MTV IGGY

We are so amped to debut “In the Line” from Pennsylvania singer-songwriter Koji’s forthcoming debut album Crooked in My Mind. Koji’s punk-bred acoustic jams have always been intensely personal and disarmingly armored in passion and sincerity. But this one is a hot burning coal of a song. He says, “‘In the Line‘ is about the troubling things we try to forget.” After you hear it, you may indeed come away with restless conscience.

The rest of the album promises to be just as intense. “Honesty was paramount in the making of Crooked In My Mind. This idea of making something real guided every step of the process from the songwriting to capturing sounds to the final mix,” he says of the project, which follows a long string of split albums and EPs. It was recorded with members of La Dispute, Balance and Composure, Title Fight, Gypsy and Lauryn Hill’s band. Check out the trailer:

Seriously, Run For Cover records had to deliver this song to us in a special fireproof carrying case. They’ll be delivering the rest of Koji’s album April 30th. The man himself is heading out on tour now with Slingshot Dakota.

And, finally, listen to, but don’t touch “In the Line”:

Tour Dates

April 5th: Long Island, NY@ Mixtape Fest.

April 6th: Boston, MA @ The Democracy Center

April 7th: Hamden, CT @ The Space

April 9th:  Albany, NY@ Valenties

April 10th: Stanhope, NJ @ Stanhope House

April 11th:  Baltimore,MD @ Charm City Art Space

April 12th: Richmond, VA @ Stay Sweet Fest

April 13th: Toledo, OH @ Jamboree

For his DJ Kicks mix, Maceo Plex excavated unknown crates for arcane and wondrous house cuts you won’t find anywhere else. That’s right, he’s constructed this mix of strikingly fresh sounding beats from tracks that are only on vinyl and won’t be available digitally any time soon.  Monsters from Id? TV Baby, anyone? Hey, if you want to sound this deep you have to dig deep.

Listen here for some nice edits and one exclusive Maceo Plex track, “Galactic Cinema.”

Track Listing

1. Monsters From ID – Spatial Lobe

2. Voice Stealer – Evaluation

3. Stingray313 - Defect

4. Mathias Schaffhäuser - Nice To Meet You (Maceo Plex Edit)

5. TV Baby - New York Is Alright (Blak Spun Mix)

6. Maceo Plex & Mark O’Sullivan - When It All Comes To This

7. Lab Insect aka Nomenklatür - Oh Happy Day (Maceo Plex Edit)

8. Kimbu Kimra - Raise the Dead (Love from San Francisco Dub)

9. Mattski - Escapism (Maceo Plex Conversation Remix)

10. Eric Volta - Rez-­‐Shifter (Maceo Plex Remix)

11. Visnadi - Racing Tracks (Indianapolis Drive Mix/Maceo Plex Edit)

12. Maceo Plex - Galactic Cinema (DJ-­‐Kicks)

13. Move D - Sandmann (Maetrik Edit)

14. Zeta Reticula & Freaks – Creeps (Maetrik Fusion Edit)

15. Jaydee – Payback (Maceo Plex Remix)

16. S.A.M. – Nangijala (Maceo Plex Reggae Edit)

17. Turner - Multiorgel (Schneider TM Mix)

18. Maceo Plex - Mind On Fire

Before grime was known as grime, east London’s Wiley created a sound called Eski – inspired by his cold feelings towards the world at the time. And classic productions such as “Eskimo”, “Ice Rink” and “Snowman” helped shape the genre that was to be. Although Richard Cowie’s off getting that pop/mainstream money now, he will forever remain an inspiration to aspiring grime MCs and producers the world over (yes, even in Poland). For the first edition of  Royal-T‘s new RTMIX series, he chose to pay homage to Wiley Kat’s icy-cold Eski beats by putting together a special, 20-track compilation. Listen and download below.

Tracklisting:

1) Wiley – Wot Do U Call It?
2) Wiley Kat – Snowman
3) Once Was Nice – What Could I Do (Wiley Kat & Danny Weed Vocal Mix)
4) Outlaw Breaks – Dutty (feat. Gemma Fox & Sweetie Irie) (Wiley Remix)
5) Wiley Kat – Shanghai
6) Wiley Kat – Ice Rink (Tinchy Stryder Vocal)
7) Wiley Kat – Ice Rink (Kano Vocal)
8) Wiley Kat – Ice Rink (Dizzee Rascal Vocal)
9) Wiley Kat – Snowball
10) Ludacris – Roll Out (Wiley Kat Remix)
11) Plasticman – Gotcha (Dr. Venom Refix)
12) Wiley Kat – Eskimo
13) Starfox – Blink
14) Geeneus – Genie
15) Wiley Kat – Frostbite (Devils Mix)
16) Wiley Kat – Bang Bang (Scratchy Vocal)
17) Wiley – 20 Minutes
18) Danny Weed – Creeper
19) Royal-T – Glacier
20) Wiley Kat – Eskimo 3 (New Brand Flex Refix) (Live Recording from ‘Climax vs Loveshy’ (2002))

