The HighLife

Nneka - Heartbeat

Courtesy of DJ/Producer Ryan Durkin (aka Captain Durk) by way of OnAFriday.com comes a hot blend of tracks to help take your mind off the cold weather for a bit.   Those that had the benefit of catching Do It Again (arguably the best Boston Sunday night dance party ever) before it closed are probably halfway through the download already... Umm, what are you waiting on?

Download: Ryan Durkin - Any Given Friday

The Roots -  How I Got over

...a new night of downtempo beats and chilled dance vibes with DJs EROK and Properly Chilled...spinning downtempo, hip hop, chill house, funk, soul, dub, reggae, nu-jazz and world beats for your listening and grooving pleasure from 9:30 PM to 1 AM.

 

Join the party:

The Upside @ Enormous Room w/ DJs EROK and Properly Chilled

Tuesday, Jan. 19
21+UP
NO COVER --- FREE!!!
9:30 PM - 1 AM

http://www.enormous.tv
http://downbeatscape.blogspot.com
http://www.properlychilled.com

It's funny to think that this is over a decade old now.

Between the idea and the reality.
Between the motion and the act.
Falls the shadow.
- T.S. Eliot

Are you sitting comfortably?  Now let's begin.  Or more so, close out 2009.  It's seems that everyone is really eager to throw out 2009 with the bath water.  I personally beg to differ.  A common malady of our current web 2.0 generation is ridiculously short memory spans, and if some of us were to actually consider the entirety of '09 we'd find something to cheer about.  So here's my thanks to 09.  The year that connected all of us much closer than we are even yet to realize; giving way to the rise of social media, unreal NYC all night dance parties, the disco ball at Santos party House, pastel colored sunglasses, the most ridiculous Bonnaroo ever, Pretty Lights, Phish coming back, the most amazing concert i've ever been to with The Roots and Antibalas @ the Red Bull Soundclash, rocking out underneath the McGrath Bridge, free Chester French and Wale concert in Harvard Square, Jesse Dee, The Bodega Girls, Show Dem Camp, Blackjoy, Shepard Fairey at the ICA, dance parties at the ICA... i could keep going but it'd take too long.  So if you're of the opinion that this year wasn't that great, you probably weren't trying hard enough. 





As we proceed into the new year, the Highlife crew would like to thank you all for your support.  This enterprise has been a leap of faith from the beginning, and it wouldn't be possible without all of you out there.  The scary thing about leaps of faith is that you don't how or if you'll land.  But you have to jump anyway.  That said, our resolution for 2010 is to make the impossible possible.  Keep watching this space.

Jumpoff On Point 2009


Happy New Year!!!

It seems I'm in a Tar Heel state mood...  Aside from a select few artists, the art of storytelling has mostly been neglected not only by hiphop but by most genres of music in general.  It's one thing to write a song that is layered in meaning and abstract in delivery, but it's even more revealing to tell a story that is real and uncompromising.  It's exactly the latter sort of storytelling that makes this North Carolina native so intriguing.  The first signee to RocNation, he's released two mixtapes since last year, The Come Up and The Warm Up, and they're both sick!  Simply not your average hiphop.  Definitely check out the ode to his home state, "Carolina on my Mind" from The Come Up, but most especially the crazy good "Dreams" from The Warm Up.  That's it for now but keep in mind, if he's only just warming up y'all better be ready for game time.  This is J. Cole.

What it is people.  While were on the topic of haunting music that you can't get out of your head (thank you Corey!).  Here are a couple that will most definitely percolate around your cranium for a while.  Plus some images that will certainly do the same.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side

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Where is Lloyd?  This song is probably about two years old now, but for whatever reason each time i hear it again it always seems like the first time hearing it.  The remix is also just as persistent, but the original "oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh g-g-g-get it shawty" gets me everytime.  Get yours.  Lloyd - Get it Shawty



B-Side

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I dare you to listen to this and not get it stuck in your head.  Pick one, the verse, the chorus, the beat; it will stay with you.  Whatever your feelings may be about The Dutchess, just remember that the "the girl can't help it."  Fergie - Clumsy



That'll do it today.  Try to keep your mind positive, regardless of what finds its way into your head.  Stay cool. Until next time, be easy.

Ever since the first time i heard this track, back in the summer, i have literally been watching and waiting for the video to come out just so that i could share it with the rest of you out there.  And people, today is the day. Brought to you by the Lagos based jet-setting gents that delivered "Yawa on the Dancefloor", which by now those of you currently residing in Europe or Africa have probably heard blowing up speakers in clubs.  Anyone west of the Atlantic, i highly recommend looking it up if you haven't heard it yet.  ("Yawa" means "trouble") But i digress.  This song evokes a smoother vibe, and features effortlessly delivered lyrics that belie the poignancy of the words actually being said.  It is strictly for the grown and sexy.  If you don't know their name yet, get to know it, because they will show you one way or the other.  Of all the songs i've heard this year, this is my song of the year.  Get up to it, get down to it, play it on repeat a million times.  I have.  Seriously, you'll only like it more. 

Show Dem Camp - Tell Me Nothing