01. Talk it Out feat. Nieve & Jean Curley
02. All I Want In This World feat. CL Smooth
03. Mountain Top feat. Aloe Blacc
04. Live Forever feat. Black Thought (of The Roots)
05. Bubbles feat. Jean Curley
06. So Fresh feat. Talib Kweli
07. Nothin For Nothin feat. CL
08. Only One feat. Need Not Worry
09. Jag Jam Jazz
10. The World Outside In feat. Othello
11. Cheers feat. Asheru
12. Food For Thoughts feat. O.C.
13. Yin Stacks feat. Rakaa Iriscience (of Dilated Peoples)
14. Velvet Ballads
Link
CRADLE is a groundbreaking Japanese unit specializing and leading a beautiful revolution in mellow and jazzy Hip Hop track making.
Through their stunning first release “MAKE IT LAST (feat. Aloe Blacc (Emanon)” in 2005 CRADLE were immediately propelled into the spotlight through outstanding success in Japan. MAKE IT LAST was later released in the USA, Europe and Australia.
Their long-awaited debut album “ATTITUDE” streeted in June, 2006 and the albums immense popularity elevated CRADLE in the top tier of Japanese mellow Hip Hop artists, alongside the internationally acclaimed NUJABES and NOMAK at the forefront of the genre in Japan.
As DJs CRADLE play with some of the biggest major and underground Hip Hop artists in Japan including NUJABES, DJ KRUSH, YASUHARU KONISHI (Pizzicato Five), SHUYA OKINO (Kyoto Jazz Massive, DJ KIYO, DJ JIN (Rhymester), DJ MILES (Breakestra), STARVING ARTIST CREW, DJ MITSU , THE BEATS (Gagle), DJ RYOW etc etc.
Pursuing their dream sound (and also partly due to the risks and limitations using sampling) CRADLE (aka CRADLE ORCHESTRA) commenced working hard on creating their own unique “LIVE SOUND”, an exciting, new sound that they have always wanted to create.
By collaborating directly with some amazingly skilled and high profile musicians in Japan CRADLE now incorporate live violin, flute, piano, saxophone, bass, and many more instruments into their track making. This collaboration has resulted in the creation of amazingly beautiful and unique melodies with an incredibly original orchestra type sound……the CRADLE ORCHESTRA sound!
To test the new sound out on the public CRADLE remixed a track by New York’s THE GOOD PEOPLE that was released by the then emerging Japanese label GOON TRAX. When the vinyl release featuring CRADLE’s remix sold out in one day they knew that the Japanese music fans were ready for more of their exciting new sound.
To further hone their skills and define the new sound CRADLE produced an album for internationally acclaimed Japanese pianist HIROKI MIZUKAMI in 2007, by successfully complementing Hiroki’s amazing piano skills with their own orchestra sound the collaboration hit a sweet spot on the Japanese music fans radar and the release was a great hit in Japan.
In 2008 CRADLE has made several remixes (NIEVE , THE ANITIDOTES, INCISE etc) including a remix of New York identity SAINT’s song titled CANT RELATE which appeared as the lead track on the hit Various Artist compilation titled “IN YA MELLOW TONE” released by GOON TRAX by now the new emerging powerhouse label in the Japanese mellow Hip Hop scene.
IN YA MELLOW TONE captured the imagination of fans in Japan and is the biggest selling mellow Hip Hop compilation released in Japan to date and is continuing to sell strongly and introduce thousands of new fans to the genre. The amazing remix by CRADLE played a big role in the success of the release.
CRADLE has continued to work hard on their masterpiece, a new album “VELVET BALLADS” due for release in January 2009 on GOON TRAX and featuring some of the biggest international names in scene, the CRADLE revolution is coming. please stay tuned.
