as motivation towards putting your all into whatever it is you truly want. Listen to the latest from Krizzle, below.
Over the years, few artists have mastered the uncanny ability to drop an album, then drop off the face off the earth as well as one Willis Earl Beal. The modern-day bluesman’s last sign of life came with the release of his Noctunes LP back in August of 2015, after which he promptly vanished into whatever whiskey-stocked cavern he typically retreats to. Today, he returns with a full stream of the new album, Through The Dark, which was created with musician, Nathan Gibson, and just proves that Beal records with whomever he pleases, whenever he pleases. And though that might make him a tad more difficult to keep track of, the results are always on point.
Keep your thumb on the ever-enigmatic Willis Earl Beal by streaming his new Through The Dark LP below. The album officially arrives this Friday, April 1st, via Tender Loving Empire. Pre-order your copy on iTunes today. Beal will also be taking to the road as of this Friday, the full slate of dates for which are listed just under the player.
Tour Dates:
Apr 01 @ Cyprus Avenue – Cork, Ireland
Apr 02 @ Upstairs at Dolans – Limerick City, Ireland
Apr 03 @ The Sugar Club – Dublin, Ireland
Apr 06 @ Concertgebouw Brugge – Bruges, Belgium
Apr 20 @ BLÅ – Oslo, Norway
Apr 23 @ Arena Wien Bezirk – Landstrasse, Austria
The Bay Area’s legendary Motown On Mondays party series lands in Brooklyn on April 4th with an all-star lineup of selectors including DJ’s Tara, Tap.10, Mawkus, Still Life and DStrukt. Preserving the legacy of the iconic Detroit soul label while expanding upon its signature “Motown Sound,” the weekly series minted in San Francisco has branched out to explore a number of cities and varied takes on the music in just under a decade. Bringing the party to the storied streets of Bed-Stuy, Motown On Mondays marks the beginning of yet another chapter. Accordingly, we asked Still Life–a key member of the MoM squad who also repped SF on our AREACODES series with Samsung last week–to guest curate a special edition of Mixtape Monday. He came back with a full exclusive MoM BK mix, which we are proud to present here in it’s World Puh-miere, as well as a grip of other mixes to start your week on a note of aspirational soulfulness.
Hit page 2 to stream the exclusive MoM BK Mix as well as Still Life’s hand-picked set of essential mixtapes to keep you own personal internet radio station tuned to soul (and follow @MotownBK on Facebook for more on the Brooklyn edition of the Motown On Mondays series!) Let’s go…
This weekend was a mess with Easter celebrations, parades and parties, but while you were all out chasing rabbits and eggs, dvsn were out here dropping gems during their OVO Radio takeover. The program provided the (only recently) unmasked duo with a venue to preview new tracks from their long-awaited debut album SEPT 5th (more on that in just a bit) and share an unexpectedly fitting remix of Aaliyah‘s “One In A Million,” blending the slick, mid-90s classic with Prince‘s iconic, “Purple Rain.”
And what a masterful, borderline eery, treatment it is, with Prince’s six-string strum painted against, Baby Girl’s all-too-cool croon and Timbo’s drums, all of which work like it was all meant to be. dvsn vocalist, Daniel Daley, even left his mark on the track, squeezing in a few swoons and swells next to the revered alto of Aaliyah. dvsn’s debut album is out now via OVO/Warner Bros. Records, but here’s a little warm-up for those still getting acquainted. Stream dvsn’s all-purple-everything remix of Aaliyah’ “One In A Million” below and hold tight for their next transmission.
Kanye West surprises fans this Easter Sunday with “Ultralight Prayer” – a full version of the prayer from Kirk Franklin that opened his Saturday Night Live performance of The Life Of Pablo LP standout “Ultralight Beam.” Building upon the rich gospel arrangement at the core of the original, Ye lays Franklin’s impassioned sermon about faith over Kelly Price‘s unmistakable vocals. Check the track below to listen to “Ultralight Prayer.”
