Despite having one of the shorter careers out of their contemporaries, the El MidaZ Affair were one of the biggest groups of the early 1970s. Comprised of lead vocalist Javier El MidaZ, drummer Willie “Knuckles” Johnson, bassist Bobby “Too Tall” Willingston, guitarist K.C. Anderson, backup vocalist Rasheeda “Bird” Jackson, horn players Jake and Drake Wyman, and keyboard player Guter Jivelbergen, the group earned their reputation on the chittlin circuit as a must-see live act, playing festivals, state fairs, and juke joints across the south.

By the time they signed a record contract in 1973, the group’s buzz was at an all-time high. But things took a turn for the worse. Studio sessions were tainted by drug use, alcoholism, and an unprecedented pinball machine addiction stirred inner turmoil among the band members. Though a full-length album was recorded, the band split up before it could be released and the project was shelved indefinitely. The members of the El MidaZ Affair moved on to new phases in their life, while El MidaZ himself became a recluse, never to be heard from again.

Until now.

Straight off tape decks that have remained unearthed in the vault for decades, the El MidaZ Affair’s unreleased album is just now seeing the light of day. To kick things off, we present a taste of what listeners can expect from the project with the album’s first leak, “Creation.” Backed by a sweeping string section and soulful horn arrangements, MidaZ demonstrates his impeccable microphone maneuvers in a display that sounds just as fresh today as it did when he recorded the verse in 1973. Be on the lookout for more from the El MidaZ Affair, coming soon…

Download: MidaZ – “Creation” [Right Click Save-As] [Bandcamp]

Marty spotted this over at URB, and I am now posting it for his lazy busy ass. Not that I wouldn’t post it myself, this is some real fire right here! In light of El Michels Affair’s Enter the 37th Chamber, we get a remix track with the good old Diamond District folks. This is the first single from URB’s Enter the 38th Chamber project, which will feature a slew of other dope artists along with this track. Check it out and leave us your thoughts…

Download: Diamond District – “PJ’s Remix” [Right Click Save-As]

Here is the latest leaked track off El Michels Affair’s, Enter the 37th Chamber, an album filled with instrumental reinterpretations of some of the Wu-Tang classics that you have become to know and love. This right here is El Michels take on C.R.E.A.M., which also happens to be my favorite joint on the album. Some of the tracks on the album are a bit lackluster, but it is very interesting to see how some of those legendary songs impacted other artists.

Download: El Michels Affair – “C.R.E.A.M.” 

Album Review: El Michels Affair – Enter the 37th Chamber (2009)
Rating: 3 out of 5 Potholes

Read the rest of this entry »