It wouldn’t really be fair to compare the sound of Blockhead to that of DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing every time we review one of his records. However that is the frame of reference that most people can identify with, so in the interest of turning more people on to his music, just imagine that DJ Shadow never changed his style on Endtroducing and kept making records like that for the last 19 years, and you might begin to understand the sound of Blockhead.

Now on his sixth LP, Bells & Whistles, Blockhead has long settled in to his signature sound, making his brand of sample collages look effortless. This may be his most cohesive release yet, as it sounds like one long piece of music. We get glimpses of 90s trip-hop on laid back tracks like “On The Back Of A Golden Dolphin” and the heavy opening cut “Kaput!” The songs are long and winding paths that grow and evolve, and then circle back around to their origin. Never do you feel like this dude is just randomly jamming; there’s a method to his madness.

As a longtime hip-hop producer, the classic production style resonates all over the LP, even if only in small doses. “The Everything Song”, for instance, sports a vintage filtered bassline – like you might hear Pete Rock or Buckwild do way-back-when – along with unknown old school rap vocal samples for extra flavor. Later on “Sacrificial Santa,” a five-minute, head nodding ethereal séance, we suddenly hear stabs of Shabazz The Disciple screaming “sacrificing babies on the altar!” It’s an ill juxtaposition, but it works.

Chalk that up to Blockhead’s trademark sense of humor, which has been present on all of his albums. While his music is heavy and serious, he lightens the mood from time-to-time with funny samples that don’t belong, which is what truly makes it his. That, and in the song titles. Songs like “Beach Blanket Blood Bath” and the aforementioned “On The Back Of A Golden Dolphin” have little to do with their titles, that’s just Block being Block.

The biggest caveat about delving into any Blockhead album is that it requires patience. This isn’t something you can skip to the next track or fast-forward to the drop. It’s similar to deep house in the fact that you just have to let it play and it will slowly melt into the background. Then, it becomes something you love.

Philly emcee MarQ Spekt and NY producer Blockhead grab Aesop Rock and Open Mike Eagle for an assist on the chill, laid back sounds of “Air Pegasus (Le Cadeau)”. Unfortunately this dope track did not make it in time for the release of their new album JustPlayWitIt, which is available now.

Philly rhymesayer MarQ Spekt and New York beatsmith Blockhead treat us to some visuals for their single “SumOfItsParts” off their new album JustPlayWitIt, available now on HiPNOTT Records.

Representing a certain aggression that is lacking in today’s culture, JustPlayWitIt showcases MarQ Spekt’s bizzarly verbose wordplay over Blockhead’s dirty yet sophisticated production. MarQ Spekt throws a little dirt on the game with JustPlayWitIt; as he walks into the current house of Hip Hop, tracks mud on the rug, sits on the couch and puts his soiled boots up on the table.

JustPlayWitIt is available now on on iTunes, Bandcamp, DJBooth, and various other online retailers. Video directed by All Work/No Play.

With just three weeks until the release of their new album JustPlayWitIt, MarQ Spekt & Blockhead drop the bass heavy single “Grilchy 808″ on us. JustPlayWitIt will be available July 29th on HiPNOTT Records.

About the album:
Hot off his 2011 collaboration album with Cunninlynguist producer Kno (“Machetevision”), Philly emcee MarQ Spekt teams up with New York producer Blockhead (Aesop Rock, Illogic, Murs, Atmosphere) for one of the grilchiest Hip Hop albums of 2014; JustPlayWitIt. Representing a certain aggression that is lacking in today’s culture, JustPlayWitIt showcases MarQ Spekt’s bizzarly verbose wordplay over Blockheads’s sirty yet sophisticated production. MarQ Spekt throws a little dirt on the game with JustPlayWitIt; as he walks into the current house of Hip Hop, tracks mud on the rug, sits on the couch and puts his soiled boots up on the table.

Hot off his 2011 collaboration album with Cunninlynguist producer Kno (“Machetevision”), Philly emcee MarQ Spekt teams up with New York producer Blockhead (Aesop Rock, Illogic, Murs, Atmosphere) for one of the grilchiest Hip Hop albums of 2014; JustPlayWitIt.

Representing a certain aggression that is lacking in today’s culture, JustPlayWitIt showcases MarQ Spekt’s bizzarly verbose wordplay over Blockheads’s sirty yet sophisticated production. MarQ Spekt throws a little dirt on the game with JustPlayWitIt; as he walks into the current house of Hip Hop, tracks mud on the rug, sits on the couch and puts his soiled boots up on the table.

JustPlayWitIt will be available July 29th on HiPNOTT Records. Pre-order the album now on iTunes. CDs will be available for pre-order soon. Digital pre-orders made via iTunes and Bandcamp will receive an immediate download of the first single, “SumOfItsParts”.

This is the final installment of Illogc and Blockhead’s Capture the Sun series. The project is available now at www.illogic.bandcamp.com in digital or physical copies, including bonus tracks on the CD release.

Illogic and Blockhead are releasing the final EP in their four part Capture series called After Capture on 12/17/13. The EP is available for pre-order at www.illogic.bandcamp.com.

The first song off of After Capture, the last installment of the work Blockhead and Illogic have done. Release date 12/17/13.

Producer Blockhead is best known for his series of instrumental albums released on Ninja Tune, as well as beats for several of Aesop Rock’s critically acclaimed Def Jux LP’s. Illogic is sort of a best kept secret emcee from Ohio, who regularly keeps the company of fellow forward thinking artists like Blueprint, Slug, and Abstract Rude, each of whom appear on Capture The Sun, the new record that brings the emcee and producer together.

Following a pair of EP’s called Preparing For Capture, the new album finds the two settling into a comfortable groove, with Block providing his usual brand of heavy beats and Illogic’s accompanying rhymes. Illogic balances inspiring stories with disparaging ones, leading listeners on an emotional roller coaster of an LP.

“Beautiful Sunday”, for instance, finds the emcee taking life by the horns, which M.O.P.-esque chants of “get up!” are cut into the hook, while later on “Last Breath”, Illogic pens heartfelt verses to his immediate family, in a forthright, open manner. The groovy “Bridges” is also quite inspiring, despite bing a bit of a downer, as Illogic reveals “See I’ve been marked for death since the womb / umbilical cord around my neck, I barely made it out / plus they found cancer in my retina when I was two / became a cyclops, but saw clearer than everybody else….”

Illogic’s lyrics teeter back and forth between inspiration and depression, many times pondering his own mortality. Both “One Way Ticket” and “Where’s The Exit” find Illogic yearning for a better world, dodging suicide as an option. Yet “Finally Free”, a tale of domestic violence with seemingly no way out, seems to be the character’s only option.

On the down side, Illogic’s less topical, more poetic tracks can be a bit heavy-handed for some listeners. Another gripe is that the recording quality of the album lacks the same polish and fullness found on some of Blockhead’s other albums and collaborations. This is likely due to a lack of access to expensive studio equipement, but on the other hand, that didn’t stop hip-hop’s pioneers from making classics.

Of the three projects recorded by Illogic and Blockhead, the first volume of Preparing For Capture remains the strongest, but there are some solid gems buried within Capture The Sun.

Man Bites Dog Records is Proud to Present “Atlantis Depth” Music Video from Illogic & Blockhead “Capture the Sun” which is now available on Itunes & all fine retailers everywhere. Video directed & Edited by Erik Anello. Shot by Laura Green.

Illogic and Blockhead have come together to record the Capture The Sun LP for Man Bites Dog Records, and today, they serve up a stream of the full album, as well as the third episode in their “Journey To Capture The Sun” documentary series, directed by Blueprint.

Next week, Illogic & Blockhead will release their first collaborative full-length album, Capture The Sun. The album, which includes features from Slug, Blueprint, Abstract Rude, and more, will be released on TK via Man Bites Dog Records, and today, Illogic & Blockhead are debuting a non-album exclusive remix of album track “Live From the Horizon.” The song was remixed by fellow DJ/producer, and Columbus, Ohio, native, RJD2 and was premiered by Rolling Stone.

RJD2’s remix is a complete reimagining of the song. The song gets transformed from a punchy and aggressive vendetta into a trippy reflection. “I was really excited with the direction RJ took the remix,” remarked Blockhead. “It’s cool when someone flips the entire vibe of a song on it’s back, ’cause it basically feels like creating an entire new song.” That sort of 180-degree change is possible because of the songs subject matter – mistrust and falling out with friends. “When close friends treat you like crap for a while then songs like Live from the Horizon are born,” Illogic explains. “Blueprint told me most great art can’t exist with out Pain.” For RJD2′s part, the collaboration was a nice reunion with Illogic, the two having spent years working in the same underground scene. “Illogic and I cut our teeth at roughly the same time in the Columbus underground,” recalls RJ. “We’ve know each other for a long time, and it was cool to reconnect on this remix.”

Man Bites Dog Records are proud to present Illogic & Blockhead-Behind the Album “Capture the Sun” Episode 2 produced & directed by Blueprint. In this Episode both artists further explain their origins musically and also their influences. Illogic & Blockhead are releasing their album Capture the Sun on 4-16-13 via Man Bites Dog Records.

Man Bites Dog Records is proud to present the new music video “Neva Heard” off of Illogic & Blockhead’s new album Capture the Sun. The video is directed by Eric Anello and was shot by Laura Green. Capture the Sun will be released on Man Bites Dog Records on 4-16-2013.