Download/Listen: KOOL A.D. and KASSA OVERALL present: “KOOL & KASS: PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS”

More mixtape action today, this time from Kool & Kass, aka the duo of Kool A.D. and Kassa with their début entitled Peaceful Solutions. Lots of guest slots on this one from rappers like Fat Tony, Dada Powell, Tecla, Ne$$, Bizzy Bone and more. Busdriver, Carlos Overall, Tom Cruz, Kassa, Amaze 88 and more handle production duties.  Steam below and download for the price of your choice in exchange for your email and as a bonus check out two brand spanking new accompanying videos for “Pleasance (WSGAF)” and “Fresh Prince.”  

“KOOL & KASS ARE PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS, A SYNCRETIC SUPERSOUL THAT HARNESSES THE MAGNANIMITY OF THE PACIFIC AND ATLANTIC OCEANS THROUGH RAPS THAT MERELY SOUND LIKE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BUT ARE IN FACT BOTH ASTRAL AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERIC IN SPIRIT AND RHYTHMIC NATURE”

Download: Chance The Rapper – “Acid Rap” Mixtape

Chicago emcee Chance the Rapper released one of my favorite mixtapes last year with Ten Day, he has been gaining much steam and deserved acclaim since with talk from behind the scenes reaching a fever pitch with today's release of Acid Rap. Appearances come cutesy of Childish Gambino, Ab Soul, Lili K, Action Bronson, Gypsy  and more with production from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Ceej for Two9, Nate Fox, Ludwig Gorransen, and Jake One to name but a few. 

Download the 13 track tape HERE or HERE and start trippin'.

BONUS:
Chance The Rapper – “Smoke Again Ft. Ab-Soul” Video

Behind The Scenes of Acid Rap

Listen/Download: Run The Jewels (EL-P & Killer Mike) – “Get It"

El-P and Killer Mike are continuing their hot streak of working together, this time on a collaborative LP under the name, Run The Jewels, and we got the first single to share in the form of  “Get It.”  The tune will appear on the forthcoming free online album, due in June on Fool’s Gold. Stream/Download below…

Video: Daft Punk Random Access Memories Video Series Episode 6 – Chilly Gonzales

Episode 6 of Daft Punk’s Meet The Collaborators series was released this morning and features Canadian musician Chilly Gonzales who’s work you most certainly know from his collaborations with Peaches, Fiest and Buck 65 to name but a few . In the nine minute video Jason speaks of his love of Harmony, the type of work he did on the upcoming Daft Punk LP, and his chosen approach when doing collaborations. Jason even goes on to actually play some of the piano pieces that will appear on Random Access Memories which is due out on May 21st.

Video: “Wildcat” (Origins of an All-Black Rodeo in Oklahoma; Scored by Flying Lotus)

Kahlil Joseph and Flying Lotus have once again teamed up to give a new beautifully shot short abstract film entitled Wildcat.  According to Nowness, the film explores the "little-known African-American rodeo subculture," in Grayson, Oklahoma with Lotus handeling the score.

“Joseph, who is part of the Los Angeles-based What Matters Most film collective, visited the annual August rodeo in the sparsely populated Oklahoma town of Grayson (previously Wildcat), an event that attracts African-American bull riders, barrel racers and cowgirls from all over the Midwest and southern USA. He set out to celebrate the origins of the rodeo by paying respect to the spirit of Aunt Janet, a member of the family who founded the event, passed away last year and is embodied as the young girl in the film. “Black people are light years more advanced than the ideas and images that circulate would have you believe. The spaces we control and exist are my ground zero for filming, at least so far, and there are opportunities for me to tap into the energy,” says Joseph. “So an all-black town with an all-black rodeo in the American heartland was a kind of vortex or portal through which I could actually show this.” 

Shorts on Sundays: Wildcat on Nowness.com

Video: “The Cuban Skateboard Crisis”

What we got here is an older yet still fantastic documentary on Cuba’s struggling and often challenging skateboard scene.

