Indie Shuffle » detroit

Danny Brown – Kush Coma (Ft. A$AP Rocky)

tobiashandke — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:48:40 +0000

Sounds like: A$AP Rocky, ScHoolboy Q, Lil B, Black Hippy

Song: Danny Brown - Kush Coma (Ft. A$AP Rocky) [download here]

What's so good?

It’s hard not to like Danny Brown. With wild hair, missing teeth and lack of fashion sense, Brown looks more like a dishevelled vagrant than a rising rap star. But that’s all part of his charm. Add an infectious laugh, knack for curious production and lyrics that range from hilarious to mildly disturbing, and Brown is the best thing to come out of Detroit’s well-known hip-hop scene in years.

“Kush Coma” has been available online for a while, but a new version debuted on UK hp-hop DJ Tim Westwood’s weekly radio show last week, featuring a verse from A$AP Rocky. As you can imagine from the title, “Kush Coma’s” subject matter is all about getting fucked up, with Brown and Rocky delivering lively verses over a frantic Skywlkr beat. While only a radio rip, it’s still decent quality and further highlights why Brown is one of my favorite rappers of the last few years.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Danny Brown – Kush Coma (Ft. A$AP Rocky)

2. Posted in: hip-hop, rap, detroit, a$ap rocky, danny brown

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Tree Ave – One Eight Hundred

Zach Connett — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:00:15 +0000

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Sounds like: A$AP Rocky, Hodgy Beats, Chief Keef, ScHoolboy Q

Song: Tree Ave - One Eight Hundred [download here]

What's so good?

If you’re in the mood for something trippy, then Detroit artist Tree Ave has what you’re looking for.

His single “One Eight Hundred,” a track featured on his debut Don Juan Demarco EP, has a chill, swaggy, drugged out vibe. I’m not necessarily loving this entire project, but felt the song and visuals brought to us by these young artists from East Lansing, MI was absolutely worth the post.

Check out Tree Ave in the “One Eight Hundred” video below, where he raps in front of an interesting backdrop of Detroit and East Lansing scenery through some extremely trippy edits.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Tree Ave – One Eight Hundred

2. Posted in: electronic hip-hop, trip hop, experimental hip hop, detroit, mixtape

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Session Victim – Yes I Know

Rachel Skotarczyk — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:38:00 +0000

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Sounds like: Detroit Swindle, Leigh D Oliver, James Welsh, Ben La Desh, Zoo Look

Song: Session Victim - Yes I Know [download here]

What's so good?

So deeply groovy you’ll feel you’re reliving the hey-day of disco soul, one listen to “Yes I Know” will have you nodding in agreement — yes, I already know you know, it’s just that good.

Session Victim is a German duo made up of one-half Hauke Freer and one-half Matthias Reiling. Their latest release, Glow In The Dark, will drop via Delusions of Grandeur, a fairly new label with a ”shared passion of deep underground Detroit-inspired house and disco.” No delusions there, at least not with this latest from Session Victim; their Detroit-inspired beat is spot on.

As if there’s not enough reasons or releases to be stoked about this summer, Glow In the Dark will be available through OYE on July 16. Keep up on Session Victim via SoundCloud or Facebook and enjoy!

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Session Victim – Yes I Know

2. Posted in: house, deep house, disco, electro funk, detroit

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

DertBeats – Money

sweeneykovar — Wed, 29 May 2013 10:00:34 +0000

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Sounds like: House Shoes, Samiyam, Alchemist

Song: DertBeats - Money [download here]

What's so good?

House Shoes is a DJ’s DJ. Yeah, he can play records like a pro and rock a party in pretty much any environment, but like a true DJ, he knows music. From old rare records to the newest of the new, Shoes has an ear matched by very few. This is the man that first played Slum Village’s “Players” in a club in Detroit the night it was cut in the studio, the DJ that first told Peanut Butter Wolf when he still worked at Caroline Distribution that he needed to listen to his man Jay Dee. He introduced Danny Brown to the guy that introduced you to Danny Brown. The list goes on and on.

As time goes on, Shoes keeps introducing new and innovative talent. As part of his The Gift series, he recently released a free beat tape from a humble giant known as DertBeats. An L.A.-based producer that actually crafted a full album for KRS-One several years ago, he’s kept a low-profile and focused on what comes first: the music.

Shoes (and those around him) first got hip through DertBeats’ flip of Pink Floyd’s classic “Money.” Then DertBeats joined forces with Shoes to create an entire free beat-tape to showcase his skills. Full of grimy, primordial head-nod music, DertBeats shows that Shoes’ ear is pristine and his recommendations do not disappoint.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: DertBeats – Money

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Instrumental Hip Hop, Los Angeles, detroit

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Dakota Bones – Samurai

Rachel Skotarczyk — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:16 +0000

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Sounds like: Slufter, Phantasmagoria, Kyle Hall, Trentemøller, Jay Daniel

Song: Dakota Bones - Samurai [download here]

What's so good?

“Short and sweet” isn’t a phrase often connected with techno, but Dakota Bones is changing our perspective on the matter with his track “Samurai.” This song is two minutes and 36 seconds of vibalicious, pre-1998 electronic glory.

