Songs We Listened To A Lot In 2013

I toyed with a few different ways that I could intro this project for its release, but after several different drafts over the course of however many hours, I finally realized the futility of it all – especially after the wonderful words that Skratch Bastid wrote on his Facebook page. Those words encapsulated it so fittingly. Not to try and make this project out to be anything bigger or more grand than what it is, merely a collection of songs that me and my friend really like and found ourselves returning to time and again. Then I had a realization. What I wanted to get across is that it has nothing to do with this mix, or me and Bastid, or even the songs themselves. It’s more to than just these individual songs, or the curation of the Songs2013 project as a whole. At the end of the day it’s about a very personal connection, and visceral reaction, that we all have to music. Some things just hit us in ways that only we can understand. Or we don’t understand. It’s an intangible, because how can you qualify or quantify that feeling? The inherent need that we as people have for communication, that gets refracted through the stories and sounds that we hear, through our speakers and into our ears, and set our imaginations on fire, giving us voices for when we don’t have them. To me that’s what it comes down to, that whatever song it is that’s that’s “your jam,” it’s really a road that allows you to sing a song you weren’t able to but always had within. That’s what makes a favorite song so dear. These songs, they sing for us, they warm us, and they become old friends – friends that we find ourselves returning  to again and again.

Also, sometimes a groove is just a groove. So let the groove get in. Thanks to everyone that got up, got into it, and got involved with this. Extra special shout to all the people that submitted to the #Songs2013 and extra shout to our OkayPlayer friends for premiering the mix on their Mixtape Mondays.  If you want it for your hard drive, download it here. If you like the concept, check out last years mix here.

Now enough with the words. Let’s get to the music…

Cosmo Baker – January, 2014

We’ve all got our own jams.

Good songs have a way of finding our ears and if we love them, we keep them near. We go back to them, sometimes every day, sometimes every few weeks, or months, or even every few years. Some songs are new, some are old — our personal soundtrack is unique and comes from a number of different influences. We play certain songs over and over, and those songs often go on to define that time in our lives.

“Songs We Listened To A Lot in 2013″ is sort of a “Best Of” year-end mix, but the catch is it isn’t only comprised of music that was released that year. Many of the songs ARE from 2013, but we want to make sure the ‘older’ songs that made noise on our speakers & headphones get the shine they deserve, too. 39 tracks, and just under 3 hours of music. It’s safe to say that there is something on here for everyone, and we guarantee you’re going to hear something new.

Outside of listening, we want you to get involved. We want to know what songs got the most spins on your Discman last year and what songs you would have put on a mix like this one. We’ve already got some great selections & stories from some of our good friends and we’ve been posting them over at songs2013.tumblr.com. On Facebook & Twitter, people have been posting titles & links, using the hashtag #Songs2013 – and they’ve been putting us up on great music. Let your favorites be known.

And let that mix bump. Peace!

– Bastid & Cosmo, 2014

Skratch Bastid & Cosmo Baker “Songs We Listened To A Lot In 2013”

(Artwork by Rhek)

Skratch Bastid & Cosmo Baker - Songs We Listened To A Lot In 2013

Wee – Aeroplane (Reprise)
Charles Bradley – Strictly Reserved For You
Omar – The Man
Pusha T – Numbers On The Boards
Jai Paul – 100 000
Mayer Hawthorne – Her Favorite Song (Oliver Remix)
Janet Jackson – If (Kaytranada Remix)
Rihanna (f/ Mikki Ekko) – Stay (Deejay Theory Dub)
Disclosure (f/ London Grammar) – Help Me Lose My Mind
Alice Smith – Another Love
Rich Homie Quan – Type Of Way
Gunplay – Bible On The Dash
King Krule – Easy Easy
Thundercat – Heartbreaks + Setbacks
Rhye – Open
Erasmo Carlos – Sorriso Dela
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – If This World Were Mine
Shy FX (f/ Liam Bailey) – Soon Come
Beres Hammond – Can’t Stop a Man
Derrick Harriott – The Loser
Toots & The Maytals – Pressure Drop
Idris Muhammad – Could Heaven Ever Be Like This
Donald Byrd – Love Has Come Around
Alicia Myers – I Want To Thank You
Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip – Thank You
N.O.R.E. & Large Professor – Built Pyramids
Wale (f/ Sam Dew) – Lovehate Thing
Mariah Carey & Miguel – Beautiful
Diana Ross & The Supremes – Reflections
Todd Terje – Strandbar (Samba Version)
Ninetoes – Finder
Little Boots – Satelite (Lindstrøm Remix)
Goldroom – Embrace (Cyclist Remix)
Classixx – Hanging Gardens
Ned Doheny – Get It Up For Love
Alessi – Do You Feel It?
The Futures – Ain’t No Time Fa Nuthin’
Janelle Monae & Miguel – Prime Time
Bobby Hutcherson – Now

