Psychedelic Hip Hop | For Ganesha

Psychedelic Highlights of "We Are World Around Vol. 2"

2012-01-12T22:33:00.001-08:00

Fresh compilation from World Around Records featuring some gorgeous-ass instrumental work. We present a short guided tour for the discerning heads...artwork courtesy of The Memetic Supply Co.

1. Chants - Bone China

Bone China by Chants

Chants is a drummer/producer from Madison, WI and we were blown away by this submission. Lush, complex and funky as fuck.

2. Dr. Quandary - Last Syllable (Suplington Remix)

The Last Syllable (Suplington Remix) by Dr. Quandary

Dr. Quandary made a strong showing on this compilation and this sideways remix from Suplington is a great headphone trip.

3. Man Mantis - plexippus

plexippus by Man Mantis

Most producers would have made at least 5 different tracks out of this, but Man Mantis is a beautiful mutant. Fractally packed with ideas and angles on an upbeat vocal sample, this is allegedly a taste of what to expect from his next album.

4. Naturetone - Take a Look

Take a Look by Naturetone

Naturetone is a another World Around producer working on a follow-up album. If you haven't checked out his previous journey, Nihon, get familiar this winter.

5. Louis Mackey - Lots of Lip

Lots of Lip by Louis Mackey

Wrap it up with some classic Louis Mackey shit. If you're digging that, we recommend Destroyer of All Things.

American Style Cardboard = "Sodapop & Bubblegum"

2012-01-10T12:46:00.000-08:00

Sodapop & Bubblegum (feat. Thirtyseven) by Doc Delay & Godforbid

Blistering. Godforbid and Thirtyseven swapping verses about growing up in the American wastelands. Doc Delay fusing Run DMC with dubsteppery and obliterating your sound system.

Get familiar: here's a great interview with Doc Delay from the Berlin magazine LoDown.

Rittz - "White Jesus"

2011-12-22T22:04:00.000-08:00

I mean...Holy Fuck. People might mock this video for cheese content, but the fractal detail and intensity of the vision makes this exceptional grade shit. It's been done before, but never executed in such lushly schizophrenic style. Also helps that the song itself is drug worthy. Rittz is definitely one of the dopest fast rappers of all time just off his existing catalog, as long as we all understand that nobody is touching E-40. Whalam.

Video was directed by Yelawolf. Dig that.

"Everything, Everywhere, Always" - Louis Mackey

2011-12-21T10:06:00.001-08:00

Louis Mackey has had a busy damn year. Starting off with the release of his epic concept album The Dioscuri, Lou's had a prolific 2011 behind the mic and as a producer. Both sides got a chance to shine on his summer release, No Humans Allowed. He's currently working on several albums and a sequel to his hit instrumental EP, Destroyer of All Things.

Today, Louis Mackey wraps up 2011 with a lush, chilled-out instrumental - "Everything, Everywhere, Always."

Louis Mackey - Everything, Everywhere, Always by World Around Records

The F*#k Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Special

2011-11-23T20:10:00.000-08:00

Humpasaur Jones - "Jeddore Premium Flow"

2011-11-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

Hump Jones: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Bandcamp

Jeddore Premium Flow by Humpasaur Jones

party people in the place put your hands in the air
leave your drinks on the stage and your pants over there
all the ladies in the house, put your hands in my hair
and your feet on my chest as we stand on this chair
party people in the place...now is the time
to get into the groove and straight out of your mind
party people blah BLAH blah, gather round the rapper now
mushrooms are kicking in, had about a half an ounce
cold killing it, tracking down a classic sound
your girls a problem, though, tragic how she’s acting out
used to love to party, I did a one eighty
the way I see these young ladies getting drunk lately
ridiculous, man...I’m all about drinking, but damn,
she’s having a seizure and pissing her pants
I’m not calling it wrong, I understand it, but dude,
I am calling her Mom and an ambulance too
the dopest at it...been flowing total madness
from broken prophylactic to floating open casket
the show is classic...all photographic flashes
closing act is asking “we’re going after THAT shit?”
...drunk and stoned and then conduct the whole symphony
I’m slick enough to switch it up without switching beats
I’m big enough to listen up when my critics speak
I see your point but I just see it kinda different, see?
skinny jeans, shitty beats, rap show misery
promoter said it’s not an open bar, it is for me
the venue says we’re starting late, I kinda disagree-
it’s bad enough you motherfuckers give MCs chicken feed

flow whiter than most, a ghostwriter for pros
but won’t bite for the dough, I’m nice and I know it
nine dimensional, certified live professional
hired spectacle, fist fighting with poets
live life in the moment, spit twice as devoted
as the average rapper whiz kid biting for bonus points
...wait a minute, hold this joint, light or roach it
but this is my world and I don’t like where it’s going...

