DJ Stylus – The Vibe Conductor

If you were to approach me on the Metro during my daily commute recently and ask me what was playing on my iPod, these tracks would figure prominently. I shared a bunch at Refuge last week.

Shafiq Husayn – “Nirvana”

The drawback of dealing with a huge backlog of good music is that I often take a long time to get around to listening to some of the hottest shit. I picked up Shafiq’s solo project months after everyone had already been raving about it. Even if you followed all of Sa-Ra’s work closely, it would be hard to prepare for the experience of hearing Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka for the first time. It’s a cosmic afro-space sonic landscape.

RJD2 – “Games You Can Win” (Feat. Kenna)

See the Shafiq comments. I sat on RJD2’s latest for a long time too but great sounds don’t have expiration dates. The Colossus is a fascinating listen. This Kenna joint is dope but not even in my top three tracks on the album. You should check it out for yourselves.

Trus’me feat. Amp Fiddler – “Can We Pretend”

Great dancefloor flip of a Bill Withers classic from this Brit DJ/producer with a hot hand in the game right now. Catch him in DC on March 20 as part of the Forward Festival.

Reggie B & Miles Bonny – “Doin Our Thang”

I initially wasn’t sold on the vocals and writing but this joint has an irresistible bop to it. Sometimes the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts. You agreed too, as many of you asked me about this tune.

Spring’s here. You should stop by.

I got the huge co-sign from SoulBounce when I realized this had to happen. They understood the vision.

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Carlton Banks & Tom Jones – It’s Not Unusual
Gnarls Barkley – Smiley Faces
Stevie Wonder – Part-time Lover
Hall & Oates – You Make My Dreams
Alice Russell – High Up On The Hook
Prince – I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
Blackalicious – Powers
Lauryn Hill – Lose Myself
HEAVy – Sam
Joe Jackson – Steppin’ Out
Zo! and Tigallo – Steppin’ Out
Pigeon John – Brand New Day
Gang Starr – Lovesick (Upbeat Mix)
Carlton is a maniac
Pink – Feel Good Time feat. William Orbit
J*DaVeY – Outta The Window
Weird War – Ak-47
Punks Jump Up – Dance To Our Disco
Jamiroquai – Black Devil Car
PPP – Countless Excuses
Luther Vandross – Give Me The Reason
Carlton Banks – I’ve Got A Gal In Kalamazoo
Donald Fagen – Walk Between Raindrops
Doobie Brothers – Taking It To The Streets
Ben Westbeech & Die – Get Closer (Lovers Mix)
Carlton approves

It’s designed to make you dance like Carlton Banks for an entire hour, a dance originally captured in the wild by Eddie Murphy.

Those with shallow historical knowledge might be skeptical that this dance actually existed. For confirmation, check The Boss and Courtney Cox GOING IN on the white people dance, particularly at 3:30. This shit is awesome.

We’ve established that this dance has its own lore, but like any true visionary, Alfonso Ribeiro took existing styles to new creative heights in creating Carlton Banks’ signature movement vocabulary.

Samba whistles, shekeres and cowbells welcome. Sweat to the rhythms of Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico & West Africa.

With DJs Stylus, Meistro, Deep Sang and Hermon on live percussion.

Snowpocalypse knocked us off track last month but the forecast for Saturday:
Abundant sunshine. Highs in the low 50s.

January the floor was filled all night grooving to afro beat, salsa, samba and more.

ALL beers are $4 (including Leffe & Redstripe)

Saturday, March 6
Dahlak
1771 U St, NW (18th & U)
21 and Over
NO COVER

We had a bit of fun in the wayback machine last week. Dropped some old beloved pop jams then played “stump the fam” with joints I used to love that I guessed they wouldn’t be able to identify.

Nona Hendryx – “Why Should I Cry?”

No, not Chaka or Vesta but one-third of LaBelle. Big shouts to ThePBG for getting it right, singing along AND doing her dance. This used to go hard. Word to Jellybean Johnson.

Sherrick – “Just Call”

I won with this one. Folks guessed Loose Ends and that actually makes sense stylistically. Sherrick only had one hit other than this one and sadly passed away in 1999. I’m bringing this tune back though.

Five Star – “Let Me Be The One”

Part of a double play, I dropped “All Fall Down” too. UK stand up. This was just for funsies. If folks didn’t know Five Star I would have had to put them on punishment.

