Full disclosure, when this first came out, I kinda ignored it despite its release on one of my favorite labels. It was a collaboration between Muhsinah and another talented, up and coming RBMA attendee from Austria, and maybe I was hating a little inside because of all the times RBMA rejected me. DJ Stylus is human and has his faults. Thanks to DJ Brainchild, I got a second chance to fall into one of the most breathtaking tunes I’ve heard in recent memory.
This song sounds like what I imagine Na’vi sex feels like.
I love Muhsinah like cooked food and fancy beer. I won’t let my petty ego issues stand in the way of our love ever again. Much props to The Clonious too. I shook off the shame and bought both of his projects immediately.
The New Groove was several years ahead of the rush of legendary labels seeking to monetize their back catalogs through remix projects. I used to wear this cassette out.
Refuge makes me smile when someone is minding their business, I throw on a tune and they’re compelled to get out of their seat and groove in their own little world. Then they come to me and I can tell them the name of their new favorite song. I have to give props to DJ Day for getting me hip to this one.
Tam-Rock is re-launching her website and celebrating at Refuge this week. Join us this Wednesday! There will be girly stuff, like make-up giveaways and martinis and such. Considering my fanbase, this doesn’t bother me at all. She’s going to sing a few songs and give away some music too.
I met up with Marsha of Soul Culture UK when I was in London and we ended up having a long conversation about one of my favorite subjects, DC music. In much the same way as my associates have been pushing London’s progressive artists here, folks over there have been taking an interest in our output.
Soul Culture is really on their grizzly right now, so I graciously accepted an invitation to write the intro (under the good gubmint name) to their Chocolate City Special. Kudos are definitely in order for the final product, as it spotlights folks like Bilal Salaam, Green Tea, Muhsinah, Oddisee and more. Props to the Couch Sessions crew who also contributed.
Even more so than last year, this list was an excruciating exercise due to a glut of options rather than a shortage. 2008 was a great year for black music. I won’t even address the type of coonery that could make one feel otherwise because what’s the point in even giving that any mental energy when you can immerse yourself in so much exciting stuff?
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.
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.
I first came across this cat when he was doing backup vocals for Bilal Salaam. It’s kinda hard to keep up with the younglings sometimes. Nicholas was a student in the same HU music department that gave us Muhsinah, and she came out of nowhere too and just started smashing the world. It’s a movement, y’all. And even when they leave DC I’m still claiming ‘em! Lots of reasons to be excited about music these days and Nick is definitely one of them.
Another week of putting hella mileage on my feet with hours of dancing and walking, making new friends and strengthening existing alliances. Many adult beverages were consumed, many ill beats absorbed, many pounds given and pretty much non-stop good cheer was spread all around. Here are some highlights…
• Illest DJ’ing Display (aka the “Y’all Bammas Is Out Of Hand, Somebody Needs To Slap You For What You Did To Those Decks” Award): TIE – J-Rocc & Karizma
J-Rocc rolled into an explosive James Brown tribute party where it seems everyone had a few tricks to pull out in a friendly little game of one-upmanship. Even though digital DJ’ing is pretty standard now, he busted out a 45 case and proceeded to flip original 7 inches flawlessly for over an hour, cueing breaks and cutting them back and forth with timing that could be measured in nanoseconds. Fast forward to Saturday at the Raw Fusion jam, B-more’s own Karizma had a star-studded crowd of world class DJ’s awestruck with his mastery of the Pioneer CDJ-1000. His combination of creative pre-made edits and live manipulation of the CDJ’s looping and pitch functions were some of the most original DJ’ing concepts I’ve heard in a minute. Topped off with deft selection instincts and the ability to segue into different tempos, Karizma is one of the toughest cats to rock a set right now.
• Best Live P.A.: TIE – Jody Watley & Linn
Two vastly different experiences that I hate to have to compare but they both had me amped for different reasons. Jody Watley appeared behind the DJ booth where King Britt and Vikter Duplaix had already succeeded in lacing the proceedings with sexiness (it ain’t called Art of Seduction for nothing). She put on her stunna shades, grabbed the mic and strutted her fine self across the tiny stage, belting out only one of her new songs before vanishing into the night air. I went into full groupie mode and I will be copping her collabo with DJ Spinna as soon as humanly possible. Over at Raw Fusion, I had a chance to hear one of my favorite new voices rock some of the hottest tunes in her repertoire. Linn is a demure Swede with soul in her voice that sounds like it’s backed with generations of experience. She makes feel-good records that sound just as good when she’s delivering them live as they do when spinning on my turntable.
Honorable Mentions: Tamara Wellons, Ne’a Posey, Tiombe Lockhart and Muhsinah (yes, I have a DC bias.) I heard Jneiro Jarel mashed the mic @ Co-Op but I missed it. Who had a chance to catch Erik Rico?
• Broadened Horizons Award: DJ Heather
As I pushed my way through the crazed hordes at the massive OM party I eventually reached an outdoor tent where DJ Heather was BANGING OUT. I’d never seen her before and it was dope that her skills were on point even though her selection wasn’t my steez. I probably need to hang out in Chicago more. The crowd was going bonkers and that’s what matters. Heather left no doubt that she takes her job seriously.
• Best Jam: Jump-N-Funk
Every year this event makes folks literally go apeshit for eight hours straight and its momentum shows no sign of slowing. Rich Medina, Ron Trent, Rob Rizk & the whole Africa Hi-Fi crew… don’t mess with the formula!
• James Brown Award (hardest working cats on South Beach): Daz-I-Kue & Afronaught of Bugz in the Attic
I swear these dudes had like 4 gigs a day. Are they the new British invasion? They damn sure were working overtime in Miami this year. Hope y’all made a lot of bank cuz you deserve it, even though that American money is jive slim. Keep mashing!
• Step Up Time Award: SunTzu Sound
What do you do when you’ve got to rock for 7 hours on the first level of a club where some of the biggest heavyweights in the game are crushing it upstairs? You step up and knock that jont out of the park. Big ups to J-Justice and Atlee for keeping the bottom level cranking at Co-Op until 5am while the Bugz crew had ‘em packed in upstairs. These cats are making a lot of noise for a crew that’s only been together 4 years.
• And The Reputation Precedes Them Award: J-Boogie
I have mix cd’s, edits & remixes from this cat but I’d never been able to catch one of his sets. He was a much needed relief from the crowded & overly ravish scene in many of the rooms at the OM party. His fresh mix of afro-latin funk mash-ups, obscure hip-hop bits and party classics gave me a lot of great ideas. Big ups to Sake One who plays with J a lot and who I managed to miss YET AGAIN. You should check him out.
• The “Why didn’t I think of that before?” Award: Y Ultra Lounge’s DJ moat.
The small stage that held the outdoor DJ booth in the front courtyard was surrounded by an actual moat fed by a waterfall. This must be one of the worst developments to happen to drunken idiots obsessed with harassing the DJ. Brilliant! Too bad the homie Statik fell in. Collateral damage does happen to non-combatants sometimes.
DanceTracks: the other G'wich Village landmark that influenced my life as much as @FatBeatsNY. I missed wthr it also get a hero's farewell. 57 mins ago
