Music for Perfect People

“The RE:GENERATION MUSIC PROJECT produced in association with The GRAMMYs® examines the history of different music through the eyes of five of the most influential electronic producer/DJ’s in music today. Mark Ronson, DJ Premier, The Crystal Method, Pretty Lights and Skrillex each take a specific musical style and explore it by writing and recording a brand new track with a grouping of influential collaborators in that genre.” [via]

The track “Breakn’ A Sweat” features up and coming dubstep producer Skrillex as he combines forces with the remaining members of The Doors.

DJ Premier’s tracks “Regeneration” features Nas and the Berklee Symphony Orchestra.

Pretty Lights’ “Wayfaring Stranger” features LeAnn Rimes and Dr. Ralph Stanley.

The Crystal Method’s track features Martha Reeves and the Funk Brothers.

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Freedom or Death posted an electro/folk cover of NAS‘ hit “If I Ruled the World.” Get hip to the original track and check out FOD’s take below ..

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Another remix for Gil Scott-Heron’s track “New York is Killing Me” has emerged and this time, Mos Def has made its way onto the track. In case you missed it, Nas has previously remixed the track.  Thanks to the bears over at We Wore Masks for the find!

DOWNLOAD :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [REMIX ft. Mos Def] – [MP3]

-Mangtooth

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• LISTEN :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [Nas remix]
• DOWNLOAD :: Gil-Scott Heron – “NY Is Killing Me” [Hoodie Allen REMIX]
• ALBUM STREAM :: Gil-Scott Heron x Jamie xx – ‘We’re New Here’
• LISTEN :: Gil Scott-Heron – “I’ll Take Care Of U” [Jamie xx REMIX]
• VIDEO :: Gil Scott-Heron – “NY Is Killing Me” [Jamie xx REMIX]

A little over a month after the release of Gil Scott-Heron’s I’m New Here, Nas has remixed the track “New York is Killing Me” and taken it to the next level. Check out the Nas remix + the original track below ..

DOWNLOAD :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [Nas remix] – [MP3]

-Mangtooth

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• REMIX :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [ft. Mos Def]
• DOWNLOAD :: Gil-Scott Heron – “NY Is Killing Me” [Hoodie Allen REMIX]
• ALBUM STREAM :: Gil-Scott Heron x Jamie xx – ‘We’re New Here’
• LISTEN :: Gil Scott-Heron – “I’ll Take Care Of U” [Jamie xx REMIX]
• VIDEO :: Gil Scott-Heron – “NY Is Killing Me” [Jamie xx REMIX]

Thoko, the man who brought you the Outkast remix + the Nirvana remix, has done it again! This past weekend, the electro/house star released a brand spankin’ new remix of the classic Biggie track from the 90′s “Mo Money Mo Problems”

On top of that remix, “Fading Lights” by Jessika Zen has been mashed-up with the following: Flashback (Wolfgang Gartner) / We Are The People (Empire of the Sun) / Your Da Man (Nas).”

Its a mouthtful to say and a large amount of letters  to read BUT a lot of great music to dance your ass off to.

-Mnagtooth

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• MP3 :: Freedom or Death – “If I Ruled the World” [NAS cover]
• MP3 :: Deadmau5 + Wolfgang Gartner – “Animal Rights” [Dylan Sanders Re-Blast]
• LISTEN :: Deadmau5 & Wolfgang Gartner – “Animal Rights”

The album we reported on back in February by Nas and Damian Marley now has a name and a release date.  The album is to be titled Distant Relatives and will be released some time in June.  As previously reported, proceeds from the album will go to help children in Africa in some way.   Nas and Jr. Gong first worked together on the song Road to Zion from Damian Marley’s   2005 album Welcome to Jamrock.

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• Back in the game…
• LISTEN :: ‘RE:GENERATION’ tracks from Skrillex x The Doors, Pretty Lights, DJ Premier, and The Crystal Method
• MP3 :: Freedom or Death – “If I Ruled the World” [NAS cover]
• REMIX :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [ft. Mos Def]
• LISTEN :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [Nas remix]

Nas and Michael Rappaport have teamed up to make a documentary about A Tribe Called Quest.  Q-Tip gave footage from the film his blessing last night as he tweeted: “… I’m not just saying it its FUCKING AMAZING!!! Can’t wait for yall to see this !”.  Nas is producing and Rappaport directs.  This isn’t the first time Mike has collabo’d with a prominent member of the hip hop community.