To emphasize, Bones has put together some visuals in much the same vein, and as simple as the video may be, its looped footage and squiggly madness is just intriguing enough to watch over and over.

Now, as of late I’ve been playing a lot of Nintendo. A friend of mine clued me into that nifty emulator and I’ve been diving back into the 8-bit past as if to preserve some lost form of procrastination. It’s no wonder then that “Samurai” is appealing to my senses. It’s not 8-bit itself, but after an hour of Bad Dudes, “Samurai” is the perfect segue and ideally what Nintendo probably had in mind if it weren’t for digital music limitations. What do you think?

For more on Dakota Bones, follow him via SoundCloud or find him on Facebook.

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1. Original post: Dakota Bones – Samurai

2. Posted in: Electronic, experimental, techno, detroit, trentmoller

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Proof – Keep It On The Low (Ft. J Dilla)

sweeneykovar — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:27:30 +0000

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Sounds like: House Shoes, Waajeed, Slum Village

Song: Proof - Keep It On The Low (Ft. J Dilla) [download here]

What's so good?

April 11 is the anniversary of Proof’s passing. For anyone in the dark, Proof and his lineage are without equal in Detroit, from Eminem to J Dilla, Proof was a connecting thread between the hip-hop scene. Few other MCs cared and carried for the city with just devotion. Even as his star rose alongside Marshall Mathers, Proof always maintained a presence.

This year, in celebration of his life, Paul Rosenberg of Shady Records unearthed “Keep It On The Low,” a track J Dilla and Proof composed in the 90s during their Funky Cowboy phase. Soon afterwards Hex Murda shared the following story:

“I guess I’ll tell y’all this dumb-ass Proof story. That nigga was crazy. One day, a buncha niggas including @1stBornZ8neKing and Proof were on my porch (being porch monkeys) drinking and talking shit. Proof saw my brother @RaMegz on the other side of the street about to make the turn around the island to come to my crib and had a brilliant idea. He decided to climb my tree and leap on my brother’s head when he walked to the porch. So this grown-ass nigga Proof scampered up my tree and climbed out on a limb in like 6 seconds to wait on my brother. @RaMegz finally made the turn, parked in front of my crib and got out of his truck not suspecting shit.

All this time Proof is in my tree hanging onto a limb like a damn spider monkey. @RaMegz started up the walk, and Proof waited on him. Me and @1stBornZ8neKing keep looking back and forth from @RaMegz to Proof to see how this shit was gonna play out. Right before my brother walked under Proof, the limb snapped and P HumptyDumpty’d his way to the ground. Proof fell directly on his back HARD, barely avoiding the cement walkway. We were too stunned to laugh. @RaMegz kept looking up to see if anymore people were falling from the sky. Proof was just laying there, still clutching the limb. Finally somebody said, “U alright, dog?” Proof got up still holding onto the limb with one hand, brushed himself off, and without a word ran to his truck and threw the branch in back. @1stBornZ8neKing jumped in the passenger seat and these niggas peeled out of my driveway, went over the island and headed east on 96.

I have no idea why I followed them but I did, leaving all those niggas at my house and getting into a 100mph race on the freeway. At one point @1stBornZ8neKing threw the limb out into my path. I had to swerve and shit. I followed these niggas all the way from Ewald and Davison to @Dogmatic313′s on Gratiot and Kilbourne. Detroit niggas kno how far that is. We laughed at our own stupidity and drank some more. I forgot all about that shit.

At about 4am that night I heard gun shots real close. I think someone is shooting up the downstairs. I grab my heat and look out the window. I see Proof’s truck and an outline of a nigga that looks like Proof. I go outside it is Proof. Standing five feet from my tree. Reloading. I ask him what the fuck he’s doing. He said that my tree tried to kill him and now he has beef with it. The nigga had been shooting my tree. Emptied a clip in it and in the coming months he wld shoot it periodically. It got to the point I wldnt even grab my gun and look outside. I knew it was him. Dog was crazy and that really isn’t the end of the story, I just cut the story short. This shit went on for years. It got to the point he was attacking other niggas foliage because of me. Proof jumped in @Marvwon’s mama’s bushes and said it was because Marv was down with me, he fucked those bushes up. Proof would go on world tours and send me post-cards threatening my tree. “Yeah nigga, I’m in Switzerland. Tell yo tree I’ll holla.”

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1. Original post: Proof – Keep It On The Low (Ft. J Dilla)

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, j dilla, detroit, house shoes

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Jay Daniel – Bubble Cougar

Rachel Skotarczyk — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:45:19 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Kyle Hall, Dakota Bones, Slufter, The Martinez Brothers, OSCAR

Song: Jay Daniel - Bubble Cougar [download here]

What's so good?

Did you know the techno movement is only about 32 years old? With such a young history, it seems both surprising and totally reasonable that a 23-year-old such as Jay. I mean, he’s almost as old as the genre.

For Jay Daniel, the equation was perfectly balanced by age 11 — he new he wanted to be a DJ. His major influence? Jay’s singer/songwriter mother Naomi Daniel. She is the voice behind Planet-E classics “Stars“ and “Feel the Fire,” both of which were produced by Carl Craig and released in the early 90s. Pretty cool right? Apparently Jay thought so too.

