The dynamic trio, Om’Mas Keith, Taz, and Shafiq Hasayn of Sa-Ra are back with their highly anticipated sophomore album, which should be seen as their debut, since The Hollywood Recordings (2007) consisted of material they’d put out over the years.

Nuclear Evolution: The Age Of Love is full; 23 tracks, covering everything you’d expect from Sa-Ra, except this composition sounds more complete and controlled. Whether you’re listening to the futuristic world in “Love Czars,” or the hard hitting soulful groove of “I Swear” featuring Noni Limar, or the sweet tales of adoration with “My Star” featuring Erika Rose, and of course “Dirty Beauty” with Erykah Badu, with its dark and haunting melody and flat keys — it is clear that the Sa-Ra can claim their ‘future-soul avatars’ title without pretense. What I love about this album is with each musical genre they touch, the psychedelic funksters put their own unique spin on it — catchy yet very far from commercial. Nuclear Evolution is this summer’s required listening. Check out the tunes below and then click over to iTunes to get your Sa-Ra!

“Can I Get You Hi?”

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“White Cloud” feat. Rozzie Daime and Lil Kenny

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I had to take some time to sit with this as the story of Michael Jackson fills me with much sadness.

I too, was an early teen obsessed with MJ. My bedroom wallpaper was MJ. I remember staying up until midnight for the UK world premiere of the Thriller video to record and learn the dance routine. I was able to see him twice in my lifetime. Once while literally bumping into him at Disneyland as he and Maculay Culkin were getting off the Matterhorn ride; we threw up “Peace” signs at each other. I remember seeing a familiar face who looked like somebody else. The “Man in the Mirror” didn’t look like the Michael I had fantasized about. The second time was 6-months later when he came to London for the Bad Tour at Wembley Stadium. We stood completely frozen in awe of his performance, while it poured down with rain. It didn’t matter; we were watching MJ. He was the standard and we were his followers.

He was adored, revered, and loved. But it was a superficial kind of love. We loved Michael for what he gave us, and he loved us for the support we gave him. However, love does not have a price tag; love is.

The life of Michael Jackson is a true American tragedy; unparalleled talent, extraordinary entertainer, record-breaking sales (LPs, CDs, merchandise, shows), and yet on the flip side, being on top is the loneliest place on earth. Everyone around him wanted something from him. Mistaking attention for love only heightened his insecurities of self. It’s no wonder why he surrounded himself with children, as they didn’t judge or expect anything from him; as children ‘possess the secret of joy’.

Michael needed help and the result of his lack of help, lead the media to turn his life into an circus, and with every ridicule, the deeper MJ went into the hole. I feel a sense of atonement for him. It is over now. He is now free from the prison his fame created. One of the greatest performers of all-time can now rest in peace. Sigh.

Michael Jackson, you will be sorely missed!

Earlier this month, Muphoric Sounds plugged Moka Only‘s impressive new album, The Lowdown Suite 2: The Box and was able to send him some questions to answer for Muphoric Sounds. The Vancouver-based rapper and producer shares his rhyme and reason to his production, working with Kissey Asplund on “Drip Drop” (great story by the way!), his influences, and the plight of the digital era for artists. Within the interview, you get a true sense of his personality, “quirky” at best, truly an artist, who never stops creating! With great musical collaborations on the horizon and even working under a pseudonym, Moka Only ain’t going nowhere! And for what it’s worth, I’ve planted the seed for a collaboration with L.A. based rapper Blu; we eagerly await.

For the readers of Muphoric Sounds, Moka has provided an exclusive download of “Lemon,” from The Lowdown Suite 2: The Box (hear it below), which can be purchased on iTunes.

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Check out the Muphoric Sounds exclusive interview with Moka Only below!

What are your musical influences?
I have many music influences…people ranging from Frank Zappa to James Brown to Eazy-E. It’s all relative, but I usually lean toward stuff that’s interesting or weird, I guess. Lol.

What did you grow up listening to in the home?
In the home when I was a kid I got into jazz rather early so I would listen to Ornette Coleman, Sphere, Monk, Les McCann, Joe Pass…all kinda great cats. Also rocked Joni Mitchell and Stevie.

