*Nas – “Nasty”

After I posted this, I was reminded that I left off a song I raved about in 2011. That’s because I created this list in hasty, sleep deprived fashion. This correction is a good thing mainly because I noticed that my 2011 list had fewer anthems that made me want to kick strangers in the chest. I’m not always in my subtle, soulful, sexy lane. While Nas isn’t saying anything profound on this track, he’s just saying it profoundly. And the beat is everything that’s good and just in hip-hop. I was never one of the whiners who wished Nasty Nas would return. I just resolved myself to not expecting much from him, but when he wildly exceeded those expectations I was paying attention again. Was a bit let down by the cliché video but it’s still a monster tune.

Thundercat – “For Love I Come”

Still a few years from 30, Steve “Thundercat” Bruner is shaking up the world of modern bass playing, excelling in roles as varied as Erykah Badu and Suicidal Tendencies while anchoring a unit of LA’s most forward thinking soulful music makers. Flying Lotus helped him craft The Golden Age Of Apocalypse, a love letter to jazz fusion and an open canvas of new textures. “Walking” gets the nod from most of the folks who turned me on to the record but this George Duke cover blows my wig back every time.

King – “Supernatural”

These three ladies conquered the world this year with only three songs. I was at a loss for words when I first heard “Supernatural”. Fortunately my man John Murph explains it much better.

Pharoahe Monch – “Still Standing” feat. Jill Scott

I probably had the most visceral emotional reaction to this song than any other I’ve heard this year. I’m just so thankful that Pharoahe Monch is still so ridiculously ill. This song is the sonic definition of triumphant.

Illvibe Collective – “Medicine Men Featuring A.R.M.”

I remember when this was a quick snippet from a lil’dave beat tape. I played it like it was a released track. Then IllVibe finally dropped the album they’d long promised to make, and the finished version exceeded my expectations. African emcees are not just the future anymore, they’re the right now. Glad that IllVibe had the foresight to grab a few of my favorites for this much played cut.

Phonte – “Who Loves You More” feat. Eric Roberson

I was thinking really hard on what a true grown man hip-hop record would sound like and could only think of a handful of albums that have fierce lyricism, musicality and mature themes that address adult concerns. Then Phonte dropped Charity Starts At Home and I felt like that album was created specifically for myself and my peers.

TiRon & Ayomari – “All My Love” feat. Yummy Bingham

A Sucker For Pumps renewed my faith that hip-hop can exist that appeals to the sensibilities of my generation while formed from the aesthetics of the current one. I hope these cats lead the way. I caned the Yummy Bingham jam at every gig I’ve had since it dropped. Now I can drool over her cameo in the vid.

Dego – “Pushing You To Begin” feat. Ferraz

And thus I begin the black Brit section of this list. Anyone who knows me knows I’ve done some of my finest stannery over the years for cats from this scene, and Dego is a god of it. 4hero, DKD, Silhouette Brown, 2000Black, and finally his own solo project. I struggled with choosing one tune as the album is such a unified whole. You have to experience it that way.

Omar & Zed Bias – “Dancing”

A party demolition bomb. The scenes in the video are what I strive for whenever I get on the decks. Perfection. I can’t imagine what bacchanal madness this inspired at Carnival. It sure did smash Sol Power every time we dropped it.

Donae’o – “I”

After assaulting the dance with “Party Hard” for the last couple of years, I was intrigued when the R&B/UK Funky vocalist dropped this soul stirring anthem on the venerable Strictly Rhythm label. It’s a nice spiritual balance to the club persona in his mainstream music. Sean Mccabe’s remix is embedded here but I’m most partial to the original.

Mark de Clive-Lowe – “The Why” feat. Nia Andrews

A profoundly sexy song. Stuck on repeat for me this year beyond the point that can be defined as obsessive. Mark’s club mix just takes it to another place, as if it were possible to increase the seduction factor. Nia Andrews says yes, it is.

House yo’ body.