Daniel’s been steadily working the D and globetrotting side by side mentor and mate, Kyle Hall. Actually, you’d be hard pressed to find Daniel anywhere Hall isn’t. Jay’s maintained something of a sidekick status to Hall, but like any proper protege, Daniel has finally come into his own.

Similar in style to Hall and a major influence to Dakota Bones, Daniel’s latest production “Bubble Cougar” is a smoothly crafted techno classic and it’s really bringing out our inner… eh… bubble cougar…? Enjoy!

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Jay Daniel – Bubble Cougar

2. Posted in: Electronic, house, techno, detroit

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Black Milk – Computer Ugly Ugly/Why Worry

sweeneykovar — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:34:57 +0000

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Sounds like: J Dilla, Karriem Riggins, Madlib

Song: Black Milk - Computer Ugly Ugly/Why Worry [download here]

What's so good?

Though he just hit us with a double single for an upcoming solo album, Black Milk is not slowing down. On the heels of Sunday’s Best/Monday’s Worst comes the first leak from Synth or Soul.

Black’s upcoming instrumental project pits man against machine. The A side is composed of tracks that lean heavy on synthesizers and other cold, machine-like sounds. The B side, as you might expect, is the soul side; drawing from Black’s vast catalogue of rare soul records, he chops them in familiar ways to create the soulful Detroit knock we’ve come to expect.

More than just an awesome instrumental album, Synth or Soul marks the inception of Computer Ugly, Black Milk’s creative house. The project is part of a Fuzz, Freq’s, Colors series that combines Black’s unique take on programmed sounds with equally special visual artists. This first collaboration partners him with Upendo Taylor. As the eponymous site explains:

“Black Milk collaborates with illustrator Upendo “Pen” Taylor (Nike, Leroy Jenkins, Gatorade) for the music-meets-visual instrumental/art series Fuzz, Freqs & Colors(FFC). Synth or Soul is the first volume in the FFC series. The process for each volume starts with Black and Pen trading beats and sketches and refining their works along the way. Throughout that exchange, the music is shaped by the visual art and the visual art is shaped by the music.”

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1. Original post: Black Milk – Computer Ugly Ugly/Why Worry

2. Posted in: Instrumental Hip Hop, j dilla, experimental hip hop, madlib, detroit

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Andrew Ashong & Theo Parrish – Flowers

sweeneykovar — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:30:53 +0000

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Sounds like: Four Tet, Moodymann, Amp Fiddler

Song: Andrew Ashong & Theo Parrish - Flowers [download here]

What's so good?

Even if you are a pathetic house newbie like myself, you have no doubt heard of the quiet master from Detroit, Theo Parrish. Armed with a long history in the genre and his own label (that doesn’t have a website), Parrish has been at the forefront of soulful club music — dance tunes with substance. If you ever get a chance to see the man live, you’ll witness an unassuming looking gentleman turn a DJ booth into a magician’s stage.

“Flowers,” the lead track from Ghanian Londoner Andrew Ashong’s eponymous EP on Theo Parrish’ Sound Signature label, is a small epic. It’s complex in form but masterfully simple in its impact. Spanning nearly nine minutes, the song grows from wonderfully sloppy drums to a warbling baseline and sunshine keys. Sounding like a sweeter Gonjasufi, Ashong’s vocals complement the music just so, without clashing with it for attention. What I love most about the track is how it evolves with new elements emerging constantly but it still keeps a dusty and intimate feeling.

In one composition, Ashong and Parrish create a world to get lost in layered with muted emotions and a deep musicality. This is the shit!

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Andrew Ashong & Theo Parrish – Flowers

2. Posted in: house, soul, four tet, detroit, afro-soul

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Black Milk – Sunday’s Best/Monday’s Worst

sweeneykovar — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:31:08 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: J Dilla, Karriem Riggins, House Shoes

Song: Black Milk - Sunday's Best/Monday's Worst [download here]

What's so good?

Black’s back at it! One of the shining gems that emerged in Detroit post-Dilla, Black Milk rose from a roadie for Slum Village to being a powerful force of his own. Armed with a mastery of his city’s intrinsic soul and drums that sounds like he has reels of unheard Motown sessions, Black has been able to breach the bubble that often limits many talented underground acts. He has three strong solo LPs, and most importantly, continues to show growth and evolution with each musical outing.

He resurfaces after what in rap time is years of silence with “Sunday’s Best/Monday’s Worst,” a split single that carries a narrative between songs. In the former, a young Black is dragged to church by his parents in a city mired with challenges that go against the principles the church tries to instill.

The introductory track has all the makings of a banger, but when “Monday’s Worst” kicks in, you really feel it. The slow, bittersweet instrumentation fits Black’s tale of a struggling urban youth prepping himself for a stick up. The organ hits slow and tender and the story takes a harsh tune.

Support innovative artists like Black Milk. Very few acts out today can capture the soul of yesterday and acutely deliver it with the musical timeliness of now.

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1. Original post: Black Milk – Sunday’s Best/Monday’s Worst

2. Posted in: hip-hop, rap, underground hip hop, j dilla, detroit

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Muzzy – Siamese Ratchet Funk (Preview)

John Matthew Simon — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:29:06 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: J Dilla, Baauer, Pretty Lights, Flying Lotus, Griz

Song: Muzzy - Siamese Ratchet Funk (Preview) [download here]

What's so good?

