Author Archives: Ash El Gamal

[Future] GoldLink – Ay Ay (Gravez VIP) (feat. Drewsthatdude & Scolla)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - January 6, 2015

Goldlink
Ay Ay (Gravez VIP) (ft. Drewsthatdude & Scolla)

Atlanta-based producer Gravez has positioned himself nicely for 2015 closing out last year with an onslaught of strong releases, both originals and remixes. His take on Drake‘s “6 God” was featured by multiple editors in our recent best of 2014 list, but it’s only one of many future hip-hop productions that has gained him a rapidly growing following on SoundCloud. For his last remix of 2014, Gravez unleashed a complete re-imagination of “Ay Ay,” the standout track from Ninja-favorite emcee GoldLink. With some production assistance from Drewsthatdude and vocal work by Scolla, the VIP keeps Link’s vocals in tact while transforming the booty-bouncing original into a soulful number with a distinct southern, future bounce.

With artists like Rome Fortune, Young Thug and iLoveMakonnen pushing the envelope as emcees in Atlanta, Gravez seems to be carving his own lane among the wave of producers creating unconventional backdrops helping ATLiens stay ahead of the curve sonically. We’re looking forward to what Gravez has in store for us this year between his original work, remixes and collaborations. In the meantime, enjoy this unique cut above, grab a free download and head to Gravez’s Soundcloud page for more gems.

[Future] Kimbra – Settle Down (Sweater Beats Remix)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 16, 2014

Kimbra
Settle Down (Sweater Beats Redux)

Soundcloud

Sweater Beats took to social media this morning to drop off a brand new remix closing out what could not have been a better year for the young NYC-based producer. Taking on Kimbra‘s “Settle Down,” Sweater Beats displays his impressive bass-driven, R&B-influenced style to perfection. By leaving the vocals from the original in tact, he manages to build a dynamic, constantly evolving re-imagination of the original without taking away from Kimbra’s powerful voice. Give this one a listen above and make sure to check out Sweater Beat’s Cloud City EP if you haven’t already. 2015 is going to be a huge year for SB, and the Huh, What & Where collective more broadly.

[Soul] D’Angelo & The Vanguard – Black Messiah (Album)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 15, 2014

D'Angelo Official
Sugah Daddy (Red Bull 20 Before 15)

Soundcloud

It’s been nearly 15 years since D’Angelo‘s classic sophomore album, Voodoo, and, up until recently, many fans had given up on the possibility of a new album from the wildly talented singer/songwriter. Over the last year or so, though, D’Angelo has slowly been reintroducing himself through live performances hinting at a new project. Over the weekend, the rumors crystalized quickly leading up to Questlove‘s announcement that fans would be getting a new D’Angelo record far sooner than expected. At midnight last night, Black Messiah arrived in Beyonce-esque flash-release fashion with widespread positive first impressions both critically and around social media. The 12-track record truly does not disappoint striking the perfect balance between funk and soul cultivating an incredible groove from start to finish perfect for soothing the Monday blues. Black Messiah could not come at a better time providing an uplifting and politically conscious voice in a time when tensions run high in the US. Check out the funky “Sugah Daddy” above and read D’Angelo’s powerful explanation of his vision for the album below:

It’s about people rising up in Ferguson and in Egypt and in Occupy Wall Street and in every place where a community has had enough and decides to make change happen. It’s not about praising one charismatic leader but celebrating thousands of them. Not every song on this album is politically charged (though many are), but calling this album Black Messiah creates a landscape where these songs can live to the fullest. Black Messiah is not one man. It’s a feeling that, collectively, we are all that leader.

Black Messiah is available for purchase/streaming on iTunes and Spotify now.

