Man, I've never been so f*cking jealous!!! My NYC fam is going to be offered and served some of the most scrumptious music spoils available. I had heard rumblings of this is party out in LA called Low End Theory, but it's out in NY this weekend for the inaugural East Coast night, and were it not for work - and this snow today - I'd be there for sure.
This is the 2nd time that's I've missed my man FlyLo whilst in NY and your man's upset! ARGH. All love. During the Black-Beatles's United Colors party last night, I had to snap some necks w/ some of that low end that FlyLo has mastered. And, to boot, my man Harmonic 313 told me that in AUS, FLyLo played him with this rmx that just made him lose it. Ha. I bet MP. Top of that, they got GasLamp Killer running a set as well. How sick is that gonna be?? ARGH! Anyhow, if you're in NY and you're not hitting Knitting Factory tomorrow... [head shakes]. I'll have my chance, soon come. Shouts to my man Slott who's out there and planning to make that show. Tell me about it when we catch up next. Wrd.
After watching that Low End Theory trailer, I feel iike locking myself in my apt, with Logic and Ableton. Soon come. So, I'm still @ work here, praying for that Low End. Here's my man FlyLo Stuntin, snapping your neck with no end. Say wrd. Enjoy.
No. In all seriousness, I'm hearing rumblings of a Guilty Simpson Release Party @ the end this month. Ya heard?? The Ode To The Ghetto album drops March 25th so it would make some sense. But, meatier is the rumors of a special guest. WTF?!?! I ran into your man Guilty in London this past summer and in LA in Nov and he's been talking about wanting to come up... Sh*t. This could be f*cking heavy...
BOP BOP BOP! Guilty Simpson... Rude Bwoy Tings.
So whilst we wait for the Ode To The Ghetto like fiends, The Beat Conductor and Guilty himself tell us about this f*cking American Dream. Look for more deets about this release party. Say wrd.
So, several weeks back, my man Jay hits me with this Youtube for this cat in Vienna. Someone hit me with the same clip just a few days ago. Ok. [Apple-D]. Says he's fooling around....
Indeed. I might crack a smile, but ain't a damn thing funny. Kid is sick. Beat is fresh, and the style even fresher. He gets it. He being my man Dorian Concept from mother f*cking Vienna. Furthering my belief that there's been no better time for music and lovers. Heard this bangin rmx, refix, re edit he did for Phat Kat's Nightmare ft Guilty Simpson and I'll hopefully soon get my hands on it.
Love it. Who said there's no good music out?? [teeth kissing, frying eggs sound].
So look up and wait for the riddims to drop from the sky. Dorian Conept's Fort Teen will run in the deck for the mandem & I.
J-Rocc is the man. I've been meaning to post about this one for a little whilst now. Blue Notes just released a comp titled "Droppin' Science:Droppin' Science: Greatest Samples From The Blue Note Lab" highlighting classic tracks that had been sampled in some of the more celebrated records known to most.
So, in a brilliant move, Blue Notes hit up The Funkiest President himself to make a mix to promote this record. They even put out a diff cover for it: Nice. But the original mix was not avail for download - just a stream. But, via the grace of Blue Notes and Stones Throw, you can actually get it now.
Say wrd.
In case you wondered about the tracks, samples and where they were used...
1. Lou Donaldson “It’s Your Thing” – Originally on the album Hot Dog (Blue Note, 1969). Brand Nubian “Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down” (Elektra) De La Soul “Bitties In The BK Lounge” (Tommy Boy) Lox “Get This $” (Bad Boy/Arista) Real Live “Day You Die” (Pirate/Big Beat) Madonna “I’d Rather Be Your Lover” (Warner Bros.)
2. Ronnie Foster “Mystic Brew” – Originally on the album Two Headed Freap (Blue Note, 1972). A Tribe Called Quest “Electric Relaxation” (Jive) Rell “Real Love” (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) E.T.A. “Ayia Napa” (Flex)
3. Donald Byrd “Think Twice” – Originally on the album Stepping into Tomorrow (Blue Note, 1974). A Tribe Called Quest “Footprints” (Jive) Main Source “Lookin At The Front Door” (Wild Pitch) De La Soul “Simply Havin” (Tommy Boy) DJ Krush “Big City Lover” (Instinct) J Dilla “Think Twice” (BBE)
4. David Axelrod/David McCullum “The Edge” – Originally on the album Music: A Bit More of Me (Capitol, 1968). Dr. Dre “The Next Episode” (Aftermath/Interscope)
5. Jack McDuff “Oblighetto” – Originally on the album Moon Rappin’ (Blue Note, 1969). A Tribe Called Quest “Scenario” (Jive) J Dilla “Oblighetto Remix” (Blue Note)
6. Joe Williams “Get Out Of My Life Woman” – Originally on the album Presenting Joe Williams and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (Solid State, 1966). Kool G Rap “Ill Street Blues” (Cold Chillin’/Warner Bros.) Biz Markie “Funk Is Back” (Cold Chillin’/Warner Bros.) Cadillac Tah “You Loose” (Def Jam) Jill Scott “Brotha” (Hidden Beach)
7. Grant Green “Down Here On The Ground” – Originally on the album Alive! (Blue Note, 1970). A Tribe Called Quest “Vibes & Stuff” (Jive) Madonna “Forbidden Love” (Boy Toy/Warner Bros.)
