Look & Listen! // Visual Artist: Catherine Tyler Graffam [via]
Music is full of breakup songs but few have ever captured the sound and emotion of decaying memories and blossoming heartache and like “Home”. As 1/2 of the former indie-rap powerhouse Das Racist, Heems established himself early as a captain of swagger, flow, and honesty. I guess I just never expected it to ever come out so beautful. But damn I glad it did. Read more
♫ Kool A.D. – Eight Elvises
When Das Racist’s Kool A.D. dropped his mixtape around new years I listened once and then moved on. Months later I’m doing some iTunes cleaning and stumble on this mp3 with no artist name. Damn, what a smooth groover! A bit of research and I find out it was a mislabeled track from that mixtape The Palm Wine Drinkard. Weird but awesome! So enough fascinating stories from me. Zone out to this one already and just forget everything I said. I already have.
Awesome. I’ve never got into Chairlift but I am really liking the sounds they are making here.
Yes! In time for NYE! This is my favorite year-end list to make because its obviously the most fun. And I give it the least amount of stress. Read on for Read more
♫ Das Racist – Girl
People have a complicated relationship with hip-hop jokesters Das Racist and I’m no exception. I have always loved them, but not always loved their music. Their first 2 mixtapes have 37 tracks between them and exactly 3 ever got regular play in my iTunes. That’s not the best track record. But somehow previous projects, solo stuff, and a brilliant blog kept my respect meter high for the guys. So needless to say I was a little nervous about diving into their first proper LP, Relax. First single “Michael Jackson” (below) was loud, spastic, and abrasive and I couldn’t wrap my brain around how it fit into the canon of the Das Racist I knew.
However, once I Relaxed (sorry) and listened to the album I was more that happy. Das Racist really pulled their shiz together here, leaving behind the under-produced beats and fleshing out all the jams. Plus we already know the lyrics are always hilarious and on point. Relax packs a lot of treats into one LP, never relying on one tempo or style for too long. “Girl” (above) brings the beat with a big glossy banger style, “Happy Rappy” packs twisted verses over minimal production that adds just enough rhythm, and “Punjabi Song” goes straight Bollywood on our asses. There are plenty other standouts (“Booty In The Air,” old favorite “Rainbow In The Dark,” “even “Michael Jackson” is getting me pumped lately) but the whole album holds its own. Some fans are turned off by the increased production and poppier shift from their mixtapes but for me that’s only a plus. Guys this sharp would be relevant even if their music wasn’t accesible but having it heard by millions is even better.
Read a great Spin cover article here and then track doen the album if you haven’t. Read more
♫ Heems – WOMYN aka HITCH (DEMO?)
As the half of Das Racist who doesn’t already have a side project, Heems gets up to some stuff. And thank goodness that he does because as a result the Hitch-obsessed hip-hop-head has bestowed this gem upon us (curious punctuation included). Heems waxes poetic about the many virtues and facets of the fairer sex, giving dudes everywhere an anthem to sing to their ladies. And sing loud and proud we shall. Thanks womyn. And thanks Heems. Das Racist’s first official album will be out September and appropriately titledRelax.
(And thanks to Stereogum for the album art)
Don’t slumber at Tumblr
Careful when you lift the lid on this pot o’ gold. A lot of steamy hot jams ready to jump out and burn you if aren’t careful.
For more jams by any of these artists use the ‘tags’ links at the bottom of the post!
NEW RELEVENT JAMS
♫ Peter Bjorn & John – Breaker Breaker / PBnJ are back and wielding way more buzzsaw like-ability than on their last sleeping pill! Wooo! Second taste “Second Chance” is also a jam! Gimmie Some is out 3/29.
♫ The Forms – Fire To The Ground [ft. Matt Berninger] / A little more Read more
It’s a new year and a lot of good stuff piled up over the holidays. Considering it’s the 18th Digest, today is the 18th (close enough…), and I have 18 tracks, I think this is some kind of perfect Digest or something. Dig in. But really, dig. There are some real gems in the mix down there.
For more by any of these artists use the ‘tags’ links at the bottom of the post!
NEW RELEVENT JAMS
♫ Passion Pit – All These Trees / Passion Pit drop a new one through American Express ZYNC. I keep waiting for the song to start but it ends up being all build, no climax. Still nice to hear our boys back in the mix.
♫ BRAHMS – Add It Up / New BRAHMS track isn’t my favorite of theirs but I have to say, seeing them at The Brooklyn Electronic Music Festval last month was a Read more