When it comes to progressive hip-hop and soul, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better label than Stones Throw, home to MF Doom, Breakestra, Dudley Perkins and Peanut Butter Wolf, among others.

A new release to look for is Aloe Blacc’s Shining Through (due out July 11). Blacc, one-half of indie hip-hop group Emanon, explores an array of styles on Shining, from soul to Latin to world. At first blush, his uplifting voice – especially on Dance For Life – is a bit reminiscent, however lofty this comparison may seem, of Stevie Wonder.

Aloe Blacc on MySpace.

Aloe Blacc | I’m Beautiful
Aloe Blacc | Dance For Life

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While we’re talking about Stones Throw, hip-hop fans (or anyone, for that matter) would do well to hit up eMusic for two free tracks – Gets Mine and T. Biggums – from Oh No’s forthcoming LP Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms.

Anyone in the Valley should go check out the Coup tonight at the Big Fish Pub in Tempe. I had planned on it, but the wife and I actually made an emergency jaunt to Henderson, Nev., where her parents live. Ill cat. Long story.

Anyway, the Coup’s Pick a Bigger Weapon is a politically charged gem in the vein of Public Enemy’s best work. It should stand up as one of the finest hip-hop releases of the year.

Unrelated, Band of Horses visit Phoenix tomorrow night. Rhythm Room. Be there.

The Coup My Favorite Mutiny
The Coup We Are the Ones

What does it say about the state of hip-hop when this jam by Philly-based Plastic Little – which clearly doesn’t take itself very seriously – is so much better than most of your mainstream hip-hop out there?

It’s a rhetorical question, I suppose. I’m not here to debate the direction of hip-hop. But it’s joints like this that give me hope. Think Pharcyde, circa Bizarre Ride. The Jump Off drips with irony and humor, not to mention one hell of a fresh beat.

Seriously, what’s the jump off?: “You’re dad’s in the Russian mafia? That’s the jump off!”

Vinyl junkies can pick up the 12″, which features Spank Rock and Diplo, here. You can also pre-order the full-length She’s Mature at the same spot.

Plastic Little | The Jump Off
[mov] The Jump Off video.

Speaking of Spank Rock, Ninja Tune is offering a free download of Rick Rubin here (make sure your browser allows a pop-up window). It’s off the new LP YoYoYoYoYo.

You can stream the video, too.

Related:
Spank Rock on KEXP.
Spank Rock Sweet Talk w/remixes.

It’s no surprise, but 2006 has yielded a crop of protest pieces, whether songs or full albums. One of the most personal and touching is Yell Fire!, the latest from Michael Franti and Spearhead, due for a July 25 release.

Franti, long an outspoken activist from his days in the Beatnigs and Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, traveled to the war-torn sections of Iraq, Israel and Palestine two years ago to take in the devastation for himself. The result is a documentary, I Know I’m Not Alone, and Yell Fire!, a powerful protest of war (Time to Go Home) but also an uplifting plea for unity (Hey Now Now).

In the hands of someone less talented and, of course, less knowledgable, Yell Fire! would threaten to become preachy and righteous. But this is a guy who spent time in Iraq – of his own choosing, no less. He all but demands your respect and attention. He saw first-hand what we only read about or see on TV.

Like the Coup’s Pick a Bigger Weapon, Yell Fire! stands up and says something important. That Franti and his group spent time recording the album in Jamaica – an homage to his reggae forefathers, perhaps – only adds to the rebellious nature of his words and the music.

Franti and Spearhead | Yell Fire
(Pre-order the album.)

I Know I’m Not Alone DVD preview (large file, about 10-minute clip)

One of the great surprises from the People Under the Stairs show I checked out a couple of weeks ago was opener Psalm One, a Chicago-bred MC who’s about to drop The Death of Frequent Flyer on highly regarded indie hip-hop label Rhymesayers Entertainment.

Is the dearth of female MCs a fact that even needs to be pointed out? I mean, it’d probably be really easy to get righteous about the male-dominated misogyny of the genre (at least among mainstream lines). I suppose, sadly, like in any other profession, some ignorant people will write off a female regardless.

Whatever, I feel lame even bringing all of this up, as singling it out might be detrimental to the point, which is that Psalm One owns the mic. Her set was tight and confident. And we’re talking about someone who studied chemistry at the University of Illinois. Better come correct.

In 2005, URB magazine named her among the Next 100, and with lines like this, from Standbye, an ode to the hassles of flying, who would argue?:

“You can’t be serious, complimentary coupon?/
“Free night’s stay at HoJo up in Tucson?”

Psalm One | Rap Star
Psalm One (feat. Brother Ali) | Standbye

Related:
People Under the Stairs show pics.
People Under the Stairs: Tuxedo Rap.

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Speaking of Tucson (oh, what a segue!), we’re driving down to the Old Pueblo (“Spanish for mud homes,” as one Jim Rome caller once put it) for the Tapes n Tapes/Cold War Kids/Figurines bonanza. I know, I know. There’s a lot of haters out there. Ease up, people. It’s music. Seems the buzz vs. the backlash has become more of the story than the bands themselves, which is killing the spirit of what people love about music in the first place.

So, there’s some pretty great concerts coming up in the Phoenix area (and Tucson) in the coming months. Thursday, we’re driving to Tucson to check out the Tapes n Tapes/Cold War Kids/Figurines bonanza. Saturday we got the Walkmen/Talkdemonic/Richard Swift in town.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty damn excited for all those. But really piquing my interest is next Thursday’s AWOL One show in Mesa. AWOL is part of the Shape Shifters crew, which, in my meaningless opinion, has one of the more creative approaches to hip-hop going these days.

Casting Call, off The War of Art, is among my favorite hip-hop tracks of the year. So peep it.

(Sorry for the abbreviated post. Late night at work and I have, gulp, dentist appointment today.)

AWOL One | Casting Call

The only bad news about Cut Chemist releasing a solo album (The Audience’s Listening on July 11) is that he’s no longer a proper member of Jurassic 5. That should make for some interesting exercises in contrast and comparison because J5 releases their next LP, Feedback, on July 25.

Granted, J5 is in good hands with DJ Numark, but, really, part of the group’s charm was its double-DJ approach. Jurassic 5 shows were some of the most energetic and creative I’ve seen among hip-hop acts, thanks in no small part to the interaction between Cut and Numark.

When I was going to Arizona State, I saw J5 in Mesa on a Saturday night (don’t even remember the year). The following night, Z-Trip and Radar invited the boys out for a low-key, secret kinda show. I probably witnessed some sort of DJ history that night. Not to sound like a sycophant, but we’re talking about four of the best out there – in terms of style, skill and creativity.

Cut shares with those guys what I admire most in a DJ: a willingness to explore and mesh styles – to push the envelope, if you will. The Garden, with its Brazilian vibes and multi-instrumental layering, is a perfect example.

Cut Chemist | The Garden

Related: Gorilla vs. Bear and Analog Giant both have posted the new Jurassic 5 single Work it Out.

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Also … Why I love eMusic:

So, I’m a monthly subscriber to eMusic. Typically, my monthly downloads (40 for $9.99) refreshed on the 10th of every month. Well, I had about 20 left when I went to download some more on June 8 and noticed they had refreshed. In other words, I had 20 downloads that went unused.

I wrote to eMusic and customer service responded the next day explaining to me (without calling me a total moron) that the downloads reset on a 30-day cycle, not necessarily on a certain day. Nevertheless, they credited my account with 40 complimentary downloads that don’t expire for a year as long as I’m an active subscriber.

So, yeah. I can personally vouch for eMusic’s greatness when I link to it and tell you to go get your 25 free trial downloads.