Ohmega Watts "The Find" (Ubiquity Records)

The much buzzed-about debut album "The Find" from Ohmega Watts is finally out and it sounds like classic material.
Ubiquity label folks describe it as:
Huge 22 track album of energetic hip-hop, funk n’ soul, & downtempo from head turning MC & Producer Ohmega Watts. A debut album that has garnered a huge buzz from his 2 previous sold-out singles, already drawing comparisons to the impact Little Brother's debut caused on the underground scene. Offering both quantity and quality The Find is 22 tracks deep and jumps from laid-back hip-hop stylings to party rockin bangers. Inspired as much by hip-hop legends like Eric B & Rakim and DJ Premier as contemporary electronic producers like RJD2 and The Herbaliser, The Find pushes industry-standard boundaries. Hailing from Flatbush, Brooklyn, brought-up by Jamaican parents Milton Campbell aka Ohmega Watts moved to Florida and now resides amidst a bustling Portland, Oregon scene along w/ the likes of Quannum’s The Lifesavas, Lightheaded, and countless others.

Track listing and samples:
1. Intro >> listen
2. Where It all Started Feat. DJ DNA >> listen
3. That Sound Featuring: Lightheaded, The Procussions, and Noelle of the Rebirth >> listen
4. You Are Now Tuned In Feat. Adam L & DJ Bombay>> listen
5. Interlude 1: 'Journey'>> listen
6. Full Swing Featuring: Neogen and Deacon >> listen
7. A Request >> listen
8. Mind Power >> listen
9. Your Love Feat. Tiffany Simpson >> listen
10. Treasure Hunt Feat. Sugar Candy >> listen
11. Groovin' on Sunshine >> listen
12. Interlude 2: 'At the Oasis' >> listen
13. The Find Feat. Stro the 89th Key >> listen
14. Saturday Night Live Feat. Surreal and Sharlok Poems >> listen
15. Interlude 3: 'The Harder They Come' >> listen
16. The Treatment Feat. Manchild, Braille, and Big Rec >> listen
17. Stay Tuned Featuring: Sojourn >> listen
18. Interlude 4: 'Ya'll There?' >> listen
19. Floor Rock >> listen
20. Move! >> listen
21. Long Ago Feat. Othello >> listen
22. Outro / Dream On >> listen

more info:
http://ubiquityrecords.com/ur174.html
http://ubiquityrecords.com/ohmega_watts.html

Rich Medina Mixtape Download

DJ/Producer/Poet Rich Medina is dropping his album Connecting the Dots on October 4th. Preview the dope sounds on this free mp3 mixtape download hosted by Bobbito - download here

Official Press Info:
RICH MEDINA, PRODUCER, DJ, POET, RELEASES LONG-ANTICIPATED DEBUT CD ON HIS OWN LABEL, KINDRED SPIRITS U.S.
CONNECTING THE DOTS is a culmination and manifestation of the many gifts of one man. Rich Medina is an accomplished Producer, DJ, Poet, and Personality on the underground music scene, worldwide. Connecting the dots between Hip Hop, Jazz, House, Spoken Word, Afro Beat and Bass Heavy Future Soul, "Big Rich" is ready to deliver one of the most comprehensive progressive soul albums of our generation. Although he’s garnered world-wide acclaim through his trademark DJ stylings, as a producer, he is soul music’s best-kept secret, remaining under the radar while developing both his compositional techniques and artist relationships. You may have heard the now-popular PPP (Platinum Pied Pipers) remix, his production on the seminal “Who Is Jill Scott?” album, his deep baritone guiding you through King Britt's "Adventures in Lo-fi", or his spoken word intros on EA Sports NBA Street Vol 3. If not, his dynamic and hard-hitting debut CD will confirm what you may have already suspected; Rich Medina’s supreme taste in music translates to his skill as a Producer! Never mind the soul-shaking tone of his voice, as heard on the opening track DELIRIUM, or the monster spoken word composition WEIGHT, Rich’s raw, organic production style connects down-to-earth soul, funk & blues to head-nodding drums, lush melodies, and unorthodox changes in form. CONNECTING THE DOTS reflects the unique style that makes Medina a mainstay for his fans, unmistakable in the mix as a DJ, song after song, night in and night out.

