#MusicChallenge #JazzParty #JazzSky Benevento/Russo Duo - "Mephisto" youtu.be/ULKQEu2opi8?...

#EmojiSounds #MusicChallenge 24-🧟‍♂️ 84 Nash - "Starch and Zombies" youtu.be/d2AyHDQff08?...

It’s too bad we didn’t get a Hulk and Shaq vs Ric Flair and I dunno Mark Price tag match on PPV

#MusicChallenge #JazzParty #JazzSky Ohio Penitentiary 511 Jazz Ensemble - "Java Man" youtu.be/gBZU8l3KUxU?...

#EmojiSounds #MusicChallenge 23-☕️ Tony Alvon & The Belairs - "Sexy Coffee Pot" youtu.be/9uNn3QPpy8A?...

#MusicChallenge 10 years of Oddisee "Alwasta." 1st listen. Glad I caught this before my drive! As always, the MC/Producer delivers on this EP. Soulful beats that are both earthy and uplifting. Love his flows but even more his steady view on the world and people's lives. Really feeling this today:

#EmojiSounds #MusicChallenge 22-🍒 Eugene McDaniels - "Cherrystones" youtu.be/mI-G0P7-v54?...

#MusicChallenge #JazzParty #JazzSky In honor of the weather... Ceasar Frazier - "Hail Ceasar" youtu.be/Y30Mvzbwpuk?...

#MusicChallenge 15 years of Zion I & The Grouch "Heroes In The Healing of the Nation." 1st listen to the 2nd collab album of these Oakland artists. Solid positive message but lacking in impact? Amp Live's beats are global in scope with some hyphy flavor. Zumbi & Grouch are fine on mic. Big finale:

#MusicChallenge 15 years of Pharoahe Monch "W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)." 1st listen in way too long. Strong stuff - post-apocalyptic but bursting w/passion & resilience. Monch is as deft and convincing as ever. Deep cast of beatmakers crafted soulful bangers. Many great guests but love the fire here:

#MusicChallenge 15 years of CunninLynguists "Oneirology." 1st listen to their 5th album. Lost track of these guys after the 4th. Powerful, deep, heavy stuff. Beats are mostly dark, though layered with different vibes. The 3 MCs have a lot to say about a broken world. Enjoyed this QN5 reunion:

#EmojiSounds #MusicChallenge 21-🇬🇧 Oliver Sain - "London Express" youtu.be/UpcO3IIWVZE?...

#MusicChallenge 20 years of Madlib "The Beat Konducta, Vols. 1 & 2: Movie Scenes." 1st listen in wayyyyy too long. As promised, a cinematic selection of beats from Madlib. Funky tracks seasoned with flavors of rare vinyl bits. A few beats surfaced elsewhere. Recommend diving in, but here's a banger:

#MusicChallenge 20 years of Murs & 9th Wonder "Murray's Revenge." 1st listen in wayyyyy too long. Was big into both of their collabs back then - still sounds great. Murs is nice on the mic and honest about his experiences. 9th brings the fiery soul. Good guests. Forgot about the finale sample flip!

Happy 54th birthday to Large Professor! youtu.be/RNRCQ9eagWQ?...

#MusicChallenge #JazzParty #JazzSky Jimmy Giuffre Trio - "The Train and the River" youtu.be/kPgethq5_-4?...

#MusicChallenge #HipHopSaturday The Dereliks - "No Gnus" youtu.be/29LAwVpED5A?...

#EmojiSounds #MusicChallenge 20-🧠 This is both my pick for the prompt and describes what I've been doing to myself for this and other picks. The Dirtbombs - "I Can't Stop Thinking About It" youtu.be/xfG4EbSBPAE?...

#musicchallenge 25 years of "Exit Wounds" OST. 1st listen. A shocker that the soundtrack of a 2001 DMX/Steven Seagal picture is a lot to deal with, lol. Pop gangsta rap and R&B of the time. 76 minutes that often blends together. Here's a little excitement:

#musicchallenge 25 years of Trick Daddy "Thugs Are Us." 1st listen to Trick's best-selling album. Honestly, a balanced-enough delight. He's mostly thuggin', but has wit, personality and even social commentary. Beats are fun and buoyant. Very early DJ Khaled feature. Can't skip this joyous party:

#musicchallenge 25 years of Kam "Kamnesia." 1st listen to his 3rd album. Still plenty of righteous OG wisdom, but also kinda scattered. 3 beats and a verse from Jazze Pha were unexpected for this Watts MC, especially the love-themed title track opener. Gotta go with the beat from DJ Pooh:

#MusicChallenge 25 years of The Beatnuts "Take It or Squeeze It." 1st full listen? This is not bad. Of course the Nuts are dirty not quite old men here, so mileage may vary. But they still have funky beats and ample bars. Greg Nice brings his party-stoking energy. Enjoyed this reunion with Al Tariq:

"All the jobs that I've gotten are because people like the way I comp, more so than solo. Your soloing's personal, but when people say I hired you because I love the way you comp, that's the greatest compliment that can be paid." Happy Birthday Harold Mabern born March 20, 1936

This week.

#MusicChallenge 25 years of VA "Def Jux Presents..." 1st full listen? Fascinating intersection of the end of Company Flow & beginning of Def Jux. Odd mix for me now, with 3 new Co Flow tracks (+1 Aesop Rock) only (?) used here sandwiching 2 Cannibal Ox (+1 RJD2) well-loved classics. Let's go rare:

#MusicChallenge #JazzParty #JazzSky Art Blakey - "Cubano Chant" youtu.be/xbbHjBAQJ0o?...

