The Jammie Award-winning Kalamazoo hip hop/soul ensemble delivers a thought-provoking, boundary-pushing roster of faves to pump up the week at Local Spins. Listen to the tracks, watch the videos.
Award-Winning Approach: The Last Gasp Collective is this week’s featured playlist provider. (Courtesy Photo)
SCROLL DOWN TO LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
When Kalamazoo’s Last Gasp Collective — along with one of its members, Jordan Hamilton — went home as the night’s biggest winners from February’s WYCE Jammie Awards, it signaled a significant acknowledgment by West Michigan of the ensemble’s inventive and powerful blend of hip hop, R&B, jazz and more.
So it’s no surprise that artistic director Jay Jackson and company would select cutting-edge, diverse and equally powerful tracks for this week’s Local Spins Playlist.
As he puts it:
“In hopes to give you guys more music and less ‘gibba gabba,’ I’ve kept my descriptions to a bare minimum. Music has been a go-to for our entire band during this weird time, so whittling down this list was quite the task.”
And here it is, an 18-track roster in all its eclectic glory. Check out previous Local Spins playlists by other Jammie Award winners here.
TUESDAY SOUNDTRACK: Local Spins Playlist by Last Gasp Collective
1. “Comfortable,” Robert Glasper/H.E.R. (2020) – The entire “The Photograph” soundtrack is INCREDIBLE. I have Jesse Lemons, our trumpet player, to thank for exposing me to this.
2. “Shine,” Buddy (2016) – Listen to all of his work. This is one of L.A.’s lesser-known, better talents.
3. “Potential,” Quentin Miller (2016) – All Drake jokes aside, Quentin Miller is SERIOUS!
4. “Heavenly Father,” Isaiah Rashad (2014) – Still waiting for a new project from the Top Dog signee. This is an oldie but goodie.
5. “Taranphoeno,” Pheolix (2018) – The man behind Chicago’s “conscious” scene. (In LGC’S own humble opinion.)
6. “Hideaway,” Jacob Collier (2016) – I cry almost every time.
7. “Roll Some Mo,” Lucky Daye (2018) – A humble superstar on the rise.
8. “Reality Check,” Noname, feat. Eryn Allen Kane & Akenya (2016)– Chi-Town, stand up!
9. “Tuff Like Iron,” Mortimer (2019) – Trying to stay in shape during quarantine? This is the workout track for you (from the “Sprinter” soundtrack).
10. “Everything I Got,” Brasstracks (2019) – OMG: Band witchcraft!
11. “Parc,” Anomalie (2018) – OMG: Production witchcraft!
12. “Everything We Need,” Kanye West feat. Ty Dolla Sign & Ant Clemons (2019) – My oldest daughter’s favorite song.
13. “4 Letter Word,” Ant Clemons (2019) – Listen to the entire album, “Happy to be Here.” Ant was a pivotal part of Kanye West’s most recent release, “Jesus is King,” and his impact was irreplaceable.
14. “Money,” Moonchild (2019) – If a composition could ever be categorized as perfect, I gotta say Moonchild is probably the group to execute it.
15. “Northside,” Ama Lou (2019) – My daughter’s second favorite song, lol.
16. “I Laugh When I’m With Friends But Sad When I’m Alone,” 070 Shake (2018) – Depression is real. And if there is anytime these issues can rear their ugly head, during times of isolation is definitely one. None of us are immune to the effects of depression or any other form of mental illness, whether it weighs on us personally or a close friend or family member. I personally struggle with the effects of mental illness, and hearing the stories of others can definitely be a source of peace.
17. “Witchblades,” Lil Peep & Lil Tracy (2019) – Yea, kind of the same story as the last track.
18. “The Woods,” Bon Iver (2009) – Justin Vernon: I love this guy. His story resonates with me as much if not more than his music.
TUESDAY PLAYLIST: Last Gasp Collective’s Local Spins Playlist on Spotify
Copyright 2020, Spins on Music LLC
