Song of the Day – Wednesday 7/28/2010 The Roots July 28, 2010

Hip hop legends, The Roots released their ninth studio album, How I Got Over on 6/22/2010.  The single, “The Fire” features John Legend on the hook and the video was directed by Rik Cordero who explains the premise for the video:

“It chronicles a post-apocalyptic death march set in 1945 during the final stages of World War II in Europe.  After a cataclysmic event renders the war futile, a paramilitary splinter group, led by a Kurtz-like figure known as The Commodore, forces the transfer of young men who will be used as labor…and food.  The last survivor of the march receives a mysterious White Box which holds the key to survival.”

The Roots featuring John Legend – The Fire

http://www.theroots.com/

http://www.myspace.com/theroots

Song of the Day – Thursday 5/13/2010 Flying Lotus May 13, 2010

LA’s Flying Lotus, aka FlyLo, aka Juno Leed, aka Steven Ellison is an electronic music producer, laptop musician, and hip hop beat maker.  On his third album, Cosmogramma which was released on 5/3/2010, FlyLo melds jazz, hip-hop, electronic and world beats.  FlyLo’s great-aunt was the late Alice Coltrane, John Coltrane’s wife.  Speaking about his musical heritage Ellison states: “My greatest influences are my family, I’m lucky to have been around so many accomplished musicians.”

On the track “…And the World Laughs with You” Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke helps create a blissed-out cacophony of sound…

Flying Lotus featuring Thom Yorke – …And the World Laughs with You

If you happen to be in LA this weekend you can attend one of the two Cosmogramma launch parties taking place at the Echoplex on 5/14 and 5/15.  Get the all the info on FlyLo’s website:

http://flying-lotus.com/

http://www.myspace.com/flyinglotus

Hip-Hop artist Guru of Gang Starr is dead at 43 April 20, 2010

Rapper, Guru, passed away yesterday at the age of 43 after a long battle with cancer.

Keith “Guru” Elam was the MC for the East Coast hip-hop duo Gang Starr.  Gang Starr released six albums between 1989-2003.  In 1993 as a solo artist, Guru released the first volume of his groudbreaking Jazzmatazz series (my favorites are Vol 1, Vol 3, and Vol 4) in which he combined live jazz with hip-hop and rapping.

Guru’s manager, Solar, released the following statement:

“The world has lost one of the best MCs and Hip-Hop icons of all-time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru.  Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle!  This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen.  The cancer took him.  Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius.”

Song of the Day – Wednesday 3/31/2010 The Mumlers March 31, 2010

MizMuze was at The Morning Benders’ show last night at The Independent, and she and the audience were in for a treat as The Mumlers were the opening act.  These local boys make good, smart music.

The San Jose six-piece band defies categorization, with their mix of guitars, accordions, clarinets, french horns, tubas, and stand-up bass they meld blues, jazz, soul, and folk that sound ancient and modern at the same time.  If you get a chance to see them live and alive (not in zombie form like the video below) do so, you won’t be disappointed.  And like their namesake William Mumler, a 19th century photographer who told customers he could capture the images of their deceased loved ones, they may just capture your soul.

The Mumlers  – Coffin Factory

The Mumlers latest album, Don’t Throw Me Away was released last year.

http://www.themumlers.com/

http://www.myspace.com/themumlers

Song of the Day – Monday 1/18/2010 Nina Simone~MLK Day January 18, 2010

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., here’s a beautiful song from the Civil Rights Movement…

Nina Simone sings “I Wish I Knew (How it Would Feel to be Free)”