Lester Hein

Fresh Air – Brother Ali – Tune Of The Week

Lester — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

This week’s selection for Tune Of The Week is a feel-good hip hop track by Brother Ali. The positivity in the lyrics and the head-nodding funk production make this a new favourite.

Brother Ali – Fresh Air

Brother Ali – Fresh Air Lyrics

[Verse 1: Brother Ali]
Ant check this out
I’m the luckiest son of a bitch that ever lived, I spend life doin shit I love
Got the world’s most beautiful kids and don’t nobody do it like us
Sunday morning play Al Green, make pancakes and watch cartoons
Sometimes get to change that scene, catch a plane and see somewhere new
Just got married last year, treated so good that it ain’t even fair
Already got a boy, now the baby girl’s here, bought us a house like the Berenstain Bears
Not two years ago I was homeless, I mean crashin on the couch of my homies
Now I’m crashin on the couch with Conan, signed a mortgage and bought my home, shit
Should of seen when they handed me the keys, I still couldn’t believe that it was mine
Like “baby hurry up let’s leave, before these damn people change their mind”
Ha, and shit what can I say? I would have made these damn songs anyway
Some of y’all still listen to ‘em everyday, beautiful thing, I bow my hand and pray

[Chorus x2: Brother Ali - w/ ad libs]
I love the life I live, my laughter and my tears
I don’t know where it’s goin but I like it like it is

[Verse 2: Brother Ali]
Uh, I get a lot of love in my hometown, twin cities, y’all know how it go down
Same club where Prince shot “Purple Rain”, advertise my name and it’s sold out
I’m surrounded by greatness, my loved ones are amazin
Sometimes I look in their faces and just think of the lives they’re changin
And I don’t just mean Rhymesayers, my son’s grandmother quit freebasin
Desiree got eight years straight, now that right there cause for celebration
Ah, I’m so happy for her, we used to fight like cats and dogs
But she ain’t even mad that I left her daughter
She calls me her son, so that’s my mama

[Chorus: w/ ad libs]

[Verse 3: Brother Ali]
Ah, keep it goin now
All my life I had this music, my heroes have all saluted
I don’t need y’all to like my new shit, them dudes are the reason I do this
I done did so much cool shit, lived a lifetime in the last two years
Got the memories to prove it, look what a dude who ain’t even graduate high school did
Ha, used to always be the new kid, laughed at ’cause I never used to pull chicks
Now I turn down more girls than them rich ass pitiful ball playin fools get
Sometimes I smile so wide, I think about the dreams that I’ve lived
Shit even if I died tonight y’all, I’m the luckiest son bitch that ever lived

[Chorus: w/ ad libs until the end]

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/fresh_air_lyrics_brother_ali.html
All about Brother Ali: http://www.musictory.com/music/Brother+Ali

Daft Punk Random Access Memories Stream

Lester — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:50:29 +0000

Hot Damn! It’s the new Daft Punk album! Stream the FULL Random Accessories Memories below!

UPDATE: Looks like Grooveshark pulled the tracks off the site, so the playlist is no longer working

You also access the playlist using this link: http://grooveshark.com/playlist/Daft+Punk+Random+Access+Memories/86452553

Stream Daft Punk Random Access Memories

Daft Punk – Random Access Memories by Lester Hein on Grooveshark

Maybe there are no little things

Lester — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:36:00 +0000

“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things.” ~ Bruce Barton

An interesting extrapolation of this theme:

There are no little things

This is Water. David Foster Wallace Commencement Speech

Lester — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:25:51 +0000

In this moving and inspirational talk, David Foster Wallace puts forward that the freedom awareness provides is the freedom to decide how to interpret your surroundings. The freedom not to be a slave to the default settings forced on us by what is around us.

This is water. I am learning.

David Foster Wallace Speech – This Is Water.

2005 graduating class of Kenyon College.

Handsome Boy Modelling School – The Truth Featuring Roisin Murphy – Galt MacDermot #coverversion

Lester — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:00:58 +0000

“The Truth” has been on rotation in my collection for about 10 years now, and it’s a track I can keep going back to and find something new every so often – the hallmark of a classic.

“The Truth” is a cover of Galt MacDermot’s seminal piano soul composition “Coffee Cold” (which was featured on the 1968 version of The Thomas Crown Affair). Initially it was Roisin Murphy’s voice that drew me in to the track, but the tone, texture and musically of the music soon took the focus. It was while hunting down the samples used that I discovered “Coffee Cold.”

Handsome Boy Modelling School – The Truth

“The Truth” is taken off the 1999 album “So… How’s Your Girl?” which features performances from Roisin Murphy, Del The Funky Homosapien, Gran Puba, Biz Markie and others. If you’re in to breakbeak hip hop, it’s worth a listen.

“Handsome Boy Modelling School” was made up of Dan The Automator and (the legendary) Prince Paul (De La Soul. Wu Tang Clan, Fat Joe)
.

Galt MacDermot – Coffee Cold

This is one of the rare instances where I have an equal amount of love for the original and the rework. I want both of these on vinyl, baldy.

The Internet – A Warning From The Future

Lester — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:00:44 +0000

This hilarious mocumentary shows what a time suck the internet can be if not used with proper supervision.

The Internet – A Warning From The Future

Once high speed broadband reached the rural areas…farmers just stopped producing food…

Nicolas Jaar Live At The Boiler Room, NYC – Mix Of The Week

Lester — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:00:15 +0000

Since being introduced to the music of Nicolas Jaar some months back off the coast of Nicaragua, I’ve been listening to his releases fairly steadily.

Recently, he performed at a Reb Bull Music Academy party in New York City, where he laid down a live performance made up of (what sounds to be) all new material.

The set lasts about 47 minutes and is a bit of a slow starter, but once Mr. Jaar gets some momentum, it’s an absolute stomper.

Also, the entire time I was listening to this set, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would have been like if James Blake had crashed the party…

This set made me homesick, missing the Cape Town music scene.

Umami – Sunny – Bobby Hebb cover version #coverversion Friday

Lester — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:00:07 +0000

This week’s cover is technically more of a remix, but it was so artfully and respectfully handled, that I just has to post it.

Umami is comprised of German Duo of Sam and Robert who put together a cracking rework of Bobby Hebb’s beautful acoustic soul record ‘Sunny’ which ranks very highly on my list of all time feel-good pop songs.

Umami – Sunny

“Sunny” has been covered by everyone from Jamiroqui and Marvin Gaye to Frank Sinatra (even a surprisingly tender version by Leonard Nimoy aka Mr Spock), and I’ve posted some of my favourite versions down below the original.

It’s always great to hear a classic rework make its way to the dancefloor.

Bobby Hebb – “Sunny” (1966)

Jamiroquai – Sunny cover version

Frank Sinatra – Sunny cover version

Marvin Gaye – Sunny cover version

Leonard Nimoy – Sunny cover version

Bonobo – First Fires – Tune Of The Week by @sibonobo

Lester — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:00:41 +0000

When The North Borders first dropped, I was instantly taken in by Bonobo’s lead single – Circus”

Now that I’ve had some time to take the album in, one of the stand out records is “First Fire” featuring Grey Reverend. Now Bonobo has released the official music video for First Fire.

My favourite element of Bonobo’s First Fire is the slow, rolling bassline sidechained to a deep, mellow kick drum.

The North Borders is out now at http://bonobomusic.com/

Bitcoin Explained

Lester — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:00:58 +0000

I’ve been following the rise and rise of Bitcoin over the past few months, and finally found a video that efficienty and effectively explains the ways this digital currency functions