Mixtape Monday: D'Angelo x Ally Al Mega Mix Premiere, Sims x N.W.A., DJ Spinna + More
With the onset of fall comes a fresh new set of sounds in our new Mixtape Monday roundup. Simply put, it's all about D'Angelo this week (and, really, every week on Okayplayer) thanks to the brand new Vanguard mixtape from Ally Al. He's put together some of the best of D's material, both from albums and studio rarities, and sewn them together with a few live recordings and remix jawns to create a un-funk-wit-able set that is sure to become essential listening. Beyond that, Sims has composed an N.W.A. samples set that underlines us the musicality of West Coast rap, and DJ Spinna takes us back to the old school 808 house parties of the day. There's also Tycho, Kronika and great things from Dope Folks on tap, so get on in and get yourself some.
Ally Al has once again come through with an excellent mixtape that homes in on a single artist. This time it's (who else?) D'Angelo, and features some of the modern funk master's very best material, as well as a few remixes and live cuts thrown in for good measure. Ally told Okayplayer that, while it took him a little bit of time for him to warm up to Voodoo (hard to imagine now, but these things happen), and had plenty of apprehension when Black Messiah was announced came. But that worry turned to joy as Al, like all of us, realized what a brilliant statement D'Angelo made with his new record. Even if it took 14 years. The new mixtape--which is making its world premiere below--was the product of Ally digging through his old D favorites before catching a date on the Second Coming tour, and he hopes it's something that both avid fans and casual listeners can really dig into. He's right--the mix is a bonafide home run. Satisfy that Jonz in your bonz and listen below.
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Tracklist:
1. The Charade
2. Playa Playa
3. She's Always In My Hair
4. 1000 Deaths
5. Spanish Joint
6. Betray My Heart
7. Brown Sugar ( Da Beatminerz Rmx ft Kool G Rap )
8. Brown Sugar ( Soul Inside 808 Mix AllyAl Edit )
9. Lady ( Just Tha Beat Mix ft AZ )
10. Feel Like Makin' Love
11. Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine ( Jay Dee Rmx )
12. Tell Me ft D'Angelo - Slum Village
13. The Line
14. Alright
15. So Far To Go ft Common & D'Angelo
16. Prayer
17. Chicken Grease
18. Devil's Pie
19. Cold World ( RZA mix Ft D'Angelo & Inspektah Deck ) - GZA
20. One Mo'Gin
21. Really Love
22. Jonz In My Bonz
23. Africa
24. Untitled ( How Does It Feel )
25. Another Life
The fantastic Frenchman Sims is back with another of his highly educational offerings. His latest mixtape is an exploration of N.W.A. and the samples that made their music possible, seamlessly blending the songs of James Brown, Roy Ayers, Afrique, Parliament, Rare Earth and more with the songs that utilized them, showing us once again just how intricate and on-point the West Coast legends were when it came to their craft. Sims is without a doubt one of the most musical mix-crafters to grace the pages of this web-blog, so press play on the video below and get yourself educated.
Brooklyn legend DJ Spinna keeps coming up with great new ways to keep us moving, and his latest set does it just right. If you managed to travel back in time to a house party hosted by Run DMC, this might be exactly what you hear, as Spinna drops B-Boy-style 80s cuts that have only gotten gotten better with age. If you're looking to squeeze just one more backyard weekend jam out of this waning summer, this is the one to bookmark. Can you dig it???
Our stalwart friend DJ Rahdu keeps it moving with his new set of Maxwell remixes, a set that takes him back to the mid 90s and the breaks that were used to construct that era's most vibrant tracks. We'll let Rahdu himself set the scene:
In 1996 I was fiercely committed to East Coast Hip Hop and discovering the breaks used to create it. I had a friend who worked at a local music shop at a strip mall perpendicular to my job, and during my scheduled break I would visit, kick the Willie BoBo and in turn be laced with whatever I could carry out. I remember one evening, while staging the purchasing of a large amount of Hip Hop and Breaks, seeing a white cardboard display at the checkout for an artist I’d never heard of with unique, attractive packaging and a really cheap price point, like .99 or so. I picked up the CD single, mulled over adding it to the pile, decided I would never have the opportunity to listen to it with the large amount of music I was amassing and set it down.Months later when Urban Hang Suite was released, I realized the error of my decision. UHS signaled not only the introduction of Maxwell, it was also a harbinger of the Neo Soul Movement. In addition, the Ascension maxi-single I passed up, ironically included a remix by Hip Hop’s most respected producer, Dilla. Over the next 2 years, Maxwell continued to drop maxi singles from UHS with alternate versions and remixes of its beloved tunes much like the Hip Hop 12”s of that time.
