Usually, when rappers work with rock bands, they out their own bad---- or at least totally pedestrian-- tastes. Witness, for example, Q-Tip enlisting Korn for a collab, or Coldplay's Chris Martin and his bizarre evolution into some sort of Nate Dogg 2.0. So it's heartening to see a young rapper pairing up with a great rock band, especially when ...

The psychedelic jazz composer David Axelrod (pictured) is not the same David Axelrod who masterminded Barack Obama's presidential campaign, but this Axelrod is more important for our purposes here at Pitchfork. This Axelrod got his start producing ridiculously lush soul records for Lou Rawls before going on to work his swirl on weirdos as divers...

Kamaal plays the part of (well dressed) train car preacher in the clip for "Manwomanboogie," one of The Renaissance's many clip-worthy cuts. Overtop a track nodding to "Aspectacle" from Can's self-titled '79 LP (Can he kick it, yes he and Lykke etc.) comes a lot of positivity about how man and woman are in this thing together. Director Rik Cord...

"Manwomanboogie" is a serious highlight from The Renaissance, and director Rik Cordero sets the video for the track on a surreal, crowded, and strangely classy train. (via Nah Right)[from The Renaissance; out now on Universal/Motown]

Hip-hop pioneer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Grandmaster Flash will return to the public eye next year with a new album called The Bridge: Concept of a Culture. The record features an impressive guest list, including Snoop Dogg, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, and Grandmaster Caz. Flash will release The Bridge via Strut Records ...