Download for free: H E R E

Over the weekend, Duke Dumont blessed the ears of Annie Mac’s BBC Radio 1 listeners with a short but sweet Chicago House Minimix. In just over five minutes, the “Need U (100%)” producer neatly crams in twenty classic house tracks that have inspired his sound today. It’ll have you wanting it to be at least another 25 minutes longer, so just put it on loop and you’ll be fine. Shuffling newbies, it’s time for school!

Tracklisting:

1) Frankie Knuckles – Your Love
2) Robert Armani – Ambulance (Armando Remix)
3) Steve Silk Hurley – Jack Your Body
4) Mk II – Used By DJ
5) Mr Fingers – Can You Feel It
6) Farley Jackmaster Funk – Love Cant Turn Around
7) DJ Fast Eddie – Can U Dance
8) Julian ‘Jumpin’ Perez – Jack Me Til I Scream
9) Armando – 100% Of Dissin
10) Frankie Knuckles ft Jamie Principle – Baby Wants To Ride
11) Adonis – No Way Out
12) Armando – 151
13) Hercules – 7 Ways To Jack
14) Marshall Jefferson – Ride The Rhythm
15) Marshall Jefferson – Move Your Body
16) Inner City – Good Life
17) Farley Jackmaster Funk – Its You
18) ESP – Its You
19) Fingers Inc – Its Over
20) Inner City – Big Fun

Download for free: H E R E

Rudimental’s on-going mission to “bring back soul into electronic music” has clearly been a success, as all of their major label-released songs have achieved no less than top 20 status. The London-based quartet’s debut album, Home, will be coming out on April 30 but, on April 14, they will drop one more soul-meets-drum-and-bass single called “Waiting All Night.” Lee Foss, who co-owns the ever-popular Hot Creations label with Jamie Jones, was commissioned by Rudimental to transform their Ella Eyre-featuring track into a pop-tinged deep house cut for the shuffling massive. Listen below.

Reggae star Protoje’s just released a brand new video for “I&I” off his independent sophomore album The 8 Year Affair, which debuted in the Top 10 of the US Billboard Reggae chart.

He reminds me of a young Damian Marley and K’naan back in his Troubadour days. But Oje Ken Ollivierre AKA Protoje is himself very familiar to the music industry. The reggae fusion artist recorded a song, “Rasta Love” featuring Ky-Mani Marley and his debut album, The Seven Year Itch charted #2 in Canada, #3 in the USA and #4 in France.

He’s currently trying to top that success with his new project, The 8 Year Affair, released in February. Protoje’s heavily conscious track, “I&I,” (That’s Rasta talk, BTW.) is trying to to build unity and peace among all.

Join the movement and watch the “I&I” video below.

Old skool junglists, I have some exciting news for you. Remember Rebel MC? Well, he’s renamed himself Congo Natty and will be releasing his new LP, Jungle Revolution, on June 17 via London’s Big Dada Recordings. The first single off the legendary jungle lyricist’s album is “UK Allstars.”

Alongside six of the scene’s other loved ragga MCs – Tenor Fly, Top Cat, General Levy, Tippa Irie, Sweetie Irie and Daddy Freddy – Congo Natty treats Benny Page’s adrenaline-inducing beat to over three minutes of aggression and enough righteous, spiritual chat to put a smile on any Rastafarian’s boat. Listen and download below.

Download for free: H E R E

Neon Indian, purveyor of tasty synthy extremely chill pop delights, will be doing that thing everybody all the indie rockers are doing today and releasing a remix EP for songs off his beloved 2011 sophomore release Era Extraña. It’s going to be called ERRATA ANEX.

The EP hits on April 9th, but there’s a few bits listenable out on the interwebs already. They include Boyd Rice’s remix of “Halogen”, turning a hazy dance tune into a freaked-out witch house meditation. And you can here Twin Shadow’s version of “Hex Girlfriend” below, which is more stripped down, rocked out take on the original.

Track List:

1. Polish Girl (Optimo Mix)
2. Halogen (Boyd Rice Remix)
3. Heart Release (Patten Remix)
4. Blindside Kiss (Actress Remix)
5. Hex Girlfriend (Twin Shadow)