Raekwon-"Chinese Marines"-mp3

Raekwon clicks with QB's Mobb Depp, from his Unexpected Victory mixtape, dropping very soon. via NahRight

Wu-Tang
Epic
Jan. 7th

Raekwon ft. Mobb Deep-"Chinese Marines"-mp3

Sound Verite's Favorite Local Record's 2011

Minneapolis seems to have exploded in 2011 with a host of fantastic records. This list originally published at Reviler's Best Of Local 2011. Shout out my homegirl C-Rocka.



Greg Grease – The Giving Tree
The city's quiet secret weapon, the multi-talented Greg Grease not only writes throwback rhythms over warm J Dilla-inspired beats, he makes the beats, plays drums, directs video and has a line of fine garments & accessories. Check out The Giving Tree's highlights “Love It Or Leave It Alone”, “Dreams”, “Got Till its Gone” , “Flying Kites” and “Your Welcome”.
Greg Grease – The Giving Tree -download



Villa Rosa – Blue Diamond Island
Muja Messiah and Maria Isa join forces, sample Nina Simone on “Blindfolded”, shout out Fela Kuti on “Watch Out”, they even had production of Doc McKinney (Drake/The Weeknd/Muja Messiah) on “Uma Thurman”. NPR's All Things Considered called them “Something rare in hip-hop”.
Villa Rosa -"Blindfolded"-mp3



Manifest – Immigrant Chronicles: Coming To America
Ghana's favorite son in Minneapolis spreads his wings with a thorough effort . With hits like “Fiyah”, “Suffer”, “Motion Picture”, “Asa” and “Heaven” Manifest should be getting even more love. The man recently went on tour with Damon Albarn (Gorillaz/Blur), Tony Allen ( Fela Kuti) and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, expect big things from chale.
Manifest-"Suffer"-mp3



Buffalo Moon – Selva Surreal
Lead by Ecuadorian singer Karen Freire and her mates from South Dakota take a trippy indie ride into the bomba nightlife with gorgeous melodies via Stereolab and echoes of Astrud Giberto. Released on local powerhouse indie Moon Glyph.
Buffalo Moon -"Moses Baby"-mp3



Sims –Bad Time Zoo
Doomtree's Sims grabs heavy production from Lazerbeak, a mask and off to the races.
Sims-"Burn It Down"-mp3



Malamanya – Malamanya ep
This group seemed to come from nowhere with a unique take on Cuban son. With a fascinating lead vocalist Adriana Rimpel, and a grant from American composers, the future looks bright.



The Cloax Ox -Prisen
Andrew Broder, Dosh and friends.
The Cloax Ox-"Vacuum Cleaner"-mp3



Elite Gymnastics – Ruin
The city's first official entry into “chill-wave”/new disco era, Pitchfork, Fader & Gorilla Vs Bear notices.
Elite Gymnastics -"Omamori"-mp3



Illuminous 3 –Montessori
Spirited south siders' revisit their elementary school, wag out over production by Mike Swoop.
Illuminous 3 ft. P.O.S. -"No Kings"-mp3



Pink Mink –Pink Mink
A nice look back at the Riot Grrrl movement. Chrissy Hunt and Arzu Gokcen make like their record collection and visit Babes In Toyland, Sleater-Kinney and early Hole, take notice.
Pink Mink -"Black Door"-mp3



Marijuana Deathsquads-Crazy Master
Experimental jet set squad led by Gayngs wizard Ryan Olson, aided by P.O.S., 2 drummers and chaos.
Marijuana Deathsquads-"Crazy Master"-mp3

Freddie Gibbs at 7th St. Entry

Gary/Los Angeles hard rhyming Freddie Gibbs returns to Minneapolis with a stop at 7th St Entry. Gibbs has been mad busy releasing his full length debut Cold Day In Hell , signing with Young Jeezy's imprint C.M.E. and releasing the excellent ep with Madlib, Madlib & Freddie Gibbs Thuggin' Ep, appearing on Jeezy's new TM103 Hustlerz Ambition and a host of collabos. Last winter Gangster Gibbs was in Minneapolis he spoke with us Sound Verite interviews Freddie Gibbs, a real cool dude.

Freddie Gibbs
7th Street Entry
Sat. Jan. 28th

Freddie & Madlib-"Thuggin"-mp3

The Money Shot 2011

Fri. Dec. 30TH
The Money Shot 2011
Turf Club
1601 University Ave.
St. Paul

9 p.m. / +21 / $8

Mike Swoop -"Electric Lady"-mp3

NYC/Minneapolis producer Mike Swoop with another funky instrumental, with a cool jazzy kickback flourish.

Mike Swoop-"Electric Lady"-mp3

Ecid -"Werewold Hologram"-video

Ecid adds another wrinkle to the ranks of Minneapolis emo/abstract MC's. From his new record Werewolf Hologram, with assist from the late Eyedea, David Mars, LEIF Kolt, Awol One and Kristoff Krane.

XX-"Open Eyes (demo)"-m3

XX offers a teaser with new, very minimal demo track.

XX-"Open Eyes (demo)"-mp3

Clams Casino- Instrumentals (mastered)-mixtape

Hot off the heels of his track "The Fall " with The Weeknd and ASAP Rocky, Clams Casio re-releaseshes his Instrumentals mixtape. via NR

Clams Casion-Instrumentals (mastered)-mp3

The Weeknd- Echoes Of Silence-mixtape

The Weeknd with the bookend of their trilogy with Echoes Of Silence. After dropping the game changer in their debut House Of Balloons, followed by Thursday, something is definitely missing, there's a Michael Jackson cover of "Dirty Diana" and the Clams Casino-produced "Fall" is baby cool.

