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With issue #32, WaxPoetics puts the legendary and elusive Sly Stone front and center, and with two different covers! An excerpt from the exhaustively researched Sly & the Family Stone book from Jeff Kaliss leads the way, along with a big feature on reggae maverick Jimmy Cliff (who appears on the back cover!). Additional features highlight the work and character of Large Professor, pianist Ahmad Jamal, designer Cey Adams, electro kings Egyptian Lover and Arabian Prince, and lots more! Get it now on Fatbeats

So much music… As much as there is an upper crust of known musicians and producers in this matrix, much like an iceberg, there’s a formidable mass below that is strong and as capable.
Some time ago I came across a recording Between Earth & Universe authored by a young beatsmith Stevo. Slow, grimy electro-nice tempos with very spaced out imagery.

This young 22 yr old German native has been the classic fan of hip hop. With idols such as The Chocolate Boy Wonder, Gangstarr, Madlib the Bad Kid as well as they far, wide reaching and ubiquitous James Yancey, he has seen his fame rise through the broadcasts of the Lord Jay Scarlett @ AmpSoul Generation Radio and through the good ppl @ Monday Jazz. He has now released his 2nd mixtape, Another Space Odyssey. The soundscapes are deeper, more nebulous and with same sharp snare and thick kicks.

Enough with the words and verbs. Take out your sharpest telescope and sit back and take in Stevo’s sophmore release, soon to blow up like a Neutron Star.

Be sure to grab the whole mixtape, and hit Stevo’s myspace . Show love. You know I will. And in fact, he rawks an MPD24 like I do. Say wrd. BTW, shouts to Fella Vaughn for Stevo’s stellar artwork. Written by HZA.

Stevo – Neutronstar

We are probably 7 days too late with this one…but needed to post this anyway. Another FWMJ exclusive.

Jay Electronica – Hagler Demo Prod Denaun Porter

One year after releasing his futuristic gun convention soundtrack, Carte Blanche, Phat Kat stayed hungry, linked up with Flying Lotus and started on his newest blap slab entitled Katakombz. The new LP, which will be released on Look Records in March showcases a variety of the best producers in the game. Black Milk, Nick Speed, Astronote, FS Green and possibly Stones Throw’s very own Beat Konducta. via lookrecords

Phat Kat & Flying Lotus – Katakombz (demo)

Detroit’s own R&B soulster Dwele has just released a new tune for McDonalds McCafé promotional campaign. The smooth yet catchy song almost makes you forget that your listening to a radio commercial and leaves you wanting to hit repeat on your ipod. Dwele produced and wrote the jingle for McDonalds, and also produced two other McCafé songs, one which features Cleveland soultress Conya Doss, and the other a duet between the two.

It seems as if McDonalds is targeting hip urbanites, and lucky for us, they chose Dwele to represent the new McCafé line and this wonderful song was born.

McCafé is a coffee-house-style food and drink brand, located in McDonalds restaurants. The McCafé chain started in Europe and has now expanded to the states. McDonalds is known for diversified marketing and this latest campaign featuring Dwele is right in line. McCafé is set to be a tough competitor for favorites such as Starbucks and Caribou Coffee, with prices at a fraction of some of the other leading chains. Urban Examiner

Dwele – McCafe Liquid Love

and on request..the long lost song from dwele’s son..

John (Dwele’s Son) – Beep me , find me

4th in beat serie 45 of the great label Melting Pot Music . After the released of Kill Bill/Drama by Suff Daddy, Ole Woam/Don’t Stop by Brenk and the amazing Groo/Luv 2 Luv by Baptman, here is the 4th part produced by the original beatmaker Afta-1.

Two tracks for this 7inch that will make a buzz. The mystical Nightlife, dark and fluid, and the minimalist The Time In Between.

A mix of clever instrumental hip hop beat, mystic and organic keyboard, soulful musicality. Class and sophisticated, sprinkling funk fragments, electro, even cosmic soul. To compare, Afta-1’s music reminds Flying Lotus or even J Dilla. Influences so benefit that you can feel.

You would have understood that Afta-1 evoluates in another dimension and another planet to create this sound from elsewhere. Respect!

Written by Super Boogie on WUZZ Mag

Afta-1 – Nightlight

Afta-1 – The Time In Between

You might know the track Colin Munroe did with Black Milk called “Without You”. Well here is the follow up to that song called Piano Lessons of Colin Monroe’s mixtape entitled “Colin Munroe is the unsung hero” featuring collaborations with Wale, Mickey Factz, Joell Ortiz, Blaqstarr and many more..go dig for that..cause we actually only like this song..

Colin Munroe  – Piano Lessons Feat Joel Ortiz Prod. Black Milk

Mayer Hawthorne debuted on Stones Throw recently with “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out”, printed on a red, heart-shaped 45. His next single is “Maybe So, Maybe No” coming in 2009.

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14KT, Buff1, DJ Haircut and Jax, all members of the A-Side Worldwide team, come through to bless us with a set this week at the BBQ. The connection between Michigan and Los Angeles continues to strengthen and if you weren’t up on A-Side before now, you’ll be a solid supporter after this set.

