Funky Friday Round-Up (One day early!)

Hot releases this week from the Tru Thoughts camp, Renegades of Jazz, Umbo & Balatz and DJ Mischief plus a feelgood feast of free funk from Jazzy Jeff and Mick Boogie.

We're dropping the reviews early this week so we have all day tomorrow to prepare for the launch party!

Natural Self - My Heart Beats (Remixes and Versions)

A bit of a mixed bag this one, but there are some gems on it.

The bass-heavy YULT remix of 'The Shock You Heard' is a moody, subby hip-hop shuffler with some amazing synth sounds and bass that could rupture organs if it fell into the wrong hands.

As the sunny weather continues and the outdoor gigs keep coming, everyone needs a nice stash of ska to keep the crowds smiling, and the Prince Fatty versions of 'Midnight Sun' deliver in spades. The awesome vocals are underpinned by groovy instrumentation and rolling percussion with a bouncy, irresistable vibe.

Natural Self's own remix of 'All Static' rolls along with great percussion grooves and some head-spinning glitchy sounds before dropping into a rich analogue bassline and crispy, almost Garage-esque drums.

As alway with Tru Toughts releases, this one laughs at pigeonholes and pushes boundaries. Maybe not peaktime material, but packed full of amazing music nonetheless.

We think this one's out in August, but to keep you grooving in the meantime, check out this free remix by Natural Self of 'Feelin' by Sweet Breeze.






Renegades of Jazz - Karabine EP

Better known as one half of Mash & Munkee, David Hanke has injected some serious groove into this solo project.

Dusty, jazzy vibes, incredible keys and upright bass lines marry with frenetic brushed snares and dreamy horn lines on this EP, which features remixes from Dusty and The Uptown Felaz.

The title track is probably the strongest, but the tight drums and cheeky sampling on 'Apple Sauce' give it a hot flavour all of its own.

Listen below and buy here.

Karabine EP by Renegades Of Jazz

Umbo & Balatz

Pure party disco funk now from Umbo & Balatz.

The original is incredible, but there are some top reworks on this release too. Valique Boogie adds some rolling synth bass for that Italian vibe, while Zamali adds some epic breakdowns to build the party vibe.

DJ Kid Stretch's remix however, is pure FIRE. Strong breaks and blazing cowbells drive the track, while he creates a filtered disco vibe that reinforces the strengths of the original. Brilliant, brilliant track.

Listen to the original below and buy on Juno.

Umbo & Balatz - Disco Thang by Timewarp Music






DJ Mischief - Flaming Chestrug

Upping the tempo for a straight banger from DJ Mischief now, 'Flaming Chestrug' is a flute-driven funk workout with great soul squeals and horn stabs.

It's backed by the deeper, slower jazz-hop vibes of '1986'.

Listen and buy these great tracks on the Juno player below:




Saravah Soul - Cultura Impura

Blending Latin and Afrobeat influences into a heady cocktail of danceable, head-nodding funk - Saravah Soul's new album has to be heard to be believed.

Listening to this album feels like being a special guest at an incredible, exclusive gig. The band are tight, the grooves are strong and each track is a masterpiece in its own right.

Standout tunes include 'Milk & Mangoes', which blends cool funk instrumentation with the unusual, but infectious twanging sound of the Berimbau Viola.

'Se Da Do' opens with sweet African chants before dropping into a bass-driven groove that builds and builds under goregeous vocal performances from Matheus Nova.

If you're looking for a sun-soaked, upbeat album suitable for both barbecue soundtracks and sweaty, after-dark grooving then look no further - 'Cultura Impura' is it.

Have a listen to a couple of preview tracks below and buy over at Tru Thoughts.

Saravah Soul - Mussum by Tru Thoughts

Saravah Soul - Milk and Mangoes by sopedradamusical


Johnny Pluse - How Much For The Monkey

Just space to remind you that Johnny Pluse's album has dropped this week and he's about to embark on his promotional world tour.

