It’s funny how musical taste can change. I bought this record in a $1 stack many years ago, but didn’t fully appreciate it until I played it again recently. “I Can Understand It” is an incredible cover of a Bobby Womack song, sung by The New Birth. The group was formed by Motown song writers Harvey Fuqua and Vernon Bullock and was comprised of several groups from the Michigan and Kentucky area. In 1970 The Nite Liters, The Mint Juleps, The New Sound, and later Love, Peace & Happiness all became The New Birth. Originally a touring group who could perform together or separately, the group became an awesome 15 piece band that made beautiful music influenced by Jazz, Funk, Soul, Gospel, and Afro Cuban sounds. With all of their efforts combined, the group has recorded over 24 albums. And although some of the members have passed on to the spirit world, they are still performing today.

This song starts off with a short rap and immediately sets off on a roller coaster of what sounds like hours of dedication, practice, fine-tuning, and craft honing.  I mean, you hear the sound of tightly played bass, funky drumming, in key guitar strumming,  very strong vocals, horns sprinkled on top like icing, and background vocals that seem to just hold it all together. I love Bobby Womack’s original, but this is the version that makes me want to dance. Hearing all of these minds work at once on a tune shows true skill! I dig it, from the song’s intro to the breakdown.

Check out the live video footage below and listen to the actual recorded version of the track.

“I Can Understand It” by The New Birth

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Got to give DJ Underdog a pound for kicking this mix off with Peter Tosh‘s radical call to arms about the state of senseless music! With Africa Africa Africa pt. 1, DJ Underdog took us on a journey to the continent, and with pt. 2 he takes us into the future, giving those of us who aren’t in the DMV vicinity, a direct taste of what is experienced at the Afro-Beat for Ya Soul party, hosted by Lunchbox Theory at Bossa in Washington, DC. The next Afro-Beat for Ya Soul party is this Thursday, August 26th, with music by DJ Underdog and live performance from Funk Ark Band. For event information, click here. But in the meantime, wrap your ears around the track below, then head over to the Lunchbox Theory Bandcamp page to download Africa Africa Africa pt. 2.

I was told as a child, growing up that the use of expletives shows you lack the vocabulary to articulate your feelings effectively. We curse, knowing that expletives aren’t necessary. But there’s something about attaching the right tonality and/or venom in your verbal situation, that the sprinkling of a curse word (or few) is gratifying.

In this case, it’s love gone wrong. Cee-Lo uses the retort to dismiss his past love, although clearly, he’s having a hard time with it, by openly displaying his anger, but at the same time, reveals his sadness for the love lost. What’s fun and clever is Cee-Lo‘s choice to sing against a retro 60s-style tune, flipping his retorts over a genre that was all about sweet sentiment. He goes down Memory Lane recounting the expectations he couldn’t live up to, with some name calling, and even offers cautionary advice for the next man. In his effort to be the bigger person, he says, “Although there’s a pain in my chest, I still wish you the best, with a…F***YOU!” This could actually be the perfect breakup song (if the situation fits).

Check out the lyric video below. The proper video is in production; should be out in the next few weeks. If you ever saw the Gnarls Barkley video for “Who’s Gonna to Save My Soul,” know we’re in for a treat! Check out “F*** You!” below and share your thoughts.

Cee-Lo‘s forthcoming solo album The Ladykiller, is scheduled to release sometime this year (not sure of the actual date).

Andreya Triana has one of those musical stories that follows the basic principal — with talent, coupled with hard work and determination, bring results. From attending the Red Bull Academy in 2006 (if you know anything about the vigorous application process and program, you’d know only people with exemplary talent are accepted into the program!) to being the dreamy vocalist on Flying Lotus‘s “Tea Leaf Dancers,” in 2007, which became a global underground sensation, Triana is one of those artists who I expect to be around for a very long time.

Her debut, Lost Where I Belong, which was released yesterday, is an honest journey through music with Triana, bringing in an amalgamation of sounds that come together into what is Andreya Triana. Produced by her collaborative partner, Bonobo, known primarily for his downtempo beats, Bonobo created sounds that complimented Triana‘s voice, knowing exactly when to filter the music in ways which allowed Triana‘s warm, soulful, yet jazzy vocals to come forward in her beautiful sound.

