Original mix

I bought a bunch of tunes from Beatport the other week. If you have not already experienced Beatport's online record store, I definitely recommend you check them out. Not only do they have ~2-minute audio samples of the songs for sale, but you can also store tracks in your "Hold Bin" for further review or to purchase at a later time. (hint: check out their 'DJ Charts' too.)

Anyways, I found some real dope records on this recent Beatport visit and wanted to share a few of them with you...

Waifs & Strays - "Yeah Yeah (Original mix)"

Finnebassen - "Touching Me (Original mix)"

Jacques Greene - "Dakou" (digital exclusive)

S/O to Beatport, Eats Everything, my dude Nacey, Machinedrum, Om Unit and everyone else whose put me on to some of these sounds. Appreciate it..

I Can't Forget New Jersey

Heavy D was a talented dude. Without necessarily knowing everything he had a hand in, I was/am fairly familiar with a bunch of his work, moreso through Uptown Records than anything else. Still, somehow it's this cameo in Nick Gomez/Spike Lee's "New Jersey Drive" that seems to come to mind more than anything when I think of him. Heavy was a gifted musician, but he also was a strong actor, as you can see here.

While we're talking about it, the soundtrack for "New Jersey Drive" is real nice too. Tommy Boy released it in 2 volumes, and there's some truly classic records on there, including BIG & Total's "Can't You See," Outkast's "Benz or Beamer," and a few others.

This one below from Latifah really speaks to me, though. As someone who has spent some time in Jersey over the years, albeit not in Newark, I love this record..and I love that Biz Markie sample too!!!

Queen Latifah - Jersey





And here's a couple other favorite odds & ends from Heavy D's catalog.

Game Over

The other month I had the pleasure of DJing over at Little Miss Whiskey's with Blake9 of tenured DC hip-hop group Nine:Fifteen. I hadn't been in touch with Blake since like 2003 or so when I was doing college radio, so it was cool to re-connect with a familiar face, especially someone with similar taste in music. And while I remember some of Nine:Fifteen's earlier material, I wasn't prepared for what I heard when Blake put me up on some of their new stuff…honestly, this new isht here?!?!!! My goodness!!

These cats have come a long ways...and this song below is one of the sickest records I've heard in quite some time. Add to that a dooope video from director Hilton Carter, and you got something special (50 Cent voice.)

Sure, hip-hop has changed over the years, but that thing that ties it all together is alive and well in 2012 thanks to cats like Blake and emcee Bisquite PowerPoppin (or Comel, as he was previously known.)

As the youngsters might say, #swag.



To download "Bachelorette Party" and for more on Nine:Fifteen, visit CandleWaxRecords.com.

Nu Shooz

Not sure the back story on how Nu Shooz became a hit record, or even a big record amongst the hip-hop crowd...but considering how addictive this song is, I'm not really sweating it too much. When my friend DJ Shame first put me onto this single back in the mid-90's, I had no idea what it was, but just picked it up on the strength of his recommendation...and I'm glad I did, because to this day, it's still something I play from time to time. "I Can't Wait" was first released around 1984, so I don't know that too many younger folks are familiar with it...but it's something that I figure anyone can relate to, so I think it's worth showcasing here.


I'm not going to post the original or one of the remixes that most DJs play, but instead I wanted to share this unplugged/acoustic version below. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do..
Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait (unplugged)

The Less You Know, The Better

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of interviewing DJ Shadow with my buddy KB for Subsoniq Radio. Shadow's 5th studio album "The Less You Know, The Better" just dropped in early October.



In our conversation, Shadow spoke at length about a number of topics, including some of the folks who inspire him (Bambaattaa, Premier, Mannie Fresh etc,) what it was like working with Zack de la Rocha, & why he was surprised by the feedback he received from his 2006 album, "The Outsider."

You can listen/download the entire interview over at SubsoniqRadio.com. And definitely hit up DJshadow.com to cop the new album...digital download, CD, vinyl, pick your poison.

In the meantime, I've extracted a segment from our chat to share with you here. In this excerpt, the discussion focuses on some of the featured guest artists he's brought to light through his last 2 full-lengths, most notably Chris James of Stateless, and on the new record, vocalist Tom Vek:

DJ Shadow on Subsoniq - on Tom Vek + Chris James by iamwondermike

Last but not least, for all you remixers & producers out there, Shadow is running a remix competition for the tune "Scale It Back," which features Little Dragon. The contest runs until November 25th and the winning entry will appear as part of an official remix package through Island Records.

Details and audio stems at remix.DJshadow.com.

