Birth of the Cool

Today would've been jazz legend Miles Davis' 83rd birthday.

Let's celebrate with one of my favorite songs from the bebop trumpeter's extensive collection, "Godchild" from his early days, Enjoy!

Abraham, Martin, John, & Marvin

I'm hoping the great readers of my blog are familiar with the musical legend that is Marvin Gaye. The Prince of Soul/Motown would have been 70 years old today, and his influence still reaches far beyond today's soul vocalists and R&B sensations to almost every element of urban music.

Everyone loves his collection of hit singles - I mean, I remember listening to "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" on a Best of Motown '68 tape back when I was a young'n - so I wanted to dig up an often-overlooked song from his collection that just happens to be my personal favorite.

In 1970, Marvin sang his own version of Dion's 1968 song "Abraham, Martin & John," a tribute to three essential figures of American history that stood for freedom and independence. The song appeared on That's the Way Love Is as an introduction to his style of social commentary and a precursor to the singer's magnum opus What's Goin On.

The reason I connect with the song is two reasons: the lyrics and Marvin's emotion when he recorded it. Also, the repetition of "He freed a lot of people/ But it seems the good die young/ I just looked around/ And he was gone" is eerily prophetic when it comes to his life and tragic death.

"Abraham, Martin & John" is truly one song that gives me chills, it is an essential part of today's celebration of Marvin Gaye's legacy, Enjoy!

[I'm at work so if anyone wants a download link, Tweet me or e-mail me and I'll be more that happy to share later tonight.

Check out the lyrics here]

Legend

Let's start Bob's B-day off right with a collection of his most popular and influential songs. I've bolded my personal favorites, this disc is essential for everybody.

Link in the CBox --->

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Legend

Track List:

1. Is This Love

2. No Woman No Cry

3. Could You Be Loved

4. Three Little Birds

5. Buffalo Soldier

6. Get Up Stand Up

7. Stir It Up

8. Easy Skanking

9. One Love/People Get Ready

10. I Shot the Sheriff

11. Waiting in Vain

12. Redemption Song

13. Satisfy My Soul

14. Exodus

15. Jamming

16. Punky Reggae Party

15 Favorite Mixtapes of '08

[courtesy of ivan]

Welcome to 2009 everyone, I hope it's your best year yet and I wish all of you good health, prosperity.. all that good stuff.

Before we get things jumping, I gotta look back to see what mixtapes I kept on heavy rotation last year. And there were some good ones. If you haven't heard these, I advise you to before the '09 hip-hop faucet starts leakin':

Mick Boogie & Terry Urban – Viva La Hova (Coldplay vs. Jay-Z)

Fav Tracks: "Lost Part 1," "Hola Blanco"

10. Deep presents Wale – Mixtape About Nothing mixed by Nick Catchdubs

Fav Tracks: "The Perfect Plan," "The Star"

10.Deep - The New Deal mixed by DJ Benzi
Fav Tracks: "2nd Time Around" ft. Wale & Brother Ali, "Piano Lessons" ft. Colin Munroe & Joell Ortiz prod. Black Milk

Nas & DJ Green Lantern – The Nigger Tape

Fav Tracks: "Esco Let's Go," "Nas Timeline" mixed by Statik Selektah

Joe Budden – Halfway House

Fav Tracks: "Just To Be Different," "Sidetracked"

Lil’ Wayne & The Empire - The Drought Is Over Part 6 (The Reincarnation)

Fav Tracks: "Best Thing Yet," "Put Me In The Game"

Legend & DJ Blazita - Real Hip-Hop No Gimmicks

Fav Tracks: Big Boi ft. Andre 300 & Raekwon - "Royal Flush," Talib Kweli ft. Blu & Joell Ortiz - "Hostile Gospel Remix"

10.Deep presents KiD CuDi - A KiD Named CuDi produced by Plain Pat & Emile

Fav Tracks: "Man on the Moon (The Anthem)," "Day N Nite"

Asher Roth – Don Cannon & DJ Drama present The Greenhouse Effect Vol. 1

Fav Tracks: "The Lounge," "ROTH Boys"

Mick Boogie, Shuko & The Gunna - Brooklyn Soul (Jay-Z vs. Marvin Gaye)

Fav Tracks: "Hello Brooklyn 2.0," "Party Life"

DJ Doc Rok – The Biggie Hendrix Experience

Fav Tracks: "Hypnotize/ Wild Thing," "Juicy/ Are You Experienced"

Mick Boogie & DJ Treat – Complex Magazine presents Leaders of the New Cool

Fav Tracks: B.o.B. - "I'll Be In The Sky," The Knux - "Fire"

Torae - Daily Conversation

Fav Tracks: "Click" ft. Skyzoo prod. DJ Premier, "Switch" prod. Black Milk

The Cool Kids - Instant Classic Mixtape

Fav Tracks: "Eighty Eight," "Pump Up The Volume"

Charles Hamilton – DJ Skee presents Crash Landed

Fav Tracks: "November 10th," "Ambitions of Musicians"

Back 2 The Basics, Again

.. Since I'm at work grinding before our holiday luncheon today, I won't be able to post more than this until I get home (early, I hope!). I downloaded On Smash Presents.. Legend, DJ Nice & DJ Green Lantern's Back 2 The Basics 2 last night for, I mean, obvious reasons - DJ Green Lantern is a beast and the track listing looked incredibly dope.

I only listened to a couple tracks before calling it a night, the "Set It Off" Remix and Fashawn's "Freedom" produced by Exile bang heavy but I can't vouch for the entire thing just yet.

Good looks to Rizoh for the heads up and for upping Vol. 1 which you can download here, Enjoy!

On Smash Presents Legend, DJ Nice & DJ Green Lantern - Back 2 The Basics 2

Track List:

1. Ced Hughes & Emilio Rojas- Kick In The Door (Produced by The Kickdrums)

2. Raekwon & Special Ed - Hood Story (Produced by Huu Banga)

3. Curren$y - Got It (Produced by Monsta Beatz)

4. KiD CuDi - Can I Be

5. Nipsey Hu$$le - HoodStar

6. GoDChilD - Toast 2 Life (Produced by Black Friday)

7. Sha Stimuli - Next Up (Produced by J.Cardim)

8. The Kid Daytona - Lately (Produced by Ill Bomb)

9. Theo - Roberta Flack Revisit (feat. Dolly) (Produced by Flying Lotus)

10. Killer Mike - Grinding

11. Nino Bless - Murdera

12. Kardinal Offishall - Set It Off (Remix) (feat. Dr. Dre & The Clipse) (Produced by Boi-1da)

13. Novel - Noise (Produced by Breeze The Beatmachine)

14. Chip The Ripper - Moses Freestyle

15. D-Black - Hold Up (Gangsta Shit) (Produced by Illmind)

16. Fashawn - Freedom (Produced by Exile)

17. Joell Ortiz - Say No

18. Mickey Factz - OnSMASH (feat. CurT@!N$)

19. The Insomniaks - Crashin Whips

20. Mikkey Halsted - Karma (Produced by No I.D.)

21. Skyzoo - Catch Up (Produced by Ski)

22. Billy Danze - Undescribable (feat. Busta Rhymes)

23. Wafleek - The Hollows

24. Harlem’s Cash - Modern Day Malcolm (feat. Santogold) (The Government Remix)

25. A.Pinks - In My Own World (Bonus)