Recently in Releases Category

(source: Press Release) - Soul singer, songwriter and producer Dwele, will release his highly anticipated 3rd studio album "Sketches of a Man" on June 24th through RT Music Group/KOCH Records. "Sketches of a Man," a long time in the making, will be lead by the soulful single "I'm Cheatin'," produced by G-1, the man behind Dwele's breakthrough hit "Find a Way" (from "Subject"). "I'm Cheatin'" is a mind bender which tells of a man who loves his girlfriend's conservative side as well as her care-free side and dreams of cheating on one with the other as if they were two different people. "It's based on a true story that I put a spin on. Unless you really pay attention, you might get the wrong idea," Dwele admits.

This year, Dwele was nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Urban/Alternative Performance" category for his interpretation of "That's The Way of the World," from the Stax Records compilation, "Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire." He also appeared on long-time friend Kanye West's Grammy-winning mega hit "Flashing Lights" and on rapper Common's Grammy-nominated single "The People," which made Rolling Stone's list of "100 Best Songs of 2007."

"'Sketches of a Man' is ultimately what I am and where I am in 2008," Dwele explains. "It is inspired by life and love, and it is about finding out how I fit into these different musical genres, or how I would fit into these new cultures. Like, if I spoke French, how would it sound?... I think that's what inspiration is."

"Sketches of a Man" finds Dwele writing, producing, arranging and playing all instruments on nearly all of the tracks on the project. One of the few exceptions is "A Few Reasons," a bouncy groove with a hip hop feel written and performed by Dwele with production from Nottz (Snoop and R. Kelly's "That's That"). Dwele shows us his hip hop side on "Sketches... " with tracks like "Body Rock," and funky ballads like "Open Your Eyes," (a Bobby Caldwell cover), and "Love Ultra," but doesn't stray too far from the soulful roots that we love on tracks like "Vain." On "Vain" Dwele speaks of how difficult it is to hold on to a relationship. "With my music I try to touch on things that everyone can relate to. Things like, being a musician and trying to find the balance between work and love," Dwele says of "Vain."

Dwele is also a fine artist and has created a series of color and black & white mural-size works in acrylic. He is also an accomplished photographer who works in digital as well as the old-fashioned way -- using manual cameras.

One of the most refined and stylish singers to emerge in recent years, Dwele infuses the musical traditions of Motown visionaries Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, who he listened to growing up on Detroit's west side, into his own contemporary sound. He taught himself to play several instruments including piano, trumpet, guitar and bass before embarking on his journey as a soul singer. His demo tape, 1998's "The Rize," got significant buzz around the Motor City and collaborations with fellow Detroit hip-hop group Slum Village also helped Dwele gain visibility.

He released his critically acclaimed full-length debut "Subject" in 2003, and cemented his appeal to European audiences with an extensive tour that summer. His second album, "Some Kinda," followed in 2005, and featured production from the late J Dilla, as well as Mike City and G1.

LINK: OFFICIAL DWELE MYSPACE

Elzhi posted some new tracks up on his MySpace page recently - "The Transitional Joint" & "Audio Cinematic". Enjoy.

PHOTO CREDIT: kyLA

LINK: OFFICIAL ELZHI MYSPACE

Detroit dopeboy hip hop emcee Havana along with producer Unkle Paulie have dropped the project Crackk Deisel Presents Nickel Blow: Between Heaven And Hollywood. The album features cameos from Baatin (Slum Village) and Cadillac Dale (Detroiters!! you remember "Soulful Moaning"). We have it here for download so enjoy.

Tracklisting:
1. Sylvester and Canfield
2. Denzell
3. Economy
4. Jayla
5. Oslo/ ft Baatin
6. Bruiser
7. Amber Alert
8. California f/ Cadillac Dale
9. Takeover
10. Talibah f/ Sam Beaubien
11. Maxwell House

DOWNLOAD: Crackk Deisel Presents "Nickel Blow: Between Heaven And Hollywood" (zShare)

LINK: OFFICIAL HAVANA MYSPACE

The dastardly duo of Detroit ghettotech Starski & Clutch (Brian Gillespie & Todd Osborn) have just released tracks from their Detroit Hustle album on digital format on ElectroBounce.com. The list of tracks now available is as followed and you can listen to them each before you buy.

