“Black President’s Day” is an annual tribute to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti done around the time of his birthday, October 15th. LiL SoSo Productions, along with its community partners, will be producing the annual tribute this year in historic Anacostia. The event will feature food, live music, live art and more! Advance purchase of tickets is suggested, along with early arrival.

Black President’s Day:
A Celebration of the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti
10|15|11 9pm-til
We Act Radio, 1918 MLK Ave SE DC
tickets:
http://blackpres2011.eventbrite.com/

Drama ensued in Master of the Mix Episode 2 with DJ Revolution going home at the hands of Vikter Duplaix. True DJs cried foul while Duplaix’s swag proved to be key to keeping eyes glued to the show.

Join LSP and the DC MotM community partners this week to see what happens in Episode 3 and check this recap from the DC premier party.

MoTM DC resident DJ:
DJ Stylus, The Vibe Conductor

guest DJs:
Asho and Meistro

8pm | free with RSVP
Bar 7
1015 1/2 7th St NW WDC

Each week until the series finale, LSP presents viewing parties of Master of the Mix until just one DJ remains.

Missed the premier episode and launch party?

Catch the DJs going another round this Wednesday, November 10.

MoTM DC resident DJ:
DJ Stylus, The Vibe Conductor

guest DJs:
Maze-One and Handspeak

8pm | free with RSVP
Jin
2017 14th ST NW WDC

“Master of the Mix”, the new reality show sponsored by Smirnoff, will feature seven DJs who face weekly competition until only one master of the mix remains. Featuring Just Blaze as host and Kid Capri as the celebrity judge, the show will air Wednesdays on Centric at 10:30pm and on Saturdays at 12 midnight on BET. Check out the DJs, clips and more at: www.masterofthemix.com.

LSP and Smirnoff have teamed up for a series of events including the launch of the premiere episode. Join us as we celebrate Smirnoff’s nod to DJ culture on Wednesday, November 3rd. Attendees will get to nosh on great food, sip Smirnoff cocktails, try their hands at dj’ing, take in a documentary or two, and watch the premiere episode.

Party Rockers: Master of the Mix series launch party

featuring:

DJ Stylus, “The Vibe Conductor”
DJ Book
DJ Jahsonic
DJ RBI
DJ Dredd
DJ Adrian Loving

and live art by Aniekan Udofia

Wednesday, November 3
LUX LOUNGE | 649 New York Ave, NW WDC | 8PM | 21+
RSVP required

And as the series continues, follow it with weekly viewing parties featuring more of DC’s best DJs.

LSP returns with another edition of DC’s annual celebration of Fela Kuti! We have scaled back some, but the good vibes and music remain! Come as you are (painted or otherwise) and rock out to the sounds of the King of Afrobeat and those under his influence.

DJ sets by:

Jahsonic
Adrian Loving
DJ Stylus

Live art by Aniekan Udofia and more!

Sunday, Oct. 24
Tabaq Bistro
1336 U Street, NW-WDC
8pm-Until
Recession Proof Cover: Pay what you can

Told y’all not to miss AudioTRIP. Peep the flicks and the video.

Get ready to take a trip that will span the globe! LSP and Smirnoff team up for what promises to be one of the most memorable events this year. AudioTRIP will take attendees to new musical heights with an amazing line up of dj, live music and fashion talent. Frequent flyer miles are included for travelers 21 and up.

RSVP for free entry and access to all the terminals and special in-flight Smirnoff cocktails.

Featuring three terminals of music:

Terminal One:
DJ Spinna w/DJ Handspeak & Maze One
Special Guest Host: Nikki Strong of “Strong in the City” WHUR (96.3FM)
Live Musical Performances by: Ne’a Posey & AB
Sponsored by: CASRAM & Monument Arts Festival

Terminal Two:
Daz-I-Kue & Waajeed w/DJ 2-Tone Jones & Roddy Rod
Sponsored by: BELLA & The Capitol Hip Hop Soul Festival

Terminal Three:
Rich Medina w/The Soul Controllers (DJs Stylus & Jahsonic)
Live Painting by: Aniekan Udofia
Sponsored by: The Adinkra Group, Biribelle & The Black LuvFest

-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

Diamond D – “The Hiatus”

Pulling this out last week was prescient since Refuge is taking a week off.

Kat is in the middle of her birthday week, is closing out Soul Overdose for 2009 and there was no way we could do the final one any other day than Wednesday. We’re suspending Refuge tomorrow and will resume on December 23. Of course, we’ve got a Grammy nominee to help you get over the hump and maybe a dual Soul Controller after party to boost the usual Jahsonic throwdown.

Soul Overdose with N’digo Rose, DJ Jahsonic and special guest Phonte

Wednesday, December 16
LIV
2001 11th St NW
doors: 9PM
tickets available at LilSoSo.com
door purchase availability NOT GUARANTEED.

The night will include performances by area artists paying tribute to the music and legacy of protest as displayed during the Montgomery Bus Boycott highlighted in the 381 Days exhibition. Using protest music from America and the African Diaspora, the event will feature songs that have been used for generations in times of strife and struggle, love and joy.

Kat‘s doing museums now. She major.

Featuring:

Ne’a Posey
JSOUL
Tamara Wellons
Olu Butterfly
Femi the Dri Fish
Zo! and The Els
DJ Stylus

and closing party by DJ Phaze

Rebel Music: A Celebration for the People
Friday, December 4th
8PM-12 AM
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum
830 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
443.263.1800

She’s the singer, I’m the interview guy.

Thursday, December 3
Busboys & Poets
2021 14th Street, NW WDC
9PM-11PM

When the tickets are gone there won’t be any at the door. Purchase at LilSoSo.com.