Red Friday feat. The Sol Power All-Stars and Sam “The Man” Burns.
Friday, Sept. 2
10pm
FREE before 11pm, $10 after
*Ages 18-20 entry by advance ticket only. Advance ticket sales end one hour before doors open
U Street Music Hall
1115A U Street NW, Washington DC

Download audio file (soulceez_uhall_072810.mp3)
[download | right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As']
[subscribe in iTunes]

Wednesday, Sept. 1
10pm
U Street Music Hall
1115 U Street NW, WDC
<<< FREE ALL NIGHT, 18+ >>>

I forgot this existed until I dug up some old cd’s while cleaning up the studio. Synergy was like Refuge, except it was a long, long time ago, back in the solely vinyl days.

This still sounds really good, especially for a live recording. And the style is also a fitting compliment to Gaia this Sunday.

Download audio file (synsess4.mp3)
[download | right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As' ]
[subscribe in iTunes]

Beanfield – Corso
Vikter Duplaix – Manhood
John Coltrane – Naima (4hero mix)
Chick Corea – The Slide
Angie Stone – Wish I Didn’t Miss You
Seek – Surrender
Gwen Guthrie – Ain’t Nothing Going On But the Rent (dub mix)
Lucy Pearl – Don’t Mess With My Man
Earth, Wind & Fire – Evil
Minnie Riperton – Gettin’ Ready For Your Love
Petal Pusher – Rely On Me
Tortured Soul – How’s Your Life? Part One
Abstract Truth – Get Another Plan
Seek – The Story Of Us
Meikbar – Sunshine
Kaskade – Brighter Day
Banda Favela – Samba 1250 (Alex Phountzi rmx.)
Shaun Escoffery – Let It Go
Nuspirit Helsinki – Get Over

What is U Street Music Hall?

It has the most ridiculous sound system in the city. The kind where you’re submerged in the bass without feeling assaulted by it. It is the anti-club (no dress codes, table service, velvet ropes, not even photography). It’s all about DJs and dancers. It has a cork cushioned hardwood dancefloor. It’s owned and managed by DJs and while they do bring in the big names, they give locals prime bookings.

I’m pretty amped about this.

What are Red Fridays?

In 2005, Red closed after nine years of operation. This place was little more than a small basement with giant speakers crammed into it. Awesome things happened there. It was the gravitational center of the city for people who loved their house music deep, banging and transcendent. Sam “The Man” Burns tended his flock there, as well as a fraternity of cats I learned from like Doug “95 North” Smith and Oji. The folks behind U-Hall are programming each night of the week around a theme, and Fridays are the deep house night.

So if want to lose yourself in soulful house, latin house, deep house dubs, disco classics, boogie, broken beat and various hues of uncompromising blacktronica, please join me this Friday. It will mean a lot to play to folks who will really go THERE with me in the only space in the city designed for it.

DJ Stylus at Red Fridays
Friday, April 9
10pm
FREE before 11:30pm, $10 after
U Street Music Hall
1115A U Street NW, Washington DC

Chris Burns
DJ Stylus
Louie Vega & Anané

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

Since Tami is dropping heat rocks left, right and all over the place, it seemed like a good time to take it back.

We did this project in ’05 after we did an EP in 2003. She wanted something to hustle at WMC that year and it worked better than we could have anticipated.

The Alice in Wonderland theme was Kat‘s idea. Ed handled the interlude segments (lady on the Metro = Ed’s mama, Metro conductor = Ed) and I recorded all of the re-envisioned takes on some of our favorite beats at the time then assembled it in mix form. Listen for early versions of the big records that Tami is now known for.

Tamara Wellons – Tamara in Wonderland

Download audio file (tamara_in_wonderland.mp3)
[download: mixed | unmixed ]
[subscribe via iTunes]

1. Ferry Ride (reprise) feat. Naima Jamal
2. Caught Up
3. Hold Me
4. Don’t Change
5. Can’t Be Found
6. Blue Skies
7. All This Time
8. Oh Well
9. Free
10. Moonwalk (acapella)
11. Like Rain feat. K’Alyn & Black Picasso
12. And So….

The pre-Thanksgiving session was fresh. No one was there then everyone came through all at once. I almost made Brett repeat his set because he played so many hot records early on. But then he had more hot records so it was all good.

