Raekwon feat. Mika Lett, “Once in a Lifetime” [Advance Track]
For a guy who complained that the last Wu-Tang record didn’t have enough “Punch you in the face music,” Rae sure gives a lot of this song over to the sweet cooing of soul singer Mika. Maybe he meant “punch you in the face… with kisses?”

Pharcyde, “Passin’ Me By” [Hot Chip Remix]
Well, I didn’t think it was possible, but electro-hipsters Hot Chip somehow improve this classic Pharcyde track, making it sound like something the RZA forgot to put on Enter the Wu-Tang. Next up, Jens Lekman reworks “You Can’t Fade Me.”

Nas & DJ Green Lantern, The Nigger Tape [Mixtape]
He’s going to use that title one way or another. The good news is that this is incendiary, everything you’d expect and more (even with the Mike Tyson tribute). About five minutes in Green Lantern pops in to say, “I ain’t gonna do a whole lotta talking on this tape.” Fine by us.

DJ Doc Roc/Coldplay, “Violet Hill” [Remix]
Remember the last time we gave you a Coldplay remix? That didn’t work out so well. Well, this one we know is a Coldplay remix because the remixer was kind enough to include video. And if we can see something it must be true. That’s why we completely revised our opinion on birds after seeing Heckle & Jeckle. Magpies can talk!

Pointer Sisters, “Send Him Back” (Pilooski Edit) [Remix]
Man oh man: French remixer sets this 20-year-old Pointer Sisters track on fire, riveting in a lockstep dance groove and sprinkling strings all over it like fairy dust. And if that isn’t enough, check the Frankie Valli remix on the same page: thump-thump bassline, frantic percussion and a vocal that could pass for vintage soul.

[Photo: Getty]