...I don’t know much I don’t already know lately
I been to the future and the past looked crazy
walk onstage and get paid like a late fee
suckers say I’m simple but they never say they hate me

nerd rap if I need to, Christian rapper for money,
backpacking and cheap food, I did travel the country
work back in the green room, spit ragged and rusty
last act was complete proof that shitty actors are funny
...lost the locals, they don’t love me no more
but see I’m here to start a riot just cuz fuck it, I’m bored
dude, dudes dumber than you have done it before
and see you’re dumber than me, so trust in the force
but stop talking to me, I do not want to emcee
problem is, I’ve always got God watching me breathe
it’s costing me sleep .. went to talk to a priest
but see I recognized his face now he’s rotting in peace
and your mom is a freak for DJ Squid’s chocolate beats
he’s in her spot as we speak...shot a dot com on her sheets
watch it and weep, another hot, erotic EP
my name is hump jones, proud vermonter and freak
YO HUMP JONES...yeah, I’m listening man
cuz I don’t really have a habit, I just drink for my fans
YO HUMP JONES...shit yeah that’s me
getting paid to black out on big badass beats

shout outs to the rich kids who bow down to their privelege
the perks in the package, the townhouse in the village
big ups to the waitstaff, tip cups and name tags
doctor gonzo shots, fist up, straight back
shout out to reporters, you’re prostitutes and liars
except for maybe 4 of you and all of them got fired
big ups to the cops in the back of the club
dude, I know you’re not a dick...you’re just acting like one
because you’re dressing like one, that shit gets your head
and yeah I guess what I said could probably get me arrested
shouts to the bartenders...this drink is a joke
it’s like I paid eight bucks for you to piss in my throat
big ups to the sound guy...for sucking at life
I know, adjusting it right is really tough with one mic

….
put your hands in the air if your parents are scared
and just move ‘em around if you’re in tune with the crowd
go drink a pitcher or three until you’re hitting your knees
then buy a shot for the bar and try to walk to your car like
YO HUMP JONES...yeah, I’m listening baby
cuz I care, even if you don’t really give a shit lately
YO HUMP JONES...shit yeah that’s me
getting paid to black out on big badass beats

nobody ever quits rapping, they just quit drugs
and I can’t quit drugs unless I quit rapping, shit sucks
nobody ever gets a verse from a clever nerd that
tries to measure up to master rappers that you never heard of
nobody’s gonna see another weak drunk emcee
who cannot compete, compare or come and fuck with me
and nobody’s gonna need another MP3
for a steady week while this friendly message gets repeated

Daimyo - "Experimentations"

2011-11-11T23:11:00.000-08:00

Since his World Around debut EP, Daimyo has been focusing on his growth as a musician. While he continues to slow cook and perfect his album, he's offering this collection of experimentations: ranging from blast beats to jazz breaks, composed on everything from MPC's to Nintendo DS to actual studio sessions. Daimyo is an Albany-based artist and he's exactly the kind of adventurous, deep-rooted music that Psychedelic Hip Hop exists to promote...

experimentations by daimyo

Dr. Quandary & Louis Mackey - "White Nights & Black Days"

2011-10-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

White Nights & Black Days by Louis Mackey & Dr. Quandary

A short, powerful collaboration project from two Boston-based producers. This is perfect work music.

"Funeral Groupies" - Humpasaur Jones

2011-06-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

Wow. This track is heavy.

Funeral Groupies by Humpasaur Jones

From the Hump Jones blog: "this song is the beating heart of our approach to love songs. We wanted to take a holographic approach, not so much a concept album...more of an LSD trip than a movie."

For those of you just getting tuned into Humpasaur Jones, this is the third leak from Breakup Music. The first was the title track (exclusive to Potholes) and the second was the Louis Mackey collaboration, "Old Fashioned Love Song." All in all, it looks like Breakup Music will be a serious piece of work, and a total transformation from the loose party vibe of Keep it Moist.

Wombaticus Rex - Minimum Wage (Video)

2011-05-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

Stoned Sunday inbox treats from World Around Records:

Apparently there's a lot more videos on the way. This was directed and produced by the World Around Records sound engineer, Custom aka Nick Williams. This is the same "Custom" who produced the recent Algorhythms track, "Open Ended," and he's clearly just as talented with video work as he is with pro audio engineering. Anyone who has partied at Bennington College will probably recognize the stairway in this video...

Prolyphic with Wombaticus Rex and the Earegulars

2011-05-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

"Yet another reason to contemplate driving to Vermont." - Chuang-Tzu

Strange Famous is home to a lot of under-rated rappers, but Prolyphic might be my favorite. I know I'm not the only head who thinks that The Ugly Truth was ignored for no good reason. Club Metronome will be hosting a long, quality night of thoughtful hip hop on May 25th, a Wednesday, hosted by the ambitious Oh-J Fresh.

In addition to Prolyphic's headlining set, Metronome will be featuring Aleck Woog, Wombaticus Rex, and Vermont group The Earegulars will be releasing their debut album, The Seed EP. I have gotten a lot of replay out of their lead single, What to Believe:

What To Believe by EARegulars

Louis Mackey & Thirtyseven - "No Humans Allowed"

2011-05-05T09:29:00.001-07:00

This album was brutal. As expected.

