Nice N Smooth

Notice how everyone in the crowd is feeling the music so much...wish it was the same energy nowadays!

Goto www.themeaningofdope.com for more hip hop video nostalgia.

Alice Smith

Alice Smith - Dream


It's so good to see live music while sitting a few feet away at a table, rather than standing squashed between drunk people in a big crowd like most gigs I go to. This more relaxed setting catered perfect to Alice Smith, who performed an acoustic set at the Blue Note Jazz Bar in the West Village last night. Her refreshingly unique singing style is what makes Alice so intriguing. I don't know exactly how to describe it, but it's almost as if she sounds 'lazy' when blending notes and words together. Whatever it is, it works.

Up Yo Spine Remix

Here's a quick little remix I did of 'Up Yo Spine', taken from the new album 'Fun DMC' by People Under The Stairs.

Stones Throw CMJ Party 08

When it was announced that this Stones Throw party was going to be free, I couldn't believe it. I actually went to the venue, which was a tiny bar in the lowest east side, an hour early to be safe. It turned out to be one of the best parties i've ever been to. Highlights were new Stones Throw artist Mayer Hawthorne's set, James Pants on the drum machine, and Madlib's unconventional yet effective CD-R scratching and mixing.

The Get Down Mellow Sound

I've been getting into late 70's & early 80's boogie/disco more and more lately, and this 45 is one of my favorites. A short-lived group from NY, The Players Association formed in 1976 and disbanded in 81'. Not a rare record, this track comes off their 'We Got The Groove' LP.

The combination of a funky bassline, simple rhodes-like jazzy keys and basic guitar strumming is a winning formula.

Leroy Williams - God's Children

I found this 7" after two solid days of digging at the WFMU Record Fair in NY. Out of all the 45's I bought, this one stands out as the perfect summertime-vibe instrumental. It brings to mind images of kids playing on the street with broken fire hydrants and big skipping ropes. Mid 70's soul bliss.

Raashan Ahmad - Peace

New video with some crazy graphics from the song 'Peace' off his new solo album. I met with Raashan at the Crown City Rockers gig not long ago in Brooklyn. Hopefully another collab might happen in the future...

Stakes Is High

A nice instrumental take on the Dilla-produced classic by French beatmaker Dela.

The Foreign Exchange

I saw The Foreign Exchange live last night at NYC's Highland Ballroom, and it was one of the most incredible shows i've been to. They recreated both albums with a live band - with producer Nicolay and insanely dope keyboard player Zo! both getting busy on the keys. Phonte is a hilarious dude, and his charisma kept everyone smiling during his comic interludes between songs. There aren't many other mc's out there that can go between straight rapping and singing church choir-type high notes in the same song. Their new album has been on repeat in my headphones for weeks. This is my favorite one off the album

Welcome

Hell, everyone else has one so why not us?! The purpose of this blog is simple: we want to share independent music/culture that we find inspirational.