Muzzy is a mindful producer, conscious of nostalgia (Detroit and its techno roots), yet rooted in innovation. His masterful sound is more technically admirable than awe-inspiringly nascent, meaning he didn’t just appear with God-given talent. He honed and carved out his sound, which is scary because this bright bulb is only a mere 20 years old.

When not playing guitar with fellow up-and-coming phenom Griz, Muzzy can be found hard at work to make the neon shake and the moon howl.

The track at hand, “Siamese Ratchet Funk,” is a preview of the new material Muzzy has lined up to start dropping real soon. If what he has in store for us is as infectious and unctuous as this little snippet, then call me excited. Muzzy makes you want to slip n’ slide across the dance floor!

As a friend recently remarked, Muzzy sounds like “J Dilla made love to hyphy trap beats.” That’s a mash up I’d love to hear… for now I’m more than content to get fuzzy with Muzzy.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Muzzy – Siamese Ratchet Funk (Preview)

2. Posted in: j dilla, Flying Lotus, detroit, drum and bass, pretty lights

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Amp Fiddler – Conant Gardens 3

sweeneykovar — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:26:26 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: J Dilla, Moodymann, George Clinton

Song: Amp Fiddler - Conant Gardens 3 [download here]

What's so good?

Detroit is the shit. From social movements to music and culture, Detroit is one of the most important cities in the country. Pretty much all music that is popular today has direct roots to the Motor City, from hip-hop and R&B to EDM and more. But if you were just watching MTV or listening to the radio, you may have never known.

Amp Fiddler is an important figure in Detroit music. A talented singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, the OG has worked with a myriad of extremely talented folks like George Clinton, Prince, Maxwell, J Dilla, and Jay Electronica. He actually was the one to first put an MPC in Dilla’s hands and taught him some basics of how to work the machinery when the young producer was just fresh out of high school. To this day, Amp continues to humbly and silently mentor budding musicians from his hometown. But for all his musical acumen and abilities, Amp has only two solo LPs to his credit. That’s all about to change as he reportedly readies two full LPs for release in 2013.

Unrelated, he recently quietly uploaded a few tracks to his SoundCloud page titled “Conant Gardens,” after the historic housing projects in Detroit. Raw and visceral, the track we’re streaming features a deep, rubbery bass, classic Detroit keys and Amp fiddling with his vocals. So simple yet so sweet!

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1. Original post: Amp Fiddler – Conant Gardens 3

2. Posted in: hip-hop, house, soul, funk, j dilla

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Friday Five: In Remembrance of James Yancey

sweeneykovar — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:30:21 +0000

Since 2006, the shortest month of the year gained another layer of significance. February holds, in its scant 28 days, James Yancey’s birthday and the day he left this realm. There are no shortage of words on the Internet to describe Jay Dee aka J Dilla’s mastery, influence and importance in modern music. I won’t go into that here. Instead I’ll just share the trite meme that’s spread across the globe in seven short years: he changed my life. I wouldn’t have met important people in my life or had important experiences if it were not for the legacy of a man I never met.

Today’s Friday Five celebrates his work with five selections from his vast and luminous catalogue. This is not a best-of, this is not meant to be comprehensive. Just five tunes that I love and can always listen to. Enjoy and as always, turn it up!

1. Original post: Friday Five: In Remembrance of James Yancey

2. Posted in: hip-hop, Instrumental Hip Hop, j dilla, friday five, detroit

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Song: Jay Dee - Electric Piano Solo [Downloa d]

In the late 90s, Dilla spent some time remixing artists on major labels, like Busta Rhymes, Masta Ace, D’angelo and The Artifacts. When all of those remixes were rejected by blubbering execs, Jay’s man House Shoes stepped up and pressed what is now one of Dilla’s most rare and coveted pieces of wax. This instrumental bonus cut was added on as a treat.

Song: Jay Dee - Ahmad Impresses Me [Downloa d]

This one always gets me. Shades of Brooklyn’s “Change” is a classic record to me, and when I heard that Dilla flipped the same Ahmad Jamal sample as Da Beatminerz did for “Change,” I lost it.

Song: Danny Brown - Set [Downloa d]

These are jail bars. When Danny Brown was locked up for a year or so before 2008′s Hot Soup, he used his time to craft some of the most powerful and perturbing bars he’s ever spit. The story goes that he had no music with him in the clink, so he was writing to the freshest beats he had heard up to then: Dilla’s. Though this resulted in Danny having some mean verses over some Donuts joints, this one-verse song over Dilla’s Hall and Oates flip remains one of my favorite Danny performances of all time.

Song: Slum Village - World Full of Sadness [Downloa d]

One of the best tracks Slum Village ever recorded ,and even though it wasn’t officially released, it’s a classic! Reportedly, D’angelo heard this when he was beginning to make Voodoo and had to completely re-think what would be his seminal second LP, evolving it into a work that was covered in Dilla’s influence without James Yancey having one single production credit.

