Tag Archives: Anderson Paak

[Music Ninja Radio] Episode 103: Soultronica x Black Panther x Dance Bliss

Posted by Ash El Gamal - February 12, 2018

Music Ninja Radio is a weekly podcast recorded and broadcast live on San Francisco’s BFF.fm from 4-6PM PST every Friday.

Music Ninja Radio
Episode 103: Soultronica x Black Panther x Dance Bliss

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This week’s show was mostly a mish-mash of various Soundcloud/Bandcamp finds across genres plus a few favorite cuts from TDE’s Black Panther OST. A few other projects highlighted in this episode include stellar new EPs from Ravyn Lenae, Mija & Geotheory alongside Keinemusik‘s eclectic self-titled album. Closing out the show was a selection of left-field house cuts ranging from funky to hazy lo-fi to ethereal electro.

[Music Video] Mr Probz – Gone feat. Anderson .Paak

Posted by Tyler Trew - September 5, 2017

Get ready for something a little different from Ultra Records. “Gone” by Mr Probz and Anderson .Paak is a laidback jam whose soulful sound will certainly touch your own soul. Today we present not only the song, but the music video for it.

“Gone” is a great song and the crew delivered big on a music video that’s equally as captivating, but in a totally different way. There’s a certain vintage quality to both the song and video, but the styles are a bit different with the video being an animated world that we get brought into. It’s not all animation though, as you’ll see when you dive into it. Overall the entire “Gone” project will pleasure the senses and if you’d like a copy of the track you can get it on digital stores.

[16 To End 2016] Ninja Ash’s Best Of The Year

Posted by Ash El Gamal - December 31, 2016

As many grievances as 2016 brought, it’d be a lie to say it wasn’t an incredible year of music. Perhaps, that’s how it always works–the best art comes in the worst of times. Music has always been my primary coping mechanism and I couldn’t be more thankful for all the artists that made this year bearable and, quite honestly, pretty damn fun despite it all. These are the songs that soundtracked my best moments and lifted me up during my lowest–I hope they can do the same for you. Happy New Year!

Solange
Cranes In The Sky (Kaytranada Edit)

Soundcloud

No song quite captured the struggle of depression in a more captivating manner than Solange‘s ‘Cranes In The Sky.’ Kaytranada‘s edit makes it glow even more.

Moses Sumney
Lonely World

Soundcloud

2016 was a well-deserved breakout year for the incredibly talented Moses Sumney. “Lonely World,” with its intense progression, would be my song of the year if I had to pick one.

Autolux
Change My Head

Soundcloud

Autolux were easily one of my favorite discoveries of the year and “Change My Head” is them at their most potent–haunting, grungy and catchy with raw, dynamic percussion.

Moderat
Reminder

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Moderat‘s III was my favorite album of the year and ‘Reminder’ exemplifies the super-group’s incredible production in both its stark lows and explosive highs.

Mick Jenkins
Drowning feat. BADBADNOTGOOD

Soundcloud

This is just a beautiful protest song in so many ways. From Mick Jenkins‘ versatile rapping and singing to Badbadnotgood‘s flawless live instrumentation, it possesses a unique balance and thoughtfulness that few similarly themed songs display. Make sure to check out the entrancing music video as well.

Blood Orange
E.V.P.

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This one’s for Prince! Blood Orange couldn’t have given us Freetown Sound at a better juncture.

Kaytranada
Glowed Up (feat. Anderson .Paak)

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Two of 2016’s all-stars team up for pure gold capturing Kaytra’s intriguing cadence and Anderson .Paak‘s soulful flows.

Innanet James
Summer Prod. The Kount

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Innanet James‘ introduction to the music world comes with this no-fucks-given summer anthem that also highlights The Kount, a candidate for best new hip-hop producer.

Kid Cudi
By Design (feat. Andre 3000)

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Kid Cudi, Plain Pat, Pharrell & Andre 3000…yeah, could’ve guess this one would be in my 16 before I even heard it. Can’t stop listening to this one.

A Tribe Called Quest
We The People

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A message of inclusion that came when I needed it and from exactly the crew I wanted to hear it from. RIP Phife Dawg!