Miles Bonny pays his respects to the late, great Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest with the instrumental tribute “4 Phife.” Combining a bit of melancholy brass with vocal chops from Tribe recordings and a bit of scatting, he spreads it across a smooth boom-bap inspired rhythm. The tribute from Bonny follows his clip for “I Bring You Love.” He lets this joint fly with a bit of reflection and a simple “Thank you, Phife.”
Something about people dying who i appreciate that changes me. Im not sure what or how but its hard not to be sentimental. Love the living.
DJ Will LV digs deep into the crates to compile some of the best verses from Phife Dawg into a staggering mix. Celebrating the life and musical legacy of the celebrated A Tribe Called Quest MC and Native Tongues‘ everyman, the set presented by Gilles Peterson focuses on Phife’s distinctive wordplay and the sheer volume of hits in Tribe’s catalog. Dropping joint after joint after joint, Will LV drills home the superior quality of Tribe’s music as well as the gravity of Phife’s contribution to hip-hop. More apparent than the amount of jams Phife helped contribute to the rap canon, is the enormity of this loss. Check the track below to stream the “Phife Dawg Tribute Mix” from Gilles Peterson and Will LV. Rest in peace, Phife Dawg.
James Fauntleroy returns to the surface to treat fans to a trio of brand new tracks entitled “Evolve,”“Let Me Go” (With You) and “Recharge.” The latest since last week’s syrupy slow drag “Feel,” these tracks play like an extension of the conversation he began with the aforementioned loosie. Arriving late last night, this handful of joints should help to hold fans over ahead of a more formal release from Fauntleroy. Check the tracks below to stream “Evolve,” “Recharge” and “Let Me Go” (With You). Follow James Fauntleroy via Twitter at @fauntleroy for more.
Hey Afropunk. I'm writing a blog about my experiences as a beginner drummer in the local music scene around my area and wanted to know if some of it was actually worth reading. Here's a link to one of the posts:
Kid Cudi dials back the punk and acoustic to dip back into his bag of trap-tinged outer space raps on the new single “The Frequency.” The track co-produced by Mike Dean and Plain Pat is the latest from Cudi, following his 2015 Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven LP. Cudi returns to the no qualms, psych-rap aesthetic that absolutely made Man On The Moon. Tapping in right where he left off, his verses – reportedly recorded during a session with Kanye West – are bookended by the trippy refrains “done up till sun up” and “couple girls, couple shrooms.” It should be pretty clear what kind of party this is. Check the track below to listen to “The Frequency.” Purchase the Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven LP via iTunes. Get more on Kid Cudi via kidcudi.com.
Wiz Khalifa is one of the latest MC’s to toast the life and legacy of Phife Dawg with a 420-friendly flip of “Electric Relaxation.” His take on the A Tribe Called Quest classic opens with the simple directive to “smoke one for Phife Dawg.” Bookending Phife’s verses with his own, Wiz serves up a rework that spotlights the genius of the Five Foot Assassin and offers a glimpse at the depths of his love for Tribe. Check the track below to listen to “Electric Relaxation” (Phife Dawg Tribute). Get more via taylorgang.com.
It hurts so much to write these words: we’re living in the post-Phife Dawg era. Ever since Malik Taylor passed away earlier this week, hip-hop just hasn’t felt the same, and as much as it pains the ATCQ founder’s fans, it’s likely nothing compared to what Q-Tip, Jarobi, Ali Shaheed, and all their friends and family are feeling. At this point, music is the best–and perhaps only–means of respite from grief. And right on schedule, Q-Tip’s Abstract Radio was live on the digital airwaves Friday night, paying tribute to the hip-hop pioneer, dope MC, funky diabetic, diehard NY Knicks loyalist, five foot assassin, our friend and brother Phife.
