Rayvn Lenae -"Sticky"-mp3

Chicago's rising Rayvn Lenae collaborates with Steve Lacy on new track "Sticky". Expect big thing from her in 2018. Her 2017 Midnight Moonlight EP was in heavy rotation all year.

Rayvn Lenae -"Sticky"-mp3

POLIÇA -"Agree"-mp3

Minneapolis synth-pop band POLIÇA release new single "Agree" from Music For The Long Emergency, the forthcoming collaborative album between POLIÇA and s t a r g a z e. Out February 16th from Transgressive Records and Totally Gross National Product.

POLIÇA -"Agree"-mp3

Dua -"Kickflip (prod. Psymun)"-mp3

Dua on of my favorite new artist of Minneapolis. She collaborates with Psymun on "Kickflip", showcasing her unique vocal style. Check her out at Andrew Broder & People January residency at Turf Club Jan.4th with Spank Rock, Psymun & Midnight Express with proceeds going to the ACLU.

Dua -Kickflip (prod. Psymun)-mp3

Ness Nite -"Titerope"-mp3

Minneapolis to New York artist Ness Nite shines on new track "Titerope", produced by Mike Frey and released on P.O.W. Recordings. Working with Mike Frey and Alex Tumay on her first LP Dream Girl, scheduled to come out in March. Ness Nite talks about her new single "Tightrope is about doing what you need to do to stay up. When I wrote it, it was about a specific situation, but it has evolved with me. The further I get from that situation, the more the song means to me, the more situations it applies to. At its most broad I think it’s about me doing whatever I can do to contribute to my own happiness. I think its about accepting the things that are not in my hands and learning to mold the things that are. It’s a “we’re gonna take this one step at a time” sort of anthem." See i-D feature meet nyc's fierce rising female emcees.

Ness Nite -"Titerope"-mp3

IMANE - 'Old Faithful"-mp3

IMANE working with producers Yon & MMYYKK he explores various themes of self care, a fresh of breath air. 'Old Faithful" is off his Helena Hearse Fights the Big Bad Wolf of Badlands: Episode 1 project.

IMANE -"Old Faithful"--mp3
IMANE -"Earth King"-mp3

Su Na -Coral Angel EP - stream

Su Na release new Coral Angel EP on vinyl via Brooklyn, New York's indie Color Station. It's another set of beautiful, textured production from Minneapolis producer with a nice growing catalog.

Su Na -Coral Angel EP-mp3

Rich Garvey - "Compliment" -mp3

Minneapolis based; Liberian born Rich Garvey drops "Compliment" featuring Alnansa & Lokes the first from off his Onyx Gemstone EP via Paris-based Cascade Records. Described as "Lo-fi boom bap soul". The Onyx Gemstone EP also features Why Khaliq, Abhinav and production by Ackryte.

Rich Garvey ft. Alnansa & Lokes -"Compliment"-mp3

Andrew Broder - Cousin Mask - EP

Minneapolis avant-producer/artist Andrew Broder scores with his latest, the 5-song Cousin Mask EP. Cousin Mask winding rush of electronics, breakbeats, loops and lush arragnements includes contributions from Gabi, Leah Ottman, Tim Glenn, TaskForce, Psymun, Justin Vernon, Maaike Van Der Linde, Ryan Olson, Trever Hagen, Arone Dyer and Shelley Soerenson.

Andrew Broder -Cousin Mask - EP-mp3

Dizzy Fae - "Don't Hate For Me"-video

Minneapolis artist/dancer Dizzy Fae continues to shine and break down barriers with her latest track and visuals for "Don't Hate For Me", produced by Psymun. She will be performing with Jorja Smith & Snoh Aalegra 11/14th in Chicago.

Dizzy Fae -"Indica (prod. su na & dizzy fae)"-mp3

POLIÇA and s t a r g a z e - "How Is This Happening"-mp3

Minneapolis POLIÇA joins forces with Berlin's s t a r g a z e for the enchanting first single "How Is This Happening". From their upcoming collaborative Music For The Long Emergency, recorded at Justin Vernon's April Base in Eau Claire, Wisc. Music For The Long Emergency arrives February 16th 2018 from Transgressive Records and Totally Gross National Product.