Rufus Du Sol
Innerbloom

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“Innerbloom” is truly Rufus Du Sol‘s manifesto–an epic that captures the essence of their endlessly playable 2016 release, Bloom. This song also spawned one of the best remixes of the year from What So Not.

Kenton Slash Demon
TT

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Kenton Slash Demon continue to enamor me with their trippy, textured take on dance music. ‘TT’ manages to feel both ethereal and ready for the dance floor.

Frank Ocean
White Ferrari (Jacques Greene Edit)

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The original version of “White Ferrari” may be my favorite track from Frank Ocean‘s emotional masterpiece, Blonde–capturing both its most and least accessible elements. Montreal producer Jacques Greene released nothing but phenomenal productions this year but this remix of Frank takes the cake.

Ross From Friends
Gettin’ It Done

Soundcloud

Aside from having the best name in dance music, Ross From Friends flipped everything I thought I knew about house music on its head. “Gettin’ It Done” certainly makes you want to dance but the lo-fi sonics teamed with a masterfully utilized soul sample create a vibe unlike anything I’ve heard before. If you dig this one, check out this mind-blowing live performance from Ross & crew.

Mall Grab
Father

Soundcloud

Mall Grab wins the award for my favorite house discovery of 2016 and this take on the sample from Kanye’s “Father Stretch My Hands Pt.1” was a staple in my DJ sets this year. While I love Kanye’s version, his cringe-worthy opening line disqualified it from any best of lists.

Billy Kenny
Work Me (Justin Jay Remix)

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Werk into the New Year!

[Festival Review] Outside Lands IX : Revisiting the Most Memorable Acts of the Weekend

Posted by Dominic Powell - August 19, 2016

In continuing to build on the foundation laid nine years ago, Another Planet Entertainment has once again outdone themselves; the final product being yet another successfully executed Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival. The 2016 version – keen on replicating the successes of previous iterations – was calculated in its approach, careful not to break the trends and quirks that have made it such a mainstay to the community.

Instead, APE kept what has worked and improved upon it; meaning deeper lineups, aesthetically more impressive sound and lighting productions, finally allowing payment via RFID-enabled festival wristbands, and a fair amount of side stages to keep all wandering pseudo-bohemians well occupied. Unfortunately, along with the quality improvements also came a pretty substantial price adjustment – putting on a nationally recognized festival is big business, after all.

Those willing to stomach the uptick were treated to an especially diverse lineup ranging from saxophone playing acts like Kamasi Washington and GRiZ, nostalgia-inducing pop rock outfit Third Eye Blind, platinum (and featureless) hip hop artist J.Cole, EDM prodigy Zedd, the Jack-of-all-trades Garratt, and rags to riches rapper Anderson .Paak.

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Saturday Selection Vol. 9

Posted by Mitch Marzuola - June 5, 2016

This weeks has been something else, and I’m still catching up after being at Governors Ball this weekend. We’re primed and ready for another slick collection of new tunes, from Louis Futon to the first cut off of midnight’s new EP, so go ahead and jump right into it. Enjoy!

O R I O N – Gold Dust ft. Cammie Robinson

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This song is from a little while ago, but it was new to us and instantly caught our ears. O R I O N put together a beautiful brain-melter with “Gold Dust”, and the sparse, but angelic vocals of Cammie Robinson are the icing on the cake. The innate feeling of escapism creeps out throughout the tune, and you’ll want to go explore the world as it plays. Enjoy this one on a bright and day. You’ll feel absolutely wonderful.

SWIMS – Bedrooms

Soundcloud

SWIMS is an exciting new duo that combines the best of trap, R&B, and electronic music into a breezy and ethereal creation. Optimized for complete relaxation, “Bedrooms” stands as a strong debut for these two. It’s a serenade with all the right trappings. It hits all the right spots. Soak this one in with a special someone tonight.

midnight – Native America (feat. The Internet)

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The combination of midnight and The Internet is impossible to be apathetic about. Touching on the marred past of the United States, these talented people describe the constant push for the best life available in a seductive fashion that gives the message a new appearance. We’ve been hooked on midnight ever since his XXI Labors EP, and seeing him work with The Internet to deliver such a powerful message only solidifies our admiration of his work. Find some time to really sit and reflect on these lyrics.