Q-Tip opened up his personal archive of tribe rarities and live performances for the set, and started things off proper with Phife’s brilliant verse on “Oh My God” before blending it in to a live rendition. From there he kept things fiercely funky with, of course, an emphasis on Phife’s wordplay. Blended into it all were recorded drops from music legends. We’ve listed a few below for you.
“The world lost Phife, but Phife himself actually gained the universe. He is now with the master, entrenched and enmeshed in the best chords…in heaven” — Pharrell Williams
“Rest in peace, rest in power to the big homie Phife Dawg. you will be sorely, sorely missed by myself and countless others. You’re an icon you’re an influence you’re and inspiration and your present on this plane..gonna miss having you here bor. See you on the other side.” — Just Blaze
“Rest in peace to the soldier Phife Dawg, the five foot assassin. Yo he was a brother, you will be missed from me personally as well as hip-hop itself. God Bless.” — DJ Alamo
“A tribe called quest is everything. Everything to me. There will not be no Outkast without.. A Tribe Called Quest was everything to me in high school, just listening to Q-tip run the verses. And I remember being really interested in vocabulary. He actually made me want to know more about words and use them as tools. Like, words that you may have not even know before. He made it actually cool to use those words. There was a point where I was listening to Tribe in High School and there was a point where a lyric–Tip was saying “Like getting stomach aches when ya gotta go to work / Or staring into space when you’re feeling berserk / I don’t really mind if it’s over your head / Cuz the job of resurrectors is to wake up the dead / So pay attention, it’s not hard to decipher / And after the horns, you can check out the Phifer”
When he said that, I knew what kind of rapper I wanted to be. It was clear, because what had just happened was he was describing what I was going through at the time in High School,and like woah–‘So this is what it’s about. It’s about just telling what you’re going through.’ It’s like ‘I’m here, I want to express myself and this is what I want to say.’ It was a reality happening in a whole ‘nother way. You don’t have to necessarily be shooting somebody up for it be reality. You can just be a man going to work and feeling a way.
I remember me and Big Boi were out trying to get a deal and become Outkast, we went through a few managers and producers to come up and be something, and our last stop on the trip was to see Organized Noize. We went up to his job and we went out to his car…he actually pulled out A Tribe Called Quest cassette…and that’s what we used to rhyme over. So when we met Organized Noize, that was our first demo off what we could do. We just let the tape go and just rapped, no choruses or nothing. We were just rapping rapping rapping rapping in the parking lot. It’s so crazy that Tribe was so integral in what we’re doing and what we are and anted to be. We’d sit around and listen to it and feel special. A lot of kids in our high school weren’t listening to Tribe. Even though they were on TV it was like a prejudice kind of thing..some people in our HS felt like we were the weirdos cause we listened to Tribe and De La and puba. Yeah it was like ‘it’s us….’ I think everything they presented to use, form the visuals to the sound which, to this day, man there’s no one greater than Tribe, period. We can have all the discussions you want to, it don’t matter.” — Andre 3000
“They were one of the primary reasons we started Outkast. They were our idols back in the day…Phife actually came by the studio a little while ago and just kind of vibed out…a great person. He’ll definitely be missed by the world, and definitely myself and my family. Prayers and blessings.” — Big Boi
“Checking in for the late great, the legendary Phife Dawg. Me being one of the new cats, all I can remember is either listening to gangster rap or Low End Theory. So it’s only right that i pay homage to Phife and Tribe…If i go back to being five, size years old, I remember being acquainted with the legendary, and it was a record by the name of “Scenario”. The flow was crazy, the beat was crazy, but one line stuck out ot me in particular the..the line in particular: “I’m all that and then some short dark and handsome / Bust a nut inside your eye, to show you where I come from”
I just thought that line was witty at the time you feel me being a kid as six years old…I’m short myself so I was rocking that way…Being witty and crafty as possible, and that’s exactly what he did with that line. There’s many many many more but that was my first time ever being excited hearing Phife…much love to him and his family…everything that you’ve done for the culture everything that you’ve done for hip hop we will always hold it down for Phife.” — Kendrick Lamar
“Full-out salute to my brother Phife. Little brother Phife Dawg, a hip-hop rap world warrior. He lived and breathed hip-hop. The man’s a social narrator along with the world-legendary all-time A Tribe Called Quest. What aa team along with Q-Tip, along with Ali Shaheed Muhammad, along with Jarobi. Team player in the game and really from Queens, these kings. Even had the first lady salute as well. Shout out to my man Phife, the warrior. Peace. A Tribe Called Quest forever.” — Chuck D
As for the tracks Q-Tip played? “Electric Relaxation,” “The Jazz,” “Luck of Lucien,” “Mr. Muhammad,” “Check the Rhime,” “Award Tour”…you know the score. Check out a full playlist of the two-hour radio session here. As soon as we find an archive of tonight’s show, we’ll be sure to post it. For now, rest in power, rest in beats, rest in rhymes, rest in peace…Phife.
