DON’T SLEEP: Rocky Rivera f/Davinci “SF City Retrospect” (prod. by Digital Martyrs) [VIDEO]
One of my favorite mixtapes of 2011 was easily Rocky Rivera’s “POP KILLER MXTP”. One of the many standout tracks from it is called “SF City Retrospect” featuring SWTBRDS own Davinci. Here’s the video. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Cache “Beat Tape Vol. 1” [BEAT TAPE]
Cache sent me this beat tape via Gmail. After hearing it I’m surprised I never ran across it when it first dropped earlier this Summer. Oh well, better late than never I guess. Don’t sleep on Cache “Beat Tape Vol. 1”. Don’t do it…
One.
DON’T SLEEP: HashFinger “October.11” [BEAT TAPE]
HashFinger’s monthly beat tape “October.11” comes courtesy of Sinoptic Music and the letter “D” for “DAMB!”. Do me a favor and try not to sleep on it. The Bandcamp embedded player is in the usual place, you already know the drill…
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Knxwledge “Hud.Dreems.EP” [BEAT TAPE]
Knxwledge is a dude that doesn’t really tell you he’s gonna drop something new. I usually hear about it RIGHT after it drops or before it does so I keep checking his page again and again waiting for it to go up like I was late last night. I finally remembered to go back and check (as I had several other posts on hold) after all the excitement today. He already has 384 likes on Facebook. DAMB. Peep “Hud.Dreems.EP” right now. The addition of “Ghost Dog” film dialogue on “Unkanni”? Brilliant. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: J-1 AKA THE DEER “Lucky 7 EP” [BEAT TAPE]
My boy Dibia$e calls Los Angeles the Mecca of Beat Culture. If you’re familiar with the scene then you already know who THE DEER is. He’s the drummer in Dam-Funk’s band Master Blazter, he’s responsible for all those ridiculous Starship 27 compilations and mixes and he also makes raw slaps under the name J-1. Here’s a beat tape from him titled the “Lucky 7 EP”. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: A.Dd+ “Insomniac Dreaming” (prod. by Black Milk) [SINGLE]
On the heels of Dallas’ own A.Dd+’s previous hot single “Can’t Come Down” and Black Milk announcing the upcoming release of his “Black & Brown EP” on Fat Beats next month comes the inevitable Black Milk x A.Dd+ collaboration “Insomniac Dreaming”. Keeping with the song’s theme you shouldn’t sleep on it. Salute to Black Milk, PICNICTYME, A.Dd+ and of course the miniboss herself Rosalinda Ruiz.
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Grap Luva “Neva Done EP” [NEW UPCOMING RELEASE]
The Grap Luva “Neva Done EP” vinyl hasn’t even officially dropped yet on Slice Of Spice/Redefinition Records and it’s already all but sold out (All 100 copies of the limited edition blue vinyl version that’s pictured below are sold out). Only 400 copies will be made available containing 11 tracks produced by Kev Brown, Joc Max and several classic Grap Luva slaps that were expertly crafted on his trusty SP 1200.