Goldlink – Unique (Louis Futon Remix)

Soundcloud

This one is simply fun. That’s no surprise, coming from Louis Futon. He decided to return to his earlier remix roots by flipping this Goldlink and Anderson Paak original into absolutely irresistible scorcher of a dance tune. We’re not even sure what the best part of it is, but there is one thing we know for sure. It’s ALL great. Kick off the shift into warm weather with this one.

The Geek x Vrv – Coming Up’ Feat Kellylee Evans & Atom

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So much soul. The Geek x Vrv never fails to bring out the best funk, hip-hop, and soul crossovers with their material, and “Coming Up” is a vibrant new addition to their stellar sound. Featuring a fourth of C2C and the striking singing of Kellylee Evans, this song triumphs on its 90s rap atmosphere and style that’s revamped and repurposed into a more modern sound. You can’t NOT bob your head. We’re making sure to keep the double negative there just so you know we MEAN it. Throw this tune on when you just want to groove.

[Soul/Hip-Hop] Hiatus Kaiyote – Laputa (Taylor McFerrin Remix) Feat. Anderson .Paak

Posted by Dominic Powell - April 18, 2016

Hiatus Kaiyote
Laputa (Taylor McFerrin Remix feat. Anderson .Paak)

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The current era of music has seen a shift in which risk-taking is rewarded. Those who have pushed genres into the forefront, or combined technical aspects across previously uncrossed planes have been showered with praises of ‘breakthrough’ and ‘genius’.

Comparable to the way in which Tame Impala championed psychedelia and had universal success, Melburnian band Hiatus Kaiyote is still waiting to reap the same scale of appreciation for operating in their own niche of the musical landscape.

“Under appreciated” is usually not a phrase used to describe multiple Grammy-nominated bands, but HK is by no means as recognized as their talent would dictate. Leading the way in the future soul and nu-jazz realms, they have been immeasurably successful in outpacing their contemporaries since their formation and debut album release in 2012.

Following up with Choose Your Weapon in May of last year, HK has since slowly gained recognition for their structural aspects and skillful composition. Further demonstrating the versatility of their sound, the quartet released their newest EP, Recalibrations, Vol. 1, a collection of remixes which came out this past Friday.

With the collaborative efforts of solo artist Taylor McFerrin and up and coming producer / vocalist Anderson .Paak, listeners were graced with a remix to “Laputa,” which debuted on their 2015 album Choose Your Weapon. The original, a song praising the Hayao Miyazaki film by the same name, is a minimalistic track that relies heavily on the talented vocals of lead singer Nai Palm. The remix, put together by frequent collaborator Taylor McFerrin (see their previous work together here), is a perfect extension of what existed previously.

Injected with a dreamy, beatboxing style seen in his own solo works, McFerrin’s “Laputa” takes a turn towards a redeeming love song following a psychedelic-synth bridge at the 2:00 mark. Anderson .Paak, capitalizing on the success of his January release, Malibu, provides the finishing touches by smoothly and soulfully rapping to the conclusion of the song.

With Recalibrations, Vol. 1 available now on iTunes, Hiatus Kaiyote will be touring the world and making believers of their brand one city at a time; they will be playing Lollapalooza, Osheaga, and Outside Lands to name a few. Fans new and old can keep up with the latest releases on their Soundcloud page.

[Chill] Snakehips – Money On Me (feat. Anderson .Paak)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - April 1, 2016

SNAKEHIPS
Money On Me ft. Anderson .Paak

Soundcloud

Snakehips and Anderson .Paak are two artists who have seemingly worked with everyone. Last year saw the UK production duo of Snakehips making hits with artists from Chance the Rapper to Syd (of The Internet), while everything-man Anderson .Paak teamed up with countless rappers and producers on his way to signing with Dr. Dre. So, when a collab between the two popped up in our Soundcloud feeds, we can’t say we were surprised but that didn’t make us any less excited. On “Money On Me,” Snakehips craft a smooth, low-end atmosphere over which .Paak delivers one of his most chilled-out vocal performances. Even as the production fills out, the song doesn’t lose its smooth, summery vibe. Warm up with this tune above and make sure to check out Anderson .Paak’s Malibu if you haven’t yet.