In other  hip hop-film crossover news, Kanye West and Spike Jonze are back together again, this time working on a fifteen minute long “Thriller style” short film for Yeezy’s song “See You In My Nightmares”.  I’m not familiar with the song because I refused to buy 808′s…but I’m expecting this to not be like Thriller at all. 

Apparently Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Eazy-E’s widow will be producing a film about NWA called Straight Outta Compton.  Paste Magazine reports the film is going to be a biopic in the same vein as Notorious.  Wouldn’t this technically be an autobiopic?  

What’s that?  You’re tired of movie news?  You want some news that’s actually about music?  Steve Martin made a banjo record.  You can read about it here.  How’s that for music news?

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• LISTEN :: Kanye West – “Monster” [Teachers REMIX]

Some dude named Henry Adaso wrote an article for About.com called 10 Greatest Hip-Hop Battles (and their winners).  Here’s a list of the matchups and videos of the tracks powerful enough to end beef.  Feel free to debate both the rankings of these beefs, and the winners of these beefs in the comments section.

10. Kool Moe Dee vs. Busy Bee

9. Eminem vs. The Source

Winner: Eminem – The Sauce

8. Eazy-E vs. Dr. Dre

Winner: Dr. Dre – Dre’s Day

7. Canibus vs. LL Cool J

Winner: Canibus – 2nd Round KO

6. Common vs. Westside Connection

Winner: Common – The Bitch in Yoo

5. Ice Cube vs. NWA

Winner: Ice Cube – No Vaseline

4. Kool Moe Dee vs. LL Cool J

Winner: LL Cool J – Jack the Ripper

3. Boogie Down Productions vs. Juice Crew

Winner: Boogie Down Productions

2. 2Pac vs. Biggie

Winner: 2Pac – Hit ‘Em Up (Hard to choose a song)

1. Jay-Z vs. Nas

Winner: Nas – Ether

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The Rothbury Festival (July 4th weekend in MI) has announced their line up, putting all other festies to shame. Shame and embarrassment.

Some of the artists:

The Dead

Bob Dylan

The Black Crowes

String Cheese Incident

Damien Marley and Nas

Willie Nelson

Ani Difranco

Jackie Greene

Kid Cudi

Any festival that allows me to see both Bob Dylan and Nas has done something incredibly right.

Related Posts:

• LISTEN :: ‘RE:GENERATION’ tracks from Skrillex x The Doors, Pretty Lights, DJ Premier, and The Crystal Method
• MP3 :: Freedom or Death – “If I Ruled the World” [NAS cover]
• REMIX :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [ft. Mos Def]
• LISTEN :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [Nas remix]
• LISTEN :: Two new tracks from Thoko

I normally shy away from any mainstream hip-hop publication, because, well,  normally they are devoid of any substance.  However, this month’s XXL has earned a one issue pass because of their look back at Nas’ Illmatic.

The piece features input from Nas, AZ, DJ Premier, Large Professor, MC Serch and Q-Tip as well as other cohorts.  Illmatic is, in my humble opinion, unequivocally the greatest hip-hop album ever recorded. What Nas does with the human language, the way he says something, his descriptions, his slang…it’s highly evolved and has not been challenged in the 15 years since the albums release.

Go get XXL.

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• LISTEN :: ‘RE:GENERATION’ tracks from Skrillex x The Doors, Pretty Lights, DJ Premier, and The Crystal Method
• MP3 :: Freedom or Death – “If I Ruled the World” [NAS cover]
• REMIX :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [ft. Mos Def]
• LISTEN :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [Nas remix]
• LISTEN :: Two new tracks from Thoko

Well, I have nothing of true importance to write about, so in honor of the late great Radio Raheem I’m just going to throw up a handful of songs that are helping me get through my day.

Note: Songs sound best coming out of a gigantic radio perched upon your shoulder.

Keep It Thoro-Prodigy

If you’re feeling extra tough this morning listen to Prodigy rip this Alchemist beat. Try to maintain a sneer in the corner of your mouth for the entire track then punch a co-worker in the face.

Live At the Barbecue-Main Source featuring Nas and Akinyele

Main Source remains one of the most overlooked groups ever. Their albums are worth the listen for Large Professor’s production alone.

This track, however, is more about Nas than Main Source. Live At the Barbecue was the worlds introduction to the Queens MC, who was just 18 at the time. Nas takes advantage of the shine and recites one of the best and most well known verses in the history of hip-hop.

Side Note: This also features Akinyele of “‘Put It In Your Mouth” fame.

Deception-Blackalicious

Blackalicious’ cautionary tale of fame and money from Nia.

Props to Gift of Gab for being both really good at words and having diabetes.

Buck’em Down-Black Moon

Listen to this. Buck’em Down is the epitome of early 90′s New York hip-hop, and why that era was so special for the music. The track is a perfect marriage of the styles of the time, blending the grimy tough talk of artists like Kool G Rap with the breezy production of A Tribe Called Quest.

98′ Freestyle-Big L

This is the full Big L freestyle from the Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito show. The first verse was later lifted for The Big Picture, Big L’s posthumous release.

The verses are filled with great punchlines that showcase why Big L was on the verge of becoming very popular right before his murder (the rumor is Jay-Z wanted the Harlem rapper on his Roc-A-Fella roster badly, although L always maintained he wanted to stay independent and build his own version of Hov’s empire).

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• MP3 :: Freedom or Death – “If I Ruled the World” [NAS cover]

So Detox might actually come out…

New leak from the Doctor’s allusive next opus.  Decent track. Chorus is kind of bad and same ol’ same ol’ lyrics, but this will probably grow on me.

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• MP3 :: Freedom or Death – “If I Ruled the World” [NAS cover]

Sorry for the serious lack of posts the last few days; the Funky Diabetic and I were on our annual vision quest (I’m a hawk, he’s a butterfly).  Lot’s of things happened when we were gone. 

First off, it looks like Chris Brown’s days are numbered.  It’s been a while since a rapper called his shot the way Jay-Z did when he said “Chris is a walking dead man.  He messed with the wrong crew.”  Apparently Jay-Z is weirdly protective of Rihanna (suitors ask his permission to speak to her), and Chris got all Ike and Tina with her the night before the Grammys.  In the end we got Al Green and JT instead of Chris and Rihanna.  I’d say thats an upgrade. 

Nas is back in the studio and this time he’s working with Damian Marley on an album that he says will help build schools in Africa.   It’s all promises right now though as no title or release date has been announced as of yet.

Apparently the Valentines Day EP worked.  It was announced the day Ryan Adams dropped Extra Cheese that he and Mandy Moore are now engaged.  I was about to make a joke about possible collabo’s, but then I remembered that Ryan Adams will be retiring in a couple months.  If there is one thing I remember from my days watching Entourage, it’s that Mandy Moore can’t be trusted.  She did it to Aqua Man and she can do it to you RyRy.

You can now see the trailer for Wilco’s new live concert DVD Ashes of American Flags at Wilco World.  It has been reported that the track list consists of Ashes of American Flags, Side With the Seeds, Handshake Drugs, The Late Greats, Kingpin, Wishful Thinking, Impossible Germany, Via Chicago, A Shot in the Arm, Monday, You Are My Face, Heavy Metal Drummer, and War on War (Thanks Hidden Track).  

There is an amazing interview with The Dead over at JamBase.  I seriously suggest you read it if you plan on seeing the boys this year or if you’ve ever enjoyed any type of music. 

Also, it was reported earlier this week that the University of South Carolina marching band accompanied Radiohead at the Grammy’s earlier this week.  This mistake probably would have gone unnoticed if I didn’t make my family read my website on a daily basis, and if my sister wasn’t a proud alumni of the University of Southern California.  The band that accompanied Radiohead at the Grammy’s was from the University of Southern California, which makes a lot more sense because school is in session and the Grammy’s were at the Staples Center, just a couple of 70 degree miles from the Trojan campus.   (thank you K-Trane)

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Nas – One Mic

Related Posts:

• LISTEN :: ‘RE:GENERATION’ tracks from Skrillex x The Doors, Pretty Lights, DJ Premier, and The Crystal Method
• MP3 :: Freedom or Death – “If I Ruled the World” [NAS cover]
• REMIX :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [ft. Mos Def]
• LISTEN :: Gil Scott-Heron – “New York is Killing Me” [Nas remix]
• LISTEN :: Two new tracks from Thoko

Sunday’s free concert at the Lincoln Memorial was a very memorable few hours. A lot of great performances and speeches from great acts. Even the artists I usually detest sounded better because of the occasion. Yesterday’s afternoon mega-concert was just the beginning however, as the next few days will be see DC turn into the promised land for music. Aretha Franklin, The Dead, Jay-Z, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, The Beastie Boys…

The two shows that I would wrestle a bear to go see (but not deal with a 7 hour drive and Inaug traffic) are Spearhead with Talib Kweli and a bill with Robert Randolph and Nas together. Bangarang Rufio.

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