Just bees and things and flowers

Roy Ayers Ubiquity. "Everybody Loves the Sunshine." Everybody Loves the Sunshine, Polydor, 1976.

In honour of this week's episode of Questlove Supreme featuring the incomparable Roy Ayers, I'm spinning this track, which is without a doubt one of my all-time favourite chill-out jams from this legendary jazz vibraphonist.

Sampled by artists from Dr. Dre to Mary J. Blige to Common and covered by both D'Angelo and Seu Jorge, "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" has made such an indelible mark on hip-hop and neo soul, with lasting influence.

I will never forget when I got a chance to see him perform for "Homage" at L.A.'s Exchange in 2011, when the city of Los Angeles presented him with official recognition for his contributions to hip hop.

Much [Music] gave me love

Maestro Fresh-West. "Stick To Your Vision." Built to Last, Attic Records, 1998.

Still not gonna stop.

We'll save the epic stories about Wesley Williams (aka Maestro) for another post, but in the meantime, enjoy this classic Canadian hip-hop track, featuring a sample from The Guess Who's "These Eyes" and lots of Toronto footage in the music video.

🎶 I build with Israelites, Rastafarians, God bodies
F-o-y, Sunni Muslims, T.O. to Brooklyn
Many nights in Bed-Stuy, blazin' trees out in Cali
With brothers from frat, sippin' henny, mad friendly
Got Toronto's rap title to Maracitles
Met Quincy Jones in eighty nine, that's my idol
Chicks from every nationality, showin' hospitality
Grabbin' me, showin' mad love in the club
Listen, check my rendition
Performed for royalty and politicians
Even done shows with the greatest emcees of all time
I was the one who used to say (eighty nine is mine)
I've seen alot of valleys, I've seen alot of peaks
I've seen the bitter with the sweet, victory and defeat
Sometimes I fell, but a voice kept saying
Son, stick to your vision, peep the composition 🎶

I come from downtown

The Tragically Hip. "Grace, Too." Day For Night, MCA, 1994.

Happy 150th, Canada. While there is much to celebrate today, let's also remember and recognize the First Nations people who were here long before us.

🎶 I come from downtown
Born ready for you
Armed with skill and its frustration
And Grace, Too 🎶

And here's the incomparable Gord Downie and the Hip performing "Grace, Too" as the second encore to close out their last performance on the Man Machine Poem tour last year. Chills.

Financial freedom my only hope

JAY-Z. "The Story of O.J." 4:44, S. CARTER ENTERPRISES, LLC. MARKETED BY ROC NATION & DISTRIBUTED BY ROC NATION/UMG RECORDINGS INC., 2017.

It's here! Man, No ID killed it on the production of this album. He chopped up some Nina Simone real nice on this track. Check out the video below, only on Tidal for now.

🎶 I bought some artwork for one million
Two years later that shit worth two million
Few years later that shit worth eight million
I can't wait to give that shit to my children
Y'all think it's bougie I'm like that's fine
But I'm trying to give you a million dollars of game for $9.99 🎶

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

Guide you to the light babe

Michael Jackson. "Butterflies." Invincible, MJJ Productions Inc., 2001.

🎶 All I got to say is that I must be dreaming, can't be real
You're not here with me, still I can feel you near me
I caress you, let you taste us, just so blissful listen
I would give you anything baby, just make my dreams come true
Oh baby you give me butterflies 🎶