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Blitzen Trapper

“African American music is the best. Period.”

Posted 29th September 2011, 5:01pm in Soundtrack
Blitzen Trapper Blitzen Trapper recently released their debut album 'American Goldwing', and before they head off on their tour of the US & Canada next month, we've got the band to give us their all time favourite tracks along a theme of their choosing.

That said, Michael Van Pelt, part-time lo-fi engineer, full-time Blitzen Trapper bassist gives us a guided tour of the band’s favourite tracks within African-American music because “African American music is the best. Period.”

Shabazz Palaces - Swerve...

Labelmates of ours, Shabazz Palaces is making some of the most creative hip-hop out there today. A fantastic live show to boot.

Genius/GZA - Shadowboxin'

Straight from legendary producer RZA's brain to your ears. From Liquid Swords, the highly underrated but seriously influential East Coast record. In my opinion, the whole disc is a major musical accomplishment.

Eric. B & Rakim - Follow the Leader

Rakim may be the greatest MC of all time and this song features about 5000 words with some very menacing string samples. I think I've listened to this song more than any other since age 12.

EPMD - Let the Funk Flow

From 1988's Strictly Business. Most of the tracks on the record have aged like fine wine. And this one is funky.

Staples Singers - Name the Missing Word

Mavis Staples graced the Oregon countryside this summer at the Pickathon festival. Uplifting. And reminded me how great their Stax records are.

Jorge Ben - Ponta De Lança Africano (Umbabaraúma)

From the record África Brasil. Not American in the USA sense, but oh, so truly American. One of the funkiest vamps in all of Brasilia, big break beats and some awesome call-and-response vocals.

The Wailers - Concrete Jungle

Since I stopped smoking weed a few years ago my Reggae collection has ballooned. Hmm. This is a good thing.

Funkadelic - Can You Get to That

From Maggot Brain. If you don't like this record, you were raised wrong.

Jimi Hendrix - Mercy Lady Day

From the Swiss bootleg 'Second Time Around', this track, and all of them for that matter, are Hendrix at his absolute funkiest, heaviest and most groovy. Scant information is available on the personnel, but whoever that drummer is, he is one cruel genius.

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