If you know me personally, you would know that I’m referred to by friends as B-Sides and often get cursed out because I’m also a quasi-non-reggae listener. Coming from my pedigree, it’s actually a sacrilegious act. It’s not that I don’t like reggae — I do — I just don’t like listening to “new” reggae. I gravitate more toward the oldies—the 70s and 80s reggae classics. When I heard about Mos Dub, without listening to it, I instantly knew I’d love it. Mos Def has always had a “reggae” way about his flow, which was realised more on his first solo album, Black on Both Sides, on the track “Umi Says.” Mos Dub was put together by Brooklyn-based producer Max Tannone, who uses some of reggae’s ultimate classics, from The Harder They Come soundtrack to Horace Andy.

It’s a pretty dope collection. Check it out and let me know what you think. You can get the free download of Mos Dub from here!

Mos Dub by maxtannone

Let’s just say, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding the return of Gorillaz and they’ve started off on the good foot. Just hearing that the legendary Bobby Womack would be featured on their debut single, “Stylo,” is testament that Damon Albarn would be pushing Gorillaz further than before.

It’s hard to believe that this somewhat virtual band hit in 2001, bringing all influences into their production, with amazing visuals through video and live performance, and a vast array of musical artists. The next thing Gorillaz should do with the release of the Plastic Beach album, is complete the whole stylo with an animation movie. The band’s story is legend, “world-storming band born out of the sick mind of foul-smelling bass-player and ego-driven mastermind Murdoc Niccals.”

If you didn’t hear the single, check out the two versions below and let me know your thoughts on which one you prefer. The Chiddy Bang remix is available for free download, courtesy of RCRD LBL.

“Stylo” feat. Mos Def & Bobby Womack

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Stylo” feat. Mos Def & Bobby Womack (Chiddy Bang Remix) DOWNLOAD

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

My affinity to jazz is limited to the jazz masters and jazz infused music, however listening to Robert Glasper makes you want to bathe in jazz, eat jazz, sleep with jazz, damn it, even dream in jazz. Double Booked, his third Blue Note album, Glasper pulls us into the spectrum of his musical life. Leader of an acclaimed jazz trio, consisting of his longtime bassist Vincente Archer and drummer Chris Dave, and being the most sought after first-call sideman for artists like Mos Def, The Roots, and Q-Tip, Double Booked secures his position as a key player in modern jazz. The album is split between The Robert Glasper Trio, which is the showmanship of his jazz expertise and The Robert Glasper Experience which illustrates that the boom clap is instrumental to rap music. Refashioning Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly” and giving it that J Dilla edge, it’s no wonder that progressive soul singers and alternative rappers alike are clamoring to work with him.

Currently touring with Maxwell on his BLACKsummer’s Night Tour, Double Booked is scheduled to release August 25th. You can Listen to the full album on his Blue Note website. Just open a separate browser window and have this flow through your computer speakers. One of my favorites, and there are many is the pure beauty in “All Matter” featuring Bilal Oliver. Check it out below.

“All Matter” featuring Bilal Oliver taken from Doubled Booked

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Now go and listen to the full album and mark your calendar with the August 25th release date! You’re going to love it.