THE LOWDOWN:
DJ Rich Medina steps out from behind the booth to deliver the most comprehensive Progressive Soul album of our generation! Literally Connecting the Dots between Hip Hop, Jazz, House, Spoken Word, Afro Beat and Bass Heavy Future Soul, the journey is “Rich” w/ texture, nuance and good vibes. Enlisting a beautiful array of new talent including Martin Luther, Jneiro Jarel, Lady Alma, Siji, Sy Smith, John Doe, Geinelle Summer, Ivanna Santilli, Maya Azucena and others, "Big Rich" is ready to give back to the dancers around the world who have trusted his learned ear from day one. Having contributed production to Jill Scott and narrating King Britt's "Adventures in Lo-fi" record, Rich the poet, beat maker and world renowned DJ is ready to step forward. The US is ready for Rich's brand of Soul music and his legions of fans will no doubt support and champion this very important record.

www.richmedina.com
www.studiodistribution.com

Free Jneiro Jarel Download

Jneiro Jarel should be as big as Madlib, J.Dilla and all those other cats. He's versatile, soulful, jazzy, and down with some ol' fashioned boom-bap too. Check out his site for info on his album Three Piece Puzzle which looks like its finally getting a US release, as well as his mix CD Timeless Vol 1, which you can also purchase at mobileunderground.com.
He recently posted up a freebie mix as an mp3 download, entitled "Houston We Have A Solution." Apparently it was so popular that the extra traffic crashed his site. Fortunately you can still check out the mix here:
You can download cover art from JneiroJarel.com

Tracklisting is as follows:
1. Build An Ark Remixes -" Vibe of The Tribe" Jneiro Jarel Remix intro- (Plug Research)
2. Build An Ark Remixes - "You've Gotta Have Freedom" J. Rocc Remix (Plug Research)
3. Label Who? Presents: Beat Journey - "Brazilliant Thought" (Label Who)
4. Shape of Broad Minds - "AKA Mr. Mole" (Label Who/Unreleased)
5. Recloose - Dust (Rocque Wun Mix) Produced By Jneiro Jarel (PeaceFrog)
6. Rich Medina - "I Can't Hold Back No More" Feat. Sy Smith ( Kindred Spirits US)
7. Jneiro Jarel - "Big Bounce Theory Part 2" Feat. Vinia Mojica (Ropeadope/Kindred Spirits)
8. Shape of Broad Minds- "Dark Surroundings" (Label Who/Unreleased)
9. Shape of Broad Minds - " Man Whut it Do?" (Label Who/Unreleased)
10. Paul Wall - "They Don't Know" Feat. Mike Jones (Paid In Full)
11. Champion Souls - "Holdin on" Dr. Who Dat? Remix Produced By Jneiro Jarel (Sunshine/Unreleased)
12. Capital Peoples - " Capital Peoples Intro/Ghetto Dreaming" - (Label Who/ Unreleased)
13. Paul Wall - "Sittin' Sidewayz" Feat. Big Pokey of the S.U.C. (Asylum)
14. Rich Medina - "Blues Baby" Featuring Jneiro Jarel ( Kindred Spirits US)
15. Breakthrough - "Not Tommorow But" Featuring Jneiro Jarel & Dr. Who Dat? ( Jazzy Sport)16. Shape Of Broad Minds - "Abstract Forms" (Label Who/Unreleased)
17. Label Who? Presents: Beat Journey - "BBoy Portriat In Spain" (Label Who)
18. Jneiro Jarel - " Let's Get Wit It" Feat. Jawwaad, Aahtue A/K/A Alix Da Great & Nahuma Holiday (Ropeadope/Kindred Spirits)
19. Count Bass D - "Down Easy" (Ramp)
20. Shape of Broad Minds - " Boyond Tomorrow" Feat. Velben (Label Who/Unreleased)
21. Jneiro Jarel - "Kelly Drive" (Unreleased)

Free Jazzyfatnastees Album

The Jazzyfatnastees are back with a new album The World Is Coming and have decided to make it available for a limited time for free download via okayplayer.com.
On a first listen, its decent enough - the first half of the album is the usual smooth neo-soul you would expect. The second half displays more varied influences, with a few tracks being a little edgier, for example the title track, "Little Black Dress" and "Don't You Know" (which also features a verse from Jean Grae).
But make up your own mind:
http://www.okayplayer.com/jazzyfatnastees/

Dwele Returns!

