Herbie Hancock – “The Imagine Project”
Herbie Hancock’s “The Imagine Project”, the new CD from multiple Grammy-winning artist and musical pioneer Herbie Hancock, is an unprecedented international recording and film project featuring collaborations between music legend Herbie Hancock and over a dozen superstars from every region of the planet. Utilizing the universal language of music to express its central themes of peace and global responsibility, the musical collaborations combine Hancock’s genre-defying musical vision with the “local” musical identity of cultures from around the world. Additionally, noted Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney (“Taxi To The Dark Side”) is serving as one of the film’s producers with veteran music producer Larry Klein serving as one of the album’s producing consultants. “The Imagine Project” is set for release June 22, 2010 via Hancock Records/RED.
Tracks include “The Song Goes On” with Anoushka Shankar (sitarist daughter of Ravi Shankar), Chaka Khan and Wayne Shorter which was recorded in Mumbai, India, along with a stellar group of Indian musicians; “Don’t Give Up,” a duet with guitarist extraordinaire Jeff Beck recorded in London featuring Seal and Pink, “Imagine” with Konono No. l, Jeff Beck, Oumou Sangare and Lionel Louke recorded in Paris and London; “Tamatant Tilay/Exodus” featuring Tinariwen, “Times They Are A Changin’” featuring The Chieftains, Lionel Loueke and Lisa Hannigan recorded in Ireland; “Jackpot” with Dave Matthews and Marcus Miller, “Space Captain” with Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, “Mi Tierra” recorded with Latin superstar Juanes in Miami and a track with Brazilian singer-songwriter Céu recorded in São Paulo.
“Music truly is the universal language,” says Hancock, “The Imagine Project” will explore that concept across the globe, uniting a myriad of cultures through song and positive creative expression. My hope is that the music will serve as a metaphor for the actions taken by the inhabitants of this wonderful planet as a call for world harmony on all levels.”
Herbie Hancock’s “The Imagine Project” is the next step in Hancock’s extraordinary ground-breaking career, and builds upon his recent successes and recognition. (2007 Grammy for Album of the Year – “River/The Joni Letters”, Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, multiple award-winning album/film, “Possibilities”, Jazz Chair for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, amongst many others). It is anticipated that “The Imagine Project” will take numerous forms — from traditional album to potential “webisodes”, film/documentary, real-time performances, and special concert touring dates.
Herbie Hancock’s “The Imagine Project” set for released June 22nd
Oddisee – “Kansas Bay (South Central Remix)” Feat. Stik Figa
Oddisee – “Kansas Bay” Feat. Stik Figa
The multi-talented emcee and producer Oddisee is back to the boom-bap with his “Kansas Bay (South Central Remix)”. After finding success with the celebrated Diamond District crew, Oddisee has stepped back out on his own with a new 24-track instrumental album, Traveling Man. Inspired and informed by his journeys to Australia, Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, Oddisee has captured the sounds of hip-hop the world over on Traveling Man, out now digitally and available as a limited edition vinyl pressing on February 23rd. The sonic voyage continues with the “Kansas Bay (South Central Remix)” featuring Kansas City native, Stik Figa. The Midwest meets the West Coast in this re-imagining, which finds Stik Figa riding the wave of a beat steeped in G-funk and dripping with bass best suited for a low rider. As Oddisee explains, “Bay Area hip-hop has been popular in Kansas for years, and Stik Figa uses a Too $hort-esque flow to tell the comedic story of an out-of-towner’s unfortunate luck on ‘Kansas Bay’.” Prepare yourself for your sonic travels, and let Oddisee guide you on this aural adventure from the heartland to the left coast and back again.
Links:
Download:
Download “Kansas Bay” Click Here!
Official Site:
www.oddiseemusic.blogspot.com
GOLD:Before Woodstock.Beyond Reality
In 1968, filmmaker Bob Levis led a rag-tag band of dreamers, drop outs and drug-happy darlings into the wilderness to make a movie and emerged a month later with GOLD, a bizarre and beautiful journey into the mind and madness of the late 1960s – one overflowing with fantasies of revolution, recreation and raunchy free love. At once a western, a comedy, a nudie, a drama and a musical – GOLD is a profound potpourri made in the spirit of shaking down square society, while systematically shattering every movie rule in the process. But then the film vanished, lost like the generation from which it came… Until now.
