DJ Stylus – The Vibe Conductor

I don’t do resolutions, but part of the “better me” program is to generate more fruits of the lab. So here’s a Merry New Year to you all, courtesy of Beantown and Chocolate City.

Take one Rod Temperton produced, Timmy Regisford remixed (!!) New Edition rarity and stir in some early ’80s crank via the “upper crest of NW” and this could have easily been rocking in the brick sized Walkman of a young DJ Stylus living off of Florida Ave. at the time.

New Edition vs. Petworth Band – Once In A Lifetime Groove by DJStylus

And the original, to bring it full circle.

I was recently asked when Refuge was coming back. I’ve got no helpful details on that at present but I can re-up one of the few recordings I saved.

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New Sector Movements – Para
Stevie Wonder – As If You Read My Mind
Root Soul feat. Vanessa Freeman & Mike Patto – Spirit of Love (Phil Asher’s Restless Soul Boogie Mix)
Eddie Kendricks – Date With The Rain
OK-Ma – Bwoygal (Lanu Remix)
Atlantic Starr – Circles
Jamiroquai – Soul Education
Ne-Yo – Nobody
Ty – Wait A Minute (Dwele Remix)
Little Dragon – Constant Surprises
Kaidi Tatham – I’m High
Reel People – Ordinary
Quantic – Mishaps Happening (Quantic Beat Mix)

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.

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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

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1. Gil Scott Heron – Intro
2. Ohmega Rhed – Chocolate City
3. Wayna – So Long Heartache
4. Chuck Brown – Playing Your Game, Baby
5. Raheem Devaughn & Backyard Band – Guess Who Loves You More
6. MVP – Feelin’ Free
7. Ne’a Posey – Gotta Be
8. Priest da Nomad feat. Asheru & Kokayi – Holding It Down
9. Ne’a Posey & PPP – You Should Be
10. Ave.To – Sand To The Beach
11. Oddisee feat. yU – Searching
12. Tamara Wellons – Corcovado rmx
13. Kenny Allen – Kissing You
14. Kokayi – Own Soul
15. Kev Brown feat. Raheem Devaughn – Heaven
16. Muhsinah – Once Again
17. RPM – Poetry Bum
18. Nicholas Ryan Gant & Pharcyde feat. Amma – I Ain’t Ready
19. Bilal Salaam – Metro Groove
20. DJ Stylus – O Fim Dos Tempos
21. Unspoken Heard – Truly Unique
22. JLaine, TFox & Wes Felton – Don’t Really Know
23. Kev Brown – Allways
24. Kokayi & Foreign Exchange – Where Did The Love Go?
25. Marky, Jazzanova & Clara Hill – No Use

Last year I did a happy hour with SoulBounce and put together a collection of DMV soul that was created before Beltway outsiders extended long overdue acknowledgement.

[I really miss Vegetate. | photo credit: Ne'a Posey]

It was only given out on site to folks who attended the party and has languished on my hard drive since then. It’s not that undiscovered new-newness, but a collection of modern DC soul that leans toward the indie and progressive. The main names of the scene over the past decade are included as well as a few bits you might have missed. And of course, there’s a taste of go-go. Without it, this mix would be improper.

I noticed a strong connection between the vibes on this mix and our current combination of warm sun, cool breezes and mild temperatures. I highly recommend this mix for the following activities:

- cruising in the sunshine
- relaxing at a cook-out
- Friday evening pre-gaming
- Saturday morning bunning-up
- Sunday afternoon housecleaning
- hipping people to DMV music
- flaunting your good taste when you pull up next to a cutie at a red light

Looking at the highlights below, I guess that’s how I was feeling last week.

Vibe Conductor Pick:

Kidkanevil – “When I Dig” featuring Kissey Asplund, Blu

It almost feels premature to be rocking this now because it’s such a spring jam. Kissey Asplund does her cutesy space kitten thing and Blu’s Dana Dane impression takes me back to happier times. Who’s Kidkanevil? I’m just finding out myself over a year after everyone else did.

Peoples’ Pick:

Eric Roberson – “Wanna Believe It Again” feat. Wayna

I got Music Fan First right before the first Refuge and been banging this tune ever since. It’s almost cursory to highlight it at this point because its jam status was instantly evident. But I love it. The dancefloor loves it. Other DJs reading this, if you like women, you should be playing it.

Nostalgia Pick:

SWV – “Coming Home”

SWV had a lot of great tracks outside of their established hits. Many solid cuts fell through the cracks in that transitional period when new jack swing was waning and R&B had yet to merge DNA with hip-hop.

Digging In The Crates Pick:

Rahsaan Patterson – “It Ain’t Love”

It feels like folks should shed clothing and inhibitions when this song drops. I’ve never seen it happen but perhaps subconsciously I wish it would.

Join us for another session tonight?

A core group of music heads and long time supporters (I really love and appreciate y’all) assembled on the late end. Early adopters know what’s up. Saw a few new faces too. I’m digging the socializing vibe. Sometimes a party doesn’t have to be about megawatt energy. And I love folks who will just get up and dance to their song even if no one else does, just because it’s their song. These are my kind of people.

Vibe Conductor Pick:

Hawthorne Headhunters – “She Wanna”

Singing, rapping, banging out them beats… Black Spade is on it. And he’s one of those cats who has so much stuff going on that he creates new names under which to do it all. Please get familiar, and then check Black Sp-, or rather Stoney Rock‘s new group Hawthorne Headhunters.

Peoples’ Pick:

Erykah Badu and Rahzel – “Southern Gul”

Could also be included in the “Songs That DJs Should Play More Often” category.

Nostalgia Pick:

Rebbie Jackson – “Centipede”

I was pretty much only aiming to elicit a squeal from ThePBG, although she wasn’t the only one who appreciated it.

Digging In The Crates Pick:

Chuckii Booker – “(Don’t U Know) I Love U”

When my iPod throws this joint at me on shuffle, I turn into one of those weirdos on the Metro singing LOUD AS HELL in my own little world.

Next week: an album listening party and special giveaways. Stay tuned.

Old friends and new came through to sip, chat and boogie. This experiment just might work. As promised, every week I’ll recap a few highlights. Hopefully this will become a running conversation. What records do YOU remember and want to know more about?

Vibe Conductor Pick:

As much as I like to smash off a party, I also enjoy just sharing tunes with a room full of folks socializing and appreciating the sounds. Early in the night I dropped one of my favorite tracks from the Jazz Refreshed compilation, Femi Temowo’s “Wood & Strings”.

Click the album cover to listen to the project in its entirety.

When I read that Femi took up jazz guitar after being inspired by Wes Montgomery, I wasn’t surprised. Here’s why:

Peoples’ Pick:

Slakah the Beatchild – “D.A.N.C.E.”

I ended the night with this one, and for those who haven’t heard it in my sets and mixes since this summer, it was an instant earworm. Toronto’s got some freshly ground goodness brewing these days. Been seeing Slakah the Beatchild in album credits, on blogs and in music press for a minute.

Nostalgia Pick:

Brownstone – “If You Love Me”

Sometimes you just want the ladies to get really happy and sing along really loud. We DJs enjoy that.

Digging In The Crates Pick:

Madonna – “Human Nature”

Forgot about this one, didn’t ya? Still goes hooard in the clurb. Word to Madge.

See you next week, right? Of course!

Some months after I first felt moved to spread the word about Nicholas Ryan Gant, he asked me to add some flourishes to a mixtape project he was working on with a west coast hip-hop theme.

It was probably just in time because homie’s becoming a hot property along with the talented company he keeps. You’ll find a few rising nu-soul favorites in the tracklisting below along with some familiar names.

This project also marks the milestone of 50 mixes now available for download on VibeConductor.com. (w00t!)

And even though Nick might not find it as amusing as I do, I’m posting the gag cover that was replaced by the official cover above. Maybe he can be convinced that it’s a good look.

There’s an unmixed version for DJ’s and iPod shufflers. Otherwise, enjoy it mixtape style, where mixing actually takes place, which is not guaranteed in this modern lazily assembled compilation mixtape era.

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1.Hittin Switches intro
2.What?
3.Good Thing
4.Incantory Tranquility ft. Labtekwon
5.Make It Right
6.Ode to Nate Dogg
7.Miss the light
8.My Switch ft. Muhsinah
9.Livin Life ft. Queen Godis
10.I Ain’t Ready ft. Amma
11.West Coast Connect
12.I’m Willin’
13.Gangsta Defined ft. Bilal Salaam
14.Unknown ft. Jesse Boykins III
15.Do What You Want
16.Don’t Call Me
17.The Past Outro

Last year I was given the task and the honor of contributing to SoulBounce.com’s Top 100 Soul/R&B Countdown.

