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

MAIYA PRESENTS…RENDEZVOUS VOL. 15

I once told Sulaiman that I wanted to find the art that was on the walls in that scene of Belly (by Thierry le Goues) and suggested he use it for (RDV7). I’m big on art and the walls of my apartment have always been lined with it. He delivered immaculately. The talent on the Blind I staff never ceases to amaze me. Our imaginations are all over the place.  For this volume, Noah asked me the usual, “What do you want the cover to look like?” I responded with my usual abstract (albeit unhelpful) explanation of what I had in mind.  It went something like this.

Me: Ummm this is what I’m thinking (Shows a classic photo of Kate Moss smoking a cigarette). I like the idea of a beautiful woman smoking a cigarette. Probably because I want someone to take an edgy picture of me with a cigarette. Even though I don’t smoke.  (Shows photo of Naomi Campbell naked pointing a gun at the camera). Like a good girl gone bad vibe.
No: I feel you. Let me look at all of these pics. I’m in full agreement with having titties on the covers of RDV now. I’m glad Pam Grier was the first.
Me: Well… it’s not about the titties, Noah. More like raw sexuality and strength, you know?
No: Yeah…All that. And titites!

The one we ended up with was the first image I sent to Noah. And I love the way he flipped it! If you’ve noticed, we’ve posted less and less of these compilations. It’s not because we don’t love them or don’t care. We just want to adhere to our mantra of quality over quantity and allow you to really spend time with each one.  It’s always a joy for me to highlight artists that are friends of mine on here and this month there are several.  Hopefully you enjoy this one! Tracks/links after the jump.

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Tags: ANNA WISE, BLIND I, blu, BLUM, CARLITTA DURAND, COMMON, CORTEX, DAEDELUS, drake, EVIL NEEDLE, ILL POETIC, J DILLA, JOANNA NEWSOM, KELELA MIZANEKRISTOS, KNXWLEDGE, MAIYA PRESENTS...RENDEZVOUS VOL. 15, MINGUS MURRAY, MNDSGN, PHONTE, Quadron, RZA, SZJERDENE, THE ROOTS, THE STUYVESANTS, The Weeknd

PHONTE F/ ELZHI- NOT HERE ANYMORE (PROD. BY 9TH WONDER)

When Little Brother began to unravel, I think the music world let out a collective groan. The synergy between 9th Wonder as a producer and the lyrical prowess of Phonte and Big Pooh was never matched when they ventured outside of their trio. “Not Here Anymore” is the first single from Phonte’s upcoming solo album, Charity Starts at Home.  Gotta love the Rose Royce sample! Enjoy!

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PHONTE F/ ELZHI-NOT HERE ANYMORE [DOWNLOAD]

Tags: 9th Wonder, BLIND I, CHARITY STARTS AT HOME, ELZHI, NOT HERE ANYMORE, PHONTE

*PBBT!’S SMORGASBORD APRIL 2011

*Jon LaJoie voice* Awww yeah…I’m back. New month, new Smorg fo yall asses. No ignorance on this one, no sappy ass theme. Just some music that I’ve been vibing to as of lately. Dunno…I’ve had a lot on me brain, think it comes out in the song selection. Or not. Either way I think all the tracks rock and I’d like to share them with you. Wordemup to $ for the cover art though…hell I might have to go get that varsity made for real. Holla.

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Tags: 213, Alchemist, BIG KRIT, Carter, Curren$y, DEL THA FUNKEE HOMOSAPIEN, Digable Planets, DJ TAZ, DOM. Kennedy, Heliocentrics, K-DEE, Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi, MADVILLAIN, MF DOOM, Mr Hudson, PERCEE P, PHONTE, PLAYA FLY, Rhymefest, ROYCE DA 5'9, Sebastian, SIR MICHEAL ROCKS, Soulja Boy, The Chemical Brothers, VAKILL, ZO!

LIL B – BASS FOR YOUR FACE FEAT. JEAN GRAE & PHONTE

Lil B + Jean Grae + Phonte + a 9th Wonder beat = BASS FOR YOUR FACE!

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DOWNLOAD

Tags: 9th Wonder, FOREIGN EXCHANGE, Jean Grae, JUSTUS LEAGUE, LIL B, LITTLE BROTHER, PHONTE, THE PACK

THE BEAST & NNENNA FREELON PRESENT… THE FREEDOM SUITE

I hope you all will grant me a supreme late pass on this one. But, I wanted to do my due diligence and post The Freedom Suite, hosted by 9th Wonder with guest appearances by Phonte, Yazarah, Geechi Suede and others. A little bit about the project: Jazz vocalist and multi Grammy nominee Nnenna Freelon joins hip-hop quartet The Beast to release Freedom Suite: a 10-track collection of creative reflections on jazz and hip-hop.

S/O to Giantstep for this lovely set of tunes.  And if you’re a lover of jazz, Okayplayer’s Revivalist site is right up your alley. Partake!