No Humans Allowed by No Humans Allowed

Based on my first listen, my favorite cuts so far are Not of This Earth and Good Night, America. I'm also going to have the beat to Big Ups From Carbondale in my head for, oh, the rest of my life. This is one of the most professional sounding albums from World Around yet. So far in 2011, they've dropped an awesome EP from Zilla Rocca and two completely amazing releases from Man Mantis. It is always good to see a team you're rooting for succeed.

Bennington Sunfest - May 7th, 2011

2011-05-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

World Around Records is on the bill for this. Apparently it's not the entire roster, just Dr. Quandary, Louis Mackey and Humpasaur Jones. Which is good because if it was the entire roster, I'd have to drive to Vermont.

The real reason I'm posting this, though? Because the poster artwork was simply incredible:

DJ Squid - The Ballad of Randy Tibbs

2011-04-30T01:54:00.000-07:00

Inbox insanity from DJ Squid. This guy always toes the line between bizzare/sloppy and polished genius. Who knows if this will ever result in an album or EP or beat tape or what. Definitely the weirdest rap coming out of Gary, Indiana.

The Ballad of Randy Tibbs by DJ Squid

Via: Hump Jones

HJ: Do you make more money off smuggling import vinyl, selling mushrooms, or hustling beats?

DJ Squid: Frankly, the illicit trade of import vinyl is dying out at an alarming rate. I used to make $15,000 a year off of Isaan Ragi records and limited-run Japanese Patti LaBelle picture discs alone, but after the joint INTERPOL/CIA crackdown in Copenhagen back in 2003 a lot of the major players have decided to leave the stage and invest elsewhere. Now I’d be lucky to make $6,000 off of that same deal. When you take into consideration the fact that you’ll have to spend at least half that on bribes to even get the shipment into the country, it just doesn’t seem worth it. The only reason I continue is because it’s something I’m passionate about, and more importantly it’s something I’m good at.

Since the only person I really hustle beats to aside from Aaron Carter is your broke ass, I’d say it’s safe to assume most of my yearly income could be attributed to the sale of mushrooms. By the way, I got that quap you wanted, you can come through and scoop it tomorrow if you want.

Sea Ambulance - Man Mantis

2011-04-30T01:32:00.000-07:00

Amazing and unexpected instrumental work from World Around Records:

Agree with David Reyneke from Potholes on this: "This EP is damn near perfect."

Sea Ambulance by Man Mantis

Louis Mackey vs. Thirtyseven - No Humans Allowed

2011-04-30T00:42:00.000-07:00

New music on the way from World Around Records:

Scheduled to drop on May 5th, No Humans Allowed is a collaboration between rapper/producer Louis Mackey and emcee Thirtyseven, the rapper behind Wombaticus Rex, Algorhythms and Hump Jones. Most of the album features Louis Mackey's production, with support from Dr. Quandary and DJ Multiple Sex Partners.

They've released this cut, Fantasy Remix, as a promotional jam. This will not be on the album, apparently...

Fantasy Remix by No Humans Allowed

Louis Mackey is in Boston, Thirtyseven is in Illinois, but strangely enough they will be debuting this live in the city of Montpelier, Vermont. Charlie-O's is a rare kind of dive bar, a cross between a living room and a war zone that must be experienced firsthand. They will be playing with young Aleck Woog, the blisteringly good Brutally Honest, and several other Vermont hip hop acts.

Help Humpasaur Jones Fund His Tour!!!

2011-04-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Via Hump Jones:

As usual, I am almost totally unprepared for the upcoming Bootstrap Theorem Tour. In a rare act of charity, though, DJ Multiple Sex Partners made me a deal: in exchange for promoting his Sweaty Summer EP, I’ll get to collect 100% of the sales. Considering I already bump this EP pretty often, this qualified as a genuine No-Brainer.

Sweaty Summer by DJ Multiple Sex Partners

This is 7 ferociously funky cuts for $3, and you get to sleep easy knowing you helped make the world a more dangerous and less sane place to be in 2011. As someone who has frequently been broke and homeless, I cannot emphasize enough how much $3 can be worth. THANK YOU.

CHECK OUT THE TOUR DATES

May 07th - Humpasaur Jones with Dr. Quandary and Louis Mackey - Bennington, VT - Sunfest 2011
May 11th - Humpasaur Jones - Burlington, VT - DJ Oh-J's Live Mixtape - Club Metronome
May 14th - Wombaticus Rex - Burlington, VT - Radio Bean - Face One’ & Andy Lugo CD Release with Earegulars and 2nd Agenda
May 17th - House party
May 19th - Wombaticus Rex (with Chris Dizzy!) - Burlington, VT - HOMECOMING with The Aztext + Beat Biters - Club Metronome
May 20 - Benefit @ Nectars
May 21-23 - private stuff
May 25th - Wombaticus Rex - Homegrown Wednesday - Club Metronome
May 28th - No Humans Allowed - Montpelier, VT - Charlie-O’s - No Humans Allowed set with Aleck Woog and more
June 24th - Humpasaur Jones -Madison, WI - UW Terrace opening for Star Persons and the awesome K. Raydio.

