ChairmanMao135StreetSummerMix
You can always count on Mixtape Mondays to provide you with a plethora of jams. The best part is that you never know what you will get. This week we got kind of an Africa theme going. First off Hot Chip hands in an exclusive AFRICA IN YOUR EARBUDS mix for Okayafrica. Next on the docket, Tshepang Ramoba of BLK JKS provides us with a 67-minute long tribute to Nelson Mandela for Mandela Day. Uhuru Afrika rounds out the bright-continent portion of our program before we begin our homeward return with an episode of Pro-Off Radio helmed by the one and only Statik Selektah direct from London. Cookin' Soul then heats things up and cools em down with the perfect summertime mix jam-packed with funk and cheerful vibes--and check back in soon, cause we'll be adding more mixtapes throughout the entire day (!)
This specical Hot Chip edition of Okayafrica's AFRICA IN YOUR EARBUDS series is an OKA exclusive, naturally, so best to let them run it down:
After witnessing Alexis Taylor take part in the William Onyeabor live shows and looping his band’s “Atomic Bomb” cover incessantly in the office, we knew we had to get him to do an Africa In Your Earbuds tape. The Hot Chip frontman came through with a North African-centered mix crafted out of Moroccan market finds and his own field recordings. It’s a slow burner, which starts at trot pace and builds patiently to more percussive tracks by the 20-minute mark. Alexis explains:
The music on this mix comes from compilation cds from market stalls in Marrakech, and from street musicians selling their own CDs, as well as my own field recordings of dawn and dusk prayer sounds and general Medina music/noise. Some of the music comes from the Gnawa tradition, and the low lute-like instrument you hear on some of the recordings is the Sintir or Guembri (or Gimbri or even Hejhouj), a three stringed skin-covered bassy instrument. My favourite music collected here is the opening piece (after my short field recording ends) which is performed by an unnamed (on his cd-r) musician who was playing whilst I walked down a narrow backstreet one evening on a recent visit. Despite no name, song or title information being printed on his cd-rs he had for sale, I recently found this footage of him--and this one, where he performs the same music but in a different key. I also very much like the second piece, known as Maquamat, attributed to Musique Douce (which may just be the CD name), for it's combination of soft keyboard sounds and drum machine (all in the same keyboard I imagine) along with the Oud, another lute instrument. I hope you enjoy this mix. Sorry there is not much in the way of information about performers or song names, dates of recording etc.
Okayafrika recently teamed with Tshepang Ramoba of South Afrika's rock band BLK JKS, to create a collection of music to honor Nelson Mandela's legacy as a freedom fighter. Mandela Day Mixtape represents a wide range of artists that together speak for Mandela's ideals. Stream the results below.
TRACKLIST
My Black President- Brenda Fassie (drums by Rambo)
Burn Out- Sipho Mabuse
Go away- Senyaka
Mane- Chicco
Chants- by Tshepang Ramoba
Stimela SaseZola- Mbongeni Ngema
Mandela speech
Mambotje- TKzee
Y u 4 me- MDU
Sister Bethina- Mgarimbe
Uncle- Mawilies
Peace Magents- Spokes H
Accuse- Alaska
Kaffir- Arthur Mafokate
Rabubi x die for you- Moonchild x prince (mashup by Rambo)
Noir- Petit Noir (remix by Rambo)
Ek skyn Heilig- Fokofpoliesiekar (remix by Rambo)
Ubombo- Madala Kunene (remix by Smith & Mighty)
Bring back Nelson Mandela- Hugh Masekela
Always a reliable source, Generation Bass comes through with not one, not two, but THREE mixes from Uhuru Afrika, getting some reading material on the 'intersection of art + nightlife' and scroll down to stream:
“Uhuru Afrika is a conscious “multi-sensory,” experience set to a unique blend of deep, soulful, Afro- rooted House music often mixed with Latin, Afrobeat, traditional tribal music, Orisha songs, and many other genres born from the African continent and the diaspora. Uhuru Afrika is a unique and powerful intersection of art and nightlife that challenges distinctions between the two.” –Boston Dig. The mission is to bridge ancient traditional African music (as played by the Yoruba, the Zulu, the Maasai) and the electronic dancefloor sounds of today. Navigated by creator and resident DJ Adam Gibbons and accompanied by Malian born master percussionist Sidy Maiga, Uhuru Afrika hosts artists from all over the world to perform at their events. Showcasing artists from LA to London as well as various African countries including South Africa, Mali, Angola and Nigeria. Black Coffee, Culoe De Song, Zepherin Saint, Zaki Ibrahim, Siji, Djeff Afrozila are a few of the many international artists who have joined Uhuru Afrika for performances. Uhuru Afrika has also opened/ closed for multiple Grammy Award winners Oumou Sangaré, Femi Kuti (2x), and co-creator of Afrobeat and ex Fela Kuti drummer, Tony Allen. Uhuru Afrika has participated in festivals and events locally, nationally and internationally including Mi Casa Holiday in Playa del Carmen, Mexico; Crossroads Puerto Rican Pride fest at Cony Island; Afrika Nyaga Drum and Dance Festival in Rhode Island; Bembe in Brooklyn, NYC; Harvard University symposium on African Dance in the diaspora, to name a few.Uhuru Afrika is a conscious party. We honor those who came before us and set a precedent for what we do. We honor the Ancestors, and the sacrifice they made so that we may be here. We wish to continue their legacy. We hold fundraisers, bring awareness to and volunteer for causes that mean something to us, and will better the lives of people in need as well as the community as a whole, be it locally or globally."
