Jay-Z @ Glastonbury

In recent weeks, increasing press has been given to Glastonbury stalwarts such as Noel Gallagher from Oasis, who insisted that the Festival would fall over if it turned to Hip-Hop to headline the show. The show usually headlines with Indie and Guitar bands, but due to slow tickets sales in recent years, they decided to try a different approach.

So a lot of pressure was on Mr Carter to see what he could produce. The guy thrives in pressure, and if you watch this you'll see it took only one song before the crowd was eating out of his hands.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2008/artists/jayz/

Download: Say Woah - A-Trak

This is part of A-Trak's recent Nike Original Run work. It's a funky little track, and will certainly get you up and moving.

Download: Say Woah - A-Trak

Dr Dre completes Detox album - so says Snoop

Next to Gun's N Rose' Chinese Democracy album, the most long-awaited album in history has to be Dr Dre's long touted follow-up to Chronic 2001 'Detox.' Well, according to hiphopgalaxy.com and Mr Snoop Dogg, he may have finished.

Snoop Dogg has confirmed his pal Dr. Dre’s long-awaited new album "Detox" is complete, after helping to add the finishing touches.
And the "Gin N’ Juice" hitmaker is convinced the rap mogul’s first new release in nine years will put him back at the top of the hip-hop game.
Snoop reveals Dre is currently selecting tracks for the album, adding, "That record is real, it’s coming... I was starting to doubt it myself and then I went up in there and he played so much music for me it knocked my head off. I see what he got them waiting for. It’s on and poppin’. He got records, he got heat."

I'll believe it when I see it, but if/when it happens, that will be one special day. As long as he doesn't get too caught up making the 'heat' like Timbaland did with the patchy Shock Value, and focus on creating some great music.

Stream: Common feat. Pharrell - Announcement

I was a bit disappointed with Common's last album Finding Forever (even if it did contain that sweet duet with Lily Allen). It seemed that because his first Kanye produced album went well, they went to the same formula. Which was great, but not as original as I would have liked.

Out of necessity (Kanye has been busy with a tour or something), Common has sought out a few new producers, and it seems to be paying off. This duet with Pharrell is pretty tight, and maintains the enthusiasm I've been building up for this record.

Kanye's Nike Air Yeezy's

Here's Kanye sportin' the new Air Yeezy's from Nike (yes, you read right). They were designed by the legendary Tinker Hatfield, who invented a little shoe you may know called The Air Jordan.

I know Kanye has a Back to the future fetish, given the appearance of Delorean's in two of his video's, so it seems fitting that his kicks resemble the same ones Marty Mcfly wore in BTTF2. Thanks to Ferrari Murakami for the pics

Kanye West - Stalker Song/Lupe Fiasco - 4 Real

Couple of downloads from 2dopeboyz, unreleased Kanye and Lupe Fiasco tracks to be exact. They are always appreciated around here.

Stream: A-Trak feat Lupe Fiasco - Mastered

Nike has been issuing installments of their Original Run series for a while now. They take an established artist and ask them to put together an exercise tape for the running masses.

Kanye's in-house DJ A-Trak has crafted the latest version, and is streaming an unreleased Lupe Fiasco track that was meant to be on his Nike LP. Due to legal issues, a different artist appears on the official version, but luckily we still get to hear the Lupe version in it's entirety. Oh, and head to Itunes for the A-Trak/Nike collabo.

Stream: A-Trak feat Lupe Fiasco - Mastered

So You Think You Can Dance (USA) - Sweet 16 - Courtney G & Gev (Rumba)

Now this is Hot tamale sauce, as Mary would say. Another scintillating performance from this weeks show.

So You Think You Can Dance (USA) - Sweet 16 - Kherington & Twitch (Hip-Hop)

Another awesome performance from this weeks So you think you can dance, although Kherington does not look gangsta. The performance was great though.

Download: Ron Browz - Pop Browz (via Fader.com)

All I know about Ron Browz is that he was the producer responsible for the incendiary beat that Nas used to burn Jay-Z on Ether a few years back, and that's enough for me.

Here's a another crazy beat, this one quite a lot more joyful than the aforementioned Ether.

