Gilles Peterson Strata East 2 Mixtape Cover
Mixtape Monday is back once again, roaring in like a lion on what's shaping up to be a wildly varied week. Things begin with one of the most exclusive, unexpected premieres Okayplayer has ever featured: an all-vinyl mix of rare North African recordings picked up by Jakarta Records co-founder Jannis Stürtz. Also in this crop of mixes is the latest Strata East set from UK groove admiral Gilles Peterson, a dense and intelligent two hours of 70s jazz from the barely-known label of the same name. Toss in a top-notch Rakim tribute mix from DJ Revolution and the top three leadoff sets have a dominant throwback theme, that's plain. But we've got plenty of more modern sounds on deck, that's to be sure. New mixes from HWLS, DJ2D2 and Eden Hagos guarantee that there's plenty of modernity to go around, and a couple of hip-hop sessions from the likes of Monk One and DJ Big Texas. Oh, and lest we forget, there's a fresh Jazzy Jeff tribute mix to J Dilla, which was recorded live in Philly this weekend. So here's hoping the weekend refreshed your mental memory banks, because we've got some unforgettable sounds to get cracking on. Begin.
Over the past years Jannis Stürtz has many times under the bright, arid skies of North Africa. Stürtz is one of the founders of Jakarta Records, and through his work with the likes of Blitz The Ambassador, Oddisee and others, he's been lucky enough to amass an impressive personal stash of rare records sourced from shops stretching from Morocco all the way to Lebanon. With all that local "un-google-able" material on his hands, Stürtz has opted for generosity over greed, and has shared what is now his second Arabic/Africa 70s & 70s Rare Vinyl mix. Part of his label's "Radio Jakarta" series, these mixes are evidence that so much of the best music ever recorded has yet to be heard by most Western ears, and should serve as a lesson to every listener to keep striving toward a more global state of mind.
Like last year's first installment, this second Arabic mix is rich in spindly phrygian melodies, tabla drums and frenetic funk guitar. In its 33 minutes you'll find arists like Elias Rahbani, Baligh Hamdy, Fadaul, Ammar al Sheriyi, El Abranis and many more. With its vintage analog character showing through at every turn, this new mix is a vibrant document of time and place, a bit of lingering proof of just how determinedly funky, psychedelic and fun places lie Algeria, Egypt and Libya were during the 60s and 70s. Enjoy Stürtz's audio time capsule gift and for many more funky sounds of the hyper-modern variety, be sure to give the entire Jakarta artists roster an extended listen.
Just this weekend past Jazzy Jeff stopped by Philadelphia's Johnny Brendas to drop a two hour J Dilla tribute set (it was, after all, the last weekend of #DillaMonth). Loaded with obscure Jay Dee beats, more known joints and then finally some modern jams inspired by the late great Yancey, Jazzy's set is a juggernaut session, made by a master for the sake of a legend. Joints like Joey Bada$$'s "Snakes," Slum Village's "Tell Me," and Dilla's own "African Rhythms" mark some highlights of the set, but c'mon--you already know every single bar of this mix is going to knock just right.
To put it plain: A Rakim tribute mixtape needs no intro or justification--the MC legend is a musical reason unto himself. With decades of brilliant output under his belt, including his legendary collaboration records with Eric B., Rakim's impact on hip-hop will continue on forever. And that calls for some gratitude.
California's DJ Revolution has been getting nigh-endless buzz for his Rakim tribute mixtape, a straching-heavy chop session of some of the rapper's most crucial gems, and we'd be remiss not to extend our own words of praise. Loaded with joints like "It's Been A Long Time," "The Saga Beings," "Microphone Fiend," the mix is a proper journey through some of the best bars of throwback hip-hop, so sweet that by the time that classic "Paid In Full" bassline drops you might catch yourself shedding a few tears of joy. Revolution's scratching work is borderline brilliant, and his fades are entirely correct, making this both an easy listen for longtime Rakim fans and a surprising new entry into the turntablism canon. Listen to it below and keep on thinkin of that master plan.
The inimitable Gilles Peterson is back with part 2 of his Strata East mixtape series, a DJ'd deep dive into the back catalog of the jazz record label of the same name. Peterson's first installment had us nodding along in approval, and this one is no different. Expect some of the electric-tinged, spiritually-oriented jazz that Strata became known for, with some of the greatest post-bob, Afro-centric artists to ever play making Peterson's tracklist. Cuts from Juju, Sonny Fortune and Clifford Jordan feature prominently in what's honestly a perfect compliment mix to our leadoff Jakarta Arabic Vinyl set.