Soul

[Vinyl Giveaway] Warren G – Regulate…G Funk Era (Album Reissue + Remixes)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 9, 2014

Warren G
Regulate (Destructo & Wax Motif Remix)

Soundcloud

Warren G‘s Regulate…G Funk Era album has stood the test of time as a project that helped defined a whole genre along with classics like Dr. Dre‘s The Chronic and Snoop Dogg‘s Dogystyle. Although G-Funk’s prime has passed, it has had a lasting impact not only in hip-hop introducing melodious flows and funky production but also across genres even inspiring the inception of G-House. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the multi-platinum selling classic, Def Jam/Universal put together a re-issue of Regulate…G Funk Era that features 3 EDM remixes of its smooth, timeless title track. It’s only fitting that one of the remixes comes from Australian trap-leaning producer Wax Motif and LA’s own Destructo, who’s recent West Coast EP updates the classic sounds of his home coast. Give Wax and Destructo’s dope take on “Regulate,” which strikes a perfect balance between the original and hard-hitting electronic elements, above.

We’re excited to be giving away a Vinyl and CD of the reissue including the full original album and the remix above along with two more from Jaux and Photek. Enter your email below to enter! We will be accepting participants through next Thursday, 12/18, and the winner will be notified via email the morning of 12/19. If you can’t wait, though, you can also purchase the vinyl/CD/digital version now here.

[Future Bass] Djemba Djemba & London Future – Fire to the Room

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 8, 2014

’DJEMBA DJEMBA x London Future – Fire To The Room’

Buy

’Destructo – Dare You 2 Move (Djemba Djemba Remix)’

Buy

Pioneering producer Djemba Djemba‘s certainly in a giving mood today bringing us two new releases along with an announcement that he will be supporting RL Grime for a leg of his US tour in February. His collaboration with London Future, “Fire To The Room,” has been floating around in his live and recorded sets making it a particularly anticipated release, and rightfully so–it’s an enormous tune that explodes into a warped synth progression bringing some rare, much needed Monday evening turn up. Enjoy this one above along with his trippy remix of Destructo‘s “Dare You 2 Move” and head over to Bandcamp to purchase “Fire To The Room.”

[Bounce] T.I. & Young Thug – About Da Money (Kaytranada Remix)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 8, 2014

T.I. & Young Thug
About Da $ (Kaytra Remix)

Soundcloud

Young Thug has had an absolutely ridiculous year rising from obscurity to one of the most talked about and controversial artists in hip-hop. Thug tends to be a polarizing figure, but it’s hard to deny the addicting nature of his music. Regardless, the Atlanta emcee’s wild, melodic flows lend themselves perfectly to electronic remixes. Canadian producer Kaytranda, who has had a spectacular year himself, is the latest to take on a Thugger hit with spectacular results. Choosing one of Thug’s catchiest tunes, the T.I.-featuring “About Da Money,” Kaytra minimizes the instrumentation of the original replacing it with a jazzy bounce and keeping the vocals in tact. Perhaps the most compelling part of this re-work comes around the 3:30 mark when it goes full instrumental introducing energetic percussion that creates a supreme groove. Peep this one above–we’re excited to hear what 2015 has in store for both of these rising stars.

[Hip-Hop] Slow Magic – Girls (MOORS Remix)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 5, 2014

’Slow Magic – Girls (MOORS Remix)’

Download

’Lusine – Arterial (Moors Remix)’

Download

LA hip-hop duo MOORS emerged earlier this year with the release of their self-titled EP, a creative project full of hazy production and introspective lyricism. Aside from their originals, MOORS have also shown a knack for remixes with wavy, genre-bending takes on BATHS and James Vincent McMorrow, who they joined for a leg of his recent US tour. Earlier this week, emcee Keith Stanfield and producer HH dropped off an official remix for another of our favorite emerging artists, Slow Magic. Taking probably the catchiest song from Slow Magic’s recent album in “Girls,” HH creates the perfectly warped loop over which Keith, also a professional actor, displays some theatrical, storytelling bars adding a different kind of depth to the original. Give this dope cut a spin above along with another remix they dropped this week of Lusine‘s “Arterial.”

P.S. You can check out our recent exclusive interviews with MOORS and Slow Magic at those links.