Starring the father of improvisational comedy Del Close (The Untouchables, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), Garry Goodrow (Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, The Hollywood Knights), and fueled by the hard kickin’ sounds of the MC5 and more, GOLD is a tawdry and twisted testament to a time when the world was ready for change, and the counter-culture set out to turn it upside-down.
In the current Hollywood film Pirate Radio (Focus) – the character played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman is based on Ronan O’Rahilly (Radio Caroline) – who produced the movie GOLD and got the MC5 in the movie since he was their tour manager ‘70 to ‘71.”GOLD: Before WOodstock. Beyond Reality” will be available for distribution in North America on March 23 for the first time ever. A film that has been lost for 40 years.
Georgia & Declaime feat. Black Milk, Kool G Rap, & LMNO
“Heaven or Hell” feat. Black Milk, Kool G Rap & LMNO
Georgia Anne Muldrow & Declaime (AKA Dudley Perkins) just released a new single from SomeOthaShip, “Heaven Or Hell.” Produced by Georgia Anne Muldrow, the track features Black Milk as well as the legendary Kool G Rap and Long Beach MC LMNO, each personifying one of the many layers between heaven and hell.
Mello Music Group founder and owner Michael Tolle explains, “I wanted to create a track that showed two extreme perspectives – Kool G Rap doing his Gangster/Drug Lord/Pimp thing while Declaime & Georgia did their righteous preacher thing.” He continues, “However, LMNO came with the most positive message out of the bunch. In the middle, Black Milk did his thing to perfection. Thus the ‘Heaven Or Hell’ title.”
To celebrate the February 23rd physical release date for SomeOthaShip, Georgia & Declaime will be performing a handful of shows, in addition to an in-store meet-and-greet at Fat Beats, New York:
February 23rd at Fat Beats, New York – In-Store – 6:00pm – 7:00pm
February 23rd at SOBs in New York City – Doors @ 7:30pm, Show @ 9:00pm
February 24th at Liv in Washington D.C. – Doors @ 7:00pm, Show @ 8:00pm
February 25th at The Arts Garage in Philadelphia – Doors @ 8:30pm
Official Site:
http://epistrophikpeachsound.wordpress.com/
MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/dudleyperkins
http://www.myspace.com/georgiaannemuldrow
Label Site:
http://www.myspace.com/mellomusicgroup
SPECIAL VALENTINE GIFT FOR YOUR LOVE
FOOX’s Valentine’s Day themed painting of a heart on top of an x-ray of his own chest. Because of the radiation this is a limited edition piece. I have no idea if there is still any left, but you should check. Each piece comes framed in a backlit box. Rumors have it that FOOX will be doing a July seriers of 8 back x-rays with a spine painted on them.
“i hope i don’t get sick and need any more x-rays, according to my doctor, i am not allowed any more radiation”, says FOOX.
Check out more of FOOXE’s work here:
www.FOOX-U.com
Paid Dues 2010
The “PAID DUES” INDEPENDENT HIP-HOP FESTIVAL presented by MURS 3:16 in association with Guerilla Union (Rock The Bells, Cypress Hill Smoke Out)–will return Saturday, April 3 to the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA for the fifth consecutive year. Named “Independent hip-hop’s premiere festival” by SOHH.COM, the festival supports this genre of music where advanced lyricism, stinging political commentary and quality DJ performances flourish in a seemingly parallel universe.
The 2010 lineup will feature performances from ICE CUBE, MURS & 9TH WONDER, TECH N9NE, RAEKWON, JAY ELECTRONICA, THA DOGG POUND, DILATED PEOPLES, PSYCHO REALM, NECRO, PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS, DEL THA FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN, FREEWAY AND JAKE ONE, RANDOM AXE FEATURING SEAN PRICE, GUILTY SIMPSON AND BLACK MILK, R.A. THE RUGGED MAN, STRONG ARM STEADY, SHAPE SHIFTERS, CURREN$Y, DOOMTREE, MAC LETHAL, POTLUCK, AFRO CLASSICS, DOM KENNEDY, HOPIE SPITSHARD, DJ ROWDY A, MC PROTOTYPE PLUS VERY SPECIAL GUESTS: FREESTYLE FELLOWSHIP; the event will be hosted by ANGELA YEE & DJ WONDER, DJ VAL THE VANDLE & DUMBFOUNDED.