While most skaters don’t have to deal with these kinds of absurd set backs, Cubans must pursue their passion under strict embargos that make even obtaining a board a challenge.  In the 16-minute film you hear downright heartbreaking stories of skaters sometimes waiting up to five months to get a new deck, often resulting in makeshift repairs of damaged gear to make due. While competitions in Cuba don’t offer the dream of a pro-sponsorship or world wide travel (something that is pretty much unobtainable in their situation) the promises of a new deck alone is motivation enough, and pretty much their only legitimate source of obtaining one. Yet despite the major handicap the local scene has produced some talent and Cuba’s skaters remain optimistic and a happy people making the best of what they have been given, inspiring stuff to say the least. Check out the by Phil Brown directed piece below and If you would like to help the Cuban skaters, there’s a shop in Germany who has set up a fund called Subvertcubaproject.org.

Video: “The Cuban Skateboard Crisis”

Video: Crystal Castles – “Affection”

Crystal Castles dropped some visuals for one of my top tracks of 2012, the haunting “Affection.” Made up of tour footage in Buenos Aires Argentina, you can check out both the video and a more detailed description of the process below…

“The video for the single is an abstract tour documentary filmed after shows in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Apr 4 2013) and Bogotá, Colombia (Apr 7 2013). Alice was filmed by Ethan, Crystal Castles filmed by Chris Chartrand (the bands live drummer), and Ashley McMinn was filmed by Marc Pannozzo (long time Crystal Castles video collaborator). The footage was then stitched together in London by Stephen Agnew (Editor & Video Glitch Artist).

Listen: DOOM & Clams Casino – “Bookfiend”

We start Monday off with an unexpected treat from an upcoming DOOM project on Lex Records. Clams Casino handles production on “Bookfiend”, lacing it with his trademark tone and feel, the results are, as expected, a natural fit for the two offbeat artists. Stream below…

Listen/Download: David Yow - "The Itch"

Scratch Acid and The Jesus Lizard's, frontman David Yow will be releasing his first solo LP after 7 stone cold classics with his former band.  Entitled, Tonight You Look Like A Spider, the record is due out June 25th via Joyful Noise recordings.

Yow started working with Mike Patton way back in the late 90’s before the Jesus Lizard even broke up. Yow explains:

I rented a saxophone for 2 months, I borrowed some guitars and some drums, I rummaged through the kitchen, I squeezed a fat cat, I poked and prodded and ended up with my very own music. It’s real good, if you like that kind of shit. I named it Tonight You Look Like A Spider after a spider I saw one night.

Joyful Noise recordings will release three different versions of Tonight You Look Like A Spider: a regular black vinyl version, a deluxe version limited to 450 hand-numbered copies on grey/black vinyl with white splatter, and a version that comes with an actual slab of cement handmade by Yow himself (which sold out pretty quickly)

With the Deluxe “Monolith” Vinyl Edition edition ($150, limited to 50), each order is “handmade, hand-numbered, signed, and shipped directly to purchasers from Yow.

Pre-order HERE. And have your first taste of the LP via “The Itch”

Video: Daft Punk Random Access Memories Video Series Episode 5 – Panda Bear

Episode 5 of Daft Punk’s Meet The Collaborators series was released this morning and features Animal Collective’s Panda Bear, aka Noah Benjamin Lennox. In the eight minute video Noah talks about trying to collaborate with the robotic due on several occasions only to be shot down over the years, until that is they contacted him and let him know the time was finally right.  Noah comes from of a space where he composes his music from a very rhythmic place so his contributions to the new LP should be both interesting and a natural fit, although thinking of both bands' musical output one might not arrive at the same conclusion. Random Access Memories drops on May 21st.

Video: The Dillinger Escape Plan – “When I Lost My Bet”

Set to drop on May 14, mainstay metalcore techies the Dillinger Escape Plan, will be releasing their latest LP, One of Us Is the Killer via Sumerian Records. We already got a preview via the first single, "Prancer" and now we get our second taste with the disturbing Mitch Massie directed video for “When I lost My Bet.” 

