The ever-prolific Anthony Valadez has been so kind as to bless this wee blog with a very special mix just for us.  He’s put together a soulful set featuring new and classic sounds side-by-side, including Beatlife faves Quadron, Replife and Comfort Fit. Download the mix below. Many thanks to A/V for showing us love!

Tracklisting:

bibo – lovers carvings (leatherette mix)
ramsey lewis – jungle strut
bonobo – the keeper (grasscut remix)
quadron – unpatience
replife – r u ready?
blackalicious – swan lake
comfort fit – exabyte (flako remix)
labi siffre – bless the telephone
michael jackson – she’s out of my life

Download the Anthony Valadez X Beatlife mix

In case you don’t know, you can catch A/V Monday nights on KCRW and at his various club residencies around Los Angeles. Peep his site for all the details.

Those Strictly Social fellas just don’t stop bringing the soulful heat! Volume 4 in the Strictly Social mix series has arrived courtesy of one of the resident DJs – Myxzlplix. And this guy doesn’t just blend and splice the beats with style – he’s nice with the pixels too. He’s responsible for all the fly Strictly Social and Nu-Soul Mag graphics and flyers.

TRACKLIST

1. take it slow-boozoo bajou
2. revolution ft. lyrics born & the mamaz-j boogie
3. the final view-nujabes
4. air signs-illa j
5. keep it real-milkbone
6. broken-ursula rucker
7. u do ft. stacy epps-jazz liberator
8. sunshine ft. phonte-marsha ambrosius
9. draw your bow-restless soul ft. shea soul
10. talking to you-brother dvooa
11. you and i-kissey asplund
12. believe-ayah
13. put it down f. kissey asplund-replife
14. this love-vanessa freeman
15. mojo-erin leah
16. underlined(rapson rmx)-atjazz ft. ernesto
17. keep your shirt on-hint ft. laura vane
18. come get with it-basic vocab
19. sun vibes(beef wellington rmx)-swamburger
20. i wanna dance-brother dvooa
21. want you to know-vanessa marquez
22. my gift (destroyer rmx)-rogiers

DOWNLOAD STRICTLY SOCIAL VOL 4

http://www.myspace.com/djmyxzlplix
http://www.djmyxzlplix.podomatic.com/

Strictly Social’s DJ Destroyer has put together another dope mix that captures the essence of LA’s best progressive soul/hip-hop/electronica monthly. Check the tracklist below and download the niceness. Thanks Destroyer!

Download here:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/54447718faa69551/

Track listing
1. BELIEVE – Q TIP
2. ONCE AGAIN – MUHSINAH
3. THIS MOMENT – ANONAMAS
4. BOND 4 LIFE – BLACK MILK
5. M.I.L.F. FT. BILAL – 88-KEYS
6. MY LOVE – WAYNA
7. ENJOY YA SELF V2 – SLAKAH
8. LOVE HANDLE – 14KT
9. DEAR MAN – VICELOUNGE+DEE FERGUSON
10. PUT IT DOWN FT. KISSEY ASPLUND – REPLIFE
11. FEELS SO GOOD – DWELE
12. PUSHA MAN – AYAH
13. SLOW IT DOWN – ROY DAVIS JR.
14. MY LIFE – EQUATION
15. MANWOMANBOOGIE – Q TIP
16. BETTER DAYZ – VELBEN
17. DANCE ON MARS – SARAH WHITE
18. TAKE YOU ANYWHERE – RASHEEDA WALLACE
19. GALACTIC FUN – DAM FUNK
20. ON A CLOUD(TRACKADEMICS REMIX) – PPP
21. REAL THING(FLAKO REMIX) – ERYKAH BADU
22. CITY OF NOWHERE – BRITTANY BOSCO
23. FREE IT OUT – ERIC LAU
24. FEEL THAT MUSIC – SLAKAH
25. SHOW UP – LMNO & KEV BROWN
26. NEW WORLDS – THE BIG PAYBACK & REGGIE B
27. TALK SEX – SA-RA CREATIVE PARTNERS
28. SPIRIT – REPLIFE
29. RIGHT HERE(SEOUL CITY REFIX) – DJ MITSU THE BEATS
30. ONCE – BUFF 1
31. YO YO AFFAIR PT. 1 & 2 – MADLIB FEAT. FREZNA
32. WHO KNOWS – STACY EPPS
33. GO – ANTHONY VALADEZ
34. ROBERTA FLACK FEAT. DOLLY – FLYING LOTUS

myspace.com/lastrictlysocial
myspace.com/djdestroyer
nu-soulmag.com

Nu-Soul Magazine‘s eclectic picks for 2008:

