The head gasket on my trusty hatchback blew out this week. I am now officially one of the few, the proud, the brave… the carless in LA. Good news is, I just got my motorcycle driving permit. There’s lots of other good news, but I’ll let the music do the talking.

Hermitude :       Hyperparadise &       Speak Of The Devil
HUGE thanks to Soundbwoy Surian for giving me the heads up on this one. Really feeling the mix of styles throughout this album.

Altered Natives :       Rass Out
It’s just a beat, simple and funkier than a mosquito’s tweeter. More altered bizniz right here.

Donwill :       Love Junkie (So Shifty Remix)
Something designed to make you bounce. Taken from yet another solid release on 11-inch records.

Deadboy :       Here 4 U
hypercrunk wonk-hop. He said it, not me.

Bonobo :       Eyesdown (Machinedrum Remix)
almost sounds like a DnB record  played in reverse. Here again, Machinedrum continues to wreck shop.

Dauwd :       Ikopol
serious heady late night sounds right here from yet another funky Brit.

Exeter :       Games (Baby)
I wish the volume on this track was a little louder, but that bass is pretty heavy regardless. Someone please connect Exeter with a good mastering house.

Kelly Rowland :       Motivation (Jacques Greene Remix)
I hope someone at Viagra or Extenze gets hip and uses this track in a commercial. More from Mr Greene here.

J-Star :       Unbreak My Dub
Leave it to this dude to make it possible to listen to Toni Braxton. Don’t know where that inspiration came from, but I respect it.

Sola Rosa :       Turn Around ft. Iva Lamkum (TM Juke Remix)
HEAVY! Probably the bassiest track I’ve heard yet from TM Juke.

Teeko + Dibia$e + DevonWho :       Young Funklords
Dilla would be proud. My homie Teeko and crew have funk for daaaaaays.

I started the weekend off swimming & sunbathing. It’s February. I must be doing something right. I’ve been hearing similarly non-winter updates from friends in other cities (no snow in New England???), so I thought it appropriate to drop some bass-heavy island heat today.  I haven’t been keeping up on new reggae as much as I’d like- partly that’s because I’m not in Flatbush, Brooklyn anymore (RIP Veggie Castle). These are all recent additions to my reggae crate, even if some of the songs are a few years old. I stole the awesome picture above from this dope Brazilian photojournalism site– check it out if you like Favela Ninjas.

J Boog :       Let's Do It Again
Samoan L.A. local with a classic Jamaican roots sound. Check him out here.

Gappy Ranks :       Long Time
I slept on this UK crooner for a loooooong time. Now I’m trying to remedy that situation.

Jah Hem :       Love Is The Way
reggae lyrics don’t get much simpler than this, but it still sounds good, so stop your fussing and your fighting. Bahamas representing.

Dreadsquad :       Notion Of Self (ft. Blackout JA)
Mieczyslaw Fogg :       To Ostatnia Niedziela (Dreadsquad Remix)
Heavy 80’s digital vibes from… POLAND. I’m really feelin the roots remix of a tango record from 1936. These kids seem badass.

Stand High Patrol :       The Big Tree
something pretty different from this French minimal digital dub crew. I know it kinda sounds like a 6 year old is singing, but I’m a fan. Shout out to Marlee for supplying this one.

Lotek :       Rebel Hifi (ft. Spikey T)
Aussie roots-rock-hop.

Easy Star All-Stars :       Money (The Alchemist Remix)
wobbly modern remix of this Pink Floyd cover. Kinda crazy project from the reliable Easy Star Crew.

Rhythm & Sound :       See Mi Yah ft. Willie Williams (Hallucinator Remix)
I’m assuming this is the same Willie Williams??? This basically captures the sound of a hot-boxed sedan to a tee.

The Decoders :       Inside My Love ft. Sy Smith
This is a new project from L.A. trumpet mastermind Todd Simon (Dap Kings, Mayer Hawthorne, Quantic & a million other reputable outfits). Roots covers of soul classics never sounded better. Thank you Sy Smith for nailing the notes we thought only Minnie Ripperton could. More Decoders music right here.

King Tubby vs. Harry Mudie :       Dub With A Difference &       Heavy Duty Dub
couldn’t do an entire post of reggae without including some oldies actually from Jamaica. This record is a dub masterpiece.

I think it’s safe to say that 80-90% of my waking life is spent with music playing around me. I start every morning listening to new music with a cup of coffee in hand, searching for something to catch my ear. I spend most of my days working on making and mixing new songs. Most nights I’m out either DJ-ing or listening to DJ’s (and trying to steal songs from them), unless of course I’m at a show with a live band playing. Somehow, it never gets boring. That’s because of artists like these ones I’m sharing today, who keep hammering away at the weight of the past and manage to continually make something new (even when they recycle those retro elements we love). This website is my perpetual thank you to them. And here’s a toast to my precious, hard-working eardrums as well, I know they deserve a vacation…

Xenia Rubinos :       Hair Receding &       Pan Y Cafe
This chick is a revelation! Badass, Brooklyn-bred, alternate-time-signature, Latin punk music. Watching the extremely fun video for Pan Y Cafe made me miss NYC like crazy. It also made me want to make music videos with fisheye lenses all-day, everyday (while listening to music of course).

