Long Arm - The Branches

So I look in my queue tonight of about 50+ records waiting to be spun. I come across the album Long Arm - The Branches with no recollection of when I got the record (This is common with me, when I leave my queue to grow too long)

Anyway, after playing the first couple of tracks, I'm quickly reminded why I chose to add it to my collection. What can only be described as a combination of smooth jazz incorporated with abstract instrumental hip-hop fused together. You can't help but feel a strong self and a connection to the natural world around you when this is playing.

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DJ Mitsu The Beats & Fat Loop - Loop Amplitude (2011)

Fat Loop is a band from Japan that specializes in live instrumentation of hip-hop tracks. Lucky for us, they cover a vast array of hip-hop classics, but also put a new mind-blowing spin on each track. Mixed by DJ Mitsu The Beats, a incredibly gifted producer in his own right, this is a must have album.

Featuring live covers of tracks such as "Big Poppa", "They Reminisce Over You", "'93 Til' Infinity", and "Electric Relaxtion", this is an amazing project you shouldn't be able to pass up. I literally just found out about this today and I have a feeling it's going to stay in rotation indefinitely. This is essentially an unheard of album, if last.fm charts mean anything. Barely any listeners. Don't sleep! Streams and link after the jump.

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Upcoming Artist: Boho Fau & Elevated Soul: Coffee House Swinger: Brewing Sessions (2011)

I present to you another up and coming artist, Boho Fau & Elevated Soul. I've given you a sample of some of their songs on my previous jazz hop mixtapes. This pretty much the epitome of jazz hop: melodic samples, laid back lyrics, and great vibes. Check out after the jump a bandcamp link towards a free download of their newest release. I promise you won't be disappointed.


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Justice System - Rooftop Soundcheck (1994)

Yeah, this was the best picture I could find.

Blast from the past! I decided to bump this album from my very first blog, as I posted it back in the good year 2008. Anyways, Justice System is one of my proudest discoveries of all-time. Hailing from New York, this is pure live, instrumental hip-hop. Kind of like a poor man's Roots, they definitely give them a run for their money.

Their material is really hard to come by, and they don't get the credit they deserve. Some of the best live instrumentals I've ever heard in my life, and the MC personifies that gritty and funky vibe that all rappers had in New York in the early 90's. Did I mention this dropped in 1994? As in the best year for hip-hop? Thought so.

I will disown you if you pass this up. One of the few albums I have with all 5 stars and at least 15 listens to each song. Dope certified hip-hop classic. Check out the streams and link below if you still ain't convinced.


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Upcoming Artist: Trebles And Blues - The Blue Note (2011)

Perhaps a new "segment" in this blog is featuring virtually undiscovered artists i've found around the internet...and almost always at Last.FM (if you haven't made a last.fm profile yet, slap yourself). Shown to me by my home girl from Finland, Trebles and Blues is a hip-hop producer out of Los Angeles who makes soulful and jazzy beats. 

It usually takes a lot for me to listen to a new artist (since I have a shitload of music already on my computer I haven't listened to still), but I can never turn down some good ol' jazz hop. And let me tell you -- this is PERFECT summer music. Official artist bio and link to their bandcamp below.

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Cradle Orchestra - Velvet Ballads (2009)

Don't let the group name mislead you, this group makes great hip-hop music. I put their song "All I Want In This World feat. CL Smooth" in the last Jazz Hop mixtape and a reader asked more about them. Well here you go. Originally just the producing duo that went by the name Cradle, the eventually formed another (more expansive) group, adding an entire orchestra behind their music. This in turn created what is now known as Cradle Orchestra. 

As most Japanese hip-hop artists do (at least from what I've heard), Cradle Orchestra focuses on jazz influences. And it's very heavy in this album, with the help of the aforementioned orchestra. Beautiful landscape after beautiful landscape is created on this album, aided by some of the best MC's in the game. Black Thought, Talib Kweli, and O.C. lend their vocals...just to name a few. Check the streams and download below. You won't regret it.

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Jazz Hop Mixtape (Volume 2)

Here's another playlist I put together for your audio pleasure. The second volume in the Jazz Hop series, this compilation features 10 songs, from the likes of Substantial, Nujabes, Lady Gaga (just checking if you were reading). Again, if you dig any one song enough, drop me a comment below and I'll help you out with an introduction to that artist. Streams and link below.


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Dred Scott - Breakin' Combs (1994)

Yeah, this is best picture of him.

Dred Scott (the name inspired by you know who) was a rapper in the early 90's. Not much is known about him, since he kind of disappeared from the scene after dropping his debut album. That's a shame since his album is one of many hip-hop classics that dropped in the great year of 1994. Word is he married Adriana Evans, who he met in '93. She's featured on the track "Check The Vibe" (that's streamed below) and he produced her debut album.

So that's it. Don't have much else to say that this is one of the finest examples of jazz hop out there. Dope samples, smooth rhymes, and did I mention awesome horns? Do me a favor and slap yourself if you're still reading this and not downloading it.

