Sunday, July 18, 2010 at 11:35AM 
This track is ‘A Prayer For Haiti’ and is taken from Albright’s new album, Pushing The Envelope. Featuring the jazz legend George Duke, it is by far and away the most touching and fitting tribute I’ve heard for the tragedy that took place in January this year.
George Duke, Gerald Albright, Jazz, Tribute in Aside Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 10:26PM 
New track taken from Smooth Current’s latest album, Scenes From Life. Starring as ShinSight Trio; this is the only non-instrumental track on the album. He fuses hip-hop grooves with an essence of jazz better than anyone else I know. Beautiful music.
P.S. Shallow Nights Blurry Moon by ShinSight Trio is one of the most under-rated Hip-Hop records of all time.
Hip-Hop, Jazz, Smooth Current in Aside Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 8:29PM 
Right, so after all of the issues with the ‘fake leak’, we now have all of the legitimate information regarding the new Aloe Blacc album, Good Things. Above is the official cover and after the jump is the official tracklist and a few words from the man himself. Below is a rough version of my favourite track from the album, Mama Hold My Hand. Hopefully they haven’t changed the final cut much, because this is still one of my favourite songs of 2010.
“My purpose for music is positive social change,” says Orange County, California native Aloe Blacc. “Even if the music itself does not explicitly express anything that may signify positive social change, the product of the music will.” He is speaking in general terms regarding his career, but more specifically about the circumstances surrounding his upcoming album, Good Things, co-written by the versatile vocalist and songwriter in conjunction with the in-house production team at Truth & Soul Records.
Good Things marks a shift in methodology from personal to political for Aloe, who refers to the project as his report on present conditions—joblessness, homeless, the misappropriation of wealth, pillaging of resources, and a universal lack of compassion from the capitalism at-large under which we all function, but some struggle to survive. Song titles such as “You Make Me Smile” and “Miss Fortune,” coupled with airy, ethereal production from Truth & Soul’s Leon Michels and Jeff Silverman mask a foreboding undercurrent in which Aloe crafts lyrics both thoughtful and thought-provoking. Nowhere is this more evident than on lead single, “I Need a Dollar”—commissioned by HBO as the theme music for the series How to Make It in America—because ultimately, that is how to make it in America.
The first-generation American offspring of Panamanian parents, Aloe has become what writer and activist Amiri Baraka (nee Leroi Jones) once said of John Coltrane. He is a singular “scope of feeling…a more fixed traveler” who has found cohesion in art and life. The path from his 2006 debut, the multi-genre Shine Through, to Good Things is akin to the maturation of Marvin Gaye between That’s the Way Love Is and the What’s Going On masterwork that followed. Aloe has never purported to be any heir to Gaye, but musically, Good Things and What’s Going On are companion pieces as both albums establish a character for the artists that sets them apart from the sea of performers making very vivid and discernible—yet normative and conformist—statements about who they are and what they do. Good Things is a definitive declaration that places Aloe directly in the framework of modern soul.
At the heart of this musical character is a recession-age Robin Hood, whose goal is to sell and profit from his wares with hope of freeing the less fortunate from the capitalist system that serves as both their oppressor and his motivation. A 2001 graduate of the University of Southern California, Aloe credits a myriad of influences—transcendentalist scholars Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, French existentialism, Oprah Winfrey, Tavis Smiley, Cornel West—with leading him from the inner streams of consciousness he possessed as an MC early in his career, to a more disciplined approach to songwriting, and now, the desire to affect change and induce compassion by way of his own success. It is his grand scheme, which, not coincidentally, is also the name of his backing band (The Grand Scheme). The key is compromise and understanding the power of popular art. Aloe is willing to put the gloves on and engage in the marketplace. Good things lie ahead.