PRISON INC
Prison Inc., group show exhibition curated by Gregg Stone, featuring a large collection of drawings created by incarcerated artists with letters from the artists. Additionally, Crewest officially opens a new “Featured Artist Room.” This new Featured Artist Room will feature monthly installations by featured artists selected by Crewest. Kicking off inside this new room, Crewest presents “Life Inside” a collaborative installation, directed under Edgar “OSOK” Hoill, featuring the creative works of Adrian Nieto, John Jarasa, Gregg Stone, Juan Sanchez Jr., Salim Assid Jr., Elena Dominguez, David Montes and Rafael Vasquez. Dedicated and inspired by the trying times of prison.
Exhibiting Artists:
Gregg Stone, Edgar “OSOK” Hoill, Kenny McDermott, J. Cheddah, Leno Delgado, William Woods, Klive Hulsey, Martin Bueno, Javier, Penko, Warlock, Oscar Campos, Adrian Nieto, John Jarasa, Juan Sanchez Jr., Salim Assid Jr., Elena Dominguez, David Montes and Rafael Vasquez.
This is exhibition will be open to the public till Feb 27, 2010. For more information check out Crewest, 110 Winston St., Los Angeles, CA
Links:
Supa Dupa Flow
“Supa Dupa Flow”by Draztic feat. 5ill”
This track, Supa Dupa Flow, is off United States of Mind’s (U.S.M.) latest sampler. U.S.M. has gotta be one of my favorite hip-hop collectives rising out of Detroit, hands down no questions asked. This is one of those raw classics you can’t force out. Check ‘em out, don’t sleep on this.
Diamond District – “Who I Be” Remix + European Tour Dates
“Who I Be” – Marco Polo Remix
Last year the DC based hip-hop group Diamond District dropped their debut album, In The Ruff. They stated that the focus was to create a boom-bap album for the DC area but after listening to it a few times you can see why it took the globe by surprise. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, you should. We just received this Marco Polo remix of “Who I Be” and news of a European tour. We were also told that they will be releasing a remix of “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill” by Detroit’s own Apollo Brown. If you don’t know about Apollo Brown, you’re sleeping…. he’s got something most producers in the industry dream only dream about…
European Tour Dates:
Thursday, Feb 11 – Red Cat – Mainz, Germany
Friday, Feb 12th – Blue Funk District – Brussels, Belgium
Saturday, Feb 13th – Skaters Palace – Munster, Germany
Monday, Feb 15th – La Bellevoise – Paris, France
Thursday, Feb 18th – Kapu – Linz, Austria
Friday, Feb 19th – Acrobax – Roma, Italy
Saturday, Feb 20th – Paci Paciana – Bergamo, Italy
Wednesday, Feb 24th – Halleo2 – Heidelberg, Germany
Friday, Feb 26th – Bohannon – Berlin, Germany
Saturday, Feb 27th – Kassablanca – Jena, Germany
Links:
Check out In The Ruff on Itunes
Disco Biscuits’ New Album: Planet Anthem
The Disco Biscuits are getting ready to release their long-awaited new album, Planet Anthem, which will be available March 16th. The album marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band. Since they formed in 1995, the guys created their own movement by fusing the jam band and electronic music scenes. However, their forthcoming release prominently features elements of pop, indie dance, hip hop, and straight up rock music. The Biscuits also collaborated for the first time with multiple producers, songwriters, and outside musicians, including Don Cheegro and Dirty Harry (Ludacris, Chris Brown, Beanie Sigel). The result is an album filled with sing along melodies and infectious beats.
The Biscuits will be hosting their even Bisco Inferno at Red Rocks on May 29th. This year’s lineup will feature Aeroplane, Pnuma Trio, The Crystal Method (DJ Set), Booka Shade, The Glitch Mob and of course 2 sets of the Biscuits. Stay tuned for an announcement regarding the onsale and other shows in Colorado prior Red Rocks.
