R.I.P. Nujabes. The Japanese hip-hop producer and DJ (real name: Jun Seba) passed away last year after a traffic accident at the age of 36. His innovative use of jazz and world sounds made him one of the most intriguing producers in the hip-hop world, a talent that can be readily seen from his first posthumous release Spiritual State. It’s currently only available in Japan as well as multiple online outlets, but look for it to hit American shores sometime early next year. RIYL Nomak, the Roots, cool sounds.
Nujabes – “Sky Is Tumbling ft. Cise Star”
I have no idea how a band that doubles as Jimmy Fallon’s nightly house band has the consistency to record a superb album nearly once every other year, but the band’s newest release, undun, shows the band still at the peak of their powers. Last year’s How I Got Over was moody and classical in its approach – undun is a concept record telling the story of a man from his death to his birth. It’s odd, but it retains the storytelling capabilities the Roots have always prided themselves on. And the instrumentation is typically inventive, anchored by ?uestlove’s rock-solid drumming and a rich palette of sonic colors. undun dropped last week – check it out ASAP.
The Roots – “Lighthouse”
Things are starting to slow down with releases as 2011 draws to a close, so now’s as good a time as any to start posting my favorite songs of 2011. Note: this is an entirely random process whose order really only reflects what I feel like throwing up on any given day. Alabama duo G-Side released one of rap’s best-reviewed albums in the spring, The One…Cohesive; our own Robin Smith described it as “like a first love, a record that gives a hundred percent to garner every compliment it earns: flowing, smart, sexy, and even global to those who hear it and its grand tone.” The duo actually just released a second album this year, iSLAND, last Friday. Check it out and The One whenever you get the chance.
G-Side – “Came Up (feat. S.L.A.S.H.)”
One of 2011′s big stories has been the Weeknd, emerging from near obscurity as a Drake apprentice late last year before releasing the critically acclaimed House of Balloons in March. Now comes Thursday, just as unexpectedly and the middle of a planned trilogy set to complete later this fall. “Life of the Party” is vintage Weeknd – Abel Tesfay’s soulful vocals sucking at the seedy underbelly of the hip-hop community, transforming all the sordid sex and drugs that pervades the music industry and imbuing it with his old-school, soulful vocals and beats that drip violence and lust. It’s a clever take on a tired genre, and while Thursday may not be as consistent as House of Balloons, its consistency a mere five months after the latter’s release is astounding.
The Weeknd – “Life of the Party”
New Beastie Boys album finally came out yesterday after years of delay related to MCA’s battle with throat cancer, and it shits all over everything they released last decade, frankly. Think more electro funk mish-mashing a la Check Your Head. Along with this reggae-esque track featuring dub artist Santigold is another track released back in 2009 (but also on the new album) that I had to include as a bonus. FIRE.
Beastie Boys – “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win ft. Santigold”
Beastie Boys – “Lee Majors Come Again”
Everything I do, I do it big. Can’t wait for this guy’s record to drop.
Wiz Khalifa – “Black and Yellow”
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