Sound Check's Blog (493)

P.O.S. has a crew, it's Marijuana Deathsquads, who are an indie improv clique of 3 or 4 drummers, programmers and various others contribute to the madness that is Marijuana Deathsquads.

By: Jon Jon Scott, AFROPUNK Contributor

Marijuana…

It's maybe weird to call yourself a fan of a band after only hearing one track, but that's how it went with American Fangs. The first time I heard “Le Kick” on the Afropunk Vol 2 comp I was hooked. I hunted for their album. But no luck. Since 2009 they've released a few singles and an EP and a WWE theme song because why the hell not?…

YES! The highly anticipated debut album "American Love" is out now and it's all the things we love about the Rabbits: It's funky as F, hella groovy, cheeky, Dua's vocals are CRAZY and the musicality is right.on.point! The ASS…

Are you in the mood for some "homopop, queercore, punk, non-college rock, bullshit"? Brooklyn-based band Aye Nako got just what you need with their new track 'For The Inverted'. Debut album 'Unleash Yourself' to be released on May 31.…

For those of you who were wondering if electro-punk-hip-hop band Death Grips were 1) still together and 2) planning on releasing new music, the answer is: yes and yes. In a recent statement, the band clarified a few things: "Zach is currently writing, directing and soundtracking an original feature film. The movie is of his own creation, fictionally based and not related to the group. The film will be soundtracked with all new Death Grips music. He is also working on and…

Did you know that Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis and drummer Tony Williams were planning to record an album together? They also tapped Paul McCartney to play bass with them. The project didn't come to life but Associated Press reports some details about the telegram Hendrix sent to McCartney's camp…

There are some collaborations that seem like they'd make perfect sense on paper, and yet somehow fail to work. (I remember being so excited when I first heard that one of the 90's greatest singers - Chris Cornell - would be teaming up with the 90's greatest rhythm section - Rage Against the Machine - for what turned out to be the 2000's most meh band. No matter how good they may taste separately, nobody wants a peanut butter and goat cheese sandwich.) Then there are other…

THE FUNK IS BACK! We were stoked to hear some never-before-heard music from LA keytarist/DJ/Producer funk bruh, Dam Funk today! Although Dam has opt'ed out of releasing any free music for a while, you know he wasn't going to leave us hanging for too long. Check this super tight…

The Brand New Heavies came up in UK's Acid Jazz scene in the mid-80s. After adding lead singer N'Dea Davenport, they had a string of unimpeachable hits like “Never Stop,” and “Dream on Dreamer.” Their latest record Forward (due out May 21) is their first in 6 years and features N'Dea sharing lead vocals with new singer Dawn Joseph. I spoke with Jan and Simon about the new record and the legacy of…

What do you know about Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings? Did you check their new song "Retreat!"? It's a cut off their new album 'Give The People What They Want', to be released August 6th. If you pre-order the album on iTunes you'll get the track "Retreat!" immediately.…

Yuna breaks it down on her upcoming Sixth Street EP. "I Wanna Go" is a starlit song about young love! hile "Let Love Come Through" is a little more upbeat and…

Last night Red Bull Music Academy packed Glasslands Gallery in Williamsburg with event-goers, videographers and photogs as an eclectic mix of music…

At first glance one might take Janelle Monae’s new track Q.U.E.E.N. as a funky…

We went to see Danny Brown in NYC last night and it was the f-ing bomb.

By: Alexandria Gamlin

Photos by: Alex Kusak Smith 

I've been listening to Kush Coma since it's internet…

The eclectic, eccentric, and prolific Labtekwon has just released 2 new tracks from his upcoming record Evolutionary: The Omar Akbar Album – State of the Art and you definitely owe it to yourself to check it out. Like his previous jams the vocals are less rhymes or lyrics and more stream of conscious beat poetry. There are no hooks. The lyrics only occasionally rhyme or fit any consistent rhythm. And that's sort of why it's glorious.



The first track…

The night of May 2nd, Marques Toliver brought his hypnotizing blend of R & B, soul, and classical music back to New York where he performed to a packed house at the Mercury Lounge in the LES.

by…

Bam! Pump up the volume and check out hip-hop artist/Def Poetry Jam alum Narubi Selah's new album 'Architect: Sacred Geometry'. The girl goes IN, speaking her mind about social issues, art and more in an explosive brand of slam.

Check out two hard-hitting cuts from the album below and click HERE to download it and listen to…

Toronto-based singer Melanie Durrant serves big voice and musical drama with her latest single 'Gone'. She basically tells it like it is to the "other woman": "he only wants you when I'm gone". Stream it below and let us know what you think. - L.…

Afropunk Fam, you may remember that we told you a few years ago about a project to make a documentary about (and with) Bad Brains frontman HR. The production team Small Axe Films launched a Kickstarter…

Amongst a frenzy of court appearances, media headlines and blog posts, Lauryn Hill released new music this past Friday. On her Tumblr, she addressed her disliking for having to rush the release of new material, necessary in order to meet a legal…