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.

MAIYA PRESENTS RENDEZVOUS VOL.15 [DOWNLOAD]

Download audio file (Not-Here-Anymore-feat.-Elzhi.mp3)

PHONTE F/ ELZHI-NOT HERE ANYMORE [DOWNLOAD]

*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.

*PBBT!’S SMORGASBORD APRIL 2011 [DOWNLOAD]

Lil B – Base_For_Your_Face_(Clean)_ft._Jean_Grae_&_Phonte

DOWNLOAD

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

Download audio file (Umi-Says.mp3)

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

MEEZY LISTENIN’ VOL 13 [DOWNLOAD]
Catch up on ones you missed [MEEZY LISTENIN DISCOGRAPHY]

Download audio file (Trackademicks-Fool-On-The-Hill-feat-Phonte.mp3)

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

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

From The Foreign Exchange newsletter:

“Authenticity” is the 3rd full-length from indie-soul duo The Foreign Exchange.

Picking up where their 2008 Grammy-nominated “Leave It All Behind” set left off, “Authenticity” is the group’s most diverse work to date, with a tight, 11-track song cycle spanning the duo’s trademark brand of lush electronic soul, to stripped down acoustic pieces that recall the heyday of 70′s singer-songwriter driven folk.

Lead single “Maybe She’ll Dream Of Me” is a playful, synth-driven hip-hop groove featuring a rapped verse from Phonte that evokes the band’s “Connected” era, while the epic opener “The Last Fall” finds Phonte singing some of his most cynical lyrics to date (“Love is at worst an excuse/at best it’s a truce…”) over a frenzied Nicolay production jammed with layers of strings, guitars, and dense choral harmonies.

“I think every band reaches that point when they come into their own and find a sound that is distinctively theirs,” says Phonte in reference to the album’s title. “The title refers to me and Nic’s journey to find our own unique space within this vast musical landscape. The biggest challenge as a musician is to find that ‘thing’ that makes you who you are. But I think we’re getting there, and we’re finding our way more and more with each record.”

Featuring guest appearances from longtime contributors YahZarah, Darien Brockington, Zo! and Median, and also relative newcomers Chantae Cann and Jesse Boykins III, “Authenticity” hits stores 10/12 on +FE Music.

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…

DOWNLOAD || FLY & SAUCY VOL.4 || MEDIAFIRE

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]