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We’ve put together an evening for those that generally consider Valentine’s Day a day of corniness, or even worse, a source of emotional distress. The happily coupled and the comfortably single are encouraged to attend, but we’ve got some special things in store for those looking for a little help in connecting with someone new.
Because we’ve all been there, check out my Valentine’s playlist for dumpers and dumpees on The Root. Trouble don’t last always. Cry or shout it out as needed.
It’s almost cursory to mention it at this point because everyone already knows but we’ll be playing the new Sade album in its entirety tomorrow, after a special video message from the golden lady herself. I hope you’re on the list because we’re near capacity. There will be libations, hors d’oeuvres and chances to win prizes. We won’t be in the basement this week so check for us on the main level.
So last week, Tami sang a few of her most popular songs to her five fans (not really) then Refuge turned into a juke joint. Here are a few cuts responsible for that.
The Grammys got me reminiscing on the Black Eyed Peas when they were still dope. And that got me reminiscing on one of my favorite jazz fusion joints ever by one of Brazil’s most esteemed exports.
I’m glad that I can officially crown this a Refuge staple after giving “Circles” a well-deserved rest. Can these cats keep making anthems every time they drop a joint? Don’t want to put that much pressure on them but if they make a full album it could be a problem (in a good way). Zepherin Saint is on FB too. Go be his friend.
No Kleeer, just another evening pulling treats from the old box o’ choons to entertain my friends. Didn’t really dig into the new-new stuff last week, but at Refuge the records tell me what to play.
I push Ty the way that Jehovah’s Witnesses push salvation. If you dig progressive, soulful, smart hip-hop and you don’t have any Ty in rotation then I feel like it’s my duty to help you see the light. This is one of my favorite cuts from his superb Closer album. Taylor McFerrin on the beatbox.
Naked Music’s best years were just magic. The beautiful series of nudes on the album covers and the gems in the record sleeves that never left your crate after purchase. I can’t look at these records without being flooded with memories of rocking sets with or having dancefloor moments to these songs. 10 years ago the Vibe Conductor concept was just forming and these tracks helped shape that early identity.
Some folks told their friends and they brought their friends. Then some old college friends showed up. Then some friends who were having a business meeting over drinks caught the boogie in their bodies. Then all the people who’ve been asking me “where do you spin?” but always forget the answer all showed up at once. Then it turned into a packed, joyous classic style house party. Then folks were doing a Soul Train line at 2 a.m. to the full 8 minutes of Earth, Wind & Fire’s live version of “Sun Goddess”.
Apparently this was all the New Year’s partying that some folks needed.
As these events were developing, I was playing out of my “make you shake your ass and sing along” repertoire. But before all that, we was chillin’ and this is how it went down. No categories on this post, just a few noteworthy joints.
This has always been and will always be my jam. But being the contrarian that I am, I rocked the smoothed out remix last week. It definitely has its own charm.
This is an old staple of mine that I had to put on ice for a few years because I played it too much. Then when I bring it back out of retirement, it’s new to everyone! Another fantastic usage of Ahmad Jamal’s “Swahililand”.
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.
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.
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.
The backstory on this cat is pretty deep. He was killing this style on a pair of these when I first met him on the U Street scene almost 15 years ago:
That was back in the Amphibians days. Then he moved on to this:
Eventually he was hauling a whole desktop around to gigs, rocking an array of virtual samplers and synth modules and a MIDI controller. That’s just how mad scientists do. I think he’s on Reason now. But anyway, you know this joint, right? Blackberry Jones + Asheru + Heron Gibran = Black Lincolns.
Blackberry Jones, previously known as Aychell made a bunch of amazing music with this guy that never came out.
They were called K.H.E.Mystery. They both rapped and did beats. Did you know that Slimkat78 (of The Els and Op Swamp 81, formerly known as Akuaman) used to rhyme? You should ask him about it. He was quite good. I have a lot of that stuff in the archives. And now you have some too, thanks to Rule4080.com.
Same as last year, I was drowning in so much good stuff that I couldn’t keep up. I’m just now getting around to listening to Spinna’s record and just copped the most recent Ghostface. I know… tardiness. But having way more great music than one can consume is a nice problem to have, even when it’s frustrating.
None of these songs should be a surprise to anyone who heard me play this year, whether in the party or on the air. You loved them as much as I did, because when I felt like I’d have to give them a rest, you would keep asking me about them.
