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Dj Nick Nack, long a fixture in Austin’s hip-hop and dj scene, drops his first full length album since 2010′s Dearly Departed. State Machine has a handful of features from some big indie hip hop names: Bavu Blakes, A.Dd+, Crew54 and LOEGz.

“State Machine” is inspired by the human apparatus which is a complex ‘machine’ capable of an extremely wide range of ‘states’ (as in conditions with respect to circumstances). As ‘machines’ we can relate to one another through these rich and meaningful ‘states’. They help to define and shape the paths which we travel throughout our lives.

This album in and of itself is meant to be a stateful sonic journey, traversing a variety of genres, moods and styles (from angst riddled raps to relaxing soulful instrumentals).

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Adrian Quesada & Brainchild – In Your Right Mind

In honor of the website launching for Level One Studio, Adrian Quesada, best known from his group’s Grupo Fantasma, Brownout and Ocote Soul Sounds recently dropped an old collection of instrumentals he completed over 8 years ago with Stones Throw’s James Pants (then known as Brainchild).

From Adrian’s Site

In Your Right Mind was an album of instrumental hip hop and beats I made over 8 years ago with my man Brainchild (now known as James Pants aka Jaime Pantalones). Coincidentally, it also features my first collaboration with my fellow Taurean Martin Perna as he contributed flute to one track, which was the precursor to Ocote Soul Sounds’ first record. We pressed up only 100! copies and either gave them away or sold them to whoever was interested and I have people tell me to this day they still rock this in their stereo. I put it on the Ipod on a flight the other day and I think it’s aged like fine wine. I would like you all to enjoy it as well….I present to you, a free download of Adrian Quesada and Brainchild’s In Your Right Mind.

Listening to these though, you can see that 8 years ago AQ was doing some things that people are still trying to get right. Download the 14 track instrumental album.

Dope song and video from Austin’s Phranchyze. Nice laid back track and video from his Black Larry Bird LP.

Central Texas’s Crew54 just dropped their latest EP, “The 54 Reality Show Tape” this past Friday in Austin. The project is available for download through the Crew54 Bandcamp page, go check it out and support! I had a lot of fun previewing and contributing to the project through the sleeve design. Photographs of Crew54 by Alejandro Crisologo.

Dj Nick Nack has released a limited edition full digipack of his latest album, Dearly Departed. Only having 100 printed up, it is a “high quality matte lamination with spot UV and includes real vintage photos.” Each album also comes with a download coupon. The album is a dedication to Nick’s sister, who was killed in a car accident in 2004.

Correction: 1000 of the CDs pictured here. The “limited edition” copies are the same + signed + hand numbered + include Nick Nack’s previous release “Improving Silence”.

From CrowdControlRecords.com

Dearly Departed” is the follow up full length album to Nick’s highly successful “Improving Silence”. This new album can best be described as a combination of psych rock and funk. The result is a sultry, soulful downtempo instrumental sound that is sure to move you whether you like hip hop, soul, rock or downtempo electronica. DJ Ayres summarizes best by saying, “I would put this album in the same category as DJ Shadow – Endtroducing and RJD2 – Dead Ringer.”

The Check out pictures of the actual packaging designed by Dj Nick Nack after the jump and peep the video promo created by Nick Nack.
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The latest mixtape from Austin based hip hop group, The League of Extraordinary Gz, dropped on Memorial Day. It’s 21 tracks, featuring production from Reggie Coby, Matt Schad, Chop Steak, Nasty Kuttz, and Swollen Drumz. Along with the mixtape, the second Texas Guns tee, now in burnt orange, is on sale through their Bandcamp page. Word.

Tracklisting
1. “Ha Ha”- Tuk-da-Gat, S. Dot, Greezo, Esbe
2. “We gon make it”- Reggie Coby, Esbe, Lowkey (produced by Matt Schad)
3. “Boom Boom Boom”- Da C.O.D. (composed by DJ Wes Sanders)
4. “Bitch Move”- Reggie Coby, Tuk-da-Gat
5. “Home”- Greezo, Tuk-da-Gat, Esbe, Reggie Coby (produced by Chopsteak)
6. “Window Seat Remix”- Greezo & Sandman
7. “Turnt Up Remix”- S. Dot & Chamillionaire
8. “Dead Fresh/Nice Kicks”- Tuk-da-Gat & S. Dot
9. “Truth”- Reggie Coby & Tuk-da-Gat (produced by Reggie Coby)
10. “Drive Slo”- Reggie Coby, Tuk-Da-Gat, Lil J
11. “Round Here”- Esbe, Greezo, Lil J, Tuk-da-Gat (produced by Nasty Kuttz)
12. “Go Hawd”- Lowkey & Trae the Truth (Tosin Remix)
13. “Soulja Shit”- Lowkey & Greezo
14. “Buy U sumthin”- Brooks City, Tuk-da-Gat, S. Dot, Lil J
15. “Over”- S. Dot & Lil J
16. “Get em Up”- Tuk-da-Gat, S. Dot, Lowkey
17. “C2theO-D”- Tuk-da-Gat, S. Dot, Lil J
18. “Not Afraid Remix”- Dred Skott & Lowkey
19. “Satisfaction”- S. Dot & Esbe
20. “Unthinkable Remix”- S. Dot, Lowkey, Esbe
21. “Trae Day”- Reggie Coby, Tuk-da-Gat, Greezo

(From www.thafixx.com)

New track from The League of Extraordinary Gz, from their upcoming mixtape, Concealed Weapons 2. Medium will officially be releasing another song from The LOEGz later this month, produced by Chop Steak…oh yea!. Along with that, there will be a new burnt orange edition of the Texas Guns t shirt hitting the streets of Austin very soon. Word.

The first full video from Dj Nick Nack‘s latest album, Dearly Departed.

Right before SXSW I finished this project up for Chop Steak. A pretty simple CD design but the steak CD is then wrapped up in butcher paper, with a faux carniceria label with a QR code that directed you to Chop Steak’s website. Some of yall were lucky enough to get physical copy, if not you can still listen to and download his latest beat tape. Holler at Chop Steak if you’re interested in working with him.

Yo! This post from Dj Mel goes hard! It includes pictures, music and party…what else do you want? Dj Mel goes back in time to explore the Austin club scene during the late 80s to mid 90s and then serves as your Scott Bakula to put you in the shoes of the scene. I had the pleasure of catching an early Dj Mel set for the Burlesque Design party during SXSW and the dude does not stop being awesome. Check out the pictures from Austin past and listen up!

Link: Dj Mel explores Austin’s 80s/90s Club Scene