Merry Xmas, kittins. This isn’t exactly your normal Christmas record, but then, you already have plenty of normal Xmas stuff don’t you? Here’s some holiday cheer Rondo Brothers style, with Motion Man’s unique yule observations. Not safe for grandma’s house, maybe. Enjoy.

Various
“Xmas In My House feat. Motion Man” (mp3)
from “This Is Your Brain On Xmas”
(troublewith2 productions, LLC)

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Methinks the eve of xmas eve calls for a de-stressing, most chillaxing reggae dancehall track. Thankfully, the gr8 Barrington Levy is offering up his hit “Collie Weed” for our enjoyment. A simple and direct song, with a simple and direct message. Pick up “Original Ragga Muffin Part One” for more from this top Jamaican star. Happy holidays =)

Barrington Levy
“Collie Weed” (mp3)
from “Original Ragga Muffin Part One”
(Azra Music Publishing)

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Lyrics Born – AKA Asia Born, originally Tom Shimura of Berkeley, CA by way of Tokyo, Japan – is part of a wave of innovation in hip-hop which defies clichés and embraces creativity and entertainment over materialism, violent imagery and ridiculous egos. The joyfully defiant “Callin’ Out” couldn’t be more East Bay on a bet, featuring a jazzy disco-funk bed, soaring female vocal choruses, and Borns’ own distinctive street narrative. This is gr8 party music that you can also you can get your think on to. Enjoy.

Lyrics Born
“Callin’ Out” (mp3)
from “Callin’ Out 12″”
(Quannum Projects)

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Not safe for work. Really. I mean it. Now that I said that, you’re all downloading this, I know. Dirt Nasty lives down to his name on this fine little X-rated celebrity tour. What do people do in LA if it isn’t droppin’ names, after all? So here’s the who’s-who list according to Dirt. The rhymes are as clever as they are irreverent. Tight beats and cool organ riffs too. This is hella funny.

Dirt Nasty
“Droppin’ Names” (mp3)
from “Dirt Nasty”
(Shoot to Kill Music, Inc.)

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Tight, groovy, and funky as the day is long, this 1978 number by Venus Gang is pure fun. No politics or controversy here,  just a phat, raw beat, and sexy female vocals about stars making love and loving to fly. Imagination takes care of the rest. Disco keyboard and rhythm section work a’la Quincy Jones, meets a dubby clubby vibe that anticipates more contemporary nightclub music, and gives some of today’s producers a bit of schooling, I’d have to say. Delicious track.

Venus Gang
“Love to Fly” (mp3)
from “Galactic Soul”
(Mucho Gusto Records)

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Ok, I know it’s only December 1st tomorrow, but I’m starting the party early. This redonkulous remix of Dean Martin’s version of Jingle Bells is so wrong, it’s right! Purists flee, this is NOT the original Dean Martin cut, mmkay, let’s just get that out of the way. But it IS his incredibly rich, sonorous and oh-so-male voice uncluttered by effects or digital muck, plopped ever so nicely over a postmodern hip hop-ish holiday cacophony. Can you picture that? I thought not. Have a listen! From “Holiday Lounge – The Christmas Remixes” collection. A keeper for the merrymaking playlist, fo’ shizmus.

Dean Martin
“Jingle Bells” (mp3)
from “Holiday Lounge – The Christmas Remixes”
(Christmas Chill)

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On the avant-garde side of hip-hop we find anticon’s dynamic duo Themselves carving some far out original soundz and spittin’ equally mind bending lyrical flows. “Gangster of Disbelief” is a crazy, brilliant production, featuring urgent yet controlled vocals which hypnotize from the first dubby strains of the intro to the last drop of warm synth-y goodness. Gr8 stuff.

Themselves
“Gangster of Disbelief” (mp3)
from “Crownsdown”
(anticon)

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Sev Statik and crew bust a fresh and forward thinking hip-hop jam. Lots of gr8 wordplay here from Sev and Eternia, and a musical collage that is a cut above. Funky guitar and organ bites ride on some excellent drum loops and the lyricists get busy. Intelligent and entertaining work.

Sev Statik
“Blue Flame (feat. Eternia)” (mp3)
from “Shotgun”
(End Of Earth Records)

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As I write a Cali breeze is blowin’ melodies through the trees. Spinning this Planet Asia track and I’m loving it. Some 4ward looking hip-hop from a tight California posse with original lyrics, and innovative music production. Kick it and click it.

Planet Asia
“Cali Breeze” (mp3)
from “Planet Asia”
(New Andalus Records)

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Oakland, CA’s dynamic duo of Loren “Tallswest” Tolman and Yohannes Skoda, collectively known as MAVRIK, have become a respected force in the exceedingly cre8ive San Francisco Bay Area hip-hop scene. Drawing heavily from their roots in the East Coast, Kenya and India, MAVRIK’s music is refreshingly original, with as much care put into the instrumental arrangements as to the beats and vocals. The lyrics are worldly and conscious, touching on some of the heavy issues that plague humanity, but opting for a courageous and positive tone rather than the apocalyptic resignation often favored when this sort of subject matter is tackled. This particular song is more of a party track than some of their more topical material, but it is shot through with their uplifting message of personal liberation and community solidarity. Oh, and it totally f’ing rocks the dancehall.

MAVRIK
“Let’s Live” (mp3)
from “About Face”
(SKOMAN Productions LLC)

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