Brooklyn's Got Soul

You might have noticed that posts this month are chopped in half. Part of that is due to things getting busy around September, but most of it is because hip-hop is in the shitter and I refuse to plug: 1) any of the new 80s throwback hipster nonsense 2) Cam'ron's return from hiding or 3) random videos from concerts with barely listenable audio (challah universal hip-hop blog fam).

But hold on now young world. It's a new dawn.

The Menahan Street Band, straight out of Bushwick Brooklyn, is saving September singlehandedly. A collaboration of musicians from Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, El Michels Affair, Antibalas, and the Budos Band, Menahan represents a handful of the most talented soul and funk musicians rolled into a perfect 1969 spliff.

You will recognize Made The Road By Walking, since it is sampled heavily on Jay-Z's Roc Boys (the No. 1 Billboard hit in 2007).

For more audio tune into their MySpace page which has five new tracks from the album. Also note the release party at Southpaw in Park Slope on October 17 which should be phenomenal.

MENAHAN STREET BAND - MADE THE ROAD BY WALKING

And one of the better tracks only available for stream: