Open Mike Eagle Makes Broke Nerd Theme Music

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April 26, 2012
New Music
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Open Mike Eagle just gave his fans a nice stopgap as we wait for his next EP, set for a June release. The Rent Party Extension EP is a nice 5-track effort from the HellFyre Club member with a mix of previously heard material and unreleased cuts. From Mike’s mouth:

Rent Party Revolution is a song I wrote about and for all the folks I know with hyperactive minds that live in a world that isnt designed to inspire their potential. Its my story of growing up a “smart kid” and being led to believe that that was all I’d ever need to achieve all the things i thought i wanted in life. This EP is an extension of that theme. Its for all the broke nerds out there. i got together with some of my favorite freethinkers (hot sugar, milo, eagle nebula, and more) to make some grown, broke nerd theme musics. lets all get together and over analyze something.

Broke nerd theme music indeed. Download the tape over at Okayplayer and be on the lookout for the LP in June. Find the tracklist after the jump.

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New Track from Dntel and Baths

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April 26, 2012
2012, New Music
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Jimmy Tamborello, also known as Dntel, is best known for the part he played in The Postal Service back in the day. However, he’s still cranking out music under his Dntel moniker, and he has a new album called Aimlessness due out on June 5th via Pampa Records. Today we bring you a brand new track off the upcoming album. This one is called “Still,” and it features the lovable Baths, who contributes his signature choppy vocal glitches in a far more subtle way than we’ve seen before. The track is somewhat wistful and contemplative, with muted kicks and fuzzy side-chaining, and the whole thing is a little dissonant in a very pleasing way. Stream “Still” below, and then catch Dntel’s “Bright Night,” another single off Aimlessness, just below that.

The Evolution Of Clams Casino On Benji B’s Exploring Future Beats

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April 26, 2012
Mixes, New Music
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Last July, Clams Casino was featured in FACT Mag’s mix series. The mix was released around the time that Clams’ buzz was growing to a deafening level, following the release of the Rainforest EP. Despite the overwhelming love for his original productions, Clams’ mixing skills were obviously lacking and the mix came off as terse and uninspired. A lot has changed. Last night, the New Jersey producer hit up Benji B’s Exploring Future Beats Show on BBC Radio One (we love our future beats) and proceeded to play a spattering of “VERY rare instrumentals” and UK bass cuts. The inclusion of tracks from across the pond like Jai Paul’s “Jasmine”, Girl Unit’s “Ensemble” (off of the upcoming Club Rez EP), and Hudson Mohawke’s remix of Battles’ “Rolls Boyce” shows not just improved track selection, but a newfound level of respect. Like many have said in the past, Clams is more than a hip hop producer. The mix also includes some love for LA via Mono/Poly’s “Los Angeles”, a new Omar-S track, a little Spaceghostpurrp, a little Evian Christ, and once again, plenty of “RARE” beats. The mix is titled “The Evolution of Clams Casino,” a name that couldn’t be more apt. Stream the mix over at BBC and download here. Find the full tracklist after the jump

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New Ab-Soul – “SOPA”

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April 25, 2012
New Music
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We’ve noted several times that Ab-Soul is the next Black Hippy to take the spotlight. First it was Kendrick took over with the arrival of Section.80, then Schoolboy took center stage via Habits & Contradictions. No doubt Jay Rock is waiting in the wings. “SOPA” is another swaggering cut in the vein of Schoolboy’s “Nightmare On Figg St.” that maligns rap cliches with an effortless bluster. It always seems like these guys are just fucking around in the studio. Ad libs abound. Vocal cadences change at the drop of a dime. Dialogue between the MC’s is distinct and sarcastic. For the self-described nerd and suburbanite of the group, Ab-Soul goes harder than 99% of MC’s out there, managing to sound menacing within a deep, complex rhyme scheme.

Masta Ace and MF Doom!

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April 24, 2012
2012, New Music
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Been waiting for that epic hip hop collaboration between some of your favorite artists? Well, Masta Ace just dropped this bomb on us by revealing a song off his project with MF DOOM, MA DOOM: Son of Yvonne. I have to say that just seeing these two artists on a track made me excited, but an entire album…dangerously stoked. The album will feature Masta Ace spitting over Dooms flawless production. For a taste of whats to come, check out “Slow Down”.

Huh What & Where Compilation Album

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April 24, 2012
2012
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Huh What & Where (HW&W) dropped a free compilation album on 4/20 to appease all of their fans and to pay tribute to the holiday. The album features the likes of Ta-Ku, Evil Needle, Ohbliv, Ackryte, Mike Gao, Co.Fee, and many more from the label. You can stream the album below in its entirety. I will let the HW&W crew describe the comp themselves:

We’ve admittedly stayed real low key since our label’s inception. Truth be told, all of us over here behind the scenes at HW&W are just a bunch of lazy bastards. Now that we’re getting our shit together (sorta), here is the 1st of many HW&W compilations and this one is for free too! Not because we wanted to do something for the fans but because we didn’t think any of you would buy it. But really tho, we just thought we’d do this cuz without all of you rocking with Huh What & Where, none of this would be happening. Big ups to Juj for giving us his worst track he’s made recently and great thanks to Mike Gao for forgetting to send us a replacement for his track cuz he wanted to save this one for his album. Also special thanks to Papa Joe for allowing Sango, Koen, & Tek.lun to appear on this compilation, but most of all for his unquestioned dedication to #oceanswag. On a more somber note, we have a major beef going on between Elaquent and Ta-ku right now. Lives have been lost, triangles have been drawn…I just hope this serves as a way of bringing you guys closer and ending the violence.