Song: Royce Da 5'9 - Snatchies [Downloa d]

Though they didn’t release much, Dilla and Royce held a mutual respect and musical chemistry that is apparent on songs like “Life Goes On,” but my favorite definitely has to be “Snatchies.” Extra points for including an extended Trading Places reference.

Friday Five: Detroit Speak, Decoded

Rachel Skotarczyk — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:58:21 +0000

Detroit can be the most innovative place on the planet if one knows where to look. We’ve got a burgeoning underground comprised of just about every type of music you can imagine, and while we’ve been looking to the UK for most of the new emerging styles in electronic music, the musty basements of Detroit and its bored suburbs are still a great untapped resource.

Here’s a tiny taste of a few of Detroit’s artists establishing themselves as the raw and gritty brothers of future garage, the distant cousins of techno, or the new breed of whatever the F they feel like calling it.

1. Original post: Friday Five: Detroit Speak, Decoded

2. Posted in: future garage, indietronica, synthwave, techno, detroit

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Song: Husky - Step Back [Downloa d]

What’s interesting about Husky is he skates from break beat to hip hop, techno, funk, classic sounds, future sounds, whatever, he doesn’t care– he’s doing it all, and there’s a cohesiveness to it which makes it that much more amazing. In his latest track “Step Back,” what Husky calls ‘nu step’ mirrors a lot of stuff coming out of the UK, but this may very well be the first of its kind for Detroit. With self-proclaimed genres like $$$, Sleep, and <3 I’m guessing Husky’s trying to tell us that defining music is completely irrelevant, either that or he’s letting us know that his music is the defining factor.

Song: Ancient Language Ft. James Linck and Mister - Fire Hydrants [Downloa d]

This one’s like a tripple Detroit whammy: beats by Chris Jarvis (Ancient Language, Phantasmagoria,) Mister spitting the flow (Passalacqua) and James Linck showing off those mean pipes. I honestly have no idea what they’re trying to say, but I can only assume “Fire Hydrants” carries some sort of phallic suggestion. The Freud in me says I’m so dead on.

Song: Kyle Hall - untitled [Downloa d]

Attention is in the detail. ”Untitled” is a simple track with a depth of complexity, a quality of sound that trumpets, ”I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly.” Oh wait, no, that was Beyonce. But here in Detroit, Kyle Hall carries just as much weight — and rightfully so. As a child and pupil of the techno city, Hall represents our past as much as our future, yet his fascination with pushing the limits of organically created digital music has set him in a category all his own. For 22-year-old label owner, world traveler, and electronic mastermind, Hall doesn’t have to say much to prove his prowess, but, man, is the guy good at saying stuff anyway.

Song: Lord Scrummage - We All Need Honey [Downloa d]

Let’s thank Lord Scrummage for being so refreshingly honest — we all need honey, yes, we do. As the primary subjects in Sundance’s New American Noise: Lords of Detroit, apparently LS has a surplus of it, too. Someone needs to tell these guys (and gal) to share — their fellow Detroiters (eh hem, Jamaican Queens) could use a little sweet talk.

Song: Jamaican Queens - Water [Downloa d]

According to the Jamaican Queens, water nourishes us, love does not. Maybe a little pessimistic, but hey, Detroit is a city that’s always a little “half empty.” JQ’s latest video might lead one to believe Detroiters are a little half-crazy, too — must be in the water.

J Dilla – Anthem

sweeneykovar — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:47:21 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: House Shoes, Madlib, Samiyam

Song: J Dilla - Anthem [download here]

What's so good?

Jea! Right on time for Dilla month comes an announcement that the late great’s shelved major label debut album, originally titled Pay Jay, will now see commercial release in a few months, now bearing the name The Diary. Though a bootleg pressing of Pay Jay saw its way onto vinyl around 2008, this will be the first time the album will officially be on wax.

The first teaser is “Anthem,” a track featuring long-time Dilla collaborators Frank-N-Dank and originally titled “We F’ed Up” over a Kanye West beat. The new version is produced by Dilla and sounds as good or better than the ‘Ye version.

Read the details, courtesy of Rappcats:

“The Estate of James Yancey has revived PayJay as a functioning imprint, and is announcing its release of J Dilla’s long lost vocal album, The Diary. The first single “Anthem” b/w “Trucks” is now available as a pre-sale at rappcats.com and will be released on vinyl early this spring. Both “Anthem” and “Trucks” were produced, and feature complete vocal performances, by Dilla. The tracks come straight from multi-track masters found on 2-inch tape shortly after Dilla’s passing in 2006. These songs have been mixed by engineer Dave Cooley, who worked extensively with Dilla during his years in Los Angeles. Using Dilla’s original demo mixes as his guide, Cooley attempted to finalize Dilla’s vision for these tracks, while keeping all of the elements that Dilla had in place in his original demos present.

The Diary is an album of vocal performances recorded between in the early 2000s over production by the likes of Madlib, Pete Rock, Nottz, House Shoes, Karriem Riggins and others.”

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1. Original post: J Dilla – Anthem

2. Posted in: hip-hop, j dilla, Los Angeles, madlib, detroit

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

House Shoes: Top 6 Records of 2012

sweeneykovar — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 05:28:38 +0000

During a tour in December 2012 with the folks at Blisswave, I got to see my old friend and mentor DJ House Shoes in different environments. Equally comfortable in old spots, like San Francisco and Seattle, or new settings like Sacramento, Shoes let his encyclopedic knowledge of hip-hop, beats and all things Dilla lead to amazing solo sets as well as support for Guilty Simpson, the tour’s only MC.

