Happy Birthday, MS!

It all started with these posts and the concept to start a blog posting Hip Hop vs. Indie rock. That didn't really work out well and slowly transformed into a 'jazz hop blog' so to speak. An eclectic mixture of good music. Time flies, because today we can celebrate our Three Year Anniversary!!

I won't make this into an Oscar speech, but thanks to everyone who's involved throughout the years. Authors, visitors, fans, listeners, supporters, artists - it's great to have such a strong MS community! 3.6 million visits and 2.3 million unique visitors within three years is epic if you ask me.

And guess what? To celebrate our anniversary, we didn't do shit. Haha. But, because you might have missed some, here's a blast of all things we did throughout the years, in no particular order: Don't Sleep On x The Best So Far 1 (2008) x The Best So Far 2 (Stones Throw killed this one) x The Best So Far 3 x The Best So Far 4 (4CD) x Halftime comps x Morning Glory x Kaya comps x Around The World x Jazzy Goats x Brain Scratch x Forum 1 (R.I.P.) x Forum 2 x The Find Magazine (Five magazines) x Digging In The Blue x 2008 x 2009 x 2010 x 2011... Happy digging!

So, what's next? As always, four words: Can't stop won't stop. We'll go on with sharing the best music on this blog and on the forum. So stick with us!! Are you lazy and want us to update you? Then follow our crew on Facebook. On Twitter. On RSS. On Myspace (haha, Myspace). And we don't wanna sound like a bunch of beggars, but you can always donate a little something something on the right if you appreciate what we do. We have to invest $1.000+ in our next projects, a 7" vinyl release and new site for The Find, so we'd appreciate any kind of support.

So let's keep doing what we love to do people! Share music, leave comments, have fun, connect with us, download music and above all: support artists you love. Music is blooming lately, we're loving it!

Blue Scholars - Cinemetropolis (2011)

Genre: Hip Hop
Release: 2011
Preview

1. Cinemetropolis
2. Hussein
3. Fou Lee
4. Lalo Schifrin
5. Seijun Suzuki
6. Anna Karina
7. Marion Sunshine
8. Slick Watts
9. George Jackson
10. Oskar Barnack ∞ Oscar Grant
11. Yuri Kochiyama
12. Rani Mukerji
13. Tommy Chong
14. Chief Sealth
15. Fin

Download / SUPPORT

And, after our previous post, King Moo was kind enough to share the actual brand new album!! Thanks!

"After weighing all options for the release of our third full-length studio album, Cinemetropolis, we’ve decided to forego all traditional channels and return to the independent approach that made Blue Scholars who we are. No record label. No marketing and distribution deal. No middlemen. No bullsh*t.

Cinema has always played a major influence in Blue Scholars music, and this collection of songs is the most complete expression of that source of inspiration. During the creation of this collection of songs, an idea emerged: how does music influence cinema?"

Don't Sleep On... # 53: Blue Scholars - Bayani Redux (2009)

Genre: Hip Hop
Release: 2009
Preview

01 Baha’i Healing Prayer
02 Second Chapter
03 Opening Salvo
04 North By Northwest
05 Ordinary Guys
06 Still Got Love
07 Bayani
08 Loyalty
09 Fire For The People
10 Xenophobia
11 The Distance
12 Back Home
13 50 Thousand Deep
14 Morning Of America
15 Joe Metro
16 27
17 Southbound
18 Dawn Song (Feat. Shad)

Download
BUY

Now that their new album 'Cinematropolis' is out soon (song), I'm bumping some Blue Scholars again. It never gets old, especially the album 'Bayani' if you ask me. So, to make sure you don't forget or oversee this, here it's again. The Redux version with three extra songs, the re-release on Duck Down if I remember correctly - what ever happened with that deal by the way?

Click the tag below for more.

