The Musik Lounge

Press play, turn the volume up and enjoy the fresh sounds coming through your speakers! Lots of Jazz this week, along with a few hiphop gems, a funky, upbeat electronic set in the middle. Catch me live Sundays from 1 - 3 PM PST @ KTQA.org ! UPDATE: This episode is no longer available to stream. If you would like to hear it holler at me ! Tracklist: Andre 3000 “Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C. / Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, And John Wayne Gacy” DJ Spinna, Ronny Jordan & Mos Def “Brighter Day (DJ Smash Edit)” Butcher Brown “Tidal Wave” Ronnie Laws “Tidal Wave” Staples Jr. Singers “Too Close” Joel Ross “Nublues (Fade)” Ryan Porter “The Instrumental Hip-Hoppa” James Francies “Sway” Angela Bofill “Accept Me (I’m Not A Girl Anymore)” Cleo Sol “Sideways” Ana Caravelle “Where Have You Been? (Take Remix)” Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Garrett Saracho “Calo” Brighter Days Family “Breathe” DJ Seinfeld & Confidence Man “Now U Do (Extended UKG Remix)” TQD “There 4 U” Ch...

The topography of the rap landscape is one I don’t have the energy, or desire, to stay on top of any longer. That said I still try to keep my ears piqued for things, often late, but aware. I’ve forgone much of the regional youthful movements - leave those to the ones who care and are more hip . I’m enjoying my sonic journeys these days. And yet I can’t ever get away from rap entirely. If you dig into the archives of this blog or know me you know that hiphop is at the root going back to the first CD I ever got. Backwoodz Studioz has been bubbling and it feels as though they may finally be reaching broader appeal, following in the footsteps of Stones Throw , Rhymesayers and Def Jux . The latter of which they are most sonically aligned, presenting a modern take on the dark and amorphous New York underground sound so pristinely captured by El and company at the turn of the century.  This lineage is supported by Backwoodz founder billy woods connection with the Jukies, specifically V...

“Music makes me happy...” It’s 3 AM and the rain is falling as I put the needle to the grooves of Evidence’s The Weatherman LP - an album I’ve consistently kept in my ears since its release thirteen years ago. It captures a grimey west coast style of production rarely found on other LA releases. The mood is set via heavy drums, rattling bass and knocking syths. Tunes are bright, banging and uplifting. Samples interspersed with original compositions, a production style that today seems commonplace but was just beginning to evolve upon the album's release. It’s an album for the ages. It’s an album for quarantine. I’m on day 14 of no work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No lies, the first week I treated it like a vacation, processing heartbreak I ignored the warnings and did not practice social distancing one bit. The sun was out in the Pacific Northwest and I stayed surrounded by friends, hitting parks and inviting people over for communal meals. I kept my usual mix ...