This week is probably going to be sparse on posts. I’m in LA for my very first E3 and so far it’s been great. I’ll keep you the site posted on any music related activities that go on. So far Jay Z and Eminem have done a set for the DJ hero franchise and DJ Z Trip.

Our last mashup of Nina Simone and Kanye West was very well received, climbing as high as #2 on the hypemachine. So here’s another for your consideration. It’s a mashup using the instrumental track Let’s Ride from Gonzales’ Soft Power album and the vocals from Jay Z’s allure. I think the feel of both songs go well together, let me know what y’all think (be kind).

Jay Z vs. Gonzales – Let’s Ride Allure (zshare)

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It’s not that strange these days to look back only four or five years and still feel a creeping sense of nostalgia previously reserved for things decades in the past. Dangermouse does this for me like nothing Johnny Carson does for your Dad.

Remember 2004? When mashups didn’t saturate every nook and cranny of the internet and the ideas behind the songs actually created new meaning? Dangermouse’s landmark mashup album The Grey Album – mixing The Beatles white album and Jay Z’s Black album – was really the beginning of the end for mashups in a way. These days everyone with a pirated copy of ableton live will throw together any indie hits they please and get away with it.

By contributing to the massive popularization of the mashup genre, Dangermouse pulled a fast one on us all by staying away from the monster he helped create. Interestingly enough, the grey album is up for donwload on Illegal Art’s website which shows ties with probably the most popular mashup dj ever, GirlTalk. Now he’s one half of Gnarls Barkley and producing albums by MF DOOM, Gorrillaz and Beck.

Think of this post and these songs as a Dangermouse retrospective so far. Minus Beck just because I’m not on that boat.

Gnarls Barkley – Surprise (zshare)

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Zero 7 feat. MF DOOM – Somersault [Danger Mouse Remix] (zshare)

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Jay Z vs. The Beatles – Public Service Announcement [Dangermouse Remix] (zshare)

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Like good Canadian pilgrims, we’ve deferred the monday re-up till tuesday this week. Give thanks we didn’t skip it all together, okay? This week I’m bringing to attention some old favourites, being my two favourite tracks from Jay-Z’s 2001 Unplugged album.

If this is news to you don’t feel too bad. Your now the well informed individual you thought you were. Just keep reading.
Jay Z – Heart of the City [unplugged] (zshare)

Jay-Z – Girls, Girls, Girls [unplugged] (zshare)