Video: Vegan Black Metal Chef Episode 14 – “Green Bean Holocaust”

The Vegan Black Metal Chef returns with his latest video, Green Bean Holocaust, in which you get not one but two, particularly evil vegan dishes with green beans acting as the main ingredient. The dark one starts off with an Asian Green Bean spell and follows it up with an Indian Green Bean curse to satisfy all your rotting stomachs! 

Happy 420

Go Buy These: Henry Leutwyler Ballet Skateboards

“In ballet and skateboarding, fearlessness rules. No half-measures or marking the trick. Just passion, grit and blood.”

Photographer Henry Leutwyler released two fantastic limited edition skate decks featuring some of his trademark ballet photography. The two images are quite powerful when displayed side-by-side and beg to be hung as art. Purchase them while you can HERE.

Video: SOHN – “Bloodflows”

UK producer SOHN dropped a video for his latest single "Bloodflows." The clip was directed and filmed by Italian artist Christian Pitschl in the Bavarian Alps between Germany and Austria and features Munich-based actress Nadja Langer.

Video: A-Trak &Tommy Trash - "Tuna Melt"

A-Trak and Tommy Trash released a super fun video(you got to love the ending) for their tune "Tuna Melt." The clip was directed by Ryan Staake with the help of kinetic artist Kinetic King. Watch the video, followed by a behind-the-scenes clip revealing some of the magic behind it all.

Video: Sébastien Tellier & Caroline Polachek – “In The Crew Of Tea Time”

In celebration of Record Store Day, Record Makers will be releasing an exclusive 7-inch by Sébastien Tellier & Caroline Polachek of Chairlift. It features the yet unreleased track "In The Crew Of Tea Time" which was recorded last year in Paris. Sébastien met Caroline when Chairlift opened for his 2009 "Sexuality" US tour, from there a friendship was formed and the desire to record something together was born, this is the result. The stunning video was directed by Guillaume Cagniard.

Sébastien Tellier & Caroline Polachek 7-inch tracklist :

A. In The Crew Of Tea Time

B. In The Crew Of Tea Time (Mr Dan's Wunderground Dub)

Available for the first time on vinyl on April 20th

Printed on reversed paper, 650 copies only.

Video: The Knife – “A Cherry on Top”

It’s been a couple weeks since the Knife’s latest, ShakingThe Habitual, officially dropped but Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer are only just beginning their promotional campaign with the European leg of the tour kicking off.  Still no word on when they will be returning to the U.S. but regardless of where you call home everyone can enjoy the new set of animated visuals created by Martin Falck for stand-out track “A Cherry On Top” 

Listen: Daft Punk - "Get Lucky"

More Daft Punk news and this time it’s in the form of an actual song! By now if you are a fan of the robotic duo you have heard and seen the teaser trailers for Random Access Memories tune “Get Lucky” featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers. SONiC 102.9 — a rock music station from Edmonton — has shared the entire track albeit stating that it is not the official mix but that it “sounds pretty damn close.” We usually try not to highlight unfinished material but felt this time is was very close to the final product. Enjoy  courtesy of Dancing Astronaut.

UPDATE: 4-19-2013 Here is an audio of the official single.

Video: Ghostface Killah - "Rise Of The Ghostface Killah"

Ghostface Killah and Adrian Young’s Twelve Reasons To Die just dropped this week and with it we get a new, top notch, Young directed video for “Rise Of The Ghost Face Killah.” With a 1970s horror film vibe the clip features RZA, who also executive produced the record, and a Satanic cult acting as the backing band to a masked Ghost Face who leaves a bloody trail inside a Catholic Church.  Great stuff overall.  You can find a deluxe version of Twelve Reasons to Die, which acts as Ghost Faces’ tenth studio album, on Bandcamp with the addition of a comic book and instrumentals, or on iTunes.

