Das Racist - Michael Jackson

Hailing from the streets of Brooklyn, Das Racist is comprised of Himanshu Suri (Heems) and Victor Cazquez (Kool A.D.). They are known for lacing addicting beats with hilariously jarring and (seemingly) nonsensical verses. They first started getting looks in 2008 with their single Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell and rose to blogosphere notoriety with their mixtapes Shut up, Dude and Sit Down, Man. 

Heems on Das Racist's style: 

"We're not making music that's instantly appealing. We dabble with nonsequiturs, dadaism, repetition - repetition. We make dance music while talking about not-dancey things. We say things that on the surface can seem pretty dumb; it's a mask...for actual discontent with a lot of shit in the world."

What inspired this feature - their latest track.

 Das Racist - Michael Jackson

And the jam that started it all:

 Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell by dasracist

||VIDEO|| Best Coast - Our Deal

Get More: MTV Supervideo, Music, Best Coast

This Best Coast video is directed by Drew Barrymore and features cameo appearances from actors such as Donald Glover (from Community) and Alia Shawkat (from Arrested Development). This West Side Story tale of Shakespearean star-crossed lovers is fun yet painfully heart wrenching - amazing work on Barrymore's part. Best Coast's deservingly receiving a lot of attention this year.

|DANCE| Oliver - I Need You

This Los Angeles duo goes simply by Oliver and has put out this dance-floor ready track very early in the work week. Once they get 20,000 plays on their Soundcloud, they'll put the track up for free download. They've got some big remixes on the way; until then, I suggest you get an extra helping of synth and keep hitting play on this track!


 Oliver - I Need You by weareoliver

Gramatik's New Album - Beatz and Pieces Vol. 1

Pretty Lights Music's newest producer Gramatik released his first full album on July 12th. His tracks are reminiscent of Pretty Lights' work, but they have a distinctly hip hop Star Slinger feel to them. The Slovenian Gramatik has been putting up tracks since early 2008 and has won second place for "Best Chill Out Artist" and "Best Chill Out Track" at the 2010 Beatport Music Awards. He's also been touring with the likes of Pretty Lights, Glitch Mob, Two Fresh, and more. The album is up for free download but I kindly encourage you to donate if you download the whole thing - this is one seriously talented producer. 

 On The Boardwalk   

 Good Evening Mr. Hitchcock 

 Is It Over  

 The Drink Is Called Rakija  

Fake Blood - Used vol. 2

Fake Blood released two, hour long mixes - Used Volume 1 and Used Volume 2 - through Mad Decent just a week apart from each other. Instead of using compilations or mp3's like most people do for mixes, Fake Blood uses samples straight from old school hip hop records.

Fake Blood - USED Vol.2

SBTRKT - Up and Down LIVE with Sampha

SBTRKT just released a very interesting, live recording with singer Sampha. As you listen to it, it's difficult to predict how the song will evolve. I'm looking forward to more releases from this artist. Loving Sampha's voice.

 up & down SBTRKT w/ Sampha (LIVE) by sbtrkt 

Also enjoying this live recording from a month ago: 

 hold on (live at maida vale for bbc 1xtra) by sbtrkt 

Death in Paris 1983 - Phaser Vago + More

Italian producer Matteo Tulli, aka Death in Paris 1983, is pumping out a pipeful of jams on the regular. These gorgeous, loungey French-house-disco tunes are killing me. He plans on releasing future projects with O Groove Records and Electriquearts, so stay on the look out. He's released a number of EP's already, including Orange Road, Aquarel, Broken Cassetta, Amore, and Uhhh. (Thanks to our friends at Baked Goods for this find.)

 Phaser vago by Death in Paris 1983

And my favorite...

 Amore (Inspired by Fresh of Daft Punk) by Death in Paris 1983

||Video|| Holy Ghost! - Some Children

Holy Ghost! / Some Children By lilfuchs from DFA Records on Vimeo.

Short but funky promo vid by Holy Ghost! made in conjunction with Adult Swim. The LP is out and available on i-tunes.

You can stream the full track, released back in February by DFA Records,  HERE. 

||Video|| Lykke Li - Jerome (Acoustic Sessions)

Intensely moving and sincere. Sweden's Lykke Li gives us another powerful performance.

Chevy Woods featuring Mac Miller – The Drive

Chevy Woods just released this track Saturday night after his show in Atlanta. Pittsburgh native and member of Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang, Woods worked on The Drive with a little help from Mac Miller on some versus and Big Jerm on production. Seems like a lot of people are lukewarm on Chevy Woods and are waiting for his solo mixtape, The Cookout, to really prove himself. Regardless, I think this is a really smooth track. Keep an eye out for its release this August.

Chevy Woods featuring Mac Miller – The Drive by Hypetrak