Inspectah Deck: Can’t Stay Away

Taken from Wu Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck’s Chamber #9 album, “Can’t Stay Away” pays homage to those who inspired his younger self. Backed by an instrumental built from dozens of samples (including The Fascinations, Eric B & Rakim and others) Deck recalls rappers and DJs he grew up admiring: from Mr Magic and DJ Kay Slay to Chuck Chillout to Jazzy Jeff. While he …

Tuxedo: The Tuxedo Way

Accompanied by a video directed by choreographer Ian Eastwood, Tuxedo’s “The Tuxedo Way” (from the new album Tuxedo III) is an anthem and a sonic mantra. The duo—comprised of Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One—is dead-set on resurrecting funk, complete with plenty of R&B, boom-bap and disco influences. While the tune is nostalgic (with just the right amount of self-aware kitsch), it’s also contemporary—and undeniably infectious.

Listen Up

From animated hip-hop to a song in support of sex workers, a few of our favorite tracks from the week

Alex Cameron: Far From Born Again Alex Cameron’s releases continue to delight and surprise. In the video for “Far From Born Again,” his newest single from Miami Memory (out 13 September), Cameron struts into a strip club, backed by a smooth instrumental, and sings about sex work. “The song was a moment for me to clearly express my stance on the job and the people that …