The following news comes from Virgin Records. Dwele's set to return with a new album at last.
you can listen to the single "I Think I Love You" at www.dwele.net

R&B music will soon get a well-deserved boost, as Virgin recording artist Dwele puts the finishing touches on his highly anticipated sophomore album, SOME KINDA... Rarely does a new artist inspire such early critical praise and fan appreciation - both on the U.S.and international fronts - with a debut album as Dwele did with his ground-breaking Subject (2003). Entertainment Weekly wrote that the album "spreads sultry, jazz-inflected R&B over subtle but muscular hip-hop grooves." Fueled by the hit single "Find A Way," Subject sold over 250,000 copies, based mainly on the strong, word-of-mouth buzz generated from Dwele's dynamic live shows and cool demeanor. The new album, SOME KINDA...,will arrive in U.S. record shops on October 4 (the international release is October 3).
"I'm really excited to finish the new album and, more importantly, get back in front of the people," says Dwele. "It will be great to finally share new material that I've been working on for several months. I think people will really see my growth as a songwriter and musician." In addition to working on the new record, the artist has continued touring, including recent sold-out shows in London and Paris.
First single "I Think I Love U," produced by Mike City (Usher, Carl Thomas,Nappy Roots) serves as a soulful preview of SOME KINDA... The midtempo burner explores a quickly-developing relationship and picks up where the artist left off with Subject. SOME KINDA... takes his creativity to the next level, while still giving fans his unique brand of soul music - a heady mix of traditional and modern R&B, with strong influences from hip-hop and jazz.
Born and based in Detroit, Andwele 'Dwele' Gardner started playing the piano at age six. Although he tragically lost his father at 10, his passion for music at an early age lead to Dwele (pronounced DWELL- ay; means 'God has brought me' in Swahili) becoming a self-taught multi-instrumentalist.Growing up as a fan of hip-hop lead to collaborations with Slum Village (who appear on SOME KINDA...) and Bahamadia, among others.
Dwele himself produced nine tracks on the new record; other album producers include Mike City, Jay Dilla (Slum Village) and G-1 (R. Kelly, Raphael Saadiq). Today's music scene is starved for more real emotion and musicianship. Dwele delivers this, and much more, on his new album SOME KINDA... All you have to do is listen.

Cesar Comanche Podcast

Justus League member Cesar Comanche drops his album "Squirrel & The Aces" on ABB Records, September 20th.
DJ Flash has put together a mixtape of the album in podcast format for your downloading pleasure. Download it HERE
The album features production from 9th Wonder, Khrysis and Nicolay amongst others, and guest MC spots from Supastition, Eternia, Edgar Allen Floe, Big Pooh and more.
More info at:
www.abbrecords.com
www.thejustusleague.com

Greenhouse Effect "Columbus or Bust" (Raptivism)

Representing Columbus, Ohio, Greenhouse Effect is producer Blueprint and MC Manifest. They’ve been chugging away deep in the underground for many years, but with Blueprint’s recent successes, (such as his collaboration with RJD2 as Soul Position) Greenhouse Effect is now positioned to make a louder noise in the crowded scene.

Columbus or Bust is a dark, dense album filled with biting lyrics and cynical observations about the underground hip-hop scene. The source of their vehemence on such issues is not clearly illustrated beyond the usual music industry wear and tear (“I feel like Ruben Studdard in a world full of Clay Aikens” bemoans Manifest) but it certainly informs almost every track on the album. Manifest’s priorities are demonstrated on “Columbus or Bust” -- “Too many guys are preoccupied with Soundscan, I’m worried about my sound, man.” As compelled as he is to make music even while he hates the industry and the mechanism that allows him to produce it, it seems as though any level of reasonable success he might achieve would result in mental turmoil enough to make for an interesting follow-up to Columbus or Busts' introspective psychoanalysis.

While definitely a glass-half-empty type of guy, Manifest’s grumblings makes for some entertaining listening. On "E Thugs" he brutally and hilariously slays the new generation of internet ‘mcs’ and backpackers who don’t venture beyond the comfortable anonymity of cyberspace.

Blueprint is the architect of a series of aggressive and dark tracks to match Manifest’s gloomy lyricism. The result is a solid album albeit one that, fifteen tracks of vitriol and cyncism later, might have you reaching for the Rolaids and thinking that Manifest might want to emerge from his basement once in a while to talk a walk in the park. Even so, its the kind of stylized hip-hop that has the potential to elicit a cult-like following, ironically from those very backpackers and internet MCs they rail against so much.