POLIÇA and s t a r g a z e -"How Is This Happening"-mp3

Kelela - "Blue Light"-video

Kelela just released the visuals for her "dred-sex" "Blue Light" track off her stunning debut Tear Me Apart. Kelela is currently on tour and everyone who saw her a few days ago in Minneapolis were blown away.

Tufawon x Mixie x Lady Midnight -"Cambia La Tema" (prod. by TZ1)-mp3

Minneapolis keeps it coming, with three artist linking up Tufawon, Mixie & Lady Midnight to collaborate on "Cambia La Tema". A nice nugget of a track utilizing all three talents lovely.

Tufawon x Mixie x Lady Midnight -"Cambia La Tema"-mp3

IMAME -'Helena Hearse Fights the Big Bad Wolf of Badlands' EP -stream

A new voice from Minneapolis the young homie Jibra'il aka IMAME has released Helena Hearse Fights the Big Bad Wolf of Badlands', a 3 track, thoughtful narrative exploring metal health. From the artist.

"This is a mental health care awareness project. This project is designed for people to go about that journey of mental health care to. Making this music has been an exploration of my own mental health care journey that I have had so far. The story of this music is the story of myself, as the character IMAME, going the path of a spiritual "walkabout" to cleanse my spirit of inner demons. Which is portrayed within the title of the project. The title is explaining that I have set out on this journey of a "spirit walk" to find my spirit guide that will fight the inner demons that have formed together and called themselves The Big Bad Wolf. This is an elaborate testimony on the very unconventional experiences that many with mental illness have, stories that can be abstract when received by a listener. The aim of this project is to make those connections between the unconventional and abstract experiences of a person or persons with mental illness with the art of storytelling. My own story is one I am willing to share publicly in the art of music.

Helena Hearse fights the Big Bad Wolf of Badlands is specifically a western about a young black male with a nation-worth of oppression upon him and how he triumphs through that adversity while the conflicts of his personal challenges are complicated by the conflicts in his environment. It is also about breaking apart stereotypes and stigmas that surround the world of and those with mental illness".


IMAME -Helena Hearse Fights the Big Bad Wolf of Badlands'-mp3

Metasota + Muja Messiah + TEK -"Hullabaloo"-mp3

Yup three of the finest, Muja Messiah, TEK and Metasota give us another missile with "Hullabaloo", produced by Metasota.

Metasota + Muja Messiah + TEK -"Hullabaloo"-mp3

Yon Legend - TwentySix EP stream

Producer/DJ Yon Legend celebrates his 27th Born Day by making his debut with the beautiful TwentySix EP, a 3 song suite featuring assist from ZULUZULUU's Proper-T & MMYYKK and IMAME. Wavy.

Yon Legend -TwentySix EP-mp3

Greg Grease - Down So Long - stream

Minneapolis artist and member of ZULUZULUU Greg Grease releases his third solo record Down So Long. On Down So Long he shows a new growth musically and lyrically, its a smart, honest and funky record. Speaking to Bandcamp Greg Grease On Eschewing Escapism on “Down So Long” "When did you feel like the musical style you wanted for Down So Long was established?

I had two phases. I produced about 80 or 90% of the record, so I made a bunch of beats and recorded to them. Once I had all my demos done, I brought it into another studio with fancy microphones, musical instruments, and stuff. I brought musicians in to replay or interpret a lot of samples and give it a much more musical vibe. I wanted to show my growth as a producer and as a musician, because in ZULUZULUU, we’re pushing each other to get to the next level. I wanted to try to make [the album] more musical than anything in the past, where it was more rap.

How was that experience for you? Was it fun? Tedious?

It was an incredible experience. It was definitely a learning experience, too. Normally when you’re a producer, you make a beat while being all by yourself or on the computer. I brought in a few friends of mine who are talented jazz musicians. These guys are professionals. So I wanted to challenge myself and make sure they were impressed with what they were doing. Javier Santiago is an amazing composer and musician. I had Miguel Hurtado [of Solflower Collective] come in and lay drums on a couple of tracks. I had my ZULUZULUU fam come in and lay stuff down; Proper-T played some keys and Trelly Mo played some keyboard. My bro ∆RT P∆RTÉ came in with a lot of funky guitars.

