Mixtape Mondays: New Mixtapes From Freddy Fresh, St. Vincent, Amir Abdullah, DJ Rhettmatic + More
If you're already sick of hearing all about the Jay Z / Solange elevator gala trauma drama, might we suggest a bit of auditory escape? We've been hard at work gathering a list of new mixtapes from some of the best needle-droppers in the business and it's now time to present you with the fruits of our labor. This edition of Mixtape Mondays scintillates with the sound provisions of Freddy Fresh, St. Vincent, South Africa's Spoek Mathambo, Brooklyn (via Boston)'s Amir Abdullah and more. There's more than enough in the list to get you through the work week. Hell, Monday's almost over already; time to celebrate. Click through the list and savor the beat-matched perfection.
Freddy Fresh Presents The Rap Records – The Mastermix 1+2
Boogie Down Productions alum Freddy Fresh kicks off the week's list with a proper study of the old school made to commemorate his newest Rap Records book. It's been too damn long since we kicked back to the sounds of Super Kids and Raw Dope Posse, wouldn't you say? This is classic hip-hop, house and proto-techno at it's finest.
Amir Abdullah has close ties with DJ demigod Gilles Peterson, and this weekend the BBC baron let Abdullah do his thing. With so many prime cuts of downtempo and jazz, this mix is so laid-back it's damn near horizontal.
Tracklist:
Jan Hammer Group – Don’t You Know (Nemperor Records)
Ronnie Laws – Tidal Wave (HMV Jazz)
Kenny Cox – Lost My Love (Strata Records, Inc)
George Shearing – Aquarius (MPS Records)
Michael Sardaby – Welcome New Warmth (White Label)
Art Blakey – A Chant For Bu (Prestige)
Melvyn Price – Behind Kungsträdgården (Bubble Gum Records)
The Dee Felice Trio – Nightingale (Jazzman)
Sphere – Inside Ourselves (Strata Records)
If you're tryna get a bit more hype, cop ZMoney's The Greatest Trap Show on Earth. The hi-hats rattle hard all the way through this 18 track swagfest and our good friend Danny Brown even drops in for the closing cut "Jug N Finesse."
Wedding season is pretty much in full swing already, and it seems like the more nuptials you attend, the more you realize how crucial it is to have a great reception DJ. After hearing "I do," all you really want to do is get down, and DJ Rhettmatic has the right idea with a list that features Al Green, Chic, Prince and Rolls Royce on Side 1. It gets even wilder on Side 2 with New Order, Duran Duran, Salt N Pepa and The Romantics. Here's hoping all you lovers out there catch the bouquet.
The Wedding Mixer Volume 2 (Disc 1) - Tracklist
1. Intro
2. Moonchild - Rick James
3. All Night Long/Mary Jane - Mary Jane Girls/Rick James
4. Keep Risin To The Top - Kenni Burke
5. Outstanding - The Gap Band
6. Let's Stay Together - Al Green
7. Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
8. Help Is On The Way - The Whatnots
9. Before I Let Go - Maze feat. Frankie Beverly
10. Shining Star - Earth, Wind, & Fire
11. I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz
12. Flashlight - Parlament Funkadelic
13. More Bounce To The Ounce - Zapp
14. Jungle Boogie - Kool & The Gang
15. Dazz - Brick
16. Rigamortis - Cameo
17. Last Night A Dj Saved My Life - Indeep
18. Watching You - Slave
19. Ladies Night - Kool & The Gang
20. Love Thing (Kon Remix) - First Choice
21. Walking On Sunshine - Central Line
22. I Got My Mind Made Up - Instant Funk
23. The Breaks - Kurtis Blow
24. Apache - Sugar Hill Gang
25. Good Times - Chic
26. Pumpin It Up - P-Funk Allstars
27. Knee Deep - Funkadelic
28. Doo Wa Ditty - Zapp
29. Rock With You (Refixx Version) - Michael Jackson
30. I Wanna Be Your Lover - Prince
31. Car Wash - Rolls Royce
32. The Glow Of Love - Change feat. Luthor Vandross
33. You & I - Rick James
34. I Just Want To Be - Cameo
35. Off The Wall - Michael Jackson
36. Wanna Be Startin Something - Michael Jackson
The Wedding Mixer Vol. 2 (Disc 2) Tracklist
1. Intro
2. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Culture Club
3. The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
4. Rapture - Blonde
5. Need You Tonight - INXS
6. I'll Tumble 4 Ya - Culture Club
7. West End Girls - Pep Shop Boys
8. Time - Culture Club
9. Everything She Wants - Wham
10. Holiday - Madonna
11. Lucky Star - Madonna
12. Don't You Want Me - Human League
13. Keep Feeling (Facination) - Human League
14. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
15. Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
16. If You Leave - O.M.D.
17. I Wonder If I Take You Home - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
18. Summertime, Summertime - Nocera
19. Funky Little Beat - Connie
20. Take A Chance - Nuance feat. Vikki Love
21. Killer Groove - Formula V
22. Rockberry Jam - LA Dream Team
23. Egypt Egypt - Egyptian Lover
24. Supersonic - JJ Fad
25. Al-NaaFiysh (It's Time) - Hashim
26. Push It - Salt & Pepa
27. When I Hear Music - Debbie Deb
28. It's Automatic - Freestyle
29. Sweet Dreams - The Eurythmics
30. Cars - Gary Numan
31. Don't Go - Yaz
32. You Spin Me Round - Dead Or Alive
33. Hungry Like A Wolf - Duran Duran
34. Blue Monday - New Order
35. Rock The Casbah - The Clash
36. Talking In Your Sleep - The Romantics
37. Freedom - Wham
38. Church Of The Poison Mind - Culture Club
39. Boys Don't Cry - The Cure
40. Rock Lobster - The B-52's
DJ Kay Slay is a New York City institution and he's not about to let you forget it. Check the shimmering pianos on "Real Hip Hop" and the gravel-sharp snare rolls of "Enter the Cipher." MC guest spots from the likes of Cory Gunz and Raekwon complete the whole picture.
St. Vincent's FACT Mag mix
In her custom-made mix for FACT Mag Annie Clark AKA St. Vincent went all over the map. King Krule, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Charles Mingus and the Sufjan Stevens-led Sisyphus are just some of the many sounds that appear. It's an amazing glimpse into Annie's "recently played" iTunes rotation that explains at least a little of her eclectic and excellent style.
Spoek Mathambo's Future Sound Of Mzansi
Spoek Mathambo has been a mainstay over at Okayafrica for more than a minute, and our true notes acolyte allies just published an excellent profile of Mathambo and this mix. Beat lovers will find lots to enjoy in these 70 minutes. Hlasko and DJ Zinhle are definitely acts to keep a keen eye on. If this is what the future that Mathambo is envisioning, we can't wait to get there.
DRK&LVLY’s Beauty And The Beats Vol.1
Another dose of Okayafrica-approved material, this mix from Cape Town label DRK&LVLY is an 11-track odyssey of beastly bass and velvety vocals. Pay extra-close attention to the cuts from Card on Spokes and Cutting Gems and put your rooftop hi-fi system on blast. For a more deeper dig into this mix and the excellent artists it features, check out Okayafrica's take.
LeFtO does it again this week with a mix replete with up-and-coming young guns of the scene. The BADBADNOTGOOD remix of Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, along with cuts from Taylor McFerrin and Fatima seal the deal. We'll be spinning this one all the way to next Monday.