Fresh Selects » Guilty Simpson

Circulations & Jay Scarlett’s New Worldsw/ Guilty Simpson, SA-RA & more

Kenny Fresh — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:50:59 +0000

Cutting-edge Japanese label, Circulations, have joined forces with European tastemaker & host of Amp Soul Generation radio show, Jay Scarlett, for the brand new compilation, New Worlds. The project was put together to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the HMV Shibuya store – one of the leading retail supporters of quality music in Japan.

To mark the occasion, they’ve gathered new and exclusive tracks from some of the most promising artists of this new beat/future soul generation – including Loose Joints alumni SA-RA and Ras_G, as well as Super Smoky Soul & Guilty Simpson, Quadron (which features Robin Hannibal of Owusu & Hannibal/Boom Clap Bachelors fame), Take, Hudson Mohawke, The Big Payback (Onra & Byron The Aquarius) with Reggie B, and plenty more. And these all come packaged with fresh cover art & design courtesy of Philly-based artist, Joshua Mays, who has also blessed covers for Waajeed (The War LP), Mark de Clive-Lowe (The Politik) & Jneiro Jarel (Three Piece Puzzle US release).

To give you a taste of what to expect from New Worlds, Circulations has blessed us with a free download of the track, “Knockout Kings,” a heavyweight bout between Japanese production trio, Super Smoky Soul and one of Detroit’s finest, Guilty Simpson. The song features Guilty throwing his typical K.O.-blows over SSS’s fresh approach to a familiar sample. The song will be released as both a limited-edition 7″ single, and a remixed 12″ in the coming weeks – so stay tuned for more info on both releases.

But before that, you can also preview two full-length songs below – SA-RA’s kinky quiet storm bounce, “Talk Sex”, as well as selector Jay Scarlett’s “I Can’t Help It” – a club-friendly, broken thump which also features British singer, Leon King.

And as always, stay tuned after the jump for some bonus selections. This time around I’m highlighting some of Guilty Simpson’s more low-key collaborations and past mixtape tracks, including tracks from Mr. Porter’s Runyon Ave. crew.

UPDATE: Last minute addition, courtesty of Stones Throw – a free download of Oh No’s new remix of Guilty’s “The Future” featuring MED, originally from the Ode To The Ghetto album.

SA-RA Creative Partners “Talk Sex”

Jay Scarlett “I Can’t Help It” (feat. Leon King)

DOWNLOAD: Super Smoky Soul & Guilty Simpson “Knockout Kings”

BONUS DOWNLOAD: Guilty Simpson “Futuristic” (feat. MED) (prod. Oh No)

SUPPORT: The New Worlds compilation is out now in Japan and will be on iTunes worldwide soon.

BONUS TRACKS: More Guilty Simpson rarities after the jump

Guilty Simpson “Pause Freestyle” (w/ Busta Rhymes intro)
from Runyon Ave. Mixtape Vol. 1 (Runyon Ave.)

Kon Artis (Denaun Porter) “Dog” (feat. Guilty Simpson & Big Dame)
from The Po’ Folks Mixtape (Runyon Ave.)

Paradime “RUUUDE” (feat. Marv Won & Guilty Simpson)
from Spill At Will (Beats At Will, 2007)

While I Was Gone

Kenny Fresh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:52:40 +0000

I’m back, bidges!! Did ya miss me? Haha.

First off, I just wanted to say Thank You once again to everyone who’s hit me up about the Loose Joints mixtape. I’m glad you guys liked it – I’ve got some more mixes on their way soon, so stay tuned for more on those.

I’ll be back to doing my regularly scheduled selections starting tomorrow, but for now, here’s some release updates on past selections, along with a quick rundown of what’s been going on while I was away.

For everyone who’s been hounding me about “Where’s Tiombe?? When she’s coming out with something?!?” – I’ve got some news just for you. Tiombe Lockhart has aligned with Nick & Todd (formerly of the band, Men, Women & Children) and have formed a new group, Cubic Zirconia. They’ve just recently launched their official MySpace page with two new tracks, “Fuck Work” and “I Wanna Freebase You.” They’ll be releasing a sampler mixtape soon, so stay tuned to right here for much more from them soon. You can also check out their hilarious new blog page while you’re waiting.

The homie Jneiro Jarel (AKA Dr. Who Dat?, etc.) joins the podcast world with a brand new mix “for all you weird shoegaze heads.” Selections include TV On The Radio, Cocteau Twins, Micah & more – plus the debut of a new Willie Isz track (Jneiro’s project w/ Khujo Goodie). You can download the podcast and subscribe to future episodes here.

T3 of Slum Village un-earthed a lost gem from SV’s formative years called “Drop The Drums” on his new blog spot, T3′s Night Gallery. The song is a rare glimpse into the early stages of legends in the making, or as T3 puts it, “You can get a taste from true vintage circa 1990’s SV, when we were all about characters, alter egos and acting on songs…the good old days.”

The boys of Johnson&Jonson are at it again – with a new video clip for their track, “Up All Night.” Big ups to Okayplayer for getting the first scoop on that one. Blu also added a fresh batch of new tracks on his MySpace page – so be sure to check those out as well.

The Black Milk-produced, Invincible & Finale collaboration, “Don’t Sleep is available on iTunes now along with the Black Milk instrumental. So be sure to support that, and be on the look out for the 12″ coming soon.

And on the soul side of things, Jesse Boykins III’s full-length debut, The Beauty Created is out now on Amazon MP3, with iTunes & CD formats soon to follow.

Illa J dropped 2 new videos from the Yancey Boys album last week – “We Here” and “R U Listenin?” featuring Guilty Simpson. Check back tomorrow for a brand new FRESHsclusive featuring Mr. Simpson… stay tuned!

Buff1 & DJ Graffiti ask…“What Does Hipster Mean?”

Kenny Fresh — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:09:40 +0000

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.

DOWNLOAD: Buff1 & DJ Graffiti “What Does Hipster Mean?” (prod. Astronote)

SUPPORT: View the full tracklisting & get your copy of DJ Graffiti’s new Hipsters Need Soul Too mixtape here

BONUS TRACKS: 3 more from Buff1 after the jump

Now On “The A” (feat. Buff1) (prod. 14KT)
from Tomorrow Already (A-Side Worldwide, 2008)

Buff1 “Open” (prod. Samiyam)
from The One And Only Mixtape (Lab Technicians Productions, 2005)

Buff1 “Bang” (feat. Guilty Simpson) (prod. the Lab Techs)
from The One And Only Mixtape (Lab Technicians Productions, 2005)

New Illa J & Guilty Simpson produced by Dilla

Kenny Fresh — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:53:56 +0000

Brand new track from the late great J Dilla’s younger brother (and a formidable artist in his own right), Illa J, featuring fellow Detroit native, Guilty Simpson. The song is “R U Listenin?” – the B-side to the first single leading up to his upcoming debut LP, Yancey Boys, due out on Delicious Vinyl on November 4th. The whole album contains new songs from Illa J catchin wreck over vintage Ummah/Pharcyde-era Jay Dee instrumentals from the Delicious Vinyl vaults.

Just a heads up – this is the clean version of the track. You’ve got to cop the single to get the street version.

DOWNLOAD: Illa J featuring Guilty Simpson “R U Listenin?” (prod. J Dilla)

SUPPORT: Illa J’s debut single featuring both “We Here” & “R U Listenin?” plus the Dilla instrumentals for both is on sale now. Click here to cop it on iTunes.