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Early last year we were impressed by the sample-heavy swag of Action Bronson’s debut, Dr. Lecter (we were also pretty stoked with the Bon Appetite mixtape). The effort was enough to land the former chef on our list of favorite new hip-hoppers (we didn’t actually write that up… but we wish we had… Danny Brown and Death Grips would have been on that list, too). However, as 2011 rolled on, we were underwhelmed by the one-offs (“Cliff Notes”, “Muslim Wedding”) and collaborations (with Ghostface Killah, Apathy and half-a-dozen others). Not disappointed. But underwhelmed compared to the spark we heard on Dr. Lecter.
Actually, we were a little disappointed with a single, “Blue Chips” that we later learned was the title track from Bronson’s forthcoming mixtape. Not a good sign. But Blue Chips is here. And there was absolutely no need to worry. This mixtape killer (free download). |
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Mixtape Archive
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Blu drops ‘No York E Mo Work (Rmx Z 1.3)
Rad. LA emcee Blu dropped a set of remixes today from NoYork!, our favorite album of 2011. The mixtape, called No York E Mo Work (Rmx Z 1.3), has a more familiar tone than the Low End Theory-warped original, but we’re not complaining. Mo Work features a gritty collection of sample-rich remixes bearing little, if any, resemblance to the previously available works. Stream it below and grab it of free over at DatPiff,
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J Flash drops the stomping ‘Flashbang 002′ mix
– 03/04/2012Posted in: Downloads, Electronica, Mixtape
Meet J Flash, one of the latest in a long line of stomping beat jockeys from Colorado (Pretty Lights, James Egbert, and Paul Basic among them). While this emerging Colorado sound is a little too rounded for the Low End Theory set, and sadly co-opted by the Skrillex-worshiping bro crowd, we do like to occasionally indulge in the sugar rush ourselves. Below, we’ve got the second in J Flash’s monthly “Flashbang” series, where the producer puts together some of his favorite cuts in one 30-ish minute continuous mix.
This month’s mix hits a lot quicker than the last, and it pounds a lot harder. In fact, after the first installment, we were reluctant to check out Flashbang 002. But we’re glad we did, it’s pretty rad…
J Flash Flashbang 002 mix list
1. Bingo Players – L’Amour
2. Hardwell vs. Skrillex & Nero – Promise Cobra (Chris Moody Mashup) (J Flash Edit)
3. Skrillex feat. Members of The Doors – Breakn’ A Sweat (Zedd Remix) (J Flash Edit) w/ Chuckie – Together (Acapella)
4. Deth Hertz, No Body – Ready 2 Fly
5. Moguai – Mpire (Original Mix) w/ Whitney Houston – I’m Every Woman (Acapella)
6. Dillon Francis & Kill The Noise – Dill The Noise
7. Feed Me – One Click Headshot
8. Modek – Willow (J Flash Edit)
9. J Flash – Swag (Original Mix)
10. Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl feat Georgi Kay – In My Mind (Axwell Mix)
11. J Flash – That’ll Work (Original Mix)
12. Otto Knows – Million Voices w/ Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Acapella)
13 – Zedd – Stars Come Out (Datsik Remix) (J Flash Edit)
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Com Truise releases Check Yo Ponytail mixer
– 02/07/2012Posted in: Downloads, Electronica, Featured, Mixtape
Boston VHS-affected beatsmith Com Truise has always impressed us with his brand of 80s-pixelated synth-tech. And we’ve always wondered what he listens to when he’s not making beats. Now we know. On his Check Yo Ponytail mix, Com Truise pulls out some of the most obscure, strangest and catchiest 80s goth/synch/new-wave we’ve never heard. Yes, a lot of it sounds like great theme music for crappy 80s TV dramas. Sure, some of it sounds like the daring soundtrack of an 80s cop movie. Eighties hip-hop is even represented.Yes, we recommend you download it now…
LA Resident? Com Truise is playing the Check Yo Ponytail club night at the Echoplex on Tuesday, February 7th (which is, like, today… so get on it quick).
