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Hip-Hop

Desert tunes: Death Cab For Cutie, Portishead, Jack Johnson

This week, tens of thousands of alt-music junkies are fleeing to the desert to take part in the hottest event around: the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. And when we say "hottest" we mean both temperature hot and, yes, sexy hot, as well. We're impressed with the headliners, such as Portishead , Death Cab For Cutie, Jack Johnson, but we're even more down with the bands in the small print, too, such as Little Brother, Jens Lekman, and Modeselektor.

We're not actually going to Coachella (bummer), but we will be celebrating virtually via the playlist … Read more

Emmanual Jal, 'Warchild': Free MP3 of the Day

Jal's stunning debut, "Warchild," describes a horrific youth spent in forced military service in Sudan--difficult subject matter, to say the least, that Jal and producer Neal Pogue have admirably converted to engaging rap. This is hip-hop at its most elemental: tough stories made visceral.

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Galactic, 'I Got It (What You Need) ft. Lyrics Born': Free MP3 of the Day

Which is the better reason to listen to Galactic--the impossibly groovy funk-jazz jams, or the A-list MCs rhyming along to them? The combination is almost unfairly good, but we'll keep quiet. With artists from Juvenile to Mr. Lif on board, it's a utopian redefinition of "instrumental hip-hop."

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'Elpuoc ddo eht'

Straight-ahead just wasn't enough. Now Gnarls Barkley is offering its latest album, The Odd Couple, in the revolutionary new 'backwards' format. Yep, that's right: the whole album in one file, all running back to front. On top of that you don't even have to pay for it, as it's available right on the spot as a totally free download (the registration is quick and simple). Unlistenable? Or...better than the original?

The Dino 5, 'What about 10?': Free MP3 of the Day

Instrumental hip-hop's other 5--the Jurassic one--makes a helpful reference point for this supergroup. Not only is Chali 2na in on both, but also Dino's bouncy beats and wisecracking rhymes are squarely J5. They're also ideal for the project's goal: rap that's suitable for children but credible for adults.

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Pieces of Peace, 'I Still Care': Free MP3 of the Day

Nonviolent vibes were a thing you could hold in your hand--and more important, put on your turntable--with this seminal Chicago soul group, now getting a rerelease on Quannum. Pieces offer both the warm vocals of the guy groups and a billowing early funk that prefaces EWF.

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Galactic, 'I Got It (What You Need)': Free MP3 of the Day

Which is the better reason to listen to Galactic--the impossibly groovy funk-jazz jams, or the A-list MCs rhyming along to them? The combination is almost unfairly good, but we'll keep quiet. With artists from Juvenile to Mr. Lif on board, it's a utopian redefinition of "instrumental hip-hop."

Download free MP3 now!

Jimmie Reign, 'Something You Just Can't Hide': Free MP3 of the Day

Funked-up keyboards, thick horns, and a smattering of dry beats borrowed from regional rage hyphy--that's the sonic blackboard of this Bay Area darling. More significant is what she writes all over it: vocals that flit between pure R&B sugar and breathy rhyming.

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