To mark the occasion of an old friend being the first Refuge guest DJ, this recap will be a bit different. The first two tunes are under the heading of…

Joints That Brett Rocked That I Will Be Adding To My Sets Immediately:

Bennson – “Let The Love” (Yam Who Remix)

I’ve been running the album version since it came out almost exactly a year ago. But skimming through the remixes online made me miss out on the Yam Who joint that didn’t command my attention until I heard it in the club. In that context it sounds like Tom Browne in his prime consulted on the recording. That means all kinds of dancefloor win is involved. If I still had hair, I think that this song could make me spontaneously sprout a jheri curl. And by the way, dude is from Australia.

I was totally unfamiliar with this one, despite so many big name cats playing it. A little digging hipped me quickly. This is one of those studio alchemists with multiple names for multiple projects, one of which was also on Raw Fusion. I don’t get down with techno but this cut is right in that deep house lane that flirts with techno but stays soulful. Theo Parrish should be proud of this young German who bears his influence. All I envision when I listen to this is some low-lit, sweaty club rub-n-grind action. It’s not just me, is it?

Vibe Conductor Pick:

Ok-Ma – “Bwoy Gal” (Lanu Remix)

One of those not-new-but-new-to-you joints. I’m never mad at those, but just annoyed that I never really have the right space to play this tune, or when I do I forget to pull it out. That’s why I started this party. The Opolopo mix is broken beat for pop sensibilities and is my favorite but Lanu’s version gets the booties shaking.

Nostalgia Pick:

Eddie Kendricks – “Date With The Rain”

Out of hundreds, this is may be the best song about rain that I’ve ever heard. And that’s saying something. Epic b-boy record too.

I’m looking forward to kicking it with some new friends tomorrow. Might you be one of them?

And here are some more of the treats I was eager to share.

Vibe Conductor Pick:

Zo! – “Somethin’ Special” feat. Yahzarah

The internets blew the hell up on Tuesday when the multi-instrumentalist of The Foreign Exchange, The Els, and Zo! & Tigallo dropped his Just Visiting Too… project FOR DE FREE. Zo! rounded up the artists you know and love on the Foreign Exchange imprint and covered a slate of jazzy soul classics.

Let’s rewind for a minute and revisit the original featuring Quincy Jones and the incomparable Patti Austin.

So folks were chillin’ and vibing… until they weren’t. Somehow a party broke out. I blame DJ Ten. And a set of soulful house jams anchored by…

Peoples’ Pick:

Quentin Harris & Monique Bingham – “Poor People”

Quentin Harris has long been a beast. And Monique Bingham has long been an object of my fanboy adoration. Put them together and you’ve got an anthem that people hear for the first time and swear that it’s always been their favorite song.

Nostalgia Pick:

Tara Kemp – “Hold You Tight”

Everyone remembers this song. No one remembers the name of the artist. That’s what I’m here for. Next time you see Vickey, ask her to show you her Tara Kemp dance. It’s awesome.

Digging In The Crates Pick:

Skyy – “High”

Sure wish I could link to an online purchase site for this one, I played a
vinyl re-issue. I definitely need to increase the rollerskating fonk quotient of this party.

Who are you going to tell about Refuge next week? Word of mouth is the best word.

Sol Power! Afro. Latin. Brazilian. House. Disco. Funk.

With DJ Stylus, Meistro and Deep Sang.

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

Saturday, Oct. 24
Dahlak
1771 U St, NW (18th & U)
Washington, DC
21+
NO COVER

And as an extra bonus treat, here’s the last hour from when we rocked in June.

Download audio file (solpower061209_pt3.mp3)
[download]

Of course the homie went digging on his trip. Make sure you check out Meistro’s mix on Soul Strut putting some of those rare treats on display.