Check an interview with a man himself here, our revie of the album here and see his tour dates below, kicking off with a set at our very own launch party tomorrow night at the Lost Angel:

July 2010
9th ………………Lost Angel, London, UK (NuFunk.net launch party).
23rd …………….The Secret Garden Party (The Remix Bubble), Huntington, UK.
31st …………….McCormack’s, Trim, Ireland (Album Launch Party Act 1).

August 2010
01st …………….Lynch’s Motor Bar, Trim, Ireland (Album Launch Party Act 2).

September 2010
04th ……………Brownstock Music Festival, Essex, UK.
18th ……………Funk Deluxe, San Diego, California, USA.

Mick Boogie & Jazzy Jeff - Summertime

An amazing freebie for you this week, from the crates of Jazzy Jeff & Mick Boogie, 'Summertime' is the perfect funky soundtrack to a sunny day.

Uplifting, feelgood music all the way, check out the tracklisting:

1. Summertime Intro

2. Kool & The Gang: Summer Madness (Live Version)
3. Kool & The Gang: Summer Madness
4. Quincy Jones: Summer In The City
5. Ahmad: Back In The Day
6. Ice Cube: It Was A Good Day
7. Roy Ayers f/ Mary J Blige: Everybody Loves The Sunshine
8. Pharcyde: Passin’ Me By (Ffej Remix)
9. Jay-Z f/ Babyface: Sunshine
10. Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess
11. A Tribe Called Quest: Find A Way (Ffej String Edit)
12: Bush Babies f/ Mos Def: The Love Song
13. Jodeci: Get On Up
14. The Commodores: High On Sunshine
15. J Dilla f/ Dwele : Think Twice
16. Erick Sermon f/ Marvin Gaye: Music (Mick’s Marvapella Edit)
17. Bernard Wright: Who Do You Love
18. LL Cool J: Loungin’
19. A Tribe Called Quest: Hot Sex
20. Main Source: Live At The BBQ
21. Nuyorican Soul: Nautilus
22. Pharcyde & Sublime: Summertime
23. Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff: Summertime Remix
24. Michael Jackson: I Can’t Help It
25. De La Soul: Breakdawn
26. Musiq: Just Friends
27. Carl Thomas: Summer Rain
28. Faze-O: Riding High
29. Dionne Warwick: Walk On By
30. Skee-Lo: I Wish
31. Black Moon: Who Got The Props
32. Frankie Beverly and Maze: Before I Let Go
33. Nu Shooz: I Can’t Wait
34. Montell Jordan: This Is How We Do It
35: The Roots f/ George Benson: Breezin’
36: Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff: Time To Chill
37. Biggie: Can’t You See
38. James Brown: The Payback
39. En Vogue: My Lovin’
40. Bobby McFerrin: Sunshine Of My Life
41. Fifth Dimension: Let The Sun Shine In
42. Mos Def: Sunshine
43. Nine: Whatcha Want
44. Otis Redding: Sittin’ On The Dock
45. 2Pac: I Get Around (Mick’s String Edit)
46. Zapp: Computer Love (Terry’s Mirage On The Water Mix)
47. Seals And Croft: Summer Breeze
48. Jay-Z: Dear Summer
49. Weldon Irvine: Morning Sunrise

So pour yourself a long glass of something cool and get your download on here or here.

Funky Friday Round-Up

With so many funky records out each week, we're here to tip off ther best and hottest joints around so your crate is always full of fire.

This week big releases from Fort Knox Five, The Bamboos, The Funk League, Library Vultures and Megaphono.

Fort Knox Five - Shift Remixes

With his instinctive understanding of party vibes and exclectic DJ style, Afrika Bambaataa wasn't just integral in the birth of hip-hop, he also arguably laid down the blueprint for NuFunk and funky breaks.

His latest collaboration with Fort Knox Five is a straight party rocker, which has now been given the remix treatment by some huge producers.