Thanks for the support!
OkayPlayer
Discobelle
Hustlegrl

Songs Our Friends Listened To A Lot In 2013

Last year me and Skratch Bastid wanted to make a ‘year end’ mix/list, but ‘year end’ mixes/lists tend to suck. So we decided to approach things differently. Although using the calendar year is a great tool for cataloging and referencing releases, music moves at it’s own pace, and we have found that songs have a way of finding you when they are supposed to find you. Songs you grow to love are discovered in many ways: through hearing them at a club night, on a DJ mix, in a movie, in a friend’s car, at a restaurant – and those songs aren’t always new songs, or songs that came out the year that you hear them first. But they are songs that are relevant to YOU that year. And in each of our individual music experiences, they play a role in shaping your musical taste. Out of this came our very popular first mix, Songs We Listened To A Lot In 2012.

But we also understand that although Bastid and I are considered “pros” in this music realm, that the intrinsic connection to music that people have is subjective and that taste is taste. It’s all worthy and relevant. When we set out to do the Songs We Listened To A Lot project last year it was really coming from a place of passion and love, not to prove how hip and ahead of the curve we are. We just all love music and everyone has different ways of being connected to it. So perhaps that’s why Songs2012 resonated so much with people.

Since people were so into the project last year, this year we decided to ask a bunch of our friends to let us know what songs really did it for them. So world, please meet our friends! Please check out our Songs We Listened To A Lot In 2013 Tumblr and check out what we, and some of our friends from across the globe and all walks of life, listened to in the year 2013. You might just be surprised, and you may even want to get involved! And look out for the actual mix Songs We Listened To A Lot In 2013 coming next week!

Baker And Bastid Sweaty And In The Mix copy

 

Top Ten Mix 17

Sup y’all… Back again with another installment of the Top Ten mix. This time I have some of my favorite dance tunes out right now, including some exclusive joints from some friends of mine. Anyway, click it, like it, share it, comment on it, download it, repost it, share it, but most of all, rock out to it and have fun. I hope you enjoy it!

Cosmo Baker’s Top Ten Mix 17

 

Sharon Redd “Can U (LNTG Rework)”
Box Of Wolves & Christa Vi “Boy (Cyclist reMix)”
Para One “Every Little Thing feat. Irfane & Teki Latex (Plastic Plates Remix)”
Monte “You Should Know (Original Mix)”
Peter & The Magician “On My Brain (Original)”
Mark Knight “Your Love (Original Club Mix)”
Disclosure “Confess To Me feat. Jessie Ware”
Todd Terje “Strandbar (Samba Version)”
Newbie Nerdz & Moonwalk “This Is You (Giom Remix)”
Boe & Zak “Loop For Love”

Baker’s Dozen Bonus

Boys Noize “Starwin”
Armand Van Helden “U Don’t Know Me feat. Duane Harden (Doorly Boom Boom Room Remix)”
Ponderosa Twins “Bound”

Download:

https://cosmobaker.com/mixes/Cosmo%20Baker’s%20Top%20Ten%20Mix%2017.mp3

Cosmo Baker & OkayPlayer Present The Official Roots Picnic 2013 Mixtape

Cosmo Baker Picnic Mixtape Official Art

Ladies & gentlemen, Okayplayer & Cosmo Baker are proud to present The Official Roots Picnic 2013 Mixtape! Featuring picnic jams by The Roots, Macklemore, Solange, Trinidad James, Grimes, DJ Premier, AraabMuzik & more of the artists appearing like at the 6th Annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia on June 1.

“At the 11th Hour it seemed like a good idea to write some sort of introduction to this mix and I gave it some thought as to what I was going to touch upon, but understand this is harder than it may seem. It’s difficult enough to capture everything that this collection of artists is about in the futile medium that’s one single mixtape. In the same regard, much like their entire career it’s almost impossible to pin down what The Roots, and Okayplayer are all about with just words. And that right there just may be the point.

I could take it back to 1992 or 93 when I first met these two dudes Ahmir and Tariq and this could be the story of “Philly dudes done well” or I could talk about the parallels of all or our respective career arcs and all that jazz. Or I could talk about how just some local musicans and DJs from South and West Philly have transformed into global music and cultural ambassadors.

But to me it comes down to one thing – love. The love that one has that makes one do what they do. It’s not for the money of the fame, but for the love of music that is the single reason why we’re in this game. That’s the greatest commonality that we all share, and one of the reasons why Okayplayer is what it is today in 2013. Perhaps it’s something in our mutual Philly history, and its collective cultural fiber; from being in that one time at that one place. I don’t know, but I do know one thing: I grew up with all this, and so when I was asked to contribute this mix, it was more than an honor. It felt like I was coming back home.”

– Cosmo Baker, 2013

CLICK ON THE SOUNDCLOUD LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD “COSMO BAKER’S PICNIC MIX”

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