ROBERT GLASPER Ft. Emelie Sandé - "Somebody Else"

Over the last few years the young (born '78) Texas jazz pianist Robert Glasper has gone from musical wonderchild to one of the most forward thinking artists of our day. Stretching the boundaries of all black music while maintaining his well earned jazz stripes. Signed to the legendary Blue Note records, Glasper's first three albums (released between 2005 and 2009) established him as an up-and-coming household name on the traditional accoustic jazz scene. On the '09 LP, "Double Booked" the producer/pianist started incorporating more eclectic ideas, making use of electronic instruments and making use for a wider range of influences. This was the birth of the Robert Glasper Experiment, featuring Glasper on Rhodes, Derrick Hodges on Bass, Chris Dave on Drums and Sax player Casey Benjamin. This lead to the brilliant experiment called "Black Radio" and the equally hot "Black Radio: Recovered" which saw Robert Glasper and his band team up with some of the hottest artists of today.

This year The Robert Glasper Experiment is gearing up for another smooth journey into the realms of good music with "Black Radio 2". So far a few singles have been released and there's a good possibility we're looking for one of the most interesting LP:s of the year. Just check "Somebody Else" with Emeli Sandé up top, and then move on to "Calls" featuring the beautiful Jill Scott below.

[Mixtape] SUBSTANTIAL - "Jackin' Jill: A Tribute"

Mello Music Group signee and often overlooked emcee Substantial was facing the possibility of cancer. Luckily, he was able to do a preventive surgery which gave him his strength and health back, and also lead to his next project; a tribute to one of his biggest influences, the beautifully voiced soul artist Jill Scott. Hip-hop heads will recognize her unique voice from her work with artists like The Roots, Common, Pharoahe Monch and Lupe Fiasco not to mention her two breakthrough albums which was executively produced by Jazzy Jeff and his A Touch Of Jazz - "Who is Jill Scott?" and "Experience Jill Scott". 

All this influenced Substantial to the point of wanting to make a complete album, called "Jackin' Jill" to celebrate the soul goddess, even hand drawing the cover himself. The tribute LP itself is built from "jackin' " music from various Scott releases, creating a collection of reworks and remixes mixed and blended by DJ Jav. The 17 tracks are totally free and if you're really feeling it, a free promotional CD will be sent out to those who pick up the emcee's recent "Home is Where the Art is" on LP or CD. Let's get it on...