1. Do It 135 bpm
2. Detro​it
3. New Dance​ Show
4. Michi​gan Ave
5. Pop That Thang​s
6. Work Shake​
7. Bank Beat
8. Work That inst
9. Pop That Thang​s instr​
10. Do It 145 bpm

LINKS: OFFICIAL STARSKI & CLUTCH MYSPACE | ELECTROBOUNCE.COM

The collaborative effort from Blu and Ta'Raach titled The Piece Talks is now available via Tres Records. Check out audio clips and purchase it below.

LINKS: C.R.A.C. @ FATBEATS.COM | C.R.A.C. MYSPACE | BLU MYSPACE | TA'RAACH MYSPACE

The Ann Arbor-based electronic music label Ghostly International teamed up with [Adult Swim] to unveil Ghostly Swim, a free digital only release of 19 new songs from Ghostly artists such as Dabrye, The Chap, Matthew Dear Tycho and Aeroc amongst many others. The compilation is available free and high quality, only through Adult Swim's website. The free collection also includes favorite friends of the label like School Of Seven Bells, and Detroit's Deastro, Milosh (Plug Research), FLYamSAM (Warp's Flying Lotus and Samiyam), and Dark Party (Eliot Lipp and Leo123). Along with the new music, BoyCatBird (Ghostly's mascots) make their animated debut in the awesome "City Suckers" video by Daniel Garcia/Superfi.

DOWNLOAD: Ghostly Swim @ AdultSwim.com

As an extra bonus, the online record label and curator of independent labels and artists RCRD LBL has an exclusive download of a remix of the first track on the compilation - Michna's "Triple Chrome Dipped (12" Version)" is a tasty piece of electro-pop. Michna is Ghostly's newest signing, a NYC/Miami based producer that has worked with Diplo and Bonde do Role on top of DJing frequently around the world.

DOWNLOAD: Michna - "Triple Chrome Dipped (12" Version)"

Ghostly International also relaunched their web site at Ghostly.com with an impressive new design.

The originally Ann Arbor-based now Brooklyn-based experimental electronic music label Moodgadget Records have announced the next four releases for April 2008. I've always been a fan of the music Moodgadget has released, but this series of projects really impressed me and have really brought their stock to a new level.

The first release is a 2 track EP from Boston electro-pop producer Andre Obin titled Colorwheel. Obin's material incorporated heavy synths with jawsmacking drums while keeping it very melodic.

The next release is from the Ypsilanti, Michigan synth pop duo known as Tonight with a four song EP titled Modern Romance. The kind melodic vocals over the beautiful synths bring an ethereal feeling to this amazing release.

Minnesota experimental hip hop producer Mux Mool comes with the Drums EP. With electronic head nodders akin to the likes of Flying Lotus or DJ Shadow, Mux Mool comes correct on this EP.

DOWNLOAD: Mux Mool "Insecure Drum" (mp3)

The last release is a joint venture with Ghostly International with the new album from JDSY titled Adage of Known. The album goes into a realm of avant pop but explores many facets of abstract production with from head nodding beats to beautiful sound scapes.

DOWNLOAD: JDSY "Smoke And Mirrors" (mp3)

LINKS: MOODGADGET | ANDRE OBIN | TONIGHT | MUX MOOL | JDSY

The pioneers of electro bass at Twilight 76 Records have just launched the online MP3 store and distribution site ElectroBounce.com. It's dedicated to pushing and promoting underground dance music such as Detroit Ghetto Tech, Chicago Ghetto House, Juke, Electro, Baltimore Club, and Techno. They state on the site "Our goal is to have a home base and a community for all artists, DJs, producers, and promoters for these specific genres of music. We encourage all artists to contact us that have new product so we can help distribute and promote their music the right way globally." So check out the site as soon as possible and sign up for their forums.

DMB Records sent over a video produced by You Brotha Brub for the first single from the L.G. Project titled "Trusted (Lying Bitch)" featuring Detroit's own Guilty Simpson. You can purchase the single digitally on DMB's MySpace page below.

LINKS: OFFICIAL DMB RECORDS MYSPACE

Chief and DirtyMitten.com present present Flippin' Words: Vol. 1, mixtape from Chief exclusive to the web site. It's being offered by the "name your own price" method where you can download it for free or donate money to the artist. Every donation in increments of $10 will receive an actual hard copy of the CD. Click on the link below for more information.

