The guest playlist series continues with a mixtape from our pal Fred (from LA by way of Sweden)…

“Happy to be making my first appearance on Blackraptor. This playlist starts dancey, gets a little angry, then drifts off into outer space. Hope you find something you like.” –Fred

You can also listen to an abbreviated version on Spotify here.  Unfortunately, many of these tracks are not yet in Spotify’s library.  Therefore, I recommend listening in the player above.

You can get updates by following us on Facebook or Twitter, or if you want to receive an email any time a new playlist is posted, just send us a note to blackraptorsubscribe@gmail.com.

Ben Howard is on tour now. He hits Mercury Lounge on March 29 and Bowery Ballroom on April 2 (not yet on sale).  All tour dates listed here.  His album, Every Kingdom, is not out yet in the US, but is available on Spotify.

New music from Miike Snow, Jack White & School of Seven Bells.  Covers of Michael Jackson and Guns ‘n Roses.  Classics from Ike & Tina and Eric B. & Rakim.  Photo courtesy of Trey Black. 

You can also listen on Spotify here.

You can get updates by following us on Facebook or Twitter, or if you want to receive an email any time a new playlist is posted, just send us a note to blackraptorsubscribe@gmail.com.

Facing the hype that comes with having upcoming sold-out shows at Bowery Ballroom, Webster Hall and Terminal 5, Gotye rolled into the first of them last night and blew the crowd away with a tight 13-song set and massive video screen that showed creative animation throughout the show. Band leader Wally de Backer was backed by a 4-piece band (guitar/drums/bass/synth-sampler) but also had an array of equipment surrounding him including a second drum kit, synths, drum machines and manipulated mics.  Early in the set came “The Only Way” which ended with Wally hammering out a drum solo that showed his drum skills are just as impressive as his vocals.  Throughout the night percussion would continue to be the focal point of the music with the band going back time and again to acoustic and electric xylophones and to custom metallophones that were brought out for the dark/haunting/beautiful set closer “Bronte”.

Midway through the set, many in the crowd got their wish as surprise guest Kimbra strutted out to raucous approval to add her verse on “Somebody that I Used to Know”.  Other highlights included dance-track “Thanks for Your Time” which featured all five members on synths or percussion,  the creepy “Don’t Worry We’ll Be Watching You” and “State of the Art”, one of many songs synced with it’s animated video that added yet another element to songs that are already layered deep.  Check out the video below.

They switched gears for the encore and busted out their 3 most upbeat, soulful tunes “In Your Light”, “Feel Better” and “Learnalilgivinanlovin” which built in energy and had the crowd dancing and roaring with applause.  Set list, more photos and a video after the jump.  You can also stream several Gotye tracks here.

Gotye set list, Bowery Ballroom, 2/6/12

Eyes Wide Open

The Only Way

Smoke & Mirrors

State of the Art

Thanks for Your Time

Somebody that I Used to Know (with Kimbra)

Save Me

Hearts a Mess

Don’t Worry We’ll Be Watching You

Bronte

Encore

In Your Light

Feel Better

Learnalilgivinanlovin

Our guest mixtape series continues with a standout collection from a music taste-maker friend who’s been sending me year-end mixes for over 10 years, the one and only Whitney…

Listen in the player below or on Spotify here.

You can get updates by following us on Facebook or Twitter, or if you want to receive an email any time a new playlist is posted, just send us a note to blackraptorsubscribe@gmail.com.

Only about half of these tracks are in Spotify’s library, so I recommend listening in the player above. You can listen to an abbreviated version on Spotify here.

You can get updates by following us on Facebook or Twitter, or if you want to receive an email any time a new playlist is posted, just send us a note to blackraptorsubscribe@gmail.com.

Ricky Rozay has released his latest mixtape effort, Rich Forever, featuring guest appearances from Nas, Pharrell, John Legend, Diddy, Wale, 2 Chainz and more. Most of the material was written while on a trip to South Africa and DJ Khaled was heavily involved prior to his untimely passing.  The tape is a pre-cursor for Ross’ upcoming full-length, God Forgives, I Don’t.  You can download the free mixtape here.  NOTE: At that link, wait until the timer counts down underneath the Twitter and Facebook icons, then fill in the download code and click download.

Over the past couple of years, artists like Drake, The Weeknd and Frank Ocean have continued to push r&b back to the forefront of mainstream awareness.  Besides R. Kelly, no other artist has been responsible for their template than The-Dream.  He’s been working on his latest album, The Love IV (Diary of a Mad Man), for quite awhile and today he dropped the first single, ROC.  This track doesn’t break any new ground, but it’s nice to know we’ve got a full album of late-night slow jams coming soon.  Rumor has it that Kells, Lil’ Wayne and Kanye will all make guest appearances.  Stream ROC below…

From the traffic clogged streets of Jakarta, MIXTAPE 39 brings you a few more tracks that are eligible for the BEST OF moniker. While some tracks are worthy of top tiered designations others play the role of BEST OF B-sides. Unlike last week’s selection, there is no particular order to this MIXTAPE other than an attempt at flow. True to BearKlaw form, the terrestrial beginning goes to the astral plane before descending back to Earth. While some of the tracks are very new, others might be a bit overplayed (to this listener) but still merit inclusion as they defined weeks or months of this glorious year, 2011. We hope you enjoy, pass around, and as always comments are welcome.  You can also listen on Spotify.

The Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye, might be the most important artist to emerge in 2011.  When I first heard “High for This” and “Morning” off his debut mixtape House of Balloons back in March, I was hooked on the blown out beats, late-night falsetto and over-the-top lyrics.  He followed that up with a second installation, Thursday, which, as a whole, didn’t quite reach the bar set by House of Balloons, but tracks like “The Birds Part 1″ and “The Zone” still became favorites.  Two months later, he popped up again as a major influence on Drake’s masterpiece, Take Care, co-writing on 4 tracks and adding vocals to the excellent “Crew Love.”

Earlier tonight, he released the third part of his mixtape trilogy, Echoes of Silence.  He opens with a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” (stream below) and then continues his bass-heavy r&b brilliance throughout.  All this without an official release or any touring.  It will be interesting to see what 2012 brings.  Download all three mixtapes below.

The Weeknd: “D.D.”

Download: Echoes of Silence

You can download House of Balloons and Thursday here (just scroll to the right at that site).