Record Store Day is one of my favorite days of the year! For me, however, EVERY DAY is Record Store Day. I’m quite sure it is obvious that music is important to me, but a huge amount of my time has been and will continue to be spent in record stores. If you are in Philly, go support AKA music in Old City. If you are in the ATL, go support Moods Music and Criminal Records. If you are in NYC, go support Other Music and Academy Records. If you are in Chicago, go support Dusty Groove. If you are in Cali, go support Amoeba Records. Did I miss any?

Playlist:

• Skit Kameeb’s Record Store featuring Taye Way – K-Riley – Incredible “The Life Of Riley” – [Aristakrat Records]
• Let The Record Play – Frank-I – Let The Record Play – [Yoruba Records]
• Break into the Record Store (Original Mix) – Negru – Break into the Record Store EP – [Soweso Music]
• This Jazz Record – Leonardus – This Jazz Record EP – [GrooveTraxx]
• You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) – Dead Or Alive – Rip It Up – [Epic]
• You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) – Sagi Rei – The Best Emotional Songs – [Do It Yourself Strategic Marketing]
• Let The Record Play (Casamena Living Room Remix) – Frank-I – Let The Record Play – [Yoruba Records]
• I’m Diggin’ You (Like An Old Soul Record) – Me’Shell Ndegéocello – Plantation Lullabies – [Maverick Records]
• Record Store – Times Neue Roman – To Die EP – [Times Neue Roman]
• Turntable blues – Ricardo Miranda – Vinyl’s Revenge EP – [Minuendo Recordings]
• Record Collection 2012 (Plastic Plates Remix) – Mark Ronson & The Business Intl – Kitsuné: Record Collection 2012 – [Kitsuné]
• Ever Since I Was A Kid It Seemed I Collected Something (Hefner Remix) – Fink – Reworks – [Inertia Records]
• I’m Diggin’ You (Like An Old Soul Record) – Geoffrey Williams – Move Into Soul – [Oyster Music]
• Put Records Back in the Record Store – Coocoorockintime – CooCooPartyTime (Remastered) – [Thick Syrup Records]
• Park My Car Outside the Record Store – Creature With the Atom Brain – I Am the Golden Gate Bridge – [Sacred Love Records]
• Record Collection – Howling Diablos – Green Bottle – [Teenage/Funky D]
• My Old Turntable (jazzy fresh rmx) – Patchworks presents The Real Fake Mc – Hunt Ya Sunshine – [Favorite]
• Wrecka Stow – Prince – Under The Cherry Moon Score – [Warner Home Video]
• A Word From Your Ninja Record Dealer – DJ Vadim – Life From The Other Side – [Ninja Tune]
• My Old Turntable – Patchworks presents The Real Fake Mc – Hunt Ya Sunshine – [Favorite]
• Ever Since I was A Kid (part 1) – Fink – Fresh Produce – [Ninja Tune]
• It Seemed I Collected Something (part 2) – Fink – Fresh Produce – [Ninja Tune]
• Hit Record – The New Birth – Platinum City – [Ariola Records America]
• Go To The Record Store feat. Illuzionists – Opia – Cutalogue – [X Production]
• Record Store Love, Part 1 – Angle – Not Quite 90 In The Head – [One Leg Up Productions]
• Turntable Science (feat. DJ Skully) – Celph Titled – The Gatalog: A Collection of Chaos – [Demigodz Enterprises]
• Turntable Science (Instrumental) – Celph Titled – The Gatalog (Instrumentals) – [Demigodz Enterprises]
• Record Store – Trolley – Head Vs. Heart – [Easter Records]
• Total Hag Turntable Action Part 3 – O.L.D. – Hold On To Your Face – [Earache]
• The Record (Intro) – SmooVth – Checkmate – [Domination Recording]
• Old Soul Record – SmooVth – Checkmate – [Domination Recording]
• Record Stores Outro – Louis Beaudoin – Scales – [Nessel Music]
• The Record Digger (Goodwill Diggin) – Jonnie Analog – Finding My Way EP – [Pound Recordings]
• Inseydahmah (Record Collection) – Esoin tha Esoteric Being – Substance & Oblivia – [Fulldose Records]
• The Turntable Song – The Andrews Sisters – In The Mood – [River Records]
• Do You Know Where the Second Hand Record Shop Is – Acid Mothers Temple – SWR – [Very Friendly]
• The Record Store – John Kapelos – Syd – [Carpuzi Records]
• Listenin’ To The Records On My Wall – Skream – Outside The Box – [Tempa]
• Record Shop – Pablo – Turntable Technology – [Soma Records]

