My man Primus Luta is a scientist of music. Literally.
He gets under the hood and looks at the mechanics of how music w0rks. After he breaks it all down, he puts it back together in the form of some pretty dope shit.
Some time ago, he asked me to lay a bass part for this song. Unfortunately, due to situations we were going through with Windimoto, I didnt finish my part as promptly as I liked (I dont jerk people around if I say Im gonna do somn…..mostly).
When he sent me the track, it was pretty bare bones….so I figured there was a method to the madness…and that shit was harder to play than you think it would be…
When he sent me an early mix months later, I was blown away to hear myself in the middle of a jazz-fusion smoker…
I was sworn to secrecy…until now.
Luta is finally ready to release the Heads project to the world. Of course, there is a concept to all of this shit. I’ll let Luta explain it himself in the links below, but I will say this, Luta’s version of Come Clean is related to the 90’s hip-hop classic of the same name.
The musicians on the song are:
Drums, Keyboards, Programming and Additional Percussions by Primus Luta
Bass by Scorpeze
Guitars by Takuma Kanaiwa
Saxophones by Tomchess
Percussions by Zach and Claudia
First, check the song (and his remix using our parts) below:
Now, dig Luta break it all the way down here (it’s pretty interesting):
Phonte (formerly of Little Brother) and Nicolay, better known as The Foreign Exchange, have officially started their own label called +FE Music.
The first release is the album by vocalist YahZarah entitled The Ballad of Purple St. James on May 4th.
Treat yourself to the first single, Why Dontcha Call Me No More.
Written by Phonte, YahZarah, and Nicolay and produced by The Foreign Exchange (Nicolay and Phonte), it aint what you’re used to…but its dope all the same…the song is a slightly humorous take on the conflicting feelings you have for an ex-lover that aint no damn good.
Get the single…….FO DE FREE! at +FE Music’s website here:
I know that it is difficult to wade through a sea of neverending wackness to find the good shit…ESPECIALLY in hip-hop…
But I will offer my assistance…
As we all know, its hard to get people’s attention long enough to listen to your music…and sometimes talented artists have to settle for just letting their work float in the universe and hoping that someone somewhere will hear it and connect.
tREBLEFREE is a hip-hop producer (not beatmaker) born and raised in my hometown of Detroit, MI where he still resides. What sets this man apart from his contemporaries is his musicality, attention to detail, his inventiveness, and subtle yet wicked sense of humor…
His songs are soulful and packed to the teeth with a funky sense of rhythm and emphasis on groove rather than just making whatever sonic dressing fit the drums. Rather than just the stoic “ba-boom-boom-bap” boring rhythms that other hip-hop producers give you, tREB’s music has actual movement rather than just accompaniment…
DVS Jackson is nowhere near your average emcee. A product of Chicago–years ago you could have found him buggin out in the house clubs just as soon as rippin flows in a cypher. DVS attacks you with vocal dynamics, wordplay, zany humor, intricate flows, and just straight up bizarre imagery that leaves your head spinning. After you’ve absorbed all of that, you realize that there was a solid concept hidden underneath it all. He is the aural equivalent of a Magic Eye image.
The unorthodox artistic approach of both men created an inevitable partnership.
Taking on the personas of the scathingly sarcastic Muppet critics Waldorf & Statler, tREB and DVS have decided on a unique presentation of their work together…
They will release 5 Waldorf & Statler EPs (they call it a “cinquilogy”), with one to be released each quarter. The 2nd EP has just dropped.
Get thee ass to their Bandcamp page and download BOTH existing Waldorf & Statler EPs…….FO DE FREE!
Late last year, El DeBarge was granted an early release from prison.
Recently, he was interviewed on the Brian McKnight show.
In this short but insightful interview, El is looking good, sounding good, and seems to have a firm grasp on his life.
Couple quick facts:
Did you know that El produced the majority of DeBarge’s work? He also played ALL the keyboards on the In A Special Way album.
El is also a virtuoso keyboardist. Seriously. Like jazz level.
He also produced, played keyboards, and sang background uncredited on a few songs on his brother Chico’s 1997 comeback album Long Time, No See.
Check it out:
God bless this brother. He has walked a hard road. I know very well that creative types deal with a pain that most people cant understand–thus why so many turn to drugs for relief.
I hope that he continues on a righteous path and he keeps God close for the rest of his days.
I was just effin around on you tube one day and I stumbled upon this footage of a Quincy Jones concert circa 1981…
I guess Q was presenting The Dude album live in Japan(there’s more footage if you search)…the band includes some of Q’s studio henchmen:
Greg Phillinganes(keys) John Robinson (drums) and Louis Johnson(bass)
the vocalist is the incredible Patti Austin…
if you ask me, this song–written by Rod Temperton–was intended for Michael Jackson…but for whatever reason, he didnt do it…kinda like he didnt sing the opening verse of Secret Garden(and was replaced by Al B. Sure)
If you’ve read ANY liner notes for R&B albums in the 70’s, you know the name Ndugu…
pronounced “en-doo-goo”…..LOL, what a cool and funky name…
Well, if you got a funk name like Ndugu, that means you gotta be funky…and Ndugu is funky, indeed…
If you check out my George Duke Primer blog below…you will see how funky Ndgugu is for yrself…
Leon “Ndugu” Chancler is one of the top drummers in the music business…
Ndugu
He has played with so many people, its stupid….but to the general public, he’s best known for his vocals on his homeboy George Duke’s monster funk jams, Reach For It and Dukey Stick…
If you aint hip, head down to my Dukey blog and check him in action in the live videos for those songs….
Even if you are completely ignorant of Ndugu, you STILL love his drumming…
you’ve rocked to those drums forever…LOL
But, dig….In my research for my Dukey Blog, I came across this:
Ndugu & The Chocolate Jam Co. – Take Some Time (Do I Make You Feel Better – Epic/CBS Records, 1980)
This funky ballad is by Ndugu’s band, The Chocolate Jam Co. who recorded two albums in 1979 and 1980, respectively…
So this is what ya boy Scorp is gon’ do for you…
I’ma give y’all a lil Ndugu today…
The Chocolate Jam Co. – The Spread Of The Future (Epic/CBS Records, 1979). Click on the pic.
Ndugu & The Chocolate Jam Co. – Do I Make You Feel Better (Epic/CBS Records, 1980). Click on the pic.
