It has been over 5 years since the Rhymesayers duo Eyedea & Abilities graced us with a full length release.  The album E&A was released back in 1994. Since then, Eyedea has done different side projects, and Abilities now lives in Milwaukee.  I got wind of a fortcoming record from Milwaukee’s DJ Deadbeat and Kid Millions.  They both told me the music on E&A’s record entitled “By The Throat” was amazing.  Abilities beats were on another level.  Well, as of today, Rhymesayers announced the release date for E&A’s “By The Throat” (July 21) and dropped a track for free download. The track is called “The Story” and it is on some other level.  Check it out for yourself.

Eyedea & Abilities – “The Story” (Download)
[audio:http://www.needledrop.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/eyedea-_-abilities-this-story.mp3]

It is on like Donkey Kong.  I have been supporting this band for over a year, and now you get a chance to see why (if you live in Madison or Milwaukee).  This Saturday (4/25/09), in my hood of Riverwest, Atlanta’s The Constellations will be performing live along with Milwaukee’s Kingdomnada, and yours truly. Tune into Rhythm Lab Radio tonight at 10pm(cst) to hear a special interview and guest mix from The Constellations’ frontman Elijah Jones.

(note: The Constellations will also be performing a in-store at Urban Outfitters off of Farwell at 4pm on Saturday(4/25/09).)

DJ Benzi returns to Milwaukee on Saturday, April 18th to Moct in Milwaukee and Rhythm Lab and Needledrop proudly welcomes him. Originally from Michigan, Dj Benzi has become one of the most influential and prolific mixtape DJs in the world.

In the past two years Benzi’s buzz has skyrocketed on the strength of his patented “refixes,” especially the refreshing work he has done with the Clipse and Lil Wayne on the popular “We Got The Remix” series. DJ Benzi is most known for his creative twist on bridging the club/DJ culture with that of commercial hip-hop.

Over the last two years Benzi has also been on the road rocking shows all over the world and performing along side talent such as Diplo, the Clipse, the Cool Kids, Mick Boogie, and many other big names.

He is currently working on his own debut called “Get Right” Amalgam Records. Check out his latest mixtape called Going Home featuring up and comer Donnis. You can dowload it for free here.

Donnis – Go Home (Prod. Chaise Marcel)
[audio:http://www.s62878.gridserver.com/motivation3/donnis_x_chaise_marcel_-_go_home_(motivation_part_3!).mp3]

DJ Benzi | Live @ Entourage | Oslo, Norway | 03.29.09 from www.djbenzi.com on Vimeo.

One of my favorite groups out of Milwaukee is Codebreaker.  They recently put out an amazing track featuring England’s Kathy Diamond entitled “Fire”.  I just got an email from the guys in Codebreaker with a new song which is an actually a cover of the classic disco hit “First True Love Affair” by Jimmy Ross from 1981. Codebreaker kept true to the original but added some heavy synth basslines.  It is definitely one of those summer picnic tunes or a great roller skating jam. The cover is from the Buffetlibre Rewind 2 website. The site contains some other great covers and remixes by some artists such as Little Boots, Bonde Do Role, and others. Some of the artists that are covered includes Pet Shop Boys, Salt & Pepa, The Prodigy, Buzzcocks and more.

Codebreaker – “First True Love Affair” Jimmy Ross Cover
[audio:http://www.needledrop.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/codebreaker.mp3]

Jimmy Ross – “First True Love Affair”
[audio:http://www.needledrop.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/05-first-true-love-affair.mp3]

Bonus: Codebreaker – “Fire ft. Kathy Diamond”
[audio:http://www.needledrop.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/fire_.mp3]

No I am not talking about the 1958 movie starring Frank Sinatra. The Kings Go Forth I am talking about is a Milwaukee based funk band that could definitely give the Dap-Kings a run for their money. It is a nine piece band with three vocalists.

The band consist of vocalists Danny Fernandez, Matt Norberg and Black Wolf (Bilal); Bass- Andy Noble; Guitar- Dan Flynn; Drums – Jeremy Kuzniar; Trombone – Dave Cusma; Trumpet and Jed Keyboards – Dave Wake.

They recently dropped a 45 (which is sold out). Damn, I was sleeping. But I did get a couple of tracks in digital form. Just check it out for yourself. This is some raw and gritty funk for your head and your a$$. Miltown is killing it!

Kings Go Forth – “One Day”
[audio:Kings Go Forth - One Day.mp3]

Shame on you if you miss this past Saturday’s one year anniversary of SpacedOut at Moct presented by Rhythm Lab Radio. Diamonds, Jai Alai Savant, Blaqstarr and Diplo killed it. The place was packed and people were sweating. We even had multiple and simultaneous crowd surfing. That is how we do it in Milwaukee. You can see more pictures in our gallery. Big love to Sarah Fierek for taking great pictures.

Our man Diamonds even did a special mix for our show to celebrate. You can grab it below.

Spacedout! mixed by Diamonds
[audio:http://www.box.net/shared/static/yuk5wweo0w.mp3]