Fantastic Vol. 2 by Slum Village is a classic album in my eyes.  “2u4u” (from that album) serves a dual purpose in my life as my favorite song from that album along with my being my favorite J Dilla beat.  As sort of a rule, most Dilla productions should be left alone to shine in their natural beauty.

Then there’s Mar who can’t leave well enough alone.  And I’m actually glad.  His Mar Variation projects have been nothing but stellar.  Watch him take the instrumental into a corner and sing sweetly to it.

I’ve had this on my iPod from the day I downloaded it…which happened to be sometime in September.  I dunno what sort of brain lapse caused me to not post this.  Because it is really dope. 

I didn’t take French in school (seven years of Spanish) so I had to hit up Google to learn that “la semaine” means “week in English.  On that same search engine trip, I had to do my homework on B.Lewis because the guy might be one of Cali’s best kept secrets.  Take a stroll through a conceptual week in B.Lewis’ musical life.  This EP is all instrumental except for the standout track, “First of You” featuring Dutch dynamo Mar.  Your earbuds will thank you for this.

DOWNLOAD | B.Lewis – La Semaine EP

Were you around when we were going nuts over Mar covering Lil’ Wayne’s  “Single,” the first of the Mar Variations series?  Well keep the straightjackets close, because it’s time for another freak-out session.  For this second installment, Mar decides to keep things close to home and tackle an instrumental by Dutch producer Louis Bordeaux.  You’re gonna need be extra mellow in order to get the full benefits of this smooth groove.  And that’s never a bad thing.

DOWNLOAD | Mar – “1st Session (Mar Variation)” (right-click, save as)

This is one of those times where you MUST hear the original before the cover if you’re not familar with it.   Just this past Spring, the Nawlins martian Lil’ Wayne dropped a mixtape entitled No Ceilings and released a surreal, sticky-icky-and-sizzurp-fueled testament to semi-bachelorhood called “Single” as…the single (lol).  You can almost cut through the cloud and haze that must have been present during the inception of the track.  It’s actually a great track and a nice, even weirder departure from Weezy’s usual weird stuff (whatever that means). 

Then in steps a crazy-haired crooner from The Netherlands — the man simply known as Mar.  How you take a monotone rap song, create notes and turn it into a smoothed out soul track is beyond me.  But that’s what drew me to this.  And it works.  This is just the first of many Mar Variations to come, so stay tuned.

UPDATE (10/6/10):  Here’s a quick video intro to the Mar Variations endeavor.

DOWNLOAD | Mar – “Single (Mar Variation)” (right-click, save as)

I should just start a whole separate fan site just for Full Crate & Mar. I’ve posted so much of their incredible brand of soul on here that it’s insane. But why wouldn’t I? Work that consistently dope needs a spotlight.  The Conversations with Her EP has received a deluge of love and acclaim.  I still put everyone I know on to it.

Now here’s when it gets even better  I had no idea a video would be created for one of the most epic-sounding songs on the project, “I Said.”  The whole concept is pretty cool with a little extra sparkle and shine for good measure. Throw this bad boy up full screen and enjoy the magic.  Yes, that’s you floating…

What do you get when you take a popular rum brand and partner them up with three exceptionally talented Dutch producers?  You get a great series of events over in the Netherlands produced by Bacardi called Bacardi Visita and you get a three-man team who collectively call themselves HomeMade (seperately — Full Crate, FS Green and Grand Jackson).  And then you put HomeMade in a room, have ‘em belt out a warm, soul-stirring, dance-inducing EP and release it for free on the interweb.

They worked hard on this y’all.  These pictures are pretty much proof of it.  Now just trust me and download this like…right now. Guaranteed great grooves.

