Angel Haze vs Jamie xx + Gil Scott-Heron - "New York" [The 83rd Mashup] | New Music
The Brooklyn-based producer behind Angel Haze's buzz track "New York," The 83rd flips it in the air and tunes Haze into the dark side, with some of Londoner Jamie xx's Gil Scott-Heron remix handiwork thrown in for good measure on this vibesome mashup. Read more
Snapshots: Drake & Rihanna on set of "Take Care" video shoot
Take a peek at Drake and Rihanna's escapades behind the scenes whilst shooting the official video for their Jamie xx-produced duet "Take Care," from the Canadian rapper's top selling album of the same name. Read more
LL Cool J to host 54th Grammy Awards; "It's a dream come true" | News
The annual Grammy Awards are coming around once again and this year they have appointed a new host; "Mama Said Knock You Out" rapper/actor (with a recurring role in NCIS: Los Angeles) LL Cool J, a two-time Grammy winner himself. Recent previous hosts of the awards ceremony have included Queen Latifah , Ellen DeGeneres and Jon Stewart.Read more
Gil Scott-Heron memoirs 'The Last Holiday' to be released January 2012 | News
Legendary poet, musician and spoken word artist Gil Scott-Heron is to have his memoirs published on January 16, 2012. The late great artist's memoirs will be titled "The Last Holiday" and is set for release through publishers Canongate. The release date falls on the same day as Martin Luther King day, which is fitting because the memoir does document the singer's civil rights activism and a tour he embarked on with Stevie Wonder in 1980-81 to establish the national holiday. Canongate will also release an audio extract of the book where Heron will be heard reading about the murder of Beatles icon, John Lennon.
Listen to Heron reading the Lennon chapter below.Read more
Jamie xx on his musical beginnings, Gil Scott-Heron + new The xx album [Video]
In this very rare video interview, the prolific and diverse remixer and producer Jamie xx (one third of Mercury Prize winning band The xx) talks to The Creators Project about his musical beginnings, moving to Brixton because it reminded him of his first experiences of partying to drum and bass, South London, working with the likes of Adele, Florence + The Machine and the late great Gil Scott-Heron, the status of the new The xx album and more. Watch the full interview below.
Drake ft Rihanna – "Take Care" (DJ Klutch x Mike Cash Remix) | New Music
There nothing like randomly coming across a SICK remix... That's exactly how I came to discover this dope house remix of Drake's Rih Rih assisted, Gil Scot-Heron sampled album cut "Take Care," off his recently released LP. The remix, which I have been shockin' out to (that's dancing for you non Londoners) all morning, was produced by New York based beatsmiths DJ Klutch and Mike Cash and was unleashed to the Internets fours days ago, which basically means in internet time, I'm hella late... mehh better late than never. Click Play. Enjoy. Thank Me Later...
Listen... Drake – "Take Care" (DJ Klutch x Mike Cash Remix)
Take Care (Dj Klutch & Mike Cash Remix) by DjKlutch
[Props CloudKickers]
Drake x Babylon Cartel Take Care: The Samples [Mixtape] | Free Download
With Drake's Take Care long player currently doing the rounds on the international album charts, the good folks over at Babylon Cartel and multi talented freelance mix engineer Mike Blud came up with the great idea to put together a collection of the original compositions that birthed many of the songs on the LP. Entitled Take Care: The Samples, this ultra smooth mixtape features original samples used by producers 40, T-Minus, Chase N Cashe and Jamie XX. See below for full tracklist... Enjoy!
Download... Drake x Babylon Cartel Take Care: The Samples
Bonus... Due to one of the original sample not being cleared for "Lord Knows" (feat. Rick Ross), production extraordinaire Just Blaze had to re-create the track using a live choir. Below is brief footage of Just working with the choir on the track. Thank Me Later...
The xx begin work on sophomore album | Music News
The xx were 2010's breakthrough act, winning a prestigious Mercury Music Prize for their self-titled debut album and making a massive impact on the sound of popular music. Yesterday, the three-piece from London announced via Facebook that they had begun work on their anticipated sophomore album, and celebrated this with the launch of a new blog, on which they promised to post their "inspirations + pictures + favourite songs". Genuinely refreshing to see one of the UK's biggest bands using Tumblr just like a teenage girl would.
Whilst the band have been gone, Jamie xx has been busy, releasing a well-received remix album with Gil-Scott Heron and even popping up as the producer of the title track of Drake's new album Take Care, which features Rihanna.
Source: Pitchfork
José James x Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble perform Gil Scott-Heron Tribute [Video]
It's not been all that long since the iconic Gil Scott Heron passed away, yet it's good to see people keeping the memory of him alive, particularly when those people are Jose James and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson.