1. Eric Lau – New Territories
2. The Foreign Exchange - Leave It All Behind
3. Kissey Asplund -Plethora
4. Afta-1 – Aftathoughts Vol. 1
5. Santogold -Santogold
6. Replife -The Unclosed Mind
7. Solange – Sol-Angel & the Hadley St. Dreams
8. Wayna – Higher Ground
9. Robyn – Robyn
10. Hil St. Soul – Black Rose

See editor Norman Mayers’ list with his commentary and music players here

I don’t usually do year-end lists, but this year I decided to go full force and not only do my own, but gather a few from some esteemed musical colleagues which will be posted separately.

Beatlife Top 8 of 2008 (in no particular order)

Little Dragon – Little Dragon
I said no particular order, but if I had to pick, this would probably come out on top due to the fact that it was simply the freshest sounding album I’d heard in aaaaages, and easily traversed any labels or genres you could try and pin it down with. Read more here and here

Carlos Nino & Lil Sci – Elevation
This album was criminally slept-on but features, in my opinion, some of the best and most progressive hip-hop you’ll hear.

Buff 1 – There’s Only One
It’s no secret that I loved this album- it’s what got me re-inspired by hip-hop. Read more.

14KT – The Golden Hour
Dope production in a somewhat Flying Lotus-esque vein. The A-Side camp were on fire this year!

Wayna – Higher Ground
Wayna definitely turned some heads with this excellent indie soul album. Compelling listening from start to finish. More info.

Replife – The Unclosed Mind
This is one of the most inventive hip-hop albums you’ll ever hear, as Replife easily brings nu-jazz and soul into the fold. More info

Eric Lau – New Territories
I don’t know where this guy came from but he sneakily dropped a brilliant progressive soul album! Thanks!

Sy Smith - Conflict
Well Sy is always a favorite when it comes to good soul music. Conflict is possibly her best album yet, can’t wait to see what she does next. More info

other contenders: Peter Hadar, Zach Lipkins, The Foreign Exchange, Afta 1, Slakah The Beatchild

One of my fave DJs X one of my fave blogs = DJ Anthony Valadez‘ Moovmnt.com Mixtape. The mix is 25 minutes of freshness – musically expansive, succinctly mixed, as is the trademark of Mr. Valadez.

Download the Anthony Valadez Moovmnt mix immediately!

1. Flying Lotus – King Crosby
2. Sa Ra Creative Partners – Master Teazer
3. Replife – Pangea
4. Jay Electronica – Exhibit A
5. Jose James w. Fly Lo – Black Magic
6. Samiyam – untitled
7. Daru – Alone
8. Daedelus – (Long Lost)Art of Kissing
9. Take – Tuesday Never Comes
10. J. Rawls – Tribute to Dilla
11. Tettory Bad ft. Fatima – Unite
12. Brittany Bosco – It Was You
13. Anthony Valadez – Slow Jam
14. Coleman – Is Music
15. Roots Manuva – Witness Dub
16. Jneiro Jarel – Mr. Mole
17. Zion I – Boom Bip
18. Jay Scarlett – Love Music
19. Ras G. – Power of Thought
20. Exile – In Love

I’m on a bit of a Replife roll at the moment, so I thought I’d give y’all a little taste of the man’s music in case you happen to still be sleeping. “Change 4 A Dolla” is taken from his album The Unclosed Mind which was recently released via Futuristica and can be copped at MobileUnderground.com.

Download “Change 4 A Dolla”.

