SOUND SPOT: OLIVIERDAYSOUL
Who's got the funk, we got the funk...I'm gonna make if funky for you! Seems like back in the day everybody prided themselves on being the funkiest from Rick James to Parliment-Funkadelic! Funk had its place in the good ole' days of live instrumentation, but these days the closest we've had is the G-Funk era, which was pioneered by Warren G. Nah, let me stop telling the truth, because funk is still alive and well, and next up to bat is my dude OlivierDaySoul. ODS is hails from D.C., which just happens to the hometown of many of my favorite artists in the business right now like Wes, Wayna, Kev and many others. Olivier has a funky, funky sound, and it's very similiar to that Platinum Pied Pipers flavor with a smidget of vintage Prince. The funniest thing about this kat is that he truly sounds like Rick James on some of his tracks. It's effortless, so I am assuming that his sound is natural and not some gimmick type trickery like T-Painful? Olivier's funky fresh futuristic space has arrived, so get on board (no Great Space Coaster)...

Olivier is doing his thing right now. I have heard his voice on several tracks from hip-hop to soul, bringing that funky gym sock funk vibe to every track. Mr. DaySoul recently dropped his musical experience entitled "Brain" to funk up your life a little bit. If you are looking for something funky fresh for the Spring season, this will be a good place to start. Trying to describe this project would be unfair, because it's not one of those simple albums that can be put into a two sentence breakdown. With each listen I hear something new that I missed the previous times. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think about it. Then checkout his forthcoming album entitled "Kilowatt" that will be released in May of 2008, but it currently available via iTunes right now!

To hear some sounds from this man, check out his myspace page:

www.myspace.com/olivierdaysoul

Then I dare you to tell me that he isn't funky enough for you!

IF U DON'T HAVE J-DAVEY, U LOST!
Who doesn't know about the superduo that call themselves J*Davey by now? I mean seriously, it's 2008 dammit! If you consider yourself a true soul music lover and you've somehow missed the J*Davey train then I suggest you toss your soul music VIP card in the toilet and hit the metal handle. Even though their musical career has not been the best as far as getting the promotion they deserve, and the dreadful delay of their official album release, they have still managed to become underground stars. Touring like mad people and selling out venues all of the world have put their name on the tip of everyone's tongue. Both Jack and Brook are cool ass hell in person, so it's easy to become a fan of their movement for that fact alone, but thankfully their music is the sh*t as well!

The majority of their music hard to come by in most cases unless you hit up one of their live concerts. There is another wonderful place that we all dwell called the internet that is a useful tool for accessing their stuff as well. Just last year they dropped their latest compilation "The Land of The Lost!" This is prelude to their official Warner Brothers album release supposedly hitting the streets at the end of the year. For some reason I thought everybody was aware of this joint, so I didn't even post about it. Over the last few months kats and kittens have been asking me about some of the tracks off of the compilation. You know those what, when, where and how type questions that we all know and love. So, instead of answering a bunch of emails, I decided to do a post about it and help the folks that are lost.

This post is like a game for those want to find the treasure. If you missed this joint the first time around, here's your chance to get it. The game is called LOST & FIND! Basically, the rules are simple. I LOST it, and U have to find it...

Hit J*Davey's myspace page here:

www.myspace.com/jdavey

Then check this one too:

www.jdaveybaby.com

Get to know J*Davey with Gakcity


J*Davey - Lazy Daze (Live)

SOUND SPOT: KISSEY ASPLUND
While everyone else seems to be going that way, I always seem to go in the opposite direction. That's because there's normally not enough room for everyone to travel comfortably going in the same direction, plus I don't particularly like crowds. The same approach is taken when I make my music choices in many cases. I have been accused in the past of going off the beaten pathe just because I just want to be different? No, sumuma-biyatch that's not it at all, I just know what I like! Just like this hip Swedish babe named Kissey Asplund. I really LIKE her! She's bringing her own brand of sound to our ears with a mixture of electronica, funk and soul. I have to thank my dude Synflood for turning me on to this talented young lady. Her off the wall, yet catchy formula to music making is unconsciously addictive. In the same way that the cult like following has developed for other diverse artists like J-Davey and Janelle Monae. Once you get a taste of their sound it's hard to turn it off. On a side note...if you have been keeping your ears on strick diet of only regurgitated mainstream urban trash radio for the last few years, artists like Kissey and Jack Davey will probably taste like a fresh fart in the air. Don't let that discourage you though, because this fart smells like fresh roses after a few sniffs.