Disco Biscuits Tour Dates:
2/18 @ Ram’s Head Live, Baltimore, MD
2/19 @ Lupos, Providence, RI
2/20 @ Calvin Theatre, Northampton, MA
2/21 @ Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord, NH
3/17 @ Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY
3/18 @ The Egg Center For Performing Arts, Albany, NY
3/19 @ House of Blues, Boston, MA
3/20 @ Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ
3/26 @ Ultra Music Festival, Miami, FL
(w/ Deadmau5, Tiesto, Will.I.Am and others)
4/14 @ Charleston Music Hall, Charleston, SC
4/15 @ Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC
4/16 @ The National, Richmond, VA
4/17 @ The National, Richmond, VA
4/18 @ The NorVa, Norfolk, VA
4/20 @ 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
4/21 @ The Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville, VA
4/22 @ The Klein Memorial Auditorium, Bridgeport, CT
4/23 @ Kirby Center For Performing Arts, Wilkes-Barre, PA
4/24 @ House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ
4/25 @ Webster Theatre, Hartford, CT
05/29 @ Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver, CO (Bisco Inferno)
07/15 – 0/17 @ Camp Bisco, Mariaville, New York
For More Info:
www.discobiscuits.com
Alexandre Farto Aka Vhils: Empty Spaces
Alexandre Farto (aka Vhils) is a young artist from Lisbon, Portugal. Vhils is in his mid-twenties by now. His stencil work and street art has been catching the worlds eyes since the early age of 16. Over the years his work has evolved and been showcased in galleries and at festivals around the world.
“Generations meet and fall apart. Cultures are compelled to flow into big cities and gather there, the “Western bastion”, a world of dreamt opportunities that steals our roots, identity layers that overlap and are diluted, certain to create a new culture and to thin our essence, the path we want to follow is the one that leads us towards forgetting the place we came from…”
Links:
www.alexandrefarto.com
Hi-Tek & Talib Kweli : Reunion Mixtape
Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek are back with the RE:Union mixtape, mixed by Statik Selektah ! ! Over the summer on the Rock the Bells Tour these two talked about working on a new album together. We just found this new mixtape floating around the web. Listen and download the full mixtape here.
“Express”
1. Intro
2. Revolutions Per Minute
3. In This World ##
4. Hip-Hop (Unreleased)
5. Back Again ##
6. Wishing On A Black Star
7. Just Begun ft. Jay Electronica, J. Cole, & Mos Def ##
8. Come Around ft. Termanology & Royce da 5′9 (produced by Statik Selektah)
9. Internet Connection 10. Let It Go ft. Dion
11. Testify ft. Styles P
12. Time
13. The Thrill Is Gone ft. Styles P (produced by Statik Selektah)
14. Can We Go Back The Reflection Eternal Classics:
15. Fortified Live ft. Mos Def & Mr Man
16. Chaos ft Bahamadia
17. The Express
18. Respiration ft. Common & Mos Def
19. Definition ft. Mos Def
20. RE:Defininition ft. Mos Def
21. Move Something
22. Ghetto Afterlife ft Kool G Rap
23. The Blast RMX ft. Erykah Badu
24. Good To You (produced by Kanye West)
25. Get By REMIX ft. Jay-Z, Mos Def, Kanye West, & Busta Rhymes (produced by Kanye west)
26. Back Up Offa Me
27. Piano (Hi Tek ft. Ghostface)
28. Music is Life (Hi Tek ft. Nas)
29. Hang Ups (NEW Reflection Eternal not on album)
30. Outro
Download The Mixtape (FREE) here:
http://bit.ly/7G7Asm
Little Brother: Leftback
Little Brother has announced the release of their fourth album, Leftback. The album includes production by Denaun Porter and Zo!. As well as efforts from Symbolyc One, J. Bizness, and King Karnov. The initial pressing will also feature a limited edition DVD with recent tour footage and exclusive footage from the archives in a documentary format. Tour info to come. Leftback will be available April 20th via Hall Of Justus.
“I didn’t want our last record to be a bunch of second-rate material,” says Phonte. “I wanted to walk away from Little Brother knowing that I gave our fans all that I had to give, and said everything I wanted to say. With LeftBack, I’ve done that.”
Exit Through The Gift Shop – A Banksy Film
Check out the trailer for ,Exit Through The Gift Shop, A Banksy Film. This is being shown at this years Sundance Film Festival.
Street Grape: handmade & vinyl stickers
These hand made and vinyl stickers were created by American artist, Street Grapes. The hand painted, “Rumble Shark Series” were all hand painted with molotow markers, in a variety of colors and elements. The “God Loves Ugly” vinyl stickers were inspired from an older design from some of his handmade stickers, scanned, and redesigned in illustrator.
