Despite the overcast weather and eventual downpour, DC sustainable restaurant Sweetgreen’s Sweetlife Food and Music Festival filled the Merriweather Post Pavilion’s main stage tent as thousands more looked on from the expansive lawn area Saturday, April 28th. Boasting a diverse and exciting line-up as well as a variety of eco-conscious food options, it’s no wonder that the festival was packed–even with the rain forcing many who weren’t lucky enough to make it into the tent to don ponchos and open up umbrellas.

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The one and only R. Kelly is back on the scene, releasing the visuals for “Share My Love“, the first single off of his twelfth studio album, Write Me Back. True to his ladies man persona, Kells croons his heart out to a plethora of beautiful women whilst making dirty talk look so squeaky clean.

We have Director X to thanks, as he was the one behind the scenes setting up the party for the video and giving the vintage R&B  sounding “Share My Love” a nice grown and sexy feel. With no official release date set for Write Me Back, it looks like we all will have to keep hitting play and hoping that Robert is kind enough to show some love and invite us to the next party.

Star Slinger strikes again with the electrifying “Bad Bitches,” reaching out to the West Coast to reel in the talents of Lil B’ and Stunnaman for the bars. Although both Stunnaman and the Based God show some love as they shout-out some loved ones during their time on the track, that really isn’t the endearing quality. What truly draws you in is Slinger’s unparalleled production quality. Amidst the laid back flows of Stunnaman and B is a never-ending head-nodding journey. “Bad B*tches” fits perfectly in the “Project X” party scene that has consumed the majority of us and this track is sure to be featured at a rave near you.

MP3: Star Slinger – “Bad Bitches (Ft. Stunnaman & Lil B)”

Those unable to wait for the July release date set for Aesop Rock‘s sixth studio effort, Skelethon, can rejoice knowing that the first single “Zero Dark Thirty” has surfaced. Rock regains his form as he rapidly throws lyrical jabs over the self-produced beat. The rapid tempo of “Zero Dark” almost seems overkill considering everything else that’s happening on the track, but by the end everything flows well together. Your ears will enjoy this one as Rock reminds you exactly why he has had such longevity in a genre that uses up artists faster than a Kim K. marriage. Skelethon is set to release July 10th through Rhymesayers Entertainment.

MP3: Aesop Rock – “Zero Dark Thirty”

Jay Electronica is proving to be the master of suspense as the wait for his Act II: Patents of Nobility EP continues. Hip-Hop fans everywhere can enjoy what is hopefully to be a prequel of what’s to come with the release of the Just Blaze produced “Dear Moleskine.” Electronica doesn’t disappoint as he delivers bar after bar of gripping imagery of a troubled life. His time on the track is brief to say the least but it is reminiscent of his “Exhibit C,” which took him from being an underground vet to almost a household name. The grim details, although extreme in some cases, resonate as internal struggles that we all can relate to.

Although “Moleskine” is more of a tease then anything, it serves its purpose well. Listeners are again intrigued and keeping their fingers crossed that the releasing of the track means that the wait for Act II is almost at its end.

MP3: Jay Electronica – “Dear Moleskine”

I’m as big a fan of Tumblr as the next 16-year old girl/45 year-old perv/20-something indie music blogger, but the geniuses behind the puppy pictures/soft core porn really need to update their outdated, unreliable mp3 player. With artists ranging from frank ocean to Class Actress consistently and quietly tumbling their freshest tracks, the platform offers a direct link between the musicians and the fans that I’m surprised it took this long for the internet to foster—a link that Tumblr should recognize and give us all a music app that actually works.

Anyway, this morning after I reloading the page for Childish Gambino’s latest tumblr entry four times, I was rewarded with his brand new track, “Eat Your Vegetables“. A fractured foot and postponed CAMP tour have put Gambino back in terms of offline presence, but online he seems to have been making use of his recovery time by working on material for his forthcoming mixtape. Shouting out the late Trayvon Martin and sampling the underwater level music from Donkey Kong (oh don’t pretend like you didn’t recognize it), “Eat Your Vegetables”—both in message and in tone—demonstrates a more mature side to the no-longer-so-childish Donald Glover that we’re sure hasn’t seen his last tumbled success.

STREAM: Childish Gambino – “Eat Your Vegetables”

20-year old speed spitter Azealia Banks still has a lot to prove, but a collaboration with Diplo is a step in the right direction. Diplo has been all over the place recently, including successful collaborations with the likes of Usher and New Orleans bounce star Nicky Da B. “Fuck Up the Fun” is no exception.  In this drum-driven war cry, the foul-mouthed Banks takes direct aim at kids out there trying to make it big through online channels like YouTube, which ironically is how she got herself recognized. Banks all but calls out her rival Kreayshawn by name, with whom she has been feuding with all over the Twitters. Despite all that nonsense, with Diplo’s help, Azealia has taken the high road.

MP3:  Azealea Banks – “Fuck Up The Fun”

Collaborations can be tricky.  Done right, they can showcase the best parts of each artist to create something great. Done wrong they can sound like rush hour on the I-95. “DoYaThing”, part of Converse’s “3 Artists, 1 Song” project, features Gorillaz, Andre 3000, and LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy meshing each of their trademark styles to create one of the catchiest colabs since Bowie and Freddie teamed up.

The song starts with the unmistakable Gorillaz future-funk synth. Frontman Damon Albarn lays down what are sure to be the year’s most nonsensical lyrics before Murphy contributes his goofy, almost-over-the-top-but-not-quite falsetto. Then comes Andre, tearing apart the entire song with a mindblowing machine gun, one-take freestyle that will make you ache for an Outkast reunion.  Until that day, you’ll have to tide yourself over with a Gorillaz-inspired animated video and an extended, 12 minute cut of the song due out soon, according to Albarn.

STREAM: Gorillaz, James Murphy, & Andre 3000 – “DoYaThing”

The internet seems to catch everything, right? A giant impenetrable web, in which every event of the most minimal consequence is caught, documented and consumed. But often the fast-paced indie-music blogosphere glances over records, EP’s and new artists of all types. Salvageable but neglected sonic gems are left in the dust of the next buzz band and hybrid genre, without due recognition and coverage. Here’s a young rap duo with a bright debut EP that seemed to fly by last year without due credit. The group is Dream Jefferson, and their album Punch Perm is fresh, fast and fun. Their music takes cues from both 90s underground hip hop and today’s synth-pop trends, coupling smart, sophisticated rhymes with poppy, dance-able beats. Plus, the cover art is dope beyond belief. Check it out above, and give the track “Purple Hearts” a listen below.

STREAM: Dream Jefferson – “Purple Hearts”

Do you guys miss us yet? We miss you. We know All Things Gold is supposed to come around every second Thursday of the month but we find it hard to keep ourselves away from U Hall, especially when we get the chance to put on an amazing show. We hope you can forgive our break in regular programming for a special All Things Gold one-off on Tuesday, February 28th featuring Chiddy Bang. Yes, you heard us right. We’re teaming up with our usual partners in crime, Neon Gold Records, to bring you Breakfast At Night, an intimate evening featuring a live set from the incredible hip-hop duo as well as a late night DJ set from Chiddy Bang beatsmith Xaphoon Jones. Advance tickets are available now for $10 before they go $15 at the door. Trust us: they will go fast. Get yours HERE.

STREAM: Chiddy Bang – “Ray Charles”

STREAM: St. Lucia – “We Got It Wrong (Xaphoon Jones Remix)”