Hosted by Talib Kweli, the latest mixtape from Michigan’s DJ Graffiti features one of the greatest to ever rock the mic, the Notorious B.I.G., over tight production from French producer Astronote. Other guests include Guilty Simpson and Buff1.
Originally posted at Crossfade
*From the Free MP3 archive* On tracks like “Liar (It Takes One To Know One),” the punk/pop heroes continue to evolve their means of crossing alternative leanings with arena-ready hooks. Here, their slight–and welcome–subversions include moodier prod on guitars and genuinely achy vocals.
Originally posted at Crossfade
Continue reading about Taking Back Sunday, ‘Bonus Mosh pt. II’: Free MP3 of the Day
Think of Will Oldham with a cig-scarred basso profundo and you’ll have a sense of this veteran alt-folk troupe’s ancient wisdom. Sounding like a surprisingly holy cross between a fin-de-siecle cabaret show, a modern anti-folk crew, and the fragrant vagrants on the corner, the ‘chop makes tunes to …
Originally posted at Crossfade
Continue reading about Lambchop, ‘Slipped Dissolved and Loosed ‘: Free MP3 of the Day
Actor/comedian Katt Williams’ successful DVD It’s Pimpin’, Pimpin’ makes the transition to CD for the unfortunate few who either do not possess a DVD player or just need a lil’ Katt Williams in their ride at all times.
Originally posted at Crossfade
Continue reading about Katt Williams, ‘Poor Little Tink Tink (Explicit)’: Free MP3 of the Day
It’s a fittingly double-edged moniker for a man whose ‘pen game’ is much sharper than any sword. Indeed, Alonzo “Novel” Stevenson is a bit of a paradox, and his debut is a study in creative duality: equal parts sung and rapped. With soul great Solomon Burke as his grandfather, …
Originally posted at Crossfade
Continue reading about Novel, ‘Mad World’: Free MP3 of the Day
Nickel Eye is the solo project of The Strokes’ bassist Nikolai Fraiture. During The Strokes’ hiatus, he collected a shoebox of poems and put them to music to create homey, minimalist folk-rock heavily influenced by some of his favorite artists, such as Neil Young, Frank Black, and Leonard Cohen.
Originally posted at Crossfade
Continue reading about Nickel Eye, ‘Dying Star’: Free MP3 of the Day
The San Francisco freak folkers, regular riding buddies of Devendra Banhart, silence concerns about the genre–deemed precious by some–on new LP. The set of obscure late-hippie folk covers is utterly convincing: a dignified and noble bow from youths to elders.
Originally posted at Crossfade
Continue reading about Vetiver, ‘Everyday’: Free MP3 of the Day
Thanks to emerging label MYX Music and Audible Treats, we have an exclusive download of Keelay & Zaire’s Prelude to Drive EP. The Bay Area/Virginia production duo once again showcase their versatile arrangements while showcasing up-and-coming emcees Torae, Khizman, KHill, and Rhymesayers emcee Nightclubber Lang.
Originally posted at Crossfade
Continue reading about Keelay & Zaire, ‘Saturday ft. Torae and Tiffany Paige’: Free MP3 of the Day
Portland singer-songwriter M. Ward has adopted the lo-fi gothic-folk production style of Bonnie Prince Billy (and much of the latter’s aching vocal vibrato), but while their tunes tend to occupy the mountains and the hills, Ward’s are Main Street sing-alongs. These blues-and-gospel-accented ditties could have been made 80 …
Originally posted at Crossfade
To celebrate the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president, British DJ Adam Freeland’s remix of Daft Punk’s adrenaline-baiting dance banger “Aerodynamic” into “Aer Obama” provides an undeniable musical power of anticipation and a tribute to history being made. Mixing vocal samples from a Speak & Spell speech …
Originally posted at Crossfade
Continue reading about Daft Punk vs. Adam Freeland, ‘Aer Obama’: Free MP3 of the Day