March 31st, 2010

Mixpak Interview Series: NGUZUNGUZU

I’m not even going to try to describe what LA-based NGUZUNGUZU sound like… to be honest, I don’t have a clue. Instead, I’d suggest that you give their independent deut EP a listen, which is available for free on their website… hopefully it will transport you to another universe within your mind where you can give it a meaningful description of your own.

I spoke to both NGUZUs (Asma & Daniel) just before they drove twenty four hours to SXSW, and they talked a bit about their tremendous vision- community, taking pride in being weird, plans to overthrow the status quo and create a new virtual reality world of future club music.

At request of the Nguzus, I have included both their responses under the same NGUZU heading. So even though there is only one “NGUZU” responding to my questions, there are three people in the interview. Got it? Cool, it only gets weirder from here.

Interview by Brendan Arnott (my text in bold).

What can you tell us about the origins of NguzuNguzu?

NGUZU: Origins? As in, how we started out? Or our name?

Both would be great. Maybe a bit about when you started making music together and what inspired the type of music you’re making.

NGUZU: Well, we started making beats together for fun on cassette tape. Super improvised with no edits, really raw live takes with mpc 2000 classic and keyboards. We made mixtapes that were always sort of dancey or raw beats that you could bump hard in your Chevy. Our friends really responded to these tapes and we began using Ableton and started sending stems to each other via emails. We compiled like 30 tracks onto cdr from cassette and sent it out to some people. Kingdom got a hold of one and we’ve been friends ever since.

(more…)

March 30th, 2010

The Beat Goes On: Ty, Luda, Snoop, Mixtapes, Badu

Allow me to introduce myself . . .

My name is Trent Fitzgerald, and I’m humbled and honored to be asked to blog for Mixpak Records, a great label that I recently discovered when I – literally – stumbled upon Vybz Kartel’s “Yuh Love” last year while doing some late-night web surfing. I’ve been a music scribe for 10 years, and you can catch me writing about rap on my blog Beats and Rants or typing 140-character tirades on Twitter.

My goal here is to present a worldwide view of rap music and culture. No regional biases here….good music is good music.

So without further ado . . .

First up, I have to go to the UK and give props to my man Ty who just released his new single “Emotions” (featuring Sarina Leah & Shaun Escoffery), which is from his upcoming LP Special Kind of Fool. Ty is probably one of the most underrated rap artist from the UK, who has dropped great albums for a decade with little or no fanfare (his 2003 LP Upwards is a classic, IMHO). Ty’s song “Emotions,” is an uptempo joint that’s perfect like a sunny day. His new album Special Kind of Fool drops April 14.

Ty – “Emotions” feat. Sarina Leah & Shaun Escoffery (Album Version)

Over in Canada, female rapper Eternia is cutting heads off — lyrically — with her new song “It’s Funny” (featuring Joell Ortiz), the lead single from her long-awaited album At Last!, which hit stores June 15. This is some boom-bap shit that’s long been missing in rap. That’s funny, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsRS-KXEsaY

Back here in the states, Ludacris is making waves with his club banger “My Chick Bad.” The “remix” video should hit the Internets soon. In the meantime, check out Luda performing the remix version with help from Trina and the oh-so sexy ex-Crime Mob rapstress Diamond. (*watch out Nicki Minaj*)

Read the rest of The Beat Goes On »

March 28th, 2010

25 Years of Dancehall

The Heatwave is back at it a with a big mix commemorating 25 years of digital dancehall. This is a must listen history lesson.

Last month marked the 25th anniversary of the day that Wayne Smith’s Under Me Sleng Teng was first played in a dance. Tuesday 23rd February to be exact.

To celebrate the 25th birthday of digital dancehall we looked back over the last quarter century of this brilliant music and had a quick party on our Rinse FM show. It was mad to look at how things have developed over two and a half decades.

[audio: http://www.theheatwave.net/radio/theheatwave-25yearsofdancehall.mp3]

The Heatwave – 25 Years of Dancehall

Full tracklist and further details at The Heatwave.

March 27th, 2010

Club Infinity

Kingdom and Dre Skull have teamed up with MeanRed for the new party Club Infinity which debuts April 3rd. Kingdom and Dre Skull will be playing alongside special guests Egyptrixx, Cubic Zirconia and Jubilee. This will be the release party for Egyptrixx’s Night Slugs EP and it will the official after party for Hard NYC with the T&B crew. RSVP for $5 admission.

March 26th, 2010

WMC 2010

Dre Skull is in Miami for this year’s WMC parties.

Catch him at the Trouble & Bass party where he will be playing alongside Nero, Bart Bmore, Harvard Bass, Deathface, Plastician, Udachi, J-Wow, Classixx, Tittsworth, L-Vis 1990, Sonic C, Nadastrom and T&B Crew: Drop The Lime, AC Slater, Star Eyes, The Captain and more. Details here.

He’ll also be playing a set at the Mad Fools party which is Mad Decent’s and Fool’s Gold’s collaborative bash. The lineup includes Hardwell, Jokers Of The Scene, Dj Sega, Nacho Lovers, Nadastrom, L-Vis1990, Craze, Congorock, Kill The Noise, Flashing Lights – Nick Catchdubs, Dj Ayres, Jubilee, J-Wow, Camo UFOs, Savage Skulls, Breakage, Nick The V and Jillionaire. Full details here.