Listen: Das Racist – “Indians From All Directions”

While Das Racist may have broken up some time ago, they were in fact working on a new album when they decided to call it quits and today we get to share a tune from the intended LP entitled “Indians From All Directions.” The tune was produced by Canadian electronic group A Tribe Called Red and can be streamed below…

Video: Azealia Banks – Yung Rapunxel”

Lots of weirdness and dark imagery in the new video for Azealia Banks’ “Yung Rapunxel,” which is fitting given the rapper’s seemingly crazy online persona. The songs acts as the first single off the Harlem rappers upcoming debut, Broke With Expensive Taste and was directed by Jam Sutton.

Video: Youth Lagoon - "Mute"

Youth Lagoon has shared the new video for "Mute," from the recently released sophomore LP, Wondrous Bughouse. The visuals were directed by Tyler T. Williams (who also worked on the clips for Youth Lagoon’s "July" and"Montana". What we get is a series of strange images and events that wouldn't be out of place in Twin Peaks.

Video: “Obey the Giant – The Story of Shepard Fairey”

You may recall a post we did a year ago about a Kickstarter campaign that made me do a double take.“Obey the Giant,” a 25-minute, lightly fictionalized film by RISD student Julian Marshall on the origin story of Shepard Fairey and his Obey campaign. Giving it some authenticity the project had the street art great's official seal of approval as well.

You can now view the film in its entirety below, and my opinion on it is still that of “this is so strange.” I will say it is well shot and at 20 minutes won’t take much effort or commitment so grab some popcorn and click play.

Video: Daft Punk Random Access Memories Video Series Episode 4 – Pharrell Williams

This blog is rapidly turning into an all Daft Punk all the time type of place and we are more than ok with that. “Meet The Collaborators” returned today with episode 4 this time featuring Pharrell Williams who goes on to speak about meeting Daft Punk at a Madonna party which eventually lead to his working with the Parisian duo on the tracks "Get Lucky" and "Lose Yourself To Dance" off their forthcoming LP, check it all out below. Random Access Memories drops on May 21st.

Video: Daft Punk Random Access Memories Video Series Episode 3 – Nile Rodgers

Daft Punk's “Meet The Collaborators” series is picking up steam having already dropped an episode on Monday, focusing on Todd Edwards, we get a second one not four days later, featuring Chic guitarist and disco legend Nile Rodgers. Rodgers talks about his own legacy, some of his famous collaborations (of which there are many,) working with “the robots” and even treats us to a little piece of music that he seemingly might have contributed to Random Access Memories which of course drops on May 21st.

Video: Chance The Rapper – “NaNa”

It’s been a minute since we last checked in with Chicago emcee Chance the Rapper. He has been gaining much steam since his exceptional mix tape dropped last year, which coincidentally made my year end list, and come April 30th he will be dropping his latest entitled  Acid Rap. For “NaNa” Gallery 1988’s head honcho Jensen Karp hands over a check for $5000, the mission? Film a video.  Comedian Hannibal Buress (who directed the clip) and Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) also make appearances.

Listen: The National – “Don’t Swallow The Cap”

Three days ago we shared a new studio cut from The Nationals forthcoming LP out on May 21 entitled Trouble Will Find Me. Following that song we now have a second tune to enjoy featuring some great vocal harmonizing by the name "Don't Swallow the Cap," have a listen below. 

Video: James Blake – “Overgrown”

Nabil Elderkin, whose video work has been featured on this site for both Bon Iver and Frank Ocean videos has shot the latest set of visuals for James Blake's  exceptional opening track off  his latest LP of the same name, "Overgrown.” I've been pretty obsessed with this track and album in general for the last week so it was great to get this new video that see’s James walking though forest and hills haunted by shadowy cloaked figures.

Video: TNGHT – “Acrylics”

So we only just shared the new cut from LuckyMe duo TNGHT entitled “Acrylics” on Monday but Hudson Mohawke and Lunice decided to drop some accompanying visuals today so LuckyUs one might say. Get the song on iTunes now.