DJ Stylus – The Vibe Conductor

I didn’t pay Scratch to say those complimentary things about me.

Getting rusty. Need to get this in more often.

“I’m supposed to be the franchise player!”

Remember this? Season 2 is coming.

But first…

Hip-hop legend DJ Scratch has been on tour for Smirnoff since he won the 2010 Master of the Mix final. Let’s show him how we get down in DC.

Scratch will be at Layla Lounge hanging out before the main event the following night. Limited edition posters signed by Scratch will be given away along w/complimentary Smirnoff (while supplies last).

Featuring sets by:
DJ Roddyrod & Supa Qool DJ Quartermaine
21+, NO COVER
Fri, April 8
10PM-2AM

Layla Lounge
501 Morse Rd, NE
Washington, DC

On Saturday, DJ Scratch will showcase his world famous techniques and scratching abilities. This is a party not to be missed! As well as myself, The Vibe Conductor, we’ve also got MoTM judge and super producer Just Blaze on the wheels. Like all great producers, Justin got his start as a DJ and still rocks it. Limited edition posters signed by Scratch will be given away along w/complimentary Smirnoff (while supplies last).

Sat, April 9
RSVP HERE

The Warehouse
411 New York Ave, NE
Washington, DC

I went. I saw. I overindulged on food trucks. I also survived several nights of this:

It was my first time, and with all things late pass related, the prevailing wisdom is that the best days have passed, despite SXSW 2011 being the most attended in all of the event’s 25 years. Assessments of shark jumping are usually based on the indie spirit giving way to mainstream tastes and corporate control. Or in the words of the homie Phonte:

I can dig it. Kanye threw a massive, “secret” concert on Chevrolet’s dime, Pepsi turned an entire city block into a brand awareness playground and I drank gallons of free Miller Lite. But there were still weirdos who would never have any connection to sponsorship or a record label playing in every nook and cranny of the city. And a festival that started out focused on rock music has gradually been making space for hip-hop as well as DJs and electronica. Regarding how the music game has collapsed changed, the genie can’t go back into the bottle. But if one is looking for a new business model, SXSW may hold some clues.

I also must add that for an event of its size, SXSW was very well run. Being an official showcase artist resulted in some great perks. (thanks, Senari!)

If you’re not familiar with my WMC exploits, SXSW is similar, where one must maintain a breakneck pace to keep up with all the fun to be had and talent to be discovered. Since my rookie status required me to acclimate, I didn’t go as hard as I should have. So this roll call is of Artists I Regret Missing Whom You Should Definitely Support:

The Adrian Younge Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra
Andreya Triana
Belleruche
Chromeo
Matt And Kim
Homeboy Sandman
Los Rakas
Tanya Morgan

As WaPo’s Chris Richards smartly noted:

…in 2011, you don’t go to SXSW to discover your new favorite bands. You go to see if they can do justice to the MP3s you’ve been gorging on all winter.

So I did end up seeing artists I’ve seen before and had long since been stanning for. Missing new folks in order to see Kokayi, Black Milk, Quadron, J*DaVeY and Little Dragon deliver exceptional sets in Austin was worthwhile and scratched my fanboy itch.

But I’d be remiss to travel all the way to Texas to only see folks I already like. The best experience I had seeing someone for the first time was an intimate, front porch performance by Meklit Hadero at an Ethiopian restaurant in East Austin. Her mix of jazz and folk was the perfect set of nuances and depth to balance out the frenzy of everything else happening during the week.

As noted above, DJ’s are gradually infiltrating SXSW. I didn’t get to check out nearly as many as I would have liked, which meant not enough dancing to balance out standing around and watching shows. DJ Jaycee‘s set at the Two Sevens Clash really stuck out for me. I missed DJ Nu-Mark, who was superb from what I heard. But ATL’s own Jaycee told a seamless and funky story with the contents of his 45 case. Very classy, and also my first time seeing him spin.

Also notable was witnessing Cousin Cole, Tameil and Tim Dolla demolish shit at the Baltimore Love Thing. I pretty much abandoned B-more Club once the hipsters latched onto it years ago but observing some masters put it down made me consider re-introducing club to my arsenal.

Other DJ nerd highlights included DJ Yoda‘s live video mixing showcase…

DJ Yoda “Stop Look & Listen” from DJ Yoda on Vimeo.

…and a couple demos from DJ Big Wiz at the Serato booth. Learned a lot very quickly about The Bridge, Video-SL and adding MIDI controllers to your rig from a cat whose chops I’ve been studying for a number of years. I’m proud of myself for not shoplifting that SL4.

As for my actual SXSW gig, it started out slowly with the Sol Power All-Stars rocking to a scarce but appreciative group of early birds, and ended with Nadastrom on some punk rock shit throwing beer, breaking things and setting off mosh pits. In between I was most impressed by DJ Sabo and Toy Selectah. Definitely looking forward to rocking with all those dudes again.

DJ Stylus has joined the Record Breakin’ Music family.

1. Cop the 5th anniversary compilation to get up to speed.

2. Listen to my mans Lil Dave rock the RBM classics and exclusives.

3. Be on the lookout for my first RBM release this year.

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Ever wondered why ’80s parties tend to ignore a whole body of R&B, funk, rap and electro, like those genres didn’t contribute really awesome songs to that era?

Enter Axel F.

