Category: Hip Hop

KOREDE BELLO - JINGLE BELL

12/25/2014

We like different, here at Stubby's. We really do. We celebrate the dehomogenization of music (is that even a word). So when we get the opportunity to present a Jazzy Hip Hop Folk artist from Nigeria singing a classic Christmas song in a whole new way including a line about how his chicken is bigger than your chicken and his fowl is bigger than your fowl, well.... Call me crazy, but that's the sort of thing we look for. Korede Bello is the artist and "Jingle Bell" is the song. Haven't found a stream option, but you can grab the free download easily enough from Korede's Twitter feed or from olekubuzz.

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ROADSART - WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME

12/23/2014

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This has been the year for "Wonderful Christmastime". A song that a lot of people don't like, even though its McCartney. This is the year people are finally deconstructing the song and putting it back together in ways that make it fresh and funky. This version, clocking in at just 1 minute and 38 seconds, comes from RoadsArt, a Producer/Musician/Engineer from New Jersey. Download at Soundcloud. Give it a few seconds. Wait for it....

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ILLIJAM & MAGOH - COUNT IT LOSS CHRISTMAS

12/19/2014

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What else we got in that sack, Santa? How bout some Christian Hip Hop from Illijam & Magoh of the Count It Loss collective? The thought behind "Count It Loss Christmas" is that a fundamentally religious holiday has been hijacked by commercialism and greed and the real meaning of the holiday is lost, leaving some Christians down and defensive. Now, without being cantankerous and going into how the Christians, centuries ago, hijacked the dates and trappings of Pagan Solstice celebrations (do not judge lest ye be judged; do not hijack lest ye be hijacked), Count it loss says their message is to keep the true meaning of Christmas close to your heart and share it with anyone who will listen. And on that, I think we can agree. Dig the beats, yo. Free on Soundcloud.

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HIGHER HANDS - CHRISTMAS ON HUDSON ST.

12/18/2014

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See, the reason I'm actively trying to not post music that some of my Festive Friends are posting is because I want you to visit them as often as you visit here. More so, even. I love what these folks do. Be it Brigitte at Lie In The Sound, Jim at Christmas Underground, Guuz and friends at Christmas A-Go-Go, "Rudolph" (Francis) at Mistletunes or any of my other favorite holiday haunts, they've got unique tastes and insights and they each find plenty of stuff I would never find without them. It's not a "credit" thing; its about rewarding the effort. Trust me, there's a lot of effort involved. And there's plenty of stuff out there (and an infinite supply of ear destroying garbage) that we could all go our separate ways and never duplicate. Now, as Jim has pointed out, there's nothing inherently bad about overlap. Sometimes, its a very good thing. But I also think its cool that we push each other to dig deeper (I am never getting to bed before daylight again until after Christmas, am I?). All that said.....

There is just some stuff I need over here for my own head. And this find from Guuz over at Christmas A-Go-Go is one of them. Jazzy Funk and Deep Hip Hoppy Soul from Higher Hands, a Maryland group. "Christmas On Hudson St." has five tracks, including what I believe is the first cover of Sharon Jones' great "Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects". I love these dudes. And I don't think "I Saw Three Ships" has ever been so funked up. Dig it! An instant download at Bandcamp.

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VARIOUS - NOISE TO THE WORLD 2

12/5/2014

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Earlier this year, we caught up with the 2013 collection from Converse, "Noise To The World", which was lingering from last Christmas. Well, if you missed that one, its gone now. Had to make way for the newer model, "Noise To The World 2". As with last year's set, Converse made all the right moves. The artists are exceptional and so is the music.

I bumped into "Noise To The World 2" on Tuesday. Converse had unveiled two tracks on Monday. They then released another two tracks on Wednesday. And the last two were unveiled today. I figured I'd wait until the collection was complete before I posted. Didn't listen even. And, now, here I am with the opportunity to hear the whole thing......and I can't get past "On Christmas" from the Dum Dum Girls. It's playing for something like the sixth straight time, right now, and I want to hear it again. This one's got legs. It's going to turn up on Christmas playlists to the end of time.

By the end of the day, I'm sure Converse will have racked up the full album download. Or not. As it is, now, the button sends you to Soundcloud where you have to download each track individually. But it's worth it.

