DJ Stylus – The Vibe Conductor

Sunday, June 7 2009
Ya Digg?? Record Festival
Arts Garage
1533 Ridge Ave
Philadelphia, PA

1 – 8 pm
panel discussion at 3pm

Washington DC Record Fair
Saturday, May 9
Warehouse Next Door
1021 7th St NW
10am – 4pm

Full bar, food & 30 record dealers.

Special guests:

Daptone Records
Chuck Brown

DJ Lineup:

Stylus (all vinyl set, 12 – 1 pm)
Eurok
Lunch Money & Almighty Dollah
Neville C.
Deep Sang
Gavin Holland & the Nouveau Riche Crew
Provoke
D-Mac
Dan Amitai
Nitekrawler

Yeah Chris and PJ, I feel you.

I got the email too.

DJ Hut friends and customers,

We have some sad and disappointing news to share with you. DJ Hut can no longer battle the dual headwind of the demise of the music retail industry and the economic downturn. As a result, we are forced to shut down the store and go strictly online at the end of April. Effective immediately, all vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and books will be liquidated at the rate of 20% off the regular price.

We would like to thank you for your support over the last 7 years at the store and we look forward to your continued support online.

Best,
DJ Hut Crew

So many of my formative years as a DJ, and later my sense of community in the DC music scene were wrapped up in that place. The last time I reminisced on it, they were recovering from a fire.

We could all probably see this one coming with the way things are now but it’s still a huge blow. It also delineates some interesting market trends, as other stores that cater less to DJ’s/artists and more to niche collector types continue to do well, or at least okay. I’ve still got those long overdue posts about DJ’ing in the digital age to write.

*Sigh*

Farewell to The Hut/12-inch and thanks for the memories.

I told Aunt Viv that it was going to be egregious. And it was, although it could have been worse. I got a late start and didn’t get to hit up Red Onion or CD Warehouse.

But it was a lovely day. I had just given Stealth a spring overhaul and was prepared to 2-wheel it across the city, filling my bag with an afternoon of digging and running errands.

Som was the first stop. The dollar bins were on fire, cuz!!!! Here’s the haul:

Wayne Davis – A View From Another Place (LP)
James Moody – Beyond This World (LP)
War – Platinum Jazz (LP)
Shannon – Let The Music Play (LP)
Narada Michael Walden – Victory (LP)
Glenn Jones – Finesse (LP)
Alexander O’Neal – Alexander O’Neal (LP)
The Kartoon Krew – Inspector Gadget (12″)
The Sugarhill Gang – 8th Wonder/Sugar Hill Groove (12″)
Chubb Rock – The Chubbster (12″) f*** around and pull a hamstring off this jont… this single was jam packed with remixes!

DJ Hut was next. They’ve been going hard since their triumphant return, stocking a bigger variety of interesting bits as well as more dj equipment and accessories. I came away with some heavy bangers.

The Greatest Hits of GAMM (CD)
J-Dilla – Jay Love Japan (CD)
GOOD GOD! Heavy Funk Covers of James Brown From All Over The World 1968 – 1974 (CD)
The Rebirth – Love Issue (12″) let the stannery continue!!!
Alexander O’Neal feat. Bianca Lindgren – Saturday Love remixes (12″) cruuuucial!!!
Amerie – That’s What U R, DJ Leo & Guy Robin House rmx (12″)
Piranhahead & Diviniti – Music (12″)
Yam Who? – Wanna Make Luv 2 Ya/Buzz Reaction (12″)
Tony Allen – Kilode Reworks by Waajeed (12″)

I was running out of time by this point (late for a date!) but I had to dip in to Melody. They had huge bins of freebies and deep discounts but I didn’t have time to dig. They’re usually my source for DVD crack when I want to support the home team instead of the chain stores. Sadly, they didn’t have the Celia Cruz jont that’s at the top of my list now (bammas was CRANKIN’). I still came up on some staples.

Marvin Gaye – Live in ‘76 (DVD)
Erykah Badu – New Amerykah (CD)
Pete Rock – NY’s Finest (CD)

The news of their fire made me ill. I literally couldn’t go by that block after it happened, it upset me too much. The mental imagery of thousands of melted records was like a nightmare. Made me feel like this:

The fam is back in the saddle again and this is great news for DC’s DJ community. DJ Hut is like a barber shop for DJ’s. You stop by to handle business but you also get to reconnect with all of your brethren from different corners of the scene, working DJs and bedroom DJs alike. Sam telling stories, playing classic blaxploitation flicks on the tv, James and Chris pulling joints off the wall that they know fit your style. I’ve been going to this store for almost 15 years (when it was 12-inch Dance Records), back when I was a young green DJ just getting my skills together. We all have lots of memories:

I remember buying records at 12-inch in 1995 when I was a sophomore in college. I’d be excited to spend my last few bucks on doubles of “1,2 Pass It” and “Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers”. Then I’d be hungry.

I remember trying to collect all of those Nervous party records from 12-inch… Bozo Meko and Brooklyn Slumlordz and all those.

I remember the last of the under $5 12-inches.

I met Afrika Bambaataa for the first time at The Hut.

I sold a bunch of mix cd’s on consignment at The Hut.

I remember consistently dropping $200 a pop and up at The Hut.

Welcome back fellas! I hope this new vinyl/digital hybrid business plan is a smash success!