Misuccc - Soul Food (2011)

Genre: Hip Hop / Soul / Instrumental
Release: 2011
Preview/Info/More

1. Peace Of Mind
2. Koukou
3. Tauhiti
4. Soul Food
5. I’m So
6. L’air D’aitre
7. Hold Yourself
8. Coastin’
9. Love Steps
10. Check It Out
11. Quirky
12. Zaza
13. Boem Bap
14. Happy Days
15. And i Try
16. The Bad Man

Free Download

New album by Belgian producer Misuccc, consisting of soulful instrumentals. It's released on the young Deaf People Audio label, so check them out for more. And, as always, check out MS' big brother The Find Mag for more info - also about Misuccc.

Mayer Hawthorne - Impressions: The Covers EP (2011)

Genre: Soul / Funk / Covers
Release: 2011
Preview

01. The Isley Brothers - Work To Do
02. Chromeo - Don't Turn The Lights On
03. The Festivals - You've Got The Makings Of A Lover
04. Steve Salazar - Fantasy Girl
05. Jon Brion - Little Person
06. ELO - Mr. Blue Sky (Recorded at Dour Festival)

Free Download

A free full legal Mediafire download from Stones Throw?! Well, that's rare... Anyway, this is a new EP consisting of impressions/covers by Mayer Hawthorne (and his band The County) of the songs mentioned above. Download for free and head over to ST for descriptions of each song by Mayer himself.

Haven't checked this out myself yet, just got released, but knowing it's Mayer with such a line-up, I'm pretty sure it's good...

Fisto & Soul Square - Futur Vintage: Instrumental Version (2011)

Genre: Hip Hop / Jazz / Soul / Instrumental
Release: 2011
Preview

1. Fisto & Soul Square - Futur Vintage (Instrumental) 03:33
2. Fisto & Soul Square - Music (Instrumental) 02:42
3. Fisto & Soul Square - Décrocher Les Nuages (Instrumental) 04:01
4. Fisto & Soul Square - Erreur De Casting (Instrumental) 04:34
5. Fisto & Soul Square - Friandises (Instrumental) 04:45
6. Fisto & Soul Square - Friend Request (Instrumental) 03:30
7. Fisto & Soul Square - If I Could (Interlude) (Instrumental) 00:24
8. Fisto & Soul Square - Chaque Fois Que J'y Pense (Instrumental) 03:32
9. Fisto & Soul Square - One Life (Instrumental) 02:03
10. Fisto & Soul Square - Lettre De Non Motivation (Instrumental) 03:20
11. Fisto & Soul Square - Aucun Progrès (Instrumental) 04:00
12. Fisto & Soul Square - So Much To Say (Instrumental) 04:25
13. Fisto & Soul Square - Instant (Instrumental) 02:20
14. Fisto & Soul Square - Promesses Cassées (Instrumental) 03:10
15. Fisto & Soul Square - Les Soucis (Instrumental) 01:23
16. Fisto & Soul Square - L.O.V.E (Interlude) (Instrumental) 00:25

Free Download

Currently the Bandcamp accounts are out of free download credits, so you might try it later after May 19th!

The instrumentals of Fisto's album 'Future Vintage', entirely produced by Soul Square!! Great stuff, you can also cop the original album on iTunes. Click here for more Soul Square (interviews,  free mp3s, news) and here for more Fisto (news, videos). Enjoy and let us know what you think!!

Tokimonsta - Creature Dreams

Genre: Hip Hop/Instrumental/Electronic
Release: 2011
Preview

Tracklist:
01. Fallen Arches
02. Little Pleasures (feat. Gavin Turek)
03. Bright Shadows
04. Moving Forward
05. Stigmatizing Sex
06. Darkest (Dim) (feat. Gavin Turek)
07. Day Job

Download

AAAHAHAHAAAAA NEW TOKI SO EXCITED! She is getting better and better! Saw her live twice in like 9 months... first was pretty dope. second time was MADNESS, She is way too fly.

