Really proud to be a part of this latest release from Akwaaba Music (who, in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a big fan of). Since 2008, founder Benjamin Lebrave has been digging up the hottest heat from Angola to South Africa and helping it get heard internationally. More recently, he’s been coordinating remixes from DJs and producers around the world. This latest effort comes from Ghanian Hiplife stars Ruff-N-Smooth. You can check out the original version of Azingele (produced by Richie) or hear them crushing it in a reggae stylee. Listen to my take on the track below, with plenty of grimey Brooklyn bass, and buy the whole set of quality remixes (including one by my BK brethren DJ Chicus) on the Akwaaba Bandcamp page.

Azingele (Chuck Wild Remix) by Akwaaba Music

And here’s a lower-bit-rate download of the track. If you’re feeling it please support by copping the hi quality MP3.

Ruff N Smooth :       Azingele (Chuck Wild Remix)

Yesterday was Record Store Day, which, if you’re like me, means very little, because every day that I pass a record store becomes record store day. However, because it was an official holiday, I felt obliged to go out of my way and find a new spot. In the ongoing effort to avoid more gloomy scenes like the ones pictured here, I encourage each and every one of you to pitch in and do the same. As we all know, once you’re inside the magical atmosphere of a good music emporium, you never know what you’re going to find. Whether it’s great music or great comedy that I stumble upon, I’m rarely disappointed. And while big record labels continue to struggle, and CD manufacturers shut down factories, vinyl sales are somehow still on the rise. Because I rarely have the time anymore to digitize my recently acquired bounty, I picked a very scattered selection today. But I also feel like it reflects the random nature of what you encounter at used record stores. Enjoy these songs, all from vinyl I’ve picked up in the past 9 months or so, and go find a new record store!

The Dance :       Tumble To The Power &       Past Is Past
I first heard about this record over at Waxidermy and had been on the lookout for a while. Thank you A1 in NYC (still one of the all-time greatest) for helping me check it off the want list. And if you want the whole record, Other Music has made it available digitally.

Ozo :       Listen To The Buddha
I found this 7″ (along with a bunch of other good ones) in Detroit at People’s Records (pictured above) when I was driving x-country last summer.

Orchestre Baobab :       Sibou Odia
Good Records NYC gave me this one for a great price because of a little water damage to the cover. This place always surpasses its name.

Muscle Shoals Horns :       Addicted To Your Love
I think I first heard this song on the legendary Soul Boulders mix, but I just pulled it recently, can’t remember where.

Freda Payne :       Suddenly It's Yesterday
This one’s been a repeated revelation- those strings! Ameoba SF comes through yet again.

Johnny Thunder :       I'm Alive
not to be confused with the guy from The New York Dolls, I learned about this Johnny from Doc Delay at Good Records NYC.

Ben Aiken :       If I Told You Once ( I Told You A Million Times)
It’s a little hard to play this one on repeat because it reminds me of my last girlfriend, but then I listen to “I’m Alive” again and feel better.

Not only am I jumping on the solo-artist-wagon, which is just as bad as the bandwagon, but I’m also a little late. Thing is, while avalanches of media praise tend to piss me off, it’s really the un-deserved or overhyped aspect of the barrage that suffocates me. The two artists I’m shouting out today are fully deserving, and while I may be a few months past the crucial blogosphere instant-hype deadline, I truly believe these are songs that will stay with me for a long time. Minimal, moody, bass heavy, acoustic-meets-glitch. These latest albums from The Weeknd and James Blake are helping me hear the future.

p.s.– I cleaned up our blogroll links. Got rid of dead ones and added a couple newbies. Click away and continue your mp3 quest.

The Weeknd :       High For This &       The Morning
Crooning like the best of em.  This is my new favorite sex album, and it’s free.

James Blake :       Wilhelms Scream &       Limit To Your Love (Feist cover)
From his debut full-length. Check his 4 prior EP’s for more of the craziness.

Untold :       Stop What You're Doing (James Blake Remix)
Little something extra that I pulled off this dubstep comp.

Greetings from the land of neon dolphins and candy coated pirate ships! The dancefloors here are slicker than banana peels on waxed marble and somehow everyone knows how to moonwalk. The parties are plentiful, the soma is free, and clothing is highly discouraged. That’s where I’m at right now with this playlist.

Orgone : Cruel Intentions
LA retro-funk outfit killing it here as always, from the Killion Vaults album

Lyrics Bron ft. Sam Sparro : Coulda Woulda Shoulda (DJ Theory Re-Edit)
Theory basically made this track waaay more playable at the club by removing all rapping from Lyrics Born (sorry LB, it’s just true)

Midnight Lab Band : Moonwalking
My Brooklyn homies come correct as usual here with a sick sample from Wganda Kenya and a lil bit of MJ sneaking into the mix

The Kickdrums :       Somethings Gotta Give (Kutcorners Remix)
DJ Eleven‘s new 11-Inch label just keeps putting out HEAT. Go buy the other remixes from this EP plus everything else 11-Inch has to offer.

Kraak & Smaak :       Dynamite (Boogie Funk Version)
Yes, these dudes continually straddle that border between funk and cheese, but so do some of my favorites by Zapp & Roger

The Electric :       U R Diamonds
don’t know enough about these guys to tell you anything, someone school me

YACHT :       Dystopia
Why must there always be some dissent in Utopia? These guys just know how to make it sound really good.

Onra :       Lying Besides You
There’s no harsh “coming down” from Soma, but even if there were, this would surely cure it.

I work all day. Sometimes all night too. It’s sunny (after a very rainy week). It’s Spring. Yesterday was my birthday. I have cool friends. Is there any other excuse needed to play some Jamaican oldies? I think not.

Barry Biggs :       Work All DayÂ
New discovery to me. What a bassline.

Rupie Edwards :       Ire Feelings (Leggo Skanga)
Loving the little chopped up guitar riff on this one.

Winston Groovy :       Funky Chicken
Groovy indeed.

The Skatalites :       Herb Man Dub
Jamaican chase scene music, replete with funky flautist.

Keith Hudson :       Melody Maker
I first got my hands on this track from a cassette tape I got on my first trip to Jamaica when I was 16. That same trip de-virginized me to strip clubs and brought about the brief kidnapping of my older sister. Oh the memories.

Tommy James & The Shondells :       Candy Maker
Obviously not Jamaican, but in addition to being the sample source for some of Kanye’s drums, this track provided the inspiration for the Keith Hudson cut posted above. Listen to the breakdown at the end- so funny how music travels like that…

I’ve been seeing a bunch of artists sell music to help the earthquake/tsunami relief, so I got inspired to do the same. I pulled out an old Japanese LP I’d been meaning to sample for a long time, and did just that. CHECK OUT THE SONG HERE and buy the download if you dig it. I’m asking for a minimum of $1 (all proceeds go to the Red Cross earthquake/tsunami relief effort). If you don’t dig it, find another excuse to donate anyway.