Initial Capitol Hill Block Party Lineup Release

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April 24, 2012
Festivals, Live
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Over the past few years, Seattle’s Capitol Hill Block Party has transformed from a low key two-day happening to one of the premier (and most under appreciated) music festivals on the West Coast.  Prior to 2010, the festival took place over two days on two stages and had a penchant for featuring last year’s “it” act alongside local hip hop mainstays. This made for an overall enjoyable experience, but the event lacked something. Despite its party moniker, it fell more on the gathering side of the spectrum. Sure, dance acts like Girl Talk occasionally got the crowd revved, but those events felt like anomalies. In 2010, Block Party transitioned to a three day format and added several more stages. Immediately, attendance blossomed to 20,000+. Despite the renewed interest, the organizers stayed true to their formula, bringing in national acts MGMT, Yeasayer and Real Estate, alongside revered local acts like Macklemore, Blue Scholars and Fresh Espresso. The 2011 lineup was the same story, highlighted by Ghostland Observatory, Explosions In The Sky and TV On The Radio. Both year’s were well produced, but were still far too homogeneous, both lineup and attendee-wise.

Along with the rest of the music consuming public, it looks like CHBP and local string puller David Meinert have hopped on the 2012 dance music craze, bringing in Major Lazer (sans Switch) and Fitz And The Tantrums as headliners. Fitz, as well as fellow headliner Neko Case, fit the CHBP blueprint, but the festival has never brought in a DJ act as large as Diplo’s outfit. Is it a pandering move? A little bit, but it would be difficult to ignore the raucous Major Lazer crowd at Sasquatch 2011 and, if anything, Diplo can make inebriated teenagers jump on a hot summer day. Aesop Rock (along with Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz) and the phonky keytar man himself, Dam Funk, are two of the most unique acts and are sure to provide engaging sets. The move away from traditional Seattle hip hop (previously mentioned artists, Grynch, Sol, etc.) towards a new generation (Blue Sky Black Death & Nacho Picasso, Kung Foo Grip) was much needed and will open the eyes of many a 13 year old. It’s difficult to judge a partial lineup, but it’s encouraging to see the CHBP organizers stray from their tried and true formula, albeit only slightly. The festival takes place July 20-22. Find ticket info here. Check the whole list of artists after the jump.

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New Track and Album Announcement from Purity Ring

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April 23, 2012
2012, New Music
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A few weeks back, we featured the genre-bending Toronto duo Purity Ring as our Sasquatch Artist of the Week. I can’t stop listening to these guys, and up until now I’ve had to loop through a few delicious tracks over and over again. Earlier this month, however, the band announced they had signed to 4AD and Last Gang Records, which was promising news for those of us who have been holding our breath for new material. The good news continues today, with an album name, release date, and a kick-ass single off the album. According to Purity Ring’s twitter, the new release will be called Shrines, and we can expect it on July 24th; check out the album art above. Listen below to “Obedear,” the first single off Shrines. It’s a little more low-key than the tracks we’ve heard from Purity Ring thus far, but it doesn’t lack any of the precision or dreamy complexity of their previous songs. The production is spot-on, the vocals are mellow and pensive, and the lyrics are full of Purity Ring’s signature vivid, stream-of-consciousness imagery. You can download the track for free at their website.

Annie Mac Debuts New Bobby Tank Jam

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April 23, 2012
New Music
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A few weeks ago, we introduced self-described maximalist and unicorn enthusiast Bobby Tank, as well as the first two tracks off of the upcoming Afterburner EP on Mofohifi Records. Today, Annie Mac debuted the third and final track off of the EP, titled “Vector Beach.” Like the previous two tracks off of Afterburner, “Vector Beach” functions on a similar level as Rustie tracks like “Surph” and “All Nite”, albeit with far less serotonin-induced madness. I’m curious how Tank’s sound will progress over the coming months as he attempts to distinguish himself from his attributors. Stream and download “Vector Beach” below and find the rest of the EP here. If you’re a fan, cop Afterburner on May 17.

Bok Bok Featured In New Night Slugs Mix Series

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April 23, 2012
Mixes, New Music
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The good folks over at Night Slugs have been unstoppable in the month of April. Kingdom’s US imprint Fade To Mind debuted its LA party to celebrate the first release from Rizzla. Label head L-Vis 1990 featured in the brand new “Club Constructions” series, featuring “tracky material aimed straight for the dancefloor.” L-Vis and Bok Bok have released a number of remixes including an excellent take on Surkin’s “Gold Island.” Today, the label introduced a new mix series, each volume acting as a sort of  “DJ’s manifesto.” Bok Bok is the first featured DJ and predictably trends to the grimier side of the Night Slugs catalogue. The mix is Night Slugs heavy, but who ever said that was a bad thing? Stream and download the mix over at Night Slugs headquarters.