Me and the Mixtape: August 2006 Edition

Me and the Mixtape is a 60-minute tracklisting for a mixtape out of a given style, mood, situation, or a period of time.

1. Masta Killa - "It's What It Is" [Made In Brooklyn]
Along with Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, Wu-Tang Clan members rap bluntly over blaring horns and kung fu movie samples.

2. J Dilla - "Baby" [The Shining]
Laying out a soulful beat full of lush instruments and looped R&B vocal sample for Madlib and Guilty Simpson; vintage Dilla.

3. Ciara f. Chamillionaire - "Get Up" [Step Up [Original Soundtrack]]
1, 2 Step, Pt. 2; the Roland 808's are Jazze Pha's best friend.

4. OutKast - "Life Is Like A Musical" [Idlewild]
Despite all the OutKast break-up talks, Andre 3000's charmingly shrill voice assures that he and Big Boi will always be BFF.

5. Eric Bachmann - "Man O' War" [To The Races]
Former Crooked Fingers singer/guitarist testifies with a rippling picked guitar that it's possible to be depressed and lonely in Spain.

6. The Dears - "Fear Made The World Go 'Round" [Gang Of Losers]
Montreal dark and orchestral rockers disproves astronomy with a slow, scorching ballad.

7. Ratatat - "Kennedy" [Classics]
It's difficult to tell from this bass-heavy instrumental track what it's all about; but, i'm guessing the safest bet would be assasination.

8. Kelis - "Bossy (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Remix)" [internet]
Disco-housing the previously dormant original track means further evidence that music sounds better with Alan Braxe.

9. Of Montreal - "Forecast Fascist Future (IQU Remix)" [Satanic Twins]
A perpetual bass line and a vehement drum loop assimilates admirably with the original's distorted guitar riff and Barnes howl.

10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Diamond Sea" [iTunes Session]
Brooklyn trio campaigns for Apple with this all-acoustic cover of a track from Sonic Youth's Washing Machine.

11. Broadcast - "Chord Simple" [Future Crayon]
Birmangham's electronic band keeps it simple (stupid) with this whimsical wordless rarity.

12. The Mountain Goats - "Get Lonely" [Get Lonely]
Now that John Darnielle's given you an extremely thrilling permission, you can go ahead and depressingly live a life of solitude.

13. The Roots - "Can't Stop This" [Game Theory]
The world's greatest hip-hop band eulogizes J Dilla with recorded voicemail messages over Dilla's own delicately masterful beat.