Playlist:

• Freedom Various Artists – Movement Soul: Live Recordings Of Songs And Sayings From The Freedom Movement In The Deep South – [ESP Disk]
• Freedom (Make It Funky) (Color 2 Freedompella) – Black Magic – Freedom – [Strictly Rhythm]
• Freedom (Make It Funky) (Color 1 On & On Strong Vocal Mix) – Black Magic – Freedom – [Strictly Rhythm]
• Freedom Dancer – Gerald Mitchell – Perseverance – [Submerge Recordings]
• Music Is Freedom (Eddie Cumana Remix) – Lula vs Kult of Krameria – KULT Records Presents: “Music Is Freedom” – [Kult Records]
• Rising Up (Christian Malloni Remix) – Ross Couch – Rising Up – [Onethirty Recordings]
• Freedom – Jask – Deep House Love – [I Records]
• Fight for Freedom (Atjazz Astro Dub) – Charles Webster – Fight for Freedom (feat. Thandi Draai) – [Miso]
• Honor Yourself With Freedom – Iyanla Vanzant – One Day My Soul Just Opened Up – [Simon & Schuster Audio]
• Fight for Freedom (Atjazz Astro Remix) – Charles Webster – Fight for Freedom (feat. Thandi Draai) – [Miso]
• Soul Freedom – Chico Mann – Manifest Tone Vol.1 12″ Remixes EP – [Kindred Spirits]
• Freedom Broadcast – Mad Professor – Who Knows The Secret Of The Master Tape – [Ariwa Sounds]
• Jazz Funk Freedom – Ron Trent – Jazz Funk Freedom – [Future Vision Records]
• Freedom (G Mix) – Gerd – Freedom – [Royal Oak]
• A Kind Of Fool (Thinking About Freedom) – Rare Moods – Peace in da Neighborhood – [Comet]
• Freedom (Zombie Dance Parts 1 + 2) – Nostalgia 77 Octet – Shapes Compilation – [Tru Thoughts]
• Freedom – Jimi Hendrix – The Cry Of Love – [Reprise Records]
• Freedom In Africa – Duke – Calypsoul 70 – [Strut Records]
• Gotta Have Freedom (feat. Tiffany Paige) – Carlos Nino & Lil’ Sci Are What’s the Science? – Elevation – [Shaman Work Recordings]
• Rise – Fertile Ground – Seasons Change – [Counterpoint Records]
• Freedom – Lennie Tristano – The Very Best Of – [Master Classics Records]
• Freedom – Fertile Ground – Seasons Change – [Counterpoint Records]
• Golden – Jill Scott – Beautifully Human Words & Sound Vol. 2 – [Hidden Beach Recordings]
• My Freedom – JK Soul – Dinner With The Beatz Volume 1 – [Cold Busted]
• Freedom Exists – The Doors – American Prayer – [Elektra]
• Black Freedom – Young Jazz Rebels – Slave Riot – [Stones Throw]
• The Freedom Clap – Marc Mac – Extend The Knowledge – [Omniverse Records]
• Freedom Time – Lauryn Hill – MTV Unplugged 2.0 – [Columbia Records]
• Freedom – Destruments – Like Yesterday 7″ Single – [Colemine Records]
• Freedom – Freedom Of Rhapsodia – Those Shocking Shaking Days: Indonesia Hard, Psychedelic, Progressive Rock and Funk 1970-1978 – [Now Again Records]
• Freedom Day feat. Abbey Lincoln – Max Roach – We Insist! – [Candid]
• Freedom Of Filth – Phace – Critical Presents: Sequence One – [Critical Music]
• Freedom Come feat. Calibre – Klute – The Emperor’s New Clothes – [Commercial Suicide]
• Freedom (Dub Mix) – Ray Keith – Freedom – [Penny Black]
• Freedom From Duality – Mako – Guilty Pleasures / Freedom From Duality – [Utopia Music]
• Freedom Theme – Technicolour – Critical Sound – [Critical Music]
• The Freedom Riders – Harold Jackson & The Jackson Brothers – Keb Darge & Little Edith’s Legendary Rockin’ R’n'B – [BBE]
• Freedom – Earl Sixteen – Soldier of Jah Army – [Patate Records]
• Freedom’s Waiting – Negativland – Free – [Seeland]
• Freedom – The Moody Boyz ft. Pete Simpson – Studio Rockers At The Controls – [Studio Rockers]
• Freedom’s Land – Jhelisa – A Primitive Guide To Being There – [INFRACom!]
• Freedom Dancer – Los Hermanos – Ressurrection – [Los Hermanos]
• River Of Freedom – Deee-Lite – Dewdrops In The Garden – [Elektra]
• Freedom – Obafunke – Cosmo Afrique – [Karma Giraffe]
• My Soul, My Spirit (Mr. G’s Freedom Reprise) – Mike Grant – How Long Must I Continue EP – [Moods & Grooves]