God Loves Ugly Vinyl Stickers
Rumble Shark Series 3 (hand made stickers)
Rumble Shark Series (hand made stickers)
Links:
Street Grapes on Flickr
Reorganized J Dilla estate & plans for J Dilla Foundation
Announcing reorganized J Dilla estate & plans for J Dilla Foundation
Via: j-dilla.com January 24, 2010
The family of late music producer James “J Dilla” Yancey is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of West Coast probate attorney Alex Borden as administrator of Yancey’s estate, and also to announce the establishment of the official J Dilla Foundation. The developments mark a new chapter in preserving and enhancing the legacy of the legendary artist and secure a means of future prosperity for his mother, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, daughters Ja’Mya Yancey and Ty-Monae Whitlow, and brother, John “Illa J” Yancey.
“I’m so excited because it’s like one big organization,” says Maureen Yancey, who has worked tirelessly to ensure that the well-being of her family remains a priority for all involved and her son’s accomplishments are held in a positive and productive light. “We’ve got cutting-edge people all over the country waiting to work and be a part of it. Everybody’s on one accord it seems like the universe is working with us.”
Borden came on board last April following Arthur Erk’s tenure as Executor and has been working closely with the Yancey family in developing creative opportunities for J Dilla’s vast catalog of music. Says Yancey: “It’s awesome to not only have things back on the right track, but to have people who are really in your corner. I’m just blown away by the past few years, and working doubly hard to get things corrected, it drives you. It’s wonderful.”
The Estate will serve as the channel through which the Yancey family will receive financial benefit from the J Dilla/Jay Dee name, merchandise, and recordings; the goal of which is to create a successful, joyous, and profitable enterprise to be controlled by the family once the probate process is complete. All business dealings with the music of James Yancey, Pay Jay Productions, Inc. and the Estate of James Yancey should be directed to the Estate through the newly launched official J Dilla website www.j-dilla.com. The Estate will also manage contracts, copyrights, and other matters relating to the Yancey name and/or Pay Jay Productions, Inc., and welcomes ideas, requests, and licensing opportunities for evaluation and review with the family.
“We’re very happy about it,” says Yancey in regards to her family’s relationship to the new administration. “The entire family knows how Alex’s team works and how they’ve pulled together and stood up for us even before this time, and it’s just been excellent. The communication is wonderful. It’s like family…we’re just one big family.”
In a separate but complementary role to the Estate, the newly established J Dilla Foundation has filed for tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit charitable institution to help fund the development of music in the inner city and provide scholarships to students enrolled at schools with progressive music curricula. Four initiatives will be launched each year and three cities chosen to enhance local music programs, with scholarships awarded to one or more students at the beginning of the fall semester. Target cities for 2010 are Detroit, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. The Foundation will hold fundraisers in each city with each effort anticipated to bring approximately in $10,000+ of donations.
“One of the things Dilla wanted me to do with his legacy was to use it to help others, people with illness, and kids who were musically gifted but had little hope due to poverty,” says Yancey, founder and chair of the Foundation. “The Foundation is to keep Dilla’s dream alive to help youth—those who aspire to make good music—and develop their time, talent, and nurture their skill. We also want to be there financially for those who are talented but don’t have the money or access to the networks they need to help them grow.”
By the time of his death in February of 2006 from complications due to Lupus, Yancey was revered by the music world for his contributions to hip-hop and R&B, emerging from the mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene in Detroit, Michigan to become one of the industry’s most influential artists. “Every year, Dilla and his dream get bigger and bigger,” says Yancey. “Every time I go to a different city and visit with his fans, the dream just grows. It’s something that I can’t even describe, and it’s not going to die.”
Contact:
Estate of J Dilla/James Yancey
www.j-dilla.com
J Dilla Foundation
www.jdillafoundation.org
Andres aka DJ Dez: Interview
Humberto Andres Hernandez, aka Andres aka DJ Dez, was born in to a Cuban family in Detroit, MI. in January of 1975. Music has been a part of his life since day one. Dez got his first set of percussion drums at the age of three. His family moved to Los Angeles in the early 80’s. This is where he first got his hands on a pair of turntables. When Dez was in his mid-teens, family moved back to Detroit, where he currently still resides.
Over the years he has had a vast amount of musical influence and has become an international name and staple with in the Detroit hip-hop community. Besides being Slum Village’s DJ and releasing several solo projects on vinly under the name Andres his production credits include artists as Monica Blaire & Elzhi among others. We sat down with Dez to hear his thoughts about his early influences, music, his family, and city.