I wasn’t in retro mode all night of course. Right now I’m stanning hard for the homie Ty’s new project, so expect a lot excitement generated about it in this space. Again, UK represent.

Ty – “Emotions”

Every week, your new favorite song. Come by and check us out.

Thursday, February 25, 2010
9pm
Marvin
2007 14th St., NW WDC

The all-star DJ lineup:
RBI | Stylus | Book | JahSonic | 2-Tone Jones | Roddy Rod | J-Laine
& Special Guests

$5 Donation (Proceeds to benefit The JDILLA Foundation)

It’s been out for a couple of weeks but good music isn’t held captive by 1st week sales or blizzards.

If this is all foreign to you, play catch up here. The brainchild of UK future soul producer Dego (2000 Black, 4hero), keyboardist Kaidi Tatham (DKD, Agent K), and vocalist/songwriter Bembe Segue (4hero, The Politik) Silhouette Brown’s 2005 debut was the sexy, jazzy flip-side to broken beat’s jump up riddims.

We have two copies of the new Silhouette Brown album to give away at Refuge tonight to go along with a set featuring cuts from both albums and an exploration of Dego, Kaidi and Bembe’s extensive catalog. The first two folks to email me at djstylus AT vibeconductor DOT com with the answers to these questions will snag a copy of Two. Google is your friend.

1. Name the featured vocalist on Silhouette Brown’s debut.
2. Name the featured vocalist on the new Silhouette Brown album.
3. What classic hip-hop figure cameos on the new album?
4. Name the first single from the new album.
5. Name one project, collaboration or crew that Dego, Kaidi or Bembe are associated with that I didn’t mention above.

Last week I was deep in Two bliss and my 2000 Black crates as well. There were a couple of amorous couples in the building getting re-acquainted on date night. I think they rather enjoyed this cut:

Silhouette Brown – “Check It (Calling You)”

You might find these bits interesting.

For the lovers…

I went digging in the crates and pulled out a classic soundtrack for seduction.

Projectvibe 2 – Foreplay

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For the skeptics…

We’ve put together an evening for those that generally consider Valentine’s Day a day of corniness, or even worse, a source of emotional distress. The happily coupled and the comfortably single are encouraged to attend, but we’ve got some special things in store for those looking for a little help in connecting with someone new.

Suite 202 Sessions: Valentine’s Jook Joint

For the heartbroken…

Because we’ve all been there, check out my Valentine’s playlist for dumpers and dumpees on The Root. Trouble don’t last always. Cry or shout it out as needed.

Love Songs for the Lovelorn: a DJ Stylus breakup playlist – TheRoot.com

I still do the rappity-rap music with those other two guys. I forgive you if maybe you forgot. Some young fans actually took to a sort of bizarre hunger strike where they attempted to live solely on nutrition provided by our previous releases to pressure us to give them new songs.

They win.

Here’s an actual album cover:

And tracklisting:

And here’s a song with some R&B guy you may have heard before.

[POEM-CEES - "Honor" feat. Smokey Temptation]
Everything You’ve Always Wanted… 2010

We’ve devised a night of fun for all the single folks to enjoy, especially the ones that cringe at Valentine’s Day. If you’ve got someone already, you’re just as welcome. Bring your single friends along with you and throw them in the singles pool. We’ll provide the space, music, desserts and the vibe. The rest is up to you.

-Complimentary Desserts
-Drink specials
-Get to Know You Scavenger Hunt (win deeper drink discounts that night or come back to Tabaq for brunch and get a discount)

Featuring:

Basement: “90 Below”: DJ Stylus makes it sexy with a “slow drag” set featuring music that’s no faster than 90bpms (beats per minute). DJ Phaze will guest with a special lover’s rock reggae set.

Art Room: “Suite Spot”: DJ Jahsonic makes it funky for the people who prefer a faster pace. Funk, disco, house, soul and everything else that gets the party going, with DJ Phaze sitting in.

RSVPs will be required for entry. No Cover.

Saturday, February 13
10pm
Tabaq Bistro
1336 U Street, NW WDC

Chris Burns
DJ Stylus
Louie Vega & Anané

Friday, February 12
Liv
2001 11th St NW WDC
$20
doors: 9pm