The Apple Juice kid Presents: Miles Remixed

The Apple Juice kid Presents: Miles Remixed

Is it Christmas yet? Because I already got my gift, The Apple Juice kid Presents: Miles Remixed. It’s a free download on the Illroots web site (you should definitely check it out, there’s some really enjoyable free downloads). This album came out October 20th but I really wanted to listen to it first so that I could write about it.

So Apple Juice Kid is foremost a drummer from Chapel Hill NC however he’s shining as a producer and versatility is the best way to describe him from crunk, R&B, reggae (dancehall) and he even drops some downtempo, electronic Jazz in there, he’s one of those producers we should pay attention to.

Now Miles Remixed, the title says it all and I think it’s a great way for people that don’t know Miles Davis or who aren’t too familiar with jazz to start. The album is smooth but complex at the same time. It might take you a few listens before you understand it. Sometimes melodic, sometimes disordered but always interesting. There’s some scratching in there, some live instruments some very interesting featuring: DJ Merlin, Matt Brandau (bass), Mark Wells (keys) Daniel Hart (strings) and guest vocals from Yahzarah and Raheem DeVaughn on the final track that just blew me away. It's hard to describe the album I can surely say that it's a melange of hip hop, jazz, R&B, soul and electronica.

This is an extraordinary project and Apple Juice Kid has a lot of courage to embark on such a beautiful project. This is great music and I think that there’s a little something for everybody from the young cats to the old.

Get It free: DOWNLOAD

4.5 out of 5 (one of the best music I’ve heard in 2008).

Peace & I’m out!

The Foreign Exchange / Leave It All Behind.

The Foreign Exchange / Leave It All Behind.

In 2004 The Foreign Exchange (Dutch producer Nicolay and Phonte from Little Brother) dropped the classic Connected and 4 years later the sophomore title Leave It All Behind is finally out, actually October 8th was the digital release and the physical will be available in North America on October 14th.

Now my first listen to Leave It All Behind came to me as a surprise for I was anticipating a follow up to Connected, which was, more hip hop oriented however the later is R&B friendly. If you want a follow up to connected I suggest you pick up Nicolay & Kay’s Timeline. After getting over the genre change, I really started to get into Leave It All Behind and now it's on constant rotation on my iPod, computer, I even carry a burned cd for non digital medium. The Production is layered, polished, the musical is a soulful mélange of jazz, electronica and R&B you’ll find a few rhymed verses but most of the album we get to hear Percy Miracles (Phonte pseudo name he took for this project) flow on this album with his crooner like vocals. Interesting appearances from Darien Brockington, Yazarah, Musinah, Zo! and Marc Mac of 4Hero.

Some people might not like that new direction however I think it’s a good way to expand to new horizons and regardless the album is tight. If you enjoyed that new vibe then check out Zo! & Tigallo love the 80’s another Phonte side project.

I was able to get it from my man Blak hopefully the link still works.

Leave It All Behind Behind is not as strong as Connected but still a very strong release. I give this album a 3,8 out of 5.

Peace & I’m out.

The Foreign Exchange/Daykeeper feat. Muhsinah

The Foreign Exchange/Daykeeper feat. Muhsinah

Music has the magical ability to take us to other places, through music we feel, may that be from the extreme happiness to the gloomiest melancholy and that brings me to The Foreign Exchange/Daykeeper feat. Muhsinah.

It’s a free song from the much-anticipated album called Leave It All Behind and that song will most definitely be part of my future mixes. It’s a smooth R&B track featuring a new comer called Muhsinah and damn she has a sweet voice. Phonte sings on this track as well and it’s nice to see some versatility because not only he can spit a mean 16 bars but he can smooth it out some.

DOWNLOAD and most of all enjoy.

Peace & I'm out !