Umi Says

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Download The Beast & Nnenna Freelon-The Freedom Suite [Bandcamp]

Tags: 9th Wonder, BLIND I, GEECHI SUEDE, GIANTSTEP, NNENNA FREELON, Okayplayer, PHONTE, REVIVALIST, THE BEAST, THE FREEDOM SUITE, YAZARAH

MEEZY LISTENIN’ VOL 13

Lucky number 13 . The Ascended masters of music are dawning upon us once again. Spreading positive vibes along the way. I’m excited about this MEEZY LISTENIN’, there is alot of delicious music for you to enjoy, from J.Cole to my peoples the Honor Roll… We represent you all.  Sit back relax and pop this in your personal juke box and have a eargasm off this MEEZY LISTENIN’ vol 13′. TL and DL on the other side.

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Tags: 1-O.A.K., ALICIA KEYS, ANDRE 3000, BIG BOI, Big Sean, Bilal, BLACK MILK, DROOP-E, E-40, F.A.M.E, Freddie Gibbs, FREDDIE JOACHIM, J.COLE, Jay Vega, Jd Era, JNEIRO JAREL, Kameleon, KooLes, Mac Miller, Mike Baker, Oriol, Peter Hadar, PHONTE, Pollyn, SLEEPY BROWN, TERRACE MARTIN, THE PRIMERIDIAN, Tony Williams, TRACKADEMICKS, UNKLE, VON PEA, YC the Cynic, ZO!

TRACKADEMICS – FOOL ON THE HILL FEAT. PHONTE

Trackademics + Phontigallo = Too Much Posse. Good lawd.

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TRACKADEMICS – FOOL ON THE HILL FEAT. PHONTE [DOWNLOAD]

Tags: FOOL ON THE HILL, HONOR ROLL, PHONTE, STATE OF THE ARTS, TRACKADEMICS

THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE REVEALS NEW COVER AND TRACKLISTING

Yeah, I’m totally geekin’ off this news. Since we are diehard Foreign Exchange fans here at the Blind-I offices, this is BIG news. The subtlety of the cover suggest things are going to be all right after the band told us to “leave it all behind…”. Autumn brings newness and clarity, and anything Phonte and Nicolay has for us will be taken up with open arms.

Peep the tracklist after the drop and the official press release from the group. And stay tuned to further news folks!

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Tags: CHANTAE CANN, DARIEN BROCKINGTON, JESSE BOYKINS III, Median, NICOLAY, PHONTE, THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE, YAHZARAH, ZO!

BLIND I | THE BANGERZ PRESENT FLY N SAUCY VOL.4

Spread your wings & fly with the saucy ones as we take you to a higher level than the last go round with the all new installment of volume 4! Where others fall short we strive to give you more! More of that heat that you know we got in store for all you cool people & even the slores! G-Wrex… No… cleanin’ up like we did chores! Now go explore!

Tracklist & DL where it says…

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Tags: ANDRE 3000, Baths, BEI MAJOR, BIG BOI, Big Sean, BLACK SPADE, BLIND I, BRYANT STEWART, CAROLINE POLACHEK, Charlie Wilson, Chris Brown, CHRISETTE MICHELE, CIARA, Curren$y, DARIEN BROCKINGTON, DEADMAU5, DJ FRESH, drake, FLY & SAUCY, G-WREX, J.COLE, Jamie Cullum, Janelle Monae, JAVONTE, Jay-z, Justin Timberlake, Kendrick Lamar, KURUPT, NATO CALIPH, NO, PATTY CRASH, Pharrell, PHONTE, Problem, RAPPER BIG POOH, REY RESURRECCION, Rick Ross, Robin Thicke, Rockwell Knuckles, ROSCOE, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, SNOOP DOGG, SWIZZ BEATZ, TABI BONNEY, THE BANGERZ, THE ROOTS, Trey Songz, Tyga, WALE, WASHED OUT, Will.i.am, Wiz Khalifa, YELAWOLF, ZO!

[RUMORED] TRACKLISTING/ PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR KANYE WEST’S ‘GOOD ASS JOB’ [OMG]

According to the good folks of TeamSupreme. The noteables are so vast…I definitely need to hear Holding Me Back, Monster, and Chain Heavy. Kanye never lets me down.

Hell Of a Life (feat. Lil’ Wayne) [Kanye West x DJ Toomp]
Dark Fantasy [RZA]
Power [S1]
Chain Heavy (feat. Eminem x Jay-Z) [Kanye West]
Ghetto University (feat. T.I.) [Kanye West x DJ Toomp]
That’s My Girl (feat. Katy Perry x Kid Cudi) [Kanye West x Jon Brion]
Runaway [Kanye West x Q-Tip]
Lost In The World (feat. Nicki Minaj x Rick Ross) [Kanye West x No I.D.]
Gorgeous (Ode To Kardashians) (feat. Drake x Game x Ludacris) [Kanye West]
Monster [Kanye West x DJ Premier]
Holding Me Back (feat. Mos Def x Talib Kweli x Phonte) [Kanye West x Madlib]
Devil In a New Dress [Pete Rock]
The Joy (feat. Common x John Legend) [Kanye West]
So Appalled (feat. Drake x Jamie Foxx) [Kanye West x No I.D.]
Blame Game [DJ Toomp]
Sweat On My Face [DJ Premier]

Tags: DJ PREMIER, DJ Toomp, drake, EMINEM, Game, Jay-z, Jon Brion, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Kid Cudi, LUDACRIS, Mos Def, nicki Minaj, No I.D., PETE ROCK, PHONTE, Q-TIP, Rick Ross, RZA, S1, T.I., TALIB KWELI