Release:
Constant Evolution

What it is:
Producer Mums The Word brings together a first-string lineup of west coast talent to lace his beats. 15 strong tracks of Mums signature style, most including lyricists with a few instrumentals.

Myka 9, Abstract Rude, Brother Ali, Eligh, Scarub, Luckyiam, Senim Silla (Binary Star), Busdriver, Oh No, Natty Roots, and Mr. Banks.

My Radio-Free Brooklyn cd disappeared after I played it in my car with some of my friends. If I remember the cd right, I’ll probably never see it again. Pete Miser has turned out polished album exhibiting his various skills as a musician. Pete emcees, produces, and even scratches on this album – and it’s even released by his own record label. How’s that for do-it-yourself music.

Overall, Radio-Free Brooklyn has a funky, almost old-school sound filled with ear-catching sampling and drum breaks. Pete shines behind the boards, cleverly arranging the sounds within the beat, and coordinating interactions between the beat, scratches, and verses. I hear a playful, free-willing inventiveness in his style. And a lot of hard work.

Here’s a piece of his bio from PeteMiser.com: Pete Miser (real name, Pete Ho) is a fiercely independent m.c. who has been rocking all forms of hip hop expression since 1985. A native of Portland, Oregon, Pete fronted and managed the Northwest’s most prominent hip hop band, 5 Fingers of Funk, touring the nation and performing with acts such as Maceo Parker, the Roots and Run DMC. It was during this time that Pete created Ho-Made Media, his one man independent record label that released both 5 Fingers of Funk releases and Pete’s 1996 solo album, “What It Be” for combined sales of over 20,000 units. After six years with 5 Fingers of Funk and the Northwest region on lock, Pete made a move to New York to immerse himself in hip hop culture in its birthplace.

Exit is a truly unique and enlivening musical experience. You can’t help but feel passionately moved when you listen to this album. The acoustic freshness and melodic singing are not what you would expect from a hip-hop record, but this is not your average hip-hop. K-os unites his love for hip-hop with a blend of soul, rock, and reggae, giving birth to a liberating musical pilgrimage.

I’ve always had a special respect for diverse musicians. Exit is mostly a one-man show, from the ground up. K-os produces, raps, and sings on this eclectic collection of songs. It took me several listens to realize that there are no guest singers or mc’s. K-os moves so freely from singing to rapping that it sometimes sounds like there are two different vocalists. The moods of this album express a range of emotions and thoughts. Soothing inspiration, contemplative spirituality, and a childish, playful romanticism. You won’t hear much greed, hate, or self-worship in this album.

If you aren’t already familiar with Russian DJ and Producer DJ Vadim, then you are missing out on one of the greatest hip-hop artists outside of the USA. His latest album, USSR: The Art of Listening is his most mature and finished LP to date. His earlier release USSR Repertoire broke new ground with its curiously structured rhythms and drum patterns. 1999’s The Isolationist is Vadim’s immortal collabo with Anti-Pop Consortium. DJ Vadim has made music with many respected artists from around the world, and the new album is no different. USSR Repertoire features Gift of Gab, Slug, Motion Man, Phi Life Cypher, Yarah Bravo, Demolition Man, and several others.

USSR: The Art of Listening feels to me like a further development of a sound that is uniquely DJ Vadim. Some of Vadim’s songs can sound deceivingly loose and unstructured when you first hear them, if you are expecting to hear a traditional, tried-and-true brand of hip-hop. It always takes me several careful listens to slowly absorb the subtle musical tactics that make DJ Vadim one of today’s top producers and songwriters. The cello melody and drum arrangement on “She Who is Tested” are especially impressive. (Yarah Bravo makes two outstanding appearances on this album: in this song and on the elegant “The Pacifict”)

DJ Vadim’s abilities shine through in the absence of vocals in “The Harp Song (Part 2)”, where his unconventional approach makes other hip-hop tracks sound like cardboard cut-outs. This song’s unpredictable twists and turns will steal your concentration, and leave you hungry to hear it again. A lot of music out there sounds hot at first, but gets played out the more you hear it. USSR The Art of Listening doesn’t reveal itself all at once, it has depth, sophistication and harmony, and in some unlikely ways. The closer you listen to Vadim’s music, the more appreciation you’ll have for it – this is not background music, it is a prodigious mutation in the evolution of music.

More info. on DJ Vadim can be found at:
Ninja Tune: audio/video, online store, tour info. and djvadim.com