The Beast And Nnenna Freelon – Umi Says Mos Def Cover
The Beast and Nnenna’s Freedom Suite follows in the tradition of other collaborative jazz and hip-hop projects like the late Guru‘s Jazzmatazz. The album features six original songs written and produced by The Beast, which are infused with both a live jazz aesthetic (drums, bass, piano, percussion, strings and horns were all recorded live) and an electronic/sample-based hip-hop aesthetic. Freedom Suite also includes four contemporary interpretations of “standards” from the jazz and hip-hop cannon, including arrangements of Mos Def’s “Umi Says,” Johnny Mercer & Hoagy Charmichael’s “Skylark” and Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop.” Also features production from 9th Wonder and Apple Juice Kid. As well as features from YahZarah, Phonte, Carlitta Durand and Darien Brockington.
To listen to the entire album and/or purchase
***Bonus***
The Roots – The Grand Return Feat Dice Raw & Wadud Ahmad (Rising Down UK Bonus)
Samuel Bazawule (born in 1982), known by the stage name Blitz the Ambassador, is a Ghanaian-American hip-hop artist and visual artist based in Brooklyn, USA
Blitz the Ambassador – Remembering The Future (Live With A 12 piece Band)
Originally consisting of three MC’s known as Maximus, Gaia, and Sadyesi, Infectious Organisms began their fusion of jazz, funk, and hip-hop in 1996 along with their musical backers Who and Kalongi. With the later two departing in 1997 to form Tribe of Judah, Organisms’ debut single “No Sense” b/w “A Spontaneous Combustion” came out, with The Omega Project EP eventually following that same year, after the recruitment of Dave Sunderland (bass), Rudy Lopez (keyboards), Will (drum), and Brooke (guitar). Following the release of Infectious Organisms’ 1999 self-titled debut full-length, Gaia soon left the band to peruse personal goals
Heres a track off that album:
Infectious Orginisms – 23rd Psalm