Thanks to Dwii from the forum

The Soul Providers & Lee Fields - Gimme The Paw

Genre:Funk/Soul
Release:2000
Preview

Tracklist:
1. Steam Train (3:08)
2. Gimmie The Paw (3:46)
3. Huh! Funky Rudolph Strud (2:27)
4. I'm a Good Man (5:32)
5. Who Knows (3:20)
6. Switchblade (3:37)
7. Let A Man Do What He Wanna Do (3:00)
8. Soul Tequila (3:26)
9. The Landlord (2:34)
10. Lea's Rice Pudding (3:11)
11. (Hey, Hey) Mister Brown (4:05)
12. Mr Kesselman, Pt 1 (2:56)
13. Mr Kesselman, Pt 2 [Instrumental] (2:45)

Download


Before Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings... There was this.
Switchblade is (I think) Sharon's earliest solo feature...

"Jones was the only one of three singers who were called into the session to show. Having completed all the backing parts herself, Roth and Lehman were suitably impressed with her performance and recorded "Switchblade", a solo track with Jones. This track and "The Landlord" were included on the Soul Providers' album Soul Tequila, released by Philip Lehman on Pure circa 1996. The Soul Providers—with members of the Brooklyn, New York City, bands Antibalas and the Mighty Imperials—would later go on to form the Dap-Kings, Jones' current backing band."[2]

Ill Biskits - Chronicles Of Two Losers (1995)

Genre: Hip Hop / 90s
Release: 1995
Preview

01. Chronicle I
02. Exclusive Debut
03. Chill Factor
04. A Better Day
05. Chronicle II
06. Broker Than Ever
07. Illustrations
08. God Bless Your Life
09. Let 'Em Know
10. Chronicle III
11. Bare Essentials
12. Place To Be
13. Escape The Funk
14. Recognize
15. 22 Years
16. Hypnotic Blessings (God Bless Your Life Remix)
17. Beyond Understanding (1994 Demo Mix)
18. Chill Factor (Instrumental)
19. God Bless Your Life (Instrumental)
20. Hypnotic Blessings (God Bless Your Life Remix) (Instrumental)

Download

More than 15 years late, but thanks to long-time MS collaborator and illustrator Dwii for the heads up about this one!

'Formed in Petersburg, Virginia in the early 90s, The Ill Biskits released their 1st single on the independent NYC label Khari Entertainment in 1994. The single, "God Bless Your Life" contains the rare and much sought after BSide track "22 Years", which was produced by none other than, Hip Hop legend Lord Finesse.
The single generated a solid buzz and earned the duo strong spins at College radio and Hip Hop stations in Chicago, New York and San Francisco as well as with mixtape DJ's at clubs across the US. In 1995, after getting the attention of major label Atlantic Records, the duo signed an album deal, and went onto to release two more singles; the rerelease of "God Bless Your Life" (minus the cuts contained on the Khari Ent. 12") and "Chill Factor b/w Hypnotic Blessings".
The full-length album, "Chronicle Of Two Losers", was completed, but never commercially released. However, promo copies of the album were pressed and released in very limited numbers on CD & Cassette only.'

AGQ - Early Morning Stories

Genre: Hip Hop / Jazz / Soul / Instrumental
Release: 2011
Preview

01. The Feeling
02. Love Language
03. Lights Dimming
04. Pulsemuzik (feat. Wildelux)
05. Whispers
06. Mental Prison (feat. SmooVth)
07. While You Sleep
08. Candle Lights
09. Broken Melodies
10. Nitro (feat. Hus)
11. Corners
12. Samurai Rhymes (feat. Prolifical & Big Pooh)
13. Lost Flowers
14. 1245
15. Our Lives
16. Nitro (feat. Hus) (RIP Nujabes Remix)

Download

Thanks to thug_nigga over at LastFM for the recommendation!! Add yours truly as well if you are on LFM.

"Digi Crates Records release from Spain's own soul producer, AGQ, entitled 'Early Morning Stories'. The album features, SmooVth, Big Pooh, Prolifical, Hus, and Wildelux. Early Morning Stories is available now @ iTunes and all other major digital retailers, CD available May."

Just Jay (of 1773) - Living On Borrowed Beats (2011)

Genre: Hip Hop
Release: 2011
Preview (Borrowed Beat: Bonobo ft. Andreya Triana)

1. Mysterious Vibes
2. Give em the heat feat. Ezekiel 38
3. Break
4. Can we
5. never never
6. The Keeper Feat. Andreya Triana
7. hongry
8. Hello
9. sonic controller
10. world full of sadness
11. stay with me feat. Natalie Oliveri
12. Going all in
13. rock on
14. gunmakaz outro

Free Download

As the name implies, ‘Living On Borrowed Beats’ is an album consisting of ‘borrowed beats’ with new fresh vocals by Just Jay on it. This release features work by Tall Black Guy, 14KT, AFTA – 1, 100 Akres, Bonobo, Beat Maker Beat, Full Crate, Natalie Oliveri and Ezekiel 38.

This album is proudly presented by The Find Magazine!

Elhuana - Snow

Genre: Hip Hop
Release: 2010

Tracklist:
01. Snow feat. DJ Phunk’ill
02. Hard Work feat. Pacoe The Illiterate
03. No Matter feat. June Marx
04. Connection feat. Freeform Logistics
05. Relations… feat. Paw-Dukes
06. Not A Game
07. Alive feat. Adru The Misphit
08. Desde feat. Vida Killz
09. Later feat. Respect Tha God & L.I.F.E. Long

Bandcamp Listen and Download

One of the MANY awesome artists on the bloody fantastic Fallen Skies compilation by Bob42jh! So glad Mister Bob led me to this polish cat Elhuana.

The Brotherhood - Elementalz

Genre: Hip Hop
Release: 1996
Preview

Tracklist:
01. One3
02. Alphabetical Response
03. Nothing In Particular
04. Mad Headz
05. On The Move
06. Goin' Undaground
07. Punk Funk
08. You Gotta Life
09. One Shot
10. Incredible
11. Clunk Click
12. Nominate
13. Dark Stalkers
14. British Accent
15. Pride (Revisited)

Download


Mad props to Dwii for this dope old school UK hip hop on tEh f0RuMz.

Jonwayne - Bowser

Genre: Wonky/Glitch/8 Bit
Release: 2011
Preview

Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Andrew
3. Darwing
4. Time Trial
5. Trilla G
6. Dreamland
7. Featuring Mndsgn
8. Bowser I (Sigma Head)
9. Crumbled Luna
10. Beady Bablo
11. Bowser II
12. White Specks in a Black Cloud
13. 1 for Wily
14. Mario is Missing
15. Longest Night
16. Progstep
17. Tomato Purge
18. Be Honest
19. Outro

Download

Many thanks to Sector7G for this and many other wonky/future beat whatever it is releases on tEh f0RuMz.

Kartell - Fresh Memories EP

Genre: House / Disco
Release: 2010
Preview

Tracklist:
1. Get Down
2. Get Over You
3. Disco Glitch
4. Shiny Gloves
5. Like A Sunset
6. Get Over You (Quinten 909 Remix)
7. Get Down (Go Go Bizkitt Remix)
8. Get Down (Mix Chopin Remix)
9. Get Down (Cheap Kidz Remix)

Download

Big thanks to Rocket Shinobi for mentioning this over at tEh f0RuMz
Deeeefinitely daaancing to this shizz.

Kero One - Windmills of the Soul (Instrumentals)

Genre: Hip Hop/Instrumental
Release: 2007
Preview

Tracklist:
01. Windmills Beats
02. Give Thanks
03. Musical Journey
04. My Story
05. In A Dream
06. Tempted
07. In All The Wrong Places
08. Keep It Alive!
09. The Cycle Repeats featuring DJ Seoul Control
10. Fly Fly Away
11. Check The Blueprints
12. Space Cadets (Bonus Track)
13. Just Groovin' Homes (Bonus Track)


Download

Classic album! The instrumentals, 2 Songs not on album!