Download: Ron Browz - Pop Champagne

So You Think You Can Dance (USA) - Sweet 16 - Katee & Joshua do Hip-Hop (Choreo. napoleon & Tabitha D'Uno)

I've been very slow to pick on the fact that SYTYCD is in full swing in the states, but that is about to change. Here is a video of Katee & Joshua, whose Hip-Hop routine was choreographed by newcomer husband and wife team, Napolon & Tabitha D'Uno.

It almost brought Mary to tears. I think Mary's ear-piercing shrill would be enough to bring me to tears, but that's another chapter.

* And no, they weren't voted out (as I originally reported).

B.E.T. Awards 2008 Performances Usher, Ciara & Chris Brown

This is Ciara and Chris Brown at the BET Awards performing With you/Take you down.

Usher performs Love in this Club.

UGK won two awards, and rapper Bun B paid tribute to former partner Pimp C who died of an overdose late last year. It's hard to do this with my brother not being here," Bun B said while accepting the Best Group win, joined onstage with Pimp C's wife.

Kanye won best male artist and Hip-Hop Artist, and used his win to pay tribute to producer/rapper T-pain. "This man's a genius. What he does, what he writes...we're blessed to be in this man's presence."

As pleased as he appeared on the awards, inside it appeared he was stilling feeling the backlash from his panned Bonnaroo performance. A vitriolic West posted a lengthy rebuttal on his blog and went to great lengths to call out the haters and give up the real story on why his performance started at 5 in the morning.

Read it here

Beck - Orphans (feat. Chan Marshall)

Yes I blog about Hip-Hop and Dance, and according to the strict coda of Pure Funk ethics Beck does not qualify as either Hip-Hop or Dance. However, Beck's new track Orphan's is produced by DJ Dangermouse, the venerable producer behind Gnarls Barkley, Jay-Z's Grey Album & many others, so there is a link, however tenuous it maybe. Hey, it's hump day, let me run with it!

Anyway, this track and the other two off his new album Chemtrails, are streaming over at ilike, and whilst they are teeming with 60's influences, those influences are delightfully offset by thumping basslines and head-snapping snare's. Oh, and did I mention Ms Cat Power herself, Chan Marshall is on the track, adding her steamy, dreamy voice to the proceedings? Check it.

Stream: Beck - Orphans

Be: beck.com

BET Awards - Lil Wayne, Kanye, T-Pain, Mary J Blige

T-Pain is up for 5 awards, the most of any artist, but it's Lil Wayne, the platinum selling superstar who's performing tonight, so eye's will be on him. He'll be performing current hit single Lollipop, possibly alongside Mr West.

Kanye and Keisha Cole have 3 Nom's each.

Usher is also expected to perform his No.1 'Love in this Club'.

We'll keep you posted.

Shaq disses Kobe in Tasteless Freestyle Video - Accuses him of ruining his marriage

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant used to play together on the Los Angeles Lakers and together they won a couple NBA championships, forming one of the most lethal combo's in NBA history. Unfortunately, their ego's were as big as their games and someone had to go. It was Shaq, and he went on to win another championship with the Miami Heat.

This season, the beef appeared to be over, with the two hugging and exchanging pounds on various occasions. So Kobe makes it to this years finals, only to lose to a talented Celtic's team. So what does Shaq do? He goes and drops a freestyle (caught on tape no less) blaming Kobe for his 2007 divorce to his ex-wife Shaunie and asking him 'how does my a** taste'? He's a classy man. Who knows what'll become of this. I have to admit though, pretty tasteless Diesel.

Check out Shaq's rap video here thanks to TMZ - Peep This

Girl Talk - Feed the Animals (Fresh Look)

So, i've had a few days to let the album marinate in my head. I heard it twice whilst getting ready to go out Saturday night (with Miss Pure Funk poking her head in every now and then to tell me 'I love that song'). I've also listened to it on the way home from work (about as sobering as you can get).




What I can say, is that whilst the initial joy of listening to oft-heard favourites mash-up with underrated classics wet my whistle significantly, the ecstacy wore off a little when I listened back today. That said, I was listening through my ipod and not my home stereo, so perhaps I'm an idiot.