Play It Loud

Beats By The Pound built their name producing for the No Limit camp years ago, or at least that's how I came to know of them. More recently, BBTP member KLC appeared on the radar with a solo record through Koch (remember them?) that I got my hands on (one of the perks of working in radio) and brought home on the strength of the name because it struck my memory. Long story short, I really like what this cat came with on this particular 12 inch and I want you to know that my dude has some serious sounds. This is some New Orleans stuff...so raw......................these guys changed the production game.............................play that shit loud



KLC - Play It Loud instrumental


KLC - Holla At Me feat. Mystikal, Calicoe & BG

Dear Santa...

All I want for Christmas

Jim

Been meaning to share some thoughts on Jamie Lidell recently, but I'm not sure I've got anything revelatory to present. That said, I started to look around a bit and revisit the album that turned me on to this cat, and a couple things became apparent: (1) this dude is super talented and (2) although I'm not the only one who thinks he's terrific, there (apparently) are some who don't necessarily agree, according to some listener reviews, etc.

I don't know whether I needed the affirmation to write this, but it certainly gave me something to write about here...and that is, if you peep the Amazon page for the album 'Jim,' you're able to preview the songs but as well you can read reviews, etc. One of the reviews (pasted below here) is from another artist I'm particularly fond of, Esthero.

I see a lot of promise in Esthero's work, but perhaps even moreso in Lidell's. Regardless, she's a musician and a songwriter, so I'll let her words tell (have your dictionary handy) what this album is like...but in my words, I'll tell you that this record is one you should own and/or experience, no excuses:

Music Machine

My man Goldenchyld says you can't throw a rock in the Bay area and not hit a DJ, and I believe it. That said, the Fingerbangerz (who might could be going by The Bangerz these days) are head and shoulders above most, whether we're talking the Bay or elsewhere. You may have seen/heard them with The Jabbawockeez on America's Best Dance Crew or whatever, you may have seen them on tour, or you may have seen them killing shit in the greater San Jose neighborhood on any given night of the week.

Truth is, these cats can turn it out. I first heard of them when their debut album 'The Virus' dropped maybe back in 2004/2005 or so. From a production perspective, Goldenchyld, G-Wrex, Replay, Cutso, Ngobility and Square One got a good thing going. You can tell in listening to their stuff that they like to have a good time, and that's why I want to share this with you today.

***Perfect for house parties, corporate gatherings and underground booty clap contests***

DO NOT SLEEP...


Download the 'Music Machine' mixtape

In the Golden State

For whatever reason (pianos from Evidence + Defari monotone = success?) these records stay in my collection and will likely remain there for the foreseeable future. You need these records if you don't already have 'em. It's unfortunate because the dude Defari has not really ever been able to put together a solid album, but in terms of singles, he definitely did his thing. Maybe he was ahead of his time a bit since nowadays it's not albums that are being pushed but rather singles, EPs, etc. Then again, a few years back a hot single was the way you paved the path to making some noise (as evidenced by the entire ABB camp and much of the more prominent hip-hop artists of the era.) I'm not sure if that particular West Coast underground (read 'Dilated') sound is still hitting as of late, but these cats made some ill records. Not trying to hate on their recent stuff, but I just think a lot of their albums/projects have been somewhat forgettable, that is, when I've put in the effort to check them out. With that said, I have a ton of respect for Babu and the entire Beat Junkies crew, Defari, Evidence, Joey Chavez, ABB and everyone who crafted this sound and put(s) it down in LA and out west, because simply put, as a cat who grew up on the East Coast, this west-side stuff has been an acquired taste for me and remains some of the most progressive hip-hop music. Can't wait to hear some more of this type stuff from these dudes or whoever else got it like that (Are people still making actual hip-hop records in 2009??)

As for the sounds, some of my favorites, and surely some of his most popular joints, the homie Defari from the Likwit camp, Dilated, ABB, etc. The intro here features yet another bit from the aforementioned Cornerstone mixtapes, Tony Toca and Hi-Tek making it do what it do. Otherwise, Evidence on the beats, Defari on the mic, simple and plain, give thanks and maintain!


Defari - choice cuts

1. Hi-Tek intro (WKRP Tony Toca ish)
2. Defari - Joyride
3. Defari - Bionic
4. Defari - Say It Twice
5. Defari - I Can't Wait (L.A. City)

Let's do this

goin out to all the ladies,,, from all the guys

Machinedrum - Want to 1 2? available on CD & 2 x 12" on May 12th.
www.myspace.com/machinedrum

Identical to None

These cats are pretty inventive with the dance moves...I need to see more of this going down at the functions I do



And in related does it offend you news...

The nod might have to go to Flying Lotus though for video of the year, with "Parisian Goldfish." Giving true meaning to the phrase Not Safe For Work!




Being as it is that I don't really get behind too many albums these days, 'Los Angeles' was one of the few records that really made an impression this year.

Reply in the comments section with your suggestion of a similarly clever recent (2007-2008) music video...I'm gonna see if I can't give away a copy of 'Los Angeles' to one of you all, try to spread the love a little bit.

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: