For the third installment in the Weekend Beats series, I decided to switch it up a little bit and introduce some funk into the mix with a “beat CD” from Will Sessions. They’re a Detroit-based band formed by established session musician, Sam Beaubien, who is the key arranger and also trumpet & keys in the group. They’ve already played on songs by artists like Buff1 (“Pretty Baby”), 14KT (“Less Than Enough”) and Black Milk (“Give The Drummer Some”), and have recently recorded parts for upcoming albums from both Slum Village (Barak) and Mayer Hawthorne (Stones Throw). They’ve also just released their debut album, Many Faces, and have also been playing shows around the Detroit area with MonicaBlaire (who just recently joined PPP‘s live line-up) on vocals.

So as an introduction to the beatheads and funk fans alike, Sam sent me an exclusive batch of beats & demos to spread around. The batch is about 1/3 hip-hop beats & loops, 1/3 covers of dusty funk 45′s and 1/3 jazzy jam sessions. Also included are two vocal tracks, with appearances from frequent collaborators, Buff1 and Asylum 7.

You can download the beat tape below or listen to some selected streams beforehand. For further insight on the tracks, stick around after the jump for some track-by-track commentary/liner notes from Mr. Beaubien himself. And for even more on Will Sessions, be sure to check out Sam’s featured interview with the good people over at Michigan Hip Hop from earlier this month, as well as this video of the group recording with Black Milk for the upcoming Slum Village album.

Credit due to MOSologist & MichiganHipHop.com for providing the track.

One of the most consistent MC’s in the game right now, Ann Arbor’s own Buff1 is back at it again. This time it’s with an exclusive new track for DJ Graffiti‘s brand new mixtape, Hipsters Need Soul Too. Keeping up with the concept of the mix, Buff’s “What Does Hipster Mean?” hilariously addresses just what the title implies, over a dope, breezy beat by French producer Astronote.

If you’re not up on Buff1 (that’s probably what that empty feeling you’ve had inside your soul has been), he’s been putting out release after release (each as dope as the next) as a part of the hip-hop collective, the Athletic Mic League, since 2002, and in the last year has dropped the impressive back-to-back solo albums, Pure and There’s Only One.

At the same time, Graffiti is another Ann Arbor native whose been putting it down for years now. His slew of mixtapes and work both behind the scenes and at the forefront have earned him the title of Michigan Mixtape King. He also holds down duties as the official tour DJ for Detroit’s own Phat Kat.

Below is a free download of “What Does Hipster Mean?” – and after the jump I’ve provided two personal highlights from Buff1′s now out-of-print mixtape, The One And Only (featuring production from Samiyam and a guest spot from Guilty Simpson), plus one of his most recent guest appearances, from his A-Side family members, Now On‘s new album.