Check out the video of their performance of "Winter in America" below - and also, if you're a Londoner finding yourself twiddling your thumbs later tonight, you could do a lot worse than go see the insanely talented Jose James at Jazz Re:freshed. Entry is only £6 but it's a small spot so get there early - click here for details. Whoops, I think that's supposed to be a secret.
[via PutMeOnIt]
Stalley – "Summer In America" ft Rashad (Inspired by Gil Scott-Heron) | New Music
Some brand new music from Stalley who is fast becoming one of my favourite rappers.
Released earlier via his twitter is "Summer In America" featuring and produced by Rashad who produced Stalley's recent street album Lincoln Way Lights (Intelligent Trunk Music). the new track was inspired by the late great Gil Scott-Heron's recent passing and Stalley took to his twitter to explain this in detail.
"Summer In America was inspired by the passing of Gil Scott Heron and his song Winter In America. He inspired me." Says the Ohio representative, "This is a song for me to show how great Gil Scott Heron was not only as an artist but as a man, and in no way to disrespect him. Do Not get the message in my song Summer In America confused with his message in Winter In America."
Listen to: Stalley – "Summer In America" ft Rashad | Download
Jamie xx - "Far Nearer" x "Beat For" | New Music
Following his collaboration with the late great Gil Scott-Heron on We're New Here, Jamie xx continues his solo career with the release of his debut single "Far Nearer".
We heard a snippet of the incredible genre breaking producer's single back in September during a radio appearance and then a lower quality version emerged in February, but now the full version is available to purchase today via the Glasgow, Scotland-based Numbers label.
Listen to the single and it's equally impressive B-Side "Beat For" below.
"Far Nearer"
"Beat For"
Buy Jamie xx's "Far Nearer" Here.
Pharrell Williams reflects on Gil Scott-Heron (Video)
The good folk over at The Source caught up with one half of The Neptunes/N*E*R*D frontman Pharrell Williams at the Coors Light showcase at the Highline Ballroom and spoke to the superproducer about recently deceased legend Gil Scott-Heron who passed away a few days ago on May 27th.
Pharrell reflects on listening to Gil Scott-Heron's "Whitey On The Moon" and the impact that the acclaimed author/poet/musician made through his music and lifestyle. Watch the clip below.
Read our Gil Scott-Heron tribute piece Gil Scott-Heron: A True Revolutionary (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011) by Chris Williams HERE.
Lupe Fiasco pens tribute to Gil Scott-Heron
The recent death of the legend that was Gil Scott-Heron touched the hearts and minds of many, especially in the world of Hip Hop where his influence can be heard and felt through many of the genre's most prolific wordsmiths. One such lyricist, Lupe Fiasco took to his website to post this inspirational tribute to the poet/musician/author. Read the tribute below.
Read more
Gil Scott-Heron: A True Revolutionary (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011)
The iconic Gil Scott-Heron passed away on the afternoon of May 27 in New York City around 4pm EST at St. Luke’s Hospital.
The loss of Scott-Heron sent a shockwave throughout the worlds of Hip Hop and Soul music. Numerous amounts of current and past artists in both genres expressed their sentiments via Twitter and other outlets. His profound impact on Black culture throughout the 1970s and 1980s was immeasurable. To call him simply an artist does a great disservice to his contributions. He was much more than an artist. He was a prolific songwriter, author and poet that had a pulse on the circumstances he was surrounded by and with his words he moved a generation of disenfranchised people to become something bigger than the environment they were subjected to.
A prophet may be a more accurate description of Scott-Heron because his lyrics from 40 years ago are still eerily relevant today.
Read more
Gil Scott-Heron remembered by XL Recordings boss Richard Russell
"The last conversation I had with Gil Scott-Heron was on March 19 2011. He rang me on a Saturday, the day after my birthday, I answered his call whilst browsing in Foyles bookshop in London. We spoke for an hour," recalls London-based independent label XL Recordings head honcho Richard Russell following the news of the poet and musician's unexpected death on Friday, May 27, having worked closely with him in producing and releasing his last album, I'm New Here (2010).
Read more
Gil Scott-Heron dies in New York, aged 62 | News
Acclaimed poet, singer, musician and author with a widely acknowledged influence on Hip Hop, Gil Scott-Heron has died aged 62 in New York.
Whilst the cause of death is not yet known, according to reports Scott-Heron became sick on returning to New York following his recent trip to Europe.
"A friend, Doris C. Nolan, who answered the telephone listed for his Manhattan recording company, said he died in the afternoon at St. Luke's Hospital," reports Billboard.
Well known for "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," which featured on his sociopolitical debut album in 1970 titled Small Talk at 125th and Lenox, Gil Scott-Heron's most recent studio album was I'm New Here, released through independent label XL Recordings in February 2010.
Gil Scott-Heron - "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised":
More details as they come.