8. Lonnie Smith “Spinnin Wheel” – Originally on the album Drives (Blue Note, 1970). A Tribe Called Quest “Can I Kick It” (Jive) Pete Rock And C.L. Smooth “Act Like You Know” (Elektra) Brian Austin Green “Didn’t Have A Clue” (Yam Yum Entertainment)
9. Jeremy Steig “Howling For Judy” – Originally on the album Legwork (Solid State, 1970). Beastie Boys “Get It Together” (Capitol)
10. Lou Donaldson “Who’s Makin Love (To Your Old Lady)” Originally on the album Hot Dog (Blue Note, 1969). Biggie Smalls “One More Chance” Remix. (Bad Boy) Marley Marl & Craig G “Droppin Science” (Cold Chillin”/Warner Bros) Mary J. Blige “Everyday It Rains” (Def Jams)
BONUS TRACKS (Digital album and LP version)
11. Ronnie Laws “Tidal Wave” Originally on the album Pressure Sensitive (Blue Note, 1975). Black Moon “Who Got The Props” (Nervous) Jackson 5 “I Want You Back (Remix)” (Motown)
12. Monk Higgins “Little Green Apples” – Originally on the album Extra Soul Perception (Solid State, 1969). Gangstarr “Code Of The Streets” (Chrysalis/EMI)
13. Donald Byrd “Wind Parade” – Originally on the album Places and Spaces (Blue Note, 1975). Black Moon “Buck Em Down” (Nervous) 2 Pac “Definition of A Thug Nigga” (Columbia Pictures/Sony) and (Amaru/Interscope/Jive) 2 Pac “Late Night” (Interscope) Organized Confusion “Stray Bullet” (Hollywood)
And you're @ work and you just wanna stream this, enjoy.
Man, what a night. So, this was my 1st official gig inna min [read almost a decade - real talk], I had a f*cking blast. Essentially, this was all born out of RBMA. After seeing some now friends of mine rip it up, I just had to make that dip. It was the change I had been looking for.
So I showed up last night @ Andy's Pool hall w/ the MP in hand, as well as the recently bought Serato (those guys are ca$hing out hand over fist - not mad. That device is solid). In concept, after making all my midi assignments, I knew that this set up should work. And it did. I ran my whole set on the MP. Pitch and all. It was nuts, but fun. I need efx now. The blends were train wrecks @ times, but that was actually my 1st time using it. Seeen.
So I had a bunch of bangers that I had been longing to play for cats. Robotica, Future Beats, Hoodtronica - what ever tickles your fancy ---> it ran all night. And oh yes, some Detroit delerium as well. ;)
A massive shout to CRCL RSRCH. Let's build for sure. Lifetime of blies to Scarlett. Could not have started w/o you dude. Link up soon, seen?? Good look to the ones who came thru and repped. That bitter cold is so not sexy. Bday shout to Harold & Jee-EM. Shouts to my man BB for the shots. Needed those!!!
And whilst I'm beginning to get thing poppin for the Roboticaphiles, ppls like A.D.A.M. are showing cats how to change your style. BANGER!! Say wrd. Enjoy. (and yes, this was one of the man EIDs I dropped last night).
YO. I was not joking abou the missing H. Every year about this time, I vanish from cyberspace. Too swamped @ work - or more like, it's just crazy enough to keep me off. I'll manage...
But I'm just days removed from a few trade shows. But you know, I keep my eyes peeled. Anyhow, after regretting not getting any footage of Black Dante aka Mos Def @ a show in Toronto, I caught up with him in Las Vegas last week.
Madlib turns dem strings up!
I feel that Mos has been more excited about his coming LP, The Ecstatic that we are. He's been raving about the Madlib beats ever since last fall. Hell yea I'll co-sign that. In fact, word is that he carries a beat tape w/ him @ all times. Seen.
Back in 5 minutes days. Gone to bathroom Las Vegas.
Sin City, Lost Wages... What have you. Been a good but kinda rough week y muy occupado! Next to no internet, raspy throat, expensive food and cabs. Argh. But getting to catch up w/ fam from out of town, p r i c e l e s s . Will try to post some pix temprano. Looking to come back home soon, despite the reports of snow, snow and more snow. ARGH!
No doubt. We do. There are certain events and conversations that i will never ever forget. ♥ The original Slum Village lineup performing @ Comfort Zone. ♥ Dilla showing up in a limo @ the Opera House right before the SV set, with and MPC under each arm. ♥ Dave1, former (?) senior music writer @ Vice magazine and now co-head of famed Chromeo inexplicably watching women lose it whilst ?uestlove played some SV during his 1st Toronto DJ Set. ♥ Dilla showing up minutes before his set @ the now defunct Roxy Blu, and cutting thru the crowd amidst the jubilation.
yyz got it - yep. Toronto does Love Jay, in case you knew not. Say Wrd.
