Anybody got a few bottles we can clank together? Aloe Blacc is getting his Riff on, ready for war as he leads this high-powered number from Cook Classics’ LP, Recharged. For the mini-movie, marvel as the drawing you see above you was created by illustrator Sen One. Read the rest of this entry »

With Evidence continuing to further his solo career and no Dilated Peoples album on the horizon, Rakaa Iriscience appeared content to rest on his laurels. But an internal spark seemingly risen the “son of a preacher man” from his self-imposed hiatus, as he debuts his long player Crown Of Thorns. Weaving politically tinged rhymes over head nod-inducing beats, Rakaa shows he’s not taking a back seat to anyone. Read the rest of this entry »

While his partner-in-rhyme Evidence has been bringing the lyrical precipitation during their groups hiatus, Rakaa’s been pretty quiet since Dilated Peoples last release back in ’06. With release of his debut album Crown Of Thorns, he’s surfaced to dispense with the conspiracy theories & Cali-infused tales he’s become known. Read the rest of this entry »

Singer, rapper, trumpeter, and host of the best party in Los Angeles. What more could one man be? Hilarious, friendly, smart, humble… yeah, he’s all of those things too. Even in a city chock full of talent, Aloe Blacc laps the competition with cool strides that raise the question of whether anyone is even in his race. Read the rest of this entry »

Funny how it takes a great song to make you realize how average everything else is that’s coming out.

Aloe Blacc has been experimenting with different sounds and styles for a while now, and it appears he has found his stride. Produced by Truth and Soul, and backed by the Expressions and El Michels Affair, “I Need A Dollar” is captivating from first strike of the piano to the pristine horn sections closing. Aloe himself has never sounded better; his voice more bold and comfortable as he rides the swinging rhythm. Penned with a humanistic eye for detail, “I Need A Dollar” has pop aspirations but resonates on much more profound level. Far from a contrived modern twist of the retro vibe, Aloe has created an authentic hit. Just ask HBO. Read the rest of this entry »