What has inspired you to want to make music?
I would have to say watching DJ’s scratch a record. For instance a song called called, “A Touch of Jazz” that was on Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince’s first album. It was my introduction to a lot of blue note records. He scratched in records like Donald Byrd’s “Change,” “Mr. Magic” by Grover Washington, “Places and Spaces” and “Dominoes” by Donald Byrd. A lot of Detroit music and I didn’t even know. Just good…good.. funk jazz records…. fusion records. All I know is I would here scratches and the scratches would bring in more music. And I was just like, Wow!
It was around ’88 that I actually learned how to DJ. I learned how to scratch first by this gentleman by the name of Michael Fox. His DJ name was DJ Transformer. I’m trying hard to find that guy too. It’s a very common name, so it’s been kind of hard for me to search. He had equipment. He had turntables and a drum machine. So, we actually started a rap group. We made our own music. We were trying to find records that the DJ’s we like used to cut up. The of course, I was just engulfed with Marley Marl. You couldn’t tell me nothing about Marley Marl. That was it! Marley Marl!
What is it you love about music?
You can really get wrapped up in a really good song. I don’t know what feels better than a good song. There’s nothing like that. A good song is not sex or nothing, but damn it’s close. I’m a sucker for melody and harmony, beats, and rhythm.
What do you love about being a DJ?
The fact that I’m in control, I can take you where I want to take you. I’m kind of a selfish DJ. I only play certain quality music. Sometimes I’ll bend. I don’t bend too much though, because I’m in the driver’s seat.
Is there anyone particular that has influenced you as a DJ or a producer?
Well, as a DJ, this is a name I always throw out there, a gentleman by the name of Joe Cooley. I used to listen to him on the radio. I couldn’t go outside. This was when I lived in California. This is when I was introduced to hip-hop. Joe Cooley is a very funky guy. He’s very funky with his scratching and very rhythmic with his scratching. Me being a percussionist I took to his patterns. Now mind you Jazzy Jeff is Amazing, but I was introduced to Joe Cooley first. Jo Cooley had already blew my head away. I feel like DJ Aladdin is like the second coming of Joe Cooley. He spawned from Joe Cooley. Bobcat was doing his thing at the same time so I’ll give Bobcat more credit than that. I learned up under the stylings of Joe Cooley, as far as DJ’ing.
What do you love about the City of Detroit?
The one thing I love about Detroit, is that you can kind of be low key. You can be really known around the world and you come to Detroit and be nobody. In some circles you can be somebody, but in other circles you’re nobody. Which is cool. It kind of works out though. Sometimes you don’t want people all in your business. You don’t want everybody knowing what you’re doing and who you are sometimes.
Its not out of line to say that Detroit has moved the way we look at life more than on one occasion. Lots of music, art, and culture has come to life here in Detroit that has influenced the world. Why do you think this is?
I think that Detroit has always been the big city with the small city mentality. We’re kind of in the middle, so we’re always looking at New York and Los Angeles and what they’re doing. We kind of do our own thing. I don’t know what it is about Detroit, but there is clearly something here. I couldn’t put my finger on it. I guess we soak up a lot. Some people say it is a follower city. I think we do have a lot of followers, but everybody aint meant to be that leader, that one leader. So, it might be a city with a lot of followers, but you always have those few that will jump up and say, “I’m going against the grain.” We need to keep it real with each other, because here in Detroit we’re in denial, even about our country roots . Most people’s parents are from down south so you know the traditions sprinkle down. Everybody here has pretty much migrated from down south with the exception of people like my family, people from the Caribbean, or any other place abroad.
A lot of people don’t touch on the L.A. Detroit, Chicago, and New York thing. We kind of share a certain period of time in music. Where we are really all on the same page. And that era I’m talking about is the early eighties. When you got Cybertron, you got Egyptian Lover, you got Nucleus, Mann Parish, Ice T, with the style of music he was doing at the time with Chris “The Glove” Taylor with “Reckless”. The Stuff we did with Techno, What Nucleus did with Electro and Afrika Bambaataa with “Planet Rock.” Nobody was copying anybody else. We were just all influenced by James Brown and Kraftwerk. New York just rapped over it. L.A. like to scratch over it. New York called it electro. L.A. called it techno-hop. Which I find to be right on the nose as far as a marriage of styles. They rapped over that shit. It wasn’t hip-hop at the time,. Those were the party records.
