Recent posts: Breaking Bits

With the last few hours of 2015 ticking by and Christmas in the rear view, I’ve begun to lock in my picks for the best projects of the year. One album making #CarlitasCut without hesitation is Judith Hill’s ‘Back In Time’. No stranger to the music business, Judith’s groove-filled debut, aided by Paisley Park’s king of the funk castle, Prince, reflects an undeniable pro with instinctive talent beyond her years. The artist who sang backup for Stevie Wonder and served as duet partner in Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’? The person who won a Grammy earlier this year being featured in the ‘Best Music Film’ – ‘20 Feet from Stardom’? The person who hit the small tube, coached by Adam Levine on the fourth season of ‘The Voice’? Yup, that’s all her and she’s just getting started.

As we wrap up 2015, it’s time to give props to those in music who posted big W’s this year when it counted. The producer/Harvard Fellow/label head that immediately comes to mind is 9th Wonder. Never sitting idle, somehow finding the time to do it all, he recently released ‘Indie 500’ with Talib Kweli, bringing trusted in house Soul Council producers, Pharoahe Monch, Problem, Slug, JAMLA-repping Rapsody (who featured on ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ which will probably grab Grammy gold) and an assortment of other young, fresh talent to the attention of their well-respected and established fanbases.

As I begin crafting my “Best of 2015” music lists, I think of all music that made me stop and take notice. What caught my ears’ attention and never let go? One such stand-out album este año was Mexican artist Natalia Lafourcade’s ‘Hasta La Raiz’. When I heard the title track, I knew the record was special. The Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences agreed, showering Natalia at the end of November with four Latin Grammys including ‘Record Of The Year’ and ‘Song Of The Year’. She’s also received mainstream Grammy recognition with a nomination for a “Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album” Grammy this week!

A Tribe Called Quest needs no introduction. Anyone listening to rap during the cherished 90’s era STILL knows all the choruses and verses by heart. Jumping on each other’s tracks within the Native Tongues collective blew our minds. When “Sometimes Y” member Chef Jarobi White ventured to the West Coast for his Eats, Rhymes and Life events with his culinary company during Labor Day Weekend(where fellow ATCQ member Ali Shaheed Muhammad provided music poolside), I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ask the in-depth questions Tribe heads have always wanted to ask.

For any fan of Michael Jackson who witnessed Judith Hill perform in front of billions of people worldwide at his memorial, Judith Hill made the world sit up and take notice. Garnering a new audience on NBC’s “The Voice”, Judith Hill next joined forces with another music legend, co-producer Prince to release her debut album ‘Back In Time’ recently. Those in the #PurpleArmy who follow Prince on Twitter were offered an opportunity to download the album early when Prince gave it away a few months ago. I was one of those lucky ones who copped the blues and funk-filled album then but bought another copy because it’s THAT good.

Blessed to live in a city that provides great live music choices all the time, it takes something special to move a crowd and pack a venue to sweaty capacity hours in advance. Red Bull Sound Select’s latest monthly showcase which featured Jurassic 5’s Cut Chemist (who just recently wrapped a European tour) and Basecamp provided such an opportunity. Held in the legendary Del Monte Speakeasy steps away from Venice Beach, LA repped full force.

Almost everyone would agree it’s never a bad thing when artists you admire, connect, their worlds intertwine and dope collabos happen. Each brings out the best in each other and it’s a win-win for all involved. Any knowledgeable West Coast hip-hop fan knows about The Low End Theory events and artist/producer Free The Robots’ left-of-center electro psychedelic jazz hop contributions within this scene. When I heard about his recent project with Souls of Mischief’s Opio ‘Sempervirens’ and viewed their set at this year’s Hiero Day, I knew it’d be a must-listen.

For anyone who’s followed California duo Moonshine Bandits’ careers, several things come to mind. Living comfortably in the country/hip-hop intersection, these dudes rep for the backwoods boys who work hard, play hard and enjoy their liquor even harder. Road warriors for years, they’ve built a large Shiner nation fanbase that continue inspiring music for the pair. Touring to support their latest effort ‘Blacked Out’ which debuted high on iTunes and Billboard charts, they joined forces with renowned producer Ira Dean and brought collaborators like Demun Jones, Colt Ford, Sarah Ross, Bubba Sparxx in tow this time around.