Whether spinning his own beats or getting Guilty to spit familiar verses over unreleased Dilla tracks, Shoes proved to be the backbone of the tour.

Towards the end of the run I got the chance to sit with Shoes and pick his brain on his top five hip-hop records of 2012. Of course, he couldn’t follow directions, and insisted on giving me six. Check them out below; they span from heavy personal cuts off his own debut LP to overlooked gems from the hometeam in Detroit.

Also, check out this video shot and edited by the Blisswave team sharing a bit of what life was like on the road with the crew.

1. Original post: House Shoes: Top 6 Records of 2012

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, detroit, kendrick lamar, Blu

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Song: House Shoes - Roller Coaster feat. Self Says & Fat Albert Einstein [Downloa d]

Song: Moe Dirdee - Ride Clean [Downloa d]

Song: Ka - Cold Facts [Downloa d]

Song: Blu & Exile - A Man [Downloa d]

Song: Kendrick Lamar - Sing About Me [Downloa d]

Song: House Shoes (tHE SKY IS OURS) - Castles feat. Jimetta Rose [Downloa d]

Guilty Simpson: Top 5 Records of 2012

sweeneykovar — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 05:21:31 +0000

This past December, the good folks at Blisswave routed a tour of the Pacific Northwest that would make any underground hip-hop head anywhere in the world salty with envy: Guilty Simpson headlining backed by his longtime friend and collaborator House Shoes, supported by Samiyam and Knxwledge.

Yours truly was lucky enough to tag along as an unofficial roadie and official blunt roller. In a smokey European-style van, we trekked from San Francisco to Seattle, making stops in Sacramento and Portland along the way. The shows went well; the crowds were enthusiastic, responding well to the rap sets as well as the instrumental parts of the show.

During the run, I got a chance to build with one of the finest MCs from The D, one of the most hallowed cities in hip-hop. I asked Guilt to list out his top five favorite hip-hop joints from the year, and he quickly obliged. The list includes his brethren Sean Price and throwback wonderkid Roc Marciano, as well as newcomer Quelle and material from Guilty’s own 2012 output.

When you’re done checking out the playlist, peep the recap video of the tour, shot and edited in house by Blisswave.

1. Original post: Guilty Simpson: Top 5 Records of 2012

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, detroit, Quelle, stones throw

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Song: Guilty Simpson & Apollo Brown - The Cook Up [Downloa d]

Song: Quakers - War Drums [Downloa d]

Song: Quelle - The S.O.N. [Downloa d]

Song: Roc Marciano - 76 [Downloa d]

Song: Sean Price - STFU Pt. 2 [Downloa d]

Karriem Riggins – Matador Posse Cut Ft. KRONDON, Homeboy Sandman, Guilty Simpson & Jon Wayne

sweeneykovar — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:40:01 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Madlib, Alchemist, J Dilla,

Song: Karriem Riggins - Matador Posse Cut Ft. KRONDON, Homeboy Sandman, Guilty Simpson & Jon Wayne [download here]

What's so good?

The 25th element of hip-hop is the posse cut. Multiple MCs swarming over a beat, each one taking it to different places, but everyone killing it. The further you move through the posse cut, the tougher the bars should get, to the point where the end of the track forces you to immediately press rewind (or replay, since we don’t do the analogue thing much anymore).

The posse cut doesn’t have the presence it had. In the 90s, you could find tracks that had De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and The Jungle Brothers together; even into the 2000s, folks that you may not associate with carrying the flag for “real hip-hop” like Lil’ Jon were getting folks like T.I., Ice Cube, Nas, Bun B and Jadakiss over one beat. At the risk of sounding old, I miss that.

Well, it seems like Karriem Riggins and the good folks at Stones Throw heard my pleas and answered with a vicious arrangement: four MCs from the ST family over one of the cuts from Karriem’s Alone/Together LP. Originally an instrumental, “Matador” gets the metaphysicallyricalmiracle treatment by Krondon, Homeboy Sandman, Guilty Simpson and Jon Wayne.

The microphone masters stick to the unwritten rules of posse cuts and succeed. Krondon breaks the ice with a very strong verse before Boy Sand comes through sounding way more aggressive than I’ve heard him in recent memory, referencing his Huff Post column and his exercise and diet regimen. Guilty follows with a personal introspective verse that doesn’t sound the tad bit soft or off. Then the young boy Jon Wayne comes through to shut everything down. This is the kind of hip-hop track you can keep on loop for a minute.

Oh, did I mention that J. Rocc, the world’s best DJ, laces the space between verses with immaculate cuts? Don’t sleep!

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1. Original post: Karriem Riggins – Matador Posse Cut Ft. KRONDON, Homeboy Sandman, Guilty Simpson & Jon Wayne

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, j dilla, madlib, detroit

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

House Shoes – Empire Reprise (Ft. Sam Beaubien of Will Sessions)

sweeneykovar — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:33:59 +0000

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Sounds like: Samiyam, J Dilla, Waajeed

Song: House Shoes - Empire Reprise (Ft. Sam Beaubien of Will Sessions) [download here]

What's so good?