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Himanshu (aka Das Racist’s Heems) posts ‘Nehru Jackets’ mixtape
Although we were underwhelmed with Das Racists proper debut last year, Relax, we noted in the Fall that crew member Heems was totally kicking ass in 2011. To start off 2012, the Indian-American MC has a mixtape, Nehru Jackets, that brings together a bunch of his 2012 singles and a pile of new stuff that pretty much rips. Here’s one of the new ones…
“You Have to Ride The Wave (f. Danny Brown and Mr. Muthafuckin Exquire)” [Stereogum]
Wow. The mixtape also features verses by Action Bronson, Fat Tony, Lakutis, Childish Gambino, Despot and fellow Das Racist guy Kook AD. Mike Finito handles production duties.
Grab Nehru Jackets here.
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Download the official Austin Psych Fest 2012 mixtape
Austin Psych Fest goes down this year April 27-29 at Emo’s East and Beauty Ballroom (in Austin, TX… in case you were really wondering that). Whether you can make it or not, you should check out the official mixtape that was just released. It’s packed with hazy, droning, stomping psychedelic rock. The tape represents the lineup pretty well (see the full slate at the Austin Psych Fest website), with two notable exceptions: Allah Las and Peaking Lights. But whatever, this is still worth the two clicks it will take to get this to your computer…
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Pictureplane drop ‘Dimensional Rip 7′ mixtape
– 01/16/2012Posted in: Alternative, Downloads, Featured, Mixtape
For the most part, Pictureplane chose to steer clear of top-shelf indie techno remix specialists (like Star Slinger, Balam Acab) on their latest, Dimensional Rip 7: Thee Physical Remixes. There is one re-work by a familiar name, Grimes. And while “Real Is a Feeling (Grimes Remix)” is pretty good, we wouldn’t say it’s the standout track on this surprisingly good collection of remixes.
The mixtape starts off slow with more ambient, crawling tracks, but the album takes on a more shadowy, experimental house persona as it evolves. If you want to go straight to the candy, check out “Post Physical (True Womanhood Remix)” and “Real Is a Feeling (Lokiboi Remix)”.
Pictureplane – Dimensional Rip 7: Thee Physical Remixes by DISmagazine
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The Weeknd – Echoes of Silence – Album Review
– 01/09/2012Posted in: 2 Stars, Album Reviews, Downloads, Mixtape, R+B
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Every time The Weeknd puts out another free mixtape, indie music websites go ape shit We were one of those, once. But we’re done. Their first mixtape, House of Balloons, was pretty cool. We liked The Weeknd’s gritty, shadowy approach to R+B. On their second mixtape, Thursday, we found the guys straying very carefully into boring, predictable territory. And now, on their third mixer, Echoes of Silence (free download), it’s totally boring and predictable.
The worst part? Listening to the singer guy whine all the time. Damn it, dude. We’re certain you’re getting laid at this point in your career. What are you worried about?
Besides the wining, the whole album feels like a giant wind up… but the pitch never comes. It’s excruciating. And, once again, one of the best songs is the longest ones (“XO / The Host”), which is also excruciating. Ugh.
Oh, there is one cool part of the album. The 30 seconds of piano at the end of “Next” are rad. |
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TI leads off 2012 with ‘Fuck Da City Up’ [mixtape]
We were a little underwhelmed with Raekwon’s mixtape released earlier this week. And we didn’t even bother downloading The Weeknd’s new mixtape since we were so bored with their last one. And just when we were about to give up on 2012 mixtapes until February (I know, we’re so easily frustrated), we heard TI’s bitchin Fuck Da City Up, and hope is rekindled. With strong contributions from Young Jeezy, Too Short and Pusha T among others, this is the first bad ass mixtape of the year. Grab it here.
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Raekwon scores an ‘Unexpected Victory’ (free mixtape)
The Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon, who made our list of best 2011 hip-hop LPs with Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang, gets off to an early start this year with Unexpected Victory (free download). The free mixtape is a little grimier and stonier than what we’re used to from The Chef, but we think you’ll dig it. As with most mixtapes, it takes Unexpected Victory a bit to warm up, so you’ll want to stick around for highlights “MTV Cribs (f. Busta Rhymes)”, “Chupa Cabra (f. Capone-N-Noreaga)” and the Statik Selektah-produced “Gangsta Cazals (f. JD Era, Camoflauge and Styles P)”.