For that reason, this epic project will also be released on CD. Cover artwork by Joe Buck, recorded and mixed by Damu The Fudgemunk and mastered by K-Def. The tracks “Work Is Never Done” (featuring Damu The Fudgemunk), “Neva Done” & “Work It Out” all feature vocals and instrumentals then you get 6 raw beats from Grap Luva’s archives. You can now pre-order Grap Luva’s “Neva Done EP” in it’s CD form directly from Slice Of Spice/Redefinition or Fat Beats before they both officially drop on November 25th, 2011. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Sir Froderick “Reconnecting!” [NEW UPCOMING PROJECT]
The homie Sir Froderick’s new 7″ EP just dropped on Recordbreakin’, you can cop it directly from them or you can pre-order the full “Reconnecting!” LP before it drops on October 10th. Until then? Enjoy the slaps “Someolbullshit” & “143” from the project right now. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Has-Lo “Conversation B” [UPCOMING REMIX PROJECT]
Has-Lo’s “In Case I Don’t Make It” is easily one of the best releases of 2011, produced entirely by Has-Lo. When he first sent it to me last year, there were no song titles or cover art. Only me listening to the music and being simultaneously awed and disgusted that no label was responding to this genius project. Luckily, Michael Tolle @ Mello Music Group heard it and loved it and the rest was a gang of praise for a modern classic. Enter “Conversation B”…
Has-Lo’s “In Case I Don’t Make It” is reimagined as “Conversation B” where several of the games most respected producers and remixers rework the album track by track. In the end, the list of remixers reads like a Hip Hop fantasy league line up including names like Kev Brown, Oddisee, Exile, J-Zone, Paten Locke, Apollo Brown, Audible Doctor, Eric Lau, IMAKEMADBEATS, Small Professor, y?Arcka, ST/MiC, MikeFiveDeuce and even Has-Lo himself. Look for it to drop on iTunes November 8th, 2011 but everywhere else November 15th.
You can pre-order Has-Lo’s “Conversation B” from iTunes (November 8th release), Bandcamp, Fat Beats or UGHH (drops November 15th, 2011. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Mayer Hawthorne & The County “How Do You Do” [NEW ALBUM]
Mayer Hawthorne & The County’s major label debut (on Universal) will be his re-up “How Do You Do”. If you loved “A Strange Arrangement” then by all accounts I’ve heard you’ll be blown away by this effort. “How You Do” will drop everywhere on October 11th, 2011 and you can pre-order it from Amazon & UGHH right now but you can actually cop it free and clear from iTunes as of this Tuesday (October 4th, a full week early!). DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Willy Sunshine “La Jeunesse Beat Tape” [BEAT TAPE]
Chief’s Feelin’ Music label has signed Willy Sunshine and he offers this free beat tape consisting of slaps he crafted between 2001-2005 as the “La Jeunesse Beat Tape”.You can stream and/or download it from Willy’s Bandcamp, either way? DON’T SLEEP! Shouts to Luigi…
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Meltdown “This Is Tomorrow” [BEAT TAPE]
Meltdown’s “This Is Tomorrow” was actually supposed to be posted up yesterday but then I discovered the FlyLo footage and that plan went to shit. In any event, this Luxembourg beatmaker shouldn’t be slept on. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Aspect One “Soundcloud Beats” (prod. by Aspect One) [INSTRUMENTALS]
To tide us over until Aspect One’s “The Butterfly Effect” drops, I offer you all 5 new beats he just recently uploaded to Soundcloud and tipped me off about more than 30 minutes ago called “Winter Sadness”, “Guillotine”, “Like A Dream”, “Feelings” and “Girls”. Enjoy and don’t sleep…
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Flying Lotus Live w/ Thundercat @ Eagle Rock Music Festival [LIVE FOOTAGE]
This is fan footage of Flying Lotus’ epic set @ the recent Eagle Rock Music Festival people haven’t stopped talking about on the beat scene. I got my fingernails dirty and I found some footage of Flying Lotus with Thundercat as he does “Daylight” live onstage for the excited throngs of fans that was recently uploaded by a user (the first clip had only 4 views at the time I found it on YouTube). DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: RESONATE presents AURAL STIMULI Vol. 1 [COMPILATION]