1. Outkast – You May Die
2. Quincy Jones – Summer in the City
3. Zansika – Beyond
4. Quintessence – Delirious
5. DJ Spinna – Summer Madness feat. Fresh Daily & Daniel Joseph
6. Roddy Rod – This Time Around feat. Phonte & Carlitta Durand
7. M64 – Rhythm of the Drum
8. Minnie Riperton – Inside My Love
9. Slakah the Beatchild – D.A.N.C.E.
10. Lewis Taylor – Lovelight
11. Bennson – Let The Love
12. Janet Jackson – And On and On
13. Azymuth – Dear Limmertz
14. Real to Reel – Love Me Like This
15. Basia – New Day For You
16. Reel People – Ordinary Man
17. The Rebirth – Love Issue
18. Metro Area – Piña
19. Omar – Little Boy (Jaycee in da Mix)
20. Anthony Nicholson – Dirty Soul (Can’t Lift It)
21. Pirahnahead & Diviniti – Music
22. Zaki Ibrahim – Money (King Britt rmx)
23. Jeremy Ellis – Kissed By The Sun
24. Yaminah – 7 Days (Pirahnahead Remix Mellopella)
25. Yaminah – 7 Days (Pirahnahead Remix)

Nope, no download link.

This one’s only available for now on a special USB drive you can get by attending events in the LiL SoSo Productions/Smirnoff “Be You” series. The drives serve as discount passes to the events in the series, including Soul Overdose with Yahzarah and Inside The Artist’s Studio with N’Dambi. Get your USB drive at the Yahzarah event and be the first to have her new mixtape in addition to my new mix.

We’ll be giving out some drives at The Main Ingredient at Marvin on Monday and also watch Kat of LSP’s Twitter for giveaway opportunities.

featuring:

DJ Stylus
Meistro
Deep Sang
and Boogie on live percussion

sweat to the rhythms of Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico & West Africa.

Friday, June 12 2009
$5 before midnight, $7 after
Almaz
1212 U St. NW WDC
10pm – 3am

Some warm-up material:

DJ Meistro – Top Ranking vol. 1

Deep Sang – Beach Ball Boogaloo

DJ Stylus – Afro Diaspora Mix

Friday, May 1
9:30 pm
Rock N Roll Hotel
1353 H Street, NE, WDC

In the upstairs space.
No cover.
All vinyl.

Chris Burns’ description:
Disco, boogie, cosmic, rock, funk, early house, 90s house and more.

My interpretation:
All the funky but slightly odd rekkids that never come out of my house because I don’t know who I’d play them for. And a few sing-along joints that you all know.

Temporarily retired:
Serato, CD’s and any other form of digital paraphernalia.

I tried to set it up, but this joint is about to hit so hard.

Anto Vitale and Tamara Wellons partner up to levitate your heart, spirit, and feet off of the dancefloor.

The chorus soars with so much energy. Vitale’s original has a powerful, jazzy elegance while Ian Friday puts the hump on it. John Beltran rounds it out with an after hours treatment.

This bountiful goodness of “Broken Wings” is available at Traxsource right now.

Finally liberated an important SD card from Jamil‘s clutches. Now we can reminisce on the first minutes of 2009.

Part 1

The warm-up.

Download audio file (soulceezNYE2008_pt1.mp3)
[download]

Part 2

The clock striking midnight with maximum room capacity then busting the lightweights upside the head for about an hour.

Download audio file (soulceezNYE2008_pt2.mp3)
[download]

Part 3

Going deep and hitting a few peaks.

Download audio file (soulceezNYE2008_pt3.mp3)
[download]

Part 4

A little more head crack and then dénouement.

Download audio file (soulceezNYE2008_pt4.mp3)
[download]

Anto Vitale, I see you homie.

During a crippling bout of procrastination, I was aimlessly combing my hard drive and came across a song that Young Deezie hipped me to a while back. The singer was signed to Star Trak for a few years and aside from one track on Clones she never dropped an official release before her contract ran out. She was also the voice opposite Justin’s on “Rock Your Body”.

Random trivia aside, it’s a pretty strong pop tune and very well produced. The hook is huge and that Chuckii Booker‘ish bassline pleases my New Jack sensibilities. I never play it out though, but after making it a bit more DJ friendly I think that will change.

I actually assembled the kit on the ASR-X, that’s how long ago the idea first occurred to me. Transferred the sounds to Reason, whipped up an arrangement in Cubase and here we are. I think there are more lost joints lurking in the lab that I might try to touch up.

Vanessa Marquez – “Want You To Know” feat. Justin Timberlake (Vibe Conductor edit)

Download audio file (wantyoutoknow_vibeconductoredit.mp3)
[download]

I’m not ranking these. And as much as nOva might try to clown, I’m keeping the Honorable Mention section. Folks need to know about these records. I can sacrifice a little brevity for that purpose.

