journal

My previously unquestioned love for music, especially Hip-Hop, was seriously waning last year. The lack of quality new releases was/is definately a factor amongst numerous other things. Even earlier, when some around me proclaimed "Hip-Hop is dead", I defended the genre by claiming "It's not dead, you just have to look harder for it". With me being a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do type of person, I didn't take my own advice and soon became disillusioned with modern Hip-Hop. My enthusiasm for music is back now, and back in a big way.

Thanks to recent shows: Q-Tip at the Roundhouse, Black Milk at Cargo & 9th Wonder at The Westbury, 2009 has been a really good year so far when it comes to my Hip-Hop sentiments. Listening to J Dilla's & Common's back-catalogue reminds me of what Hip-Hop is meant to sound like. And it doesn't sound like Flo-Rida, nor Soulja Boy, nor Bow Wow. Heck, even Common's latest album makes a mockery of the artform (and it pains me so much to say that).

You may be able to tell I like a good disgruntled rant, but my real reason for writing this entry was to bring your attention to Paul Pre. He is a German DJ who releases monthly Hip-Hop & Soul (largely instrumental) mixes available for download. He knows his stuff and on his creations you will find artists and producers such as Madlib, Sa-Ra, Dorian Concept, J*Davey, Floating Points plus many other quality acts. It's listening to this kind of stuff that's renewed my faith so thank you Paul Pre.

Check out Paul Pre's monthly mixes on his website right now.