Fortunately, Kissey has a lot of music under her dress for fans to put their ears on in the form of EPs and guest appearances. Unfortunately, if you don't live in or near Sweden most of it is not readily available to folks with no motivation. The best news of the month is that Kissey is releasing the debut album entitled "Plethora" at the end of April 2008. It's available on iTunes now for you impatient suckas like myself. I'm digging this joint severely right now. The album is full of original concepts with dope vocals over tight production. I'm sold on Kissey Asplund and you just might be too! Regardless, try to support good music and the artists that you like, so they can keep making the music that you love. Phuck what you heard up to this point. These artists NEED your support financially, not just the words that you type on somebody's blog talking about how dope they are...

Peep her myspace spot:

www.myspace.com/kisseyasplund

Check these videos too:

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

SPACEY SOUL MISTRESS!

There are soul singers that definitely do their thing pretty well, but then there are those like Sy Smith that have own lane going in the opposite direction. Sadly, Sy is not a household name when most folks think of soul music, but she definitely should be. I first discovered this hot young lady back in 2004 when she dropped some album saving vocals on Ali Shaheed's mediocre "Shaheedullah and Stereotypes" solo project. So, when she dropped her second joint "The SyberSpace Social" I was all over that for sure. That album had definitely it's own unique sound. It had a spacey type soulful feel with a twist of funky vibrations. After hearing that joint, I immediately became a Sy-ber Souldier! I've been supporting her ever since. When I finally met her in person a couple of years back, she was just as beautiful on the inside as she looks on the outside. She's a true talent reppin' that D.C. sound. These are the kind of artists that need and deserve your support if you are a true soul music lover.

Speaking of showing some support, Ms. Smith has just released her third (some say fourth) album entitled "Conflict!" I think this joint is her most well rounded project to date. It definitely shows some growth, without losing focus of that originality that makes her different from the rest. Personally, I'm really digging the production and her vocals, so there's no CONFLICT over here. Actually, if you have never heard any Sy Smith music up to this point, her latest album may be a good place to start getting to know her. If you like this one then you should go back and check out some of her earlier work. I don't believe in buying music blindly in 2008. I try to listen to everything before I spend my hard earned greenbacks for it, and you should too. So, put your ears on snippets of the "Conflict" album here:

LISTEN HERE AND HERE...

Checkout these two tracks:

Sy Smith - That Ring

Sy Smith - Luv & Such

Then hit her up at:

www.myspace.com/sysmith

www.sysmith.com

Now, peep this...

Sy Smith ft. Wes Felton - Reach Down (Video)

KEV BROWN + LMNO = DOPE!
Personally, I think Hip-Hop music is at it's best when two or more incredible talents come together to make that magic happen. It doesn't always work like that Jay-Z and R. Kelly tragedy from a few years back, but in most cases it's something pretty special. Today, I bring to you one of my most recent favorite collabos with LMNO of The Visionaries and Kev Brown of the Low Budget Crew. Two underground vets doing their thing the right way. There new project is called "Selective Hearing" and I must say that this joint is pretty hot! This is basically how I like my hip-hop for the most part, with dope production and interesting wordplay that goes perfectly witht he beats. If you are a Kev or LMNO fan, you definitely need this one in your collection. If you've never heard of either, you STILL need this one! Support good music and the artists that make it! Don't sleep...

GET "SELECTIVE HEARING" HERE!




