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Playlist:

• EveryBody Rise – Busta Rhymes – E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front – [Elektra]
• Keep Rising – Loko – Keep Rising / Keep Rising (KOAN Sound Remix) – [Screwloose Records]
• Rise Up – Sonic and Silver – Reinforced Presents The 2nd Wave vol.3 – [Reinforced Records]
• Rising – Visionary – Metro Breaks 99 – [Nice + Smooth Ultramedia]
• Rising – Jenna G – Quick Love Single – [Bingo Beats]
• Arise – Xtrah – Arise – [Subtitles Music (UK)]
• Cold Lazarus (Nightwave Remix) – Drums Of Death – Cold Lazarus Remix EP – [Civil Music]
• Rise Up – Fanu – Serendipity – [Lightless Recordings]
• Keep Rising (KOAN Sound Remix) – Loko – Keep Rising / Keep Rising (KOAN Sound Remix) – [Screwloose Records]
• I Will Rise Again – Dubstep 2011 – Dubstep: New Dubstep Remixes – [Dubstep 2011]
• I’ll Rise – Ben Harper – Welcome To The Cruel World – [Virgin Records]
• Rising – Hans Wolters Remix – 303F – Rising – [Basic Beat]
• When I Rise (Original Mix) – Rossi B – Uncertain Tomorrow – [Subdepth Records]
• Arise – (Trus’me Remix) – Anthony Shake Shakir – Arise – [Syncrophone]
• Spirits Above (Simbad remix) – Jose James – In The House: Gilles Peterson – [Defected Records]
• Lazarus – Pinch – Underwater Dancehall – [Tectonic]
• My Soul, My Spirit (Mr. G’s Freedom Reprise) – Mike Grant – How Long Must I Continue EP – [Moods & Grooves]
• My Soul, My Sp[irit (Mr. G's Freedom Train mix) - Mike Grant - How Long Must I Continue EP - [Moods & Grooves]
• The Struggle of My People (de: I rise dream hope) – Mike Grant – And Then It Was My Turn… EP – [Moods & Grooves Records]
• The Struggle of My People (Mr. G’s There’s Hope Mix) – Mike Grant – And Then It Was My Turn… EP – [Moods & Grooves Records]
• I Keep Rising featuring Wunmi – Ruben Mancias – I Keep Rising – [Devotion]
• Happiness (Critical Point Mix) – King Britt Presents Sylk 130 – Happiness – [Six Degrees]
• Arise (feat. Natalie Gardiner) – Ramjac – Transfusions – [Ramjac]
• Rising Up feat. Ann Sexton – Ferry Ultra – I Know U Got Soul Vol. 5 – 30 Deep 6 Vocal House Tunes – [Musica Diaz / Senorita]
• Rising Up feat. Ann Sexton (Soul Minority Remix) – Ferry Ultra – A House Affair Vol. 8 – [Musica Diaz / Senorita]
• Rise Feat. Abby Joyce And Simon Grey – Lanu – This Is My Home – [Tru Thoughts]
• Keep on Rising (Copyright Rising Dub) – Jay J – Keep on Rising – [Defected Records]
• Rising Up – Original Mix – Moliner – Rising Up – [7 Senses]
• Rising – The Silt – Nikki Beach In The House – Mixed by the Shapeshifters – [ITH]
• Rising – Syncopix – Icarus – [Syncopix]
• Rising feat. James Franco (Cardopusher Remix Instrumental) – Kalup Linzy – Turn It Up feat. James Franco – [Dutty Artz]
• Rise Above – Night Source – The Rise Above EP – [Naked Music]
• Rise And Fall – FantastikClick & SPORT G. – Rocket Sci Fi – [4Lux]
• Rise (Sentinel Dome Mix) – Richard Worth – Giant Step Records Presents: Sessions Vol. 1 – [Giant Step Records]
• In The Morning When I Rise – The Davis Sisters – Platinum Gospel-The Greatest Hits of Black Gospel – [Sonorous Entertainment]
• Arise – Ezel – Secreto – [Ocha Records]
• Never Put Me Under (Rise-Up) – Rhythm Republik – Funkshunal Entertainment Roster Sampler – [Funkshunal Entertainment]
• I’ll Rise Again – Slim and the Supreme Angels – The Best Of Grammercy Gospel Volume 3 – [Grammercy Records]
• Now I Rise – Gum Drop – Hi-Falutin – [Altered Vibes Ltd.]
• Lazarus (The Rising) Part 2 – Rusty Redenbacher – Lazarus – [Audio Reconnaissance]
• Lazarus (The Rising) Part 1 – Rusty Redenbacher – Lazarus – [Audio Reconnaissance]
• Rise Up (feat. I.P.) – Moka Only – The Quick Hits – [Legendary Entertainment]
• Rise (feat. Ursula Rucker & Roy Ayers) – Richard Earnshaw – Jockey Club Session 8 – [Royal Plastic Digital]

