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

*PBBT!’S SMORGASBORD AUGUST 2011…KINDA….

Right…so this Smorg was actually supposed to be July’s…which was July’s because I missed June’s…but then I missed July AND June…and here we are in August. I’m not going to deprive you guys of 3 months worth of Smorgs. Not again. So here you go, and I hope you all done hate me for being late. Again. Hit the jump for the tracklist and download link. *tips hat*

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Tags: *PBBT!, 2011, ALOE BLACC, AUGUST, blu, Co$$, Cocaine 80s, Danny Brown, DOM. Kennedy, DONALD BYRD, FLYING LOTUS, FUNKADELIC, Gzus Piece, JACK DAVEY, JAMIROQUAI, JAY DEE, Jean Grae, Kendrick Lamar, NEON INDIAN, RANDOM AXE, RAPSODY, RONNIE DYSON, ROY AYERS, Sene, SKYZOO, Small Eyez, SMORGASBORD, Sulaiman, Vic Spencer, WU TANG KILLA BEES, YOUNG RJ

NO KNOWS DOPE | NO KNOWS BABIES | APRIL 20XI

Last Monday, April 11th at 10:43AM, my daughter Ajané arrived into the world. It was the most beautifulest thing in the world without a doubt. Being “on call” for the whole month of March & April kinda put a roadblock in my head as to what ‘theme’ I wanted to execute for Aprils NKD & as I pondered the thoughts I lowkey was already playing the soundtrack & not even knowing it. Playing songs that I felt related to what I was going through or have gone through or what I want to achieve as a man & as a father to my children. About a week before the 15th (sorry for the delay… been busy changing diapers n schitt. pun.) I finally decided to dedicate this months NKD to the babies. The children. The kids! But no… not on some Yo Gabba Gabba or Kids Sing Along schitt… naw… on some grown folks – grown biz – type of musical growth if you will. Whether you are a mother or a father, raising your sons or daughters, this edition goes harder to marauder & slaughter any biologicals that don’t bother. I breaks water! hahaha Naw pho trill tho… I’m on Cloud 9000 & 99! Blind I For The Kids… literally.

TL & DL after…

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Tags: Bilal, BRIAN MCKNIGHT, CHRIS ROCK, COMMON, CURTIS MAYFIELD, ED OG & DA BULLDOGS, Eric Roberson, GIL SCOTT-HERON, J DILLA, JAY DEE, JODECI, john mayer, Kanye West, Kelis, LAURYN HILL, LITTLE DRAGON, MARC DORSEY, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Musiq Soulchild, N.E.R.D, NEZ & RIO, NKD, ORGANIZED KONFUSION, SLICK RICK, SOJOURN, STEVIE WONDER, TALIB KWELI, TAPE MASTAH STEPH, THE BLACKBYRDS, THE TEMPTATIONS, Thenativesoul, TRACY MORGAN, XZIBIT, YAHZARAH, ZO!

NO KNOWS DOPE | NO KNOWS BOSSANOVA | MARCH 20XI

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We’re going to South America with this one! From Philly to Rio de Janeiro, from Cali to São Paulo, from the D to Pelourinho to Brooklyn to Salvador & right into your NKD collection! Those that know me, know that I am a  huge fan of Bossa Nova/Brazilian music. It blew up by mainly young musicians & college students in the 1960′s & since then has continued to be a influence in todays music from Koop to Nouvelle Vague & Jneiro Jarel. Bossanova rhythmically has Samba foundations , while harmonically the structure lies in Jazz going from sophisticated to dissonant. I am a sucka for dissonance, thus why Stevie, Dilla & Bossa Nova/Brazilian music are my all time favorites. I took my time with this one & hope you enjoy it as much I did putting it together.  No’s a boss on Bossanova…gone!