For me, and this is based on my experiences of Canada, is that it’s a place of calm, order, idyllic views, fresh air, order, etc. But, clearly there is a strong urban culture there. How would you compare hip-hop culture and rap music in Canada to San Diego?
Hahaha. You have a strange view of Canada if you think it’s all streams and idyllic, pastoral beauty. I mean, that does exist out in the country but the same can be said for America or any country. I’m from Vancouver. I would urge people to Google it and see for themselves. I’m not tryna push for the stereotypical ‘street cred/war stories’ but Vancouver is as grimy as any major North American metropolis. We have big gun problems, gangs, and the same horrors that need to be eliminated as elsewhere. Of course there are many cool places in the city too. Vancouver is a lot like San Diego. We are a bigger city though. I moved there on a whim. Literally. No planning. My life’s been like that. Vagabond stuff. One advantage of going to San Diego way back then is the proximity to Los Angeles and the hip hop movement that was poppin’ there at that time. L.A. cats would visit Diego on the frequent. Met lots of people there in situations that might not have happened at that time in Vancouver.

(more…)

The name Kissey Asplund has been mentioned on Muphoric Sounds a few times, and I hear she’s working on a new album.

A couple of days ago, she posted a cover to her blog, on what she called one of those days of not being in the mood to write a song or deal with the technicalities of producing a track from scratch, and also overdosing on Radiohead (cuz that’s how they do you once you start playing them!). What we got is a beautiful version of Radiohead’s “Creep.” Kissey has a soft and breezy voice and oftentimes, in the works she has appeared on, the production overshadows her singing, and she becomes more style than voice. So hearing her in this raw, uncut, and minimal cover, it’s nothing but pure niceness. I was left wanting more when the song abruptly ended.

Check out Kissey’s cover of “Creep” by Radiohead (one of my favorite rock bands of all time) below. If you dig it as much as I do, you can download it here (courtesy of Kissey Asplund).

Radiohead’s “Creep” sang by Kissey Asplund

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One of the things we do here is bring to you news about new artists and events. I’m so bummed that I won’t be in London for this one!

OneTaste is hosting the Exhibition Road Music Day to be held at London’s Hyde Park on Sunday, June 21st, from 1pm through 8pm.

The line-up is fantastic. With main headliners Little Dragon; actress and singer Ebony Bones; human beatboxer MC Xander; unique R&B singer Jamie Woon; poet and rapper Polarbear; rapper, poet, and playwright, Kate Tempest with band Sound of Rum; one man band, Joe Driscoll; the soulful electro-pop duo, Pearl Apollo; ska, funk band, United Vibrations; and electronic hip-hop, funk, and broken beats, DJ John Hendicott.

It definitely is “a not to be missed” event. So if you’re in the London area, brush off your Oyster travel cards and spread your sheets on the grass to take in some good music. It’s also a great event for all those hipster pops to spend their Father’s Day soaking in the sun and notable artists.

We’ve heard people sing about their Jamaican guy, an American boy, and even a Liberian girl but has anyone sang about the Jamaican girl? Terry Lynn‘s new single, “Jamaican Girls”, produced by Johan Hugo and is featured on the Red Stripe Celebrates Jamaican Music: It Was Written EP, gives respect to the Jamaican woman — and we’re not only talking about “Maxine” (Chaka Demus & Pliers) or “Sarah” (Frankie Paul). On first listen, “Jamaican Girls” felt a little mediocre in comparison to Lynn’s previous work, but as the classic Sly and Robbie “Taxi” riddim thumps through mid-verse, it becomes the perfect sound for the singer/rapper/feminist/activist — a woman who stands strong and can hold her own.

Lynn is somewhat of an anomaly. Born and raised in Kingston’s crime capital, Waterhouse, where music to the youth of this community is a source which enforces many levels of oppression. With her debut album Kingstonlogic 2.0 (September 2008), Lynn hit those issues head on, by kicking down norms and stereotypes, fusing her dancehall reggae bravado with lyrics that explored social inequalities present in Kingston, and skillfully set her style against a backdrop of electronic and experimental sounds. Visit Kingstonlogic.com not only to listen to her music but to look at some amazing photography by Peter Dean Rickards of Afflicted Yard, who captures the reality of Kingston, Jamaica.

It Was Written is available for free download in partnership with The FADER. So get your copy today after listening to “Jamaican Girl” below.

“Jamaican Girls” by Terry Lynn & Johan Hugo from Red Stripe Presents: It Was Written

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Hitting us with this summer's brilliant and irresponsible anthem "Fuck Work," Cubic Zirconia truly epitomize avante garde. The quartet consists of front woman, Tiombe Lockhart, known largely for her work with Platinum Pied Pipers, Nick Hook (from Drop the Lime), Todd Weinstock (former member of Glassjaw) and Daud Sturdivant. There are 10 versions of the track, each catering to whatever your thing is. My favorites being the original (see video below directed by Nancy Mitchell), LA’s self-proclaimed the “Ambassador of Funk” Dam Funk, and a Alexander Robotnik’s Nacho Lovers Remix. Their EP is scheduled to release on June 22 through Brooklyn-based independent label The Savant Guard featuring productions by Lord Warddd, Rene Goulet, and Proper Villains & Jubilee. With the economy slowly opening, the sentiment of the nation could well be, “Fuck Work.” Knock yourselves out on Cubic Zirconia. It’s hot.