Van Hunt has released two very stellar studio albums, Van Hunt and On The Jungle Floor. There is not one filler song on either of these releases. He was all set to release a third studio album, Popular, when it was shelved by Blue Note. Why, oh why did they do that? It is such a brilliant album.

Last year, he independently released technically his fourth album, What Were You Looking For? The quality of songwriting that Van Hunt continues to conjure is mindboggling. Songwriting is such a dying craft. It is important that we hold on to it, and as a result we should celebrate Van Hunt.

Van Hunt is currently on tour. To see tour dates, visit http://www.vanhunt.com/news. If he comes to a city near you, support this soul soldier who is holding it down like no other. He is truly a national treasure and no one seems to know this. Hopefully, by the end of this mix, YOU will, and as a result I hope you will purchase his albums and go see him live so that Van Hunt can continue to do what he does better than most: make music.

Van Hunt Interview by GrownFolksMusic

Playlist:

• No Sense Of Crime – Van Hunt – On The Jungle Floor – [Capitol Records]
• Out Of The Sky – Van Hunt – Van Hunt – [Capitol Records]
• Highlights – Van Hunt – Van Hunt – [Capitol Records]
• Hot Stage Lights – Van Hunt – On The Jungle Floor – [Capitol Records]
• Suspicion (She Knows Me Too Well) – Van Hunt – On The Jungle Floor – [Capitol Records]
• Missing You – Joi – Star Kitty’s Revenge – [Universal Records]
• Let’s Work (Dance Remix) – Prince – Ultimate – [Warner Bros]
• Let’s Work – Prince – Controversy – [Warner Bros]
• Being A Girl – Van Hunt – On The Jungle Floor – [Capitol Records]
• Being a Girl – prince ALI – Corner Ensemble – [Hieroglyphics Imperium]
• Nasty Girl – Vanity 6 – Vanity 6 – [Warner Bros]
• Hole In My Heart – Van Hunt – On The Jungle Floor – [Capitol Records]
• Sexy (I’m not known for dancin’) – Van Hunt – Use In Case of Emergency (rare items from the vault) – [vanhunt.com]
• Her December – Van Hunt – Van Hunt – [Capitol Records]
• June – Van Hunt – June – [vanhunt.com]
• The Lowest 1 of my desires – Van Hunt – Popular [unreleased]
• Ur Personal Army – Van Hunt – Popular [unreleased]
• Man of The Year (original version) – Van Hunt – Use In Case of Emergency (rare items from the vault) – [vanhunt.com]
• Hidden Charm (original version) – Van Hunt – Use In Case of Emergency (rare items from the vault) – [vanhunt.com]
• Dust – Van Hunt – Van Hunt Connect Set EP – [Capitol Records]
• Dust – Van Hunt – Van Hunt – [Capitol Records]
• Ride, Ride, Ride – Van Hunt – On The Jungle Floor – [Capitol Records]
• Hidden Charms – Van Hunt – Van Hunt Acoustic EP – [Capitol Records]
• Ride, Ride, Ride – Van Hunt – Van Hunt Connect Set EP – [Capitol Records]
• N.e.thing2getura10chin – Van Hunt – Use In Case of Emergency (rare items from the vault) – [vanhunt.com]
• Burnin’ – Rahsaan Patterson – After Hours – [Artistry Music Group]
• Hello, Goodbye – Van Hunt – Van Hunt – [Capitol Records]
• Tingle – Van Hunt – Use In Case of Emergency (rare items from the vault) – [vanhunt.com]
• Character (acoustic) – Van Hunt – The Popular Machine EP – [Blue Note]
• N The Southern Shade – Van Hunt – Popular [unreleased]
• Hopeless – Dionne Farris – Love Jones – [BMG]
• Deliciously Down – Cree Summer – Street Faërie – [Columbia]
• ATTENTION! – Van Hunt – Use In Case of Emergency (rare items from the vault) – [vanhunt.com]
• Hold My Hand – Van Hunt – Van Hunt – [Capitol Records]
• Turn My TV on – Van Hunt – Popular [unreleased]
• Seconds Of Pleasure – Van Hunt – Van Hunt – [Capitol Records]
• Seconds of Pleasure – Van Hunt – Van Hunt Acoustic EP – [Capitol Records]
• Mean Sleep – Cree Summer – Street Faërie – [Columbia]
• Mean Sleep (featuring Nikka Costa) – Van Hunt – On The Jungle Floor – [Capitol Records]
• Half The Fun – Count Bass D – Act Your Waist Size – [Fat Beats]

