Slum Village release F.U.N., their first album in almost a decade. T3 and Young RJ wave their SV flag hard on the album with guest appearances from The Dramatics, Larry June, Cordae, Robert Glasper, Abstract Orchestra, and more. The duo says that the starting point and inspiration for the album was collecting disco records. Their sonic destination becomes obvious on “To The Disco” which posts up with horns and rhythm descended from some of Gamble and Huff’s Philadelphia dance music. Those vintage sounds also appear on “Keep Dreaming” where Young RJ admits to still having dreams about a spaceship after a sample evoking the Shaft In Africa soundtrack fades into the background. They perfected a rollerskating jam with “All Live” constructed of a Tom Browne trumpet opening and a groove reminiscent of “Climax” from their Fantastic Vol. 2 days.

The title track grabs some of Funkadelic’s fervor circa 1978 to make a statement about their proud Detroit origins. It has been almost three decades since J.Dilla’s group emerged and like another legendary Detroit group, The Temptations, Slum Village has survived the passing of members and different lineups to keep making music. F.U.N. reveals that T3 and Young RJ still have the spark that started the whole thing in the first place. They shine equally with a good group of collaborators and have added a new worthy edition to grown-up rap. 

Slum Village’s “Request” is another single from their upcoming spring release FUN. Group member and producer Young RJ handled the midnight vibes of the song which has the Abstract Orchestra and Big Sean collaborator rapper Earlly Mac in the credits. It was eight years ago when the group released Yes! Last year they announced FUN with the release of the first single, “Just Like You” featuring Larry June and The Dramatics. FUN will drop in the spring and the duo will return to Europe for the FUN Since 92 tour. You can see them next month at the Blue Note with Chris Rob and his band the week following what would have been group founder J.Dilla’s 50th birthday. 

Slum Village announce their first new album in seven years with “Just Like You” featuring Larry June and The Dramatics. Young RJ and T3 have kept busy since Vol. 0 with solo projects and features but they have now returned to their SV home. In 2022, Young RJ released his World Tour album. “Just Like You” is a flirting session with a potential date and the added enticement from The Dramatics’ vintage soul. Young RJ produced “Just Like You” which straddles both an R&B and hip-hop groove. The new song and album announcement comes not long after the premiere of the New York Times J. Dilla documentary. “Just Like You” is another chapter in the legacy of the group he co-founded with Baatin and T3 years ago.  The Great Escape is scheduled for an August release.  

Detroit R&B/funk group RJ’s Latest Arrival has released a remastered version of their sophomore album Harmony under the title Shackles. “Shackles” the title track, was recently featured in the second season third episode of STARZ’s BMF series. The drama centers around the Flenory brothers’ narcotics empire started in Detroit during the ’80s and so far the soundtrack has authentically presented the music from that time period. “Shackles” was loved locally and became a Top Ten hit later sampled in Nas’ “You Owe Me.” RJ’s Latest Arrival was known for its blend of funk, R&B and New Wave sounds that made “Shackles” a dancefloor necessity. The group had regional success with their 1978 single “Crystal” but it was “Shackles” in 1984 that introduced them to a national audience. They would later have more acclaim with “Heaven In Your Arms” and 17 charted R&B singles. 

Group leader Ralph “RJ” Rice also produced songs for The Barkays, The Pet Shop Boys, singer-songwriter Poe, Color Me Badd, Kurupt and Ice Cube. When RJ’s Latest Arrival disbanded in 1990 Rice founded Barak Records. The label was a recording lab for several Detroit hip-hop artists including J.Dilla, Slum Village, Phat Kat, Guilty Simpson and Marv One. Rice’s son, Young RJ was mentored by Dilla and is a member of Slum Village. 

The Shackles remaster is available via  Rice’s Neastra Music.