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Smooth vintage vibes from soul’s current poster boy, as Aloe Blacc drops off some fresh new material in collaboration with gin manufacturers Tanqueray (and may I say, they’re doing a damn fine job).
As retro sounding as anything he’s put out to date, the instrumental work is lusciously put together, with a sharp percussion beat combining with soft key work and funky bass work to drive the track along in the verses, being later accompanied by a blaring horn section to energise the hook. Solid work from Aloe on the vocals, keeping things relatively simple and extremely catchy, and certainly capturing that classic soul vibe from start to finish.
Dim, dark and dusty describes the video fairly accurately, with Aloe and his band performing the club in isolation, giving the track a freestyle jam-like feel that further enhances the vintage vibes. Audio can be grabbed for free, courtesy of Tanqueray.
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Given the relatively recent mainstream acceptance of this song (partly thanks to the fantastic How To Make It In America), it’s certainly a smart move to launch a brand new video for the track to capitalise on that hype, and LRG provide the backing for Aloe to do just that.
It’s considerably lighter in both mood and…lighting in the new video, foregoing the darker, double-vision scenes of the original for a solid metaphorical focus on Aloe’s arduous journey to success, ending with the ever-familiar bright imagery of Las Vegas. Much easier video to digest for mainstream audiences, and one that maintains the same strong link with the audio that the original video did.
Worth a watch, as is the video for his latest single, which can be found here. Be sure to grab his album Good Things, available everywhere.
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Asamoah Gyan Aloe Blacc comes through with his latest visuals, and though I’ve got mixed feelings on his album (overhyped by those who love it, underappreciated by those who hate it), this was definitely one of the better tracks on Good Things.
Can’t complain about the video either, as despite being in a blank, white room, Aloe’s colourful personality and charisma really light up the whole thing. Lots of action too, as Aloe proves not only can he rap and sing, but he can certainly get it done with his dancing ability.
The little kid steals the show though, as he brings some fantastic skill for a boy his age/size and adds a warming charm to the video. Good to see such a genuinely ‘nice’ video like this, and definitely one that’s worth a look.
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A very chilled out, relaxing slice of hip-hop for you to enjoy here, as producer Mr. Brady serves up a beautifully laidback production that makes for very smooth listening. From the velvety melodies to the soft snare hits, it’s most certainly one of the most easy listening beats I’ve heard recently.
Aloe Blacc was undoubtedly one of soul music’s breakout stars of 2010, but here he returns to his rapping roots with a series of well-delivered verses that remind folk he’s most certainly still got the skills as a rapper: Aloe’s early boast of ‘I can do whatever I simply, feel like doing, if I feel like doing it‘ in the track rings true, as he transitions back from his recent singing escapades with a combination of slick flows and motivational lyricism.
Mr. Brady-Catch ft. Aloe Blacc
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Once again, Jimmy Fallon is responsible for another great live music piece, this time grabbing Aloe Blacc to perform his single from earlier this year, I Need A Dollar.
As Jimmy’s house band, The Roots are there backing Aloe up nicely with some great instrumentation throughout, retaining the soulful sounds of the original whilst throwing in some extra energy. For someone who started off as a rapper, Aloe can most certainly hit his notes really well live, and also deserves great credit for a charismatic and confident performance.
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Taking it a little underground here, here’s a track from a rapper I know little about. However, he’s on the legendary Stones Throw record label, so I trust he’s going to have some ability.
Grabbing labelmate Aloe Blacc, M.E.D. comes through with some warm, smooth visuals for his latest single to accompany Aloe’s mellow, relaxed vocals on the hook. His raps aren’t too bad either, as he comes through with a clear, mid-tempo flow that works well with his lyrical dedication to his home.
A smooth, soulful piece of hip-hop, with an enjoyable video to boot, and hence one of those tracks that’s very easy to get into.
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Another track I held back for a few days, as I didn’t want to rush this review. In the entertainment business, it’s a risky principle to remake an established classic, but when it comes off it’s a thing of beauty: You could do a lot worse than going with this smooth, funky cover of James Carr’s bittersweet The Dark End of The Street.
Carr’s painful and anguished delivery on the original are perfect for the ‘forbidden love’ aspect conveyed in the lyrics: here however, they’re switched for a jazzier, more upbeat vocal style that replaces the slow, suspenseful tone with a sense of intrigue and excitement. It’s reflected strongly in the instrumentation too, with a bouncy funk resonating throughout to positively charge the vocals further and hence works to alter the context of the lyrics, transforming the vague hints of hope in Carr’s original to positive idealism. As an entirety, it comes together fluidly to allow the cover to be viewed independently as a superb piece of jazz-soul that will both mellow and brighten your day.
Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme-The Dark End of The Street
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