props to GB
Statik Selektah links up with Pro-Era homies Joey Bada$$ and Kirk Knight direct from London for an episode of Pro Era Radio. This includes first looks at tracks from Selektah's forthcoming What Goes Around LP as well as freestyles over a variety of dope beats. With Bada$$'s full length album stlil to come, this does a good job at holding us over. Stream and download this satisfying mix below.
Cookin' Soul has crafted a new mix to soundtrack the sunshine. Volume 4 of Summer Waves brings up everything from "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay" to War's "The World is a Ghetto" with funk, soul, brazilian vibes. Check out this free-flowing collection of feel good classics below.
Tracklist:
01 - Gap Band - Yearning For Your Love
02 - Toto - Africa
03 - Odyssey - Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love
04 - Marlena Shaw - California Soul
05 - Donna McGhee - It Ain't No Big Thing
06 - Larry Heard - Summertime Breeze
07 - Jon Lucien - Would You Believe in Me
08 - George Gershwin - Summertime
09 - 9th creation - Much to much
10 - Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
11 - Michael Wycoff - Looking Up To You
12 - The Jackson Sisters - I Believe In Miracles
13 - Slave - Just A Touch Of Love
14 - Bobby Womack - California Dreaming
15 - The Cyrkle - The Visit (She Was Here)
16 - Arthur Verocai - Dedicada a Ela
17 - Boom Clap Bachelors - Tiden Flyver
18 - Wanderlea - Lindo
19 - Hilary - The Wanderer
20 - Tyrone Davis - In The Mood
21 - The Cannonball Adderley Qunitet - Capricorn
22 - Maxine Nightingale - You Made My Life Beautiful
23 - Lenny White - Sweet Dreamer
24 - Gil Scott Heron and Brian Jackson - The Bottle
25 - The Inclinations - I'm Gonna Make Love Last This Time
26 - Peter Alzheimer - Butterfly
27 - Ponderosa Twins Plus One - Bound
28 - Syl Johnson - Could I Be Falling In Love
29 - Hiroshi Suzuki - Romance
30 - Cortex - Prelude a go round
31 - Lonnie Liston Smith - Enchantress
32 - Tim Maia - Ela Partiu
33 - Pool Pah - Sour soul
34 - Anita Baker - Angel
35 - Arawak - Accadde A Bali
36 - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Much Better Off
37 - Roy Ayers - Liquid Love
38 - Cortex - huit octobre 1971
39 - Ronnie Mcneir - in summertime
40 - Dorothy Ashby - Drink
41 - Bobby Lyle - Stop Running Away From Love
42 - Paco De Lucia - Entre Dos Aguas
43 - The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You
44 - War - The World Is A Ghetto
45 - Brother Jack McDuff - The Shadow of Your Smile
46 - Michel Lorin et son ensemble - Douceur tropicale
47 - Johnnie Taylor - Disco 9000
48 - Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth
49 - Manolo Escobar - Calor
50 - Brother To Brother - Visions
51 - Quincy Jones - Tell Me a Bedtime Story
52 - Light Of The World - London Town
53 - Ronnie Laws - Always There
54 - Paulinho Da Costa - Deja Vu
55 - Pleasure - Ghettos Of The Mind
56 - Edwin Birdsong - Cola Bottle Baby
57 - Al Hudson - Music
58 - Lonnie Liston Smith - Expansions
59 - Jose Feliciano - California Dreamin
NYC is lucky to have Turntable Lab close at hand. The East Village shop not only deals some of the best equipment, LPs, and 45s on the planet, but works hard to keep the DJ community alive and thriving with its Turntable Lab Radio series. Their latest brings DJ Evil Dee to the decks for a 90-minute set loaded with gritty classics. Things kick off with Amerigo Gazaway's "Time (To Get it Together)" off the otherworldly Yasiin Gaye record and keeps it rolling hard and heavy from there. Expect to hear the rhyme stylings of Dialated Peoples, some heavy-hitting DJ Premier and the collective consciousness of the Wu-Tang Clan.