Tracklist:
Shamek Farrah - Conversation Piece
Charles Sullivan - Now I’ll Sleep
Brass Company - Colors
Muriel Watson - We’ll Remember Those Years
Heath Brothers - Smilin Billy Suite
Clifford Jordan - John Coltrane
Juju - Black Experience
Sonny Fortune - Long Before Our Mothers Cried
Regenaration - Thank You My People
M’boom - Morning, Noon, Midday
Ensemble al Salaam - Ecstasy
Bruce Johnson & Rodney Jones - Country and West Indian
John Betsch Society - Ode To Ethiopia
Jazz Contemporaries - Reasons in Tonality
Juju - Nairobi Chants
Charles Tolliver - Mournin’ Variation
Ensemble al Salaam - Circles
Shirley Scott - Don’t Look Back (edit)
The Piano Choir - Barbara Ann
John Hicks - Yemenja
Gil Scott Heron - The Bottle
Larry Ridley - Well You Needn’t
Weldon Irvine - ???
Clifford Jordan - Farid
Shamek Farrah - First Impressions
Charles Tolliver - live applause
Cosmic Twins - For Don Byas And Ben Webster
Charles Tolliver - applause
Lee Cooper - It Ain’t Been Easy….
Brooklyn's own Afrikan Sciences pulled through Roberto Ingram's Decisive podcast, proceeding to lay down a guest mix loaded with heavy dance beats. Don't be deceived by AS's dreamy opening, this hour-plus set is a hard-stepping affair loaded with gnarly R&B and house from Theo Parrish, Jay Daniel and more. Drawing upon soulful disco-ish vocals, scraggly basslines and a kick drum that seems to never, ever let up, Afrikan Sciences's newest work is perfect for a mid-week trip to the club.
Tracklist:
01. THE DREAMERS DISCO UNDERSTANDING
02. Malena Perez - "The Dreamer"
03. Theo Parrish - "Be in Yo Self"
04. The Maghreban - "MT707"
05. Succulent Sounds - "Trueflower"
06. Jay Daniel - "Brainz"
07. Tettory Bad ft Shea Soul - "Its Ur time"
08. T.P. Orchestre - "Hwe Tuwe Hun"
09. Beat Spacek - "Tonite"
10. Heidi Vogel - "Turn Up The Quiet( IG Culture remix)" / Nubian Mindz - "Good Vibez"
11. Afrikan Sciences - "Understand Build Destroy To Make Born"
12. HDADD - "Sailor"
13. Alex Attias ft Colonel Red - "Finding Who We Are"
DJ Big Texas has homed in on a crucial anniversary: it's been 20 years since Smif N Wessun's Dah Shinin hit stores around the world. And so drawing on all of that 1995 Brooklyn hip-hop goodness, Big Tex has delivered a chopped and faded tribute mix to the Bucktown crew, and it definitely goes. Loaded up with many of the original 70s and 80s records that were sampled on Dah Shinin, this one's for all you classic heads and turntable junkies.
One for you rare groove-lovers and hip jazz heads all over the world, WaxPoetics has once again brought in Monk One to drop a set of tasty, crisper-fresh gems that put vibe first and foremost. Loose drums and brash horns are all over this mix. Spinning soul cuts from Sugarman 3, David Newman, Bad Bascomb and many more, Monk One delivers the funky goods without a single sonic misstep. It's the kind of goodness we've come to rely on from Monk and the entire WaxPo crew; go ahead and read a little bit more about the mixtape here.
Tracklist:
(Intro)
Lee Dorsey - “Ocapella”
Raulzinho-Impacto 8 - “Tesouro de Sao Miguel”
Sugarman 3 - “Cherry Pickin'”
Eugene McDaniels - “Cherrystones”
Kelenkye Band - “Jungle Music”
David Newman - “Fireweaver”
Bad Bascomb - “Feel Like Dancing”
20th Century Steel Band - “Heaven and Hell”
Fab 5 Freddy & Beside - “Change the Beat”
Grand Wizard Theodore - “Can I Get a Soul Clap?”
Cloud One - “Patty Duke”
Dizzy Gillespie - “Matrix”
14. “Bebete” Som Brasil
Gary Byrd - “Soul Traveling”
Raw Dope Posse - “Listen to My Turbo”
T La Rock - “It’s Yours”
Louis Chachere - “The Hen”
Bernard Purdie - “Hap’nin”
Gabor Szabo - “Spellbinder (Live)”
Lorez Alexander - “Baltimore Oriole”
Ben Vereen - “Keep a Light in My Window”
Soulection just. can't. stop. The future-R&B label/collective has already solidified its place as the top destination for next-generation dreamy beats, and now, tasked with maintaining that stop, it seems the global group is having no trouble. Fresh off the decks of resident Soulector Eden Hagos, the "Fruitful" mixtape is loaded with the banging bass, glossy chords and chopped vocals that have come to underline both the label and this entire new strange genre of beat music that we now know and love. Hagos's set hits hard and early before gently drifting into spacier places, thanks to new(ish) material from Domsolo, Suna, Stwo and Cosmonostro.
