R.I.P. to a man who had an immeasurable influence on music in our time. Because there are so many people who’ve already written more meaningful and in-depth pieces about Gil Scott-Heron, I’m only going to direct those of you who are interested to places like Soul-Sides.com and extended friends where you can continue to explore all the things he did and hear the songs he made. I’m just greatful that I had a chance to see him play live last Spring, in a truly peak performance. The thing that struck me most, knowing well about his long battle with addiction, was how quick he remained- how attuned and perpetually inspired he clearly was. He could easily have made a career as a stand-up comedian/satirist- I would estimate that 50% of the show or more was simply him rapping about the world with razor sharp humor while casually riffing on the rhodes in front of him. There are way too many classic songs for me to start delving into his catalogue half-assed, but I figured I’d re-post the remix I made of him & Nas from last year, since you’re not likely to find it anywhere else. Peace go with you, brother.

New York Is Killing Me (Chuck Wild Remix) by ChuckWild

Would you believe that the majestic rural scene above lies within LA-proper?!? I’m already starting to love this city (at least parts of it). There’s a waterhole in Santa Monica State Park (you can find it at the end of the trail in the picture above) that I plan on visiting weekly all Summer long. Maybe more often than that. Today I’m preemptively welcoming the most tropical of seasons with some very equatorial bass music. If you don’t like dancing until your t-shirt turns see-through from sweat, then today’s songs are probably not for you. Heavy, polyrythmic, trance inducing, slow builders. If I were to sum up the sonics here, I would have to steal the name directly from Steve Spacek & Mark Pritchard: Africa Hitech.

Sabbo :       Come To Me
this guy is staying so busy right now. Check out a bunch more of his music and his recent EP on Generation Bass.  You can buy the HQ MP3 from Beatport.

Jumo Daddy & FOKN Bois :       Lungulungu
yet another heatrock dropped by Akwaaba records.  Get the HQ here. This one is gonna be in heavy rotation all Summer

Round Table Knights :       Calypso ft. Bauchamp
All it takes is one little steel drum to make a monster

Douster :       Journey To Tethys Sea
Young frenchman with a penchant for globetrotting beats. Check the whole EP here.

DJ Gregory & Gregor Salto :
indeed, once again, more cowbell wins!

Dubblestandart meets David Lynch & Lee Perry :       Chrome Optimism (Kush Arora's Tropical Bass Remix)
I’m trying to imagine this meeting of masters in the studio, and it’s slightly beyond comprehension. Check more remixes from this insane project right here.

Africa Hitech :       Glangslap ,       Boingy &       Too Late Dub
finally, the duo I mentioned earlier- Pritchard & Spacek. This project is really working for me. Glitched out afro-poly-rhythms and deep dubby bass synths. The first track comes off their brand new album, the second two songs are from last year’s release which is equally as fresh (if not even a touch better).

That’s Seu Jorge strumming in front of an installation by Os Gemeos at the opening for the Art In The Streets show at MOCA a little while back. When one of my favorite musicians is playing behind a drum kit customized by a pair of my favorite artists (Gemeos are identical twins), I call it a good night. Funny thing too, there wasn’t even a crowd around Seu, he was just quietly jamming and most people didn’t even look twice! All the songs I’m sharing today are good on that level of greatness. Nothing in your face, nothing that will make you throw beer bottles at the stage, just mellow mood makers.

Boom Clap Bachelors :       Løb Stop StÃ¥ &       Testikularitet
more goodness from Robin Hannibal and crew, who’s officially one of my favorite producers out right now.

Nova Nova :       Prisoner's Song
not sure what language this is, but the way she floats over this 5/4 groove gives me goosebumps
**UPDATE**  Vocals on this track come from Hungarian singer Márta Sebestyén (thanks N!)

Seu Jorge & Almaz :       Everybody Loves The Sunshine &       Cirandar
I’ve had this album for a while, but was waiting for the right moment to drop these goodies

Ducktails :       Hamilton Road
lo-lo-lo-fi indie sounds from New Jerseyan Matthew Mondanile.

Ocote Soul Sounds :       Pirata
off the latest release Taurus from Martin Perna & Adrian Quesada (Antibalas/Daptone crew members).

League :       Golden Maps
this one popped into my inbox and I’m happy it did. Check out more from these guys here.

Brandt Brauer Firck :       Bop
acoustic techno? Yes. Check them out here.

Blundetto :       Nautilus (ft. Shawn Lee)
reggae take on the Bob James beat digger classic. This whole album is great.

Crafty ole Gilles Peterson put together a contest to remix select tracks off his last album, recorded in Havana. If it had just been a chance to remix these great Cuban musicians, I probably would still have done it, but as extra incentive, the winner gets 2 tickets to attend the Rotilla Festival of Electronic Music in Cuba. That lit the fire under my ass and put me to work. Here’s what I came up with. If you like it, and want to help me possibly get to Cuba (where I would absolutely love to go), then please take 15 seconds to vote for my remix right here (no email or login required- just scroll down to mine on page 2). Either way, I’m glad I had the opportunity to remix this and I’ll make a download available soon…

La Revolucion Del Cuerpo (Captain Planet Remix) by ChuckWild

Back in NYC, crashing on couches, having lots of fun on all levels, on every front, all the time. A soundtrack of pure hot sauce is the only thing on my menu right now. Thanks god we have dudes like these guys, reminding us that too much of a good thing is not too much at all. The whole album is fire, as to be expected, but I’m particularly feeling this collabo with Santigold. Also just got turned onto Frank De JoJo‘s version of the Larry Young beat digger classic “Turn Off The Lights” (which I featured on Captain’s Crate back in the day). While the OG version is kinda unfukwitable, JoJo’s updated grimey bass falls right in line with The Beasties dirty wah-wah clavinet on “Make Some Noise”. While we’re at it, I figured any excuse to make a playlist of distorted basslines is a good one. Hot sauce, hot sauce, more hot sauce and a little sriracha on top.

The Beastie Boys :       Make Some Noise &       Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win (ft. Santigold)

Frank De JoJo :       Turn Off The Lights
Came out back in 2000!?! Still sounds fresh

Saadi :       Below The Waist (cover of the Queen Ifrica classic)
From the Summer Of Saadi mixtape (2010) that I slept on. Check out Dither Down records for more hot sauce.

Blundetto ft. Hindi Zahra :       Voices (General Elektriks Remix)

Rob Roy :       Carmencita
Off his last mixtape/album King Warrior Magician Lover (free download), accompanied by this crazy sick video

Submotion Orchestra :       Finest Hour (Planas Remix)
the mellower side of dirty bass, I suppose this is like a subtle touch of wasabi in the sonic world of spice

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)