2xLP

The DMV’s own, Kev Brown has announced his frst solo rap album since 2005. Hailing from Palmer Park in Landover, Maryland specifcally, after a 13 year hiatus, the producer/MC has fnally prepared the sophomore sequel to 2005’s in?uential cult classic, I Do What I Do. Entitled, Homework, Brown and Redefnition Recs have partnered to release an LP the game has been missing for too long.Now 13 years is a long wait, but don’t think Kev has been idle in obscurity. He has been involved with several collaborative projects, garnered tons of production credits and released over a half dozen beat tapes during that time frame. It is also important to note that he was in no rush to drop another rap album and preferred to compose Homework organically and at his own pace, in the comforts of his own home, hence the title. Though Brown is known as one of hip-hop’s elite producers from heavyweights like Diamond D, Pete Rock, Busta Rhymes, Peter Rosenberg, 9th Wonder and Jazzy Jeff, he is a man of many hats.Kev Brown’s debut album was groundbreaking in so many areas that the recording itself and Kev is cemented as legendary. It would be no surprise that hip-hop would ask for the next installment and he’s nowhere near done leaving his mark. Homework is a seamless nonstop exhibition of KB’s range. Kev raps confdently and wisely throughout the album’s 27 tracks. Lyrically it’s personal, introspective, comedic, observatory and witty delivered in Kev’s smooth baritone style. Vocals are equally complimented by instrumentals all produced by the man himself and ?uidly morph into instrumental compositions too good to be considered interludes. The album was composed using several different samplers and recording technologies, but the vibe is never compromised.Homework is the perfect game plan for today’s climate and for those who haven’t, do your homework on this man. You won’t be disappointed

Following hard on the heels of BBE delving into the archives of Detroit’s Strata Records and delivering their widely acclaimed and hugely in-demand exploration of J-Jazz, comes another crate digger’s delight- Ralph Thomas’ ‘Eastern Standard Time’, which dropped the USA back in in 1980, on the obscure Zebra Jazz imprint.This is the is the kind of “spiritual’ jazz gem that appears on You Tube and upon checking it out on Discogs reveals a price well in excess of £150.00. To have it widely available in its original vinyl format, as well as digitally and on CD, is a real treat. So, who is Ralph Thomas? The self-produced ‘Eastern Standard Time’ features Thomas on baritone, alto and tenor saxophones as well as flute and percussion. He describes himself as a practicing ethnomusicologist who’s musical vision evolved during the Sixties and it’s Thomas’ multifaceted, global approach that gives the music on Eastern Standard Time’ an engaging and distinct flavour. "My music has always been open to different cultures and sounds Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Mexican, Peruvian, American, Hebrew, Turkish, African, Indian and Japanese,” declares the Chicago born musician. While attending the Chicago conservatory of music in 1969 he became a member of the Chicago A.A.C.M, studying with master musicians Phil Cohran and Richard Muhal Abrams. He also recorded with well-known blues legends, Howlin' Wolf and Mighty Joe Young for the Cadet imprint of Chess records.In 1974, he moved to Los Angeles and was employed as a session player with both 20th Century Fox and Motown – where he recorded with Marvin Gaye, Jermaine Jackson, Smokey Robinson and Rick James. In the early Eighties he was working for Quincy Jones Productions appearing on the soundtrack of Roots and The Color Purple but a passion for reggae music led him to Jamaica where he recorded with producer Jack Ruby and artists like Augustus Pablo and Gregory Isaacs. In ’86 he moved to NYC where he collaborated with Boogaloo legend Johnny Colon and played with like-minded musical explorers Sun Ra, Don Cherry and Olatunji. However, by 1993 his restless spirit carried him to Paris where studied Ethnomusicology and performed with trumpeter Mra Oma and film-maker Ranaivo-Rajaona Hery. There were also gigs with percussionist Trilok Gurtu as well as drummer Sunny Murray and saxophone legend Archie Shepp. Upon moving to the South of France Thomas ran an art gallery and initiated his MusArt project – which has since toured in the US, Canada and Japan After a productive stint in Chiang Mai, Thailand – where he immersed himself in Issan culture – Ralph Thomas recently relocated back to the US to live and work. Though creating a huge amount of music over the years ‘Eastern Standard Time’ remains Ralph Thomas' only album and it’s available on BBE Records on 21st September.

Remixed With Love Volume 3 is the latest edition of what has become the industry-leading disco remix series. No one knows this era of music better than Dave Lee, who under his Joey Negro alias once again turns his impeccable hand to some of the best-loved records ever committed to wax.“I can clearly remember in the 80s having fantasies about being a remixer and dreaming of tweaking my favourite songs and re-releasing them. I really never thought it would happen. The days when I receive the parts for some of these classic recordings are literally a dream come true.” – Dave Lee Remixed With Love Volume 3 has been a real labour of love, and a release several years in the making. With original parts for some of these classics hard to find, and with major labels rightly protective of songs created by legendary artists, it is a testament to both the perseverance of Lee and the esteem in which he is held as a remixer that the project was ever completed. Luckily for us though, here we are: Remixed With Love Volume 3 is done, dusted and ready to deliver a healthy dose of joy to us all. As with previous volumes, Lee has put his own inimitable spin on more than a dozen seminal records, with The Fatback Band, Patti LaBelle, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Odyssey and many more vying for attention across a stunning three part gatefold double vinyl, double CD and digital release. As you’d expect from an artist of Lee’s calibre, he’s taken the task extremely seriously. “Some songs I’ve wanted to get access to the multi for ages turn out to be far less straight forward than I imagined. You know it’s a great track, but unlocking the key to doing a worthwhile new version doesn’t always come easy. To make more of a feature of one element sometimes means there has to be less of something else. There are many decisions to be made, lived with, revised, maybe reversed until finally your gut tells you it’s about right.” There are very few producers with either the confident or ability to take on records of this heritage, but Dave Lee has once again proved that when it comes to sensitive re-workings of disco staples, he’s in a league of his own.Released back in 2016, Remixed With Love Volume 2 included exclusive reworks of classic soul and disco records all from the original master tapes, with the collection going on to be Traxsource’s best-selling of 2016, reaching top 30 on iTunes album chart, and also being named DJ Mag’s compilation of the year. All the remixes here are 100% new and exclusive to the compilation, making Remixed With Love Volume 3 an essential purchase for any serious disco devotee. “Judging from comments and suggestions I get from people online thankfully there is still a large appetite for re-workings of 70/80s material, something you can’t bank on when you embark on the project. I hope you enjoy the music.”