The Okayplayer and Legendary Roots Crew families are still coming to grips with the loss of Rich Nichols, who managed The Roots since their earliest days in 1992 and passed away earlier this week after a long battle with leukemia. The hip-hop community at large has been reeling from the loss, and none other than Chuck D has joined the outpouring with a mixtape directly dedicated to Nichols's legacy. Bookended by Roots crew cuts and hosted by ...AndYouDontStop, the mix is filled with bangers that skew new school and is a fitting sonic tribute to the man who saw us through decades of hip-hop's trade winds. Click the link below to enjoy the mix. Things kick off with "Tomorrow," which has become the de facto memorial track to those reeling from loss. Many thanks to Chuck D and R.I.P. to Rich forever.
1. The Roots ft. Raheem DeVaughn - "Tomorrow"
2. Joell Ortiz - "Music Saved My Life"
3. Cormega ft. Raekwon Honorable - "Mega Philosophy"
4. Jabee - "Dreams"
5. J. Rawls ft. Masta Ace - "Bills"
6. Jazz Spastiks - "Dumb (ft. Yesh)"
7. Slum Village - "We On ft. (Kam Corvet)"
8. Dialated Peoples - "Show Me The Way ft. (Aloe Blacc)"
9. Sammy Davis Jr. - "Barretta"
10. Birdman ft. The Clipse - "What Happened to That Boy"
11. Craig Mach - "Style"
12. Wu Tang Clan - "Can It All Be So Simple"
13. Adina Howard - "Freak Like Me"
14. Lady Of Rage - "Afro Puffs
15. Michael Jackson - "They Don't Care About Us"
16. Gang Starr - "You Know My Steez"
17. Redman ft. Eric Sermon - "Whateva Man"
18. Nappy Roots - "Po' Folks"
19. Rocko ft. Nas and Alozzio - "Hustle"
20. Raheem Kemet - "Shout Out"
21. Welelo ft. Habo - "Speak the Truth"
22. KRS-One - "Hip Hop Is One"
23. Pharoahe Monch - "Broken Again"
24. Common - "Kingdom (ft. Vince Staples)"
25. Slimkid3 & DJ Nu-Mark - "Bouillon (ft. Del & Murs)"
26. Buckshot & P-Money - "Sweetest Thing (ft. T'Nah [Tina] Apex)"
27. Supersonic - "Amy True"
28. Jeru the Damaja - "Point Blank"
29. John Robinson & PVD - "Choose Your Words Wisely (ft. Melinda Camille)"
30. Reks - "I, Visionary (ft. Termanology)"
31. Descendent - "Move Something"
32. The Roots - "When The People Cheer"
Even though most of the country has been surprised (and a little grateful) for the mild summer we've been having, it still feels wonderful to throw on some shades and bounce to to some sizzling beats. We've seen more than a few dedicated summer mixes make the rounds lately (and we even compiled our own), but the premiere headphones headmaster Chairman Mao just upped the damn bar on everyone. His most recent addition to the "Across 135th Street" series is packed with style and ease. We begin with 70s "Get it up for Love" crooner Ned Dohen--and it only gets hotter from there.
The final segment of this week's mixtapes is...well, you've got to hear for yourself. Ninja Tune Records signee Falty DL is getting ready to drop his fourth LP, In The Wild, and in doing so will continue to fuel the world with bass-heavy ambient music that sounds like it came from the hardest-dancing star on Orion's belt. His newest mixtape is a portent of what's to come, with both shapeshifting selections from both his own catalog and the stylings of Wax Stag, Musetta and Lil Spook. If David Lynch had used Afrika Bambaataa's rig to DJ the release party of Blade Runner, it might have sounded a bit like this.
Lil Spook - "Remember You"
FaltyDL - "GA Tape Outcome"
FaltyDL - "Father"
yyu - "untitled yy"
E+E - "FIRE GUT"
FaltyDL - "Uptight"
FaltyDL - "Grief"
FaltyDL - "Starter"
Tomoyasu Hotei And Ray Cooper - "A Drug Score"
Bayaka People - "FaltyDL remix feat. Shanghai Den and Jim Jarmusch"
FaltyDL - "G77"
FaltyDL - "Rolling"
竹村延和 - "Let My Fish Loose (Aphex Twin remix)"
FaltyDL - "New Haven"
FaltyDL - "Cloud Crash"
Tundra Lawmen - "Audio_Recording 346 X"
FaltyDL - "Mother (taped mixed)"
Musetta - "We Will Fade Out"
Mrs. Jynx - "Monkey Locked Out"
Wax Stag - "Sson"
µ-Ziq - "Goodbye, Goodbye"
