KOAN Sound

Here it is folks, my pick for best dubstep tune of 2011, perhaps one of my favourite songs of this year so far. it's extremely simple, heavy and will stay stuck in your head for a while. If you're into dubstep, I'd definitely recommend getting hold of KOAN Sound's new Max Out EP.



KOAN [Pronounced Ko - Anne]: A puzzling, often paradoxical statement or story, used in Zen Buddhism as an aid to meditation and a means of gaining spiritual awakening.

Oh, and make sure it's turned up very very loud :)

Aloe Blacc

There's been a lot of hype around Mr. Blacc recently, with the majority of it stemming from his single "I Need A Dollar". If you're one of the few that haven't heard it, then stop reading, open a new tab, YouTube it.

I don't necessarily like RnB, but I don't think that's even required; just listen to his voice and relax. Here's his cover of 99 Problems (Jay-Z) in the Live Lounge.



What most people don't know however, is that Aloe is a multi-talented man; he spent the the beginning of his career in the Hip Hop duo Emanon, with producer Exile. Here's their track "The Words". Fair enough it may be different to what you're used to, with a slightly jazz driven guitar beat, but give it a chance.

Danger Mouse & Jemini

So to kick things off, here's a nice up-beat Hip Hop tune by Jemini, produced by Dangermouse (of Gnarls Barkley fame). 

Give it a listen, even if Hip Hop/ Rap isn't your thing, never know you might like it.

Despite the fact that this collaboration could well be Danger Mouse's crowning jewel, Ghetto Pop Music, is often overlooked. The album, which sees Mouse joining forces with Jemini the Gifted One, is a sprawling, 19-track slice of intricate rap(sody) that, though neglected by most of the world, still stands out as one of the better albums to come out of the genre in quite some time.

Jemini's acrobatic style of emceeing is one of the most original and refreshing flows to grace rap, causing one to wonder why he never materialized beyond underground status after he first emerged back in the early '90s. Often profound, sometimes copious, always inventive, Jemini plays games with words, and his style that the listen is always distinctive.

So what do you think?