Another favourite DJ of mine, Cosmo Baker, did this mix for the annual Roots picnic. Here’s what he had to say about it:

“At the 11th Hour it seemed like a good idea to write some sort of introduction to this mix and I gave it some thought as to what I was going to touch upon, but understand this is harder than it may seem. It’s difficult enough to capture everything that this collection of artists is about in the futile medium that’s one single mixtape. In the same regard, much like their entire career it’s almost impossible to pin down what The Roots, and Okayplayer are all about with just words. And that right there just may be the point.

I could take it back to 1992 or 93 when I first met these two dudes Ahmir and Tariq and this could be the story of “Philly dudes done well” or I could talk about the parallels of all or our respective career arcs and all that jazz. Or I could talk about how just some local musicans and DJs from South and West Philly have transformed into global music and cultural ambassadors.

But to me it comes down to one thing – love. The love that one has that makes one do what they do. It’s not for the money of the fame, but for the love of music that is the single reason why we’re in this game. That’s the greatest commonality that we all share, and one of the reasons why Okayplayer is what it is today in 2013. Perhaps it’s something in our mutual Philly history, and its collective cultural fiber; from being in that one time at that one place. I don’t know, but I do know one thing: I grew up with all this, and so when I was asked to contribute this mix, it was more than an honor. It felt like I was coming back home.”

- Cosmo Baker, 2013

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Tracklist
DJ Premier “Young Gifted & Black Intro”
Gang Starr “Full Clip”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “Thrift Shop”
The Roots “Dynamite”
How To Dress Well “Running Back”
Sonnymoon feat. Melo-X “Htlv (Houstatlantavegas) (Melo-X Remix)”
Naughty By Nature “Hip-Hop (DJ Scene 2013 Remix)
Trinidad James “All Gold Everything (Emynd NOLA Bounce Remix)
Robert Glasper “Black Radio feat. Yasin Bey (Pete Rock Remix)”
The Gaslamp Killer “Anything Worse”
The Roots “The Seed 2.0″
Solange “Losing You”
Jennah Bell “Monster Killer”
Solange “Sandcastle Disco”
The Roots “How I Got Over”
Duck Sauce “Grand Steppin”
Grimes “Circumambient”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “Can’t Hold Us feat. Ray Dalton”
Grimes “Oblivion”
A-Trak “Tuna Melt feat. Tommy Trash (Grandtheft Remix)”
Jay-Z & Kanye “Niggas In Paris”
Trinidad James “Females Welcome”
AraabMuzik “The Prince Is Coming”
The Gaslamp Killer “Impulse feat. Daedelus”
Kendrick Lamar “Backseat Freestyle”
A$AP Rocky “Goldie”
Gang Starr “Above The Clouds feat. Inspectah Deck”
Robert Glasper “Twice feat. Solange (?uestlove’s Twice Baked Remix)”
Gary Clark Jr. “The Life”
Joey Bada$$ “Waves”
Naughty By Nature “Jamboree feat. Zhane”
Smoke DZA “Gotham City feat. Joey Bada$$”
AraabMuzik “Hammer Dance”
The Roots “Act Too… The Love Of My Life feat. Common”
Shlohmo “Don’t Say No feat. How To Dress Well”
Lushlife “Magnolia”

Dave HSB presents a selection of classic disco records for your enjoyment – you can’t go wrong with this! Vinyl only of course…

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It’s about time for a new mix from one of my all time favourite DJs, Gonorstein (if you don’t know, get to know). This time he goes into the zone of house related rap from the era when everyone put a house track on their album in the wake of Push It and I’ll House You. Props to Phil Martin on the artwork too…

1. Kool Rock Steady & Sundance – Aint No Stopping Hip House
2. King Sun – On the Club Tip
3. Seville – Keep Ya Movin
4. Lady Supreme – I’m That Type of Girl
5. Chill Rob Gee – Make It
6. Special Ed – Club Scene
7. KC Flight – Let’s Get Jazzy
8. The Break Boys – And The Break Goes On
9. Chuck Chill Out & Cool Chip- Rhythm Is The Master (Acapella)
10. Epmd – I’m Housin’ (White Noise mix)
11. Epmd – It’s Time To Party
12. Fingers Inc – Can You Feel It (Let The Rhythm Hit Em’ Acapella)
13. Black Rock & Ron – Black Rock & Ron (UK Mix Together Forever)
14. ATCQ – Footprints (Doc Brown Mix)
15. Double Jay – Bless The Funk
16. Nitro Deluxe – This Brutal House
17. Craig G – Turn This House
18. Jungle Wonz – Movin On’ (Acapella)
19. Edward Crosby & Singing DJ – Party Time Remix
20. The DOC – Portrait Of A Masterpiece (CJ Edit)
21. M & M – Get Off Your Butt
22. Adonis – No Way Back
23. Men At Work (Acapella)
24. JM Silk– Music Is the Key
25. Jamose – Megablast
26. Raw (Acapella)
27. Underground Solution – Love Dancin’
28. Longsy D – Ska
29. Open Up Your Mind (Acapella)
30. Doug E Fresh – Summertime
31. Masters at Work – Alright Alright

Following on from Solid Steel Radio Show’s mix taking apart the Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique album here’s United States of Audio doing the same for what I consider it’s natutral companion – De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising. The following is from United States of Audio’s sound cloud page:

‘Several years in the making and including around 100 tracks, this is my personal tribute to De La Soul’s ’3 Feet High and Rising’. Using original sample sources, album tracks, interviews and rarities, ‘How High’s The Water Mama’ tells the story of one of hip hop’s most influential albums.
When De La Soul’s debut album dropped in 1989 I was ten years old. Yet, by some stroke of amazing good fortune a cassette copy of ’3 Feet High and Rising’ found its way into my hands thanks to my best mate’s older brother (though I’m pretty sure said brother had no idea of this fact!). The music was a revelation and had a significant influence in shaping my musical tastes – in fact I can’t think of any other album that has had such a profound effect on me as this one. Thus ’3 Feet High and Rising’ holds a special place in my musical affections. Now, some twenty-five years after its original release, it’s time to pay my respect to Pos, Dove, Mase, and Prince Paul…’

The full tracklist is on the link below.