And then in hip-hop, I feel like Detroit runs it. On a major label, there’s no artist that’s bigger than Eminem. On a an underground scale, we run it. Who’s fucking with Black Milk, Royce, Guilty Simpson, and the wave of all of them together. You know, Slum and Fat Kat. Who’s fucking with that? They are listening to Detroit, and they don’t even know it. Dr. Dre was a fan of J-Dilla, period. We touched everybody. People know what’s up. The industry clearly knows what’s happening. It’s just these other fools that don’t know what’s happening
How did your association with Slum Village come about?
J-Dilla was a good friend of mine. Slum Village was his group. I was in California and I could remember he was telling me they were looking for a DJ at the time, but I didn’t know that he was leaving the group. I thought I was going to be on the road with my boy and he wasn’t in the group any more. I ended up going on the road to DJ with them 2001.
What was the one thing you learned from J Dilla that you take to heart now more than anything?
Listen…Listen to your records. Listen to your records. There is a lot there. Listen…listen. He had an excellent ear. I think that the best speakers are the best listeners. You’ve got to listen, to pay attention, to know what the hell you’re talking about. When your listening to somebody’s record and it’s a ridiculous sample and you find out a month later or a week later, that you have that album and you didn’t do anything with it and you like the sample. You didn’t listen, and it flew by you. Everybody just wanna drop the needle and take the first thing they find. It’s time consuming to go through records, and records, and records. That’s why when you’re cleaning the house or doing something requiring some time, you know cut it on and listen from start to finish.
Could you name your top five favorite DJ’s?
I would have to go with Kenny Dixon Jr., Theo Parish…..I’m very spoiled when it comes to DJ’s…Jazzy Jeff, Joe Cooley, and Don Q.
Elzhi – “Audio Cinematic” (Prod. DJ Dez)
“Soul Man” by Netherland
Just got this update from Formula Werks & Scumbag Nation. Check out this new design by Netherland featuring his reworks of images from the 1970’s. Speaker heads, players, and sexy ladies!
Links:
Formula Werks
Bethany Shorb’s Cyberoptix Tielab 2010 Preview and Photography Exhibition
Here’s a few photos from Bethany Shorb’s Cyberoptix Tielab 2010 Preview and Photography Exhibition at 323East. Bethany Shorb is a Detroit-based costume, set, and graphic designer. She is also the founder of Cyberoptix Tie Lab wich is one of the largest eco-friendly, solvent-free print shops in the America. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Nylon, BPM, WIRED, ANTENNA, and on the Martha Stewart Show. This exhibit at 323East opened January 15th. For more info and photos check out 323East or cyberoptix.com.
Links:
Del x Hella Tight Hat Collaboration
Check out this Del x Hella Tight Hat Collaboration. There are 300 in rotation, once they are sold out the colorway changes, here’s the first colorway, #2 will be avail feb 20th!
Grap It:
www.hellatight.com
Or Here!
Love/Hate: A Collaborative Exhibition
We didn’t plan on coming across this. We just decided to hit up Chicago in the middle of the night a week ago or so and got an invitation from a friend. Love/Hate is a collaborative art installation by Revise CMW and CZR PRZ, two respected artists from Chicago. The exhibit was curated by Allison Glenn and hosted by TOJO Gallery. We’ve been running around and a little behind but we still wanted to post this pics. All the work was amazing. Good sounds and good people. Thank you!
Random Guy - CZR PRZ - REVISE - SAEL
Donny Danger
Donny Danger is a artist, Punk musician & special f/x guru originally from Philadelphia. Currently Donny lives in Johnson City, Tennesee. Check out some of his Oak wood carvings.
Del & Tame One – Parallel Uni-Verses
“Special”
Del The Funky Homosapien and Tame One just dropped Parallel Uni-Verses (produced by Parallel Thought) on Gold Dust. It always makes me smile to see two underground legends from different worlds getting together to create some raw shit. What more could you ask for?
For more info go to:
Gold Dust Media
Del The Funky Homosapien on Myspace
www.tame-one.com
Del The Funky Homosapien – Automatic Statik
If you didn’t know, Del The Funky Homosapien has released another stimulus package. Click here and check out Del’s new album, Automatic Static, and pic your price. The bid starts at $3, don’t be stingy.
For more info go to:
http://delthefunkyhomosapien.bandcamp.com/album/automatik-statik
