Pete Rock to Release NY’s Finest Instrumentals

If you're into the world of hip-hop, then the name Pete Rock might ring a bell. Over the span of his career, The Soul Survivor has worked with anyone and everyone worth mentioning in hip-hop music. He's been labeled by many as one of the most legendary producers to hit the boards, and is credited as bringing the influence of soul into hip-hop production. Pete Rock's most recent album, from the Brooklyn-based label Nature Sounds, is called NY's Finest, and it stormed the hip-hop world with its release back in February. Now Pete is releasing the raw, uncut, instrumental follow-up, completely stripped of the MCs. The instrumental album also features two bonus tracks not heard on the original record. We're gonna hook it up with four instrumentals from Pete's new jam. Sit back, relax, and zone out with some classic, soulful beats.

MP3: Pete Rock - "914" (Instrumental)


MP3: Pete Rock - "We Roll" (Instrumental)


MP3: Pete Rock - "Till I Retire" (Instrumental)


MP3: Pete Rock - "PJs" (Instrumental)

A Day in the Life with GZA & Son

If you haven't spent anytime on Pitchfork.tv yet, then I highly suggest you go there and zone out on some of the coolest high quality interviews, music videos, live performances, and other random greatness the site has to offer. Take this video for example... Father GZA (of Wu-Tang Clan) and son Kareem (Kareem Justice, the up-and-coming hip hop impresario) take the Pitchfork crew through a day in the life of one of the greatest MCs to live. Watch the duo travel the streets of New York City, make a pit stop in the chop-shop, chow at an underground pizza joint, and kick backstage at the show. The shogun assassin also talks about adventures in fatherhood and Kareem's early hip-hop days.

MP3: Cut Copy - "Hearts On Fire (Midnight Juggernauts Remix)"

The good people at Modular Records are bring us the inbox goodness once again with an older Cut Copy track remixed by Midnight Juggernauts. The Hearts On Fire single will be released on 12", CD, and digital July 5th. You can also check out bangers from Cut Copy's latest full length, In Ghost Colours, on their space.

MP3: Cut Copy - "Hearts On Fire (Midnight Juggernauts Remix)"

VIDEO: Yelle - Public Access Interview

ARTIST: Yelle
LABEL: Source Etc. / EMI
NOTES: Interview with the French electro-pop artist Yelle on Public Access Media

MP3: RATATAT - "Shiller" and "Mahalo"

It's been a week since RATATAT released their new 7" vinyl single, and it's finally beginning to catch on. The single has two tracks. The A-Side is an epic slow jam called "Shiller", which will also be released on the bands upcoming full length, 3PL. The B-side is a short and sweet track that is fittingly entitled "Mahalo". Perhaps the band has been on a long Hawaiian vacation, because from the minute it starts, the island influences are raining. If you like what you hear, please PURCHASE THE 7" VINYL HERE for a whopping $3. You can't beat that.

MP3: RATATAT - "Shiller"


MP3: RATATAT - "Mahalo"

MP3's Straight from the Inbox

Straight from the inbox comes a bangin' remix done by The Winkle of a track from the Manchester/Brighton-based electropoppers Modernaire. Modernaire are currently on a UK tour with another great band called The Tiing Tings, which are worth diving into. Check the remix below.

MP3: Modernaire - "Scour All This Land (The Winkle Remix)"



And here is an INCREDIBLE DJ mix from one of Badical Beats' all time favorite producers/DJs, FOUR TET. The mix tape is a co-promotion that is being released alongside his new album, Ringer, which is "a half hour, four-track excursion into the kind of wide-open spaces you might find if you set out to make techno with an afrobeat/krautrock sensibility". You simply must hear the groovy beats and jazzy musical genius for yourself.

Tracklisting: Four Tet - "DJ Mix"

1. Four Tet - Ringer
2. Liquid Liquid - Bell Head (Harvey edit)
3. Avus - Tear
4. Burial - Raver
5. Sam Clarence - Sextant daktari
6. Wookie - Manchu 2
7. Autechre - Play neu!
8. Matt John - Olga dancekowski
9. Kraftwerk - Ruckzuck
10. Plastikman - Helikopter
11. Siobhan Donaghy - Carl Craig remix
12: The Field - Action

MP3: Four Tet - "DJ Mix"



Finally, we've been hearing so much about Walter Meego and their new album, Voyager, that we had to hook you up with an mp3 of the single, "Girls". The track is blatently poppy, well produced, and even repetitive at times, but when you're done listening, you can't help but hum the melody to yourself. Enjoy it all, straight from the inbox.

MP3: Walter Meego - "Girls"

New Remixes from PHONES

Paul Epworth is a production genius. He is from the UK (which gives him bonus points) and is known by his fans and followers as Phones. When not in the lab, Phones can be seen out and about, DJing and performing in places too far away from here to imagine. Since the chances of catching him live here in the States anytime soon are slim, we thought we would help kick off your weekend with some blog-worthy remixes by Phones. Big thanks to the tip from our pals over at Redthreat. Enjoy the music.

MP3: The Futureheads - Hounds of Love (Phones' Wolves at the Door Remix)"


MP3: Peter Bjorn & John - "Young Folks (Phones Remix)"


MP3: New Order "Krafty (Phones Reality Remix)"


MP3: Pin Me Down - "Cryptic" (Phones Materialisation Mix)"


MP3: Jape - "I Was A Man (Phones Mix)"

LIVE: Does It Offend You, Yeah? @ Slim's Bar in San Francisco

This past weekend, UK's newest electro punks DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH? performed an opening gig for the hip hop duo YO MAJESTY! The show took place at Slim's bar in downtown San Francisco. You probably weren't there. Luckily, Badical Beats was there, and took some pics of the madness that is DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH?! Fresh out of the Coachella desert, the SF stop was just the 4th date on the 20+ date tour. The opening slot only allowed for a 7 song set, but DIOYY? proved to make the best of their time banging out hits "Battle Royale", "Let's Make Out", "Doomed Now", and "We Are Rockstars"(during which kids mobbed the stage and danced, leaving the band with very little room to play). DIOYY? also killed it with an unreleased track that is a steady player in their live repertoire. The trek with YO MAJESTY finishes up May 17th, then its off to Europe for some festival appearances, back to the states at the end of July for a handful of shows supporting BLOC PARTY, two dates in Tokyo at Summer Sonic, then four dates with NIN! We're not offended, but we certainly are jealous!

***PHOTOS and FEATURE written by BEANS***

MP3: Bitchee Bitchee Ya Ya Ya - "Love Beauty Number 1"

The Kitsuné girl who goes by the name Bitchee Bitchee Ya Ya Ya has come up with a new song called "Love Beauty Number 1", which we've snagged for your listening pleasure. No word on when and where this track will appear in stores yet, but we will keep you posted after her tour of the UK. Enjoy :)

MP3: Bitchee Bitchee Ya Ya Ya - "Love Beauty Number 1"

MP3: The Cool Kids - "Pump Up the Volume (Flosstradamus RMX)"

The Chicago reppin' DJ/Producer Flosstradamus has graced Badical Beats many times before, but this time he is dropping it big with a new remix of a track from those lovable hip-hop hipsters, The Cool Kids. The Cool Kids, who are also from Chi-town, are releasing their debut 10-track EP, The Bake Sale, a week from today. Big thanks to Pitchfork for the tip!

MP3: The Cool Kids - "Pump Up the Volume (Flosstradamus RMX)"