Baymont Bros come with a twitchy disco and bass version with a couple of large drops, DJ Dan & Mike Balance bring rough electro house vibes and Deekline & Dustin Hulton drop heavy booty breakage in their main-room rinseout.

Sub Swara's remix is an all-out assault with some dutty-ruff wobbly basslines and half-tempo shuffle-step breakdowns, which manages to be simultaneously heavy and uplifting. Finally Malente takes the track into funky fidget house territory making great use of the 'Shift' vocal lines.

A banging peak-time release, proving once again that pigeonholes can't hold the mighty Knox. Listen below and buy it here.

Shift featuring Afrika Bambaataa & Mustafa Akbar (Remixes) by fortknoxfive

The Bamboos - You Ain't No Good

Having recently seen this awesome band live, NuFunk.net is hyped about their new release, 'You Ain't No Good'.

The original is a blazing soul stomper with gorgeous vocal performances and the tight instrumentation we've come to expect from this amazing band.

The package comes with an awesome remix of 'Up On The Hill' by DJ Yoda, who brings plenty of cut 'n' paste cool to this sitar-driven number. Some tough Kool & The Gang breaks keep the floor moving in the great rework.

Randomer's remix of 'Keep Me In Mind' has heavy bass and skippy beats, while Flevans' take on the same track has a deep yet delicate sunrise set feel to it.

Instrumentals and an acapella complete this great package, which truly offers something for every set and every DJ. Listen below and buy it here.





The Funk League - Boogie Down Bombers

Andy C of Ugly Duckling and the Bronx's Sadat X and Diamond D come together with The Funk League on this superb single.

The title track drips jazzy, crunchy cool as the MCs put in a tight performance over crispy snares, lush contrabass and atmospheric samples.

The upbeat version of 'You're Gonna Learn', which features Andy C, is where the real fire is hiding on this release. Pure funky bass, mad samples, speedy cuts & scratches and rolling breaks make this a surefire banger.

Take a listen below and buy your copy here.





Library Vultures Series - Turbotrax

Anyone who spends any time crate digging knows what a goldmine library records like the KPM series, can be. With that in mind, the Library Vultures are breathing new life into dusty classics in a series of releases on Turbotrax.

Volume one features the blazing funk of 'Ronnie's Groove', which takes the classic Two Ronnies theme, written by the legendary Ronnie Hazelhurst and gives it a funky breaks overhaul - producing a stomping party track in the process.

Backed with the hot piano and flute grooves and comedy sampleage of 'Peace, Love, Music, Drugs', this is a tight release.

Listen to these tracks below. The guys have three releases available here.




Megaphono - Doggy Kutz EP

Just time for a quick heads-up on the 'Doggy Kutz EP' from Megaphono. The standout track is 'L'Amour', with its slow-mo disco vibe, deeply groovy bassline and breathy vocals.

Listen below and buy it here.





Whoop - The Mutha EP

Nearly out of space and time this week, but just wanted to highlight some seriously cool funk from Woop on Baxxbeat Music.

'The Mutha EP' is five tracks of cinematic, Blaxploitation-style funk. Very, very tight indeed.

Listen below and buy here.




Heaps Decent feat MC Huz & The Riverina Crew - Anywhere But Here (Produced by A-Trak)

A wicked and bad freebie to end on this week: a great digeridoo-driven tune produced by A-Trak with young artists from a Juvenile Justice Centre in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.

Listen and download below.

Heaps Decent feat MC Huz & The Riverina Crew - Anywhere But Here (Produced by A-Trak) by Heaps Decent

Funky Friday Round-Up - totally bumper bonus edition

We've got a totally bumper edition of sizzling releases for you this week, and a few bonus freebies for you too. Spoil you? Oh yes we do!

DJ Wood - Turn Me On

Out tomorrow on Bombastic Jam, this is some mad freshness from DJ Wood - who appears to be on a one-man mission to set 2010 ablaze with a string of banging releases.