In order the celebrate RESONATE’s 2nd anniversary this instrumental compilation was put together starring many of the best and brightest in the California beat culture scene and beyond today such as Dibia$e, mndsgn, B.Lewis, BoomBaptist, johnwayne, AL_PD, Benito, Jermski and others. These 12 blaps are not to be missed out on. Salute RESONATE. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: SWARVY “Symbals EP” [BEAT TAPE]
After I posted up the 4pLay jawn earlier I noticed that in the credits SWARVY was thanked for mixing the project. Knowing that he’d recently dropped his “WaLDeN LP” last week I wondered what else he’d done recently. I’ll be dambed. He dropped something new right afterwards! Don’t sleep…
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Focus… f/T3 & Joe Scudda “The Hard Way” (prod. by Focus) [SINGLE]
Famed Aftermath in house producer Focus… presents the lead single from his upcoming project “Music Of The Misinterpreted” that drops on November 11th, 2011. The jawn is called “The Hard Way” and it features Joe Scudda and T3 of Slum Village. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Flame Griller “Wuntathought” (prod. by Kosyne) [VIDEO]
I just clicked a link on Twitter from my UK homie Kosyne to a video to a song he producer for a song called Flame Griller. Flame Griller is under an umbrella called Sinoptic Music. Sinoptic Music is also the name of the outfit that brings us the HashFinger instrumental projects every month. They’re based out of Yorkshire in the UK and I had no clue. Small world. Flame Griller’s “Wuntathought” is produced by Kosyne and is featured on the compilation “We Don’t Do S**t Hip-Hop Vol. 3” from Sinoptic Music. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Saux “Puzzled EP” [INSTRUMENTAL PROJECT]
Saux is a multi instrumentalist, producer, arranger and a DJ from Amsterdam who crafts his pieces from scratch. The “Puzzled EP” demonstrates his trademarked sound as he finds the middle ground between the jazzy Funk he plays by hand and the beat culture influenced electronic music he spins and loves. Don’t sleep!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Sola Rosa “Get It Together” [NEW PROJECT]
Melting Pot Music’s latest signing out of New Zealand is an R&B/Soul/Funk/Jazz outfit by the name of Sola Rosa. They just recently released an incredible project called “Get It Together” where they showcase their versatility to the fullest. They dip in and out between genres and put together some excellent soundscapes for various vocalists and instrumental pieces alike. I suggest that you not sleep on “Get It Together”. The Bandcamp link is embedded so you can stream it and cop it if you feel so inclined.
One.
DON’T SLEEP: 4pLay (Sir Froderick x Lisa Preston) “LoVeMuscLe” [NEW PROJECT]
4pLay is an ambitious project reminiscent of The Controls, Portishead or Esthero back when she worked with Doc in the early days. Sir Froderick on the beats and vocalist Lisa Preston AKA Lp crafts the compositions into songs so the end result is “LoVeMuscLe” . This is ill. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: ESTA “Soundcloud Beats” (prod. by ESTA) [INSTRUMENTALS + REMIX]
Here’s a collection of the last 5 ill slaps the homie ESTA has recently uploaded to his Soundcloud. They’re individually called “BeatsMadeOnAPlane”, “WannabeExileBeat”, “Trust Me (ESTA Remix)”, “GiveItOn” & “BeautifulDay (Long Gone)”. To get work from him, hit him up directly @ EstaXEsteban[at]gmail[dot]com to inquire about beat availability and pricing. Don’t waste his time if you’re not serious. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Sizemen “A Tribute To Tak Shindo” [BEAT TAPE]
The Sizemen are a French production duo that created a beat tape from compositions that were originally crafted by Tak Shindo. Tak Shindo was a composer and arranger that made music for television and film in addition to making several albums himself. This project is culled together mostly from his works in the 50’s and 60’s. Get familiar with the genius that was Tak Shindo and the skills of Sizemen. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
DON’T SLEEP: Roc C “Stoned Genius Promo Trailer #2” [VIDEO]
Here’s the second promo video for the upcoming Roc C LP “Stoned Genius” which will drop on December 13th, 2011. It features production from Madlib, The Alchemist, Jake One, Oh No, Dae One, Jansport J, Soul Professa, Lee Bannon & The Unknown in addition to features from The Alchemist, Blu, Freeway, Oh No, Chali 2NA, Rapper Big Pooh, Termanology, Tri State & more. Video and cover art done by the artiest chick around iNanz. DON’T SLEEP!
One.
FWMJ's Producers I Know 