And now, the picks.

Skillz – (For Real) He Don’t Own Me
[purchase: Amazon]
Skillz has been my hero since the Superfriendz days and early album cuts with Dilla. But while he’s carved out an an enviable career touring, ghostwriting, dropping those yearly Rap-Up’s and being a quintessential emcee’s emcee, I wasn’t sure I’d ever get a bonified hit out of him, until he dropped this massive tune on The Million Dollar Backpack. The hook is pop craft at its finest, the beat is magma and Skillz wraps it all up with his signature wit and storytelling. This is the epic summer jam that too many folks missed out on. I’ll be picking this back up as soon as spring blooms next year.

Busta Rhymes – Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em)
[purchase: Amazon]
Busta’s personality has taken some belligerent turns in recent times but when he’s balancing his ignorant and gully side with fun he can still blast off with one of the illest deliveries in hip-hop. This joint came out of nowhere like a sucker punch to the throat. Text messages and emails all blowed up like “Son!! DID YOU HEAR THAT NEW BUSTA SHIT?!?” Bussa Bus gave us a little reminder of his old self, activated the third lung and had the clubs and radio back up into high BPM mode for a change. POWERFUL IMPAK! BOOM!!

Q-Tip – ManWomanBoogie feat. Amanda Diva
[purchase: Amazon | iTunes]
When this comes on, you can’t tell me that I’m not Prince Ken Swift. I mean, you might as well dance, gettin’ down Zulu, yes? This joint could have been on a Blackbyrds album right next to “Rock Creek Park”. And why is this bamma rhyming around the bass line though?!? Exponential increase in funk quotient with that maneuver. Abstract Poetic FTW! Give this man his props for being an ill emcee, please, not just a dude with a nice voice and a rack of hits. It’s The Renaissance y’all. So hard to choose a favorite cut off of that joint.

Simbad feat. Melo – After The Dance (Bugz in the Attic remix)
[listen/purchase: Bagpak | iTunes | Traxsource]
Bugz in the Attic remixes are generally epic. It’s like they’re trying to redefine music every time they touch someone else’s material. Who knows what Marvin would have thought of this cover but I don’t think anyone has ever done anything like this to any song in his catalog. Scandinavian soul man Melo keeps the loverman essence in the vocal while Bugz craft a jazz fusion band on a rocket ship backdrop for the track. The syncopation is so dizzying but satisfying. All the downbeats are upbeats. Monstrous tune. Now would also be a good time to recommend Melo’s full length debut Off My Chest.

photo: Jan T. Scott

2000 Black feat. Lady Alma – Move Over
[listen/purchase (full album only): Dusty Groove | Juno ]
I’d been waiting a long time A Next Set A Rockers. It’s an obsession built from years of tracking down rare Kaidi Tatham and Dego 12-inches on GEMM. Several of these brain popping slices of wax made their way onto the album, its arrival announced by a smash choon called “So Right” which couldn’t have had a better title. But it was “Move Over” that ended up hogging entire tables worth of playlist space on my Last.fm page. Where Lady Alma usually belts out the jams and preserves her sweet voice for ballads, she coos all over this driving broken beat workout, balancing the frenetic production with a silky vocal. How much do I have to shout to the world that I deeply love this woman?

IG Culture – Girl U Need A Change Of Mind feat. Bilal Salaam
[listen/purchase (full album only): Dusty Groove | Juno]
Sneaky ass Bilal was just walking around DC all quiet like, not telling anyone he’d been recording with one of the Mt. Rushmore heads of future soul. IG’s Zen Badizm album is Japanese import only so some diligence is required to obtain it. But what a rewarding acquisition it is, crowned in my opinion by this slick cover of the Eddie Kendricks classic. This one never fails to draw curious folk to the DJ booth. Jamil had been slaying ‘em at Marvin with this well before I finally caught on.

