Adele Rocks at the Top

It's 21's sixth week at number 1 on the Billboard Chart and 19 (her 2008 debut) is hangin' on tight to the number 20 spot... I thought we'd celebrate with a few remixes.

From 21


 Rolling In The Deep (Cheyenne Giles Mash) by Cheyenne Giles

Donald Glover's alter ego: Childish Gambino

You might know him as Troy Barnes from the NBC show Community from the credits of 30 Rock (he wrote for the show with T. Fey) or you might have seen him modeling or maybe heard one of his remixes (he DJ's and produces) or maybe you've seen him on Comedy Central (also a comedian). He does all that, but wait there's more.

One of his alter music ego's is called Childish Gambino a name he got from a Wu-Tang Clan name generator...yeah they make those. And this dude can rap. He's something like a black Bo Burnham, if Bo Burnham was a hipster and could rap.

"I got the tortoise shell frames and the argyle...You wouldn't think from the things I'm fashioning, that I'd get more bush than Kim Kardashian"  
AHHHHH!

Space Invader: Coming to a Town Near You

Inspired by the 70's video game Space Invaders French street artist Invader creates pixellated creatures  (think pacman) and places them in plain view in cities across the globe. Then he publishes newsletters and maps about where to find the little guys.
This is the gaming nerd's street art...

The invaders can be found everywhere from Rotterdam to Mombasa to Katmandu. Invader even managed to place a few of his characters on the HOLLYWOOD sign

Jay Electronica Signs

Jay Electronica is a vagabond underground rapper originally from New Orleans who recently signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation record label (which I suppose must mean he's come out from the underground).

He's been garnering all sorts of praise from Nas, Diddy, Jay Z and other greats for a long while... so perhaps now he'll be hitting it big. Let's hope the fame doesn't spoil him...HA!

At the signing party Jay Electro was quoted as saying "My goal is to reintroduce magic to hip-hop" Amen Sir!

First one's just a favorite of mine...second is a feel good anthem that's rare from rappers these days

 Jay Electronica - Shiny Suit Theory (ft.Jay-Z The-Dream And Charlotte Gainsbourg)

 Jay Electronica - I Feel Good

"I ain't lettin no negativity come my way, I feel good"

Morning Benders + Britney = Yeahhhhh

Now Britney's not my favorite, but you gotta admit....she's onto something. Her new record Femme Fatale has moved more than 276,000 units to make it her 6th chart topper. That puts her up there with Madonna (7) and yes...Barbara Streisand (9). Hot Damn.

Then there's the Morning Benders. An indie rock outfit from Berkley who've toured with Broken Bells, Death Cab for Cutie and The Black Keys to name a few.

And sometimes, I guess, they do remixes like this nasty one of Britney's When The World Ends.
The only problem is it's too short....

 Till The World Ends (Morning Benders Remix/Cover) by The Morning Benders

The Snarkiest Sh*#t

Snarky Puppy is a band that claims Brooklyn as its hometown, but is comprised of sidemen from Snoop Dogg, Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Marcus Miller, etc. So you'd expect something funky. But it's more than that...

I caught Snarky Puppy at the Blue Nile on Frenchman St. a couple of weeks ago and was awash with amazement (Just like I expected to be). The 9 piece band was the tightest thing to hit the Blue Nile stage in a long while. Local drummer Jason Marsalis joined in on a few choice tunes and they also brought up Matt Perrine to work his Sousaphone Magic. They played songs mostly from their latest album Tell Your Friends, but also dropped some new joints and a few oldies.


They call it "Music for Your Brain and Booty" I like to call it Intelli-funk. Whatever you call it...hit play  and enjoy

Watch the WholeTHING!

Young Nola Rappers: E.C.M.E.

These guys just flew under my radar thanks to a tip-off from a fellow WTUL Dj and they've been on constant rotation since.

E.M.C.E  (Eclectic Collective of Microphone Executioners) hail from cities all over the U.S. and put out their own brand of hip-hop with sick flow layered over innovative beats. Rappers include Concept, theadamstewart, Tha Royal Bandit, Druzzi, and Conscience. They are gaining rapid exposure through live shows, online promotion and word o mouth.


Like their Facebook page and take a listen... these guys are headed straight to the top




smooth spittin'

Foster the People

Here's a new artist who's sure to please...Foster the People started up in LA in 2009 and it's getting better all the time. They just wrapped a US festival tour that included gigs at Coachella and SxSW and are headed to the UK soon for some more shows.

Found out about these guys from our friend Aaron at Art/Official who's been following them from the beginning and expecting them to blow up any minute now...he's got a nose for this

Recommended if you Like: Pheonix, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, vocals like Vampire Weekend, and the like

Helena Beat


 Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks

 Houdini by Foster The People

baci

Seize Happywallmaker: Paris

More street art for your viewing pleasure. This time from the streets of France. I'm going to let a piece of his bio speak for itself. 


"Hello earthlings … They call me Seize aka Happywallmaker. I landed on the earth a long time ago travelling with a subatomic spaceship in the time line. I have a mission to fight against the destruction and distortion of the prism light. Pablo Picasso, Jean Dubuffet and Piet Mondrian, all three, with their work, I influenced and inspired them." 

Amy's "Moody's Mood for Love"

In 1949 saxophonist James Moody played a solo to James McHugh's 1935 tune "I'm In the Mood for Love"...when lyrics were added this legendary sax solo came to be known as "Moody's Mood for Love"



Since then myriad artists including Quincy Jones, Van Morrison and Brian McKnight have covered this tune with varied success. Why varied success? Because it's damn hard to make a tune that was originally a sax solo sound right when its being sung rather than played.

That's where Amy Comes in.
Amy Winehouse not only effortlessly interprets the lyricsm of the original jazz solo, but brings a fullness to the song that only her voice (or Sarah Vaughn's) could bring.

If nothing else proves her genius, its her interpretation of "Moody's Mood for Love".

  Amy Winehouse - Moody's mood for love


Amy, Amy, Amy...