First he collaborates with Atmosphere on last year’s When Life Gives you Lemons… and now Tom Waits is lending his growl to N.A.S.A.’s “Spacious Thoughts,” (alongside Kool Keith no less). How long before we can expect a full length Hip Hop record from the old man? You gotta hand it to him though, he knows how to pick em’. N.A.S.A. (North America/South America) is the partnership of soon-to-be superstars American DJ Squeak E. Clean (Sam Spiegel) and Brazilian DJ Zegon (Ze Gonzales). The duo utilizes a shared love of old school Brazilian funk to create masterfully crafted hip hop beats, and have partnered with a huge number of serious talents for their upcoming record. “Spacious Thoughts” presents a meeting of two of America’s most eccentric musical personalities in Waits and Keith. The union proves that not only does Dr. Dooom still have it, but Tom Waits can actually rap (sort of). He mostly grumbles/sings through his parts in his typical style (but come on, no one really wants to hear Tom Waits yes y’alling and shouting out to his homies). The backing beat is a pretty funky brass jam, but really only window dressing for Waits and Keith doing what they do best: being oddball geniuses.

N.A.S.A. feat. Tom Waits & Kool Keith “Spacious Thoughts” (mp3)

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Also: (N.A.S.A. 2009 Tour Dates | Triple Rock March 6)