Blind I | The Boutique Music Blog | Quality Over Quantity.

DYNAMIC TRUTH – LOST IN MY DREAMS

I was put onto this Oakland band by my brotha Ben Daniels (Clandestine Crew). Easy going, positive, and eclectic, this six-piece group hold it down with the live instrumentation and emceeing. Big things happening for this group. Tonight they will be reppin’ alongside Bay legends like Dru Downs and Rappin 4Tay (also backing up 4Tay as his live band). Much love to this crew and the future! More info on Dynamic Truth‘s show in SF after the drop.

Dynamic Truth – Lost In My Dreams

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

› Continue reading

Tags: BAY AREA, DRU DOWNS, DYNAMIC TRUTH, OAKLAND, RAPPIN 4TAY

VIDEO: THE FRESHMEN – IMAGINE

Ok Tastemakers! It’s time to put you onto some of the talented artists and musicians that I roll with – work with – fux with… 

THE FRESHMEN – are one of my favorite groups from the Bay Area! Emcee’s Kristo and AWolfe are both charismatic in their lyrics and personality. Their hit singles, Hello There, recently hit #2 on the college music charts, and Dreamin’ California will be a West Coast – Summer Anthem of 2011 and for years to come!

Imagine is the latest video and single from the “Fresh-2-Def Duo. Directed by: Jonathan Benavente

I love the video and the message, “When life gives you Lemons”… IMAGINE!

Tags: BAY AREA, Hip-Hop, IMAGINE, MUSIC, The Freshmen, Video

FLYY OFFERS FROM SCION

I got something flyy in my email today, via Scion A/V (Audio/Visual); I would like to share it with all my fellow Tastemakers…

Here’s the skinny! Scion offers discounts to music, art, and fashion enthusiasts (like us!), of 10% and more to card-carrying customers on in-person and online purchases for various business across the country.

I’m all about discounts, so I got my card!!! If you wear any of the following clothing brands or patronize any of these retailers, you should definitely take advantage.

› Continue reading

Tags: Backside Records, Barracuda, BAY AREA, BLACK SCALE, BLENDS, Crooks and Castle, Discounts, FASHION, Float Gallery, Giant Robot, Hall of Fame, LOS ANGELES, Mishka, MUSIC, OAKLAND, Rasputins, SAN FRANCISCO, Scion, Silverman Gallery, Streetlight Records

ERK THA JERK – HEN & KUSH | LUV SONG

What’s up Tastemakers! I got some “FLYY” new exclusives, for your listening pleasure… 1^st up is The Bay Area’s –Hood Nerd, Erk Tha Jerk, with some heat that I highly recommend adding to your play list!

Hen & Kush is that feel good vibe-music that you’ll want to hop in the whip & “ride out” to. But, Luv Song (my personal favorite) is the one that makes you want to just ride “IT” out… Get it? lol. Download and listen for yourself! Enjoy & Stay FLYY!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Hen & Kush [Download] | Luv Song [Download]

Tags: BAY AREA, bay area music, ERK THA JERK, Hip-Hop, rap, Richmond Ca, THE BAY

B.LEWIS – SCIENCE WITHIN REASON

Beatsmith and overall cool cat Brad Lewis (B.Lewis) just recently dropped his newest album Science Within Reason earlier this month.  His blending of cosmic beats and Soul music is catching ears from coast to coast. Though he’s twenty-two years young this producer’s sound is full and as vibrant as any of his seasoned contemporaries. My friends and I brought him and his homie Insightful out to perform at our first Treatment function. Shit was bonkers. And they just got back from rippin’ it up at SXSW. I see nothing but good things in this dude’s future.

B.Lewis – Speak Your Mind

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

SCIENCE WITHIN REASON – [DOWNLOAD]

Tags: B LEWIS, BAY AREA, Beats, Hip-Hop, SAN JOSE

DJ MR. E – SADE VS. BADU PT.3 – THE FINAL CHAPTER

The one and only Papalote champion Mr. E drops his final tribute to two inspirational women in music. Really, I don’t think I need to say anything else. Besides being such a dope DJ he’s not too bad at cooking up a mean burrito. Heck he beat Bobby Flay in a Throwdown. Get it via Mixcrate and hit up his other mixes on his page.

DJ MR. E – SADE VS. BADU PT3 [DOWNLOAD]

Tags: BADU, BAY AREA, DJ MR. E, PAPALOTE, SADE, SADE VS. BADU, SF

THE RETURN OF SUBLIMINAL RENAISSANCE….