The Roots feat. Wale & Chrisette Michelle – Rising Up
[purchase: Amazon | iTunes ]
This jont GO HAAARD, young! Them Roots bammas off the muscle with that socket, joe. Got Wale representin’ the uhhrea. And the youngin Chrisette Michelle is fat to death too. Bammas is crankin’ for real.*

I can’t believe The Legendary didn’t get a Grammy nom for this. It’s straight murderation. Cats were on their “we’re baaaack!” shit, as if “75 Bars” and “Get Busy” didn’t drive that point home hard enough.

(*consult this resource for translation assistance.)

Foreign Exchange – House Of Cards
[purchase: Amazon | iTunes]
“Daykeeper” was the tune that hit us all right between the eyes but “House Of Cards” got under my skin. Muhsinah makes the chorus soar majestically with her particular brand of magic. And how insane is that bridge? AND this joint is in 7/8?!? Makes it feel like it’s galloping towards you before lift-off.

Pirahnahead – TimeLoveLIFE
[listen/purchase: Traxsource]
I’ve already raved about this tune but the praise is worth repeating. Campaigning for this song is like doing God’s work, it makes my soul feel like it’s going to burst with energy. The sentiments in the lyrics are particularly applicable to current events. Do yourself a favor and track down everything with the name Pirahnahead on it. It’s all deep, powerful and emotionally stirring music. Househeads rejoice. Detroit, holla!

Reel People – Ordinary Man
[listen/purchase: Amazon | Traxsource]
I was stanning for this album SO HARD in ’08. It’s hot from end to end, which gave me lots of options to slip a tune from it into damn near every live gig and recorded mixset I did this year. It was the first recommendation off the top of my head to everyone who asked me for tips on interesting new music. For a stretch of about a month, it was all I listened to, and it still hasn’t gone out of heavy rotation. Folks wonder why I’m always bugging out about what the Brits are doing over yonder. This album is a perfect reason why. But how to choose just one song? “Alibi” started out as my favorite, with Darien crooning over a sexy latin scorcher. Then I got stuck on Omar’s “Out of Love”, one of the most danceable emotional laments I’ve ever heard. Ultimately, the funky retro synth pop of “Ordinary Man” won out. You’ve got to appreciate the work of Michael McDonald, Steely Dan, Rod Temperton and Greg Phillinganes to feel me on this.

• Honorable Mentions
Janet Jackson – Can’t B Good
Beady Belle – Apron Strings
Erik Rico – Forever
Black Milk – Give The Drummer Sum
J-Live – The Upgrade Featuring Oddisee & Posdnuos

WATCH:

READ:
Bounceworthy: Tamara Wellons (Soulbounce.com)
Underrated Female Soul Singer Spotlight: Tamara Wellons (SITKOL)
Soul Watch: Tamara Wellons (Honeysoul.com)

LINK UP:
TamaraWellons.com
myspace.com/TamaraWellons

PURCHASE:
Traxsource

EXPERIENCE:

October 29, 2008
Bohemian Caverns
2001 Eleventh Street NW WDC 20001
Doors open at 7pm, Show starts at 8pm

Andre Harris – “10 Things Not To Say To A DJ”

I mean, how is it that stupid people ALL OVER THE WORLD all end up reading from the same script when they decide they want to inflict psychic pain on you while you’re trying to rock the party?

I’ve built upon this with scores of my DJ colleagues and the uniformity of the stories is fascinating. Someone has to do a psychological study on it. I’ve collected tons of data first hand over the years. Is there some shared genetic defect in stupid people that is triggered by a nightclub environment? Does that have to do with the fact that stupid people are statistically more likely to go out to certain clubs? It’s like a perverse feedback loop of causality. Do they all get together in a huddle before they come to the club to maximize the annoyance factor of their strategy? Perhaps it’s a conspiracy waged by an international cabal of stupid people with the shared goal of driving all DJs into early retirement.

The one that makes me want to beat myself in the forehead with a ball peen hammer is:

“Everyone wants to hear it.”

AAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!

I’ve actually asked folks if they really polled the whole club to arrive at this assertion, just like in the song. Things usually go downhill from there.

I’ve grown pretty heartless over the last couple of years. My patience has been worn away to a cold, hard steely sheen, especially because there’s something about DJs that make people want to heap abuse on us in ways they would never dare in any other aspect of human interaction. Folks consistently say things to me that would automatically earn them a punch in the mouth if I weren’t behind the decks. Of course, I can’t do that, even if it’s warranted.

