Follow that cosmic lady

Mndsgn. "Cosmic Perspective." Body Wash, Stones Throw, 2016.

Body Wash, Mndsgn's second full length album for Stones Throw just dropped on Friday. Mndsgn describes this one as "a soul record that plays with nostalgic elements in a very dynamic & positive way. Think about it as a box of crayons for you to draw emotions with."

Hat tip to Kevin Celestin (aka Kaytranada) for putting me onto this one.

Listen to the track below, or watch the videos (intro + single) and travel back in time to an early 90s futuristic church jam. For some photos from the video shoot, check out this post over on Stones Throw.

Never say never

Mac Miller. "Dang! (feat. Anderson .Paak)." The Divine Feminine, Warner Bros. Records Inc., 2016.

Dang! I spoke too soon about Mac Miller. At first, I was embarrassed to say how much I'm digging his latest release, The Divine Feminine. But it's good. Real good.

The Divine Feminine features guest appearances from greats like Bilal, CeeLo, and Kendrick, just to name a few. And there’s that Robin Williams monologue on love and relationships from Good Will Hunting sampled on “Soulmate.” 

Mac is starting to grow up and hold his own. This album makes me feel hopeful for where new hip hop is heading, respecting what came before it and introducing younger audiences to the roots.

Watch Miller perform "Dang!" live with Anderson .Paak in the video below from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

This one's for all the little dreamers

ANDERSON .PAAK. "THE DREAMER." MALIBU, STEEL WOOL / OBE / ART CLUB / EMPIRE, 2016.

I told you there'd be more from this album.

There's so much about this track that I absolutely love. Whenever I give it a spin, I can't help but feel motivated and hopeful for the future. The lyrics, the message, the guest appearance from Talib, backup vocals by the Timan Family Choir, that Mohawks sample off "The Champ".

Happy Friday. Go on, you little dreamers.

A ballad was born upon a demo of a fly love song

DE LA SOUL. "MEMORY OF...(US)." ...and the anonymous nobody, A.O.I., LLC, 2016.

De La Soul is alive and well. I've been giving their new ...and The Anonymous Nobody a listen and really enjoying the lyrics, the beats, the collaborations. So far this track with vocals from the lovely Estelle is contending with "Pain" featuring Snoop for the heaviest rotation, but it's a hard game picking favourites.

Jill Scott's opener "Genesis" is definitely worth a listen, "Drawn" featuring Little Dragon is hauntingly beautiful, Blur & Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn brings the dreamy vocals to "Here in After," and "Royalty Capes" is all kinds of bold. Comin' in hot. "Exodus" is the "outtro that's also an intro" and one of the best I've ever heard, a triumphant anthem that leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction but ready to replay the whole album.

For more De La, check out this Fast Company co.create article that interviews Dave and Posdnuos on their first album in over a decade, along with everything from how hip hop has changed, to Kickstarting projects and music in the Internet age, and how they've experimented on their latest work. 

All the songs sound better when you're next to me

amy winehouse, "mr. magic (through the smoke)." frank, Universal Island Records Ltd., 2003.

Today Amy Winehouse was to celebrate her 33rd birthday. Hers was an incredible voice but a tragic story and while she left this world too soon, she sure did give us some beautiful music.

This morning I'm listening to Mr Magic (sampling the great Grover Washington, Jr.) and remembering Amy as a powerhouse and full of joy.

Say wait a minute, Queen

ERYKAH BADU. "... & ON." MAMA'S GUN, MOTOWN RECORD COMPANY L.P., 2000.

I first witnessed Miss Erykah Badu perform at Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom in June 2008. She stepped out on stage sporting a plaid leisure suit and a sky-high afro beaming out in all directions. Touring for her New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) album, she was pure fire, a true artist.

This flip of On & On from her 1997 debut Baduizm always puts me in a state of CAF. For Erykah in one of her cooler moments, check out the video below for "Love Of My Life" featuring former flame Common (skip ahead to 1:24 or listen the whole way through). We won't stop until the break of da-ooh-ooh-ooh-wn.

I'm a bit too dangerous, if you want me you should just...

