MBE May 12: Roy Ayers’ sunshine sounds, Japanese hip-hop, and an iPhone giveaway

On this fine Thursday, we’re soaking up the sweet spring air with Roy Ayer’s timeless “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.” The album by the same name was released on this day in 1976, and the title track has since been sampled and covered by many of the greats, from Dr. Dre to Mary J. Blige.

We also head to Japan to check out the rhymes of 25-year-old Tokyo-based lyricist Suzuki Mamiko on “Lazy River.” Plus, we inch a little closer to your end-of-week get down with “Sottopassaggio,” the latest from Stockholm’s Axel Boman who blends electronic dance rhythms with textured beats.

And if there’s something else we know everyone loves, it’s shiny gadgets that allow you to stream KCRW 24/7. We’ve got you covered during KCRW’s Spring Drive. Donate before midnight to be automatically entered to win a brand new iPhone 13