TL & DL…

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Tags: ANTHONY HAMILTON, ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM, ARTHUR VEROCAI, BADEN POWELL, BLACKSTAR TALIB KWELI MOS DEF, BOSSA RIO, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DORIVAL CAYMMI, EDU LOBO, ELIS REGINA, ELIZETE CARDOSO, GINGA TRIO, HAYLING, J DILLA, JAY DEE, JNEIRO JAREL, João Gilberto, JORGE BEN, LUIS BONFA, Marilia Medalha, MILTON NASCIMENTO, NKD, NO KNOWS DOPE, NOAH DEE AKILI, PERY RIBEIRO, ROBERTO MENESCAL, SELIA BARBOSA, SERGIO MENDES, SHINEY'S FOOD, STAN GETZ, TAMBA 4, TAMBA TRIO, THE CLASS:SICKS, THE PHARCYDE, VINICIUS DE MORAES, ZIMBO TRIO

NO KNOWS DOPE | NO KNOWS DILLA 2 | FEBRUARY 20XI

No explanation needed. No tracklist either. Syke. It’s after the jump along with the DL. DILLA FOREVER!

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Tags: DIL WITHERS, DILLA DOGG, J DILLA, JAMES DEWITT YANCEY, JAY DEE, MC SILK, NKD, NO KNOWS DILLA, NO KNOWS DOPE, PAY JAY

VIDEO: J. DILLA: STILL SHINING

I think it’s safe to say that J. Dilla has positively affected each and every one of the members of the Blind I staff in some major way. Each one of us probably has our own answer as to how he did exactly but the fact still remains that he did. I still remember where I was and what I was doing when I found out he passed and I’m still feel bummed every time one of his timeless tracks pops up on my shuffle. But I’m soon filled with gladness that this man ever existed in the first place. Happy Belated Birthday J Dilla. May your soul live on through the hearts and minds of any and everyone who has a love and appreciation for anything that resembles quality music. Props to B. Kyle on the video. More info on the documentary below.

Created in 2006, this remembrance piece is created as a tribute to the memory and legacy of James “J.Dilla” Yancey. This is a piece designed for his fans and supporters who knew of his accomplishments before February 2006 and those that have grown to appreciate his genius. Here, we gain a greater insight and understanding about our musical icon.

Tags: B. KYLE., DOCUMENTARY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, J DILLA, JAMES YANCEY, JAY DEE, PAY JAY, REST IN POWER, STILL SHINING

*PBBT!’S SMORGASBORD DECEMBER 2010

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I’m going to be honest with you kids, Christmas isn’t really one of my favorite holidays. Outside of the whole family aspect (and Jesus. GP are ya wit me!) I could really do without it. But unlike the cover art may suggest (props to the big homie NO for coming correct btw) this comp is not a Bah-Humbug-a-thon. It’s actually a dedication comp. For December 25, 2010 marks the fourth anniversary of the passing of one of the most influential figures in modern day music – and one of my absolute favorite artist across all genres – James Joseph Brown. Yes. Christmas ’06 was a very shitty day for me. I literally slept for the entire day upon hearing the news. It hurt deep knowing that I would never get to see Mr. Dynamite [a]live on stage. But fortunately for myself and for the world (cliche warning) James Brown’s legacy lives on through his music. Now please excuse me while I continue to defibrillate his legacy with this comp. Two discs and 46 tracks strong of associated acts, covers, samples, and The Godfather of Soul himself.

Tracklist and download up under the thang. Get on your good foot.

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Tags: *PBBT!, Afrika Bambaataa, ANN PEEBLES, BRAND NUBIAN, COMMON, Compilation, DECEMBER 2010, Digable Planets, FRED WESLEY, ICE-T, JAMES BROWN, JAY DEE, LORD FINESSE, LYN COLLINS, MACEO PARKER, MYRA BARNES, Notorious B.I.G., PERCEE P, SLUM VILLAGE, SMORGASBORD, THE JB'S, THE UPSETTERS, TOTAL

NO KNOWS DOPE | DECEMBER 20X

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The final installment of the No Knows themes & what have you that I did for 20X has come. I set out with a mission, & mission accomplished. It was hard, it was challenging but overall, it was a  fun journey through my favorite artists catalogs throughout 20X. Whether it was the str8 up heat to kick start it all, or February’s Dilla, March(ing) 2 the Beats, April’s Love , May’s Stereolab, June’s Portishead, July’s Stevie, August’s Busta Rhymes, September’s Radiohead, October’s Outkast or November’s Slum Village, I hope that one of this years NKD’s complemented your freshness. For the heads who peep the cover, you already kNOw off top, that  for December, I decided to close it out with one of my favorite groups of all time, thus, No Knows Jamiroquai. The british founders Jay Kay, Toby Smith, Stuart Zender, Nick Van Gelder & Wallis Buchanan have supplied the ears with a new school version of funk meets electronic disco via the didgeridoo (commonly found within most of their earlier works as the main bass groove). If you aint knowing, then this NKD will hip you to the game, for those that DO know, you will not be disappointed. I put all the ones for us heads. In parting, as always… eNjOy & see you on the next idea I come up with for NKD 2011.