Now go spread the word to those who might have missed out, talking about “2009 was wack”.
For some, the most defining musical event of 2009 was also traumatizing enough to write off the whole year. I can relate, but ultimately preferred to celebrate. It was either that, or fall into the abyss of despair. K-Salaam and Beatnick were on the same program with the best MJ remix since Tangoterje and Opolopo. Those three will have to battle it out for the top spot because the beefed up horns, club ready drum programming, funky synth bass and guitar interplay on this joint… I dare say that this version actually improves on the original. Blasphemy? Listen for yourselves.
My favorite song on the best hip-hop album of 2009. There’s so much hip-hop that I can’t even be bothered to listen to, yet I know that none of it is fucking with Diamond District. The established brands are not fucking with Diamond District. Even the significant amount of hip-hop that I actually enjoyed this year isn’t seeing In The Ruff. I’m not saying that just because of my DC hometown zealotry. This is an end-to-end burner. There’s not a single bar of fast-forwardable material. The beats are cold concrete, the rhymes are hammers.
I’ve been so amped for the return of Reflection Eternal. Rarely is that type of anticipation rewarded with exactly what you hoped you’d get. I had no idea Hi-Tek would come with something like this though. An uptempo brazilian percussive groove with jazz guitar? More please. Kweli’s flow is in the cut and Res lays the sweetness on the hook.
I was so moved by the grandeur of this song that I had to spin it into a full study of its origins. A song crafted in one context decades ago sounds like it was always supposed to be the way it turned out once Mos put words to it.
“Magnetic, the flows are athletic…” Flaco rocks so effortlessly over the 3-count phrases, not skipping a beat when it transitions to the more conventional 4/4. Rappers, STUDY THIS SHIT. This is superhero music.
Emcees like to talk about ending the careers of adversaries, but really, these are verses that should influence hordes of rappers to put their mics to rest and start perusing want ads on Craigslist.
It’s nice to get an actual retail release from this enigmatic hot property. It snuck in under the wire for 2009 consideration. I didn’t believe the hype for a long time, just because I couldn’t get behind snippets on blogs and industry co-signs. I’ve since accumulated enough of his gray market material to see the light. “Exhibit A” should have been enough. Now would an album be too much to ask for or must there be a bidding war first?
Everyone who heard Jamil and I play this year KNOWS WHAT TIME IT IS. I couldn’t stop playing this song even when I knew I was wearing it out. You couldn’t stop dancing to it. You couldn’t stop SCREAMING to it. Easily a classic all-time house anthem. Forever and ever. Amen.
How much did this song warm the cockles of my shriveled, cynical heart? How many times did I have to physically restrain myself from pinching the cheeks of the little cartoon Georgia on my computer screen every time I hit ‘play’ on the video? This song is precious. I say that the way your grandma does before she hugs you. When Georgia first blew my mind with Worth Nothings, I had never heard her demos that were floating around. And now, Early captures those days of a teenage songwriter crafting music with the skill and emotional heft of an old soul. Wondrous.
As much as I loved the new wave, synth funk direction that PPP took on Abundance, this latin smoker was sitting on the album as if it were put there just for me. Coultrain CRUSHES the vocal. Waajeed sounds like he packed a whole salsa orchestra into his studio.
Joy Jones brings Ronnie Foster’s “Mystic Brew” (my second favorite sampled groove of all time) back into our consciousness in a way that makes me re-think my stance on Auto-Tune. Joy definitely doesn’t need it, but she takes a true artist’s tack on this song, employing a tool to a specific end. In this case that end is a haunting plea for an end to heartache. Everything about this song is perfect.
It was either this or “Out Of This World”. I damn near had to flip a coin. Smoldering sexual energy or soaring emotion? I had to go with the latter this time. It feels like Tami reached deep into her gut to nail this vocal. And I’m a sucker for a huge hook on a house tune. Vitale’s instrumentation fans the flame of the vocal on the chorus.
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.
Please hip yourselves immediately and check this vid from M.anifest’s back catalog. Thanks to Soulbounce for putting me up on game.
Download his new project for free and thank us both. Listening to this album has TRULY been a breath of fresh air for me today. We need as many of these in hip-hop as we can get.
My fave hip-hop out of the continent so far has been from Senegal and South Africa along with a healthy dose of K’Naan but between M.anifest and Blitz the Ambassador, Ghana’s about to smash on bammas.
