Somepoe

now playing: J. Cole & Miguel - Power Trip (Somepoe Edit)

Another Finnish producer fostered by the Red Bull Music Academy, Somepoe from Oulu, has caught my attention. A friend posted his soundcloud page to Facebook a while back and I clicked play.

Somepoe aka Topi Paananen is an interesting producer because he creates vogue beats. Yes, you read correctly. Vogue beats. Beats that vogue dancers would go crazy to (I'm not gonna start educating you on voguing right now but, believe me, it is a big part of who I am and what I do and that's why I pay attention to this guy). And to be honest, I'm not sure if he knows that he's doing vogue beats because they most definitely aren't very typical. But then again some of the samplers he uses consistently, are most definitely very typical and make his sound very vogue. Listening to these tracks, the next tune might have a Baltimore vibe or something totally different, which makes him even more intriguing.

Before entering the Red Bull Music Academy in 2012, Somepoe learnt to produce on his own. He got into music in elementary school through rapping which lead to DJing and especially scratching. From the start he has been a "do it yourself" kinda guy, creating tunes, recording them and doing the art work and then selling the albums to his friends. Mostly he works at night time. He says that he might have ideas about the rhythm and then he just starts exploring by using the computer, synthesizer, drum machine and vinyls. Often an existing song is the starting point but then he might remove the original track totally from the final version.

Until now, Somepoe's music has been released on Rad Summer, Cool Records, Sounds of Sumo, Car Crash Set and MK Label. He has played in numerous clubs in Finland and he has hosted a radio show on Basso radio and during his stay in New York he got to play in Sullivan Room. His mix has been featured on Benji B Show of BBC Radio 1.

HillyDilly had a review of his EP "Places" in their discovery section in April 2014 saying:

Somepoe is a fresh name out of Finland, and he packs a floor-shaking sound into “Places” that’s sure to make any subwoofer cringe (that’s a hint to pull out your good speakers/headphones for the track, if you’ve any available). As an international native, the producer already has a unique background, but his graduation from the Red Bull Music Academy puts him in a whole different lane, quite possibly one he alone occupies. The intrigue doesn’t stop there, however, because his bass-heavy, synth-filled, brand-new track, “Places”, only adds to his distinctiveness. Enigmatic synths wave back and forth on the affair, creating an effect currently unparalleled; R&B vocal chops repeat throughout, never faltering in originality; and thumping bass remains continuous, giving the song its uptempo, danceable vibe. So whether it’s a result of his Finnish roots, his Red Bull Academy experience, or just his own sonic brilliance, Somepoe has displayed some very impressive originality on his first track here, and we invite you to grab his debut EP, Leave the House, HERE on iTunes if you’re digging.

 A free Christmas EP released in December 2013 is downloadable for free. I suggest you to check his other stuff out, too because you will discover all kinds of sounds.

Mr. Carmack

now playing: Mr. Carmack - Tiki Tiki

Without question, one of the best producers out there at the moment, Mr. Carmack will make your head nod and your face go like yuck. He's grimey, dirty and simply awesome.

According to Maddecent.com "Mr. Carmack aka Aaron Carmack is a Hawaii-based producer blurring the distinction between Hip Hop and Dance Music in a progressive way that has even the most seasoned producers scratching their heads. His current rise to fame started with the self-released Bang, Vol 3 followed by the Life/Death EP, which both achieved the #1 best selling album on Bandcamp consecutively. In April 2013, he released “Birth Control” and “Hopscotch,” an eclectic mix of hand claps, squeaky beats, and Neptunesque synths, on our Jeffree’s imprint. Supported by the likes of RL Grime, GTA, Plastician, Djemba Djemba, S Type, Elair Fifi as well as appearances on BBC Radio 1, Mr. Carmack’s global domination has only just begun."

For his full discography check out his bandcamp.

Leonard Dstroy

now playing: Leonard Dstroy - Technical Difficulties

Yo hip hop heads, I'm back!

I heard about this guy Leonard Dstroy today and just got into his stuff. Worth posting but I don't have time to write in much detail now. There are at least a few releases on his bandcamp site. Check check.

DJ Rahdu - Ya'll Feel That?: Erykah Badu Remixes, Flips & Covers

now playing: Erykah Badu - Real Thang (maTic’s cold crush remix)

Mm-mm-mm.. BamaLoveSoul's DJ Rahdu is on point with this one. As they put it:

Alas, there are those that feel they can perfect what Badu has done in the studio or just want to add their personal spin to her musical offerings, heck, some have even been commisioned; It’s these remixes, flips and covers that fuel this mix. Y’all Feel That is a collection of some of our favorite tricked out treats, lovingly mixed and offered to you and your mp3 players. Enjoy!

1. My Morning Jacket – Tyrone
2. The Electric – Didn’t Cha Know feat Add2, Qwazaar, Wes Restless & Yarah Bravo
3. Jesse Boykins III – Mystery of Iniquity (BaduBoykinsHill)
4. Durand Bernar – Flipside of the Game
5. Erykah Badu – Love of My Life (Shelltoes Remix)
6. Erykah Badu – Love of My Life (Kaytradamus Remix)
7. Erykah Badu – Real Thang (maTic’s cold crush remix)
8. Erykah Badu – Window Seat (The O Remix)
9. Erykah Badu – Southern Gul (Nonagon Remix)
10. Mark Ronson – A La Modeliste (Bonobo Remix) feat Erykah Badu
11. Melo-X – Gone Baby feat Paul McCartney & Erykah Badu
12. Collette – Orange Moon
13. Erykah Badu – Honey (Lawrence Wiggins Remix)
14. Show Tufli – Stand Out Girl
15. Erykah Badu – I Want You (Rancido’s Deepersoul Edit)
16. Erykah Badu – On & On (Kero One Remix)
17. Erykah Badu – Soldier (Sam Champ Remix)
18. Erykah Badu – Telephone (Freddie Joachim Remix)
19. 9th Wonder – 20 Feet Tall feat Erykah Badu & Rapsody
20. Erykah Badu – 20 Feet Tall (Yoruba Soul Remix)
21. Erykah Badu – Honey (Glenn Underground Remix)
22. Eryah Badu – Back in the Day (Chopped & Screwed)
23. Vlooper – The Healer feat Modlee
24. Erykah Badu – Bag Lady (J Finesse Remix) 

Oaklyn

now playing: Oaklyn - Chasing the Sun

Perhaps the most refreshing Finnish release in a good while, Chasing the Sun is the debut of Oaklyn. Linda Ilves' vocals and Sami Tammela's production go nicely together and the outcome is soulful and smooth. Check it out.

Return of the Tec

now playing: Ill Tal - Captian Morgan and Coke

"The Beat Tape Project enlisted the services of hip-hop producers worldwide to create an audio work of art paying homage to The Beatnuts. The producers were asked to create tracks reminiscent of The Beatnuts sound. We think it came out pretty damn good."

R.I.P. Don Cornelius

now playing: MFSB - The Sound of Philadelphia

Another legend lost... Don Cornelius, the father of the legendary Soul Train TV programme, was found dead in his apartment early on February 1st.

It's hard to think of other people who would've individually contributed to what we nowadays might call hiphop culture, as much as Cornelius did. By that time black people singing and dancing on national TV was unheard and radical but he made that become reality. Soul Train was the first show to have dance styles like locking, waacking and punking in it, and for many incredible artists in the soul (and other) genres it was the first platform to showcase their talent.

Thus, I say thank you. Thank you for starting something that has now become essential in my life and what I'm passionate about. Rest in peace.