Remixed With Love Volume 3 is the latest edition of what has become the industry-leading disco remix series. No one knows this era of music better than Dave Lee, who under his Joey Negro alias once again turns his impeccable hand to some of the best-loved records ever committed to wax.“I can clearly remember in the 80s having fantasies about being a remixer and dreaming of tweaking my favourite songs and re-releasing them. I really never thought it would happen. The days when I receive the parts for some of these classic recordings are literally a dream come true.” – Dave Lee Remixed With Love Volume 3 has been a real labour of love, and a release several years in the making. With original parts for some of these classics hard to find, and with major labels rightly protective of songs created by legendary artists, it is a testament to both the perseverance of Lee and the esteem in which he is held as a remixer that the project was ever completed. Luckily for us though, here we are: Remixed With Love Volume 3 is done, dusted and ready to deliver a healthy dose of joy to us all. As with previous volumes, Lee has put his own inimitable spin on more than a dozen seminal records, with The Fatback Band, Patti LaBelle, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Odyssey and many more vying for attention across a stunning three part gatefold double vinyl, double CD and digital release. As you’d expect from an artist of Lee’s calibre, he’s taken the task extremely seriously. “Some songs I’ve wanted to get access to the multi for ages turn out to be far less straight forward than I imagined. You know it’s a great track, but unlocking the key to doing a worthwhile new version doesn’t always come easy. To make more of a feature of one element sometimes means there has to be less of something else. There are many decisions to be made, lived with, revised, maybe reversed until finally your gut tells you it’s about right.” There are very few producers with either the confident or ability to take on records of this heritage, but Dave Lee has once again proved that when it comes to sensitive re-workings of disco staples, he’s in a league of his own.Released back in 2016, Remixed With Love Volume 2 included exclusive reworks of classic soul and disco records all from the original master tapes, with the collection going on to be Traxsource’s best-selling of 2016, reaching top 30 on iTunes album chart, and also being named DJ Mag’s compilation of the year. All the remixes here are 100% new and exclusive to the compilation, making Remixed With Love Volume 3 an essential purchase for any serious disco devotee. “Judging from comments and suggestions I get from people online thankfully there is still a large appetite for re-workings of 70/80s material, something you can’t bank on when you embark on the project. I hope you enjoy the music.”

Remixed With Love Volume 3 is the latest edition of what has become the industry-leading disco remix series. No one knows this era of music better than Dave Lee, who under his Joey Negro alias once again turns his impeccable hand to some of the best-loved records ever committed to wax.“I can clearly remember in the 80s having fantasies about being a remixer and dreaming of tweaking my favourite songs and re-releasing them. I really never thought it would happen. The days when I receive the parts for some of these classic recordings are literally a dream come true.” – Dave Lee Remixed With Love Volume 3 has been a real labour of love, and a release several years in the making. With original parts for some of these classics hard to find, and with major labels rightly protective of songs created by legendary artists, it is a testament to both the perseverance of Lee and the esteem in which he is held as a remixer that the project was ever completed. Luckily for us though, here we are: Remixed With Love Volume 3 is done, dusted and ready to deliver a healthy dose of joy to us all. As with previous volumes, Lee has put his own inimitable spin on more than a dozen seminal records, with The Fatback Band, Patti LaBelle, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Odyssey and many more vying for attention across a stunning three part gatefold double vinyl, double CD and digital release. As you’d expect from an artist of Lee’s calibre, he’s taken the task extremely seriously. “Some songs I’ve wanted to get access to the multi for ages turn out to be far less straight forward than I imagined. You know it’s a great track, but unlocking the key to doing a worthwhile new version doesn’t always come easy. To make more of a feature of one element sometimes means there has to be less of something else. There are many decisions to be made, lived with, revised, maybe reversed until finally your gut tells you it’s about right.” There are very few producers with either the confident or ability to take on records of this heritage, but Dave Lee has once again proved that when it comes to sensitive re-workings of disco staples, he’s in a league of his own.Released back in 2016, Remixed With Love Volume 2 included exclusive reworks of classic soul and disco records all from the original master tapes, with the collection going on to be Traxsource’s best-selling of 2016, reaching top 30 on iTunes album chart, and also being named DJ Mag’s compilation of the year. All the remixes here are 100% new and exclusive to the compilation, making Remixed With Love Volume 3 an essential purchase for any serious disco devotee. “Judging from comments and suggestions I get from people online thankfully there is still a large appetite for re-workings of 70/80s material, something you can’t bank on when you embark on the project. I hope you enjoy the music.”

28 page booklet featuring in-depth interviews with musicians and producers plus previously unpublished photos from the archive of photographer Bill Akwa Bétotè as well as interviews with producers Cyriaque Bassoka and Rigo Makengo, musicians Michel Alibo, Denis Hekimian & John Johngos and Studio Caroline owner Jacky Reggan.