Garion - Garion

Genre: Hip Hop
Release: 2004
Preview


Tracklist:
01 가리온
02 뿌리깊은 나무
03 언더그라운드
04 마르지 않는 펜
05 엉터리 학생
06 옛 이야기
07 이렇게
08 회상
09 시간의 여행자
10 자장가
11 나이테
12 음의 여백
13 언더그라운드 리믹스
14 자장가 리믹스


Download

Korean hip hop I believe (forgive me if I`m wrong) No clue what they are saying but the beats are pretty awesome and I enjoy the flows.

Hard Mix - Defaults

Genre: Chillwave
Release: 2011
Preview

Tracklist:
01. The Ones We Read
02. Now Her
03. Coasting Earth
04. For Me
05. Late Night Visions
06. Memories
07. I m Gone
08. Fell Off Somewhere
09. Bright Eyed Child
10. 1997

Download free by 'Liking' Dovecote Records on Fbook

Some pretty awesome songs on here, chillwave stuff, ethereal synths and smooth samples. Found this cat cause Star Slinger did a split 7" with him

Nujabes & L-Universe - Ain't No Mystery Remixes (2001)

Genre: Hip Hop
Release: 2001
Preview

Tracklist:
1. Ain't No Mystery
2. Ain't No Mystery (Remix)
3. Ain't No Mystery (Monorisick Remix)

Download

Was browsing Nujabes 7" and 12" releases to try and find an affordable vinyl to purchase of the late great producer. Came across this track with an awesome remix too, not on any of the albums, I hadn't heard this before. Nujabes is always awesome. RIP. This DL doesn`t have the same tracklist as Discogs release but whatevs.
Link again happens to be from from anook

Sizzla Kalonji - Select Tracks

Genre: Reggae
Preview

Tracks Included:
Give Me a Try
Rain Showers
That`s Why
Do Some Good
Somehow
Woman I Need You
Blackness
I Was Born
Love Amongst My Brethren
Love Is The Way
Better Tomorrow
Be Strong
Just One of Those Days
`Til It Some More
Explain to the Almighty
Show Us the Way
Questions
Beautiful World
Beautiful Day
Jah Blessing (feat. Luciano)

Download (Link is good now, I linked the wrong thing initially my bad Blame the orange hairs...)

Ever since I was introduced to Sizzla by a friend from St. Lucia, he has been one of my favorite reggae artists. He has put out an unreasonable volume of work, over 45 solo albums! I collected some of my favorites to share because it is starting to be Summer time.... mm Reggae and Sunshine.

heRajiKa Tracks - Love Universal

Genre: Hip Hop / Jazz / Instrumental
Release: 2011
Preview

Tracklist:
01. Intro
02. Hu-getsu
03. I Believe
04. Shigure
05. Fragment
06. Higurashi
07. Celebration
08. Footsteps
09. Memory Lane
10. Dreaming
11. Meguri
12. Pavane
13. Love Universal

Download

Great jazzy stuff! Thanks to NHK once again up ons teh Forum

Something Wicked - Trichomes

Genre: Hip Hop/Funk/Soul/Reggae/Indie
Release: 2011 Mix
Preview Listen on Mixcloud

1. Guts - Intro
2. Jerzy Milian - Gacek
3. Mos Def - Priority
4. Star Slinger - Remedy
5. Buju Banton - Judgement Morning
6. Afu-Ra - Equality
7. Shuggie Otis - Aht Uh Mi Head
8. Tiro de Gracia - Sueños
9. Dreams - Believe
10. Hooray for Earth - True Loves
11. Blackbird Blackbird - Ups & Downs
12. Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Band - Express Yourself
13. N.W.A. - Express Yourself
14. Aretha Franklin - The Weight
15. Jay Dee - Stop
16. Modill - Heated Preposition
17. MF DOOM - Vomitspit
18. Galt Macdermot - And He Will Not Come Again
19. Wax Tailor - Que Sera
20. Oliver Sacks & Letherette - Synesthesia In July Focus

Time it takes for the music to stop: 43:16

Download

Hey MS, This is a mix from my radio show, chopped out the commercials and my rambling. It is kind of schizophrenic in nature, several genres in there not just hip hop.

