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A 7 track EP of contemporary Arab hip hop from the Middle East – with timeless, funk-steeped beats, evocative regional samples and atmosphere – and clearly passionate rhymes, whether you speak the language or not! A remarkable testament to the global reach of strong, conciousness raising hip hop – but also a straight up solid head-nodding listening experience! Includes "Ya Deeb (Oh Wolf)" by Al Sayyed Darwish & El Rass, "Boov" by LaTlateh, "That El Soor (Under The Rampart)" by Armada Bizerte, "Janna Janna (Heaven Heaven) by El Far3i & El Rass, "Soura (Picture)" by Rami GB, "Rad Al Sha'b (The People's Response)" by Al Haqq and "foosh (Float)" by El Rass. Side B includes instrumentals for each track.

Well, we should hate this one as another "cash in on the late Hendrix" kind of album – but it's a pretty nice bunch of funk tracks with (supposedly) Jimi's guitar chopping away in heavy hard lines, and Lonnie Youngblood blowing away on hard heavy tenor. A number of tracks have vocals – we're not sure who by, although the record wants you to think that it's Hendrix. Good funky soul cuts include "Wipe The Sweat" – in three parts – and "All I Want". Other tracks include "Psycho", "Under The Table", and "Two In One Goes". Wild production values, too!

A sweet tribute to Jimi Hendrix – served up by older soul legend Lonnie Youngblood – who actually recorded with Jimi in his early days! The set here is a very faithful presentation of the Hendrix aesthetic – maybe a bit more funk than rock, which is a good thing for us – and feeling a lot like some of the best underground Hendrix-inspired rock funk sets from the early 70s! All tracks have vocals, and plenty of guitar – maybe not as fuzzy or frenetic as Jimi's, but still pretty darn nice – and the rhythms and track selection definitely focus on the more soulful side of the Hendrix oeuvre, especially once the album gets going. Titles include "If Six Was Nine", "All Along The Watchtower", "Fire", "Foxy Lady", "Stone Free", "Red House", "Changing Lanes", "We Gotta Live Together", and even a version of "Star Spangled Banner".

A wicked lost album of righteous funk and poetic knowledge from the great Gary Byrd! Gary began his life as a soul DJ in New York, but by the early 70s, he was using his rich voice to create recordings designed to educate as much as entertain. That said, the album is as funky as it is strident, and innovatively soulful – it's got raw and heavy drums and horns the burst in, but there's also roomier, slinkier grooves created to frame Byrd's voice and mood. The arrangements are by Chico O'Farrill and he really delivers. Gary Byrd's storytelling and spoken delivery leads the way, though – righteousness without bitterness, angry yet agreeable – truly brilliant and unique work! Titles include "To You Beautiful Black Sister", "If The People Only Knew (Power To The People)", "Shining Black Prince", "Country Preacher", and "How Long My People" and more. This great 2011 CD edition from Get On Down includes the bonus "Soul Travelin' Pt I (The GBE)" and "Soul Travelin' Pt I (The GBE)".