Mr Hone
Special / Easy

Otis Stacks, three syllables. A name and a first name that recall a mythical singer as much as the Memphis music label that got him to it’s days of glory. A name that evokes him in particular and soul music in general. Behind a name that sounds familiar are Elias Wallace and Justmike, two men united to become one: Otis Stacks. In truth, the optimized version of a work started long ago, when Justmike was producing the Danish hip-hop sound of Dafuniks and decided to get in touch with Elias after hearing his voice on a friend’s tune. He first wanted him to lay his voice on a chorus, then a verse, and ended letting him take over the lyrics of “All I Want”, the song that would later bring Dafuniks on air and around Europe. After traveling miles and miles across the ocean and the seas separating California from Denmark, Elias undeniably became a member of the group. As gigs went on, stages after stages, Justmike got inspired by Elias’s voice and presence. Thus, the idea of a duo collaboration between the two men geminated and grew in his mind. As the evidence of their getting along, “Fashion Drunk” became the first tune to infiltrate Nova and FIP radio playlists, as its music video reached 8 million views. This now obvious complicity as extended in the form of an album, also called Fashion Drunk, released by Underdogs Records. With this French stopover, the line between California and Denmark is now completed. The result is an artistic fusion in which Justmike has plugged his instruments to the machines he uses to compose, letting Elias in charge of the lyrics and singing. Here, the soul music is printed as a guideline in an organic and digital composite matter. In an ethereal and aerial production that perches its arrangements in the air of the mix or buries them in its bases, letting electro music spread on a groove punched with black and white keys. Each element intervenes with discretion to let Elias stories be related with elegance. Frustrated, disappointed or aborted love stories.

Snap Your Neck Back by Gasoline is an album released in 2005 on a digipack CD by Pamplemousse Productions / La Fondation. First reissue at Beatsqueeze Records in 12inch yellow vinyl. Limited edition!

Favorite Recordings presents an exclusive collaboration between French producer Bruno ‘Patchworks’ Hovart (Voilaaa, Mr President, Taggy Matcher, …) and Australian NYC-based rapper and poet Nelson Dialect. The two artists met two years ago after Nelson’s gig in Lyon and, of course, they discussed and seriously planned to collaborate one day, both having an everliving love for early nineties hip hop. Then came the quarantine and Covid-19 with Patchworks locked in Lyon, Nelson Dialect in NYC: it seemed to be the right time to do it. A few months later and they finally drop Blue Benz, the result of their long distance collaboration, coming as a beautiful 7inch filled with proper Jazz & Soul Hip Hop vibes.On A side, « Blue Benz » reminds indeed the best feelings of the nineties hip-hop with its infectious slapped bass rhythm and subtle Rhodes chords, all fiiting perfectly with Nelson Dialect’s serious flow!On B Side, « Jazzy Blue Benz » offers an alternate take on the same groove, focusing more on the electric guitar gentle slides with a more percussive beat and horns arrangements with a proper NYC jazz feeling.From Adelaide, Australia, Nelson Dialect now lives in New York working with Bronx label Red Apples 45 started by AG of DITC and Ray West. Making music since he was 16, he has received critical acclaim for his work with producer Must Volkoff and their most recent album Magnetism. Before moving to New York, Nelson toured extensively in Australia supporting some of the biggest international Hip Hop acts including Mobb Deep, Lupe Fiasco, Ghostface Killah, GZA, RZA, Pharoahe Monch and DJ Premier among many more. He just released a new album Opal Mind with French producer NuTone.

Moar’s back in the Hip-Hop game with a special 7inch featuring his brothers of arms Raashan Ahmad (Crown City Rockers - USA) and Kohndo (La Cliqua - Paris).Inspired by “The Message” this production is the future of early hip-hop staring the godfather of soul on scratch!!Perfect for party it’s sure this track going in all DJ bags.

Created in 2005, Trevor & Lisa is a Parisian Funk band founded by Sébastien Despicht (guitars, talk box) and Mikael Prignot (programming). With Stéphane Ugolini (keyboards) who joined them later on, they formed the core production trio of the group, helped around with various other talented musicians. Built for live shows, Trevor & Lisa has strongly toured the French and Parisian gigs scenes, with also numerous radio shows (Nova, Generations, Le Mouv, ...) or TV shows (France 4). Additionally they developed several collaborations, for example with famous soul diva Gwen McCrae (as her backing band) or with French singer Mounam (from The Dynamics) on “What Needs Mama” single. Meanwhile, Trevor & Lisa also produced two punchy 7inches released on Favorite Recordings and which could be considered as a preview to a long player.This first LP will finally be released early 2013 on Favorite Recordings, and it’s filled with the same contagious energy they gave off on their previous records and live shows. Clap ‘N' Hustle is like a call to dance, filled by a deep groove and boosted with relentless breakbeats and percussions. With an ambitious production, this first album has involved many talented musicians and many guest singers such as Jehro, US underground rappers Rita J, Raashan Ahmad and Clyde King Rap (Real Fake MC), his longtime mate DJ Suspect (The Funk League) at turntables, or Julien Tekeyan at percussions.The program for this Clap ‘n’ Hustle : instrumentals spiced up with burning breaks (Night Of The Wolf, Tango Hustle, ...), old-school rap influences (Soul Clap, Dope On Plastic, ...), a taste of Californian Blue-Eyed Soul (My Friend ...), some talk box and vocoder embellished with an incisive brass section, all of it punctuated with interludes made of finely selected samples. Finally, Liza Rose and Yann Kesz have brought up their personal touch for visuals, artwork and videos.We hope you’ll enjoy !!