House Shoes lineage is proven and unlike that of any other Motor City DJ. He helped introduce the world to J Dilla and played dot-connecter for numerous other artists from the D and other cities. His move to L.A. several years ago has raised his profile, but still, life as a hip-hop DJ with principles ain’t easy.

This year saw a very personal triumph. Aside from the birth of his daughter, House Shoes finally released a solo album. Not a single, not an EP, not a mixtape, but a full motherfuckin’ House Shoes album, Let It Go. It featured some of the best MCs you know and don’t know, all over Shoes’ original production.

Now, less than a year later, Shoes drops what he calls his true solo album, the instrumental version of Let It Go. Sans MCs, one can better appreciate the gritty soul that permeates most of the tunes. As someone who has had the privelege of knowing Shoes for years, I can hear his personality in the beats. From the tough, stubborn drum-and-synth combo on “Sweet” to the bittersweet honesty of “Modern Family,” Shoes poured his heart out over his MPC to make this.

In celebration, enjoy “Empire Reprise,” featuring Sam Beaubien of Will Sessions. As an added treat, if you happen to be on the Western seaboard this week, check out House Shoes live on the Blisswave tour with Guilty Simpson, Samiyam, and Indie Shuffle favorite, Knxwledge:

Wed 12/05 – LA @ Low End Theory
Thursday 12/06 – SF @ Public Works
Friday 12/07 – Sacramento @ Harlow’s
Saturday 12/08 – Portland @ Rotture
Sunday 12/09 – Seattle @ The Lo-Fi

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: House Shoes – Empire Reprise (Ft. Sam Beaubien of Will Sessions)

2. Posted in: underground hip hop, Instrumental Hip Hop, j dilla, detroit, Samiyam

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Waajeed – Hood Tech

sweeneykovar — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 15:53:41 +0000

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Sounds like: Danny Brown, Theo Parrish, Moodymann

Song: Waajeed - Hood Tech [download here]

What's so good?

Silently, Waajeed is one of the most creative and forward-thinking producers out of Detroit, and if you know the city’s history, that is saying a mouthful. The creative who was the impetus behind Slum Village’s Fantastic Vol. 1 cassette tape that first sparked the fire on the cult of Dilla has himself grown into one of his generations virtuosos. He mastered the grimy, Detroit hip-hop sound and made his mark on soul music through his work with PPP. He’s scored films, ghost-produced and taught himself film work.

Still, it’s been a few years since a proper Waajeed musical release, and recently, we were clued in as to why. He just announced two new 12″s, but it is the unveiling of his new label, Dirt Tech Reck, that is truly exciting. Apparently, Waajeed has been creating another lane to explore his music. The imprint is created in unison with a group of Detroit electronic pioneers under the name Underground Resistance.

The song “Hood Tech” is both a track for upcoming release and the namesake of the new genre Jeed has crafted. As the title might allude, “Hood Tech” sounds like electronic sounds for the hood, dance floor music that is more visceral than cerebral. The drums are knocking and the low end booms — this will definitely work. The Nicki Minaj adlibs fit in pretty well too.

Here is what Kenny Fresh of FRSH SLCTS and frequent Waajeed collaborator opines:

“Marching forward with all cannons blazing, Detroit innovator, Waajeed, AKA Jeedo, continues the roll out of his new army & label, Dirt Tech Reck, with yet another new song released today via his Soundcloud page.

After the release of both the FILTH and Electric Street Orchestra 12″s last month + his takeover of the Benji B show, today Jeedo liberates “Hood Tech” – the flagship anthem for the new genre he’s been crafting for the last few years.”

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Waajeed – Hood Tech

2. Posted in: Electronic, hip-hop, detroit, danny brown, waajeed

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson – Reputation

sweeneykovar — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:57:58 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Black Milk, Quelle, Sean Price, J Dilla

Song: Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson - Reputation [download here]

What's so good?

Guilty Simpson is one of the most technically proficient and consistent MCs of the last several years. His fantastic debut, Ode To The Ghetto, introduced his hardcore sound to many. His underrated follow-up projects with Eric Lau, Black Milk and Madlib have only amplified what the gruff rhymer is capable of making.

For his latest full-length project, Guilty teams up with Apollo Brown, a fellow Detroit musician. Their album Dice Game is grimey without reeking of the early 90s.

Here’s what the label, Mello Music Group, has to say about the leak, “Reputation”:

“In a city in depression, rife with corruption and crime, many people have found an outlet in music. Amidst a scene that has played a pivotal role in modern hip-hop and electronic music, Guilty Simpson and Apollo Brown emerge, together, as the next up to bat. Dice Game, the collaborative album from the two, is Detroit through-and-through: uncompromising, gritty and soulful. Officially set to drop on November 13, today Dice Game sees an early release digitally. To celebrate the occasion, Mello Music Group let off the buckshot track “Reputation.” The song has Apollo serving up a certified heater (with a sample record heads will recognize) while Guilty knocks it clean out the park. Ride through The D with the duo as they show you the city that popularized Cardi frames, Cadillacs and carjacking.”

