I was recently introduced to Tinchy Stryder by a close friend and I was hesitant to give his album Third Strike a listen.  And I am so glad I gave him a chance!  Damn this album is good (and that’s an understatement).  It’s not your typical hip hop/rap album by any means.  With tracks featuring Alexis Jordan, Swedish singer Eric Turner, Taio Cruz and Alicia Keys’ occasional fill in vocalist Bridget Kelly, Tinchy will have you begging him to release this album in the States (of course it’s currently only available as an import thru Amazon).  The video for the title track Take Over the World ft. Bridget Kelly has a similar power to that of Empire State of Mind, with a driving beat guiding Tincy’s rap and Bridget’s powerful vocals on the chorus.  Could this be the UK’s equivalent of the Jay-Z/Alicia Keys team? 



Until the album drops in the states (let’s hope early next year), download Tinchy’s EPs below:
EP Vol. 1 Star in the Hood
EP Vol. 2 Star in the Hood
EP III

Originally, Bass Down Low was The Cataracs’ song (google it and you’ll find postings on it dating all the way back to February of this year).  Well, The Cataracs have reworked it and are now releasing it as a Dev (Like a G6) song featuring, well, themselves.  The Cataracs produced Dev’s fashion forward single Booty Bounce (sampled in Like a G6 too) and were also featured on Far East Movement’s #1 Like a G6.  Dev’s got a unique voice & sound and is not your average hip hop’per, nor your average bitch.  Expect to hear more from this native Californian with a serious drive for storming the charts.

Dev ft. The Cataracs - Bass Down Low

Dev “Booty Bounce!”

DEV | Myspace Music Videos

Sometimes in the world, you can’t always get what you want, this lady knows what I’m talkin about! Anyway, the point is life isn’t fair. On the flip-side of that, sometimes you get exactly what you want! I nearly lost my shit when I first listened to Blue Sky Black Death, a San Francisco-based electronic/instrumental duo (Kingston and Young God). I’ve had their newest release Third Party for about a week now, and they are already an installation in my permanent rotation.

Granted, I don’t quite understand the lyrics to the fullest extent - Your common cold is my Trojan horse to feed - (?!) (From Carl Sagan, Track 1). Don’t try Googling that btw, you’ll just be annoyed at how the internet can’t keep up with your underground interest in music. Why are you so behind Google?!?! WHY!!?

::ahem::

Back to BSBD. Blue Sky Black Death’s unique sound is like if you take the bizarreness out of Bjork’s calmer songs, and mixed it with relaxing smooth melodies of Animal Collective. Mix that in with occasional eery vocals and ponderous lyrics (some songs are solely instrumental, and sometimes we don’t know what the instrument is to begin with). The band’s history is almost exclusively abstract hip-hop, but this album is a synth-pop dream.

BSBD is signed to Fake Four Inc., so back off blood-sucking record labels trying to steal someone else’s candy, just ask this maniac. No, don’t he’s a psycho, in a Joaquin Phoenix sort of way. So give them a listen. Below is my personal favorite Institution (Track 5), and the music video & free download for Carl Sagan (Track 1).