It was a pretty fun exercise, because rather than try to be some definitive encyclopedic assessment of the history of soul music, it’s only a few peoples’ favorite songs, ranked in order of commonality between the lists. A few people with really good taste and a personal investment in the music, of course.

We were instructed to not take into account historical impact, popularity or sales and just submit our favorite joints. The way the final list played out was pretty intriguing, which was the whole point. There were surprises and even better, a bunch of “I can’t believe I forgot about that” moments.

Now that the ride has come to an end, I figured I’d share my submission, if only to coax everyone else into sharing theirs. I definitely had a structure to my approach. My first rule was only one pick per artist, otherwise my whole list would have been Stevie, Donny and EW&F. And that would have crowded out so many phenomenal tunes that aren’t well-known enough to be in the pantheon of the greatness.

The other point of my list was that well, they should be. Despite the failings of the industry and the coonery that dominates the mainstream, black music is doing quite well. Timeless material is still being created and new styles and concepts are being pushed while building upon the traditions of the past. Ultimately I was pleased with the balance between decades, and the fact that my oldest and newest picks reflect the best elements of what I love about black music.

My definition of “soul” also encompassed some extended family tree members like electronica/dance music, afrobeat and go-go. But that just shows how vibrant the family is. There are even white folks in it. *LOL*

So if the mixes aren’t enough, here’s some more insight into what makes me tick musically. These songs will always inspire me, make me go off on the dancefloor, factor heavily into how I rock a set or simply hold some sort of personal significance.

(links to SB provided where applicable and other treats per my whim)

Hold It Down – 4Hero
Tired Little One – Bah Samba
Playing Your Game, Baby – Barry White
Pillory-like – Beady Belle
What You Won’t Do For Love – Bobby Caldwell (#35)
I Know You, I Live You – Chaka Khan
It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) – Chuck Brown
We’re A Winner (from “Curtis/Live!” album) – Curtis Mayfield
Spanish Joint – D’Angelo
See You In My Dreams – Deborah Bond
Masterplan – Donnie
The Ghetto (from “Live” album) – Donny Hathaway
Hard Times – Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band
Can’t Hide Love – Earth, Wind & Fire
Change For Me – Eric Roberson
Wonderful – Erik Rico
Water No Get Enemy – Fela Kuti
Lo Mein – Georgia Anne Muldrow
Groove Me – Guy (#25)
The Star of the Story – Heatwave
Guess Who’s Back In Town – Heaven & Earth
Give It Up or Turnit A Loose – James Brown
Where Do We Go From Here – Jamiroquai
Slowly Surely – Jill Scott
Dealt A Bad Hand – Kaidi Tatham & Dego
Cerca de Mi – Louie Vega & Elements of Life
Superstar – Luther Vandross (#53)
After The Dance – Marvin Gaye
Beautiful Ones – Mary J. Blige
I Can’t Help It – Michael Jackson (#67)
Inside My Love – Minnie Riperton (#14)
Umi Says – Mos Def
I Am The Black Gold of the Sun – Nuyorican Soul
Fallin’ – Omar
Fever – Platinum Pied Pipers
How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore – Prince
Body Moves – Rare Essence
Running Away – Roy Ayers
Love Is Stronger Than Pride – Sade (#70)
Days Like This (Spinna & Ticklah Club Mix) – Shaun Escoffery
Back To Life – Soul II Soul (#16)
Optimistic – Sounds of Blackness
Falling into (Swell Session’s Boy Wonder mix) – Stateless
Do I Do – Stevie Wonder
Show You The Way to Go – The Jacksons
This Journey In – The Rebirth
Don’t Disturb This Groove – The System
I Might Do Something Wrong – Tortured Soul
Spread My Wings – Troop (#43)
Let’s Get Small – Trouble Funk

and as a bonus, here are the next 10 that battled valiantly for a spot in my top 50 but couldn’t break through: (I ALMOST have some regrets on a couple of these not making it)

Journey To The Light – Brainstorm
Alright – Janet Jackson
Sweet Love – Anita Baker (#91)
Never Stop – Brand New Heavies
One Nation Under A Groove – Funkadelic
A Million Babies – Owusu & Hannibal
Can You Stand The Rain – New Edition (#28)
All That I Am – Bilal
Loving You, Holding You – Don Blackman
Penitentiary Philosophy – Erykah Badu