As time went on and I became immersed in music overall I discovered there were others touched by Maxwell’s music who decided to share their spin on his music. It’s a combination of these remixes, covers, and edits I have mixed and share with you today. Enjoy!
Tracklist:
GDNA – (RE) Fixing Bad Habits
Maxwell – Unsung
MeLo-X – The Highest
Pro Era – Maxwell ft Dirty Sanchez, Rokamouth & Capital STEEZ
Maxwell – Sumthin Sumthin GDNA (RE) Vision
Maxwell vs Busta Rhymes – Sumthin to Put Your Hands In
Maxwell – Sumthin Sumthin (The Mantra)
Katrell – La Jeunesse Retrouvee
Maxwell – Ascension (Touchsoul Lover’s Only Edit)
Maxwell – Ascension (aywy. & Shem Edit)
Maxwell – No One ft HB & Mother’s Favorite Child
Maxwell – Stop the World (Boddhi Satva Ancestral Soul Remix)
Maxwell – Luxury:Cococure (Mixzo Mix) (Uncut)
Maxwell – Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder) The Tribute
Maxwell – Get to Know Ya (DJ Dodge Mix)
Maxwell – Til the Cop’s Come Knockin’ (Tony Loreto & Toro Remix)
Maxwell – Sumthin Sumthin (Karizma Edit)
Maxwell -Everwanting: To Want You To Want (Black Label Mix)
Maxwell – Fortunate (Naked Music Mix)
Maxwell – Til The Cops Come Knockin’ (The Opus Pt. 02)
Yarra Rai – Whenever, Wherever, Whatever
Little Brother – Whatever You Say (The Maxwell Mix)
MeLo-X – Dance of the Wings(MeLo Suite)
YP – Softly
Scott Hansen, aka Tycho, makes some of the most beautiful and dense electronic music this side of Mercury. Tycho made it out to Burning Man late last month and, just like last year, delivered a soundtrack to the sunrise, and the audio evidence has been saved for all posterity. It's excellent music for long drives, late nights, or high cross-country flights, so set yourself an itinerary and listen. This one is top-notch.
Tracklist:
Brothomstates - Mdrmx
Photek - T'Raenon
Casino Versus Japan - It's Very Sunny
Dominik Eulberg - Datenübertragungsküsschen ( Sistema Remix)
Dauwd - Kolido
Cubenx - First Wave Front
Jon Hopkins - Open Eye Signal
Daniel Bortz - Tomorrow We Start a New Life Again
Few Nolder - Clouds (Boso Reversion)
Daniel Avery - Knowing We'll Be Here
Daniel Bortz - Monkey Biznizz
What You Need (Downtown Party Network Remix)
John Tejada - Orbiter (Simian Mobile Disco Mix Version 2)
Dauwd - And
Jamie XX - Gosh
Aphex Twin - Avril 14th
Boards of Canada - ROYGBIV
<<<< SUNRISE >>>>
Bibio - Lover's Carvings (Bruno Be & Eddie M Remix)
Roosevelt - Sea (Dub)
Downtown Party Network - No Drama Afterhours
Telephones - Blaff
Tame Impala - The Moment
Tycho - A Walk
When she's not composing mixtapes for Okayplayer, Kronika is apparently hard for other fine publications, honing her craft as one of the rising stars of Soulection, and the entire West Coast beat scene. On her new mix for Moovmnt, she blends SiR, Dpat, Esta and many more. The vibes are strong on this one.
Tracklist:
01 SiR - Love You
02 Chloe - Martini Temptation (Khadisma Remix)
03 Dpat &Atu - Nothing Here
04 kuma - sumimasen
05 HeaVYxMeLLoW - Try Again
06 Tory Lanez - Girl Is Mine (prod. Tory Lazez xTim Curry)
07 Singularis - Shadows
08 TOMMY II 贰 - Freaky Bitch (feat. Drae Da Skimask)
09 dc - Lost In North Hollywood
10 Jeremih - What I Like (Jeftuz Remix)
11 Fortune - Unity
12 Dr.Dre - Xxplosive (Ace Myth Bootleg)
13 ESTA - Pure
14 JAZ - Butterflies (prod. KLSH)
15Nehzuil - What Is There In My Heart?
