Chuuwee – “Make Them Bleed”
I used to find the number of vowels in Chuuwee’s name to be a little off-putting (whatever, I can say these things because I’m otherwise intelligent). As dumb as that reason may be, I never fully gave him the chance he deserved. Then I heard he made a Dilla tribute mixtape (Ch3z!!?…Chill!!!), and I felt like I had to check him out for that. I’ve clearly been missing out. On “Make Them Bleed,” Chuuwee goes in with a laid back flow over some glossy Dilla-fied beats. The experience turns into a mid-’90s party for me, and it feels a little like some Bush Babees stuff. The remarkable thing about a guy like Chuuwee is that he can enter as part of the new guard, but make the older heads feel like he represents a period in Hip Hop that they can relate to. That’s a tough sell for most, but with the age bracket in Rap being all over the place, it’s nice to have a conduit. – Kathy Iandoli (@kath3000)
Listen to “Make Them Bleed” by Chuuwee
DJ Shadow featuring Terry Reid – “Listen”
For me this is a dream collaboration since it features two artists whose albums I’ve been forcing on pretty much every music fan I’ve met during the last 15 years. Terry Reid is saddled with the unfortunate backstory of being Jimmy Page’s first choice to sing in Led Zeppelin. Not only did Reid miss out on the gig because he was out on tour as a solo artist but he suggested Robert Plant to Page. If you listen to Reid’s albums River and Seed Of Memory (whose tracks just about made Rob Zombie’s Devil’s Rejects) the sacriliegious thought may creep into your mind that maybe he would’ve been as good – if not better – for Zep. But even though we didn’t get to Reid on “Communication Breakdown” we now get to hear him on one of the bonus tracks on DJ Shadow’s upcoming Best-Of collection. In my opinion Shadow’s 1996 debut Endtroducing is one of the 20 greatest albums ever made so it’s a thrill on “Listen” to hear drums that are reminiscent of tracks like “Changeling.” Private Press in 2002 isn’t far behind in terms of qauality and with Reid’s voice – that has now taken on a rougher, smokier tone – we also get a track in “Listen” that is a perfect companion to Press’ haunting closer “Blood On The Motorway.” My fingers are crossed for a full Shadow / Terry Reid album. Houses Of The Holy be damned… – Michael Sheehan
Listen to “Listen” by DJ Shadow
Rah Digga & Quelle Chris – “Janis Joplin”
Rah Digga was one of my favorite emcees of a really integral part of my love affair with Hip Hop. From 1999-2001, Digga stamped out every track she touched, and I considered her one of the best. I liked 2010’s Classic, but it admittedly wasn’t my favorite of a busy release time. Hearing Digga team with unlikely (to me, anyway) collaborator Quelle Chris on “Janis Joplin” really brought me back. It’s not a high-concept track. Rather, it’s just some “bust yo’ shit” rapping on an incredible Rock chop from one of the dual-threats that my friend Ali Burgess (@Ahwlee) has been praising for a couple of years. This is the Rah Digga that sends me to the record store early on Tuesday mornings. It might not have much to do with my girl from Big Brother & The Holding Company besides a title, but it still works for what it is. In a week that truly didn’t blow me away musically, this was the song that I couldn’t stop coming back to, and couldn’t quit smiling about. – Jake Paine (@Citizen__Paine)
Kuniva of D12 – Fast Lane .. dope as hell!
I’m making $86 an hour working from home. I was shocked when my neighbour told me she was averaging $95 but I see how it works now. I feel so much freedom now that I’m my own boss. This is what I do, =B=l=u=e=3=1=.=c=o=m=