New Track from Algorhythms - "Open Ended"

2010-08-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

New music from one of the most reclusive groups in hip hop. It's only been about...what, four years since their last release? This time around it's a remix of a track that hasn't been released yet. Because apparently, these guys refuse to do anything normally.

<a href="http://algorhythms.bandcamp.com/track/open-ended-custom-remix">Open Ended (Custom Remix) by Algorhythms</a>

The production is by Custom, who is apparently one of the new members of the World Around Records roster for 2010. His sound is definitely something new for the WA aesthetic -- dark, electronic and extremely complex. The verse is ferocious, too...

MC Paul Barman - "Owl Pellets"

2010-06-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

Never in a billion light years did I think I would ever post something by MC Paul Barman. This video is too funny and strange to pass up, though...this could be all-time cult classic material...beautifully weird. Get good and stoned and then tune into "Owl Pellets"

Yes, I know that video window is too big. But bigger is better and better is good.

2010 Update from World Around Records

2010-06-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

I have an inbox full of updates from Justin at World Around, so instead of doing single posts, I'll just do it all at once.

First up, Dr. Quandary's full length debut, Beyond All Spheres of Force and Matter, is finally released. They're selling a digital version for $5 to raise money for a vinyl printing, and as a "Thank You" bonus there's a bonus EP bundled with it named Semuta. I've been listening to this album for a few weeks now, and it's incredibly detailed instrumental music. Eastern flavored, huge percussion, very cool.

After releasing the Naturetone Remixes EP, I kinda figured World Around would be dropping some collaborations with Switzerland veteran producer Naturetone. I did not expect a whole album of instrumental material. Nihon was a great first listen. Naturetone really pushes himself to explore new rhythms and sounds, and I look forward to getting more familiar with this album. Like most of World Around's material, this album is free. I highly recommend taking it for a test drive.

In Other News: s. maharba has released his infamous S/T beat tape on vinyl and it's sold out 3 times so far. You can order the next printing by clicking here. That link also has a free digital download (like I said, everything is free with these hippies) so check that shit out.

Hopefully this track is the beginning of an EP: Dr. Quandary just released a track with Philly emcee Witness that's just plain perfect. Cooled out, introspective, great track...it's called World Map and you can listen to it right here, right now:

Witness - World Map by witnessmusic

I am bummed the Humpasaur Jones album, Breakup Music, never got released and is still without a scheduled release date. The title track was leaked at Potholes in my Blog last year and there hasn't been a word about it since.

The Higher Concept - "Life is Good"

2010-05-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

Perfect party people conscious hip hop summer music. This album is dope, they're hosting it @ Dat Piff

If you're digging it, definitely check out their "THC SUPERPACK 2009", a zip folder of all their previous promo singles. Big props to these emcees for always pushing themselves to innovate. They rock with a killer live band and put on a hell of a show, if you're in the NY/New England area, it's definitely worth hitting the bar for.

Or better yet, the IMAX, right? Someday. LSD will be legal and concerts will be in 4-D. Until then, enjoy The Higher Concept.

Algorhythms remixed by S. Maharba

2010-05-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

New track from World Around Records today: a remix of a (so far unreleased) Algorhythms track from the forthcoming album, EELRIJUE Baby! The beat is by the supremely talented UK producer S. Maharba

<a href="http://algorhythms.bandcamp.com/track/ram-nam-satya-hai-s-maharba-remix">Ram Nam Satya Hai (S.maharba Remix) by Algorhythms</a>

The only background that came with this email:

"We've been sitting on this way too long and it's probably the best track I've ever been a part of, so since it's my birthday, I decided to finally drop this. Enjoy." -- thirtyseven

No word on a release date for any Algorhythms projects, but S. Maharba's (fucking amazing) beat tape S/T is dropping on May 18th. You can PRE-ORDER NOW for a vinyl/T-Shirt combo.

Witness + Mobb Robb - ".45 Sweetheart"

2010-04-20T23:11:00.000-07:00

This is pretty great joint music, ladies, gentlemans. Seriously, give this one a test run -- Witness dropped an all-time, slept-on classic with the Evermore EP and this is a total change of pace, which is impressive. His storytelling is getting even better, also impressive.

<a href="http://witness.bandcamp.com/album/45-sweetheart">Home Tonight by Witness</a>

Looking forward to whatever this unique but dope emcee brings next...

Tev95 - "Loop Language"

2010-04-14T23:11:00.000-07:00

Super smoothed-out instrumental tape with zero filler from a new producer. That's enough to make me happy on any given Stoned Sunday, and I highly recommend Tev95 despite having no idea who he is, where he is, or what he's about. It's dope hip hop with some huge-ass mixing...

<a href="http://tev95.bandcamp.com/album/loop-language">Dirty Needles by TeV95</a>

Keep an eye on his bandcamp for future updates...

