Just back from a show with Talib Kweli at Sonar, Soul Cannon is a hip-hop band that never rests. This weekend they will be hitting up World Cafe Live in Philly. They also just recently played a show with a local opera group, Rhymes With Opera which is part of the American Opera Project.

Soul Cannon’s The Mixed Ape is a record that simply redefines what a hip-hop band can be. They push boundaries and create rhythms and melodies that make you wanna dance yet also make you question. I hear elements of Tortoise and the Roots. It’s something you’ve never heard before. They are serious innovators.

That said, the guys in Soul Cannon are great. Eze is a serious MC who rhymes like no body’s business. Jon holds down the keys, but plays like no other keyboardist I’ve ever heard. Matt plays guitar so amazingly his guitar rarely sounds like a guitar. And Nathan’s sense of time is almost illegal. They are virtually unstoppable. Their record drops sometime this summer. But you can download 4 tracks from this record for free on their website.

Here are a few of my favorite tracks from their record.

Fall In (whatchugondew???)

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2010 A.D.

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In November 2009, multi-instrumentalist and lyricist Kenton Dunson began renting rooms at various hotels in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. with the intention of utilizing them as recording retreats. This process created a 13-song record that is entitled “The Kenton Dunson Progressions”.

I mastered this record last month and had a great time working with Kenton. He’s a man with a plan and sticks to it. While at the same time, if things needed to be fixed, he stepped it up.

Kenton’s music is hard to explain. He definitely conjures up sounds from Stevie Wonder and Prince. But those are just what first comes to mind. His music speaks for itself.

The CD Release Show with his stellar backing band is June 3rd at the 8×10 and but sadly (however, not for Kenton) sold out. Here are two of my favorite tracks.

Breaks

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Madness

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I recently did another mix for Young Sac and Waka Flocka for their video that just dropped on MTV. As always, enjoy…

D-Boi recently came in to mix a record with me. He’s been working with 3rd Infantry down the block from us. He’s down to earth and writes great hooks. Rumor has it, the track is going to make it’s debut on 92Q in the next few days. Just a rumor. Enjoy this track!

I’m Back

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Last week we were joined by Cutthroat, one of do-gooder label For The People Entertainment’s most prolific hip-hop artists. Accompanied by Oba on guitar and Tron on everything else (conga, keys, percussion), Cutthroat performed songs from his previously released Words Can’t Explain It: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 2.5, and Chapter 3; as well as his collaborative album Silent Flutes. He also performed songs from his forthcoming release Word’s Can’t Explain It: Chapter 4.

Cutthroat is a musical phenomenon that blends backpack hip-hop with lyrics pushing listeners to explore their higher consciousness. From growing up in Severn, MD to spending time in his true home Puerto Rico’s Ponce corridor to tackling the streets of Baltimore’s worst neighborhoods, Cutthroat has both socially and lyrically shed light on problems faced by people on a global scale.

This microshow is a prime example of why we do this. Taking excellent music out of its familiar territory and trying something different. Thanks to Ali, Atman, Tron, Oba and Andy for really stepping this up!

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Reno over at King Cakemix Entertainment recently came in to have his latest track mastered with us. Totally slick production with an exuberant MC. We hope you enjoy and keep your ears peeled for many more King Cakemix/Mobtown collaborations.

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