Diplo speaks about new "MAYA", plus unreleased tracks from M.I.A. with Amanda Blank and Blaqstarr!

Of course one of the most talked about things on the blogosphere is the new M.I.A. album "MAYA". Some reviews are good, others are not so hot, but arguably the most important verdict comes from Diplo (who has been involved in the production of all of her albums thus far)...

For those of you who are just arriving to the M.I.A. and Diplo show... they started dating after she walked into our dear fabric's nightclub while he was playing her first single "Galang". They had a beautiful working relationship, and personal relationship, and they were the power couple of the year when her first album came out.

Eventually their personal relationship fell apart (we won't go into why, you can find that somewhere else on the interwebs if need be) but regardless they continued to work together... One can't help but wonder if their relationship woes helped inspire this song...
Amanda Blank feat M.I.A. = "Take It Easy" YSI

Their continued collabo yielded, amongst other things, the worldwide smash "Paper Planes" (helped significantly by the trailer for Pineapple Express). And on top of raising both their profiles it also lead to interpolation by KanYe West in the form of "Swagga Like Us":


Anyway... now that "MAYA" is out there is a storm of hipster commentary out there (reminding me a lot of the wild reaction to Interpol's "Our Love To Admire")... however, the review that is most interesting to moi is this interview where Diplo speaks about M.I.A.'s new album.

Other collaborators on the new album include Blaqstarr... who wrote this killer jam (sampling the theme for 'The Wire' in a B-More stylee) that was originally believed to be written for the new M.I.A. album.
M.I.A. feat Blaqstarr = "Way Down In Hole" YSI

If her next album didn't have Diplo on it I'd be very surprised (despite what that interview might lead you to believe). I've met both of them: Diplo is a very funny, kind, prankster of a guy... and M.I.A. (although I only very very briefly spoke to her) seems like a kind, level headed kind of woman... I have little doubt that all this will blow over and they'll be working together again soon.

Make sure to check out Diplo & Switch's Major Lazer EP that comes out this next week featuring the likes of Thom Yorke and M.I.A.!

I'll be back as soon as I can and hope you enjoyed this post... please leave comments telling what you think of the new M.I.A. album! I've got a silly video with Diplo which I'll probably post later this evening... see you guys soon!

JACKPOT! Jahcoozi beats to make November hot!

Isn't that a fly ass hoodie/shirt/whatever he's got on? I want it



There are some days where things are so super fucking awesome that you can't believe it, and days where things suck so fucking badly that you want to put your head in a trash can. I expect this day to be both. Don't worry I'm only going to give you guys the good side lol...

So, I every once and a while I get an email that makes my head spin. South Central, Frank Musik, To My Boy's emails and shit have all made me totally lose my cool and show my true fan-boy-dom in the past... today's example might just take the cake.

I'm really really big into Jahcoozi... as in, when my DJ partner and I are working on songs we say things like "No, a little more like Jahcoozi" (even though we're working on a dubstep song lol). But seriously, I fucking love them. Their most recent album "Blitz'n'Ass" has been a constant fixture in my car stereo and my work computer, I'm always running around trying get everyone on the bandwagon, and I can't express enough to the world how much I love this band. ONE HITCH THOUGH... I always subconsciously think of them as being a German band. And literally am dumb enough to not put the pieces together and note that Sri-Lancan born MC Sasha Perera is FROM LONDON. Durrrr durrr durrr. I'm sitting here like "Did I ever actually listen to the lyrics of 'BLN' or was I just trying to mix it into another song?" (I think the problem is that most of the music listening I do is at work where I have the volume turned down low so as not to offend the person next to me lol)... Total disappointment in myself because I could have posted them a long time ago!