What effect do you hope that Down So Long will have on listeners?

My goal is to challenge listeners to feel uncomfortable with the music. Not in a bad way, but uncomfortable with the unfamiliarity of it and excited about that as well. My goal is to challenge people’s own thoughts on what we find acceptable when it comes to music and content. I think that’s what makes my listeners, my listeners. They do enjoy a challenge.

Oddisee said something to the effect of, ‘If somebody found my music, that means they really dug for it and are going to enjoy it, because my music isn’t something that you come across easily.’ I identified with that, since my music isn’t something that you come across on a national platform. The type of person who is going to find my music is somebody who does want to be challenged." —Christina Lee

Izell Pyramid - Priestcraft -stream

Izell Pyramid makes a fantastic impression with his impressive debut Priestcraft EP. One to watch.

Izell Pyramid -Priestcraft-mp3

WestsideDoom -"Gorilla Monsoon"-mp3

Shadyvile new signee Westside Gun & Doom collaborate as WestsideDoom on "Gorilla Monsoon". This comes a day after Adult Swim & Dooom dissolve their working arrangement Adult Swim Ends Relationship With DOOM, Cancels The Missing Notebook Rhymes Series.

WestsideDoom -"Gorilla Monsoon"-mp3

Kamasi Washington - "Desire"-stream

Kamasi Washington follows 2015's breakthrough Epic with "Desire" the first track off his sprawling new Harmony of Difference EP.

Kamasi Washington -"Desire"-stream

Greg Grease ft. DJ Just Nine-"Breakin' The Law"-mp3

ZULUZULUU's Greg Grease releases new track "Breakin' The Law" off his upcoming third solo record Down So Long. The funky, politically conscious rap of "Breakin' The Law" features the deft scratching technique of DJ Just Nine. Check out Bandcamp feature Greg Grease On Eschewing Escapism on “Down So Long”.

Björk -“The Gate”-mp3

Björk is back. With the infectious single “The Gate”, from upcoming new record Utopia.

Björk -“The Gate-mp3

Four Tet -"Scientists"-mp3

Four Tet returns with another heat-seeking missile with "Scientists" from upcoming new record, New Energy, available September 29th.

Four Tet -"Scientists"-mp3

Why Khaliq -"Sun Deprived"-mp3

St. Paul's Why Khaliq just dropped the short film Mustard Seed. He follows that up with "Sun Deprived" a stellar track featured in Mustard Seed.

Why Khaliq -"Sun Deprived"-mp3

Everything Is Recorded ft. Sampha, Ibeyi, Wiki & Kamasi Washington - "Mountains Of Gold"-mp3

The collaborative recording project headed up by XL Recordings founder Richard Russell. Everything Is Recorded releases one of their star-studded tracks sampling Grace Jones iconic "Nightclubbing" on "Mountains Of Gold" featuring Sampha, Ibeyi, Wiki & Kamasi Washington. In a statement released alongside the track, Russell said the track is "sound system inspired," adding that "you can hear a lot of strong and different personalities and voices in the one song, but the feeling is consistent. Everyone has plenty of space."

Everything Is Recorded -"Mountains Of Gold"--mp3

Tony Allen -"Wolf Eats Wolf"-mp3

Longtime Nigerian drummer, composer, songwriter and member of Fela Kuti's Egypt 80 Band Tony Allen returns with a new single "Wolf Eats Wolf" from the exciting new Jazz meets Afro-Beat record The Source. Pitchfork has a nice review of The Source.

Tony Allen -"Wolf Eats Wolf"-mp3

Kelela -“Frontline”-mp3

Kelela released the second single "Frontline" from her long-awaited upcoming debut album Take Me Apart. Kelela will be touring this fall, you can catch her in Minneapolis November 5th at 7th Street Entry.

