I’ve been waiting [impatiently] for this album since Robert Glasper talked about it during his concert here in Tokyo last September. RG announcing that he and his crew would be releasing new Music had me (and the crowd) excited, but when he finished calling off the names of the special guests that would be performing on it, I could hardly speak. Needless to say this has been a long 5 months but the wait is finally over.

“Black Radio” is the highly anticipated release from Robert Glasper, Chris Dave, Derrick Hodge, and Casey Benjamin otherwise known as the Robert Glasper Experiment or RCDC. This group is one of the best live bands around. Jazz, Hip Hop or an experimental rock joint, no matter what they play, it’s always amazing. Oh, and about those special guests they invited to be on their latest project…lawd! Erykah Badu, Lalah Hathaway, Bilal, King, Mos Def (Yasiin Bey), Musiq Soulchild, Ledisi, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Chrisette Michelle, Stokley Williams and more.

You can buy this incredible album direct from Robert Glasper, Amazon or iTunes. For my folks here that are buying through the iTunes Japan Store, RCDC decided to bless us with an extra bonus track.

Peace!

RJ Bass

When I heard the first single off this joint in November 2011, I made a note to buy the full release the day it comes out. How I missed this when it dropped earlier this month is still a mystery to me (must have been the birthday drinks).

“The Mission” is the latest from DJ / Producer Eric Lau. His new project is available in digital format and on vinyl. Both feature Detroit’s own Guilty Simpson as well as vocalists Fatima and Olivier Daysoul. For those who order this on vinyl (limited release) you’ll be blessed with more songs, that include addtional production by Damu The Fudgemunk and beats by one of my favorite Hip Hop / Jazz drummers, Chris “Daddy” Dave…yes, that Chris Dave!

RJ Bass

I burned up a lunch hour watching this vid but it was definitely worth it. A lengthy conversation with A Tribe Called Quest DJ/Producer, Ali Shaheed Muhammad.

The soft-spoken Musician talks about the early days of ATCQ (my favorite Hip Hop group of all time) as well as the joys and pains of working at a record label. He also shares what it was like working with artists such as D’Angelo, Lucy Pearl and the late, great J. Dilla.

Young and old Musicians (and fans of Music) can learn a lot from this brotha so please check it out.

RJ Bass

“Life Sketches Vols 1&2″ is an instrumental album by U.K. beat-maker / producer Mecca:83. Released in December 2011, the full-length album (16 tracks in all) consists of cuts from Mecca:83′s debut EP “The Life Sketches” as well as brand new material.

All tracks were produced by the Manchester based artist but he enlisted the help of some other really good Musicians including my homie Buscrates 16bit Ensemble, who’s a talented producer in his own right. One of my favorite joints on the album is a track called “Detroit Twilight” which features both Mecca:83 and brotha BusCrates. (Love the name too!)

Please check out the entire album below and for those that dig it, you know what to do…buy it!

RJ Bass