Stockholm, Sweden native Snoh Aalegra bowled us over in 2015 with her high-powered vocals and soul-searching lyrics. Tracks like “Emotional,” “Bad Things” and “Paradise” all scintillate the ears from bar 1. Aalegra has always run with a roster of powerful friends, form Common to Killer Mike to No-ID and the mighty RZA. Now it seems she’s called up modern guitar legend John Mayer for her latest single, a bombastic thrilled dubbed “Under the Influence.”
Opening with the first shots of a sultry Bond theme, “Under the Influence” features delicate strings and right-on-time guitar hits from Mayer. This honestly sounds like a brilliant Nancy Sinatra B-side and/or an Amy Winehouse deep cut that was lost until today. Aalegra is certainly on to something, and we can’t wait to hear what her next full-length release sounds like. Production on this one is credited to her longtime collaborator No-ID, who seems to know just how to steer and sculpt Snoh’s vocals as they continue to show promise. Listen to “Under the Influence” below and be on the lookout for more blustry tracks from this bright-burning star.
Well this sure is a pleasant surprise. Despite their sometimes-ferocious 90s beef, Ice Cube and Common have joined forces for the infectious new joint “Real People,” which appears on the film soundtrack for Barbershop: The Next Cut Honestly, it makes perfect sense: both Common and Cube star in the upcoming flick, and have so much MC talent to spare that it’s a wonder they haven’t collaborated more already.
“We used to fight and fuss, we used to yell and cuss,” Cube emotes during the song’s opening. “We used to cock and bus, now look at us.” Common brings positivity of his own, rapping rapid-fire over the uptempo strutting beat. “It’s a good day when it’s me and O’Shea, it’s like the times we cheered for OJ…Ain’t no more beef, I put that on chief.” The MC prepares to tell tales of street murders and jail time, clearly not interested in resting on the humorous kick-back of Barbershop but instead delivering more of the social commentary we know and love him for.
Listen to “Real People” below and get ready for Barbershop 3 to hit theaters on April 16th. Fingers crossed for Common and Ice Cube to keep a good thing going and collaborate on future joints. This one might be made-just-for-the-movie, but it most definitely goes.
Minneapolis Rhymesayers duo Atmosphere have been rather quiet-like as of late, but that’s all changed thanks to their new single “Trying to Fly.” The track features keyboard and vocal work from their fellow Minnesotan Eric Mayson, a multi-instrumentalist whose “Detail” EP was one of the finest indie R&B releases of late 2015. Perhaps inspired by Mayson, Slug opts for a borderline-crooner approach on the new single, blending melodic runs and a slower flow over Ant‘s smooth production.
