DJ Stylus - The Vibe Conductor

I’ve been meaning to write a post about how the digital dj’ing age has completely changed my relationship to vinyl, particularly the acquisition part. I’ll get to that later because it definitely doesn’t mean that digging ceases. Our relationship has evolved but it’s still going strong. Today it was Death Valley outside and I was getting stir crazy from cowering in the A.C. so I ventured out hoping that I wouldn’t suffer heat stroke. Fortunately one of my most reliable spots is close to my house and it yielded some nice treats. And that was after passing up a crate’s worth of joints that would have been mandatory purchases in the pre-digital days.

Eddie Hendricks - Goin’ Up In Smoke (LP)
Airto - The Essential… Airto featuring Flora Purim & Special Friends (LP) countdown to Brasil…
Levert - I Get Hot (LP) jheri curl fonk overload!!
David Ruffin - Everything’s Coming Up Love (LP)
Janet Jackson - Control (12″) with acapella!
Stacy Lattisaw - Sneakin’ Out (LP) personnel include Narada Michael Walden, Randy Jackson and Sheila E.
The Ramsey Lewis Trio - Upendo Ni Pamoja (LP)
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam - Lost In Emotion (12″)
Edwin Starr - Contact/Don’t Waste Your Time (12″)
Paul and Linda McCartney - Ram (LP)

Even as we continue the slog to finish the album, one of us managed to find another outlet for his considerable talents. And since the cast also includes the inimitable Twain Dooley, I highly recommend getting your cat baby on.

Details:

REVENGE OF THE CAT-HEADED BABY, and Other True Tales About Life & Death

location:
Cole Studio, 1714 REAR 15th ST NW 20009

dates:
Friday 7/11/08 8pm
Sunday 7/13/08 3pm
Wednesday 7/16/08 6:30pm
Saturday 7/19/08 9pm
Saturday 7/26/08 5pm
Sunday 7/27/08 4pm

SpeakEasy DC is a great event/organization run by Amy Saidman that exists to promote the fine & entertaining art of STORYTELLING.

“REVENGE…” is an ensemble storytelling piece that is being presented
as a part of this year’s Capital Fringe Festival.

-your master storytellers are:
Slam Poet Twain Dooley
New Dad Edwin Kubal
Poet/hip-hop artist Darrell Perry
Stand-up Comedian Vijai Nathan; and
Peace Corps Therapist Tabbie Mann

-tickets available HERE.

WATCH:

LISTEN:

“Over and Out” featuring Buff1

PURCHASE:

iTunes

LINK UP:

myspace.com/HustleSimmonsMusic

Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff reunite… from MickBoogie on Vimeo.

Fortunately a real hip-hopper was on hand among the Hollywood stiffs to bear witness and capture the moment. Sure is nice when you can land gigs like that.

So I need to buy my ticket now.

Right now.

Will notes that the tour will be all classic material with nothing new. Now I know Will is one of the biggest actors on the planet and the rap game is quite a different animal but I think that if Will got back with Jeff, stopped giving a damn about fitting in with what cats are doing now and just focused on the fun and chemistry him and Jeff still have, they could make a decent record. I believe ?uestlove had some brief discussions with him about collaborating. A bootcamp with Jeff and a lot of the underground talents he keeps around him could get Will back in fighting shape quickly. No ghostwriters, no hot producers of the moment, just back to basics. Maybe being an intergalactic megastar has extinguished the type of energy a hungry emcee has to draw from but he’s Will Smith, he doesn’t have anything to prove. He doesn’t have to worry about sales. He really could approach it from a purist perspective.

Wishful thinking? An old head’s desperate self-delusion?

I just hope the Scientology thing isn’t true.

I generally don’t do memes but this one is too fun to pass up, especially since Ill Mami passed me the hot potato and I didn’t get it together in time for this list.

“List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring or summer. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.”

2000black - So Right
The internets is going crazy and rightfully so since the geniuses behind 4Hero, Silhouette Brown, Agent K and DKD are blessing us with new hot goodies.

De La Soul - Dinninit
Does this even need explanation?

Carl Anderson - Buttercup
I’m just getting hip to this cat some four years after he passed away. And Stevie Wonder lent a hand too?!? Songs like this are why digging is so rewarding.

Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 - Mas Que Nada
I was torn between this and Elza Soares’ version which is actually my favorite but I just saw Sergio at Wolf Trap and I’m still happy about it. It gets no more summery than that. Gotta big up the original though. Brasil here we come!

Louie Vega - Let The Children Play
My inner child needs as much help as he can get. This tune is like his vitamins. I REALLY want to play at or throw an afro-cuban party this summer. White skirts, congas and catching spirits. Maybe I just need to finally get to Libation.

Ronnie Foster - Mystic Brew
This lowers my blood pressure and makes me want to lay down in a hammock somewhere with the breeze gently rocking me back and forth. And yes, it did give birth to another perfect summer anthem.

Choklate - Reach For The Moon
Although it’s standard practice and I can’t find it streaming anywhere, I don’t want to post a download of this out of respect for the sista. I really want her to win and this is a lovely bit of work from her. Catch it on her myspace player and hopefully on an upcoming release.

Tag. You’re it.

Rhonda Marie
Lisa
Kimmie
DJ YZO
DJ Statik
Dee Phunk
DJ Brainchild

WATCH:

LISTEN:

Album sampler

PURCHASE:

Amazon
Traxsource
Groove Distribution

LINK UP:

Asahra Music
myspace.com/AvenueTo

Nothing incredibly profound to see here, just happened to look at the play tally on my Last.fm page and noticed a number that may or may not have some sort of grand significance beyond a cool coincidence. Might as well share. It’s a nice tune.

So the 4,444th song I’ve scrobbled to my Last.fm profile is:

Todd Terje & Prins Thomas - “Reinbagan” (cop the analog or digital jont)

Those funky, funky Germans (and friends.)

More than a little bit of Augustus Pablo in there and one hell of a rhythm section, like the breakdown at the end of “I Shot The Sheriff”. Pretty summery too. You can rock this with the top down, or as the soundtrack for a beach sunset.

New isht from my crew!

Tracklisting:
1. Please Forgive Me (The Unknown Remix)
2. Please Forgive Me
3. All About (Brainstorm Sounds Remix)
4. All About

PURCHASE:

- iTunes
- Emusic
- Rhapsody
- HipHopSite.com

LINK UP:

myspace.com/StormTheUnpredictable

WATCH: (some classic material)

From the days waaaaaaaay before YouTube:

The theory of three is still holding strong among my scarce superstitions. While absorbing the losses of Tim and George, we missed another bright light being extinguished. Cyd Charisse was a baaaaaaad broad!!!

Peep Sammy D. on the croon too:

And from my favorite Janet video of all time (yes, even over Pleasure Principle, and that’s a tough choice.) Check the glamour splash at 3:01.