HERE'S WHERE THE GOOD NEWS COMES IN! Robot Koch from Jahcoozi just hit me up with some songs. And given the fact that they have an "international" lineup I can now slide them in under the "Bands-that-aren't-exactly-British but-we-pretend-like-they-are" tag. TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER this means you get an AMANDA BLANK REMIX and a remix from RUSTIE that I swear is fucking fire (and he's from Glasgow so it wraps everything up and puts a nice little bow on top of the post)... both remixes will have y'all motherfuckers hungry for more I PROMISE! But first... just in case you don't pay attention to current music trends here is some bio info on Jahcoozi...

"Jahcoozi is a Berlin-based multinational trio comprised of Sri-Lancan/British MC Sasha Perera, Robot Koch and Israeli born Oren Gerlitz. The group's sound has been described as consisting of abstract electronic beats within ragga, hip-hop, blip-hop, re and electronica.

In 2003 Jahcoozi starting playing on the Berlin underground circuit and made a name for themselves with their live performances. The trio's debut ‘Fish’ EP which came out on the Berlin club label WMF Records in July 2003. After John Peel played Fish on his BBC radio show and the De-Bug listed the EP as one of its favourites, Jahcoozi were invited to play at Marke B, a Berlin music festival. The band has also opened for Big Dada Soundsystem, Aphex Twin, DAT Politics, Chicks on Speed, Airborn Audio, Kevin Blechdom, Jamie Lidell, Tiefschwarz and Mocky."

Ok... now is a much more fun press bit about Robot Koch...

Music Lover, Food Lover, Insomniac, Jazz Drummer, Metalhead, Producer of JAHCOOZI, THE TAPE, AUTODRIVE, Remixer, Collaborator....

Favourite records:
1. john coltrane – a love surpreme
2. slayer – reing in blood
3. wu tang clan – enter the 36 chambers
4. beastie boys – check your head
5. motörhead – no sleep till hammersmith
6. radiohead – amnesiac
7. mr. Oizo – analog worms attack

Favourtie animals:
1. shark
2. eagle
3. dog

Favourtie food:

1. indian vegetable curry
2. indian vegetable curry
3. indian vegetable curry



Berlin based producer Robot Koch is the mastermind behind the critically acclaimed Jahcoozi and post rock/hiphop outfit The Tape vs RQM.
If he`s not on tour with Jahcoozi or Djing somewhere in the world he still finds time to produce and remix other people and write music for film scores.

He made beats and remixes for artists like Infinite Livez (Ninja Tune/Big Dada) Justine Electra (City Slang), Raz Ohara (Kitty Yo), Data Mc (Hamton), Al Haca (Klein) and Christopher Wiltis (Ghostly International), Rustie (Stuff Records) and Amanda Blank (downtown rec).

He`s also know for wicked DJ sets and mashups and for not getting a lot of sleep.


Quotes:
“Wonderful and strange --- pop music from the future” ( John Peel/BBC about Jahcoozi)
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"Robot Koch is Berlins hottest beatmaker....the guys in east london better dress warmer" (Goon Magazin)
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"It would make sense to call Jahcoozi's stuff Grime for Björk...this might please both fans of Aphex Twin and Roots Manuva.”
XLR8R, USA

Seriously, wasn't that the most entertaining press blurb you've ever read? Ok, now on to them fire tracks...

Amanda Blank- "Get It Now (Robot Koch Remix)"

Amanda Blank- "Get It Now (Robot Koch Remix)" YSI

Rustie vs Cerebral Vortex (Robot Koch Remix)"

Rustie vs Cerebral Vortex (Robot Koch Remix)" YSI

I swear, y'all motherfuckers are going to pass out when you hear this shit! I have no idea how I'm going to top this post... I'm really going to have to rally and get some stars on the line for the next one! I've been meaning to get some interviews going, y'all know that, but I just get so damn busy NOT blogging lol. I'm not a 'blogger', so to speak, I'm some dude who has a blog that just happened to get way more attention than I thought it would. So I'm still busy trying to pay the bills like the rest of you lol... pardon me if it takes a couple days to get something new up. But, hopefully if things to go plan, then I'll have some crazy shit up for you guys in a few days. Word.

Go buy some Jahcoozi over at eMusic... from this link! PLEASE!