Paul White - "Ancient Treasure"

2010-03-07T23:11:00.000-08:00

What the fuck planet is Paul White from? This shit was AWESOME. Guilty Simpson never goes wrong, and this remix EP is some of the best headphone insanity we've heard in 2010. Between this guy and s. maharba, the UK has been going crazy with the underground producers.

<a href="http://paulwhite.bandcamp.com/album/ancient-treasure">Ancient Treasure ft Guilty Simpson by Paul White</a>

He's got an album called "The Purple Brain" on the way in June...

Louis Mackey | "Space Rock"

2009-11-11T23:11:00.000-08:00

Louis Mackey talks shit like Egyptians build monuments. I happen to like that. The beat is completely out of control and lives up to the title about 1000% BONUS: Also contains Adam Kadmon. That guy has been way too quiet in 2009. More soon, if you're reading this.

Turn it up first...

<a href="http://louismackey.bandcamp.com/album/space-rock">Space Rock by Louis Mackey</a>

World Around says his next project is Funky Motherfucker Yeah (finally) and then an instrumental EP series called Destroyer of All Things...

11/11: New Music from World Around

2009-11-11T17:12:00.000-08:00

Some very dope, dark, and spaced out material from DJ Multiple Sex Partners, featuring two new tracks to complement "Mahdi Rock," from his EP Real Mature.

DJ MULTIPLE SEX PARTNERS - MAHDI ROCK [EP]

World Around Records is Live!

2009-10-11T23:29:00.001-07:00

The website for World Around has launched ("beta" style) and they're featuring dumate right now. The design work is credited to Back Brain Media and Detroit genius of love GOMAR2.

My favorite feature? The strange and awesome EP from Adam Kadmon, called "Teslaphonics."

Objektiv One: Strap Those Headphones On

2009-07-13T23:11:00.000-07:00

We've been digging on the leaked Objektiv One material. This kid has got talent in too many departments...it's impossible to think he's not gonna be making noise in 2010. Get hip now = be cooler at parties = getting laid this fall. Seriously.

Potholes feature

Audible Hype interview

Algorhythms Remix Contest

2009-07-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

Since the Algorhythms EP dropped last year, there's been a slow but steady demand for accapellas. Rather than just drop these quietly, we're going to run a whole summer-long remix contest and keep feeding you more.

THE RULES: Do whatever you want. When you're done, though, we do have a few regulations.

Submissions have to be rendered in at least 256 kbps mp3 format. We don't want any .wav files until we decide we like your track. All entries will be judged by a rotating panel of WAR artists, with me and Dr. Quandary making the final decisions.

Submit your track to djmspbeats@gmail.com

Deadline for submissions is August 1st. We might suggest/request changes if we dig the track but the mix is off. The deadline for finished tracks is September 1st.

The winning submissions will all get included in a World Around Remix collection we'll be releasing online and promoting like crazed fire ants. You'll be alongside our in-house team, this won't just be the "Random People Online Remix Our Shit EP" -- this is an album-length project and it will be dope.

DOWNLOAD Algorhythms Accapellas Vol. 1

Questions? Problems? Hit us up. Thank you.

(Yes, more accapellas on the way.)

Dart Adams: Dope Female Rappers 101

2009-07-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Dart Adams dropped a great list of "Supreme Rap Misses" -- his round-up of over 20 certified dope emcees. Who all happen to be women. Most heads I talk to, their knowledge drops off after #1 on the list, Jean Grae. Pictured above is my personal favorite, Invincible, whose album Shapeshifters was motherfucking awesome.

Definitely worth reading over his list, there's several cats I've never heard of who are doing excellent work.

CLICK THE DART ADAMS LOGO TO CHECK IT OUT:

Remix Contest: Alias and B. Dolan "One Breath Left"

2009-04-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

B. Dolan is a spoken word weirdo who's evolving into a pretty solid rapper. Most interesting of all, his hip hop project is a horrorcore concept album with one of the most under-rated producers in the known universe, Alias. The album is gonna be called "Fallen House, Sunken City" and that's probably the most interesting-sounding project of the year so far. (That and Algorhythms doing a UFOlogy EP...or Elzhi and Black Milk doing just about anything at all.)

DOWNLOAD THE "One Breath Left" ACCAPELLA

Details from Strange Famous:

What you need to know:

* The song is 80 bpm.

* Submit your remix as AN MP3 ATTACHMENT to strangefamous@gmail.com

* DEADLINE is May 14th, 2009. Winners will be announced at www.StrangeFamous.com on May 15th

* Posting your remix anywhere else online before the contest is over will disqualify you. Don’t dew it.

* Select remixes will be discussed at www.strangefamousrecords.com/forum as the submissions come through. Get your friends, fam and supporters to weigh in…it helps!

* The winner of this contest will receive a special SFR sex-packet containing signed copies of B. Dolan’s Live Evel EP, The Failure CD, as well as Prolyphic’s Artist Goes Pop 12″ (featuring Alias, B. Dolan & Sage Francis.) Winners will also receive an SFR knit hat and an all-expenses-paid trip to Propsville.

