Image courtesy of The Fader

The new Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach, is going to be certified awesome.  The Gorillaz never fail to deliver, and with a list of features including the likes of Mos Def, Snoop Dogg and Lou Reed (I know, right? Lou Reed on a Gorillaz track?!) it promises to be as diverse and creative as their previous work.  The first single, Stylo, was released a little while back, and as should be expected the remixes have started rolling in.  Here are two I’m digging, with two very funky (Parliament funky, not UK funky) takes coming from Alex Metric and Yuksek.  And I’ve gotta say, I’m really glad both artists chose to include minimal amounts of Bobby Womack’s verse.  No disrespect to Bobby, but that verse sounded really out of place to me.  Enjoy, and look out for Plastic Beach on March 9th.

Gorillaz – Stylo (Alex Metric Remix)

Gorillaz – Stylo (Yuksek Remix)

Jay Electronica, easily one of the best MCs in the game right now, recently put out a new mixtape, entitled Victory.  At the risk of sounding cliché in repeating what many others have said, mainstream hip-hop is not exactly in the best place right now.  Jay is one of few out there right now who is making straight real hip-hop, avoiding the temptation of the iced-out, codeine-muddled spotlight enjoyed by rappers like Lil’ Wayne (don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to hate on Wayne here, but let’s face it: that’s not real hip-hop).  Victory brings us Jay in his element, laying his impeccable flow on some truly ill instrumentals, and with features like Kidz In The Hall’s Naledge, Mos Def and Talib Kweli, it makes for a great mixtape.  Enjoy the tracks below, but those are just a teaser.  For the full taste of Jay Electronica, grab the whole mixtape here.  Props to excellent hip-hop blog Passion of the Weiss on the tip.

Jay Electronica – So What Cha Saying

Jay Electronica – Cool Relax ft. Naledge

Jay Electronica – Exhibit B ft. Mos Def

(apologies on the obnoxious stamps, you know how it is with mixtapes)

With a myspace tag saying “if it moves, then there’s nothing off-beat about it”, and tracks getting played by Mary Anne Hobbes recently, Shlohmo is certainly making a name for himself. With a unique take on off kilter hip-hop he’s currently playing with along with the members of his crew “WEDIDIT“, there is nowhere to go but up for this now 20 year old (happy birthday big homie!). Be sure to look out for his forthcoming EP on Friends of Friends, my choice track being “Teeth”, a beat that rollerskates along the pavement when all of a sudden a bassline as toothless as a deranged homeless person smacks you upside the head. Also, download the mix he did for xlr8r and be sure to read the interview. BOH!

Shlohmo – Mix for xlr8r (direct)

Shlohmo – Hot Boxing the Cockpit

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anyone know who did this artwork? seriously dope...

The Black Keys, Akron Ohio’s favorite blues-rock powerhouse, have to turned to hip-hop.  Yes.  Hip hop.  And damn good hip hop at that.  The project, entitled Blakroc, is basically what would happen if you replaced the guys from N.A.S.A. with someone like Cold War Kids.  A friend of mine recently told me to check out their website, and it was definitely a solid tip.  The Keys supply the beats, and lyrics are provided by an impressive roster of MCs, including the mighty Mos Def, Q-Tip, Raekwon, the RZA, Pharoahe Monch and others.  The album (self-titled) is out Nov. 27, and here’s the first single, with Mos singing and Jim Jones on the verses (and yeah, Jones is actually pretty decent on this cut).  So peep the track, and if you dig the blues-hop vibes, pick up the album come November.

Blakroc – Hoochie Coo (Feat. Mos Def and Jim Jones)

Having been slacking (to an absurd extent) for the past month or so, I figured I should post something in this last week before I head off to universidad.  EDLine has been more than holding it down on the hip hop/rap side of things recently, and I thought I would contribute.  Japan’s  DJ Honda has returned, with a new LP entitled hIV. (No, that’s the number 4, he’s not being insensitive) It came out on the 5th, and he’s released a free single with Mos Def, fresh from his recent success with The Ecstatic.  The track, “Magnetic Arts”, sounds as though it could easily be on Mos’ album, which if you ask me is easily enough reason to download.  So do it.  And enjoy.  And then go buy hIV.

DJ Honda – Magnetic Arts (feat. Mos Def)