The HighLife

This group from Washington D.C. is made up of a number of highly talented musicians and individuals.  They DJ, produce, remix, whatever, they do it. They released an innovative, and creatively inspiring album, Radio Free DC, last year.  Which should be a part of your music collection yesterday.  Here are a few tracks that they're responsible for to give you a taste.

 

Nope, it ain't coming. It's here. 
Requirements: Headphones on blast.

The time of thoughtless hiphop is over.  And thank goodness for that.  If this decade has proved anything, it's that the illusion of separation is just that, an illusion.  Whether geographic, cultural, ideological, or musical.  Things that at first seem disparate are really quite similar at the heart of the matter.  East coast, West coast; a president that's both black and white; African, Latino; North America, South America.  I could go on...

Here we have a work that aims to, no, it actually does, show that assertion in motion.  N.A.S.A , which stands for North America South America, is a collaboration by Sam Spiegel (Squeak E. Clean), of Bethesda, MD, and DJ Zedon from Brazil.  They absolutely break the mold of what some would call hiphop.  Yeah, it's been happening for a while, but please tell me when was the last time you heard Tom Waits and Kool Keith on a track together.  Truth is, most people forget that hiphop was created by pulling from every source and genre that was available at the time. Why? It didn't exist before that.  So back to the quote at the top.  It's a Yoruba proverb that simply states, "A river that forgets its source, will run dry."  I could list all the people that they worked with on this album, from the Wu-Tang, to David Byrne, to George Clinton, to Spankrock, but it would take way too long.  N.A.S.A have put together an album which proves that the sun shines on all of us the same.  Truly this is...

SWEAT!

Note: Last track "Undergound" not included.

In case you missed it, the record label known as Rhymesayers is putting on a show.  Last Wednesday, at the House of Blues in Boston, the 'When God Gives You Ugly Tour' rolled through to drop some knowledge on a very well schooled mass of fans.  Bringing with them, Attracted to Gods, the one the only the magnificent Brother Ali, and the prolific yet relentless Atmosphere.  If they happen to roll through your town this summer, do yourself a favor and be there.  In that light, here's a little set to give you some inspiration, because i can tell you this much, whether it was the air or the music, everyone at that show was definitely lifted into the... Atmosphere

Choice cuts from the catalog of... one of the busiest men in the game, BOS to NYC to BOS (Harper's Ferry tomorrow, May 8th) to TX, and it don't stop.  Wale.

A few choice cuts from the catalog of... singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/actress Nellie McKay

Lights, Camera, Action, Flash!!!  The spotlight is on these Cali dudes.  One of the best albums front to back i've heard all year; this album is an adventure of sonically massive proportions.   Strap yourself in, and press play!