Def do Mos.

Dante do Brasil.  Most people either love Mos Def or they gripe about the way he defies genre boundaries.  Though its been a long road for the performing artist, from the days of “Body Rock” and “Definition,”  Mos Def continues to push the envelope with his latest endeavor, The Ecstatic.  This time in favor of world flavor.  The album features tracks used from Beat Konducta’s India, and other top notch production including the likes of Chad Hugo, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Oh No.  The two tracks that impressed me the most, for obvious reasons, were produced by Preservation from New Jersey, who seems to be making big moves with some legendary emcees.  The album is worth a listen for everyone who have been waiting for the politically minded, Mos Def to lean back on Hip Hop.

The first track here is “Quiet Dog Bite Hard,”  it samples a batucada track, that I haven’t quite traced yet, equipped with a brazilian surdo (a samba bass drum) and soulful hand claps.  This will liven up any party for sure.  Check it out here:  Mos Def – Quiet Dog Bite Hard.

The next selection here is the last track on the album, titled “Casa Bey,” and rightfully so, it is co-produced by Mos Def.  The sample comes from Banda Black Rio’s version of “Casa Forte,” written and originaly performed by Edu Lobo.  As of late we have been working really close with Banda Black Rio, so this song really struck a chord with me, and to see one of my favorite emcee’s rhyme over this was nice.  Though it hasn’t been the first time Hip Hop dabbed into Musica Brasileira (i.e. Pharcyde’s “Runnin’,” Black Eyed Peas debut album, Madvillainy, etc.), everytime Brazilian music is sampled by musicians of this fortitude, it continues to open up doors for people to endorse new cultures through music and that is Beats of All-Nations.  Experience it here:  Mos Def – Casa Bey.

On that note this Saturday, JB and I would like to invite So. Cal heads out to an event that bridges the gap between music genres from Samba, Soul to Hip Hop.  For nearly a year Re:Fresh has brought a unique vibe to Pomona’s dba256 wine bar/art lounge.  We are only doing it once a month so don’t miss out on one of  the freshest social get downs outside of Los Angeles.  P.S. No cover charge.  Here’s the info:

                                                                                                                                             

-Mike Styles

Primal Roots.

It has been a while since the last post, so we would like to share with you a very special album in the library.  Westernly known under its English tag of  Primal Roots, Sergio Mendes and Brazil ’77 cuts deep with their not so popular Raizes album.  Don’t be fooled by the group name, this album was recorded in 1972.  I haven’t actually quite figured out why Mendes named his groups the way he did.  This is possibly one of the deepest (and out-there), Sergio Mendes albums ever released, might we recommend his live Brasil ’65 album, In Person at El Matador! (which will likely see the light of day here at somepoint). 

Unlike the rest of his career which was based on turning Antonio Carlos Jobim‘s mellow bossa nova tunes and The Beatles’ rock into spiced up dancining opportunies, this album touches back on primative percussion and pushes away from the usual show tune avant garde.  Though Raizes, is one of the least talked about albums, one particular tribal break on the record still makes DJs and B-Boys salivate as it has been used over and again from some of hip-hop’s most respected artists and producers including,  the Visionaries, Yesterday’s New Quintet and even J. Dilla.

This was one of his last releases on Herb Alpert‘s A&M label, and then it was on to the 1980’s, and eventually a Brasil ’66 forty year anniversary release with the help of will.i.am, need I say more?  Advanced listeners only for the 19 minute track.  May we also urge you, if you haven’t already, to delve into and sorting through the rest of Sergio Mendes’ great catalogue, particularly the ’65, ’66 and ’77 eras.

Download Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’77 here.

Track Listing:

01 – Promessa de Pescador (Dorival Caymmi)
02 – Após o Amanhecer (After Sunrise) (Tião Neto / Oscar Castro Neves)
03 – Canto de Ubiratan (Tradicional / Adpt. Sergio Mendes)
04 – Iemanjá (Baden Powell / Vinicius de Moraes)
05 – Pomba Gira (Tradicional / Adpt. Sergio Mendes)
06 – Jogo de Roda (Edu Lobo / Ruy Guerra)
07 – Promessa de Pescador (Dorival Caymmi)

-mike styles