ROBERT GLASPER Revisits MILES DAVIS For "Everything's Beautiful"

I have been meaning to pust this for quite some time but never got around to it but this is a record that I for one will not sleep on. Just like Branford Marsalis and GURU was the ambassadors for jazz and hip-hop fusion in the '90s, the incredibly talented producer Robert Glasper has taken over that role in this day and age. And just like Marsalis he is an incredibly talented jazz producer and pianist with a very deep understanding for grat hip hop. For his upcomng project "Everything's Beautiful" he was invited into the Miles Davis' (the greatest artist of all time) vast collection of original studio tapes by the good people over at the Miles Davis Foundation (which includes son Erin Davis and newphew Vilbert Vincent, Jr. who both played with Miles on stage during the last part of his career). 

The idea for the project is a noble one, rather than an album of covers of the classic Miles tunes, which are never as good as the originals either way, Glasper and co. has dug deep into the archives to find the best samples and found interesting ways to put Miles' voice into a 21th century setting. Considering that the legendary trumpeter, who was always on the move, was going full hip-hop with his last release "Doo Bop" in collaboration with Easy Mo Bee there's no question in my mind that he would be proud of a project like this which makes it a lot more tasteful than several cash-in EP:s and the likes that have been released over the years. "Everyting's Beautiful" sees Glasper play and build on tracks he has reconstructed in the production chair from both Miles' classic that anyone knows such as "All Blues" as some of the more rare material that only true afficionandos as myself are aware of. To top it off he has invited a host of amazing producers and singers to round out the project, including Erykah Badu, 9th Wonder, Phonte, Rashad "Ringo" Smith, Bilal.

Check out the mini documentary on MilesDavisVevo up top and peep the first single "Ghetto Walkin'" featuring Bilal over this paragraph. And turn that volume up while you're at it! And in case you have missed out be sure as hell to check out the trailer for the highly anticipated Don Cheadle vehicle "Miles Ahead" where he has really gone into the acing method of performance to tell a highly fictionalized account of Miles' later years. It's been getting rave reviews at film festivals and should be on one of the best of the year. Peep the trailer here 

Talib Kweli Ft. eLzhi & Phonte - "No Competition" [prod. Khrysis]

Jamla is a collective consisting of several highly interesting and talented producers, singers and emcees, and now the crew is gearing up for their compilation "Jamla is the Squad". The album drops January 28 on Jamla Records and will feature a host of ill artists and beatsmiths. Just check the lead single, produced by Khrysis, entitled "No Competition" featuring vocal apperances by no lesser greats than Talib Kweli, eLzhi and Phonte. Now how's that for a crazy posse cut?

RJD2 + Phonte - "Temperamental"

RJD2 and Phonte come together as one for "Temparemental", the latest single from the brilliant producers "More Is Than Isn't". Ill vibes right here, can't wait to see what October 8 brings with it!

Robert Glasper - "Black Radio Recovered: Remix EP"

Jazz sensation Robert Glasper dropped his highly inspired "Black Radio" project together with his Experiment band earlier this year. The last week has seen the original sessions giving room for new interpretations of some of the stand outs as Glasper been sending out about a joint a day. Featuring remixes by the pianist/composer himself, Pete Rock, ?uestlove, Georgia Anne Muldrow and 9th Wonder, the six track set is now available to experience in full... This one is a great suprise that is warmly welcomed by all of us that enjoyed the album that preceeded it; well done Glasper!

01. "Afro Blue" [9th Wonder's Blue Light Basement Remix] (Ft. Erykah Badu & Phonte)

02. "Black Radio" [Pete Rock Remix] (Ft. Yasiin Bey)

03. "The Consequences of Jealousy" [Georgia Anne Muldrow's Sassy Geemix] (Ft. Meshell Ndegeocello)

04. "Twice" [?uestlove's Twice Baked Remix] (Ft. The Roots & Solange Knowles)

05. "Letter to Hermoine" [Robert Glasper & Jewels Remix] (Ft. Black Milk)

06. "DiLLalude #2"

"BLACK RADIO RECOVERED EP" @ SOUNDCLOUD

"BLACK RADIO RECOVERED EP" @ iTUNES

Robert Glasper Experiment - "Black Radio Recovered" EP

Blue Note's new flagship artist, the pianist and composer Robert Glasper is by far one of the most interesting things to happen in the jazz world at the moment. For his fourth album, "Black Radio", Glasper has left the more traditional piano trio vintage jazz music for an eclectic fusion mix of hard bop, jazz fusion, hip-hop, soul and R&B. Now that the full-lengther is starting to sink in, Glasper invites some of his favorite producers to reinvision some of the cuts from the album for "Black Radio Recovered Remix EP". With a total of six tracks, this week will see Glasper release one cut through his Soundcloud page each day, culminating with the non-album track (although the original was featured on an earlier album from the pianist) "Dillatude #2" on Monday 8.

Check out half the EP below, and the other half will be posted on the date mentioened above. The tracks released so far include a Pete Rock remix of the Yasiin Bey/Mos Def assisted title track; a 9th Wonder version of the Erykah Badu featured "Afro Blue" (possibly my favorite joint from the original LP), which also includes a brand new verse from Phonte; and last but not least Georgia Anne Muldrow's envisioning of "The Consequece of Jealousy" with vocals by Meshell Ndegoeocelle. Be on the lookout for remixes by ?uestlove and Glasper himself featuring Black Milk. Gotta love stuff like this that basically comes out of nowhere!!

New Videos from Gangrene + Phonte

Check out these two very different, but very sick, new videos from Gangrene (Alchemsit + Oh No) and Phonte (Ft. Evidence & Big K.R.I.T.), respectively. The Gangrene vid is another set of Jason Goldwatch directed crazyness for the equally insane psych-rock influenced producing MC's. "Walk Hard" can be heard on the impressive (and free) EP, "Odditorium" which comes highly recommended! Btw, the black-and-white clip right at the end is absolutely INSANE!

 

The second vid to check out is the visuals to former Little Brother member Phonte's "The Life Of Kings" which comes with a chunck of added West Coast flavor due to guest verses by Evidence and Big K.R.I.T. (apparantly, Ev couldn't make the video shoot however). The song is lifted from Phonte's "Charity Starts At Home"; a dope project from last year that seems to have gone straight over a lot of people's heads. Oh and for those who didn't know, that album is now being released in a double vinyl set with gatefold cover and everything! Pre-order @ UGHH and you'll get it by the release date of May 25th.

New Phonte joints

The former Little Brother emcee drops off two dope singles from his upcoming solo album, "Charity Stars At Home", available on September 27. The first track is called "The Good Fight" and is produced by no other than 9th Wonder, and as proven so many times before, these two always comes up with great music when collaborating. The second joint features guest verses from Evidence and Big K.R.I.T. and is also promising for what to expect from the LP. Shouts to the The Dope Boyz for both links!

PHONTE - "THE GOOD FIGHT"
PHONTE - "LIFE OF KINGS" (Ft. Evidence & Big K.R.I.T.)