This is almost some downright downtempo, even. Moody, phaser-soaked keyboards and a dry live drum beat gently fade in as the track unfurls, recalling some of the mid-90s work of Portishead, Massive Attack, and Tricky. (Be sure not to miss that dead-on Phil Collins drum fill halfway through). “And I don’t even know why I can’t hold on to a word that you say,” Slug emotes. “Trying to Fly” is a downtrodden look at a friend, lover, or even ex-lover who’s no longer there the way they oghtta be. Mayson delivers the perfect falsetto counterpoint to Slug’s bars, and the entire thing ends up sounding like a late winter night in the Twin Cities–slightly dark and still plenty cold.
Listen to Atmosphere’s new single below and be on the lookout for new musings from the Minneapolis duo coming soon.
With Corinne Bailey Rae‘s anxiously-awaited new album, The Heart Speaks In Whispers, less than two months away, there’s already been quite a few clues that the album’s more than worth the wait. First we heard the interplanetary boogie of “Been To The Moon,” followed by the absolutely gorgeous KING collaboration, “Green Aphrodisiac.” Today, we get a third offering from the album in the acoustic-guitar laden ballad, “Stop Where You Are,” departing from the smokey r&b we’ve been warming up with, but should certainly be a treat for you diehards. Hear the latest joint from Corinne Bailey Rae down below and hold tight for her next transmission. You can pre-order The Heart Speaks In Whispers on iTunes today.
Tour Dates:
Apr 07 @ Tabernacle – London, United Kingdom
Apr 30 @ Live at Leeds – Leeds, United Kingdom
May 01 @ Cheltenham Jazz Festival – Cheltenham, United Kingdom
May 20 @ Non-Commvention – Philadelphia, PA
May 22 @ U Street Music Hall – Washington, DC
May 24 @ Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
May 25 @ National Sawdust – Brooklyn, NY
May 29 @ Seoul Jazz Festival – Seoul, Korea, Republic Of
Jun 02 @ The Triple Door – Seattle, WA
Jun 03 @ Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR
Jun 06 @ The Independent – San Francisco, CA
Jun 09-10 @ The Lyric Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
Jun 14-15 @ Eden Sessions – St. Austell, United Kingdom
Jun 18 @ Liberty Stadium – Swansea, United Kingdom
Jun 19 @ Eirias Stadium – Colwyn Bay, United Kingdom
Jun 22 @ Sheffield Arena – Sheffield, United Kingdom
Jun 25 @ Weston Homes Community Stadium – Colchester, United Kingdom
Jun 26 @ Kingsholm Stadium – Gloucester, United Kingdom
Jun 28 @ Manchester Arena – Manchester, United Kingdom
Jun 29 @ Manchester Arena – Manchester, United Kingdom
Jul 02-06 @ The O2 – London, United Kingdom
Jul 07 @ Barclaycard Arena – Birmingham, United Kingdom
Jul 09 @ Cornbury Music Festival – Chipping Norton, United Kingdom
Jul 23 @ Punchestown Music Festival – Kildare, Ireland
Jul 29 @ Blue Balls Festival – Luzern, Switzerland
With his fourth solo studio album en route and a supporting tour already in place, Mayer Hawthornehas lots in store for us over the next few months. Lately, we’ve heard him share his “Cosmic Love,” following up with “A Love Like That” and two noir-ish visuals as accompaniment. Today, he shares a third single in the kinky r&b of “Lingerie & Candlewax”; a perfect score to those in-between-the-sheets-moments. Hear the latest from Mayer Hawthorne below and while you’re down there, make sure to peep his full schedule of forthcoming tour dates to catch your boy live and direct. Pre-order your copy of his new album on iTunes today ahead of its official April 8th release.
