Producer Afta-1 has just dropped his second album titled FORM on his eager fans and it is everything we have come to expect from this rising star. Full of ethereal beats that transport you to another planet, FORM is a true masterpiece of sonic experimentation.  But never one to follow trends, Afta-1 has also released the new album as a limited edition cassette tape complete with unique artwork and casing.  GO take a listen to FORM on Afta-1’s bandcamp page and take a look at the making of the limited edition tapes below.

http://afta1.bandcamp.com/

Purchase a limited edition cassette

Nu-Soul Mag continues to spread the gospel on unsung underground talent by taking some the best underground talent to cities around the country. Most recently California artists Havana, who is preparing for the release of her sophomore album Entervention, and Afta-1, who is prepping the release of his sophomore effort Form, graced the Kava Lounge in San Diego for a special edition of LA-based event Strictly Social. Here is a small taste of these two artists who are sure to be rocking your speakers this summer.

http://www.vimeo.com/12273437

You might remember Nikko Gray from her collaboration with Afta-1 on a ridiculously beautiful and reverent cover of Aaliyah’s “4 page Letter” but now she is taking a step out into the spotlight with her debut LOVE SEEN. This girl has the full package: looks, pipes, and cutting edge sound! On LOVE SEEN, Nikko along with producer Nevin Thomas have crafted a sensual masterpiece of head-nodding beats, sexy ballads, and inspirational anthems that showcases her lovely and often powerful voice.  Don’t sleep on this amazing new talent.

Go Grab LOVE SEEN Now!

http://nikkogray.bandcamp.com/

Nikko Gray on myspace: http://myspace.com/nikkogray

Nikko Gray on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nikkogray

With a name like Spinach Prince one might wonder what kinda hippy train did they fall off of? But, they are sooooo fresh and organic that the name fits them.  Hailing from Chicago, members;  Thomas Faulds, Elliot Ross, Chris Merrill, Charles Gorczynski, list Dilla, Madlib & the Roots as musical influences.  Not only are do they want you to listen to their music..they are giving the album away for FREE –yes, FREE

Spinach Prince -franticsession

Spinach Prince -Ghanina

www.spinachprince.com

www.twitter.com/spinachprince

www.myspace.com/spinachprince

So who is this Flying Lotus guy that you have been hearing about? When we look back a decade from now he will be looked at as the man who shattered the bounds of genre and opened our eyes to the possibilities of time, space and sound. As the figurehead of a new generation of beatmakers, Flying Lotus has earned heaps of praise from critics and fans alike for his album Los Angeles and production work for the likes of Jose James and Muhsinah.

But on Cosmogramma, his new album out of Warp Records May 4, 2010, Flying Lotus is set to inspire more than just beatmakers. On this new masterpiece he uses bass heavy beats to deconstruct the history of rhythmic music starting with modern day glitch hop and dubstep. He steps back and forth through time having conversations with jazz, nusoul, trip hop, soul, drum&bass, house, latin, and Caribbean rhythms. The results are limitless as are the possibilities!

http://flying-lotus.com

http://www.vimeo.com/10630349

Anthony Valadez in one of Los Angeles’ finest tastemakers, holding down an influential radio show on KCRW (Monday nights at midnight) and weekly residencies at popular venues Zanzibar and Little Temple. He has played a major part in bringing independent talent such as Kissey Asplund and The Foreign Exchange to Los Angeles and helps them find an audience there.

With the release of his debut album Audio/Visual, Valadez takes on the mantle of producer and crafts a love letter to the City of Angels, drawing upon the sounds of urban life (with a little help from vocalists Kissey Asplund and Wendisue) to create a sonic masterpiece. Check out Anthony’s site for plenty of video, weekly playlists, events, and other tidbits.

http://anthonyvaladez.com

Iman Williams, the funky diva by way of the Bay, has a style all her own traversing everything from Coldplay covers to Dilla tributes. She is just as comfortable spitting swagger over a bumping futuristic soul cut as she is cooing a gentle ballad. With a full length album on the horizon to complement her slew of well-received singles and EPs, and appearances at Nu-Soul Magazine’s upcoming Strictly Social shows in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, you will definitely be seeing a lot more of Ms. Iman Williams.

www.myspace.com/theimanwilliamsproject

Southern California hip-hop artist Definite is bringing the soul back into hip-hop. With an unassuming style and quiet demeanor, he has created a name for himself the old-fashioned way: by simply making good music. His debut release, Matters At Hand, is bursting with soulful hip-hop beats, positive lyrics, and a handful of wonderful guests that includes Blu, Soul Cal, Satori K, Ophrap, J Black, Self Lion, Diverse, J Bizness, T-Nasty, Reverb, Diondre Jermaine, and D. Magana. His live performances include a live band element, setting the stage for a greater impact on the industry. Don’t sleep on Definite.

www.myspace.com/definitemass

Dert is a hip-hop producer from West Covina, California, best known for his beat-tapes of featuring mash-ups of artists such as Jose Gonzeles (In My Nature), Pink Floyd (The West Side of the Moon) and Björk (Talk Strange). In addition to producing for the likes of KRS-One, Pigeon John, LMNO and Tunnel Rats, Dert has also released a string of solo albums including The Seattle Situation (2006), The Short List (2008), and CMYK – EP (2009).

Part of the new wave of Los Angeles beatmakers, Dert’s beats draw inspiration from a myriad of electronic sounds and genres yet remains rooted in head-nodding hip-hop. His music remains elusive to only the savviest of online mp3 diggers so check out his myspace and Lastfm page to hear what he is all about.

www.myspace.com/dertbeats

Dert on Last.fm

London has a way of producing some of soul music’s most impressive artists. Out of that melting pot of a city comes Eric Lau, a truly brilliant producer and songwriter who may appeal to fans of Nicolay and Dilla. Working with a roster of talented vocalists including Muhsinah, Oddisee, Rahel, Tawiah,and Sarina Leah on his Ubiquity album New Territories and his recently released EP Kilawatt: V2, Mr. Lau creates songs that pay homage to both 70s soul and 90s R&B ultimately bridging the gap between classic American soul and UK broken beat.

myspace.com/ericlaumusic

twitter.com/ericlaumusic