* Winners will be decided by B. Dolan, Alias, and Sage Francis.

* It’s not unusual for beats submitted during these remix contests to get turned into new songs by SFR artists! You’ve got our ear, so bring your got-damn A game! And make sure the remix is on beat by referencing the original version of the song which is currently available as a free download on the front page of www.SFRstore.com

.45 Sweetheart: Witness & Mobb Robb

2009-04-27T21:29:00.000-07:00

New Music from S. Maharba

2009-04-27T21:13:00.000-07:00

S. Maharba has been a favorite here since he dropped the She EP, and this follow-up is intense. The production is jazzier, tighter, and somehow even thicker than his last round of material.

Previously only available on limited edition cassette from S/T -- now S. Maharba is offering it as a free digital download for those of you who've forgotten how awesome tapes are:

You can also stream the album on Bandcamp, which is dope.

HipGnosis Talks Hip Hop Science and Black Magic

2009-04-23T22:22:00.000-07:00

DJMSP.com has a great interview up with HipGnosis, the producer behind the Black Magic EP. Definitely check out the comments section, which becomes an article-length discussion about cymatics, binaural beats, and bioacoustics! Some out-there material for the dedicated sound scientists out there.

Source: HipGnosis Drops Science and Mathemagick

Since we’re both weirdos here, let’s talk sound mysticism. Do you experiment with specific frequencies and mess around with psycho-acoustic trickery? Have you found any especially great software for sonic headfuckery?

"In fact, I do experiment with cymatics, binaural beats, and other methods in my music.

I sort of combine the hip-hop philosophy behind sampling with the cut-up method used by Brion Gysin and William S. Burroughs. Add to that influence by groups like Coil and Psychic TV, Plastikman, Aphex Twin, and others and you’ve got yourself in quite a psychoacoustic predicament. I particularly enjoy using the Stillwell Audio Plugins, Adobe Audition’s effects, and various VSTs to achieve results based on my intention. Ableton Live is my main platform for everything, though."

Hank Shocklee on the SP 1200 Sampler

2009-04-07T22:19:00.000-07:00

Source: Hank Shocklee Drops Science

“They’ve mastered the computer to the point it does things the SP-1200 can’t do.But we would have better records today if people said, “Look, you’ve got five hours to make a record.” The problem is that people got all day. They got all week. They got all month. They got all year. So thus, you in there second-guessing yourself. With the 1200, you can’t second-guess yourself, man. You got 2.5 seconds a pad, man. . . . Till this day, nobody has understood and created a machine that can best it.”

DJ Multiple Sex Partners Sample Giveaway

2009-04-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

For the producers: he's giving out accapellas, drum loops, stolen material, hand percussion loops, and really bad advice.

Also cool: There's a lot of "Case Studies" collecting production and music business advice from veterans like Pete Rock, Kutmasta Kurt, Hank Shocklee and of course The RZA.

BONUS: Madison producer Man Mantis also gets profiled.

"Books On Crates" Stink Tank's Influences Mixtape

2009-03-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

From the Man Mantis blog, Can You Dig It?

"I decided it was my moral obligation (and hopefully also some good publicity) to post a playlist of some of the original tracks I used to put together this album. Secrecy regarding one's influences is a Hip Hop tradition as old as the genre itself, but as most of the cooler heads in the game today have noted, we insist on the tree at the expense of the forest. I hope in sharing this that my fellow beatmakers might find some inspiration in it, perhaps learn something from it.

Regardless of who owns the copyrights, marketing licenses and controlling shares, Hip Hop is publicly held and employee owned and operated. We feed it, we define it, we decide whether it lives or dies. The burden of educating each other and inspiring each other is on us. The government won't do it, the TV won't do it, the fucking radio certainly won't do it. Can you dig it?"

DOWNLOAD "BOOKS ON CRATES"

Noah23 Weighs In on some Timeless Questions

2008-09-09T14:11:00.001-07:00

Source: UGSMAG

How do you approach rapping, you have some more abstract material, how did you end up going that direction listening to Run DMC?

I was really into stuff like Faith No More, Red Hot Chili Peppers…Faith No More was a big inspiration for me, that’s part of the abstract lyrics. Basically I’ve always had an interest in psychedelic phenomenon and poetry, so like Bob Dylan, the Doors anything like that. Anything strange, strange films, strange words are just fascinating to me; I kind of search out strange paranormal things in life. Sometimes I kick more straightforward type of stuff. I think when I started, I had a lot more brain-vomit to kind of spew out; like a lot more abstract, train-of-thought stuff. Now it’s more streamlined.

Is the psychedelic/abstract phenomenon tied to drug-use?

