I do love me some MJ Cole. I haven’t been keeping up with him over the past few years, so when I came across this track, it reminded me of my younger days (sigh), discovering 2-step/garage and MJ Cole’s wonderful album Sincere back in 2000 or so.

This new track “Gotta Have It” has a strong pop sensibility, it’s true, in that it’s slickly and shinily produced, but damn if that bassline and 2-step beat don’t getcha every time :)

Listen to “Gotta Have It”:

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Rush Hour Recordings and Beat Dimensions have compiled another volume of futuristic, mind-bending beats. The list of featured artists gives you an idea of the pedigree here - producers include Nosaj Thing, Samiyam, Dorian Concept and more. The collection is a no-holds barred selection of tracks straight from the year 3000 or so. These producers take hip-hop to entirely new places, playing with sounds, rhythms and electronic influences. There are two 12″s currently available with another in the works in a few months. You can also purchase the release digitally.

Listen to: Mono/Poly - “Distant”:

Listen to: Fulgeance - “Haggis”:

Buy Beat Dimensions Vol 2 at

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More hip-hop niceness from the Kwatro peoples. This time it’s a digital tape (meaning there’s two 15 minute long mp3s - Side A and Side B) from Hubert Daviz featuring a selection of his dope beats, mixed together by Illiaz. Daviz’ beats are nicely crafted - he has a knack for soulful sounds as well as a classic harder hip-hop sound, but his style stays fresh by always nodding toward the future.

Download Sketches

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Thanks to the folks at A-Side for this free joint from Tony Ozier’s Aural Penetration album.”Futuristic Soul (Do You Agree?)” is produced by 14KT who’s got that Midas touch with tracks - pretty much anything he touches turns to dope.

Listen to “Futuristic Soul”:

Download Tony Ozier - Futuristic Soul

You can find Aural Penetration at 
While you’re there, make sure to pick up 14KT’s excellent album The Golden Hour

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The production duo of Ancient Astronauts are getting ready to release an artist album on ESL, June 9th - We Are To Answer. They have previously remixed the likes of Up Bustle & Out, Ladybug Mecca of Digiable Planets, Zion I, and Dr. Rubberfunk, and show off their musical pedigree with this excellent freebie mix (’bout an hour long) of hip-hop, funk, fonky hip-hop and all kinds of other good stuff.

“HEART OF THE FUTURE” TRACK LIST
01. Beatstalkers Anthem - The Beatstalkers (Foot Forward Music)
02. MCs Act Like They Don’t Know - KRS-1 (Classic Re-Edits)
03. I Wanna Make You Move - Freddie Cruger feat. Anthony David (Tru Thoughts Recordings)
04. Catatonia - Connie Price & The Keystones feat. Percee P & Wild Child (Ubiquity Records)
05. Edgelactic - The Beatstalkers (Foot Forward Music)
06. Classic - Ancient Astronauts feat. The Pharcyde (ESL Music/Switchstance Recordings)
07. Insight - Fort Knox 5 feat. Asheru (Fort Knox Recordings)
08. The Roc Boys Get Back - Jay’s Soul Connection (Amsterdam Gangster Music)
09. Funky Furious - DJ Aeon Seven (Modern Funk/Freestyle Records)
10. The Tide Is High - The Beatstalkers (Foot Forward Music)
11. 7 Nation Army (Grant Phabao Remix) - Nostalgia 77 feat. Alice Russell (Tru Thoughts Recordings)
12. Shine Eye Gal (Chase The Remix) - Michael Rose feat. Shabba Ranks (Like Dat Records)
13. Don’t Worry ’bout Romie - Beenie Man vs. Bob Marley (Jiggy Records)
14. Dukku Dukku (The Beatstalkers Remix) - Keith & Tex feat. Shabba Ranks (Fizzle Recordings)
15. Tequilimba - Barrio Katz (Planet Blend Records)
16. Blowing Up The Spot (Ancient Astronauts Remix) - Fort Knox 5 (Fort Knox Recordings)
17. Everybody - Ancient Astronauts (ESL Music/Switchstance Recordings)
18. The Outsider - Lack Of Afro (Freestyle Records)
19. Caffeine (DJ Format’s Getaway Remix) - The Quartertones (Freestyle Records)
20. Heard It Through The Grapevine - The Beatstalkers (Foot Forward Music)
21. Keep On Looking (Kenny Dope Remix) - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (Soulplex Recordings)
22. D’azour Cotaz (Ancient Astronauts Remix) - Timewarp Inc. (Timewarp Music)

Download the exclusive ‘Heart of the Future’ mix here!