Our friends over at Put Me On it attended the Soundwave Festival in Croatia this summer, and filmed the video below of Triana performing “Lost Where I Belong.” It’s outdoor, it’s intimate, and it’s quite lovely. We get to see Triana perform with such warmth and intimacy. Enjoy!

Triana‘s “Draw the Stars” is featured in this week’s iTunes’s “Single Of The Week“ for free download. You can also purchase the album in its full entirety at Ninja Tunes. Check out a couple of tunes below taken from the Lost Where I Belong.

“Far Closer”

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“A Town Called Obsolete”

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It’s clear that Flying Lotus does not stop working. After releasing his second album, Cosmogramma through Warp Records in May earlier this year, he is now set to release on September 21st, a seven-track EP entitled Pattern+Grid World, which is sure to be another journey through spacial sounds. Completely enjoy looking at the trippy art for the EP’s cover.

Check out “Camera Day” below;  it’s definitely one of his smoother productions, but still contains his signature grit and futuristic chaotic sounds. Looking forward to hearing the full EP.

Flying Lotus is currently on tour. See dates below and check him out if he’s in your town.

August 18 – London, England – ICA
August 20 – Biddinghuizen, Netherlands – Lowlands Festival
August 21 – Hasselt, Belgium – Pukkelpop Festival
September 02 – Montreal, Quebec – Studio Just for Laughs
September 03 – Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix Theatre
September 04 – New York, NY – Electric Zoo Festival
September 05 – Chicago, IL – North Coast Music Festival
September 10 – Newport, England – Isle of Wight Bestival
September 22 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Commodore Ballroom
September 23 – Seattle, WA – Decibel Festival
September 24 – San Francisco, CA – Mezzanine

The build up to the release of Bilal‘s official third album, Airtight’s Revenge has been non-stop for the artist. Currently on a hectic schedule, doing a slew of lives shows both in the States and Europe, with press interviews, Muphoric Sounds was able to get some face time with Bilal. Meeting at L.A. Burdick in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, in a cool environment furnished with delicious chocolate coffee, we spoke at great length about his career, overcoming misfortunes, his clear passion in music, and his forth-coming release, Airtight’s Revenge. His integrity as an artist is unmistakeable and so refreshing. Check out the interview below. [Note: this was supposed to be a video interview, but due to technical difficulties, we had to run it as a Q&A. Big thanks to CochraneImage, for taking such great shots!]

Also, after reading the Q&A below, there’s a lovely download from Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble, where they do a rendition of Donny Hathaway‘s “Someday We’ll All Be Free” featuring Bilal on vocals.

Airtight’s Revenge hits stores September 14th and can be pre-ordered here. Get one for yourself and a friend!

*****

Muphoric Sounds: Who is Bilal?
Bilal: I’m a musician. I make music from the day that I experience and see and use my music as a platform.

MS: When your career started it was rumored that Erykah Badu was responsible for discovering you. Who were the people that helped start of your career?
Bilal: I kind of met Amir [Questlove] first. But I was also supposed to do a tune with Q-Tip. I met everyone around the same time when I moved here [New York] from Philadelphia. And I also started to work with one of the Mtume brothers, James Mtume.

MS: If you were to look back at your career as a musician, what are the most significant lessons learned?
Bilal: I’ve learned a lot of things. The main lesson, I would say, is being true to myself to making music from an honest place.

MS: The Soul Aquarium Movement. What happened to them?
Bilal: Oh, big question man! Initially, it started off as photo that took showed musicians that always worked together and it appeared in Vibe Magazine. Somebody told me that we were supposed to do an album together but it never happened. We’re all still in contact today. I did a show with Erykah the other day. I talk to Amir all the time. We just did a show at Highline Ballroom recently. Q-Tip, I just did a show with him two days ago. Common, we talk all the time.

MS: You’ve collaborated with a lot of great artists in the past – both mainstream and independent. Who would you like to work with next, who you haven’t worked with before?
Bilal: There’s a lot of cats I want to work with. I would love to do something with Thom York.