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WORK DRUGS - NICHOLAS

12/5/2014

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Philadelphia's Indie Pop / Electro Pop / Dream Pop / Chillwave / Smoth-fi outfit, Work Drugs may not be sure what to call their sound, but they sure as heck know how to sound good. "Nicholas" is wickedly upbeat without being hyper. It's a smooth high, yo! They should pipe this music into hospital waiting rooms. I'm thinking spontaneous healing. Sometimes I'm both amused and horrified by the analogies my brain comes up with. First thing I thought listening to "Nicholas" by Work Drugs? Like the Clash on ludes (and I mean that in a good way). To defend my sick mind a bit, "Nicholas" has some of that "Rock The Casbah" rhythm, but much smoother--sort of like you sanded down all the sharp corners. I'll shut up, now. "Nicholas" is great, though. Go get it at Bandcamp.

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J. GREENE & THE STEADY - WINTER SESSIONS

12/4/2014

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Another Austin act. Is there anybody in that town who isn't making music? J. Greene & The Steady are new to the scene, having joined forces earlier this year. Though the core sound is Soul/R&B, the members of the group have experience in a vast array of musical styles, and they do season the broth. Judging by "Shakedown" on their Facebook band page, they definitely can get gritty and rock that soul. The Christmas set is less rock and more modern Soul. "Winter Sessions" is a 3-song EP and the songs in question are all classics. I'm not sold on the beat underlying "The Christmas Song", but their takes on "Christmas Time Is Here" and "This Christmas" are stellar. If you like what you hear, get "Winter Sessions" as an absolutely free instant download via Bandcamp.

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JAVIER VAZQUEZ - GREEN CHRISTMAS TO ME?

11/28/2014

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"Green Christmas To Me?" is a Deep Funk groove from Javier Vazquez. For your average mix, it might be a bit long at seven and a half minutes. But, if you're trying to get that Christmas party moving and the dance floor full, a track like this could come in handy. There are lots of little touches and flourishes that I really like in "Green Christmas To Me?" And it not only bounces booty; its soulful, too. But you're probably going to love it or hate it and that's your call. If you find you love it (or like it just enough), you can download via Soundcloud free.

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NEHZUIL - WHERE WILL YOU BE (THIS XMAS)

11/24/2014

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Nehzuil is Zhen Liu backwards and Zhen Liu is an artist currently working out of Australia. Most of Nehzuil's work (at least what's up on Soundcloud) are covers of R&B/Hip Hop/Soul tracks, infused by Zhen with a sprinkling of Jazz and fortified with Pop sensibilities. The result is music which fits comfortably in most any setting.

U-Ness is a Hip Hop Pop artist from Belgium and this cover of U-Ness' "Where Will You Be (This Xmas)" was posted to Soundcloud a year ago. Its fairly faithful to the original but Nehzuil's cover is free (along with a bunch of other tunes, if you like) in exchange for a "Like" on Facebook. Works for me.

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S.P.O.T.S. - DAS CHRISTKIND IM BIKINI

11/21/2014

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I've always said, if you have a good time singing it, the audience will have a good time listening. And these folks are clearly having a good time.

S.P.O.T.S. stands for "Some People On The Stage" and "Das Christkind Im Bikini" is another song I came across while exploring the Thomann XMas 2014 contest entries on YouTube. This one was actually recorded in 2012, so I guess S.P.O.T.S. was re-gifting. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

I haven't got a clue what they're singing (though the visual gives you the gist), but it's a fun funky groove and you can get it free on Bandcamp.

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The FREE List

Here we hope to direct you to some of the Christmas music on the web that can be yours absolutely free. We will not direct you to mp3 or sharity sites, here, but only to artist sites, label sites, and other authorized and unquestionably legal locations.

KOREDE BELLO - JINGLE BELL

ROADSART - WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME

ILLIJAM & MAGOH - COUNT IT LOSS CHRISTMAS

HIGHER HANDS - CHRISTMAS ON HUDSON ST.

VARIOUS - NOISE TO THE WORLD 2

WORK DRUGS - NICHOLAS

J. GREENE & THE STEADY - WINTER SESSIONS

JAVIER VAZQUEZ - GREEN CHRISTMAS TO ME?

NEHZUIL - WHERE WILL YOU BE (THIS XMAS)

S.P.O.T.S. - DAS CHRISTKIND IM BIKINI

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