In an effort to further explore the myriad and "Komplicated" musical tastes of the modern "post-Black" denizens of the world, we present Spin City, which will feature recommendations from some of the world’s finest DJs, headlined by the selections of our own "resident DJ," comic book fan, Star Wars and wrestling aficionado and all around swell guy, the world famous DJ Jedi [Facebook, Twitter and podcast]. He's graciously agreed to drop the science on musicology for you …

Currently bumpin' in the flossy Android mobile device …

• The Black Opera, "Manute Bol" (EnterMission)
  I don't know who the f*** these cats are, where they're from, or what they look like. And frankly, I don't care. All I know is, they're making some of the rawest, illest new underground hip hop I've heard in ages. Straight gully sh*t. Not for the faint of heart. Somewhere in America RIGHT NOW, on some grimy, inner-city corner, some random chump is catching a beatdown just for breathing, and this is the soundtrack to the a**whoopin'. Strictly for the heads. Get the download here while you can (EDITOR'S NOTE: Or grab it from our #musicmonday column of free weekly downloads).
• Black Star, "The Fix-Up"
  Finally, an official studio version release of the song that the mighty Mos De….uh, Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli debuted on Colbert Report a few months back. Sparse, minimal, boom-bap production courtesy of Madlib. This is a good thing, as it give the emcees ample room to get loose and trade verses for the better part of four minutes. It's no "Definition" or "Respration," but really, what is? If this is indicative of what the rest of the new album's gonna sound like, consider me officially excited. This will do for now.

• Bibio, "K is for Kelson" (Mind Bokeh LP)
  Bibio's Mind Bokeh is definitely on my short list of candidates for Album of the Year. This is one of the many standout cuts. Uptempo, chipper, fun, feelgood music that's unpredictable from one moment to the next. Hotness.

• Thundercat, "Fleer Ultra" (The Golden Age Of Apocalypse LP)
  Honestly, I don't think there's a song on this entire album that I DON'T like. So, let's just say that this high-energy, broken beat, synth-driven banger just happens to be my favorite TGAOA joint THIS week. Please stop sleeping on this album if for some reason you haven't picked it up already.

• Blu, "So(ul) Amazin' (Steel Blazin)" (Below The Heavens LP)
  This randomly popped up in my playlist shuffle the other day for the first time in a long time, and I had to listen to it three times in a row before it could go on with the rest of my day. This is just good ol', by-the-book, true school hip hop at its best: Nice, crisp, hard-hitting drums, a simple yet lush violin sample, introspective lyrics from Blu, and an EXCELLENT scratch solo at the end of the song courtesy of Exile, who flips the "'zin'" in the "So amazin'" sample to pay homage to Africa Bambaataa's classic chant from "Planet Rock." Just perfect. The long out-of-print (and classic IMO) Below The Heavens CD has finally been re-issued along with a limited vinyl edition for the first time ever. I highly recommend picking it up if you're lucky enough to see it sitting on a shelf somewhere.

No public gigs this week. But come catch me spinning a week from tonight at Motown On Mondays (affectionately referred to as MOM) as it makes its Los Angeles debut at the Shortstop with residents Josh One, Ta'Raach, Expo, and myself. Hope to see you there.

12.12.11
MOM: Motown On Mondays
(DJs spinning originals, covers, remixes, & close relatives of your favorite Motown jams)
10pm-2am
Free admission
Location: The Shortstop
1445 W. Sunset Blvd.
Echo Park, CA

Til next time, enjoy your week!
Jedi

Barring unforeseen challenges, Spin City should be waiting for you, right here on Komplicated.com, every Monday afternoon.

[Source: DJ Jedi]