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Despite having grown up in South Florida, Uffie hasn't actually step foot in our swampy parts since 2006 when she made an appearance during Winter Music Conference. Still, South Florida's influence on her style of music in undeniable. Hints of Miami booty bass, freestyle and crunk are all there mashed up with electro beats. 2 Live Crew and L'Trimm are just as big of a influence as Daft Punk and Peaches.

Uffie's success was almost instantaneous when she dropped her single "Pop the Glock" back in 2005 with French label Ed Banger Records. Other dancefloor-ready singles like "Ready to Uff" and "Hot Chick" soon followed, while releases like "Dismissed" and "First Love" were met with a more tepid response. It also seemed like the singer was losing steam and we sort of expected her to become just another footnote in the rapidly changing electro-house genre.

But Ed Banger head honcho Busy P, who will be in Miami later this month, still seems to have faith in her. After many empty promises of a full LP, Busy P says it is finally done, and the album, which will be called Sex Dreams & Denim Jeans, is slated for an early 2010 release. Uffie's usual crop of producers will be present -- Feadz, Mr. Oizo and SebastiAn -- along with Mirwais, who is famous for producing much of Madonna's latest body of work.

To celebrate the upcoming release, Busy P says he's re-releasing "Pop the Glock," which samples "Top Billin'" by Audio Two, as a four-track EP with remixes by Mirwais, DJ Mehdi and Ellen Alien, as well as producing a video for it, which coincidentally came out last week. This marks Uffie first foray into music video territory.

Let's hope 2010 also marks Uffie's return to South Florida, perhaps for next year's WMC.

DJ Manuvers

Long-time fixture on the Miami hip-hop scene DJ Manuvers has a new podcast up.  So far it sounds like a super breezy and very dope mix of jazzy stuff, hip-hop, slow grooves and whatnot.  It includes some unreleased jams as well.  Really it sounds like the perfect mix for this weather, the slow hot sticky summer that we are settling into.  And you know what else?  It's free and it's making my day at the computer go by so much smoother.

The podcast is at this link:

http://manuvers.podbean.com/2009/07/01/mia-in-the-mia/

Bass Low/Bass Galactica 8

Juan Loumiet is on a busy streak.  Besides running his venue, promoting shows, and spinning beats, he is finding time to drop deep tracks on his label Basshead. Right now he has this piece coming from Miami's own Otto von Schirach.  It's a double-A side with two big-time club bangers, showing von Schirach's more danceable side while retaining some of his quirkiness. You might have heard von Schirach or Jose el Rey dropping some of these future bass tracks out and about and thought, My, what the hell is this low-end glittery awesomeness?

Cop that shit at Sweat Records or online here.

Never sleep in Miami. Never rest. This Saturday night, May 30, Sneaker Pimps is coming to South Florida again and this time with a live blast from Clipse as well as Cool Kids.  I am not a huge fan of CKs but Clipse is extra special good.  If you haven't had a chance, you can download a mixtape from December that is a prelude to the soon to be released album Till The Casket Drops that features the requisite Neptunes production as well as jams with Kanye and Rick Rubin, among others. The exhibit itself is the world's largest collection of sneakers and it is always a really big pile of eye candy.  It's hosted by Keen One and goes down at 8 p.m. Possibly one of the best club bangers ever written is after the jump.

Saturday, May 30. The Moore Building, 4040 NE 2nd Ave., Miami. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15 in advance, $20 at the door. All ages. sneakerpimps.net

Somehow Afrobeta doesn't have a proper record out.  Even though the dynamic pop duo slays the crowds, plays international gigs and gets featured on acts like Calle 13's tracks, they don't have a proper album.  So they did what any self respecting street DJ would do -- they put out a mixtape.  Since it's the '90s, you don't actually need to go somewhere and buy it; you can download via Sweat Records.

For those who don't know, the act consists of Cuci Amador singing, dancing and generally rocking an MPC over Tony Smurphio's, also of Sunalo!, awesome sick dancy grooves.

Awesome New Republic's new album is up for free on their website.  It is really good. Check out this Miami pop band's latest emission, Rational Geographic Volume I. They are infectious, often-talked about and very fun live. Of course, you probably already know this, because this rag always writes about their stuff.  Even still, you need this album and it is free. So put it on your brain. There is a video now here after jumping off.

Live in Gainesville 2007

Dino Felipe is one of those Miami guys who has a nice little national rep for himself. People who are in the know about underground currents of off-kilter sounds know what's up. This is wrong.  This shouldn't be the case. In a just universe he would be touring the world, playing theatres and selling out shows.  Over the course of 30+ releases, the young man has moved through noise, pop-music, danceable destruction, solo records, compilations, group projects (Finesse+Runway, Old Bombs, et al.), all while making some of the most interesting, and sometimes strangely listenable, tracks. 

Lately, for some reason, he seems to be unwilling or unable to tour on a national level, however I do see two Canadian dates up on his MySpace. I also noticed a new video that is fairly representative of the last few live sets I have seen him play. Do your job, after the jump.

Die Stinkin'

I don't really know who the James's are but I DO know that Die Stinkin' is one of my favourite South Florida bands of all times.  I love their classic tracks like "Beer," "Blood on the Sheets," "Baby I Love Dope," and their version of "Again and Again." And they pick awesome covers like "Sooprise Package for Mr. Mineo."  

Here are some inside tips:

Kevin Ramirez

MadMartigan and Furious Dudes are holding it down at a Rock Show at PS 14 on Friday, April 10, 2009.  MadMartigan features the apparently very gay-attractive (just ask the Power 96 drive time shock jocks) and Iggy-esque Michael Vincent (who is definitely a hetero-lady slayer, btw) on vocals and the able handed Red Tuttle on guitar.  They are the best and perhaps one of the only actual rock bands to come out of Miami in the past few years, except of course for the Furious Dudes, who also play what is known as rock music.  These bands, although different to be sure, both sound like they have been listening to a lot of Damned, Stooges, and Turbo Negro and not so much Thrice, Thursday and Saves the Day. Suposibly MadMartigan is trying to finish recording their record so that they can sell records to us.  I know for a fact they are going to play rock music madly and furiously. They are experts at whipping the crowd into a frenzy and they do it best at PS.  

If you aren't going to Maiden or to see Coliseum tonight and you are feeling a little nostalgic and slightly emotional, you might go check out the Ben Folds gig up in Boca at FAU tonight, April 2. That sweet young boy is a boy no more and he is doing his thing at the amphitheater up there. Tickets are still available and you can get mushy and remember how cute that guy is. Join the people's front of Judea right now! - Dominic Sirianni