DJ Alvin Black III - Art of Ashby

“A mix featuring works by, songs sampling, and collaborations with harpist Dorothy Ashby. Get familiar!”

Yuna - Live Your Life (Live on Conan - April 2, 2012)

Her dopeness cannot be overstated. Her voice and fashion sensibilities are giving me everlasting life. Check for her self-titled debut album on April 24th.

Aretha Franklin - “Mister Spain” (Live - 1974)

Happy Birthday Auntie Re-Re!

Check her out: the hair, that dress and those earrings are giving me everlasting life. WERK!

RBMA Radio: Mayer Hawthorne - Fireside Chat

“Growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, just outside of Detroit, Mayer Hawthorne vividly remembers tuning the radio in to the rich soul and jazz history of the motor city as a child. “Most of the best music ever made came out of Detroit”, claims the singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. No wonder he counts Isaac Hayes, Leroy Hutson, Mike Terry and Barry White among his influences, but admits to draw the most inspiration from Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield, and the legendary songwriting/production trio of Holland - Dozier - Holland. When Stones Throw label head Peanut Butter Wolf first heard Hawthorne’s music, it was hard for him to believe that it was original material (and not re-edits) because of the vintage sound of the music. Thus, with a little help of a heart-shaped vinyl 7” and the lo-fi aesthetics of his acclaimed debut album ‘A Strange Arrangement’, Mayer has become a new school soul sensation, resurrecting the sounds of the past with a modern twist and reviving Detroit’s fascinating history and fabled reputation as the foremost musical hotbed in America. In this Fireside Chat, the man who most recently worked with Nottz, Aloe Blacc and even Snoop Dogg, tells the story of his formative years, making beats, and how his production style gravitated towards emulating his favourite classic records, modernising Motown in the process.”

Yuna - Live Your Life (prod. by Pharrell)

I posted the song back in January, so it’s nice to have some visuals to accompany the tune. Yuna’s got a dope back story:

“Growing up Muslim in Malaysia, Yuna was first inspired by the universal appeal of acts like No Doubt, The Cranberries, and Fiona Apple. At the age of 19, while in law school, she picked up a guitar and began to fervently write. She released her self-titled EP in Malaysia in 2008. The single “Deeper Conversation” became a massive success and went on to win the title of Best English Song at the 2009 AIM Awards, Malaysia’s national music awards. Yuna swept the ceremony, garnering Best Pop Song and Song of the Year for her Malay song, “Dan Sebenarnya”.

This past February, Yuna performed before a sold-out audience at the legendary venue, Mercury Lounge – her first ever show in New York City – and made her debut radio performance live on the influential radio station KEXP, who called her voice “flawless.” Fans, critics from MTV, The New York Post, even Russell Simmons himself, who raved, “an amazing new singer…her music is incredible”, all instantly praised her talents. In May, she joined seminal recording artist Raphael Saadiq on the road for a string of dates that included performances at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore, the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC, and NYC’s Webster Hall.

Yuna is currently living in Los Angeles, where she spends her time writing/recording music, developing her photography skills, and managing her Malaysia-based clothing shop, I Am Jet Fuel.”

I’m definitely looking forward to hearing more from her in the future.

DJ Alvin Black III - Aphrodite’s Return

TRACKLIST

Caught in the Rapture - Zo!
Brown Sugar (Heartbreak Soundsystem Rework) - D’Angelo
Gonna Be A beautiful Night - Phonte ft. Carlitta Durand
Why Don’t We - James Klynn
Bonita Applebum (Hootie Mix) - A Tribe Called Quest
Inside My Love - The Decoders ft. Sy Smith
Sexual Healing (Ahmed Sirour remix) - Marvin Gaye
Can We Fall In Love Again - Darien Brockington
Deep Sleep (Axis remix) - Sy Smith
De Ja Vu - Applejac ft. Ramona
Without My Heart - Fullcrate ft. David Simmons
More 6/8th’s Love (Tall Black Guy remix) - Robert Glasper ft. KING
Make It up to You - Hudson Mohawke
Dream on - The Slakadeliqs
Take Off Your Cool - Mara Hruby
My Everything (Ahmed’s Ballad Remix) - Lalah Hathaway
The Fever - Oke
In Your Eyes - Teresa Jenee

DOWNLOAD

RBMA Radio: Ali Shaheed Muhammad - J Dilla Tribute Special

Live at Boombox (Los Angeles) on February 4, 2012.