Not necessarily...but yeah, it is. I’ve been reading a lot of different subjects and I’m really interested in Shamanism, ethnogenic drug use, and psychoactive plants. My dad’s dad wrote a poem about smoking gigantic bats –that was the word he used – he wrote a poem the day I was born in commemoration. So even from day one, people were smoking weed, celebrating the day I was born and my dad was a big hippie and used a lot of acid. He used to throw LSD confetti off balconies at Mardi gras. It’s just part of who I am, it’s pretty natural how that works itself into my music.

Dozer -- Dope Organic Rawness from Shamfrancisco

2008-08-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

One of the best random finds I've had in a long time: Dozer, some evolved funk that whumped me upside the head late last night. I especially recommend "Sasparilla" which stomps the shit out some dirty blues.

Druid: Invisible Themes

2008-08-20T23:46:00.000-07:00

Check out Druid's new track Invisible Themes. I thought this track came together perfectly for Druid and it's some of his best work. His flow is loose and the beat is intricate and catchy, and the entire song is about tripping your balls off. Plus there's didgeridoo, so this is obviously Psychedelic Hip Hop material.

Adam Kadmon -- Telsaphonics Release Info

2008-08-12T13:07:00.000-07:00

From World-Around Records:

"We're finishing up the cover art and design work for Adam Kadmon's first release on WAR, titled Teslaphonics. The image above is not part of the cover, but it's by the same artist: Kyn Mfz, a talented lunatic animal from the UK. Adam Kadmon is even weirder: a self-styled Victorian space pimp who makes his own equipment and plays all his beats live in his DIY home studio. This shit is heavy and one of a kind."

Pioneer and Living Master Del Tha Funky Homosapien

2008-08-09T16:29:00.000-07:00

From The Wave:

TW: What’s the worst thing someone’s said about you?
Del: That I smoke crack. I don’t want anyone to ever think I could possibly smoke crack.

TW: But I heard you were crazy because of all the mushrooms you’ve taken.
Del: [laughs] Um, I don’t know if I’d label myself as crazy. Crazy people need to be hospitalized and not walking around. But I will say that I probably don’t have it all upstairs. I think that has more to do with my upbringing than drugs though. Drugs don’t really have an effect on me. People are like, “Oooo, you see that wall moving?!” I’m like, “No. All I see is the wall.” In my mind, walls don’t move.

TW: What’s something you never want to do?
Del: [long pause] I don’t want to rule nothing out. Well, I hope I never have to kill anybody and I won’t have any homosexual activities. But other than that, I don’t want to rule anything out.

From Citrus Report.

Q: Talk about touring. Love it or hate it?

I don’t really dig having to be removed from my comfort zone; I’m a Leo. When I was younger, I had more energy to deal with difficulties. I was opposed to the easy way. Now, I see value in simpler ways to achieve results; it’s not always about complexity. The complexity should be a process to get to the simplicity. So with that thought, the road was just a little too confusing and complicated to deal with, considering that I still had to create product, which is the reason I’m on the road in the first place. It got to a point where I created material when it was “time to” release an album. Last minute-type shit. So I had to correct the situation. Now, I try to work out a plan so that I had enough down time to create competitive material. I’ve also fully transitioned from analog production to digital production mainly, so that definitely makes being away from home easier. Now I can create anytime anywhere, so it’s not as bad to be gone from home.

Edan - Rock 'n' Roll

2008-08-09T14:55:00.000-07:00

Godfather and Patron Saint Lee Scratch Perry the Immortal Dub Alien

2008-08-09T01:13:00.000-07:00

Man basically is God but this insight can come to man only with the use of the herb. When you use the herb, you experience yourself as God. With the use of the herb you can exist in this dismal state of reality that now exists in Jamaica...When you are a God you deal or relate to people like a God. In this way you let your light shine, and when each of us lets his light shine we are creating a God-like culture.

From the classic Erik Davis essay "Dub, Scratch and the Black Star":

But dub music, reggae's great technological mutant, is a pure artifact of the machine, and has little to do with earth, flesh, or authenticity. To create dub, producers and engineers manipulate preexisting tracks of music recorded in an analog—as opposed to digital—fashion on magnetic tape (today's high-end studios encode music as distinct digital bits rather than magnetic "waves"). Dubmasters saturate individual instruments with reverb, phase, and delay; abruptly drop voices, drums, and guitars in and out of the mix; strip the music down to the bare bones of rhythm and then build it up again through layers of inhuman echoes, electronic ectoplasm, cosmic rays. Good dub sounds like the recording studio itself has begun to hallucinate.

Dub arose from doubling—the common Jamaican practice of reconfiguring or "versioning" a prerecorded track into any number of new songs. Dub calls the apparent "authenticity" of roots reggae into question because dub destroys the holistic integrity of singer and song. It proclaims a primary postmodern law: there is no original, no first ground, no homeland. By mutating its repetitions of previously used material, dub adds something new and distinctly uncanny, vaporizing into a kind is doppelgŠnger music. Despite the crisp attack of its drums and the heaviness of its bass, it swoops through empty space, spectral and disembodied. Like ganja, dub opens the "inner door." John Corbett even links the etymology of the word "dub" with duppie (Jamaican patois for ghost). Burning Spear entitled the dub version of his great Marcus Garvey album Garvey's Ghost, and Joe Gibbs responded to Lee Perry's production of Bob Marley's "Duppie Conqueror" with the cut "Ghost Capturer." Perry described dub as "the ghost in me coming out." Dub music not only drums up the ghost in the machine, but gives the ghost room to dance.