You may also have heard Rep on tracks with The Politik. He’s also part of the Strictly Social fam, having performed at both Strictly Social: NY Edition, and October’s LA Strictly Social at Little Temple Bar – check the coverage here. Replife is a true original, blending broken beats with his hip-hop sensibilities and blazing intellect. You can hear a couple more tracks in the player below. And “Change 4 A Dolla” is kicking off our new feature – the Beatlife Featured Download.

Strictly Social had another great night at LA’s Little Temple Bar on October 22nd. Electric performances from each of Replife, Michelle Shaprow and Les Brown & The Now demonstrated the spirit of Strictly Social. Resident DJ Destroyer along with DJ Myxzlplix and DJ Kaleem kept the vibe flowing with their on-point selections. A birthday party was also in the house so a memorable time was had by all. Check out Nu-Soul Mag for further coverage and pics.

Replife

Michelle Shaprow

Les Brown & The Now

Strictly Social brings you LA’s only night of truly eclectic and progressive live soul music. In case you happen not to live in LA, the Strictly Social mix series brings you a little taste of what the night offers. Volume 2 comes courtesy of DJ Myxzlplix. Check the tracklist below, then stream or download.

Track Listing
1. Dial 7-Digable Planets
2. If I Fall-Naked Music
3. Pray Together-Amp Fiddler
4. Actioneer (Wajeed Remix)-Black Spade
5. Massage Situation-Flying Lotus
6. Could It Be-Noel Zancarella f. Baatin
7. My First Love (K2wizzle Rmx)-DJ Syren
8. We All Want The Same Thing-Kevin Michael F. Lupe Fiasco
9. Sweet-The Politik F. Replife
10. Me And Armini-Emiliana Torrini
11. The Duck-Belleruche
12. Crucify-Milez Benjiman
13. Inhale Exhale-J Rawls, Venus Malone & Wordsworth
14. What Do You Know-Beatphreak
15. Northern Girls-Belleruche
About DJ Myxzlplix
myspace.com/djmyxzlplix
myxmanifest.blogspot.com
djmyx.com

About Strictly Social

Strictly Social is fast becoming one of Los Angeles’ most unique monthly events incorporating listening parties for major releases, guest DJs, visual artist exhibitions and intimate performances from rising stars in the soul community. Organized by DJ Destroyer of Soul Union, Norman Mayers of Nu-Soul Magazine, and Lucy Beer of Elemental Consulting, this night if “Eclectic Soul Fusion” aims to provide a non-traditional perspective on soul by fusing genres and styles. With recent events in New York City and Atlanta, the brand has begun to spread beyond its original home. Artists that have performed at Strictly Social include Sy Smith, Anthony David, Lina, Peter Hadar, Jimi James, Maya Azucena, and Kissey Asplund.

www.myspace.com/lastrictlysocial

Nu-Soul Magazine is celebrating its TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY and everyone is invited!

Soul Union & Nu-Soul Magazine present a very special edition of Strictly Social on Wednesday October 22, 2008 celebrating 2 years of Nu-Soul Magazine, the online publication that features the best in progressive soul artists.

Join us at Little Temple as some of the hottest eclectic soul artists in the country hit the stage!

Live Performances from:

Replife
Catch video of Replife at Strictly Social NYC
www.mobileunderground.com/artist/replife

Michelle Shaprow
www.myspace.com/michelleshaprow

Les Brown & The Now
www.myspace.com/lesvibe

&
Jon Bibbs
www.myspace.com/jonbibbsmusic

Show begins at 10pm

Experience the vibe created by Strictly Social Resident DJs Destroyer, Milky Wayne, & Myxzlplix and Special Guest DJ Kaleem spinning future soul, hip-hop, and progressive beats!

Happy Birthday to Wendy Rose Berry!

This special event is FREE ALL NIGHT only with an RSVP to events@nu-soulmag.com
$5 without

Strictly Social: Nu-Soul 2-year Anniversary
Wednesday October 22, 2008
@ Little Temple
4519 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029
www.littletemple.com
9pm-2am
21+
www.myspace.com/lastrictlysocial