ANDERSON .PAAK. "Am I Wrong (feat. ScHoolboy Q)." MALIBU, STEEL WOOL / OBE / ART CLUB / EMPIRE, 2016.
I don't think that's a wrong assumption to make.
I wanna dance, dance, dance with you
ODESZA. "Say My Name (feat. Zyra)." In Return, Foreign Family Collective under exclusive license to Counter Records, 2014.
This track always puts me in a good mood. Bon vendredi!
You and I, there's air in between
Maggie Rogers. "Alaska." Now That The Light Is Fading, Debay Sounds LLC under exclusive license to Capitol Records, 2017.
Love everything about this track and can't wait to see what this young singer-songwriter puts out in her years ahead.
Such a trip comparing this recent interview between Rogers and Pharrell with the video (below) where he first heard the track during his masterclass at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and shared his feedback with the budding artist. Gives me chills.
Just put on my best pair of shoes
The Avalanches. "Because I'm Me." Wildflower, XL Recordings, 2016.
These guys have the best music videos.
Would you please explain about the 50 ways?
Paul Simon. "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." Still Crazy After All These Years, CBS, 1975.
While we're talking about great drums, let's keep it rolling.
Scroll down below to listen out for the sample on Common's "Forever Begins" off 2007's Finding Forever.
Bring on the juice
James Brown. "Funky Drummer." In The Jungle Groove, Polydor Records, 1986.
🎶 Don't turn it loose, 'cause it's a mother. 🎶
Sampled by Dre, JAY Z, Public Enemy, and many other hip hop greats, this track features one of the best breaks from the legendary drummer Clyde Stubblefield.
You look so good
William Onyeabor. "Fantastic Man." Who Is William Onyeabor?, Luaka Bop, Inc., 2013.
We sadly lost this incredible Nigerian artist earlier this year at the ripe old age of 90, but his funky synth-afrobeat music lives on (and is the perfect jam to listen to while rollerskating, no?). This track is off his 1979 record Tomorrow, and was released as part of a compilation over thirty years later by David Byrne's Luaka Bop imprint.
Learn more about Onyeabor in this article from the Guardian or in the Noisey documentary below.
(And now it's time for a breakdown)
En Vogue. "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)." Funky Divas, Elektra Entertainment for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States, 1992.
Had a magical time up in the mountains around Lake Tahoe over the past three days for Women's Empowerment Weekend, celebrating the upcoming wedding of my incredible friend Alia with sixteen badass ladybosses. Feeling grateful for all of the strength, wisdom, and dance floor breakdowns we shared during our time out in the woods together.
I feel a little rush
Yuna. "Crush (Feat. Usher)." Chapters, The Verve Music Group, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc., 2016.
Yep.
Kingdoms have fallen, angels be calling
Daniel Caesar. "Get You (feat. Kali Uchis)." Get You (Single), Daniel Caesar, 2017.
Views from the Six.
Let's focus on communicating
Khalid. "Location." American Teen, RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, 2017.
This voice. That beat. Those lyrics (seriously, go check out his annotations on Genius).
Khalid perfectly captures that feeling of young love on this track and I just can't get enough.
What good is a bed when there’s a hooptie instead
Ari Lennox. "Backseat (Feat. Cozz)." PHO, Dreamville/Interscope, 2016.
Thanks to my homegirl Marika for scooping this lil' ditty at SXSW. Ari Lennox has got some serious soul.
Read up on how Lennox found herself working on J.Cole's Dreamville imprint after throwing up some covers online, including this dreamy flip of Beyoncé's "Drunk In Love," in this interview with The FADER.
She slays it on this Otis Redding track, one of my all-time favourites...
...and just one more of her take on the legendary Lauryn Hill's classic "X Factor," background noise and all.
In your open arms, baby, I belong
Kehlani. "Keep On." SweetSexySavage, TSNMI / Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International for the world outside of the United States, 2017.
Hailing from Oakland, this pretty bird's got a voice that's so sugar-sweet.
Slip from my shoulder
NAO. "Fool to Love." For All We Know, Little Tokyo Recordings under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, 2016.
Feeling the R&B vibes today and rediscovered NAO's album from this last summer.