“Fuck Work” (Dam Funk Remix)

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“Fuck Work” (Alexander Robotnik Nacho Lovers Remix)

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Canadian singer and songwriter, Graph Nobel, member of Idle Warship, with Talib Kweli and Res, is circulating her solo EP Something 2 Die 4 which is produced by Malik Worthy. Consisting of five songs, illustrating why the pairing of Res and Graph was a great match for Idle Warship. Graph can stand firmly with the crew of black women who are breaking from Hip Hop’s edge and giving us something different. Check out “Sweet Disappointment” where Graph takes us back to the years when Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks would belt out heartfelt love songs to make us go, ahhhh.

“Sweet Disappointment” from Something 2 Die 4 EP

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Graph’s EP is available for download here, exclusively provided by Year of the Blacksmith.

South Londoners, Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe of Basement Jaxx have just confirmed the completion of their fifth studio album, Scars, scheduled to release in September and will feature Grace Jones, Yoko Ono, Santigold, Lightspeed Champion, and Yo! Majesty. “Raindrops” is classic Basement Jaxx (smells like BIG dance hit), but I will admit to watching the video sideways, with its kaleidoscopic effects with burlesque dancers bearing nipples and crotches galore. Check it out below. It grows on you.

With over 10 years in the business, Canadian rapper and producer Moka Only just seems to churn out albums, one after the other. He’s incapable of not creating (which isn’t a bad thing when your name is Moka Only). My question is, does he ever leave his studio? Judging by the photos on his MySpace page, he’s steadily on the road performing.

His latest release Lowdown Suite 2: The Box must be his 30th LP and features Kissey Asplund on the song “Drip Drop,” a J Dilla influenced two-step jam, where Kissey’s melodies echo like an oceanic breeze. Lowdown Suite 2: The Box is chilled and relaxed matching Moka Only‘s laid back flow, with experimental beats and not containing overtly long tracks. He has gained much respect within the music industry, not only as a skillful emcee but also as an innovative producer, collaborating with the late great J Dilla, MF Doom, Aceyalone, Buck 65, K-Os, Sadat X, to name a few. Personally, I would like to see Moka Only team with West Coast rapper Blu for a tune or two.

If you’re not hip to Moka Only, you need to check him out by starting with the tunes below, then making a trip to iTunes.

“Drip Drop” feat. Kissey Asplund

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“Do Work”

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I will admit to being late to the water with this young lady, who ended up my in-box and I’m mad I was sleeping. Think cool blends between Sade and Esthero where Zaki Ibrahim‘s style has that edge and grit which takes from soul, rap, electronica, Brazilian, afro and broken beat, and her strong vocals weave between each genre effortlessly. Eclectica (Episodes in Purple) is her second EP, and should gain a ton of acclaim in the US and the UK. “Love-Like” with its atmospheric introduction is produced by Canadian producer Nick Holder where he brings water sounds created with the Rainstick and with Zaki’s vocals, they both create something that is ancestral. On the remix of “Money,” King Britt sprinkles his afro beat magic star dusk and Zaki’s jazzy yet emotional wails continue the tribal themes apparent on the EP; I can’t get enough of it. Check out the songs below.

“Money” King Britt Mix from Eclectica (Episodes In Purple)

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“Love-Like” from Eclectica (Episodes In Purple)

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Get your copy of Eclectica (Episodes In Purple) from iTunes today!

The Jazz Liberatorz comprise of three members, DJ Damage, Dusty, and Madhi, all hailing from France. Their first album, Clin d’oeil was released over a year ago and was a smooth mix of what they do best — which is jazz and soul infused hip hop. While they’re not hugely known in the US, Clin d’oeil had a great mix of American artists such as Sadat X, Lizz Fields, J-Live, and Buckshot. Fruit of the Past does not steer far from Clin d’oeil in delivering well crafted instrumental medleys that do not come across as a revival of the past but create something that’s chilled, breezy, and smooth. The album features stellar vocal performances from Mos Def, Aloe Blacc, Declaime (also known as Dudley Perkins), 20Syl, and a few others. Below is the Mos Def track and one of my favorite instrumentals on the album. It’s cool. Enjoy!

“Mountain Sunlight” feat. Mos Def

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“Blue Avenue”

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Released only in Japan but available on iTunes; so get yourself some Jazz Liberatorz.