It’s been a long time since I’ve laid my hands on wax mostly due to lack of time. But today was my lazy man day and I decided to sift through some records that were gathering dust. Most of my I Like Good Music series have been mixed using exclusively Serato but I wanted to showcase my digging skills with this all vinyl mix. Of course there’s samples, some familiar and some yet to be flipped. So enjoy!

I Like Good Music Pt. 7

Tracklist

Average White Band – Overture

Hubert Laws – I Had A Dream

Main Ingredient – Everybody Plays The Fool

Average White Band – A Love of Your Own

Black Ivory – No Ifs Ands Or Buts

Eric Gale – Forecast

Mandrill – Love Song

Mandrill – Out With The Boys

Average White Band – Sunny Days

Bob James – Angela (Theme from “Taxi)

The Crusaders – Hallucinate

The Commodores – Look What You’ve Done To Me

Chocolate Milk – Action Speaks Louder Than Words

Mandrill – Fat City Strut

Johnnie Taylor – You’re the Best in the World

Margie Joseph – Something to Fall Back On

Buddy Rich & Max Roach – Figure Eights

Hank Crawford – I Can’t Stand It

Ahmad Jamal – Tranquility

The sampled version (the one I’m thinking of, anyway) is chopped pretty creatively and makes for a great head nodder.  Leave it in the comments if you know it.

Lou Courtney – Since I First Laid Eyes On You

In honor of Purim, I wanted to share a treat to my Jewish brothers from another Jewish brother. Mad love to Necro for showing shots of Crown Heights, as well as Glenwood and Marcy Projects. This joint stems from the Murder Murder Kill Kill EP but he also has an upcoming project with veteran MC Kool G Rap called The Godfathers so keep your eyes peeled for those things. Shalom.

Even Big L wasn’t a fan. Shouts to Eric Rosado for some funny shit.

One can only wonder why the Don decided to take his life, but his legacy to music and Black culture will never be forgotten. I remember watching Soul Train after cartoons on Saturdays at noon. And since I was too young to appreciate horrible 90′s music or the women dancing inappropriately in very weird clothing, I will never forget Don’s suits, the magnetic letter board, and, of course, the Soul Train line at the end of the episode, which still remains a family party staple seconded only by the electric slide. Mr. Cee called him the ‘black Dick Clark’ at the end of Hot 97′s throwback hour at noon. But clearly Don had more swagger than Mr. Clark ever had. So I leave you with one of my favorite Spike Lee creations which is featured as the credits to his movie Crooklyn. Rest in love, peace and soul Don Cornelius.

Tracklist

So Long, So Wrong – Betty Wright & The Roots

No Strings – Mayer Hawthorne

Touch – Jackson 5

You Got Me Hurtin All Over – Barbara Randolph

Nice and Easy – Barbara Lynn

Running Fast – Stefano Torrosi

I Ain’t Got Nobody (For Real) – Sly & The Family Stone

Boss Love Maker – The Emotions

What A Woman Really Means – Donny Hathaway

ESP – Persimfans

Dance Of The Honey Bee And The Funky Fly – David “Fathead” Newman

Motor City Funk (Part 1) – Bright Light

Forget It – Sixto Rodriguez

Inverno – Roberto Menescal

Cinco Por Oito – Roberto Menescal E Seu Conjunto

Caboclo – Arthur Veroçai

I’m Gonna Git Ya – Betty Harris

Get Out of My Life Woman – Oliphant, Grassella

Yeah Yeah – Blackrock

Ooh Boy – Adorables

Just What The Doctor Ordered – The Heartstoppers

Just Lovin’ You – Ruby Andrews

This is a shocker to everybody because Heavy D performed both at the BET Awards and a Michael Jackson Tribute concert in the UK less than a month ago. But I guess it was his time to go. He brought Pete Rock into the limelight and, most importantly, showed ladies that chunky brothers need love too. Rest in beats overweight lover.