TL & DL after the you kNOw what… › Continue reading

Tags: ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD, JAMIROQUAI, JAY DEE, NKD, NO KNOWS DOPE, Q-TIP, SLUM VILLAGE, THE UMMAH

NO KNOWS DOPE | OUTKAST | SLUM VILLAGE

I know… I know… I know. It’s about damn time. & you’re right. It is. My bad for the delay. No excuses (even tho I got em). Last time I’ll be late for the rest of the year (only 1 month left jackass… not that difficult). Anyways the long awaited No Knows Outkast that was supposed to drop on the 15th of last month is finally here. It’s filled with all my faves & was a batch & a half to put together. As for this month I felt taking it to the slums, thus, No Knows Slum Village, same formula as Kast, same difficult task, all executed for the love of your support & your need for dopenaassss. TL’s & DL’s you know where…eNjOy!

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Tags: AB, ANDRE 3000, B-REAL, BAATIN, BAHAMADIA, BIG BOI, BLACK MILK, BREAKFAST CLUB, BROWN SKIN, BUSTA RHYMES, CEE-LO GREEN, DIRT MCGIRT, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DWELE, EIGHTBALL & MJG, ELZHI, Erykah Badu, FOCUS, FRANK NITT, Goodie Mob, ILLA J, J DILLA, Janelle Monae, JAY DEE, LACKSIDAISYCAL, LOCSMIF, MARSHA AMBROSIUS, MC BREED, Mystikal, NKD, NO KNOWS DOPE, ORGANIZED NOIZE, OUTKAST, PHAT KAT, PHIL THA AGONY, Q-TIP, RAEKWON, SLEEPY BROWN, SLIMM CALHOUN, SLUM VILLAGE, SNOOP DOGG, T3, Tash

NO KNOWS DOPE | AUGUST 20X

Okay so, thus far we have had NKD’s on some str8 up heat to kick start it all, then Dilla, then Beats, then Love , then Stereolab, then Portishead, then we had last months double NKD for Stevie & for this month I had to go with my man Busa Busss!! So many people sleep on Busta Rhymes! I never see him any ANNNNNNNNNNNYBODYS top 10 or top 20 for that matter. I had to dead that by doing a No Knows Busta. 60 pinche tracks! & even THAT was narrowed down. These are just my all time favorite Busta songs of all time. The others will be saved for a sequel somewhere down the road, but for now I think these will suffice. If you’ve always thought like me… then this is FOR YOU! If you sittin’ there reading this like… “really No? Busta?” then stick yo’self Pretty Tony & hit the jump to DL like yesterday!! (my bad for the 1 day delay)

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Tags: A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, Artifacts, Black Moon, BUSSA BUSS, Busta, BUSTA RHYMES, CRAIG MACK, Flipmode Squad, FUGEES, GUILTY SIMPSON, HI-TEK, J DILLA, JAY DEE, Jill Scott, JOHN FORTE, Leaders of the New School, LL Cool J, M.O.P., MARIAH CAREY, MEKA, Mobb Deep, Mos Def, NKD, NO KNOWS DOPE, ODB, P DIDDY, PHAROAHE MONCH, Q-TIP, RAMPAGE, RAS KASS, Redman, REMY MARTIN, ROYCE DA 5'9, SLUM VILLAGE, SWIZZ BEATZ, TALIB KWELI, TEPHLON, THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.

J DILLA – DONUT SHOP (FREE EP)

Stones Throw comes through today blessing the world with goodness. Here’s the posthumous Donut Shop EP from the great Jay Dee aka J Dilla, containing some cool things including the instrumentals to Q-Tip’s ‘Move’, Mos Def’s ‘History’, the Safety Dance track that dropped a few months ago, and a few others. But I’ve said too much, you can check out Bars & Twists and then hit the direct download from Stones Throw. Partake!

Tags: J DILLA, JAY DEE, Stones Throw