16Brandy - Never Say Never (Jaël Remix)
17Fresh Sly - The Brown Eyed Waitress
18Mary J Blige - Sweet Thang
19 Rey Ruccio - In The Sky
California DJ and producer Mophono delivered a Solid Steel Radio set back in April, and now Ninja Tune has decided to host the mix online. In his own words, Mophono described it as
"3 main chapter structures nice and tidy that I could weave material from the past and present.• drum machines old and new with an industrial and post punk stain of disapproval
• vintage library moog robot world of radio transmission experimentation and learning
• international psych madness performed by new and old prog rhythm sections
After getting started on the mix, immediately I realized how tough the struggle would be. Soon I would be aggressively wrestling these beasts into submission - before what I had seen as unique treasures to cherish and behold, instantly changed into nonconforming monster hybrids, making it impossible to compartmentalize them in any way.
Looking past the filth and run off, I saw beauty in their unruliness and chopped and scratched them to bits and pieces. Thanks for listening"
The mix includes cuts from Death Grips, Flako, Broadcast, Doris Norton, Kaytranada, Coldcut and plenty of his own material. It pulls no punches in its animatronic fervor; you might not be ready for these rhythms.
Chris of Dope Folks Records takes it all the way back to the golden era of 1992-4 for this one. Here's his summation:
I needed a new mixtape for my car and I was playing the STEZO test press... That got me in the mood. These are some of my current favorite old school underground jams. This mainly has the '92-'94 feel but there's some later stuff on here as well. Shout outs to Vinyl Addicts for the Sons of Sam, Threshold for the MC Blabber, and Heavy Jewelz for Terror Green. Second track is Stezo from the "Unreleased and Rarities" EP coming out on DOPE FOLKS RECORDS next week.
You can pick up your own copy of the STEZO mix over at Dope Folks and listen to it in full below.
Some choice, rare jazz comes courtesy of Black Jazz Records, and Theo Parrish. This one starts strange but coasts off into smooth, contemplative acoustic territories quick soon after. Enjoy.
Tracklist:
Doug Carn - Trance Dance
Gene Russell - My Favorite Things
The Awakening - March On
The Awakening - Convulsions
The Awakening - Jupiter
Calvin Keys - Criss Cross
Rudolph Johnson - The Highest Pleasure
Walter Bishop, Jr. - Those Who Chant
The Awakening - Mirage
Calvin Keys B.E.
Rudolph Johnson - Time And Space
Walter Bishop, Jr. - Blue Bossa
We can't help but end things with a little dose of Dilla. Funk Bastard, aka Dean Chew, laid down an all-Jay Dee tribute set a while back, and now it's freshly available online. This one hits all the right spots, and features primarily cuts that Dilla worked on for other artists, rather than his own deep material. This week started with D'Angelo and ended with James Yancey. That's a job well done, everyone.
Tracklist:
1. Intro / Dam Funk – I Wanna Thank U (4 Steppin’ Into My Life) ~ 2013
2. Octavio Santos – Fall In Love (For Dilla)
3. Matmatix – Landspeeder
4. Evil Needle – One for Kennedy
5. Jay Dee feat Frank N Dank – Pause (Sawandi Rework)
6. Analog | Division – Just Another Day
7. DarkoTheSuper – Dilla Dawg Is The Illest
8. D.L.O. the Iceman – I Am Legend
9. J Dilla – Grannie
10. JuSouL – Thank You (A J Dilla Tribute)
11. Robot Orchestra-Beauty And The Beat
12. Freshtone – Give You The One (Instrumental)
13. J Dilla – Ruff And Rugged
14. PSimDope-Air & Water [Dilla x Aaliyah]
15. Illa J – DFTF (Instrumental)
16. Bahamadia – Uknowhowwedu (Instrumental)
17. J Dilla – Kaklow (Jump on It)
18. Nate OG – His-Story!
19. Spacek – Dollar…Circulate (Out of Spacek Remix)
20. Slum Village – World Full of Sadness
21. J. Rawls – A Tribute To Dilla
22. Mar Variation – 2u4u
23. Slum Village – What it’s All About
24. Al Hudson & The Soul Partners – I’m About Loving You
25. Outro