My fellow readers know that I love golden era hip hop from the juicy times of the early nineties. Phat rolling beats, warm analog feel, organic, soulful samples. Laid back music to cruise the city, chill at the barbecue and open your windows on a summer day. English dj and producer Krafty Kuts now put together a selection of his favorites that influenced him and you can feel the passion and his excitement for this important time for rap, hip hop and music in general. Exquisitely mixed, you want to turn up your speakers and put them next to the open window, so the whole block can nod their heads.

The sound is timeless, organic, layered, never too much, just the right amount of voices and instruments. You want to sit in a car and roll around in your city. Cage Lu and Artcha rap over a new laid back and piano fused Kensaye tune you want to listen to again and again. And hope for the summer to come to turn it up at your barbecue party.

Such a cool and reduced video, everything seems to run fast but Fashawn seems to rap at a normal speed. Simple setting, black and white. Slowed down old school beat and precise voice. Reminds me of Rasko and his Cali Agents which he had with Planet Asia. Five head nods for this.

And if you now wonder how they did this, here is the explanation by a friend who is a filmmaker: “Play the sound at 60% speed, let the guy rap to it and the other guys do their thing. Play it at 140% and it looks like he is rapping at normal speed and all the rest is super fast.” Thanks to Martina from Stift und Papier for this!

And to Megaloh for the hint to the video.

Cooles Lowbudgetvideo! Starker Künstler! http://t.co/ANgZgmIeCA http://t.co/tt1f69jJGi

— Megaloh (@TheRealMegaloh) December 10, 2013

Ich hoffe, dieser Junge wird richtig groß. Richtig guter Rap, richtig gute Musik, vielfältig, poppig, soulig, super produziert und ein guter Sänger ist er auch. Seine Texte sind nachdenklich, reflektiert, lyrisch, und hab ich gesagt, dass er richtig gut rappen kann? Dieser Mann nimmt mich mit auf seine Gedankenreisen und Geschichten übers Erwachsen werden, Identität, Waffenexporte und Zukunftspläne. Ein fantastisches Debut, u.a. mit Marteria, Samy Deluxe, Motrip und Tua.

Wenn es noch ein Argument für die doppelte Staatsbürgerschaft brauchen sollte, dieser Song ist voll davon. “Ich mag Rap, auch wenn es gar keinem gefällt, ich bin ein Farbfleck, in dieser schwarz-weißen Welt.”

Und hier die ganze EP

Chefket auf Facebook

You know this guy. He is great. Here’s his new mixtape. I agree with Pascal: “Download of the week”.

It’s a revival of the classic golden era sounding rappers. You know the Underachievers, here comes Dillon Cooper. He is 19, from Brooklyn, music student, pianist, rapper. Good flow. Smart.

His latest single gains some interest, even in Germany. Take a double bass, take some warm drums, a hypnotic rap, a good production, here is State of Elevation. It’s a hit.

Before he did justice to Mobb Deep on “Survival of the fittest” from january.

Tim Larew of The Fresh Heir interviewed him and Soulculture.co.uk tells the story. Here is the second part of the interview.

The song which kick started him is “Shadows”.

He’s not really a lyricist but he has a great flow and his videos definitely help with his popularity. In which he also appears as a director. So he is talented in many ways and he’s young and he seems, as said, smart. I think he’s a guy to watch (but he should definitely get a website).

Photocred: Soulculture

I get a lot of music submissions for this blog and often I know from the way the mail is written that I am not going to be interested. This case was different. The mail was personal and concise and by the producer himself. His name is Kensaye and he writes: “My name is Kensaye, I am a French producer based in London, UK. I focus on soul/hip-hop/electro/chill music and I release material from time to time. I’m unsigned and independent.”

I had no idea what to expect but this super relaxed, soulful and diverse remixes really caught my ear and heart. Listen to Nicolay & Kay, the Roots, Ellie Goulding, Aaliyah and Notorious BIG stuff remixed. Sometimes it’s very minimalistic and reduced, distorted and distracted, but always hypnotic and room filling. I like the stuff and recommend to follow Kensaye on Soundcloud.

Here is a little video from London with the rapper Innocent who got a beat for his birthday. A bit long in the beginning but a good vibe of cruising around in the end;

Photo credit: Kamran Rhezekani