Honestly, it's a great album. The attention to detail is the biggest noticeable difference from NightRipper. There is literally something for everybody here. Do you like Jay-Z? How about Radiohead? How about both of them together? If this is you, get this album.



I was suitably impressed, and rest assured this will be soundtracking my Saturday nights for a few weeks to come.

Download: Girl Talk - Play your Part pt.1
Buy It: Illegal Art Website

* Remember, it's pay as you please, so live dangerously and name your price.

Drapht - Jimmy Recard

This post takes care of two things. 1) My lack of post about the under-rated Aussie Hip-Hop scene, and 2) I get to post this awesome song!

I've been hearing this pretty much every night whilst listening to Triple J Super Request and doing my ironman weights routine (Grrrr, manpower). It just bounces out at you, it's fun, and contains the kind of wordplay that you don't hear much in the american urban scene these days. Drapht is on the Obese label, home to the one and only Hilltop Hoods (Adelaide represent!). Check it out, hopefully it's the beginning of a beautiful relationship (with the Aussie Hip-Hop Scene, you goof).

The Stream is from planeturban.com.au

Stream: Drapht - Jimmy Recard

Gene Kelly & Cyd Charisse (R.I.P.)

This is from Singing in the Rain, one of the many big movies which dancer Cyd Charisse performed in, whilst in her prime. She actually won the role over Debbie Reynolds, who at the time, was not a trained dancer. She was also featured in the 2001 Guiness book of records for having the 'most expensive pair of legs'. You serious? Mine are worth about a buck fiddy.

Download: Alicia Keys (feat. LL Cool J) - Teenage Love Affair Remix

New Alicia Remix that I nabbed from 2DopeBoyz, with LL on the verse.

Download: Alicia Keys (feat. LL Cool J) - Teenage Love Affair Remix

Lil Wayne - Carter 3 sells one million in first week

They (who are they?), said it couldn't be done. Sell a million records in a week, in this era? You must be on crack? Nah, just Crack music, because Lil Wayne has done just that. Congrat's to Weezy, though being a martian, I'm not sure what he's going to need all the extra cash for.


Download: Lil Wayne - I feel Like Dying

Girl Talk - 'Feed the Animals' Album, Pay what you please!

Yes, here it is, the mash-up monster mix of the year, though Gillis would probably hit me for infantilising his style that way. Anyway, If you go to the Illegal Art Website now, you can download Greg Gillis's new album in all its 320kbps glory!

To fill in, Gillis aka Girl Talk, uses dozens of samples to make up complete songs. He uses everything from rap to pop to dance to reggae, sometimes all in the same song.

I have just purchased it, I will not disclose the amount but suffice to say I did pay for it. If it is anything like his last album 'NightRipper', it could be one of the albums of the year. Here's a track off the album that I flogged from the dudes at Pitchfork.

DOWNLOAD: Girl Talk - Set it off

Chris Thrash/Rockafire Explosion - Love in this Club (Usher Cover)

Well, it looks like Youtube have taken down the Rockafire Explosions homage to Usher (much in the way Prince was pissed that footage of his cover of Radioheads 'Creep' made their way across the net and were then taken down). But that's the business and we as lawful citizens have to comply.

That said, some site called Mlive has some footage of the aforementioned Usher track on this link right here: Mlive

New Clipse - Fast Life (possible single from New Album)

Did I not say one week ago that a new Clipse track melts my brain and causes me to have dizzy spells and the occasional heart murmur. Well, Pitchfork posted today what is purported to be the first single off a new album from the Thornton Boys. Ok, so it's not a NERD/Neptunes/Pharrell produced track, but it is a Scott Storch heatrock (and Storch could use the cash). Viva la Clipseo!

Download: Clipse - Fast Life (left click)

M.I.A. plays her last concert ever?

Word on the street (or is that, out in the desert), is that M.I.A. has played her last gig... for like everrrr. Say it ain't so. I saw last year when she was promoting the amazing Kala album, and her energy and music is ripe for the live enviroment. Her performances will surely be missed if this is the case. Anyway, here's one of the tasty morsels from that aforementioned album, so if you haven't got into her before, go out and buy her stuff, it's a mind explosion.