Phenomenal Handclap Band :       The Right One
More NYC greatness (there may be a strong trend in today’s playlist). I’ve been waiting for something fresh from these guys and they did not disappoint with this latest offering- again, accompanied by an amazing and very trippy video.

Escort :       All Through The Night
Yup, it’s more Brooklyn. Escort is sounding tighter than skinny jeans on this funky neo-disco bomb.

AVAN LAVA :       It's Never Over
Take a guess… was it BROOKLYN?!? If so, you’re right. Super poppy, but so damn good I can’t deny it.

Flight Facilities :       Crave You ft. Giselle (Cassian Remix) &       Feelin (Johnny Pow! Mix)
Ok, switching things up, let’s give some love to Australia. That marimba sound on Feelin is exactly what I need right now.

Crazy P :       Open For Service &       Changes
They clearly these Brits were advised to tone down their public image a bit, but they will remain Crazy Penis to me. Check out their new album.

Shake Aletti :       Lights & Sparks
More 80’s throwback freshness from the UK. This song also has a video that may make you want to go out dancing.

Madi Diaz :       Trust Fall (Jensen Sportag Remix)
Retro r&b smoothness that would undoubtedly have Hall & Oats nodding their heads in admiration.

Inc. :       Swear
Ok, I know it seems like we’re entering a time warp with all these throwback sounds, but don’t you wish Prince was still making shit like this? I’m happy these guys are filling the void.

Chet Faker :       No Diggity
This buttery cover song was my introduction to Chet Faker, but clearly I’ve been sleeping on him, cause there’s a lot more where this came from.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87CrCvsTbOk&list=UUhpbvJkxHmUb88ByptDJa3g&index=1&feature=plcp[/youtube]

If you like trampolines, bright colors, and head nod beats, then you will probably love this as much as I do.

Ta-Ku & Kit Pop :       Bounce
check the whole release here 

While I may not have a date for dinner tonite, I am in no shortage of love. Tomorrow I’ll be the guest DJ at one of my favorite gatherings in LA- Subsuelo. it’s no stretch to say I LOVE THIS PARTY. Great people, amazing music, perfect ambiance, live percussionists, and flamenco dancing on the bar. I will be joined by my ridiculously talented homies Brit Laurén & UTK who will dropping vocals while I get funky on my sampler. Heavy global bass is the main entree, but you best believe I’ll mix in some golden oldies and special surprises as well. Anyone in the general vicinity should get wise and head over there mañana. This place fills up, so arriving early is advised, and definitely be ready to sweat. Instead of chocolates or roses, I’m giving you a bucketload of bangers that will probably get played.

Pedro Ramaya Beltran :       Soy La Cumbia (Thornato Remix)
another heater from this Cumba Mela crew member.

3Ball MTY :       Black Moon (Sheeqo Beat Remix) &       Todos A Bailar
heavy electro guaracha styles from Monterrey, Mexico. These guys are kinda ruling things down there at the moment.

E.L. :       Obuu Mo
Funky shit from one of Ghana’s tallest rapper/producers. It’s hard not to gyrate when this comes on. Shouts to DJ Gozar for puttin me to on this one!

Double :       Tatali (Los Carlos Kuduro Remix)
Brand spanking new from Akwaaba Music.

Solo :       Congaloid
takes a little while to get going, but by the 3 minute mark this one is pure percussion insanity.

Major Lazer :       Bruk Out (Destructo & Uberzone Remix)
not sure how I slept on this remix. Just takes the og to a-whole-nother level.

Kes :       Precision Wine
Pure Trini carnival goodness. Takes me back to Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn on Labor Day.

Joyce Muniz & Shanti Roots :       Cumbian Lolita
Cuuuuuuuuumbia! Been playing this one for a while now, figured it was finally time to share. Check out more from the always reliable Sol Selectas label run by my homie Sabo.

Thievery Corporation :       El Pueblo Unido (Uproot Andy Remix)
Seems like my dude Andy can do no wrong. The breakdown/buildup at 2:30 is verging on symphonic.

Los Rakas :       Copita de Champaña
It wouldn’t be right to share music on Valentine’s without at least one slow jam. Check the whole new Raka Love EP right here.

Consider this an early Valentine’s Day gift… a teaser from the upcoming album I’m working on for the highly talented singer/songwriter Arian Saleh. Whether you’re deep in love, deep in lust, deeply lost, or somewhere in between (that’s me), our hope is that this song will help propel your hips closer to someone else’s. If things go really well, perhaps by the 2 minute mark a fly gets unzipped.