The original of this track is a 120bpm stomper, with a beauty of a bassline, catchy vox and some lovely disco elements that uplift without being cheesy.

DJP comes with an equally banging remix, chopping and mangling the original groove without once compromising the funky flavour.

To complete the package Basement Freaks brings a bucketload of booty-quaking bass to his remix, proving once again that his Bombastic Jam label is going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Hard to pick a favourite from this release, grab them all FTW.

Listen below and buy on Beatport from tomorrow.

BJ 004 Dj Wood - Turn Me On (Release Date 26-6 on Beatport) by Bombastic Jam


Chris Awesome - Bangers & Mashup Vol. 1

A double-barrelled banger of a release from Chris Awesome, his second on Big M.

As the title implies, there's some cheeky mashing in store as Chic meet Pete Rock over some of the toughest hip-hop breaks I've heard in months.

The flip is a hands-in-the-air battle royale between Public Enemy and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers that will fill dancefloors and plaster smiles on the face of anyone within earshot.

Another quality release from Mr Awesome.

Buy it on Junodownload from tomorrow and listen below.

Freak out in the club by ChrisAwesome

Chris Awesome - Roller-coaster of awesome love by ChrisAwesome


DJ Zeph - Batidas Latinas

Just in case you've been sleeping on Breakin' Bread lately, here's your wake-up call. The killer Batidas Latinas EPs from the king of the beats, DJ Zeph have now got a digital release.

The two EPs comprise 13 amazing blends full of lush Latin funk and raw party hip-hop. Proper summer tings agwan people, you need these in your crate.

Mixing classic Latin tracks from the likes of Hector Lavoe and Sergio Mendez, as well as modern masterpieces from the likes of Quantic and Color Climax with jump-up rhymes from Lauren Hill, KRS-1, Jay Z and more - Zeph has created 13 mini-masterpieces of funk.

Listen and buy below:







Johnny Pluse - How Much For The Monkey

As you know from our recent interview with him, Johnny Pluse has been busy in the studio lately - cooking up some fresh beats.

Well, the wait is almost over - out on July 7th on Breakdown Records, the album 'How Much For The Monkey' is straight banging!

From the old-school live funk stylings of 'Funky Time' and the ska-hop bounce of 'Market Street Hustle' to the tearout JB funk of 'Pleasure Town' and the trip-hop shuffle of 'How Ya' - these are 11 tracks made of purest win.

Managing to be varied without ever leaving the dancefloor, the grooves on this record are strong and the beats are crisp.

Do yourself a favour and seek this out. While you wait, here's an album sampler to whet your appetite:

HOW MUCH FOR THE MONKEY ( ALBUM SAMPLER) by johnnypluse

Label Love - free album

Remember we said we have freebies? Remember how moist that made you feel? Well, get ready to ear-jizz, because here it is, a free album featuring some of the greatest labels and artists in the biz today.

They say: "Label Love is an eclectic yet unified bundle of unique sounds compiled simply for the love of sharing them with the universe - each track plucked and presented by label heads from Bastard Jazz, ESL, Fania, Now Again, Plug Research, Tru Thoughts and Ubiquity.



"Each label evokes it’s own signature swagger giving this collection a diversified and interesting flow of genres. Label Love consists of nostalgic classics, fresh unreleased gems and other dope selections with the goal of expanding minds to new styles, vibrations and colors."

We say: "It's free, get it on your pod before they change their minds!!!"

Features tracks from Quantic, Shafiq Husayn, Ancient Astronauts and more.

Clickety click.

Parker vs Focus - Bogus Hocus Pocus

More freeness? Surely not!!!

And yet here it is anyway.

Parker has blessed us with another timely bootleg - this time in the form of a drum n bass version of the prog rock track Nike are using in their World Cup ads.

It's a banger and it also has a super-sweet video courtesy of DJP:



Grab your download here or here.

Until next time, send those promos, press releases and other goodies to blog@nufunk.net