Ropeadope

We all have been that panda; tormented, broken, and teased by the very heart we once so valiantly protected. It reflects, staring out at an ocean bittersweet with the smiles of dancing waves soaring the blockades of tempting bubbles and scathing stones, but sorrowing in the wake of those at the mucky docks of hang-ups. It remembers those nights and those days.  "Gone" is a new track from one of my …

Here's a classic from keyboardist, Benard Wright, titled "Spinnin!'" The track is taken off his much-celebrated 1981 debut, 'Nard - a session which featured Marcus Miller on bass, Don Blackman on keys, and Luther Vandross and Patti Austin on vocals.  Enjoy.

Here's a chill remix to the DJ Tonk and Noelle (vocalist from the group, The Rebirth) track, "It's Love." The remix is done by French producer Dela, and hass been featured on Tonk's Frequent Flyers project, as well as Dela's Atmosphere Airlines Vol. 2. Enjoy.

*Edited on 01/23/2012

The first single from the Robert Glasper Experiment's upcoming release, Black Radio, "Ah Yeah" is a smooth ear-licking track that has been on constant repeat in my car for the last three weeks!  It features vocalists Musiq Soulchild and Chrisette Michele. Enjoy.

They’re back!!!!! And it seems like we’re gonna get a few projects out of this return! The reunion of Mos Def (now Yaslin Bey) and Talib Kweli has long been anticipated, and any glimpse of any kind of return of the duo would always send the hip hop world into a frantic frenzy. Well, things just got real when the duo released two new joints today. This one, titled “You Already …

They're back (As if they ever went anywhere)!!!  Out of the loop?  Well, everyone's favorite band, The Legendary Roots, managed to squeeze in enough time in between tapings of the Jimmy Fallon Show to complete the new, and highly anticipated, album titled Undun.  Stamped as a concept album, here's the first single (and leak) from the upcoming release titled "Make My." It features an about-to-blow Big K.R.I.T and some sick melodic, Stevie …

If you haven't checked out Blu's NoYork! release, do yourself a favor and immediately cease everything (even if this means eating), and pick up this joint!  It's that d*** good.  Promise.  Presented here is one of my favorites off the release titled, "Keepushinn."  The haunting and jazzy melody will stick with you for a hot minute! Enjoy.

So, if you haven’t been buried under a massive rock, or something, you’ve heard the hype surrounding the eclectic bassist, Stephen "Thundercat" Brunder. I’ve been anticipating the release of his recently released debut, The Golden Age of Apocalypse, for some time now. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed when it officially dropped last week. The sound is a mix of George Duke, Jaco, Flying Lotus (of course…), and the Mahavishnu Orchestra …

One of my favorite cuts from one of my favorite bands, Loose Ends.  It's taken from their 1986 release, Zagora.  Enjoy.

More music from Willie Evans, Jr.  This time it's a collaboration with Mr. Lif that was released in the beginning of the year.  Enjoy.

One of the best new artists that I've heard in a minute!  I haven't heard a bad track from this cat!  An emcee and producer, Willie Evans, Jr. is a Jacksonville native and a member of the Asamov clique.  His flow sort of resembles Metal Face, and his album, Introducin', dropped mid-summer and disturbingly went under-the-radar.  He's one of those artists on my list to check for every month.

Presented here is the intro to Quik's latest gem, The Book of David.  Be sure to check out the album if you haven't already; it's legit.

From his mixtape, XXX, comes this short, phenomenal, and heart-wrenching story about a 'good girl' now addicted to coke.

Fresh off of The Eleven One Eleven Theory Mixtape, comes the beautiful and amazing track, "Samples and Sh*t," from 'Chocolate City' emcee, Wale.  The mixtape will more than suffice until the much anticipated release of his next LP, Ambition.  Enjoy.

Here's the first of many posts to music from this sensational up-and-coming vocalist/rapper, Jered Sanders.  When you think of a hybrid singer-rapper, you may have some reservations as one skill may lack the other's quality; however, this cat does both extremely well, and without auto-tune! A member of The Talented Tenth duo (with fellow rapper, AnMor), Sanders has collaborated with the likes of Oddissee, DJ KO, and 14 KT.  He's releasing …

Within the last two years, I've become a HUGE supporter of The Cool Kids.  Imagine my excitement with the announcement of The Cool Kids linking up with some of my favorites - Bun B, Freddie Gibbs, and Blended Babies - to release an album.  The announcement saw the release of the group's first official collabo-release, "Authority."  It already has me hooked, and the beat is simple, yet so genius.  It brings …

So, one of my favorite artist right now is indie artist, Jaidene Veda.  She's been featured on tracks by the Ananda Project, Ralf Gum, and so forth (I think this release tips the cake, though). Multi-faceted, she's a filmaker and a photographer.  The track is handled by one of my musical heroes, Blaze's Josh Milan. I'm a sucker for the smooth, melodic approach.

Great music from the Rhythmatic Eternal King Supreme, REKS.  Do yourself a favor and peep the debut, if you haven't already.

Great stuff off of the Lincoln Way Nights (Intelligent Trunk Music) collabo between Mishka NYC and the homie, Stalley.

From the Coltrane stable, and by way of Impulse!, comes Pharoah Sanders' 1971 masterpiece, Thembi.  Presented is the opening cut off that album titled "Astral Travelling."  Enjoy.

A piece dedicated to his daughter, "infant Eyes" probably ranks in my top ten compositions of all time.  This cut is taken from his Speak No Evil album. 

A session made in heaven; 1963 saw the release of Ella & Basie - a collaboration between two of the greatest to ever swing it.  Basie's orchestra is the perfect compliment to Ella's vocals, and Quincy Jones' arrangement is simply marvelous.

Can music really be split into genres based on beat, instruments, feel, content, etc.?  Is that really how it's suppose to be?  With the West's infatuation with boxing everything seperately by terms and definitions, it often seems so as non creators continue to rush to put a stamp on art.  Gil, on his 1981 album, Reflections, posed this very question about "Free Form" with the presented cut titled, "Is That Jazz?" 

"chillin, killin like a villain, the meaning of RAW is Ready And Willing"

"When it comes to days like this," I sit back, light some incense and chill with Native Tongues as my backdrop.  Midnight Marauders.