Don’t call it a mash-up. Amerigo Gazaway is back with his outstanding re-imaginings of Marvin Gaye and Yasiin Bey (aka The Artist Formerly Known As Mos Def). “Mash-up” is an outdated term that just doesn’t do justice to the skill and complexity that goes in to Amerigo’s work. This new volume targets more of Marvin’s overlooked accomplishments as a producer and interweaves them with Bey’s tangled raps. The genius of these collaborations comes to bear on tracks like “B is For Beef” which seemingly has the two musicians in conversation. “Sex, Love & Money”, “Anna’s Love Song” and “A Message To The People” are all prime examples of the technical prowess mood matching that makes these albums special. Other standouts include appearances from The Temptations, Chuck Berry and Talib Kweli to name a few. Putting these two artists into an impossible collaboration that works so seamlessly as to feel like a proper production in it’s own right sets Amerigo well above any other mash-up you might find on the interwebs.

reviewed by boumtje-boumtje 082114

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