Very little information around as to exactly how this was put together, but one thing’s for sure, is that the end result quite simply demands your attention. LA based emcee, Dumbfoundead – aka Johnathan Park – fronts an 8 person multinational collective, who with some magic from LA’s interactive media agency, Cain Mosni, have created a unique online jam session that pays homage to Galt MacDermot’s 1966 ‘Coffee Cold’ and Handsome Boy Modeling School’s MacDermot sampling 1999 track, ‘The Truth’. Just another example of how today’s technology, when used in the right hands, can create original and truly inspiring art.
We’ve often wondered why there has been so little reference in contemporary music to the classic era of African funk, led with such gusto by the godfather of afrobeat Fela Kuti. Whilst it has taken The Verve some 15 years to release 4 albums, Kuti released some 20+ albums in his ‘71-’76 golden period, with no detriment to quality.
Following the revival of the afrobeat sound in indie, through bands like Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer and Foals, Chicago based producer DJ Mike Love has dusted off the black American blueprint for funk and given us the greatest mash-up since The Grey Album, in the form of ‘Nigerian Gangster’, a similar track for track fusion of a whole Jay-Z album, this time replacing the Beatles experimentation with Fela Kuti’s drive, passion and outrageous funk.
We need say no more, you simply need to head over here and download the album in full. Wigging out is non-negotiable.
For those with their finger firmly on the hip-hop pulse, Kid Cudi is one of the names being thrown around and his new mixtape (presented by creative collective / streetwear label 10 Deep) is set to make shockwaves big enough to send this ‘kid’ (sorry) mainstream. Rocking a similarly off-beat indie hip-hop vibe to fellow underground artists like the Cool Kids and Wale (who features here), Kid Cudi fuses alternative rock and hip-hop with a rhyming style not too disimilar to Kanye, who was in attendance for the mixtape launch and is a big fan.
The raw energy of this mixtape makes it as powerful as 99% of recently released hip-hop on the shelves of your local record store and is quite simply downright better than most of it too, oh yeah, and did we say it’s free? Available as a download from 10 Deep or, for those of you who can’t let go of physical formats, free with a very limited edition tee from the 10 Deep store.
Want to keep tabs on Kid Cudi? Check out the official blog over here. Wanna preview some sounds? Check out the exclusive track below, head over to his MySpace page, or dive right in and download the mixtape.
Much has been said about this album, released on Monday, not least by some of the bands own disgruntled members, in particular Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, who have been some of it’s most scathing critics
The latest addition to Tom Dixon's iconic mirror balls collection is this astonishingly beautiful 'Mirror Balls on Stand' floor lamp....
Gaggle: ‘I Hear Flies’
A 20-strong female choir decked out in futuristic technicolour capes who sing and scream about drinking and smoking over a post-dubstep clatter... Gaggle are the London based rebel yell we've all been waiting for. Previously mentioned in our midweek newsletter, their debut, 'I Hear Flies', is released today and yes, it's rather brilliant....
'The Lambeth Palace' is London's "newest, darkest and dirtiest purpose built cinema".... the temporary space set up by street art legend Banksy is showing his new film until March 4th, there's only a very few tickets left, so if you're in town between now and then, we suggest booking them right now....
Superfolk
Independent Dublin based design studio, Superfolk, are launching a new range of products at this week's Stockholm Furniture Fair, that will pay tribute to Irish heritage... whilst remaining desirably modern.
ISO50 'Adrift' Print
Loving this high quality print from the ever-impressive Scott Hansen... highly limited to 200 pieces so move quick.
Lost and Sound
Previously only available in German, Berlin’s Innervisions have released a limited English run of Tobias Rapp’s book, ‘Lost and Sound: Berlin, Techno and the Easyjetset’. Investigating the city's love affair with electronic music and the world's descent upon the German capital in search of the ultimate party....
Ether 10
Ether, the Southbank Centre's annual culture-fest of music, art, technology and experimentation is back from 16th - 24th April with the likes of Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio, Broadcast and Gil Scott-Heron... the highlight for us has to be the 23rd where mindfuck genius Chris Cunningham performs a live multimedia extravaganza... expect to be disturbed....
An Exhibitional Orgy of Love Hearts @ Darkroom
Running from 5th - 13th February at the rather brilliant Darkroom, 'An Exhibitional Orgy of Love Hearts' is a celebration of Saint Valentine's in which a host of creative types have been commissioned to create a piece of work based upon the heart.... All pieces will be for sale for £125, with a portion of the profits going to the Haiti Fund
Bicycle 125 Playing Cards
The latest product from magic industry pioneers, theory11, is this rather tasty set of playing cards that commemorate 125 years of design and development by the US Playing Card Company....