Download: M.I.A. - Hussel

Celtics win NBA title!

I know this is a blog about Hip-Hop and Dance, but I couldn't help but big-up the Celt's for their awesome NBA championship win over the Kobe and the Lakers.

The Big Three had a lot of pressure on them this year, but they delivered and then some. Congrats guys.

It also gives me an opportunity to post these pics. It's Ray-Ray and his wife, and Paul 'The Truth' Pierce and his wife. No sign of Cindy McCain, thank god.

Hercules and Love Affair - You Belong (Video)

Hercules and Love Affair's You Belong was a standout track on their impressive self-titled debut, and it featured the vocal talents of not only Nomi, but also Antony Hegarty on the chorus.
The track integrates elements of old chicago-house and places them in a contemporary setting, creating an infectious production that pulses and throbs, carrying you along with it.

Jump on it (videoclip) - Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

A bit of Back to the future today, as I find Mr Smith and Jazzy Jeff juking up nearly 20 years ago.

New Missy - Best, Best

We've been waiting for a new Missy track for more than a minute now (and no, I don't include the track off Step up 2), and here it is. It's a Danja produced song, with more of an r&b influence than we're used to from Miss Demeanour.

Stream (windows): Missy Elliott - Best, Best

Kidz in the Hall feat. Estelle - Love Hangover

Estelle, on the back of her UK hit 'American Boy' featuring Mr Kanye West, drops in for a little cameo with MetaCritic Darlings Kidz in the Hall for a summery track that slides and shines with equal ease. I love the american summer.

Download: Kidz in the Hall feat. Estelle - Love Hangover

New T-Pain - Silver and Gold

What would a weekend be without T-Pain? And what would a weekend be without T-Pain singing about alcohol. Obviously T is urging you to drink responsibly, in the only way he knows how.

Download: T-Pain - Silver and Gold

The Cool Kids - What up man

The Cool kids, for all those that don't know, are a Chicago duo who trade in throwback hip-hop. 808's and thundering basslines abound, whilst their lyrics bounce back and forth to talk about chicks and shoes. This track is off their recently released bake sale EP, which features all their other notable tracks like Mikey Rocks and Black Mags. Check it out.


Website: Coolxkids.com
Download: The Cool Kids - What up man

Arctic Monkeys - When the sun goes down (Justice Remix)

Here he is again with the dance mixes, always the dance mixes. Yeah, I like em, I like em a lot. I like em almost as much as that Mel Gibson movie, the one where he plays a fighter pilot who ages like really quickly, and we all cried and learned that aging quickly is not cool (neither are impressions).

Download: When the Sun goes down (Justice Remix)

MGMT - Electric Feel (Justice Remix)

Justice, the french boys behind D.A..N.C.E. and other floor-fillers have remixed MGMT's instant feel-good classic and made it a little more down and dirty. Now I can imagine dancing to it.

Download: MGMT - Electric Feel (Justice Remix)

Free Legal Download - Wale - The Mixtape about nothing

Wale, who's all up in everyone's grills at the mo (if he ain't in yours, it might just be you don't know it yet). He's released a full free-to-download mixtape with the ever-reliable Nick Catchdubs through Fader Mag, and you would be stupid not to get it.
Btw, I know this is an Hip-Hop/Dance blog, but I couldn't help but mention that Coldplays new album is available to stream IN IT"S ENTIRETY at their Myspace page. Go'n get!

Download: Wale - The Mixtape about nothing

My Drive Thru - Pharrell, Santogold & Julian Casablancas (The Strokes)

Yes, I have temporarily lifted my 'no rock' embargo, but only because Mr Casablancas appears alongside two auteur's of the urban music scene.
This is a track recorded for Converse (is there any other way these guys would've found their way onto a track together?), but rather than sounding like a 'where's the booth, time to get paid' kiss-off, they actually sound like they knew they could put something worth it together. Noice.