Once again celebrating Fela Anikulapo Kuti, this time with special emphasis on the First Ladies of Afrobeat. Dedicated, loyal and innovative, these women often relegated to the sidelines, were at the center of Fela’s movement, sound and presentation.

Complimentary buffet (while it lasts):
Jollof rice, Plantain & Chicken

FREE HEINEKEN (while supplies last)

Live Music:
Union Street Band w/special guests Tosin Aribisala and Tokunbo Aderele

DJ Sets in Two Rooms!

THE CHAMBER
DJ Shoboy
DJ Don-X
i:Wah The Beat Priest

THE SHRINE
DJ Jahsonic (Soul Controllers)
DJ Stylus – The Vibe Conductor (Soul Controllers)
DJ Sabine (Oyasound/Brooklyn Mecca/Rhythm&Roots)
w/Jabari Exum on Djembe

Live Art by Aniekan Udofia

411 New York Ave NE (3rd floor)
Washington, DC 20002
entrance is from parking lot at crossing of Penn & 4th. (map)

Saturday, October 17
9pm – ?
$15 advance / $20 door
RSVP at beyou@lilsoso.com and reserve the advanced sale price ($15). RSVPs will be honored until 11PM.

Soul Controllers
Ill Vibe Collective
Joy Jones

IT’S OUR 18TH ANNIVERSARY!!

(whoa)

So let’s dance.

Price: $5 (Space is limited so early arrival is suggested)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 8:00pm
Tabaq Bistro & Lounge – Basement
1336 U Street, NW, WDC

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.

July 6, 2009
9 PM :: HHTF OPENING NIGHT PARTY
Marvin
2007 14th Street, NW WDC
no cover, 21+

BYOS
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Vegetate
1414 9th Street, NW
6p-9p
MUST RSVP for entry.

Featuring:

“Favorites” food and drink specials.

DJs:
Stylus (DC – Soul Controllers, Poem-Cees, E44)
Motet (UK – Bugz In The Attic, Uprock Recordings)

My Favorite Things
Monday, May 18 2009
6 – 9pm
Marvin
2007 14th St NW WDC
no cover

Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

This month’s featured guests include:
Bassey Ikpi and Derrick Weston Brown with The Soul Controllers as your resident DJs.

Donations will be accepted.

Sunday, May 17, 2009
5 – 8pm
Sankofa
2714 Georgia Avenue, NW WDC

Here’s a flashback from last year.

Download audio file (felaforpresident101407.mp3)
[download | subscribe via iTunes]

[more photos]

[photo by Sondai]

I’ve explained before that a prime motivation for what I do is attaining those all too brief moments of magic. Not dissimilar to a drug high, I’m always chasing those fleeting experiences that flood the soul, whether on stage, in the booth or in the studio.

Last night was one of those moments.

It ranks up there with my favorite memories of what our band of Maroons have been able to accomplish on the DC scene over the years:
- the Headphone Addiction release party at State of the Union (who remembers that? It was a milestone moment for me)
- the 10 year anniversary of Low End Theory tribute show at the Black Cat
- Poem-Cees, Infinite Loop & Team Demolition at the 9:30 Club
- Mark de Clive Lowe & Bembe Segue’s first DC show
- Alice Russell’s first DC show
- that night at Science Club right after Dilla passed that everyone poured their emotions out onto the dancefloor until 3am
- the Dilla celebration at XM
- Harlem In Paris

There have been so many… and last night will definitely be something that people will talk about for years to come.

After Wayna blessed the first INAS and set the bar pretty high, the Head Mistress and I kicked around a few ideas that didn’t come together for various reasons. Then I thought “Phonte! THAT’S IT!!!” Kat was immediately enthused. I just had to make the pitch to Tay Gravy.

It was clear to me. Take a creative dude with a huge personality and put him in the equivalent of a living room full of people that adore him. Give him free reign to stretch outside of what he’s known for and watch the magic happen. But it took some convincing. There was some concern about possible corniness. And how he’s not the comedian that people think he is (bullshit!). How LB joints wouldn’t lend themselves to an acoustic setup (wait ’til the video comes out). And what could he possibly do for 40 minutes? If you were there you are laughing hysterically at that last one. I think once we added Zo to the mix, he warmed up to the idea, to put it mildly.

With Zo leading The ELs in acoustic jazz trio mode and everyone in dapper finery, Phonte took the stage and gave a SHOW. On some supper club shit. Like when folks would get dressed to go to dinner and cats in the mold of Sammy Davis Jr. would pull from their singing, dancing and comedic/dramatic skills to truly entertain you. Like what our parents and grandparents experienced on Black Broadway back in the day. So it was truly fitting that it all went down on U Street.

With side-splitting monologues and pinpoint comic timing, Phonte wove together a set of Little Brother, Foreign Exchange and Zo & Tigallo Love the ’80s joints into a performance that had folks singing along, snapping fingers and rolling in the aisles. I can’t say much more than that because there are so many surprises that I wouldn’t want to ruin.

[photo courtesy of Butta]

And then there was the interview, which pretty much consisted of me tossing him easy underhanded softballs and him mashing them out of the park. There aren’t too many folks in hip-hop who can transfix a room just by sitting on stage on a stool and talking, whether it’s his hilarious impressions, rapid fire jokes or sober takes on life.

And there was the after party. Two-stepping at Marvin and holding court among friends out on the deck. Good times.

Video soon come. And more plans to keep those memorable moments flowing. Much love to my DC arts community, the LSP crew for their professionalism and dedication and Phonte for being the damn fool that he is.

(A portion of the proceeds will be donated to youth AIDS oranizations)

BOHEMIAN CAVERNS
2001 11th Street, NW
Washington, DC