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I dunno man, I gave it a couple listens the past hour and it just don’t sound right (or it just don’t sound Common)t;  I mean, you can call this album “the experimental Common” or just his “8th album“, but Universal Mind Control is not my cup of tea.  I don’t like, doesn’t mean that I hate but the productions are so easy, so -16 year old type of beats!  What is happening to all these artists such as Mos Def, Common, what happened to the era of Rawkus? Why was it possible to come out with such a good roster of artists and sell their music to a larger crowd? Mos Def was on Times Square with a huge “Black On Both Sides” poster.  Common linked with Hi-Tek and dropped “1-9-9-9?; Kweli came with Reflection Eternal and Black Star. High & Mighty, Cage, Company Flow, we were talking about creativity back then, not bullshit.
“Coming with a message is not important anymore, although it’s the essence of hiphop“
Is it the money that causes that our favorite artists just don’t sound right nowadays?
Am I getting too old for this rap shit or does Common focus on 15 year old kids who (too bad for him) will download this album and forget about it next month;  Anyway, I’m very dissapointed, the highlight might be “Inhale” and most definitely “Gladiator” but that album isn’t worth buying.  Give it to some club deejays, give some to the kids but you won’t be able to reach the true Common fans I think.  Should’ve stuck with Kanye, he at least understood your way and your sound. Kanye had no time for you?  Well, should’ve wait…

by Lefto 

Los Angeles beat scientist Flying Lotus steps up to the worlds largest decks.

Broadcast: BBC Radio 1

1. Alice Coltrane – Galaxy In Turiya
2. Charlie Hayden and Egberto Gisomonti and Gonjasufi – Testament
3. Flying Lotus – Massage Situation (Stripped)
4. Dimlite – Sun Sized Twinkles
5. Flying Lotus feat Dolly – Robertaflack
6. Flying Lotus – Robertaflack (Mike Slott Reflunk)
7. Ahu – I Know All The Bitches (Bullion mix)
8. Heralds Of Change – Amuse
9. Carlos Y Gaby – Happy Summer Solstice
10. Pudge – Yung Infamous
11. Dorothy Ashby – Myself When Young
12. Nosaj Thing – Bach
13. LL – Turf Day
14. Flying Lotus – Infinitum (Dimlite mix)
15. Clark – Springtime Epigram
16. Burial – Shutta
17. Blank Blue – Blank Blue (Flying Lotus mix)
18. Daedelus – Im String Struck
19. MHE – ?
20. Daedelus and Madvillain – Experience/Accordion (Flying Lotus live mix)
21. Hudson Mohawke – Zoo0000oom
22. Rustie – Black Block (remix)
23. Teebs and Jackhigh – Idea 1 (Clutch)
24. Matthewdavid – Tallahassee Tapes
25. Martyn and Flying Lotus – Vancouver/Pet Monster Shotglass
26. Fulgeance – Chico (Dorian Concept mix)
27. Joker – Solid State
28. Rusko – Moanerz
29. Daddy Kev – Invite8
30. Ras G – Star Messenger
31. Madlib – Unreleased Gem
32. SAMIYAM – Cheesecake Backslap
33. Knowledge – Dawn
34. Flyamsam – Princess Toadstool
35. Sa-Ra – Hollywood
36. Muhsinah and Flying Lotus – With Me/Melt
37. Flying Lotus – Dissecto
38. Flying Lotus – Breathe
39. Mike Slott – Home
40. Flying Lotus – Sangria Spin Cycles (ambient mix)
41. Danny Breaks – Cosmic Dust
42. Flying Lotus – Beginners Falafel (Free The Robots mix)
43. SAMIYAM – Falafel Cannon
44. Flying Lotus – Beginners Falafel
45. Slum Village – Players (instrumental mix)
46. Flying Lotus – Cackle
47. Flying Lotus – Raise It Up
48. Osborne – Definition Of A Breakdown
49. Baron Zen – Burn Rubber (Dam-Funk mix)
50. Mono/Poly – Needsdeodorantbitch
51. Chocolate Star and Nelly Furtado – Stay With Me/Promiscuous
52. Gonjasufi – Suzie Q
53. Kiing Midas – Lost (Flying Lotus live mix)
54. Rusko and Flying Lotus – Terminal3 / Tea Leaf (Dancers live mix)
55. Daedelus – Hours Minutes Seconds (beat invitational version)
56. Kode9 and Flying Lotus – Kryon
57. Zomby – Spliff Dub (Rustie mix)
58. Busta Rhymes – What Up
59. SAMIYAM – Crystal Lake
60. Weather Report – River People
61. SAMIYAM – Flintstone Car
62. Flying Lotus – Backpack Caviar
63. Radiohead – Reckoner (Flying Lotus mix)
64. Bjork – All Is Full Of Love
65. Broadcast – Winter Now
66. Portishead – Elysium
67. Linda Perhacks – Hey Now Who Really Cares
68. Flying Lotus – Infinitum (Exile mix)
69. Flying Lotus – Live Set Practice Run

Flying Lotus Essential Mix