Hit them up at their myspace page:

www.myspace.com/lmnokevbrown


WHO'S THAT (VIDEO)

YOU ARE THE FATT FATHER!
I remember a time when Detroit was mostly known for its automobile production plants and the home of Motown the sound. In the new millennium Detroit is slowly becoming the place for dope hip-hop artists. The people that live in the city already knew that there was some true talent here, but now the world is finally taking notice. Local crews finally decided to stop jockeying for position like crabs in a barrel and have joined forces to put out some hot joints. Another kat from the "D" who has been putting some work in for a minute on the local tip is definitely trying to make his name a household name. He goes by the name Fatt Father and he's an original member of the Fat Killahz. The Killahz have been putting it down around the "D" for a minute now, and they are definitely well respected. My dude Fatt Father has just released his latest street mixtape "You Are The Father" for the world to hear. Production duties are being handled by Black Milk, Trick-Trick, Supreme, Jewels Baby and Mr. Wright.

GET THE FATHER MIXTAPE HERE!

Courtesy of Dirty Mitten

FATT FATHER MYSPACE PAGE:

www.myspace.com/fattfather

GUILTY AS CHARGED!!

My dude GS has finally dropped his first video off of his debut street classic "Ode To The Ghetto," so put your eyes and ears on this one.

Guilty Simpson - Get Riches (Video)

SOULGROUND (CHAPTER 1) MIXX!
While mainstream rap music is suffering like a beached whale, the underground hip-hop scene is poppin' like a ghetto girl's bubble gum right now. Atleast, for me it is. My music plate is full (as always), so I stay changing up my music selection. Ironically, I have kept that new Roddy Rod album "Blunt Park Sessions" in heavy rotation for a minute now, and it still sound pretty damn good! It's just a fun sounding album to me, and the beats are crazy! I was already a big supporter of the Low Budget Crew movement ever since I discovered Kev Brown, and it's clear that this crew will be around for a long time. Albums like this is why I don't turn on the radio in 2008 unless I'm trying to get the weather and traffic updates. Like Kev Brown, Roddy is a rapper/deejay/producer that understands the essence of hip-hop music. There are no gimmicks, just straight up hip-hop music with no additives or preservatives. It reminds me what the group Gang Starr brought to the ble back in the day. All beats and rhymes baby, so if that's your thing be sure to check out my dude Roddy Rod!

Check out his myspace page below:

www.myspace.com/djroddyrod

After you check out Roddy's spot, come back and get my latest mixx to enhance your listing pleasure. This one's called the "Soulground Chapter 1" mixx, so definitely put your ears on it:

01+elzhi ft. dwele g - someone as real as her
02+roddy rod ft. chronkite/kaimyr - mouth water
03+pete rock ft. rell - that's what i'm talking about
04+q-tip ft. d'angelo - i believe
05+dutchmassive - i want her
06+lupe fiasco - paris tokyo
07+w. ellington felton - a native love afair
08+blu & exile ft. miguel - cold hearted
09+pryslzz ft. dwele - more than a love song
10+common ft. erykah badu - all night (remix)
11+miles bonny - salmon steaks
12+chaundon ft. darien brockington - take it personal
13+young buck ft. latoiya williams - u ain't goin no where
14+fat joe ft. charli baltimore/gerrell gaddis - walk on by
15+9th wonder & buckshot - go all out
16+carlitta durand ft. jim jones - what if
17+tone trezure - my destiny
18+roddy rod ft. muhsinah/hanu-hum - rude squire
19+foundation ft. sa-ra - the night
20+talib kweli ft. justin timberlake - the nature

KOPP IT!

DETROIT VIDEO BREAK!

This is still my joint right here! The beat is sick! Shoutout to my dudes the Fat Killahz reppin' the "D" to the fullest! If you are not familiar, get familiar by checking out this video:

FAT KILLAHZ - GET YA PAPER (VIDEO)

MISSING IN ACTION!
I recently purchased a half gallon of skim milk the other day, and guess whose face was on the back of the carton? You may remember her from her past workings with Snoop Dogg. Her name is Latoiya Williams and she's been missing since 2002. Has anyone seen this soul singer? I've been waiting patiently for about seven years now, and still no dayum album or even an EP for that matter. At this point I'd take a new damn mixtape from Toi-Toi! How come it's always the good singers that go missing? Why won't somebody kidnap T-Pain and Wyclef and bring Latoiya Back!