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson – Reputation

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, j dilla, detroit, Quelle

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Elef – Keep It Physical (Detroit Swindle Remix)

Rachel Skotarczyk — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:36:05 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Kezla, Citizen, Kashii, The Martinez Brothers

Song: Elef - Keep It Physical (Detroit Swindle Remix) [download here]

What's so good?

Lars Dales and Maarten Smeets may have been born and raised in Amsterdam, but their musical minds grew up nearly 4,000 miles across the country… smack dab in the home of techno, aka Detroit, MI.

With a vibrant mix of Motown soul, funk, hip-hop, jazz and, of course, Detroit deep house, it’s no wonder why the duo adopted the name Detroit Swindle.

Whether they are referring to swindling us with a name like that, or the fact that Detroit is a swindling city, I have no idea. Romanticizing the best parts of the Motor City is a common phenomena with a lot of DJs that aren’t actually from here. Not to imply all that love and attention isn’t warrented, but I’m pretty sure here in Detroit even the techno legends hide in their homes.

To its credit, Detroit did make some great musical strides, and to Detroit Swindle’s credit, they too are making great moves.

In light of their second EP released via Dirt Crew, Detroit Swindle teams with label mate Elef for this neo-classic deep house remix.

If you’re into the classic sounds of house, particularly Detroit deep house, Detroit Swindle is worth following. Check out more on their SoundCloud.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Elef – Keep It Physical (Detroit Swindle Remix)

2. Posted in: Electronic, remixes, dance, house, deep house

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Jamaican Queens – Kids Get Away (CCU SUPER DUB)

Rachel Skotarczyk — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:30:37 +0000

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Sounds like: Coyote Clean Up, Chrome Sparks, UZ

Song: Jamaican Queens - Kids Get Away (CCU SUPER DUB) [download here]

What's so good?

Things look pretty good in Detroit today. In two totally related events, the Tigers made it to the ALCS and Coyote Clean Up and Jamaican Queens teamed up for a remix of JQ’s “Kids Get Away.”

Ok, I’m being facetious, but this hard hitting dub grime is the perfect anthem to feeling like a bad-ass– it’s what any Detroit Tiger would want to listen to today.

This is the first release from CCU in a hot minute, so maybe this means that the reclusive Coyote is about to come out of hiding. Either that, or he’s just being the good little spirit animal that he’s said to be and guiding the Jamaican Queens to greatness.

Not privy to Native American lore? No worries, all you need to know is that “Kid’s Get Away” is a pretty great track.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Jamaican Queens – Kids Get Away (CCU SUPER DUB)

2. Posted in: remixes, trip hop, indietronica, detroit, chillstep

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Passalacqua – Been A Minute

Rachel Skotarczyk — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:40:51 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Gavlyn, The GTW, Sol

Song: Passalacqua - Been A Minute [download here]

What's so good?

Another band from the outskirts of Detroit City, the dimorphic duo Passalacqua is known for their alternative styling and their cathartic, theatrical stage performances; Passalacqua is definitely a conceptual project. The concept is to engage, have fun, be real, and above all, don’t take yourself too seriously.

Comprised of high-school buds Mister and Blacksmith, they’ve just recently dropped an EP with loads of inspiring material, all produced by UK native, Dr. B. Passalacqua intends on making some meaningful contributions to neo-classical hip-hop. With a strong start, their single “Been A Minute” kinda makes you wanna touch the sky, and they’ve got a rad video to back it up.

While they’ve got your attention, be sure to check out their Zebehazy Summer EP released a few months ago. “Sirens” is a chill, funky soul track produced by Erno the Inferno and demonstrates the dynamics of Passalacqua’s style.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Passalacqua – Been A Minute

2. Posted in: soul, experimental hip hop, detroit, motown, UK hip hop

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

SelfSays – Comedy Rap (Prod. by Samiyam)

sweeneykovar — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:37:17 +0000

Visit Indie Shuffle to download.

Sounds like: Quelle, Samiyam, Atmosphere

Song: SelfSays - Comedy Rap [download here]

What's so good?

Michigan has been a breeding ground for some of the finest in hip-hop for decades. From MC Breed to J Dilla, from rhymes to beats, it’s trite by now to say there’s something in the water in the mitten. The tradition continues with MC SelfSays, coming straight out of Lansing.

While many rappers strive to emulate Scarface on wax, SelfSays probably sounds more like Larry David on tape. The cerebral, neurotic MC puts his personality under a microscope on his breakout Something Out Of Nothing EP that dropped a few years ago and caused many to take notice. Inserting his own particular experiences into a meter that was a bit unorthodox, and coupled with forward-thinking production (Devonwho, Knxwledge, Samiyam, and others), the EP got traction via word of mouth.

Picking up where that project left off, Self recently delivered APRIL, a short collection of newer works. It’s not a full new project but more of a teaser of upcoming tracks, a preview of the new and improved SelfSays. The cut we’re sharing with you today is “Comedy Rap,” a quirky trip down the rabbit hole that finds SS bouncing all around within his cerebral cortex, examining those incongruent thoughts that most dismiss.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: SelfSays – Comedy Rap (Prod. by Samiyam)

2. Posted in: hip-hop, underground hip hop, Los Angeles, detroit, Samiyam

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.