Live from New York...

Considering how bad SNL was for the longest time, I have to imagine that NBC (and probably Lorne Michaels as well) are counting their lucky stars these days to have some of the new writers and talent on their weekly staff. In fact, I'd be curious to see the ratings over the years for the show, just to see how many viewers they lost over the past 5-10 years. There are certainly still some weak links on the cast (I see you Kenan), but with cats like Andy Samberg and those other two dudes, the show is in a much better place. Anyways, it's about time they got their act together.

These digital shorts are as close to must see as it gets:

As I was saying, SNL has only become watchable again in the past few years really. Kanye's post-Katrina appearance in 2005 was dope, and then he killed it again on the 2007 season premiere hosted by Lebron James. If you can find them online, check the videos of Kanye's performances from either 2005 (Gold Digger/Touch the Sky & Heard Em Say) or 2007 (Stronger/Good Life & Champion/Everything I Am)...in all cases, pretty sick, especially with the live string section. But with that said, it must be said that Lebron definitely showed his acting chops as well.

Another name that definitely needs to be mentioned as we talk about the reemergence of SNL is Justin Timberlake. For those of you J. Timberlake haters out there, check your ego at the door because his stints as host on SNL have been quite possibly the most memorable shows in recent years...consistent throughout.

Finally, since I'm on the topic, this is something I got off a mixtape from some friends years ago. From May 7, 1983...

Stevie Wonder - Overjoyed (Live on Saturday Night Live)

Reacquainted...

I went out the other week to this event at the 9:30 Club hosted by Red Bull called the Big Tune competition. Nottz was a featured performer, and though I recognized his name, I couldn't really put the name to any tracks off the top...it soon came to my attention that he was responsible for this from 'Extinction Level Event' and this from 'Graduation' (one of just a few other producers credited on Kanye's latest.) Outside of those, I've been a big fan of "W.O.L.V.E.S." which is off the Training Day soundtrack, but the tune that really caught my attention was the joint he opened up with as his hype-man was setting the stage a bit. I couldn't place it, so I asked him the name of it afterwards when I saw him outside the venue...a little Motown flavor for ya, Edwin Starr - Easin In.

Anyway, there were some good producers involved in the competition (K. Murdock of Panacea, Young Slim, Best Kept Secret, etc.) and an energetic performance from Wale, who seems to be a favorite of some/many these days, or at least a buzzworthy name.  He was good, I'll give him that...good energy, good music, all around, dude did his thing.

In between competitors/performers, the DJ was playing some tracks, and it turns out that he was actually spinning DVDs which was kinda cool...interesting to see some of the music videos showing on the big screens for the joints he was spinning. At one point he was playing 'Da Rockwilder' from Meth and Red, which was a dope little jam when it came out at the beginning of this decade, but even more memorable than the track, was the video. It got me to thinking about some of the videos from that era (late 90's, early 00's) and some of the video directors, including the cat who did the 'Rockwilder' video, Dave Meyers. Many of the videos back then really defined the tracks that blew up cats like Cash Money and their whole crew (surprisingly, I don't believe Meyers did any videos for Cash Money, but it sparked the idea and his name is the one that stands out the most.) Of course, keep in mind that this was in a different time when heads would spend a huge budget on a video because there were not countless outlets for music videos yet, and in order to get your video played, it needed to be big. Nowadays, the math just doesn't make sense (obviously.) Back to the lecture at hand though, many of the joints that really blew up around this time had dope videos, and while I don't find myself checking MTV2/Jamz/VHI Soul/Fuse/etc. nearly as much as I did years ago, I don't think these type videos are being made as much. The look they accomplished was pretty impactful. Here's some of the vids from those days that stand out:

Ahead of the Curve

As many people as there are that know his name and are just generally familiar with who he is, I'm not sure if quite enough people are checking for Z-Trip as much as they should. Dude cut his teeth over the years in front of crowds (extra) large and small, home and abroad, hip-hop and otherwise. Z clearly bridges the gap...one of those select few artists who gets the nod to open up for legends such as The Rolling Stones, and I'm sure others. But when it's all said and done, hip-hop is what it's all about. Anyway...I want to put you on to a few things that I keep in my collection that I think you should know about, kind of on some stream of consciousness tip.

Some of these tracks are more readily available, some stuff you'd have to track down, but all pretty dope. First things first, "Soundclash" is available as a free download over at Z's site...not a whole lot to say about it, but dude makes some great remixes/edits/mashups/whatever. Updating a classic Dawn Penn record never seemed so easy. Next up is an exclusive bit from 'Ahead of the Curve,' just a little sample (featuring Gift of Gab in this instance) of what you're getting from that collaborative mix project from Lateef and Z...definitely far from your average. I've also included a couple pieces from 'New Math,' the debut (and only?) album from some of Z's comrades, the Backyard Bangers, E. Moss & Troublemaker. And, finally, connecting the dots once again, a selection from my man 2tall.

2tall is definitely one of my favorite DJ/producers. Progressive, amazing talent, and consistent. "Coaster" is off a 3-track digital EP that was released a few years back around the time his debut 'Shifting Tides' dropped. The EP was not initially intended for commercial release, but, according to the man himself, due to some hefty stateside radio support, he decided to give the EP a proper release through Bleep. Peep game...

Z-Trip / Backyard Bangers / 2tall

Z-Trip - Soundclash (white label)

Lateef & Z-Trip - Time freestyle feat. Gift of Gab (Hard Left)

Backyard Bangers - Yardwork (Hollyrock)

Backyard Bangers - Opposite Direction (Hollyrock)
2tall - Coaster (Needlework)

Close Edge

I put this mix together just recently as a demo of sorts, really just something to move the crowd. It includes some electro/house/hip-hop stuff and some straight club and hip-hop stuff as well, ranging from independent/progressive to big mainstream radio hits. Folks who know me may be surprised with some of these selections, but it's all about the context and the vibe... I understand that not everyone can tell a good DJ from a mediocre/wack DJ, and some folks dig deeper than others in their music listening habits, so I'm trying to bridge the gap a bit with some more recognizable tracks and some less known tracks.

Over the years I've become familiar with and had the pleasure to listen to and learn from a lot of dope DJs, where skill and crate knowledge were the primary job requirements. I'm not sure if those attributes are as much the case with your average "DJ" in 2008, but that's where I come from, and that's what I'm trying to do. Without further delay, here it is...so see what you think. Hope you enjoy it.

Wondermike - Close Edge mix

1. Eric B & Rakim - Juicy (DJ Eli remix)
2. Windimoto - Don't Let Me Leave Alone (Nicolay remix)
3. Poly - My Emotion
4. Fergie - Glamorous feat. Ludacris
5. King Tutt - Justin remix
6. Usher - Love in This Club
7. Usher - Confessions Pt. II
8. Trick Daddy - I'm A Thug
9. Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River
10. Game - Dreams