My patience is wearing really thin, and if I don't see a turn around sometime soon with this Latoiya come back situation, I just may go Tocarra on somebody's azz...
CLICK HERE!!

Then watch Ms. Williams in action:

FALLEN STAR (VIDEO)

HE'S JUST MARCUS!
I made it a personal quest for 2008 to do more posts on the overlooked music genre called Jazz. My motivation is that younger music lovers seem to have this obvious and deliberate detachment from jazz as a whole. Personally, I have heard every explanation/excuse for why a person does not like jazz, whether they have heard an actual jazz album or not. How an individual can decide not to like a WHOLE genre of music based solely on one song or album is mind-boggling. I think it truly has a lot to do with the genre being catered more toward the older age bracket, similar to how rap music is targeted at teenagers. Isn’t it peculiar how one of the most celebrated groups in hip-hop, A Tribe Called Quest rapped over production that was 75% jazz based? So, in theory to not like jazz music is to not like A Tribe Called Quest. I double-dog triple dare you to say that you don’t like the Tribe!

Okay, now that I’m done rambling lets get on to the meat of this post, which is giving one my favorite jazz artist some shine. He’s a true veteran in the game and his name is Marcus Miller. This New York based, Grammy-award winning musician is a producer, composer, singer and instrumentalist. Mr. Miller is probably best known for his earlier work with legends like Miles Davis, Luther Vandross and David Sanborn as a bass guitarist. This brother is NO JOKE when it comes to playing that electric bass! His slapping style of play is still unmatched in my opinion. He has definitely been an inspiration to many musicians that have come after him. It’s no accident that Marcus has enjoyed a long and respectable music career, and he’s still doing his thing today. Did you know that he created all of the music for the hit UPN television show “Everybody Hates Chris?” You know the comedy sitcom featuring Chris Rock doing his hit or miss stand-up comedy routine commentary while Tichina Arnold and Terry Crews play the 70s ghetto-like parents. Yeah, that sitcom. That’s your Jazzy Black History fact of the day!

Outside of doing TV show themes, Mr. Miller is still making solid albums as well. His latest release is entitled “Marcus” and it’s definitely full of some nice grooves. Marcus has always been a genius as meshing jazz and soul together like a fat girl in a pair of fishnet stockings, and this new joint is no exception. With vocal contributions from artists like Ledisi, Corinne Bailey Rae, Lalah Hathaway, Keb’Mo and Taraji P. Henson (Hustle & Flow fame) how could you lose? I was sold at Ledisi and Lalah personally! So, do yourself a favor and get familiar with Marcus Miller. He has a total of 11 albums to date that you can check for, not to include his side projects and dope collaboration efforts. So, if you have been looking for a jazz artist to start your search for great music, Marcus Miller is your man...

Check out a little Marcus Miller in action, then thank me later folks!

Marcus Miller - Scoop


Marcus Miller - Live Under The Sky 1991

SOUNDSPOT: TONE TREZURE
Amongst the thousands of singers trying to do their thing these days, there are a few that have a memorable voice and sound. These are the artists that remind us that there is still some real originality and talent in the world amongst the carbon-copy fluff that seems to get the spotlight these days. I'm talking about the type of soul artist that evolves from a "singer" to a "sanger" at first listen. In the spirit of the true sangers out there, I want to introduce you folks to Tone Trezure. She's a Detroiter by way of Flint, Michigan and I've been following this young woman's career for some years now. The dopest thing about her is that she's a writer, producer and a singer all roled into one. She's definitely talented! Her soulfully rich vocals are what I like the most. Her sound takes me back to the 1970s sound when soul music was raw and emotional. If you dig that flavor, get familiar with Ms. Trezure. Even if you don't already know her name, you probably have heard her voice several times already. That's because she's worked with some of your favorite artists over the years. Plus, she's featured on my last soul mixx "Soulcanic Lava" that you should have download already, right!

Check out her resume of musical collaborations: Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, Little Brother, Joi, Strange Fruit Project, Bilal, Pharoah Monch, Jay Electronica, Young Zeke, Method Man, Game, Mr. Porter, Rah Digga...

