Mndsgn – 10 All Time Favs

Sein Künstlername sagt’s ja schon: Der Geist spielt eine wichtige Rolle bei Mndsgn. Und auf seiner neuen Single fordert er, »You gotta use your mind 24/7«. Dabei macht der Produzent aus Los Angeles Musik, die eher zum abschalten animiert.

Zuletzt 2014 auf seinem Album »Yawn Zen«. Der Mediationsmeister, gähnend auf die Veranda tretend, die zugekniffenen Augen blicken auf den Garten: ein passendes Bild, das der Albumtitel evoziert. Das verschwurbelte Beatmaking schippert im Halbschlaf über die Spielzeit des Albums. Langweilig war’s nicht, Halbschlaf malt die buntesten Bilder.

Den Morgenmantel legt Mndsgn auch für sein neues Album nicht ab. Denn: Boogie und Morgenmantel, das passt auch zusammen. Ja richtig, für »Body Wash« pimpt der Musiker seinen Ride. Mehr Stimme, mehr Bassgitarre, mehr Funk, mehr Groove.

Leon Sylvers III, Kashif und Dave Grusin inspirierten ihn für »Body Wash«. Uns hat er neun weitere wichtige Einflüsse für seine musikalische Laufbahn aufgelistet.

1 – Rappers Delight« by Sugar Hill Gang, Sugarhill Records, 1979
I used to go to my middle school dances and request this song so I could open a circle and show my classmates what b-boying was. Kids would be lookin‘ at me like »What is he doing?«. Shout out to that DJ who actually DID take requests and, at the very least, had this song on deck among all that other hot garbage he was playin.

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2 – »Whenimondamic« by Lootpack, Stones Throw Records, 1999
Throughout middle school/high school, the homie would always lace me with mix CDs of a bunch of different music to break to. It was mostly 70s funk cuts, but »Whenimondamic« was one of those random hip hop gems he threw in there. Forever a b-boy classic.

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3 – »Thoughts of a Gentleman« by Steve Kuhn Quartet, Cobblestone, 1972 This is the last cut off of the »Live In New York«-LP. Those lyrics towards the end are timeless. Shoutout to Shaka King for gracefully using it at the end of his film Newlyweeds (2013).

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4 – »You Can’t Turn Me Away« by Sylvia Striplin, Uno Melodic Records, 1980
If you grew up in the 90s, you automatically think of »Get Money« the second you hear that intro. The Badu version is ill too. I just dig how nostalgic that groove is. The OG cut is always the illest tho.

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5 – »Cristo Redentor« by Donald Byrd, Blue Note, 1964
»A Bronx Tale« isn’t necessarily one of my all time favorite films, but it was definitely the first time I heard »Cristo Redentor«, which might be one of my favorite jazz tunes. The Harvie Mandel cover is super deep too. If you get/have this record, keep it!

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6 – Fools by George Dukes, MPS Records, 1975
This song as well as the rest of the record is forever growing on me. Every time I go back to it, it sounds different. In my mind, that’s the mark of a timeless record. This is definitely one of my favorite duke records.

„Listen:“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1R-1HuW1TY

7 – »Sweet Love« by Anita Baker, Elektra, 1986
Im grateful that this song had so much radio play through my childhood. It’s so ingrained in my memory as a kid. Makes me feel like I’m doing laundry with my mom. Everytime I hear it randomly playing somewhere, I take it as a good omen. Thanks Anita.

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8 – »Broken Dreams« by Yesterday’s New Quintet, Stones Throw Records, 2001
One of my favorite tunes from the Bad Kid himself. All the YNQ stuff is so incredible and just proves how anyone can do whatever they want. Blew my mind open the first time I heard it. It also reminds me of my frequent trips to from NJ-LA prior to permanent residency.

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9 – »Since You’ve Been Away« by Don Blackman, GRP, 1982
This song right here really reaches that divine place that i’m trying to get to in my music. Everything from the instrumentation, songwriting, arranging, etc. is so flawless in my opinion. The vocal+piano combined solo is timeless..

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10 – »Mermaid« by Brian Bennett & Alan Hawckshaw, KPM Music, 1974
This is a fairly known record for those library/soundtrack heads out there. For some time I feel like I was subconsciously trying to making aqueous music like this. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re deep under the ocean, »Mermaid« succeeds in hitting that spot.

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Die Schallplatten dieser Charts haben wir in einer Übersicht im hhv.de Webshop für euch zusammengestellt.