Turned on to Shad's work through the good guys at WEFUNK Radio. Shad is a gifted poet, a man with a truly unique way with words and his level of interaction with all the samples, like Shuggie Otis, is also unlike any other rapper I've heard out there.

Don't know how they Do it, but they always do it. Wish I had a car and lived in Texas so I could go on a long ride into the sunset with this blasting away by my side and understand what it all means.

Exceptionally gifted and insightful soul singer and songwriter who should have become a major star. Equal to Stevie Wonder or Bill Withers, in my [talking] book. Great to hear the two versions of the album side by side - though, personally I much prefer the First Versions without the buzzy synths/keyboards getting in the way of things. Now to get my hands on Spaced...

Hauntingly beautiful collab between two stellar ladies and the orchestral minds of BCR.

Really getting into dub (late in my life) and that charged up with funky fills is exactly my jam. Brilliant, EliteBeat!

Just when I thought thoughtful, sublime Indian pop-fusion wasn't in existence, this record came along to startle me. Hauntingly beautiful songs delivered by this duo, in the style of Goldfrapp/Portishead.

I never thought this track could ever sound better - until, hello, somebody's just gone and done a hella Funky Disco Reggae cover of it. Herbie H. will definitely be grinning madly, if he ever wraps his ears around this!
Also, what a cover...

A great little compilation from one of the most active and interesting record labels from Brazil.

One of the best things I've found and heard last year, period. Filipina-Canadian Han Han raps about a multitude of themes and emotions - everything from notions of respect, smiling at loss to the immigrant experience and finding your identity. All underpinned by brilliantly produced funk and hip hop beats, blended in with Filipino traditional gong music - giving the whole album a wonderfully earthy, but dark edge. Watch this lady, she's definitely in the ascendant with this one.