’80s and ’90s have been done as well as disco and soul classics. New Jack Swing hasn’t been done PROPERLY (yet). Golden era hip-hop is done a lot. We love all of those and continue to rock them, but there’s a period that hasn’t been examined.

From roughly 1977 – 1987 (folks tend to debate those dates but there are some clear markers) popular black music transitioned between the disco era and hip-hop’s rise to prominence. There were a lot of synthesizers and some androgynous fashion choices, as well as hair disasters. Some call this stuff “boogie”. We file it under the mantle of champagne soul and jheri curl funk, with some new wave thrown in, because we like stuff like Talking Heads and want to play that too.

Per DJ Jahsonic‘s original concept, Eddie Murphy’s turn in Beverly Hills Cop became Axel F’s muse.

Now we’ll be paying homage to a different ’80s movie every month. February is the debut of Black Kevin Bacon.

Join myself, DJ Jahsonic and DJ Adrian Loving for another sweaty, grooving night of synthed out Reagan era dance classics.

Saturday February 26
9pm
LIV Nightclub
2001 11th Street NW
Washington, DC

We’ve already got four mixes up for you to download in preparation. Here’s a glimpse of last month’s fun.

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Child Rebel Soldier – “Don’t Stop”

I wasn’t paying much attention to Good Fridays until this dropped like an anvil on my skull. Kanye and Lupe body their verses. Pharrell’s verse is forgettable but he’s redeemed by the production. If I made that beat I’d just walk around with a boombox blasting it, repeatedly pointing to it then back to myself then telling everyone to kiss my ass.

Black Milk – “Keep Going”

This makes me want to carjack someone. In Black Milk’s case, naming your project Album Of The Year isn’t hyperbole.

Big Boi – “Shutterbugg”

My favorite party record of the year. Rocks from the flossiest club to an underground jam. Luscious Left Foot can’t fall off.

Slum Village – “Dance” feat. AB

In the midst of a lot of confusing and depressing controversy the trio managed to drop an amazing album. Why choose this over all of the other brilliant tracks? Because I really miss slick, playful Baatin. And because I already have two songs on this list that make me want to punch people in the face.

Zo! – “Flight of the Blackbyrd”

Reminds me of all of my favorite jazz fusion records. It’s clear that Zo! and I listened to the same ones. Makes me want to dance like this.

Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura Band – “Roforofo Fight” (Louie Vega’s EOL Mix)

How do you improve on something that’s already perfect? Put it in Louie Vega’s hands. Fela has a home in Cuba. Ashé!

Peven Everett – “Burning Hot” (Timmy Regisford Remix)

Biggest house record of the year. Inspires to people to metaphysically levitate off of the dance floor. Makes me want to crowd surf while dj’ing.

Ian Friday feat. Chris Rob – “Found Myself” (Yoruba Soul Vocal)

My chosen runner-up to King Peven. We’d been waiting for Ian to drop another anthem for a couple years. He didn’t disappoint, and the original is exceptional even though I’m highlighting Osunlade’s version here. As with all enormous records, it inspired a gang of hot remixes.

Akua Allrich – “Hard To Get”

Glad to have a DC representative on this list. This beautiful jazz singer implanted this song in my head where it dwelled there for most of the year, spreading a feeling of warmth and fond memories. You can’t really get the full effect until you watch the video. Bonus points for it being shot in my neighborhood! If only summer could always be like this.

Prince – “Sticky Like Glue”

Prince dropped a new album that you could only get in a newspaper. Sonically, it referred to the style of his classic stuff. Straight Linn Drum and chicken grease. This was my personal highlight.

• Honorable Mentions
Kokayi – “Wynter of My Discontent”
Erykah Badu – “Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long”
Jamiroquai – “She’s A Fast Persuader”
Sandra St. Victor – “F.M.A.O.-ocity”
Donwill – “Love Junkie” (Wallpaper Rmx ft The Park)

Have you been keeping up with SolPowerDC.com? Lots of goodness being shared over there covering many corners of the diaspora. Check it out.

We even posted 90 minutes of our Eighteenth Street Lounge debut. Click on Sol Power Sunshine Dude’s smiling face below to listen to it.

Wrote about it:

Aloe Blacc takes the soul train to the Rock & Rock Hotel – The Washington Post

Josh Sisk/FTWP

We rocked your bodies for a year at Dahlak.

Then we took it outdoors for some fun in the sun, block party style.

Now it’s time for the next chapter: moving to one of the best rooms in the city and a venue that has earned international acclaim, Eighteenth Street Lounge.

We’re pretty excited, and not just because it’ll be much easier to promote. Here’s why everyone wins:

- awesome sound system
- great wooden dancefloor
- multiple bars
- outdoor deck in warm weather
- multiple floors, one of which has a jazz band. so you can alternate between chilling out and partying hard.

Starting November 6, Our ESL schedule will be 1st Saturdays, every OTHER month. So our sessions will be just frequent enough for you to miss us in between.

Afro.Latin.Brazilian.House.Disco.Funk

with Sol Power All-Stars DJ Stylus, DJ Meistro, Deep Sang and Hermon Farahi on percussion.

21 & up
$5 before 11 pm, $10 after. We play all night long.
1212 18th ST NW Washington, DC

You also should check out the new Sol Power site, because there will be treats:

www.SolPowerDC.com