Stream: Pharrell, Santogold & Julian Casablancas - My Drive Thru

Nas - Black President

As written in these pages only days ago, Nas's new album is going to be somewhat incendiary (even though the controversial title has now been dropped). This track, as its title espouses, asks the question 'are blacks ready for one of their own to become president?'.
Against DJ Green Lanterns thumping uptempo beat (reminiscent of the kind of tracks Tupac used for his raging sermons), Nas answers the question for his people and gives his reasons. "John McCain offers apologies, we ain't havin that, we want honesty". You want honesty? I wish more hip-hop wasthis engaging and topical.

WALE - W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E. Proper Mp3 Edit!

Yes, I know I posted Wale's video for this song a few day ago, but now I have the proper Mp3, and not just the dodgy mixtape rip that's been floating around the last few months. Enjoy bliss.

Download: Wale - W.a.l.e.d.a.n.c.e.

Dizzee Rascal ft. Calvin Harris - Dance wiv me Clip

Dizzee Rascal teams up with house maestro Calvin Harris for an uptempo party jam. Rascal glides effortlessly over the smooth bass driven track, some welcome heat to fire up the aussie winter.

New Clipse - 9MM

Ever since Clipse jumped on to the scene several years ago with 'Grindin', I've treated each of their releases like the second coming. It's now got to the point where I get psyched when an unsolicited remix comes out, that's how bad I be fiendin' for the Thornton Brothers. This a remix off their last mixtape '9MM', and the bass heavy backdrop suits it better even than the Neptunes original.

Download: Clipse - 9MM

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Heartbreak make me a Dancer

She's come a long way since guesting on DJ Spillers 'Groovejet', and tends to release spacey disco floor-fillers like this every couple of years, just to remind us she's still here.

Stream: Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Heartbreak make me a Dancer

Spike Jonze 'Fully Flared' Skateboard Intro

I caught this a couple months back, and am wondering aloud why I never got round to posting it til now. Against the cinematic backdrop of M83 (the French electronica wiz), Jonze warps some oft-seen tracks and morphes them into some urban apocalypse now, in slow-mo. A joy to behold, and the ending is dynamite. Grrrr, cliche!

Kool DJ Dust - The Quest

Low-down dirty sample based funk, from another outstanding swedish product, Kool DJ Dust. It's got that late 80's, LL Cool J/Paul's Boutique era Beastie boys vibe, and floats along like it too cool for old school, which it is.

Stream: Kool DJ Dust - The Quest

Pure Funk perform at LittleHampton 31/5/08

The Pure Funk crew took their street styled choreography to the Adelaide Hills on Saturday night, and all were pleased with the result. Admittedly a work in progress, the routine was nonetheless tight, and the crew looked like they were enjoying themselves. Couldve done without the fog on the way up though.

Planet B-Boy - The Movie

Planet B-boy is a new movie that chronicles the fortunes of several B-boy groups from around the globe as they prepare for the world B-boy championships. Some next level moves, and some great cinematography.

Lil Wayne - The Carter 3 is out there.

What was this years most anticipated album? The Roots? Mmm, maybe. The Game? Mmm, Possibly. Lil Weezy? Uh, yeah definitely.

Wayne delivers more discs than domino's does pizza's, but still maintains an impressive consistency. And so, the Carter 3 has some bigtime pressure riding on it's broad shoulders.

Here's a couple of impressive tracks that suggest that Wayne is up to the challenge once more, whether gliding alongside J-Hova on a Just Blaze hit, and the other portrays Weezy in ER mode, saving sucker MC's from industry death.

Download: Lil Wayne - Mr Carter (feat. Jay-Z prod. by Just Blaze)Download: Lil Wayne - Dr Carter (prod. by Swizz Beatz)

Love in this club - Chris Thrash and the Rockafire Explosion

** Update 18/6/08 - Due to legal difficulties, all the Rockafire vids have been taken down from Youtube. It's a bit unfortunate, but I know Usher was worried that the Explosion had done a better version and had to act. **

Last year Chris Thrash and his animatronic band brought new life to Huey's 'Pop, Drop and Lock it', and now they give Ushers latest single the same treatment. If Ush has any sense, he'll recruit these guys for the stadium tour.