And here’s a coupla treats from the album that demonstrates their versatility.:

Listen to “Everybody”:

Download Ancient Astronauts - Everybody

Listen to: “I Came Running”:

Download Ancient Astronauts - I Came Running

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Two of street art’s finest talents, Retna and El Mac, are appearing together at 33Third this Sunday, June 7 for a rare live painting collaboration. The two have worked together on several well-known street pieces, but this will be a great opportunity to watch them work their magic live before your eyes! The event will take place from 12pm-6pm at 33Third and will also mark the opening of their joint show in the adjoining Mid-City Arts gallery. An afternoon not to be missed.

Check out the teaser video:

Retna & The Mac - Mid-City Arts - Preview from elemental on Vimeo.

Some examples of their collaborations:

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Kinny aka Caitlin Simpson is a half-Jamaican, half-Native American, half-Swedish soulful, funky, jazzy, folksy singer from Toronto, who now lives in Norway. Her debut album, Idle Forest of Chit Chat on Tru Thoughts showcases the singer’s eclectic musical sensibilities, as she is a classically-trained Opera singer as well. So the album is a big bowl of jazzy-soulful freestyles that’ll keep your noggin nodding.
www.myspace.com/kinnytunes

Track list:
1. Idle Forest of Chit Chat (feat. Souldrop)
2. Damn (feat. TM Juke)
3. 2546 Nice! (feat. Unforscene)
4. Water for Chocolate (feat. Souldrop)
5. Afro Love Forest (feat. Hint)
6. Queen of Boredness (feat. Diesler)
7. Enough Said (feat. The Quantic Soul Orchestra)
8. Back Street Lust (feat. Diesler)
9. Desire (feat. Nostalgia 77)
10. Forgetting to Remember (feat. Nostalgia 77)
11. Petrified Daze (feat. TM Juke)

Listen to “Desire” ft. Nostalgia 77:

Download Kinny - “Desire” ft. Nostalgia 77

written by - ND McCray
check her out at:
www.myspace.com/AcdJzFnd
www.twitter.com/AcdJzFnd

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Can’t wait for this one! Lisa Shaw will be at Strictly Social this Weds!

Nu-Soul Magazine & Soul Union are proud to present a very special edition of Strictly Social on Wednesday May 20, 2009.

Salted Music recording artist and soulful house music legend Lisa Shaw will be gracing our stage for a very special intimate live performance that you won’t see anywhere else. With the release of her second artist album, FREE, Lisa Shaw continues to produce eclectic soul and soothing house with her one-of-a-kind voice.

This intimate set will differ from the DJ oriented house sets many clubgoers are used to seeing Lisa perform at. Instead Strictly Social will place Lisa among live musicians for a unique journey into her diverse body of work.
Read the Lisa Shaw interview
www.myspace.com/lisashawmusic
www.saltedmusic.com

DO NOT MISS THIS SPECIAL SHOW!
THERE IS A LIMITED CAPACITY AT THIS VENUE AND IT WILL SELL OUT SO PRESALES ARE RECOMMENDED!
Limited $10 presales available at  Groovetickets.com
$12 at the door

Strictly Social Residents Destroyer and Myxzlplix will keep it sexy with their patented blend of progressive soul and soulful electronica.

In the B Room Jayvon and Atlantic Connection present Soul Good, a night of sexy and soulful drum&bass.

Strictly Social
Wednesday May 20, 2009
9pm-2am
21+
Little Temple
4519 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029
www.myspace.com/lastrictlysocial
www.littletemple.com

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Project Art is an established gathering hub for artists, cultural enthusiasts, and music lovers of all backgrounds to unify and interact with one another. The platform also raises awareness for the alternative art scene through Paintings, Graffiti, Photography and other mediums while all being intertwined with Live Music, Live DJ,  Dance and Breakin.

Project Art has partnered with Hennessy Black to present a multi media series in Chicago that launches with their first event on Friday, May 22nd at Climax Lounge featuring Lupe Fiasco’s recording artist Hey Champ on 1st and 15th Music.

The 2nd and 3rd dates take place June and July TBA with featured artists: Miz Metro, Hollywood Holt, Brittany Bosco, Million $ Mano, Shala and more.

PA Chicago is a unique platform where artists can submit sculptures,paintings, pictures, 3-D Models, a video or modern art but make it beautiful, colorful, clever, amusing and outrageous - innovation being KEY.The different venues will be transformed into art galleries with museum walls.  Every type of art installation will be displayed in its unique creative form.The art curator is Tristan Hummel.Project Art is created and produced by Entity Entertainment.The series kicks off May 22nd at Climax Lounge and is powered by Hennessy Black, with additional support from Fiji Water, Vapors Magazine.  Yelp, and Fusicology.

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KCET’s SoCal Connected featured a segment on graffiti art last night, including coverage of the recent Chaka opening at Mid-City Arts, and interviews with Chaka, Revok and Retna. Check out a clip below.

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