14KT - "The Power of Same ft. Muhsinah"

We interrupt my slew of looking back at 2018 posts to bring you a little forward facing music. RR mainstays First Word Records have announced the addition of Michigan / LA beatmaker and producer 14KT to their ranks and today (December 14th) is the release of the first single from his 2019-due debut IAMABEENIE.

"The Power of Same" features urgent, yearning vocals from Muhsinah whom I haven't heard before but have now flagged for future reference. No surprise she came recommended by Tall Black Guy who put her in touch with 14KT.

If the full-length features more of this jazzy production, soulful vocals and insistent beats, there's a strong chance it'll be among my rear-facing posts at the end of 2019.

Tall Black Guy - "Gifted People"

New Tall Black Guy? Flipping an iconic Aretha Franklin cut? SIGN ME UP!!!!

Essa - "Evade and Seek"

Just do yourself a favour and put Tall Black Guy in your Google Alert so you never miss a thing he's up to. This collabo with UK emcee Essa just the latest in an unending stream of the goodness.

The Black Opera - "Beginning of the End (ft. Georgia Anne Muldrow)"

Man, Georgia Anne Muldrow is just KILLING it of late. Her new record oLIGARCHY sUCKS! dropped recently and it is a serious headphone trip that rewards repeat listens and will soundtrack your sleepless nights for weeks to come.

Then what to my wandering ears should appear, but a post from Mello Music Group in my Soundcloud stream from upcoming act The Black Opera, produced by Tall Black Guy (!) and featuring the inestimable Ms. Muldrow (!!). This is a venn diagram with enough overlap it's just a circle.

Charlie Johnson's Paradise Ten Orchestra - "You Ain't The One (Tall Black Guy remix)"

I know not everyone's a big fan of Boardwalk Empire but I'm still enjoying the illegal actions in Atlantic City and the chicanery in Chicago. Moreso know that the folks behind the show have released an album called Sounds Of The Onyx [Chalky White's club, natch] with barrelhouse-era tunes reworked by the likes of DJ Jazzy Jeff and Reductive Reviews favourite Tall Black Guy.

Various - Two Syllables Volume Nine (First Word Records)

If you're up-to-date on Reductive Reviews, then names like Tall Black Guy, Souleance and Yosi Horikawa will be familiar to you even if the label First Word Records doesn't ring a bell or this is your first experience with the Two Syllables compilation series. Bookmark First Word Records because it's about to become your favourite new label if it wasn't already.

The Primeridian + Tall Black Guy (are Darling Lure) - "Hang-On"

Hold up, listen to "Hang-On." Hang-On - The Primeridian + Tall Black Guy (Are Darling Lure) by TallBlackGuyProductions

The Primeridian x Tall Black Guy (Darling Lure) - "Hang On"

Just got hip to Tall Black Guy last week when he reached out to me on Twitter. Loving his stuff. He remixed Maylee Todd's "Hieroglyphics" and has some really awesome beats & production on his lonesome on Hollyweird and Hollyweird 2 (amongst a litany of other titles). Dude is super prolific and he's teamed up with Chicago duo The Primeridian as Darling Lure and the trio just dropped the video for "Hang On" from the Darling Lure record.