Kelela -“Frontline”-mp3

Solange - "Rise [MMYYKK Remix]"-mp3

MMYYKK one of the wizards of ZULUZULUU has been busy, just off tour with ZULUZULUU opening for Atmosphere, MMYYKK just released a new track for a new MC IMAME. Today he delivers the remix goods with the reworking of Solange's "Rise" off her modern opus A Seat At The Table. You can also catch MMYYKK, Trelly Mo & Proper-T opening for Shabazz Palaces Sept.14th at The Amsterdam. Shabazz Palaces have two new awesome and exploratory records Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star & Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines. MMYYKK will also be heading to Afro-Punk Atlanta with ZULUZULUU in October.

From The artist "When I initially listened to “A Seat at the Table", “Rise" immediately stuck out to me. I had mistakenly put my music app on repeat and I was listening to that intro for about 5 minutes before I realized that it was repeating. The message of the song resonated with me deeply. I’ve been in a place of self discover and self development. Learning to trust myself and to love myself and to have the courage to be myself unapologetically despite the oppression that surrounds me daily as a black man in America. This song to me has become a mantra. it’s a simple and effective affirmation of black strength and resilience, that within itself, is also anti-white supremacy. Walk in your ways, be you, be black, be brilliant, be a rebel, be an individual and the more we live and work and operate in our divine spirit, the better our lives will be."

Solange -"Rise [MMYYKK Remix]"-mp3

Madlib -"10 Summers Old"-mp3

Madlib releases a new 7 inch with two instrumental tracks “Barrel Proof” and “10 Summers Old.” The 7" is available to purchase at just two places: Rappcats.com and Technical Equipment Supply, a record store and label run by Todd Osborn in Ypsilanti, Mich.

Madlib-"10 Summers Old"-mp3

Ibeyi ft. Kamasi Washington -"Deathless" -video

Ibey recruited jazz giant Kamasi Washington for "Deathless", off their new record from the duo’s Ash album is out September 29 via XL. The song was inspired by Lisa-Kaindé’s wrongful arrest by French police when she was sixteen. "I was writing “Deathless” as an anthem for everybody," Kaindé explained in a press release. "For every minority. For everybody that feels that they are nothing, that feels small, that feels not cared about and I want them to listen to our song and for three minutes feel large, powerful, deathless. I have a huge amount of respect for people who fought for, what I think, are my rights today and if we all sing together “we are deathless,” they will be living through us into a better world." The new record Ash will feature Mala Rodriguez, Chilly Gonzales, Meshell Ndegeocello, as well as production from Richard Russell

Nazeem & Spencer Joles - "The Jüg"-video

Nazeem & Spencer Joles release new visuals for "The Jug" giving a taste of their upcoming , heavily anticipated Years of Obscurity record, which arrives Sept.8th, with record release show at 7th Entry on same day.

Morly -"Sleeping In My Own Be" -mp3

Morly latest "Sleeping In My Own Bed" she's inspired by the greats Nina Simon, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan — she went back into the studio inspired to use her sound experiments to deeper explore the potential of a song.

Morly -Sleeping In My Own Bed-mp3

MMYYKK x IMAME - "From This World?"-mp3

MMYYKK of ZULUZULUU linked with new MC IMANE for two tracks. "I really appreciated the depth and density of his bars. You really have to listen a few times to crack the codes," wrote MMYYKK. "We both have this fascination with the cosmos and the universe which shines through in both our individual styles and definitely is amplified when we work together."

MMYYKK x IMAME -"From This World?"-mp3

Dizzy Fae -"Indica"-mp3

Minneapolis Dizzy Fae is on a roll, just a few weeks ago she released 'Johnny Bravo", she follows that up with the glitchy FKA twigs like "Indica", co-produced by dizzy fae and su na.