– Ronnie Reese
Album artwork by Aloe Blacc
Track List:
01. I Need A Dollar
02. Green Lights
03. Hey Brother
04. Miss Fortune
05. Life So Hard
06. Take Me Back
07. Femme Fatale
08. Loving You Is Killing Me
09. Good Things
10. You Make Me Smile
11. If I
12. Mama Hold My Hand
13. Politician (Reprise)
Aloe Blacc, Good Things, Soul, Stones Throw in Aside Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 3:53PM 
Rockers Mix is getting a lot of love on Radio 1Xtra at the moment. I’m more a fan of the Rollers Mix though to be honest. Maybe it’s because I’m soulful bastard?
Bright Lights, D&B, DJ Die in Aside Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 2:32PM A64, Jamie Lidell, SBTV, Soul, Video Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 12:08PM 
Stephen Manderson, also known as Professor Green, is an artist who has grown and evolved more than most throughout the past 2 years. Along with fellow ex-Beats members Plan B and Example, he has changed his musical direction quite drastically and is now getting the opportunity to make and release the music that he loves. I have followed his work closely since he released The Green EP in 2006, but I think it’s safe to say that the quality of music he has produced on this album is incomparable to what he was making back then. The album may not be to some people’s taste; however, I think it has something for everyone and it is definitely an important moment for UK Hip-Hop.
“People are sick of being spoon-fed the same old shit music”
People who have only heard the two singles and go into the album expecting 10 tracks with the exact the same structure will be sadly disappointed - in fact, they are probably my two least favourite tracks on the album. I had no idea what the album was going to be like, but I am pleased to announce that it is everything I could have expected, and more. The criticism he has received from certain UK Hip-Hop & Grime ‘fans’ for wanting to progress in his career and make music that can reach out to a wider audience is something that frustrates me about the UK music scene. Success does not mean you have sold out. Pro has stayed true to his roots throughout this album and the subject matter on tracks such as ‘City Of Gold’ and ‘Goodnight’ are very reminiscent of the ‘early days’ when I first fell in love with this guys music.
Having not listened to the snippets, the production on the album is not what I was expecting at all. However; I was happy to hear that it compliments Pro’s vocal tone, which inevitably makes for a cohesive and enjoyable listen from start to finish. Some of the features also surprised me when I saw the tracklist, but there isn’t one person that doesn’t fit in with the whole concept and feel of the album. We even get to see the other side of Pro on the romantic ‘Where Do We Go’ which features the brilliant Shereen Shabanaa - although the topic is completely different, it reminds me of ‘Millionaires’ from Example’s ‘Won’t Go Quietly’. 4 years ago I would have never expected either of them to be making love songs, but it works and they are two of my favourite songs on both albums. For someone who has followed The Beats from the start; it is quite amazing to be able to see the success these boys are now achieving just 2 years after the label went bust.
I’d say that the main thing with this album is that you need to listen to it with an open mind and not make any presumptions of what it’s going to be like after hearing the two singles. I have listened to it about 5 times in the past 2 days and will definitely purchasing when it comes out. I don’t believe in supporting UK music, but I do believe in supporting good music. Below are all the necessary links you will need and my favourite track from the album, Jungle, which features Maverick Sabre. He deserves all the success this album brings.
Alive Till I'm Dead, Hip-Hop, Professor Green, Review in Aside Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 10:08AM Gorillaz, Live, Plastic Beach, Tour, Video Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 12:10AM 
This is an unofficial youANDme remix of Radioslave’s ‘K-Maze’ with the beautiful vocals of Marvin Gaye from the classic, ‘Got To Give It Up’.
WOAH!
Marvin Gaye, Radioslave, Remix, youANDme in Aside Friday, July 16, 2010 at 10:11PM 
Here is the first full track to come from John Legend & The Roots’ spectacular project, Wake Up!. Wake Up Everybody features the beautiful Melanie Fiona and one of the greatest rappers of all time, Common. Genuinely one of the best things I’ve heard in ages. Beautiful music and a brilliant message.
So excited for this album.
Common, Hip-Hop, John Legend, Melanie Fiona, The Roots, Wake Up Everyboy in Aside Friday, July 16, 2010 at 9:52PM 
14 minute songs can usually be very boring. Not this one though. Beautiful tech-house track from Johnny D that gets better and more enchanting as time goes by.
Johnny D, Tech-House in Aside 