Polica-"The Maker (Live on 89.3 The Current)"-video

Minneaspolis next breakout artist Polica, led by the charming, haunting vocals of Channy Caselle as they perform "The Maker (Live on 89.3 The Current)". Their debut Give You The Ghost is out Feb. 14th on Totally Gross National Product.

Pusha T -"Sweet Freestyle"-mp3

Pusha T goes in on Common's ironically vicious, yet well-timed "Sweet" aimed at R&B singing MC's.

Pusha T-"Sweet Freestyle"-mp3

Panda Bear -"You Can Count On Me"-video

Animal Collective's Panda Bear with visuals for "You Can Count On Me" off the 2011 contender Tomboy, directed by Danny Perez.

Radiohead- "The Daily Mail"-mp3

Radiohead's studio version on "Daily Mail". via We All Want Someone.

Radiohead-"The Daily Mail"-mp3

Atmosphere, Big Quarters, Kill The Vultures & Mally-"Somebody, MN"-mp3

Atmosphere drops a new hometown posse jump "Somebody, MN". Shout out Jake Schaefer.

Atmosphere ft. Big Quarters, Kill The Vultures & Mally-"Somebody, MN"-mp3

MF Doom -"Rhymin Slang' (Dave Sitek Remix)"-mp3

MF Doom links with Jneiro Jarel for "Rhymin Slang" which gets a remix by TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek. From Lex Records 10th Anniversary compilation Complex.

MF Doom-"Rhymin Slang' (Dave Sitek Remix)"-mp3

Talib Kweli -"Distractions"-mp3

Brooklyn's Talib Kweli, fresh off a new Black Star jump, Kweli stays in the same lane with Oh No on production for "Distractions" the debut track off his upcoming Prisoner of Conscious. Expect a Occupy Wall Street centered video next week.

Talib Kweli-"Distractions-mp3

Feist -"How Come You Never Go There (Beck Remix)"-mp3

Feist & Beck dance.

Feist -"How Come You Never Go There (Beck Remix)"-mp3

Four Tet -"Moma" -mp3

Kieran Hebden er, Four Tet is staying mad busy, after a flurry of Radiohead remixes, Thom Yorke solo jumps, Fabric compilation, split 12inch with Burial as well as Hebden, Steve Reid and Mats Gustafsson's Live at the South Bank Double LP and CD. Now we get the first look from Blonde Redhead's Japan benefit record We Are The Works In Progress out, January 10, 2012. The comp also features Deerhunter, Karin Andersson of the Knife/Fever Ray, John Maus, Pantha du Prince, Interpol, Broadcast, Terry Riley, Liars, and David Sylvian/Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Four Tet-"Moma"-mp3

Mally & The Sundance Kid -"Cloud Culture" -video

Among MInneapolis finest, Mally & The Sundance Kid. "Cloud Culture" directed by Victor Rukavina. Check out Mally next month as he supports Atmosphere on a quick run through Minnesota alongside Big Quarters and Kill The Vultures.

Mally & The Sundance Kid -"Once We're KIngs"-mp3
Mally, Last Word & Tigre -"Stomp Through"-mp3

The Roots-Undun -short film

The Roots short film accompanies thier excellent new record Undun.

Radiohead-"Staircase"-mp3

Radiohead will finally "officially" release two of the better new songs with the upcoming release of "The Daily Mail" b/w "Staircase" via the King Of Limbs:Live From The Basement DVD out Jan. 31st. The single for "The Daily Mail" /"Staircase" will be released Dec. 19th at fine indie record shops.

Radiohead-"Staircase"-mp3

Mux Mool -"Raw Gore"-mp3

Beat conductor Mux Mool returns with a new LP, Planet High School, due out on February 7th via Ghostly. via Pasta Prima

Mux Mool -"Raw Gore"-mp3

Lupe Fiasco-"American Terrorist III"-mp3

Chicago's Lupe Fiasco with some new material.

Lupe Fiasco-"American Terrorist III"-mp3

Air ft. Victoria Legrand (Beach House) -"Seven Stars"-mp3

Air with charming assist with angelic vocals from Beach House's Victoria Legrand. From Air's next jump Le Voyage Dans La Lune, arriving in Feb. 2012. via NME

Air ft. Victoria Legrand (Beach House)-"Seven Stars"-mp3

Polica-"Wandering Star"-mp3

Minneapolis next breakout artist Polica, the debut single "Wandering Star" is all the rage. Connected with Gayngs, Bon Iver, P.O.S., Marijuana Deathsquads and Doomtree expect hugeness from their debut album Give You The Ghost Feb. 2012.

Polica-"Wandering Star'-mp3

Blu -"The Clean Hand (prod. by Pete Rock)"-mp3

California's exploratory MC/producer Blu, keeps it 100, after working with Madlib, Flying Lotus and others, he now hooks up with Pete Rock. yes.

Blu-"The Clean Hand (prod. by Pete Rock)"-mp3
Blu-"EZ (prod. by Madlib)"-mp3

Shabazz Palaces -"Black Up"-video

Shabazz Palaces with a short film from his contender Black Up, reviewed by Sound Verite and others at Reviler.

Flying Lotus -"Mister Murky Socks"-mp3

Flying Lotus with a brand new/retro track "Mister Murky Socks" a rework of "Roberta Flack" which appeared on his excellent 2008 effort Los Angeles.

Flying Lotus-"Mister Murky Socks"-mp3