Dizzy Fae -"Indica"-mp3

Kelela -“LMK”-mp3

Second-generation Ethiopian-American vocal stylist Kelela returns with her debut album, Take Me Apart via Warp records October 6th. Take Me Apart will be her follow up to her 2013 mixtape Cut 4 Me and 2015’s Hallucinogen EP,

Kelela “LMK”-mp3

Corbin -"Iceboy"- mp3

Corbin formerly known as Spooky Black, and a member of thestand4rd (Allan Kingdom/Psymun/Bobby Raps) returns with his first new material in some time. Working with producer Shlohmo, Corbin finds the right chemistry for the sad boy and beats lane. You can see Corbin and Shlohmo on tour together this fall.

Corbin -"Iceboy"-mp3

K.Raydio -"Late Bloomers"-mp3

K.Raydio brings "three cheers" to the "Late Bloomer", a soulful celebration of those just finding their way. The summer's cool-out track "Late Bloomers" was produced by Minneapolis Amati.

K.Raydio -"Late Bloomers"-mp3

Dizzy Fae -"Johnny Bravo"-mp3

Minneapolis vocalist Dizzy Fae changes gears on new stylish pop-soul track "Johnny Bravo", produced by Psymun and Sen 09

Dizzy Fae -"Johnny Bravo (prod. psymun & sen 09)"-mp3

Greg Grease -"Down So Long"-mp3

Minneapolis artist/producer Greg Grease offers a second look, following "Migraine" into his upcoming third record Down So Long with a song of the same name. The subversive, celebratory and triumphant funk spiral of "Down So Long". Check out his Bandcamp interview Greg Grease On Eschewing Escapism on “Down So Long”.

Greg Grease - July 22nd at Icehouse. Then off to tour with Atmosphere's Welcome to California Tour 2017 with ZULUZULUU, Greg Grease and DJ Just Nine Aug 7th-20th.

DāM-FunK -"Stay"-mp3

DāM-FunK returns with a glorious dose of instrumental funk with "Stay".

DāM-FunK -"Stay"-mp3

Shabazz Palaces - "Welcome To Quazarz"-video

Shabazz Palaces returns "we don't imagine pass the image" with new mesmerizing visuals from "Welcome To Quazarz", off Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines on one two new records by Shabazz Palaces. They also released Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star both record on SubPop.

Shabazz Palaces -“Shine a Light"-mp3

Greg Grease -"Migraine"- video

Greg Grease kicks back in the psychiatrist office and prescribe a fix to the "Migraine". Greg Grease will debut new music from his upcoming third record Down So Long July 22nd at Icehouse in Minneapolis. Catch Greg Grease before he and ZULUZULUU head out with Atmosphere on the Welcome To California Tour 2017.

Shredders - Shredders - stream

Shredders a new 3 -song EP made up of Doomtree members with all raps by P.O.S and Sims with Mike Mictlan, all beats by Lazerbeak and Paper Tiger.

Tricky -"The Only Way (Stripped Down Tricky Mix)"-mp3

Trip-Hop's OG Tricky remixes himself on "The Only Way (Stripped Down Tricky Mix)".

Tricky-"The Only Way (Stripped Down Tricky Mix)"-mp3

K.Raydio -"Crash"-mp3

K.Raydio brings new healing music just in time from one of Minneapolis most underrated artist, with the sunny joy of the cautionary "Crash", co-produced by @jaylapmusic & @DreamEntact. Check her out at DJ Keezy's massive The Klituation one year anniversary party July 7th at First Avenue.

K.Raydio -Crash"-mp3

Kendrick Lamar – “Element” -video

Compton's Kendrick Lamar does it again. Visuals for "Element" off his modern masterpiece DAMN.

Clams Casino -“Wavey"-mp3

Producer Clams Casino shares new track "Wavey", from upcoming fourth installment in his instrumental tape series. Clams Casino will release Instrumentals 4 on June 26th.

Clams Casino -“Wavey"-mp3

Lady Midnight & Afro-Keys - Parables of Neptune-stream

Minneapolis vocal stylist Lady Midnight & producer Afro-Keys are Parables of Neptune who have crafted a six song EP on some sultry, vibed-out next shit. Lady Midnight & Afro-Keys will be at 7th Street Entry 6/24. Their track "Smoke -A-Lot" can also be heard on Sound Verite Vol 2 compilation.


Lady Midnight & Afro-Keys, Parables of Neptune.