Tracklist:
Kuma – "Beneath The Flowers"
Knx – "Call Me"
Maleak – "Keith Sweat"
Jo_Def – "Ready"
Bnjmn – "My Girl In A-Minor"
Odesza – "Say My Name feat Zyra"
Twenty9 – "Her, Herself & She"
Mythsyzer – "Foolish"
Louis Futon – "Sir Rock"
Gerwin – "Spicy Gum (clip)"
Misogi – "Lantana"
Haan808 – "Meserole"
Sango – "SNS(instrumental)"
Maesu – "11fortysevn"
Domsolo – "wHATEVZ"
Fortune + Madbliss – "Lonely"
Suna – "Hudson"
Alexander Lewis + Brass tracks – "Distant Memories"
Herzeloyde + Krne – "Tracjectory"
Beatmachinearon – "Lucy Liu"
Emoji Girl - "Dirty Chocolateå—ã™∂åƒ⁄"
Robin Thicke – "Wanna Love U Girl (Like Rework)"
Vxnyl – "Slomoshit"
Cosmonostro – "I Luv My Bitch"
Stwo – "Eden (Oshi Remix)"
KÃ¥mÃ¥ndi Ë˙ - "Hold Me (Kamandi Remix)"
Romby – "Get Down"
DripMob – "Under"
Honest - "Abhi//Dijon(SOUL_BRK Remix)"
You weren't aware that Mixtape Monday has its Spanish game on lockdown? Shame on you. To set the spinning records straight, we're happy to bring the online premiere of Barcelona DJ 2D2's "Spain#ish" mix, a delicately blended piece of Spanish trap, European future-R&B, hip-hop, and ambient tones. If the idea crystallized Usher vocals, runaway house interludes and drifting guitar lines all in the same mixtape don't make you nervous, then andale aqí. 2D2 is has become a rising force in the Spanish production and DJ scene, and has delivered top-notch sets at Sonar festival, amongst many others. Find out a little more about him (and up your global listening game) here.
One of the best producers of the modern era is celebrating his 40th birthday. El-P, of Def Jux and Run The Jewels fame has contributed some of the hardest, grittiest beats that hip-hop has ever heard to the acts like Cannibal Ox, Murs, Aceyalone, Atmosphere and many more. Ever anti-establishment and slightly under the radar, El has become a workingman's producer/MC, chipping away at a mainstream that he never wanted in the first place, while always keeping his beanie cocked and his fists up in a fighting stance. In celebration of his sonic scrounging, DJ Elwood has put together a 67 minute "The Best of El-P" mixtape that bangs like an M80 in an echo chamber. Cuts from Company Flow, Del the Funky Homosapien, Killer Mike, RTJ and more all flow together as perfectly as possible. Thanks for the beats, El. Here's to many more years.
Tracklist:
1. Company Flow - Worker Ant Uprise
2. Company Flow - Juvenile Technique
3. Company Flow - 8 Steps To Perfection
4. Company Flow - Blind
5. Company Flow Feat. J-Treds & Breezy Brewin - The Fire In Which You Burn
6. Company Flow - Indelible Hybrid
7. Company Flow Feat. BMS - Vital Nerve
8. BMS - Mucho Stereo
9. Sir Menelik - Nightwork
10. Del the Funky Homosapien - Offspring
11. Roots Manuva - Juggle Tings Proper (El-P Remix)
12. The High & Mighty - B-Boy Document
13. Company Flow - End To End Burners
14. El-P - Deep Space 9mm
15. El-P - Jukie Skate Rock
16. Company Flow feat Ill Bill - Simian D
17. Cannibal Ox - Iron Galaxy
18. Cannibal Ox - Painkiller (Instrumental)
19. Cannibal Ox - Ridiculoid
20. EL-P - Squeegee Man Shooting (original version)
21. EL-P - Lazerfaces Warning
22. Prefuse 73 - Hide Ya Face
23. Mr. Lif - Brothaz Remix
24. Smash!! - The Harvest
25. Rob Sonic - Shoplift (El-P Remix)
26. EL-P & Trent Reznor - Flyentology
27. El-P - EMG
28. El-P - Smithereens
29. Das Racist - Shut Up, Man (feat. El-P)
30. Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire - The Last Huzzah! / Remix
31. El-P - True Story (Instrumental)
32. El-P - Drones Over BKLYN (Instrumental)
33. Run The Jewels - Banana Clipper feat. Big Boi
34. Killer Mike - Butane (Champion's Anthem) [feat. El-P]
35. Killer Mike - Southern Fried
36. A-Trak - Piss Test (Remix)
37. EL-P - The Full Retard
38. Run The Jewels - Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck)
39. Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling Don't Cry
40. Nick Hook - Sirens (with El-P & Rood)