Lion Babe. "Treat Me Like Fire." Lion Babe EP, LION BABE LLC, under exclusive licence to Outsiders Recorded Music Ltd. / Polydor Ltd. (UK), 2014.

When we caught The Roots play Oakland's Fox Theater just after Christmas 2014, I had no idea we'd be in for a serious treat care of their opening act. Singer Jill Hervey -- daughter of the stunning Vanessa Williams -- came out on stage with her wild mane, legs for days, a voice reminiscent of Erykah Badu, and a mesmerizing stage presence. "Treat Me Like Fire" instantly got inside my head, as I tried to place the sample (The Guess Who's "These Eyes"? Not quite.), the sultry and soulful "At The Hotel" by Eunice Collins. Production by Lucas Goodman, inspired by the late great J Dilla, Flying Lotus, and Timbaland, is on point (with some help from Pharrell).

Lion Babe returns to the Bay Area for a benefit concert this Wednesday, September 14th with Common at the Masonic. Tickets are $40 and all proceeds support Black Girls Code.

Just keep it on the down low

TLC. "Creep (LP Version)." Crazysexycool, LaFace Records LLC, 1994.

I was nine years old when CrazySexyCool came out. I remember buying the cassette tape (you read that right) at Toronto's Sam the Record Man and immediately popping it into our car's tape player. With my mom in the driver's seat, we listened to the entire album together, she picking out the samples from the beloved soul songs of her past ("Mr. Big Stuff" on "Switch") and me being mesmerized by the ineffable coolness and tough-girl attitudes of T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli. 

The Jermaine Dupri-produced "Creep" remains my most beloved track from this album. I don't think anyone's ever made silk robes look more badass in a music video. Kaytranada's 2013 remix below reimagines it as a "Creepier Edition," rendering it even sultrier and more dangerous than the original.

Oh I, oh I, oh I. Yeah.

Lessons learned from the ancient roots

ANDERSON .PAAK. "The Bird." MALIBU, STEEL WOOL / OBE / ART CLUB / EMPIRE, 2016.

I'll have more to say about this album in posts to come. For now, check out the opening track from this breakthrough artist, reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield with influences from Kendrick, his thoughtful poetry and smooth keys.

.Paak isn't messing around when he asserts that he's choosing "to follow what the greatest do."

What's a sassy girl to do?

D'Angelo, The Vanguard. "Sugah Daddy." Black Messiah, RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, 2014.

I heard Voodoo as a teenager when it came out at the turn of the century, and it hooked me, full line and sinker. Those drums from Questlove, those smooth vocals, the rhymes from Wu Tang Clansmen Method Man and Redman, that music video (you know the one).

Voodoo remains one of my most-often played albums from start to finish (best for a sexy dinner and date night at home), and when D'Angelo came back with the Black Messiah record in 2015 featuring his band, The Vanguard, I was over the moon. Seeing them perform at Outside Lands last year was the highlight of my summer festival-going experience. This track with the funky piano always puts me in a good mood.

Tell me you miss me, back in the city...

River Tiber. "West (feat. Daniel Caesar)." Indigo, River Tiber, 2016.

Ever since I first caught Toronto's Tommy Paxton-Beesly (aka River Tiber) open up for Kaytranada at Mezzanine in San Francisco, I haven't been able to get this song out of my head. I was instantly mesmerized by his haunting R&B vocals, the way he layers in guitar to create a sense of atmosphere, and that early 90s influence that seems to characterize much of the music coming out of The Six.

This song reminds me of the feeling of being a Canadian living in California, that spirit of "going west" and being lost in a dream.

Gotta be something for me to write this

Common. "The Light." Like Water For Chocolate, Geffen Records, 2000.

Witnessing two people in love is pure magic to me, especially when the couple includes your oldest friends. This long weekend, I had the pleasure of watching one of the most graceful, elegant, compassionate ladies I know make a promise to her best friend, and they kicked things off on the dance floor with this track. As cool and classy as first dances can go.

Listen to the original below featuring that amazing Bobby Caldwell "Open Your Eyes" sample, or check out the remixed instrumental version chopped up by the late great J Dilla.