I really like this album. Got some nice jazzy tracks.  “Early Dayz Amazement” and “Passin’ By” in particular vibe nicely for me.  If you don’t know these cats, check this out if you like Insight, Nujabes, Y Society, Panacea, Cyne, etc. Cop this here and check out their MySpace.

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This is an album that caught my eye because of the MC name Elemental Zazen. Listened to it and liked it. Then read a bit about it and theres a unique, fairly remarkable backstory to this album…. so if you don’t read the whole quoted blurb I post, just read this one sentence and cop this album here.

“Recorded during his recovery from brain surgery to remove a malignant tumor, this is boom-bap hip-hop layered with live instrumentation from a revolutionary MC with an aggressive athletic flow, with political and personal lyrics.”

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Amadou & Mariam are a blind married couple from Bamako, Mali, who have been catapulted into the heights of the world music scene following their Manu Chao produced album Dimanche a Bamako from 2005. This release had to be excellent to follow their previous album and it certainly delivered in my opinion, and also showed the duo showcasing some interesting collaborations while sticking to their roots on other tracks. Damon Albarn (of Gorillaz and Blur) produced several songs which was a surprise to me. The hipsters over at Pitchfork Media placed the Albarn produced track “Sabali” at #15 in the Top 100 Tracks of ‘08. All in all, this is a fantastic and diverse record from Amadou and Mariam, and certainly one that should not be missed. One of my favorite releases of the year. Look out for a guest appearance from Somalian MC K’naan, and many other artists. Purchase Welcome to Mali here.

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Here is a seriously excellent instrumental album from Paris born beat maker Guts. His music is heavily influenced by legends like KRS-One, Public Enemy, Run DMC The Roots, and A Tribe Called Quest but his music remains wildly original. Le Bienheureux is solid all the way through, reminiscent of RJD2 and a bit like Nightmares on Wax with more boom bap. ”And The Living is Easy!!!” is one of my favorite songs I have heard in a long time. Check out the MySpace and cop this record here.

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This is for you John Moca (with more to come). Here is an excellent record from Brazilian MC Marcelo D2, À Procura Da Batida Perfeita, or Looking for the Perfect Beat, an Afrika Bambaataa reference, produced by Beastie Boys producer Mario Caldato. It has a really great Brazilian flavor to it with samba infused beats and upbeat tropical lyricism. Unlike many Brazilian MCs, D2 has turned his focus away from gangster life in the favelas and consequently gives us a glimpse of the beach, paradise land of Brazil we dream of through hip hop and samba. Make sure to buy this here.

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Yanase Productions brings us this great japanese jazz hop instrumental album by Kondor. Peace of Mind is a definite must for fans of the Japanese jazz hop movement. The production is reminiscent of Nujabes, Uyama Hiroto, Nomak, and Himuki. The beats are all nice jazzy soulful numbers with plenty of piano, strings, and that boom bap we all love. Make sure to support the artists and purchase this record here.

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I am a big fan of Blu Rum 13, this is his first solo effort from 2002. For those of you that are not familiar (or only Vaguely Familiar), he was the MC for Kid Koala’s funk group Bullfrog under the moniker Killer Platypus, and also a third of the supergroup One Self with DJ Vadim and Yarah Bravo. This record has a really abstract jazzy vibe. I highly recommend it.

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Hello everybody. I am a new contributer, and I’ll be posting under the pseudonym Esperanza.

This is Surreal’s excellent latest album Pardon My Dust, released October 14th, 2008. Be sure to support the artist and pick up your own copy here.

In the year 2006, Surreal released two records within three months of each other. One with long time friend DJ Balance titled, “Future Classic”, released on the Hip Hop is Music label, owned and operated by Braille of Lightheaded. Future Classic spent five weeks at the number one spot on the College Music Journal Hip Hop charts. The other record was with a group Surreal had been a long time fan of, The Sound Providers. The True Indeed album was a landmark for Surreal. “Finding out the SP’s wanted to do a whole record with me was a day I won’t soon forget.” The Sound Providers have been around since 1998 and have a stellar track record. They are very particular with who they work with. “Surreal’s a natural, we’re cut from the same cloth. He makes it look so easy. In my opinion he’s one of the better songwriters of his generation,” says Soulo from the Sound Providers. “True Indeed” is one of those records that will age like fine wine.

In May of 2007, Jeremy began a career in film making. He and his family now live in Los Angeles, where he directs music videos, films, and specializes in motion graphics. “Pardon my Dust” is Surreal’s fifth studio album. Japanese label, Subcontact will release this Japan exclusive at the end of 2008. “Pardon my Dust is a record I’m really excited about. I was in school for a year and didn’t really have the time to make a new album, but now I do and can’t wait to release it.” The record will feature production by Ohmega Watts, Dirty Hairy, Dela, and many others.

WHAT’S NEXT?

In the near future Surreal has three records set to drop. Another with the Sound Providers, another on Hip Is Music, and a collaboration with Los Angeles producer Dert and Norwegian songstress Carolyn Furoyen. It’s been a long road for Surreal, he’s rocked the stage with some of his heroes, recorded with some of his favorite artists, traveled to over 30 countries, and released five records
“With this thing we call Art, I’ve learned a valuable lesson. We don’t actually create anything, we’re just uncovering what was already there. I guess what I’m good at is dusting off the sounds and things we’ve let get buried in time, so if we shake hands or bump elbows, pardon my dust.”

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