Ben The Ace - Skull Session

Removed after complaints


Edit: Sorry guys, i forgot the download link. Don't blame me blame the Buddha Cheese.

Resolved Dissonance - Never Been (2009)

Genre: Hip Hop / Jazz
Release: 2011
Preview

Tracklist:
1. Never Been Worse
2. By Heart
3. Life's a Bitch [rdmx]
4. Codeine Dreams (feat. Spearman)
5. Interlude
6. You're Lovely
7. Detached
8. Summer With You
9. Never Been Better

Download

Sameer Kalra (aka RD) is a student at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. By day, he's holed up in lecture theaters, chemistry laboratories and that sketchy corner of the library. But by night (perhaps because of his self-diagnosed insomnia), he lazily crafts instrumentals that subtly grab your most disguised emotions.

Bob42jh - Fallen Skies (2011)

Genre: Hip Hop / Soul / Jazz / Japan / Instrumental
Release: 2011
Preview

01. Oneday(Prayer For Love And Peace) – Uyama Hiroto
02. New Moon – Kenichiro Hidefumi
03. Count Me Out – AstroLogical
04. Sky High – Thomas Prime
05. Tone of Mind – Avens & BAHЯ
06. September in my ears – Billa Quase
07. Variance – Aether
08. Eternal Quake – QUIET JAM
09. 秋, 彩々 – Ros
10. Cold Flour – Bona Fat
11. Hourglass – Laugh
12. Farewell – Slimheaton
13. Dream… – 익스플로시브 에이(Explosive A)
14. Deep Forest – Otokaze
15. Keep in Touch – Cafe De Lux
16. Chto-To He Tak – Galagan
17. Her Farewell – 少先组 aka Clown
18. Don’t forget love – Avens
19. Algernon Supernova – DJ Whitesmith
20. Forest Bathing – Tsunenori
21. Rainbow Trees – Robert de Boron
22. All Those Moments – Suburban
23. Im Official – Clams Casino
24. Moonlight Cruisin – elhuana
25. nomer – луч
26. Janijani – Amenomuraqumo
27. True Love – Semantic Noise
28. You never know – The Deadbeats
29. Fighting Stance – Josh Furey
30. Distant Rhythms – Breezewax
31. Loneliness – Daskmathic
32. Long Misty Blue – Frenic
33. 幻草～gensow～ – 奇憶
34. Night of White Flies (ft Long Arm) – Fiji
35. Миф – Moonbeam
36. Plan B – The Sound Defects
37. Without You – Cayetano
38. Sorrow – CeeY
39. You Gots To Chill – Michita
40. YukiOnna – Edward Frost
41. Герман и Патрик – Krec
42. the gentle afternoon – Takahiro Kido

Free Download Here

It's great news that 'youtuber' Bob42jh joined The Find Mag's crew to release his upcoming compilations. This is his new one, released yesterday, which marks the 2 year anniversary of his Youtube channel.  It includes new exclusive material by the likes of Thomas Prime, Avens and Bahr. But besides that expect tracks by Bona Fat, Michita, Valentin, Raujika, Frenic, 少先组 aka Clown, QUIET JAM, Slimheaton, Breezewax and many more. 42 artists, 42 tracks. For free.

Download the compilation for free above on TheFindMag.com Also, don't forget to be a part of the Facebook page or Twitter to stay updated about Bob42jh's compilations, new posts on The Find and good music in general. No spam, all we do is share good music with you!!