LINK: Chief "Flippin' Words: Volume 1"

Detroit emcees Quest M.C.O.D.Y. and Marvwon just dropped their collaborative mixtape Jumpoff A Bridge, which is hosted by Young Mase. Purchase it at either of their MySpace pages in CD or Digital Download formats, and enjoy the video for "We In Here".

PURCHASE: QUEST MCODY MYSPACE | MARVWON MYSPACE

Tracklisting:
01 Young Mase Intro
02 The Introduction
03 We In Here
04 Big Spender
05 Success
06 Get Up (prod J Dilla)
07 Detroit City (That's Where Im From)
08 NuttinTaSayAboutIt (prod Brenk)
09 Jumpoff...My Dick
10 Fade Back (prod Yung Viz)
11 Rite Back (prod Vaughan T)
12 I Get Money (feat. Yung Viz)
13 Cry Now Freestyle (feat Rashaan Jamal)
14 Love Hate (prod Yung Viz)
15 It Is What It Is (prod Vaughan T)
16 Can't Leave Rap Alone (prod Quest M.C.O.D.Y)
17 You Should Know (prod Stevie Thunder)
18 Shut Shit Down (prod Black Milk)
19 Stop Being A Guntha (feat Nems,George Burnz,Vanguard,Iron Solomon,Swann)
20 What My Bitch Bought (feat Moe Dirdee) prod Yung Viz

Remember, the album titled The Set Up from Fat Ray & Black Milk drops this Tuesday and they will be celebrating it with a record release party this Tuesday at The Shelter in Detroit. Be there or be a f*ckin' L7.

All City Records will be launching their 7x7 beats series this week. They will release seven double sided 45rpm (in some cases 33) seven inch vinyls from some of the best upcoming producers. The series jumps off with LA via Detroit producer Snowman and for the next six months thereafter featuring beat makers from Europe and the US. The 45s are strictly limited and complete with artwork from Summel. The full list of producers in the series includes Snowman (Jack Sample Pros) + Mike Slott (Heralds of Change) + Fulgeance (Musique Large) + Mweslee (Arkestra) + Leneko (Le Phonik) + Hudson Mohawke (Heralds of Change)+ Newman (New Jack Hustle). Snowman's "Street Corner Music" b/w "Rise" drops March 3rd followed by Mike Slott's release on April 8th.

Snowman will be celebrating the release on March 6th during the TripBoogie One Year Anniversary at Carbon by spinning alongside weekly residents Chris Cuts and J1. TripBoogie is a free weekly party held every Thursday at Carbon at 9300 Venice Blvd in Los Angeles.

LINKS: Snowman "Street Corner Music" (All City MySpace)

A little info on Snowman: A member of the Jack Sample Professionals (Fat City), djing over 10 years plus beatmaking the last few... he went on some Detroit I to the L.LA and swapped the blue collar and harsh winters of the Motor City for Los Angeles's sunshine and herb.

Locked away in the Hollywood Hills he opens the series with a bang on Street Corner Music (previewed on Benji's Deviation some time back if you heard) and goes for the concept on the flip. Currently working with Shawn Jackson and Guilty Simpson amongst others you're going to be seeing the name with increasing frequency over the coming year.

LINKS: SNOWMAN MYSPACE | JACK SAMPLE MYSPACE | ALL CITY MYSPACE

Underground Resistance recently released a new 12" from Bileebob (aka John Williams) for the track "Sunshine". Bileebob has long been a staple in Detroit's techno community holding DJ residencies at some of Detroit's most legendary underground club nights along with his work in the Detroit Grand Pubahs. Check out audio samples below and purchase the record at Submerge's Online Store.

Tracklisting:
A1. Sunshine
B1. Sunshine (Agoria Mix)

Plus, check out Bileebob's blog site at Famzine.com

Starting March 4th, Todd Osborn and James T. Cotton (aka Tadd Mullinux, Dabrye), together known as TNT, will be launching a weekly dance music night every Tuesday at the Firefly Club in Ann Arbor. The night will features disco, funk, boogie, house, techno, new wave, and whatever crazy dance music they can pull out into the seamless sets along with unreleased original tracks, exclusive edits, and rare dance tracks.

Recently, Spectral Sound released the new James T. Cotton album Like No One. Check out more information about this release HERE. JTC will be the guest at FreshCorp's newly reformed Family party at Oslo in Detroit (1456 Woodward) on March 7th with residents Todd Osborn and Brian Gillespie.