But woe unto the clubtards that approach me these days because I don’t hesitate to dispense liberal doses of non-violent face crack. And it doesn’t matter how fat your ass is and how much cleavage you jiggle in front of me. That will actually make me more likely to hurt your feelings. It’s funny to observe the strain on the faces of attractive women who can’t process the idea of a heterosexual man telling them no. Actually, that applies mostly to an environment where the primary goal of every man is to catch their attention.

Despite the effective coping mechanisms I’ve developed, I’m looking forward to sharing this song in a set. Thanks Andre.

UPDATE: Transcription! With notes!

10 things not to say to a DJ

1. PLAY SOMETHING GOOD…SOMETHING WE CAN DANCE TO! First of all, the DJ has to play for more than one person…so, what you may hate may be another’s favorite song EVERYTHING played here can be danced to one way or another.
(Stylus: How the hell do I know what YOU can dance to? I don’t know YOU like that. The companion to this one is “play something we know.” WTF?!!!!??? *facepalm*)

2. WOULD YOU PLAY SOMETHING WITH A BEAT? NOW COME ON LET’S BE SERIOUS! We know of NO song that is played in a club that don’t have some type of a beat!

3. I DON’T KNOW WHO SINGS IT AND I DON’T KNOW THE NAME OF THE SONG, BUT IT GOES LIKE THIS. Please Please Please Please don’t sing for the DJ! They have to put up with smoke-filled rooms and dangerous decibel levels all night. Do them a favor and DON’T give them a rendition of your favorite song.

4. EVERYBODY WANTS TO HEAR IT! Oh sure, I’m sure you went though the club and polled EVERYONE and now they sent you as their spokesperson, to request their favorite song. What ever get out of here…

5. I CAN GET LAID IF YOU PLAY IT! If you are GOOD ENOUGH, you can get laid to anything!! If you need ME to play a song for YOU to get laid, then you’ve got serious problems.

6. I WANT TO HEAR IT NEXT! The only people who can get away with that statement are the people that write the DJ’s paycheck! Plus more often than not, the DJ already has the next song already cued up and ready to go to the decks, we do not have time to look for your favorite song.

7. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I WANNA HEAR…WHAT DO YOU HAVE? It’s a lot easier for you to go have another beer and figure out what it is you want to hear than it is for me to recite and name EVERY record I Have with me in the booth right now. Also don’t ask for a song list! I don’t know of any DJ that has an actual printed list of every song with them in the booth so like I said go get a beer hit the dance floor back up the bar.

8. HEY YO, NOBODY CAN DANCE TO THIS! It is not advisable to say this when the dance floor is packed (but, some people do anyway)! However, even if there is only ONE person on the floor, it STILL contradicts this statement. You’re just being rude. Have an open mind about music and go dance or just sit down.

9. EVERYBODY WILL DANCE TO IT IF YOU PLAY IT! Half the time I hear this, no-one goes to the dance floor except for the person that asked for it, and when they realize they’re the only one that wanted to dance to it, they bail off the dance floor. If you ask the DJ for a dance song and don’t dance to it, expect the DJ to ignore your requests for the rest of the night.
(Stylus: It’s not half the time. More like 100%. And I will call you out on the mic and note that “this bamma bothered me to play this song and no one wants to dance to it.”)

10. MOST IMPORTANTLY! If you’re at a club or an event that doesn’t play any hip-hop, don’t ask the DJ do you have any hip-hop? Just go outside to your car and turn on the radio or go home and watch MTV!
(Stylus: This is one of the worst and most common ones. Did you not know what club you were going to before you arrived?)

It’ll only cost you a couple bucks, and it’s so sincerely and urgently not a game.

Pirahnahead – “TimeLoveLIFE”

Pirahnahead… yo… SON!

Homie’s been on my radar ever since I heard that Diviniti joint and he makes quite a statement each time he drops something new.

I didn’t know he sang though. I just thought he was a wiz on the keys, the axe and behind the boards. The Take 6 vocal layering… sounding like Setembro up in this jont. MADNESS!!