#emojisounds #musicchallenge 19-🚮 Esther Phillips - "Disposable Society" youtu.be/UBss2LRDJrQ?...

#musicchallenge 5 years of Benny the Butcher & Harry Fraud "The Plugs I Met 2." 1st listen. Another nice producer/MC project today. Benny is moving weight at an entertaining clip. Fraud's hazy, nostalgic sound is a smart backdrop for these tales. Wide range of guests. Dug the vibe here:

#musicchallenge 5 years of KOTA the Friend x Statik Selektah "To Kill a Sunrise." 1st listen. Always up for a Statik-produced MC feature and I've been intrigued by KOTA. The two artists pair well - the Brooklyn MC's relaxed, down to earth style matches with the soulful nuanced beats. Starts off hot:

#musicchallenge 35 years of Craig G "Now, That's More Like It." 1st listen to the Juice Crew vet's 2nd album. The freestyle master has lyrics for days. Marley Marl's beats are mostly funky and fun. Maybe not the most engaging release, but definitely solid. How about this Juice Crew team-up?

#musicchallenge 30 years of Smoothe da Hustler "Once Upon a Time in America." 1st listen in way too long. I think I had the tape long ago? Underappreciated street rap gem. Beats mostly from DR Period with street knock but occasionally lighter. Smoothe's tough wordplay is engaging. Here's a classic!

#emojisounds #musicchallenge 18-☂️ Here's hoping hashtags are working! "Come Rain or Come Shine" - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers youtu.be/1EwY6efZRPo?...

2 new albums from Steven Bernstein • ResoNation Trio / Ultra Resonance Limited Edition 180-Gram 2-LP Double Album stevenbernstein.bandcamp.com/album/resona...

Jazz OTD: Composed by Mobley (and arranged by Duke Pearson) mostly while he was incarcerated for narcotics in 1964, Hank Mobley's "A Slice of the Top" resulted from a phenomenal octet session (March 18, 1966), but was unreleased until 1979, leaving the saxophonist embittered with Blue Note. #jazzsky

Some real “dudes rock” shit here. Well done!

#EmojiSounds #MusicChallenge 17-🦆 @cornduck3.bsky.social I aimed for a classy tune respectful of the species. Let's ignore the negative connotations of the phrase - this duck is simply sitting and enjoying the groove. 😁 "Sittin' Duck" · Gene Harris & The Three Sounds youtu.be/DviUza95zVo?...

#MusicChallenge #JazzParty #JazzSky Eddie Harris - "Funkaroma" www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Ho...

Jazz OTD: On March 17, 1961, the brilliant trumpeter Booker Little recorded three tracks for "Out Front," one of a tragically small number of albums he led in his all-too-brief life. With Julian Priester (tb), Don Friedman (p), Art Davis (b), Max Roach (d), and Eric Dolphy (fl). #jazzsky

#MusicChallenge #JazzParty #JazzSky Mammal Hands - "Alia's Abandon" youtu.be/VszLvVWiHLg?...

#EmojiSounds #MusicChallenge 16-🏠 Alvin Robinson - "Down Home Girl" youtu.be/omnkh2OTtAk?...

Jazz OTD: Unreleased until 1980, Tina Brooks's first session as leader (on March 16, 1958) is a reminder of his enormous and tragically unrecognized talent; it's a knockout. This tune was actually composed by the session's trumpeter, Lee Morgan. W/Sonny Clark, Doug Watkins, Art Blakey. #jazzsky

#MusicChallenge 5 years of 454 "4 Real." 1st listen. Trying to expand my horizons and the Wiki looked intriguing, but his psychedelic "plugg" style is beyond me. Pitched-up melodic vocals over saturated nostalgic beats, like loops of 90s/00s R&B. Occasional guests. How about this one:

#AllSandwichesInASongOrMovie 🎶 Owner of baloney heart🎵

#MusicChallenge #JazzParty #JazzSky Jimmy McGriff - "The Bird" youtu.be/TI3dg_M3OCY?...

#EmojiSounds #MusicChallenge 15-🖕 (Lyrics themselves are somewhat cleaner than you'd expect) Cyne - "Fuck America" 2005 youtu.be/hah80EmcXQY?...

#MusicChallenge 10 years of Joell Ortiz "That's Hip-Hop." 1st listen. Hot EP with producer Domingo. Sizzling beats with a couple of great samples. Ortiz still has lyrical Brooklyn heat. Ample features packed into 29 minutes like this NYC posse cut!

#MusicChallenge 15 years of Action Bronson "Dr. Lecter." 1st listen in wayyyyy too long to Action's studio debut. Hasn't aged super well, lol, but still entertaining to revisit. Dope samples and fun beats. Guest spots from Meyhem Lauren and the crew. Action's persona + wordplay are strong. Csonka!

#MusicChallenge 15 years of Beneficence "Sidewalk Science." 1st listen. Discovering another chapter of the Jersey MC. True underground spirit, reaching for beyond. Timeless boom-bap beats from Diamond D + more. Ill rhymes on the past, present & future. Great guests. Dope to hear this rare feature:

#MusicChallenge 40 years of UTFO "Skeezer Pleezer." 1st listen to their 2nd album. Brimming with energy but also misses. Some bad attempts at singing. Overall a good time though. Slick rhymes, big beats and some lighthearted wackiness like this finale:

#MusicChallenge #JazzParty #JazzSky Amanda Monaco - "Glitter" youtu.be/ckqklU_OVrM?...