Album Review: Koushik - Out My Window

Rating: 4/5
1. Morning Comes
2. Be With (DOWNLOAD)
3. Lying In The Sun (DOWNLOAD)
4. Coolin
5. Buttaflybeat
6. See You
7. Nothing's The Same
8. Welcome
9. Corner Of Your Smile
10. In A Green Space
11. Ifoundu
12. Outerlude
13. Bright And Shining
14. Forest Loop
15. Out My Window
16. Flying On

Imagine if the Beatles circa Yellow Submarine got down with Breakestra. What sort of collaboration might that produce? THIS is it. Stones Throw's Koushik has seeped out material for the few years he has been on the label. From his Madvillain remixes to his tracks from BBall Zombie War. I must say though that this is altogether his best work. Out My Window is a funky but trippy adventure through the mind of a musical genius. Reverberating cymbals and nod inducing drum patterns seem to come across powerful yet subdued by smooth vocals. This is undoubtedly my album for (not of) the summer, nice and relaxed. Digital version of the album is out now. Vinyl & CD release date is September 30 on Stones Throw Records

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Album Review: Jake One - White Van Music

Rating: 4.3/5
1. I’m Coming feat. Black Milk & Nottz
2. Gangsta Boy feat. M.O.P.
3. The Truth feat. Freeway & Brother Ali
4. Turn It Down
5. God Like feat. D. Black
6. Bless The Child feat. Little Brother
7. Oh Really feat. Posdnuos & Slug
8. Hi
9. Trap Door feat. MF DOOM
10. Dead Wrong feat. Young Buck
11. Kissin’ The Curb feat. Bishop Lamont & Busta Rhymes
12. How We Ride feat. Freeway
13. White Van feat. Alchemist, Evidence & Prodigy
14. Big Homie Style feat. J. Pinder, GMK & Spaceman
15. Scared feat. Blueprint (Download)
16. Great Sound
17. Get ‘Er Done feat. MF DOOM
18. Feelin’ My Shit feat. Casual
19. Soil Raps feat. Keak Da Sneak
20. Glow feat. eLZhi & Royce Da 5'9"
21. R.I.P.
22. Home feat. Vitamin D, C Note, Maine & Ish

Seattle native "super" producer, Jake One has an impressive wrap sheet for someone who has gone under the radar for a number of years. He has produced for De La Soul to Strange Fruit Project to 50 Cent. His freshman effort entitled White Van Music seemed like a sure shot to impress. The features alone are absolutely unheard of. Slug (Atmosphere) and Posdnous (De La Soul) on the same track? Freeway and Brother Ali? Upon first listen I was VERY impressed. The album is absolutely nothing I expected. The production on each track seems as different as apples and meatloaf but they all seem to mesh together quite nicely. This album is definitely going to be on rerun for a little while. The album releases as a double disc October 7 on Rhymesayers Entertainment.

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