Divine dropped this at Daylight last night and my brain short circuited. I caught an acute facial cramp at the 1:34 mark.

Lawd.

Pirahnahead, you are officially a bad ass muhflucker. I will have to slap you when I see you next. I should have slapped you preemptively the last time I saw you.

[l to r: Phonte, Pirahnahead, Diviniti, DJ Minx]

BTW, about my recent absence, I did cop goodies in Brazil. I’ve just got to get over this re-entry hump before I can share. For now, just make sure you BUY THIS DAMN SONG.

1. Daru Beats – Gratefull feat. Deenahea (DNA)
2. Kissey Asplund & Suff Daddy (feat. Bless 1) – 99bottles
3. Erik Rico – Making Love
4. Nickodemus (Wonderwheel Records) exclusive joint
5. Coultrain – Green
6. Nicolay & Kay – I’ve Seen Rivers
7. Mr. Windmill & Jay.Soul – Hugo Hovenkampp
8. Trevor Lovey’s – Elevate Your Mind
9. The RH Factor – For Fun (SoulFeast Vocal Remix of “Common Freestyle” feat. Omar)
10. Reel People – Outta Love feat. Omar
11. Ave.To – Cuz Of You
12. Chris Barker – Breakin Bread edit
13. Demetrius Price – No Holdin’ Back
14. Moodyman – Black Mahogani
15. Amp Fiddler – I’m Doing Fine (live)*
16. Exchange Bureau – The End of Me & You feat. Salah Obeid

*original version: track 4

Download audio file (djstylus_afrodiasporamix.mp3)
[download | right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As']
[subscribe in iTunes]

1. Mos Def – Umi Says
2. Faze Action – Samba
3. Femi Kuti – What Will Tomorrow Bring (Remix LP MIx)
4. Los Amigos Invisibles – Bruja (MAW Mix)
5. Tom & Joyce – Queixume (MAW Mix, Main Vocal)
6. Salome de Bahia – Theme of Rio
7. Los Ladrones – Las Luces del Norte
8. Osunlade – Diamant
9. Jiva – Love Chooses Lovers (The ‘Heart Chakra’ Mix)
10. Tortured Soul – I Might Do Something Wrong pt. 2
11. Fertile Ground – Peace & Love (Jazztronik ‘Mardi Gras’ Mix)
12. Nickodemus & Osiris feat. Carol C from Si*Sé – Mariposa
13. Sade – By Your Side (Naked Music Mix)
14. T.Kolai – Congo (T.Kolai’s Andalu Vocal feat. David Crosby)
15. Opa – African Bird
16. Charlie Byrd & Cal Tjader – Samba de Oneida
17. Osunlade – Aldeia de Ogun
18. Nuspirit Helsinki – Afro-Cuban Haze

Download audio file (2007-12-07T12_46_11-08_00.mp3)
[download | right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As']
[subscribe in iTunes]

Stylus
Isabella – Aurora
Omar – World Of You
Saukrates feat. Common – Play Dis
Raheem Devaughn – Heaven
Owusu & Hannibal – Blue Jay
The HYBernation Project – Heavy
Ernesto – Juice (Dimlite Remock)
Kokayi – Beautiful
Marvin Gaye – I Want You 2 (Waajeed Outro)
DJ Mitsu – Dokkou Jazz Orgy
Roy Davis Jr. feat. Peven Everett – Someday
Shanice – It’s For You
MC Lyte – Eyes Are The Soul
Dego & Kaidi Tatham – Dealt A Bad Hand
Shae Fiol – I Dance
Blvd. East & Louie “Lou” Gorbea – A Journey Into
Tom & Joy – Antigua
Aklimatize – El Uno

Statik
Foremost Poets – Where I’m Going
Teddy Douglass – The Caribou (Karizma rmx)
Anto Vitale – Theorema Del Faya
Nadirah Shakoor – Just A Breath Away
Robert Owens – Bring Down the Walls
First Choice – Double Cross (Larry Levan mix)
ESG – Moody (Spaced Out)
Bernard Wright – Master Rocker
Martin Circus – Disco Circus
Gerardo Frisina – Helen Samba

Download audio file (projectvibe13.mp3)
[download | right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As' ]
[subscribe in iTunes]