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You can’t escape them right now… following on from the last post of Chris Read’s excellent samples mix, here’s a mix of Daft Punk remixes and rarities for Southern Hospitality’s always excellent live vinyl only mix Twelve 12s.

Shout out to Romanthony and Nilz at The Exchange.

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I like my house samples and Chris Read has knocked it out the park with this one for the website Who Sampled – a selection of the original source materials for some Daft Punk classics. Go to the Who Sampled site for the track by track breakdown. ENJOY!!

STREAM ON MIXCLOUD – DAFT PUNK: THE SAMPLES

This is good stuff – JP plays a selection of quality soul 45, similar to what he played a recent slot at Filthy Soul – a modern soul night in London. It’s as simple as that, but the selection is premium. Highly recommended!

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I Can Tell By The Look In Your Eyes – Maze
Here we go again – Isley Brothers
Spoiled – Ben E. King
(I Can) Deal With That – Dee Edwards
Questions – Pat Stallworth
Main Squeeze – Nate Evans
Still A Part Of Me – The Minits
Booking up baby – The Topics
So in love with you – Wizdom
Ripe For the Picking – The Trumaines
A legend in his own mind – Gil Scott-Heron
Hollywood Dreamin – Father’s Children
Ordinary Joe – Terry Callier
The Way We Live – Raw Soul Express
Your Loves Got Me – Satin
Suddenly – TONY DRAKE
You Made a Believer Out of Me – Ruby Andrews
Magic Corner – Belita Woods
The time is right for love – Bobby Reed
Running back and forth – Edwin Starr
Breaking Out All Over – Lamont Dozier
It Only Happens (When I Look At You) – Jackie Wilson
Daylight – Georgie Fame

I’ve not put anything on this blog for a looooong time – apologies for the hiatus! Let’s get back into it with this mix from The Doctor’s Orders’ Spin Doctor going through De La Soul’s back catalogue and playing the original samples alongside on some break to the beat business. I’ve always fancied doing a De La breaks mix but now I don’t have to.

While we’re talking about De La Soul and samples check out Maseo on Twitter (@DeLaSoulsDugout) – on the last couple of Fridays Maseo and @whosampled play a game of #namethedelasample – good, clean, nerdy fun so get involved!

LISTEN TO BRAKES IS HIGH ON MIXCLOUD 

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Marc Mac – Dusty Disco Crates

I think this is what I’ve listened to the most this year. Incredible selection of disco breaks that have been tweaked and edited especially for this mix.

Red Alert – The Thank You Mix (The last 98.7 Kiss FM show)
Part 1
Part 2

The legendary Kool DJ Red Alert goes out the right way on his last show for Kiss FM.

Kon’s Edits mix for Gilles Peterson

This is the second mix Kon’s done for Peterson’s show where he plays some of his remixes (edits?) done from the original multitracks. Looking forward to hearing more of these gems in 2013.

Little Big Things Mixtape – Personify, Froz One and Case Bloom

The Little Big Things crew play all 45s on this… good stuff!

Big Fun In The Big Town – Monk One

A great mix done to coincide with the DVD release of the classic documentary Big Fun In The Big Town.

Funkmaster Flex’s Chris Lighty tribute on Hot 97

Flex plays tribute to Chris Lighty, someone who’s had a hand in hip hop culture from the genesis of BDP to 50 Cent’s Vitamin Water.

Questlove at the Boiler Room – Roots plays Dilla

There’s an abundance of Dilla mixes but this one’s different – Questlove plays The Roots doing Dilla covers. If you like the album they did of Dilla Joints then you’re going to like this.

Fine Time – Wax On

Wax On’s put a selection of mid 70s AOR/blue eyed soul on this one. There’s a few ‘yacht rock’ orientated mixes out there but this one is definitely off the beaten path.

Matthew Africa plays Seven Inches

Premium funk and soul from Matthew Africa. O-Dub has a tribute post here which pays tribute far more eloquently that I could do.

Superix – Nile Rodgers

Southern Hospitality have done so many good mixes this year (check out their archive) but I’ve picked this one from Superix focusing on Nile Rodgers’ work. Essential listening.

Caught in the Middle of a Three Way Mix – Moneyshot, Cheeba and DJ Food

The Beastie Boys’ Paul Boutique gets broken down to it’s original samples… I was going to do a mix of Beastie Boys breaks this year but this put me off.

Nerd Is Bond – Mr Thing

Mr Thing blessed us with a new mix of original breaks from a load of rap hits. This makes you want to go out and buy old records.

Soul Sisters Stand Up – Skratch Bastid and The Gaff

All female soul and funk – brilliantly put together. Premium stuff!

Breakin Bread Radio Show – Best of 2012

Skeg, Steve The Sleeve and J-Squared pick through the year’s releases and revisit the cream in this show. This is always an end of year highlight.

DJ Beatmaster Wright’s Ill Behaviour Show on Base FM in Auckland recently had it’s Christmas special, playing festive raps and beats plus giving the new Season’s Beatings mix it’s first airing. Guaranteed fun!

P.S. I should’ve picked Gremlins as my festive film.

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