Tour Dates:
May 04 @ The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
May 05 @ Fremont Theatre – San Luis Obispo, CA
May 06 @ Fox Theater – Oakland, CA
May 08 @ Revolution Hall – Portland, OR
May 09 @ The Imperial – Vancouver, Canada
May 10 @ Neptune – Seattle, WA
May 12 @ The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
May 13 @ Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO
May 14 @ Granada – Lawrence, KS
May 16 @ Granada Theater – Dallas, TX
May 18 @ Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN
May 20 @ Hangout Music Festival – Gulf Shores, AL
May 21 @ Numbers – Houston, TX
May 22 @ Emo’s Austin – Austin, TX
May 24 @ Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
May 25 @ The Observatory North Park – San Diego, CA
From the Wu-Tang Clan to Wale, Fresh to Dilated Peoples, Hip-Hop’s music, film, and lifestyle maintain strong ties to chess. The 64 squares relate to many aspects of life. Northern California veteran author, speaker, scholar, and music journalist Adisa “The Bishop” Banjoko has made a career out tying Hip-Hop, chess, and martial arts together for self-improvement, awareness, and non-violence. With involvement from RZA, Rakaa, and others, Banjoko founded the Hip-Hop Chess Federation. His latest text, Bobby, Bruce & Bam: The Secrets of Hip HopChesspublished one week ago. The title pays respect to Bobby Fischer, Bruce Lee, and Afrika Bambaataa.
In the book, the author thanks Eazy-E in the opening acknowledgements. The Bay Area author met the N.W.A. founder as a teen, reporting for his high school. The would-be Compton, California mogul urged the other to push on with his gift, something that has lasted nearly 30 years since. The new text also chronicles working with RZA in St. Louis, Missouri following the murder of Michael Brown. Another chapter recalls time with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s Bizzy Bone.
For Ambrosia For Heads, the author shared an excerpt on his challenge and commitment to promoting multi-culturalism with a sport and game that is often misunderstood:
“In March of 2013 I was able to present at the Harvard Graduate School of Education on the fusion of Hip-Hop, Chess and Martial Arts.
When I was done, a Latino student came up to me and said that he really enjoyed Hip-Hop and martial arts. However, he felt deeply that at the end of the day, chess was ‘a white man’s game.’ Feeling that the art belonged to old white men, he felt puzzled, if not embarrassed to his own growing interests.
I hear this perspective often from Black and Brown kids, and from all over the country. I believe it is a false barrier on many levels. It is false because chess really is a game of the world. Nobody can claim a monopoly on how it developed, who made innovations that matter most, etc. This makes chess a great game for not only including, but unifying Black and Brown kids. Sadly, many of them don’t have a cultural frame of reference for themselves and so they dismiss chess—if not belittle it.
This is a huge reason that I push the history of rappers celebrating and applying the teachings of chess so much. Not just because it’s true, but because it gives teenagers and young adults a Black and Brown cultural reference that feels authentic.
So many times I have to tell the young men (young men like the student at Harvard) about how chess has its roots in India, about how it came into Africa via the Arabs (through trading and military campaigns). I explain how the Africans from the North West coast brought the game with them when they conquered Spain in 700. How those Muslims became arguably the cornerstone of what became the European renaissance.
David Shenk’s The Immortal Game and Marilyn Yalom’s Birth of the Chess Queen show how were it not for dedicated African and Arab Muslim scholarship and preservation of the game, the rest of the world may never have known it existed.
Soon European Jews and Christians learned the game. Over time, the role of the queen developed primarily because of the political freedom women experienced in politics and war. European queens gradually became more active in managing the kingdoms. The queen was not part of the game of chess in the beginning. It was the king and his general or Vizer.
The chess piece was not very powerful in the beginning. But over time, you see her piece rise in power on the board almost exactly in step with the queens of Europe taking more leadership on in the areas they ruled.
This is a huge thing for young girls to know. I mention this to young women as often as I can. They need to be reminded of their leadership potential. They need to see how they can change even a super ‘manly’ game like chess and end up being the strongest piece on the board.
So Hindus created it, Muslim Arabs and Africans innovated it, European Christians and Jews innovated it even more. China falls in love with the game. The game comes to America, we all start to play here. This is one of the few true games the entire planet plays.
