Beats Without Beats

(click song-titles to download mp3s)

I first heard Jay Electronica as the producer of Nas's "Queens Get The Money" off 2006's Hip-Hop Is Dead. I was impressed with the eery, drum-less sound of the beat and how well it complimented a guy like Nas just going off. Fast forward four years, and with some help from his big buddy Just Blaze, Jay Electronica is one of the most buzzed about artists out right now, thanks in part to the critical acclaim for "Exhibit A" and the heavy radio rotation of "Exhibit C." I had downloaded a couple unofficial Jay Electronica tapes hoping to find more production along the lines of "Queens Get The Money" but found mostly traditional boom bap instead (not that there's anything wrong with that). After searching further, I finally found what I was looking for. Act 1: Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind is a 15 minute, one track EP, containing samples from the film of the same name, and several brilliant verses from Jay Electronica, a spoken word introduction from friends Just Blaze and Erykah Badu, as well as sparse ambient moments and vocal samples from movies. Moving along, "My Word (Nas Salute)" is a reinterpretation of Nas's "The World Is Yours" and is executed in the same subdued style of "Queens Get The Money" and "Eternal Sunshine." "Dymethyltriptamine" features production from J Dilla, the pioneer of low-fi beats. More recently, Jay Electronica also produced Nas's "World To Me," another banger with little to no drums and laid back old school samples. It seemed only fitting to begin and end this post with Nas songs, since Jay Electronica, in addition to producing both tracks, is somewhat reminiscent of Nasir, with his monotone philosophizing and ability to seem tough and intellectual at the same time. Please light something, sit back, and give these ones a listen.

DOWNLOAD:

Nas - "Queens Get The Money" (produced by Jay Electronica):
http://www.mediafire.com/?ykylomwytny

Jay Electronica - "Exhibit A Transformations" (produced by Just Blaze):
http://www.mediafire.com/?gd5jnywdtwn

Jay Electronica - "Exhibit C" (produced by Just Blaze):
http://www.mediafire.com/?mmnnztqn2yd

Jay Electronica - "Eternal Sunshine" (just the song):
http://www.mediafire.com/?znmmjzxwu0o

Jay Electronica - Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) (the whole EP):
http://www.mediafire.com/?5kzmj4zitgn

Jay Electronica - "My World (Nas Salute)"
http://www.mediafire.com/?ukowecnymyy

Jay Electronica - "Dymethyltriptamine" (produced by J. Dilla)
http://www.mediafire.com/?jjmnj0myikn

Nas - "World To Me" (Jay Electronica):
http://www.mediafire.com/?rlym5lmzzli

all the above songs together in one file:
http://www.mediafire.com/?dzgmycnjoxt