Mark Aubert's KNIGHTOWL TAPE -- free download

2008-08-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

click the image to download

Listening Booth: Witness

2008-08-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

click the image to listen

S. Maharba's "She" EP -- Free Download.

2008-08-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

click the image to download

This is an album that snuck up on me and now I find myself obsessed. S. Maharba makes truly intense music -- dark, weird, heavy, hynotic. It's become part of my creative process because it's ambient enough to let me think, but it's also so pretty that I get distracted.

Basically, I dig it. And I recommend it to you.

--Thirtyseven

Algorhythms -- Algorhythms EP (2008) -- Free Music

2008-08-08T17:32:00.000-07:00

click the image to download

I think this is the best work I've done in my life. Algorhythms is the hip hop project that I view as my life's work -- the rest is just fucking around. The group is born of a fortunate coincidence: Dr. Quandary is my favorite producer, and allegedly I'm his favorite rapper.

This EP is a meditation on the patterns and numbers that give meaning to our lives. I hope that doesn't sound too uppity. We've both put too much work and too much thought into this project, and I thank you for checking it out.

We also run World-Around Records and I keep a running journal about DIY hip hop, online marketing and the music business called Audible Hype.

--Thirtyseven

Greetings and Blessings.

2008-08-08T16:53:00.001-07:00

We are dedicated to hip hop that pushes boundaries, respects culture and life, and builds a better future. It also has to be DOPE.

This project is dedicated to Ganesha, our patron Godform, Vighnesha and Vighneshvara, and the Remover of Obstacles. This would all be impossible without you. Namaste.

We do not accept submissions at this time.

OUR TOP 10 PSYCHEDELIC HIP HOP VIDEOS

Rittz - "White Jesus"

Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire - "The Last Huzzah"

Kool Keith - "Bushman"

The Pharcyde - "Drop"

Madvillain - "All Caps"

Wu-Tang Clan - "Triumph"

Blackalicious - "Make You Feel That Way"

Afrofuturism

2008-08-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

Afrofuturism Wiki

Afrofuturism Resources

Another great source is myspace, surprisingly. The Afrofuturism Foundation offers the following gems:

Black Music

The afrofuturist approach to music was first propounded by the late Sun Ra. Born in Alabama, Sun Ra's music coalesced in Chicago in the mid-1950s, when he and his Arkestra began recording music that drew from hard bop and modal sources, but created a new synthesis which also used afrocentric and space-themed titles to reflects Ra's linkage of ancient African culture, specifically Egypt, and the cutting edge of the Space Age. Ra's film Space Is the Place shows the Arkestra in Oakland in the mid-1970s in full space regalia, with a lot of science fiction imagery as well as other comedic and musical material.

The afrofuturist cause was taken up in 1976 by George Clinton and his bands The Parliaments and Funkadelic with his magnum opus Mothership Connection and the subsequent The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein and P Funk Earth Tour. In the thematic underpinnings to P-Funk mythology ("pure cloned funk"), Clinton in his alter ego Starchild spoke of "certified Afronauts, capable of funkitizing galaxies."

Note: Democratic transhumanism, a term coined by Dr. James Hughes in 2002, refers to the stance of transhumanists (advocates of the ethical use of human enhancement technologies) who espouse liberal, social and/or direct democratic political views.

Thinking Out Loud With Thirtyseven

2008-08-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

There's an overdose of possible lineages, potential hidden masters, and just plain grey area. We can't even get into all the larger, weirder issues, but we can touch on 'em real quick:

1. Is language itself a psychoactive substance? If not a literal drug, perhaps a virus that exterts a biochemical effect on the human brain?

2. What kind of role did psychedelics play in the roots of human music and culture? Total unknown.

3. If you have a horrible experience on psychedelics that changes your life, would you necessarily want to talk about it?

No question, drugs were an important part of where the music came from. Whoever invented scratching was obviously very stoned indeed. And every mystic tradition knows that WORDSOUND HAVE POWER and some use it to empower, some use it to enslave. Both usually fail in their attempts.

Anyways, rappers have explicitly referenced psychedelics quite a bit, and Eminem definitely brought acid and mushrooms into more suburban brain pans than Bill Hicks ever did. Hieroglyphics and Blackalicious are obviously very sober people, and California being the occult vortex it is, the entire Bay Area scene has been tripping on something or other for decades now.

One of my favorite things about UK rappers is the heavy and heady sound -- very cannabis downtempo and sensual weird shit, much more interesting than what the US was doing back in the 90s. But of course that New York non-stop lyrical hardcore is the best possible music for getting way, way too high. It's like a direct brainlink with a total stranger that leaves you energized and spooked.