Hear 5 Songs From The Black Keys

The Black Keys will release El Camino on December 6th, but you can hear 5 songs right now. Do I really have to say anything else? Simply add your email address and get access to their first single Lonely Boy, plus Gold on the Ceiling, Little Black Submarines, Sister & Run Right Back

Black Star Announce New Album

Mos Def and Talib Kweli, collectively known as Black Star are making some noise with two new songs and a new album due in 2012. The album would be there first release since their debut in 1998! Fix Up was released on Friday and this morning we got You Already Knew. Both tracks are said to be part of an album inspired by Aretha Franklin, tentatively titled Black Star Aretha. You can hear both tracks below and watch the classic video for Definition.

Childish Gambino - Heartbeat

At least one member of the NBC sitcom Community had a good day. The same day his the sitcom was "benched", Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino released his debut album Camp on Glassnote Records. After releasing 3 albums and an EP for free, it's time to pay up. The album was previewed a week early on NPR and is getting solid reviews from pretty much everyone. What started as a sample-heavy mixtape for hipsters, he has definitely transitioned into a well-produced artist. When I first heard him on I am just a Rapper, I found the Sleigh Bells and Grizzly Bear samples a bit too reminiscent of Chiddy Bang, and quite frankly that gets old after a while. Last summer's Freaks & Geeks EP was a huge step in the right direction and a favorite of mine in 2011. Lyrically, his ability to turn words and snap one-liners is his greatest asset. He stopped by Conan last night to play Heartbeat, his second single and my favorite song on the new album. Check out the video below along with his track Break, killing Kanye's All of the Lights.

Heartbeat (Radio Rip)

Break (AOTL) [FREE DOWNLOAD]

Introducing: Star Slinger

I first became aware of Star Slinger after he released a remix of Childish Gambino's Freaks & Geeks, earlier this year. The original has been on repeat since it was released, but the remix was just so different, I had to check him out. He followed that up with a massive mix for Fabric and has been on fire ever since. Despite being from Manchester, Star Slinger relies heavily on Soul samples, deep cuts that I've heard for too many years to count. On his collaboration titled Teams vs Star Slinger he samples Barbara Mason's Yes, I'm Ready with absolute precision. A track from his release Volume 1, titled Mornin' speeds up the classic Let's Do It Again by the Staple Singers and it's the illest thing I've heard in a while. He recently finished his first US tour and thankfully I caught him at Lincoln Hall. A proper debut is in the works, with the first single Dumbin' available as a free download from Green Label Sound. Normally I give you a single song or video to let the goodness sink in, but I honestly couldn't decide on just one.
Dumbin' (ft Reggie B) [FREE DOWNLOAD]

April Fabric Mix [FREE DOWNLOAD]

Childish Gambino - Freaks & Geeks (Star Slinger Remix) [FREE DOWNLOAD]

Teams vs Star Slinger - Punch Drunk Love [FREE DOWNLOAD]

Mornin' (From Volume 1)

Rostam - Don't Let It Get To You

Fans of Rostam Batmanglij, rejoice! The Vampire Weekend member released his second song in a little over a month, creating whispers of a solo album. The song titled Don't Let It Get To You, is everything you'd expect from him. A bit of tribal drums, cascading synths and spoken word lyrics. The electronic elements bring to mind Discovery, his other side project, a collaboration with Ra Ra Riot's Wes Miles. Follow him on tumblr or Soundcloud, because I'm sure there is more music to follow.
Don't Let it Get to You by ROSTAM