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Animate Objects - Riding In Fast Cars With Your Momma (2007)

"If I could tell you a story about a gun I owned, or someone I murdered...I might. But, these stories are stories I don't possess". From the very opening of the album, true realness rarely uttered in a hip-hop album is set for the listener. 

The Animate Objects are a band out of Chicago (Champaign to be exact) and everything music should be. A live band ala The Roots, they have an equally capable MC, while not on Black Thought's level obviously. They implement elements of funk, jazz, and soul through their music. They have a much more band feel to them than the Roots, and you can hear this in their very instrument-centric songs (bass, FTW!).

If you're reading this, support real music. They might not get all the buzz like other artists, but this is real music if I've ever heard it. Don't fret at the album name, I guarantee you that if this album got as much exposure as a Roots album, it would be hailed a hip-hop classic. Check out streams (all 3 hip-hop classics) and links below if you're not convinced.

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Jazz Hop Mixtape (Volume 1)

Today I bring to you a very special post. I had been mulling the idea of creating a playlist and sharing it with you, but until now, I didn't really think people would take to it. Call it a change of heart, but I finally did it. I'd like this to be a recurring post that happens ever so often, so here goes.

I plan on doing many compilations of a lot of different subjects, from jazz hop, instrumental hip-hop, to west coast/east coast. I figured this would be a good way of introducing you guys to more than just 1 new artist (like usual), but instead -- 10 at a time. This also saves time on my part, because I don't have to make a separate post for each artist included in the mixtape haha. Some are instrumentals, while others feature raps. Ain't nothin' like a well-rounded hip-hop listener. So check out the tracklist below, peep the streams, and download a little playlist I put together for your enjoyment.


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Pete Philly & Perquisite - Mindstate (2005)

Pete Philly (left) & Perquisite (right)

Salutations y'all. Today I bring to you a MC and DJ duo out of the Netherlands. And no, I'm not posting this because I'm 1/4 dutch, rather they make incredible music. I now officially claim these as "my people" as opposed to Rob Schneider. Wasn't really working out, y'know? But anyways, based out of Amsterdam, these two formed in 2003, but unfortunately disbanded in 2009.

Perquisite HAS to be one of the most under-appreciated producers I've ever come across, and that's saying something. Along with assembling the track, he is also featured as a cellist and incorporates other instruments such as the guitar and piano to name a few. His beats make you want to sit back and relax, but dance at the same time. From influences from soul, 60's, to classic, he crafts a magical array of beats. Pete Philly is a skilled MC with a rather endearing voice (no homo), but is always on point. His ethnicity will always be a mystery to me, but maybe he's just a really tan Dutch like someone I know. But anyways, below I present to you their debut album, "Mindstate". You'll thank me later.

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Project Move

[This post is contributed by Canikickit, that's Mr_Orunitia to people on Last.FM]

Today, I bring to you Project Move. This trio consisting of Moe Pope, Raheem Jamaal and Anonymous make some of the dopest laid back feel good rap this side of Panacea. Fun fact of the day - the members of Project Move were previously part of a collective with Insight and the humble magnificent wizard of rap, Edan. That should be enough to sell you on them. But wait. . . it gets better. They've only released one album thus far, Love Gone Wrong/The Butterfly Theory, but I would easily rank the album within my personal top 5 evar. In terms of lyricism, these guys aren't awe inspiring, however, they're just so easy to listen to, the mellow beats courtesy of Headnodic & Beyonder [amongst others] are dope to the highest degree and compliment the vocal tones of the 3 members perfectly.

If you want to dig further, Raheem Jamaal and Moe Pope have both released solo albums (Boombox and Life After God, respectively). Swag that out accordingly.

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Specifics - Lonely City (2004)

Specifics - Lonely City

I was introduced to this MC and DJ combo through a Nujabes compilation mixtape. Luckily for me, I kept digging and discovered one of the best examples of jazz hop I've ever come across. You'll see through this post and others in the future, that jazz hop is undoubtedly my favorite sub-genre of hip-hop. Jazz loops, piano, and drum kicks all put together is heaven. Led by Golden Boy (the MC) and Think Twice (the DJ), Specifics is a rap duo based out of Canada. This album is amazing start to finish, laced with jazz samples, beautiful piano notes, and Golden Boy's slick rhymes. Do yourself a favor and listen to this album. If my legit sales pitch doesn't do the trick, at least check out the couple of songs I feature below in the streaming fashion. The track "Under The Hood" is one I consider a hip-hop classic, no bullshit.

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Blu

Just recently did a little digging into Blu’s solo work. If you don't know Blu, you should. Coming out of Los Angeles, he is well known for his laid-back, personal approach to hip-hop, and his chill beats. He is as prolific a producer as he is an MC. He has a lot of material, probably more than 200+ tracks he's been involved in during his short music career. Loved his collab with Exile (Under The Heavens), so I figured his solo stuff would be more of the same. Luckily I was right. I love jazz influenced hip-hop, and this is a perfect example of it. This cut is from one of his first projects, dropped unexpectedly on Valentine's Day a few years ago, named "Her Favorite Colo(u)r.". The song's called Amnesia, and features an amazing sample from Billie Holiday.

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