Of all the random car brands that I would expect to sponsor a music mashup project, Hyundai would have been last on the list. But alas, they’ve managed to take 5 popular DJ’s out of their musical comfort zone and create a documentary showcasing the journey to the final mashup product. While I have not heard much music from Skrillex or Pretty Lights, DJ Premier, Mark Ronson, and Crystal Method initially piqued my interest for the project. While I’m used to Premier flipping classical into chop masterpieces and Ronson producing funky instrumentals, I would never expect Crystal Method to venture into R&B with some Motown legends. Mostly though, it’s just really good to hear Nas on a Premier track.  For more details, peep here. Tracks will be released on November 7th.

Not gonna lie. We’ve been quite neglectful of posts due to real life shit. I personally have detached myself from social responsibilities due to paper chasing and my everyday consists of the image above. I don’t regret it; I love my job. But I think I’ve alienated almost everyone I used to hang out with on a consistent basis. It’s all good, they’ll forgive me. At the moment, let me take time out to shed light on some things that my peoples need to dig. First, shout out to my man Yuri Beats holding it down for the LOISIDA. He’s been putting in work on the production tip for the past several months, scolding MC’s for rhyming on wack beats, and coaxing some to snack on his own. Check out yuribeats.com for a sampling of the goodness. Also, follow his Twitter @Yuri_Beats. While you’re at it, follow @ChocoDelish and @tak4prez to satisfy your digablepeoples fix in between posts (You have my word posts will be more frequent).

Lastly, you know I had to share some jams I’ve been bumping lately. Mixed by yours truly, there’s a bunch of good music you can enjoy while you’re puffing, protesting, thugging, or loving. Hope you like it.

I Like Good Music Pt. 5 (ctrl-click/right click to save)

For Love I Come – Thundercat

Blood Root – MF Doom

L’Enfant Samba – Cortex

Vida Bela – Elizete Cardozo

St. Louis Breakdown/Comin’ Down Soul – Oliver Sain

The Red Rooster – Memphis Sounds

Stay The Course – DJ Shadow feat. Posdnuos & Talib Kweli

Diamonds – Fresh Daily 

Love Is – Co$$

Poe Man’s Dreams (His Vice) – Kendrick Lamar

The Good Fight – Phonte

Loyalty – 9th Wonder feat.  Masta Killa & Halo

Blaxican – MED

The Man/Klepto – Exile

The ANT (i matter) – One Be Lo

Born In The Trap – Game

Second Place – Royce Da 5’9″

You – Evidence

Right On – Median

What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye

Girl Blue – Stevie Wonder

People Make The World Go Around – Ramon Morris

Swan Lake – Blackalicious

He Has Risen – Smoke DZA

Hearing The Melody – 9th Wonder feat. Skyzoo, Fashawn & King Mez

The Life of Kings – Phonte feat. Evidence & Big K.R.I.T

The Red Carpet – Evidence feat. Raekwon & Ras Kass

Raw – DTMD feat. Godly MC & Kev Brown

Loneliness – Jean Plum

Medley: Ike’s Rap II/Help me Love – Isaac Hayes

Glory Box – Portishead

Summer Madness – Cocaine 80s

Murder To Excellence – Watch The Throne

Kan Kick – Cali Pop Lock Tribal

Untitled – DTMD feat. Oddisee

I Wouldn’t Change A Thing – Coke Escovedo

Come and Get My Lovin’ – Sunrize

Never Too Much – Luther Vandross

Laying Down Next To Me – Barry White

This video for Royce Da 5’9″‘s “Writer’s Block” begins with the original beat, produced by Streetrunner and Sarom, and then intermittently gives way to the DJ Premier remix.  One of these is hotter than the other (guess which).  This is a prime example of how a good beat can positively tinge average lyrics.  Royce isn’t saying a whole lot, the irony of which is kind of laughable, but over a Primo beat, you just don’t really give a fuck what he’s talking about.  Also, hearing Eminem’s chorus on a Primo beat is a nice little tease— his ad libs at the end are hilarious.

As a bonus, expand the post to peep the sample used in the remix…

Formula IV – If You Gonna Do It (Do It Good)