In the summer of 2014 I made some posters for our Live The Game chess camps in San Jose. Our camp is on the East side of San Jose (a/k/a Shark City). They have a massive problem with gang violence and teen homicides these days.
I made posters of Jose Raul Capablanca, the Cuban. Then I made posters of rap lyrics connected to chess with photos of Jay Z, Tupac, and Lauryn Hill. Today, I’m going to go make some posters of Latina champions in chess. That is something I need to study more thoroughly to stay connected to young ladies. Yesterday I put these posters by the window where the chess tables are and we got more new kids to come in and learn to play that we had all last week.
They may not know about Moorish Spain or Benjamin Franklin’s first writings on ‘The Morals of Chess.’ They may not know about Capablanca, how Fidel Castro and Che were players.
But just starting them off with Hip-Hop references gives kids a contemporary glance at an ancient game that can truly change their academic ability and cultural connectivity to their immediate community and the world around them.
Chess like many things has often been re-framed culturally to reflect the white male perspective and history with the game. The simple truth is that I don’t do any of what I do to uproot white men from the game or deny any authentic influence and achievements they have with the game. But their perspective and history is not the only perspective or history that matters. This hijacking of the truth by a small minority of powerful white men has led to much misinformation in America and around the world.
Look at the manipulation of maps as an industry. Africa (the largest continent on the planet) is deliberately shrunk down and made to look small, while North America are made to look huge. Google a map of the earth as it really is and get your mind blown. Why is that? Who needs Africa to look smaller than it is? Why are we lying about the nature of Europe’s geographic state and teaching this lie as a standard globally? This consistent need to make things Black, Yellow, Brown and Red (to use terms I was taught) influence is not an accident.
Cultural truth, is one of the most important truths anyone can have. I never lie about the connections between Hip-Hop and chess, or martial arts and music—whatever. Cultural authenticity is one of the most important things we can have as individuals and groups.
The African Islamic introduction of the game to European lands matter. The Jewish and Christian impact on the game deeply matters. The women of the world who love and master this game matter. Black and Latino kids matter.
We will never be able to attract kids from non-white backgrounds to the game of kings by force-feeding them black-and-white photos of white men in suits, sporting monocles. Let’s choose instead to teach them a history of chess that starts where they are. So if I have to tell them about Tupac, Capablanca, RZA and the Wu-Tang Clan or Latino rappers like Conejo (even if his lyrics are not the most positive overall), I will do it. Because at least then we start with something they can relate to. If they are white I talk about Magnus Carlsen. If they are Indian I tell them about Anand. If they are Black I tell them about Maurice Ashley. If they are girls I tell them about Jen Shahade and Phiona Mutesi. I tell them about people in the neighborhood they live in who love the game. It gets them inspired.
The kids must know what whatever they are, and wherever they are, that people who look like them, pray like them and eat like them play chess and have a great place in it. They need to know that they can have a great place in it to and once learning have kind of a duty to pass that wisdom on.”
It was only a few days ago that SBTRKT began letting us know that something was afoot. But I don’t think anyone could have imagined that less than 72 hours since the unveiling of “Good Morning,” we’d have a full project from Young Turks’ frequency-freaker. Today, SBTRKT did just that with the relinquishment of his new SAVE YOURSELF EP, which features the talents of The-Dream, D.R.A.M., Sampha and Mabel. If “Good Morning” put some pep into your morning ritual and “I Feel Your Pain” gave you the sonic empathy you needed so, than this full treatment should be just the thing to usher in some full-body catharsis for your weekend wind-down. Stream SBTRKT’s new SAVE YOURSELF project for the righteously low price of free ninety-nine and peep a statement from the man himself on his recent surge.
“To me it feels similar to my first album — a small group of vocalists, productions that are fairly stripped down and a project filled with emotion. These songs are what I feel to be the most interesting musical stories I’ve made to date.”