DOWNLOAD | HomeMade (Full Crate, FS Green & Grand Jackson) – HomeMade EP

Coming out just in time to catch the tail end of Valentine’s Day 2010 yesterday is a sonically-charged mix by two of my current favorite Dutch cats.  Full Crate & Mar (fresh off their amazing Conversations With Her EP release) dip their toes in the dubstep pond and create a rocket-fueled ride through electronic melodies, insane synths and bouncy riffs.  Definitely something refreshing and mind melting (in a good way).  This project is presented by the infinitely creative Nalden.  Tracklist and download link located down yonder.

B.Bravo – “Computa Love” (Mar Variation)
Four Tet – “Love Cry” (Joy Orbison Remix)
Martyn – “Friedrichstrasse”
Epcot – “Grav I Be” (B. Bravo Remix)
Benga – “Loose Synths”
2000f & J Kamata – “You Don’t Know What Love Is”
Turboweekend – “Something or Nothing” (2000f & J Kamata remix)
L-Wiz – “Lips”
Mala – “Alicia”
Silkie – “Beauty”
Grand Puba – “Get It” (Caspa’s 80Eighties Remix)
Full Crate -”SlumBitMillionaire”
Silkie – “The Horizon”
Full Crate & Mar – “Surreal Moments”

DOWNLOAD | Full Crate & Mar – Lovely Steps Mix

Those crazy Dutch kids are at it again!  I have not heard one Full Crate joint that I haven’t liked yet.  It’s almost scary.  Here’s another gem he just threw out into the atmosphere courtesy of the Nalden fam.  A bouncy little track called “80s Sugar” (w/ his homie Mar on the buttery vocals) that makes me wish I had a convertible I could drive really fast in on a nice Saturday afternoon with a long-haired girl riding shotgun.  Y’all come up with your own mental picture.

DOWNLOAD | Full Crate f/ Mar – “80s Sugar”

I am call this a “supergroup” even though they may not be that well known in the broad scheme of things.  But just trust me on this when I call them that.  I present to you Homemade, a trio made up of three incredible Dutch producers – Full Crate, Grand Jackson & FS Green.  This is a super exclusive joint over in the Netherlands for a project called Bacardi Visita.  Vocalist Mar is along for the ride as well.

DOWNLOAD | Homemade f/ Mar – “Feel Like”

We’ve all been in the situation before.  Sharing the same space with someone we find attractive and displaying our affection playfully.  Even if we already have a significant other (even though it’s wrong).  It’s just some kind of natural human response.  I could talk on and on about this topic.  But I won’t. 

I’m just going to invite you guys to download this GREAT song by Full Crate & Mar joint (featuring emcee Versis).  I featured a couple of other joints by them a little while back (“Aftersexin” and “She Was Fly” to be exact).  I see a pattern building here.  A pattern that I’m very much into. Laaaaaadieeeeeees!

DOWNLOAD | Full Crate & Mar f/ Versis – “Flirtwitu”

It seems like you guys went absolutely apeshit over “She Was Fly” when I posted it a little while back.  It’s a fantastic track, so I totally understand.  Well guess what?  Thanks to the guys over at Nalden, here’s something fresh-out-the-oven from Full Crate and Mar (whom I hope are doing a full album or even an EP, because they are making magic).  It’s called “Aftersexin.”

I don’t think I need to go over the subject matter of this one.  Just lay back, stare at the ceiling and enjoy.  I’m going to need to find myself a Dutch wife if I keep hearing smooth stuff like this emerge out of the Netherlands.

UPDATE:  Just found some quick video footage of the making of this song.

DOWNLOAD | Full Crate f/ Mar – “Aftersexin”

Shout outs to the guys over at Moovmnt for shooting this thing of beauty over.  Amsterdam-based producer Full Crate teams up w/ vocalist Mar to create the magic you are currently experiencing. I love joints like this to zone out to.  And the video is such a perfect visual representation.  The stop-motion steelo kinda illustrates the bounce of the track.  Thumbs up all the way for this one.  The Dutch are doin’ it big.  Makes me wanna visit The Netherlands for a third time.  Grab the MP3 below.

DOWNLOAD | Full Crate f/ Mar – “She Was Fly”