(more…)

Looks like the eclectic other half of Outkast may have some new music coming down the pike! Andre “3000″ Benjamin, is slowly resurfacing by recently collaborating with band mate Big Boi on “Looking 4 Ya” and with Ciara on “Riding.” “I Do” will appear on Limelight Exclusives tape that releases tomorrow. However, the word on the street is, this is Andre‘s verse on a collaboration with Young Jeezy for Jeezy’s upcoming release TM103. Let’s hope these recent works have ignited him to get busy!

“I Do” is reminiscent of a 70s/80s style track with the backing vocals taken from the late R&B crooner,  Richard “Dimples” Fields. It’s on repeat for me; check it out and let me know what you think.

Andre 3000 – “I Do” (Download)

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Thank yous to 2DopeBoyz for the link!

First and foremost, let me stress—the ONLY reason Rick Ross is on Muphoric Sounds is because of this collaboration with Erykah Badu, and to be completely honest, he didn’t bring anything outstanding to the track. As always, Erykah is so engaging; she could be sitting crossed legged on the floor, doing nothing and we’d still be interested to watch her. She has the id. Ms. Badass (pun intended!).

I came across The Believer magazine during my online travels and was stunned to learn that it has been around since 2003! Each year they have a music issue, bringing in a music connoisseur to add something fresh to the issue. This year it’s Chuck Lightening (Creative Director of Wondaland Society, co-producer/co-writer on Janelle Monáe‘s new album, and band leader of Deep Cotton). He says that the music issue and the accompanying mix CD, entitled We Bumped Our Head Against A Cloud, defines a moment in time where, “For black artists, our new president has meant the start of a different age. This music [the CD] aims to capture it.” I take Lightening’s preamble to mean we are in times of unconstrained creativity—musicians should not feel limited or inhibited in their art. The artists selected to contribute on the mix CD illustrate that. Each bring a uniqueness to the project. A few of the artists featured are: Saul Williams, Of Montreal, Cody Chestnutt, M.I.A., and of course Janelle Monáe.

Check out a couple tunes from We Bumped Our Head Against A Cloud below. The CD is only available with purchase of the print July/August magazine; get it before it leaves newsstands and bookstores. Ordinarily, The Believer is a literary magazine, providing in-depth reviews on new and old titles.

“Cold War” (Wondamix) by Janelle Monáe

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“B.S. In a Tampon” by Saul Williams

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Our favourite android, Janelle Monáe hits us with the new video for the big tune, “Cold War,” taken from her new album The ArchAndroid Suite II & III. Simply shot, beautifully lit, with an equally stunning face that evokes pure and raw emotion. We all know what it feels like to laugh and simultaneously burst into tears with sadness. Check it out and let me know your thoughts!

Born in Baltimore and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Kafele Bandele is a trumpeter, composer, and producer of what he calls “cool fusion,” best described as an amalgam of fine jazz infused with the richness of hip-hop. A graduate of Jazz Music Theory from Southern University in Baton Rouge, he quickly established a reputation by performing at various venues in Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, and Alabama. After moving to Chicago, his career as a musician quickly elevated locally gaining the attention to travel the country doing what he loves.

The featured video, “Stone Crazy,” is a part of a compilation by Do It Now Recordings entitled Giant Steps Back From Miami. ”Stone Crazy” comes with a lush laid-back jazzy groove, smooth basslines, with an echoing trumpet which plays as response to the vocals. It is no surprise that five producers created their own interpretations of the song, leading Do It Now Recording to release  ”Stone Crazy (The Remixes).” The featured producers are Thee Gobbs, Nastee Nev, Bassruu, Lips, and SoulAGENDA. Check out the remixes here.

Keep your eyes on the look out for this talented artist, who is hard at work on projects to come through his label K. Kapano Records.

The legend of J Dilla continues with Donut Shop. Previously released as a purchase-only vinyl EP, the track “Safety Dance,” which is a refashioning of Men Without Hats 80s classic, leaked online a couple of months ago. Now Stonesthrow is giving it away to avid J Dilla fans! Featuring three unreleased Dilla beats, including “Safety Dance,” “Bars & Twists,” an instrumental of Mos Def‘s “History,” and Q-Tip‘s “Move.” I don’t know about you, but I never grow tired of hearing a Dilla beat or production; so enjoy this free DOWNLOAD! Check out “Bars & Twists” below.

“Bars & Twists”

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