Damn you, Subliminal Renaissance. Smashing shit for years out the Cali way and then leaving us to fend for ourselves for all this time with no new music. Good thing they heard the cries from around the globe though, because I’m happy to announce that SUB REN is BACK! Not only are Sol Plus 10 and Noahdeeakili back in action making crack music (of which you can sample some of the newness above), but they’re rocking out in Santa Clara on the 16th at the shindig celebrating Tape Mastah Steph’s 2nd Homecoming to the Bay Area, along with Soapbox Melodics and a whole bunch of other goodness. I, for one, am ecstatic that Sub Ren’s back in action and if I could get my Chicago ass out to the Bay to catch this show I surely would! If you’re out there, you should definitely be in attendance! You can click on the flyer over there —> for more info and check out the Subliminal Renaissance Bandcamp page here –> http://subren.bandcamp.com/. The album will be out Spring 2011 on Isolated Wax Records, so be on the lookout!

Tags: BAY AREA, NOAHDEEAKILI, SOAPBOX MELODICS, Sol Plus 10, SUB REN, SUBLIMINAL RENAISSANCE, TAPE MASTAH STEPH

VIDEO: SECRET SIDEWALK – DEPTH CHARGE

Hailing from San Francisco and Oakland, Secret Sidewalk is Mike Boo, Puzzle, and Asonic Garcia. Their use of electronic tools such as samplers, synthesizers, and self-built sound modules is with an approach that’s of true musicianship. No programmed loops, no pressing play, it’s ALL LIVE.

They share the sensibilities of live beatsmiths, but their sound transcends to something much deeper and more complex. There is a wide range of interests and influences amongst the trio, which translates into a very diverse sound, from song to song, as you will hear in their live sets and on their recordings. In April the band will debut their live set, and with many shows to follow and an album in the works.

Download the single “Depth Charge” here.

Tags: Asonic Garcia, BAY AREA, Mike Boo, OAKLAND, Puzzle, SAN FRANCISCO, Secret Sidewalk, turntablism

BLIND I EXCLUSIVE AUDIO+VIDEO: REY RESURRECCION – SPACESHIPS [P REMIX]

So the story goes like this: My brotha Rey Resurreccion remixed his Spaceships song using Portishead as his tools. Schitt was too on point & I told him how it would be dope to sync it to his video as a special exclusive remix/prelude to June 15th/NKD/No Knows Portishead. & VOILA! The O.G. still bangs… but THIS one is just too damn ice cold & gives the whole video a completely different vibe & emotion. We hope you enjoy. Be sure to add Old Rust New Bang & Limitless to your music library too.

DOWNLOAD | BLIND I EXCLUSIVE AUDIO+VIDEO: REY RESURRECCION – SPACESHIPS (P REMIX) [MEDIAFIRE]

Tags: 051210, BAY AREA, BLIND I FOR THE KIDS, Clout, Cukui, Head Hunters, Hip-Hop, Limitless, Marco Bercasio, Megabusive, NKD, NO KNOWS DOPE, NOAHDEEAKILI, Oneself DaVinci, Portishead, REY RESURRECCION, SAN JOSE, Solis Cin, SPACESHIPS, WEST COAST

E-40: REVENUE RETRIEVIN ALL DAY

If you like E-40 or not this album should definitely be your flava. Yes released as a double CD, Revenue Retrievin’ Day Shift and Night Shift keeps his name in yo mouth. Forty Water is not alone on this one. He calls in all the respectable bay area heads to provide balance and variety in the songs. With help from the likes of San Quinn, Keak The Sneak, Dru Down, Suga Free, B-Legit, Too Sh$rt, and Snoop Dogg just to name a few, you should keep this slumpin for hours.  This album is not short of music, 19 tracks on both CD’s you get your $’s worth. (Think you can handle that much 40 water?  With all those songs it makes you wonder if some of the tracks are only filler tracks. Could it have been cut down to one project? Well maybe but the mix of sounds makes it tolerable and quite enjoyable.

As the front man for The Click ages he is definitely keepin his game tight with this release. Production is up to par and is consistent with that bay area slump that made him who he is. Jazzy Pha, Lil’ Jon, on some of the beats (not all, thank god) makes it bang harder than the crips and bloods.  Oh yeah I should probably mention there are no auto-tune tracks. Listen to these then hit the jump for the album(s). Fa Shiggady!

Day Shift: Bitch (ft. Too $hort)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Night Shift: Spend The Night (Ft. Laroo, The DBz, Droop-E, B-Slim)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

› Continue reading

Tags: BAY AREA, E-40, MUSIC, THE BAY