Playlist:

• Torment – Hatcha & Benga – Dubstep Allstars Vol. 5 – [Tempa]
• Burning Up – Skream – Burning Up/Memories Of 3rd Base – [Digital Soundboy]
• Bass Junkie – Silkie – City Limits 1.2 – [Deep Medi]
• Electro West – Benga – Scion A/V Presents: Skream & Benga – [Scion Audio Visual]
• Hitch – Skream – Tempa Allstars Vol. 5 – [Tempa]
• Untitled – Silkie Vs Skream – City Limits Volume 2 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• E Trips – Benga – Diary Of An Afro Warrior – [Tempa]
• Tapped – Skream – Skream! – [Tempa]
• New York City – The Silkie – City Limits Volume 2 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• Dog Money Dub – Scientist vs Asbo (Loefah & SGT Pokes) – Scientist Launches Dubstep Into Outer Space – Scientist Mixes – [Tectonic]
• Tune In (A Dub Tribute) – Skream Feat. Earl 16 – Dubstep Allstars Vol.07 Ramadanman – [Tempa]
• Babylon Timewarp – Hijak – DEEP MEDi Releases Vol.1 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• Comb 60S – Benga – Comb 60s – [Planet Mu]
• Techfunk – Silkie – City Limits Vol. 1.6 – 1.8 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• Future Funkizm – Skream – Exothermic Reaction – [Nonplus Records]
• Who Remembers? – Benga – Dubstep Allstars: Vol.07 Chef – [Tempa]
• Lucky – The Silkie – City Limits Volume 2 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• One For The Heads Who Remember – Skream – Skreamizm Vol. 5 – [Tempa]
• Broken Dubstep – Benga – 200 – [Planet Mu]
• Missing – Plastician – 21st Data 001 – [21st Data]
• Float – Silkie – City Limits Vol. 1.6 – 1.8 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• Summer Dreams – Skream – Skream! – [Tempa]
• 26 Basslines – Benga – Diary Of An Afro Warrior – [Tempa]
• 80′s Baby – Silkie – City Limits 1.2 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• Wobble That Gut – Skream – Skreamizm Vol. 4 – [Tempa]
• Transformers – Benga – Transformers / Shake It – [None]
• Taxi Me Get – Silkie – City Limits Volume 2 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• 2-D – Skream – Skreamizm Vol. 4 – [Tempa]
• 3 Minutes – Benga – Diary Of An Afro Warrior – [Tempa]
• Spark – Silkie – City Limits Volume 1 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• Colourful – Skream – Skream! – [Tempa]
• B4 The Dual – Benga – Diary Of An Afro Warrior – [Tempa]
• Purple Love – Silkie – City Limits Volume 1 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• Rimz – Skream – Skreamizm Vol. 5 – [Tempa]
• Zero M2 – Benga – Diary Of An Afro Warrior – [Tempa]
• Turvy – Silkie – City Limits Volume 1 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• Minimalistix – Skream – No Future (Skreamix) – [Nonplus Records]
• Rock Music – Benga – Phaze One – [Tempa]
• Murky – Silkie – City Limits Vol. 1.6 – 1.8 – [Deep Medi Musik]
• Kut-Off – Skream – Skream! – [Tempa]
• Night (Original) – Benga & Coki – Diary Of An Afro Warrior – [Tempa]
• It’s Late – Silkie – City Limits Vol. 1.6 – 1.8 – [Deep Medi Musik]