EQ Magazine: April 2010

EQ magazine is the definitive source for audio and home recording studio equipment and software. Our information covers all of your music and digital needs.
What's In This April 2010 Issue:
Better Grooves With Ableton Live
Erykah Badu - Style Juggling Diva Overcomes "Demo Love"
Dillinger Escape Plan's Atypical Metal Methods
Pat Metheny"s Synchronized Robot Orchestra
Mastering Master Class

Get it here.

Mos Dub

I was surfing the net for more music (as usual) and came across this refreshing Reggae/Dub remix album produced by Max Tannone that features Brooklyn veteran MC Mos Def. If you know your Hip-Hop history, then you know that outside of sampling James Brown tunes and other Soul artists, Hip-Hop gained most of it's influence from Reggae and Dancehall out of Jamaica. What makes this extra sweet is, it's a FREE DOWNLOAD! Grab it here and ENJOY!

Ms. Vampire Booty

Leela James: My Soul

On May 25, 2010, Leela James drops her third studio album My Soul on Stax Records. Below is the official video of her first single "Tell Me You Love Me", a track that James co-wrote with Andrea Martin and Gordon Williams, and was produced by Gerrard Baker.

LeelaJames.com



Tracklisting:
1. I Ain’t New To This
2. So Cold
3. The Fact Is
4. I Want It All
5. Party All Night
6. Mr. Incredible - Ms. Unforgetable
7. Tell Me You Love Me
8. Let It Roll
9. Supa Luva
10. If It’s Wrong
11. It’s Over

Pineapple Express

Houston based rapper Mookie Jones proves time and time again that he is one of the best new MCs in the genre of Hip-Hop by snagging 1st Place in the 2003 National Roc The Mic Competition sponsored by Roc-A-Fella Records at age 15, winning the Source Magazine MC Battle in Houston to be crowned Houston's freestyle champ, and then went on to take home the title of Scion's 'The Prospect', which included winning a $75,000 marketing deal and recording over a track produced by Hi-Tek ("Turn It Up") in 2007.

Mookie, born Oran Jones II, son of legendary Def Jam R&B singer Oran 'Juice' Jones, is set to release a new mixtape titled Tuskeegee. On 420 Day (April 20th) he dropped his first single "Zoota (Pineapple Express)", that will be featured on the mixtape. His current goal is to get 1,000+ downloads of the single. You can get it for FREE here. Enjoy!

Zoota (Pineapple Express)


Official Myspace: Mook Jones

Happy Birthday Mumia Abu Jamal

Well wishes and good energy go out to Mumia Abu Jamal, who's currently being held as a political prisoner. Please keep our brother in your prayers so he can get out of this mess safely. For more info: FREE MUMIA!


Free Mumia Abu Jamal by I-Mara
For more info on this artist: I-Mara

Janelle Monae: TheArchandroid Suites II + III

The lovely and talented Janelle Monae will be releasing her new album on May 18th. I was blown away by listening to this single off the album, which has an old school Rock n Roll/Alternative feel. Looks like we have another to add to the ranks of young artists who are bringing us good music in these times of having the markets saturated with garbage. Enjoy!

Come Alive (The War of the Roses)


1. Suite II Overture
2. Dance Or Die f. Saul Williams
3. Faster
4. Locked Inside
5. Sir Greendown
6. Cold War
7. Tightrope f. Big Boi
8. Neon Gumbo
9. Oh, Maker
10. Come Alive (The War of The Roses)
11. Mushrooms & Roses
12. Suite III Overture
13. Neon Valley Street
14. Make The Bus f. Of Montreal
15. Wondaland
16. 57821 f. Deep Cotton
17. Say You’ll Go

Happy Birthday Roy Orbison

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Roy Orbison was born on this day, April 23, 1936 in Vernon, Texas. Orbison is well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. His musical start was in a high school rockabilly/country western band until he got signed to Sun Records in Memphis. After signing to Sun Records and singing with the Teen Kings, the group only scored one hit ("Ooby Dooby") that reached #59 on the Billboard charts and sold 200,000 copies.

After the Teen Kings fell apart and Orbison having financial problems, he made a living writing for Acuff-Rose, a songwriting firm that concentrated more on country music. While at Acuff-Rose, Roy would record several demo tapes and send to RCA-Victor. Orbison would be refused by RCA-Victor because he sounded too soft and timid to producers. Roy Orbison eventually signed to Monument Records in Nashville and achieved his greatest success in the early to mid 1960's when 22 of his songs placed on the U.S. Billboard Top Forty, including "Only the Lonely", "Crying", "In Dreams", and "Oh, Pretty Woman".

Happy Birthday Stephen Marley

A happy bornday (April 20th) salute is in order for Stephen Marley, son of Reggae legends Bob Marley and Rita Marley. Stephen has earned the title of legend in his own right getting his start with his siblings in the group Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, then later to produce much of his older brother Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley's three solo albums, including the scoring of the massive worldwide hit and title track of Welcome To Jamrock in 2005. He also produced for brother Julian Marley, and executive produced and performed on the 1999 Bob Marley mash-up, Chant Down Babylon. He would later go on to produce and pen his own albums Mind Control, which sold nealy 10,000 copies in it's first week, and Mind Control: Acoustic, in which he won a Grammy for the latter. He has also collaborated with brother Ky-Mani Marley and other notable Dancehall and Reggae artists.

R.I.P. Guru of Gangstarr

Hip-Hop has lost another pioneer, legend and soldier in the genre. Guru passed away yesterday (April 19th) after battling cancer. He spent some time in a coma after suffering from a heart attack in late February. I'm glad to have met Guru on two occasions and to have sat down and talked to him for hours. He was very genuine, humble, and leveled with you. I had a copy of Hard To Earn and the 12'' of Mass Appeal autographed by him, but they both were stolen.

The following is an excerpt from DJ Premier's blog. Read the full passage here.

Guru, born Keith Elam, rose to fame in the 80’s as the founder of the legendary rap group GangStarr. The group released the classic single Words I Manifest followed by their critically acclaimed debut album No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989) and the classic album Step In The Arena (1991). Guru was the first artist to truly blend Hip-Hop with Live Jazz beginning in 1993, and seeing the vast influences his Jazzmatazz concept has had on the industry, it is clear that Guru’s musical contributions have been way ahead of their time. Guru has worked with such great artists as Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, Donald Byrd, Ramsey Lewis, Roy Ayers, Chaka Kahn, Branford Marsalis, David Sanborn, Bob James, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Common, Angie Stone, Jamiroquai, Macy Gray and Damien Marley, to name a few. Despite the fact that Guru isn’t hailing from New York, he is noted as a pioneer of the New York sound and true lyrical Hip-Hop. Guru later on joined forces with hit producer Solar and formed his label 7 Grand Records with the goal to keep “real” Hip-Hop alive.

REST IN POWER GURU

Happy 420

Here's a classic tune from Reggae legend Rita Marley that's fitting for the occasion.