Get familiar with Tone here:

www.myspace.com/tonetrezure

SOULCANIC LAVA MIXX!
The soul is back like athlete's foot for your enjoyment. I've been playing this mixx for some days now and it's pretty hot, so check it out. I'm still on my Erykah Badu "Amerykah" kick, and that album gets better and better to me. My favorite joint off the album right now is "Telephone!" I was diggin' the song at first listen, but it dawned on me that this was the track that Erykah was talking about when I saw her live last year. She broke it down for the audience. If you didn't know already, that track was dedicated to J Dilla (R.I.P). Erykah was very close to Dilla and his mother. Ma Dukes told her that Jay Dee would be speaking out loud sometimes like he was talking to someone before he passed away. They figured Dilla was having an out of body experience due to the medication he was on for his illness. After Dilla passed on, his brother (Illa J) told Ma Dukes (Dilla's Mother) that Jay Dee was talking to the late Ol' Dirty Bastard during those conversations. J Dilla told his brother that ODB told him how to get to Heaven. Dirty told Dilla to make sure that he got on the White bus and not the Red Bus to get to Heaven.

That story touched Mz. Erykah so much that she wrote song about it, which is the Telephone joint! Now, listen to that track again and hear what you think about it knowing the whole meaning behind the verbage. That track is very spiritual and soulful to me and that's why I added it to this mixx. That's why I like Erykah because she makes music from her soul! Whether you hate it or love it, it that real ish...

Now, lets get into what you really came here for...

SOULCANIC LAVA MIXX TRACK LISTING:

>Tamiya^M-U-S-I-C
>Erykah Badu^Telephone (Dilla Tribute)
>Steve Spacek^Simply
>Porsche Smith^Let It Go
>Bilal^Soul Sista (Remix)
>Raheem DeVaughn^Love Drug
>Jim Sommers^If I Knew ft. Vikter Duplaix
>Darien Brockington^It's Over
>Dwele^Blaze Up a Square
>Jonell^Know Me
>Miles Bonny^What It Is I See
>Dwele^I'm Cheatin'
>The Foundation^Folks ft. SFP
>Little Brother^System ft. Tone Trezure
>Renna^Spirit
>Bilal Salaam^Modern Day Slavery
>Algebra^Run & Hide
>Erykah Badu^Soldier

GET IT HERE!

DON'T BURN YOUR EARS!!

CRUSH THEY SYSTEM DUTCH!
SOUNDSPOT: DUTCHMASSIVE
It's time for me to focus on some real underground hip-hop right now, so get out your Timberlands and too big fitted caps for this one! If I take the time out to post about a specific (not pacific) artist, then you already know that I am fan, because they have impressed me in some way. For those that don't know him, I want to introduce you to a dope emcee reppin' Florida that goes by the name Dutchmassive. Even though most of you may not know him, Dutch is not a new kid on the block when it comes to the rap game. He's been putting in work for over 10 years now. He's started his career out by working closely with another favorite emcee of mine named Celph Titled, and when I realized that I knew Dutchmassive was legit. Celph was a member of the well respected the Demigodz crew back in the day, plus he's an emcee's emcee. That means he goes for the throat with ever verse! Get your Google on for more info on Celph Titled.

I had been hearing Dutch's voice on records back in the day, but I never really paid him any mind. It wasn't until I heard his debut joint "Junk Planet" that I took note. The masses slept on it (myself included), but I finally peeped it in 2005. I dug it! Now, as part of the Rawkus 50 movement, Dutchmassive dropped his second joint called "Crush Your System" back in the last part of 2007. I'm lovin' this album too! It's the full package of beats and rhymes that I like. The overall production is my favorite part of this joint of course. Try not to judge a book by its cover and allow yourself to be open minded when it comes to music. If you swear you like underground hip-hop with no preservatives and fillers, put your ears on DutchMassive and hear what you think.


Consider these two tracks as snacks before the full meal:


Dutchmassive - Evaporate (Junk Planet)


Dutchmassive - Shibli (Crush Your System)


Peep the internet sites too:


www.dutchmassive.com


www.myspace.com/dutchmassive