Tonight: TO Love Jay. Click here for FB group & deets. Shout outs to BLK BTLZ. (you looking for the ni**az, yea we be dem...)
Have fun folks. Again, I'll reach in spirit but duty calls. Shouts to Merv and Cairo. Good look on the adv tee.
So whilst TO shows you the deal, this SV rmx will show the mandem how I feel.
Stones Throw & J-Rocc has been responsible for one of the more celebrated mixtapes. The Dilla Trilogia. A triple disc set of of the Jay Dee aka J Dilla catalog mixed by the Funkiest President himself J-Rocc of Beat Junkies fame. With the release of Act 3 this week, many Stones Throw fans and Dilla fanatics have been inquiring about Acts 1 + 2.
It's all about love, no??
So it seems that the ST heads are contemplating a re-release of the archived Acts. With that being said, pls keep your eyes peeled and dialed in to Stones Throw for more announcements.
Man, I still recall having this convo w/ Phat Kat about some of the cats in the D and who I felt had next. Yes, I used to run my mouth all day about Black Milk and with reason. Sh*t. Dirty District 1 was enough for me to know and hear sickness. That beat alone... But when Dirty District 2 dropped, I took notice of this one cat. I still recall a touch of confusion as the 1 ot 2 tracks I had were mislabeled so for a min, I didn't know who had the hot verse. After sorting that out, Fat Ray is who emerged. Sick. Every time afterwards, I would tell Kat how I felt that Fat Ray was next to rep the D. If you were familiar with Dirty District 2, Man Up & Number One were two of my faves. He also had this sick verse on Xtra off the T3 mixtape. Just bananas. Anyhow, I had this same Fat Ray convo a whilst back w/ Black as he played me this banger he did w/ Fat Ray (Hello - which may remain in the vault now - more no that another day.) So now, the good news:
What started as an EP quickly became an album just to put out there. All bangers co-signed and produced by your man, Black Milk. Black was here this past Friday (for the Real Frqs anni party) and played me the whole record. ¡Jesus! If you love the D, this one is for you.
Even better news is that Fat Beats just inked a deal w/ Koch Canada, so this should be avail in HMV - and such outlets. Say Wrd. Shouts to my man Heath Blzzard & Jay Dev.
So xtra xtra, Fat Ray's now in town, and here's The Set Up and how he & Black get down. Enjoy.
The G-Men did it. Don Shula has had some Moet Chandon sitting on ice for a while. Did he think he was going to have to wait til the big dance to pop the cork on the bubbly? No matter.
POP.
Don Shula can calmly lie in his hammock, spark it and sip it. NY will quaff it. Good work. I'll be watching on Tuesday.
Though I extol the righteousness and nobility of accessories all day long, I find myself bereft of much (read any) bling. I've been secretly longing for my chaining day @ work, but that has yet to be announced.
But in my boyhood, I used to not only wear a ring, but also a necklace - both gifts of my mother. More recently, I have had thoughts of rekindling some of that distant past. So, should you see me with something long swinging from left to right... (a chain stupid!), and a possibly a ring? You know wassup... So when going through NYTimes.com, I came across a young designer's jewelry and toolery. Hailing from London by way of Sri Lanka, Kali Arulpragasam's work screams of political statements. Why should it not, seeing that she and her sister songwriter M.I.A. share the same views. Her latest collection, called “Terrorism Affects Tourism”, is a series of breastplate necklaces that hang across the chest and celebrate positive aspects of war-torn nations. Indeed there is more to these countries then guns, gangs and gravel. Images are cut and crafted by hand and plated together to create a mural in gold and silver. Supersized big up for putting Haïti in the mix.
Equally as impressive is a similarly hand crafted ring collection entitled "Endangered Species", again highlighting what she feels is a threatened segment of the planet's own wildlife.
Good Look. Her work is pretty heavy and I'll be on the look out for the multi-fingered pieces. Maybe she can work her way towards some GhostFace sized toolery?? ;) Nonetheless, you can find and buy her works @ SuperFertile
Anyhow, you know what time it is.
Our girl Kali Arulpragasam makes it hella nice, but our man Dilla rawks and spits that ice. Dilla Month IS upon us. Enjoy.
I know that I carry some aliases, some more well known than others (Hza, Hizzy, Mr. October, Hizzla, King Of Candyland, I didn't know that was your girl, Enrique Pandillero and Piece of Work). My man Mark Pritchard, aka Trouble Man aka Harmonic 313 def got a few his own, and this week has released on EP under that Harmonic313 moniker. 313. Sound or look familiar? If you're a fan of the infamous D, this should. It is one of the more celebrated area codes around: Detroit. Mark Pritchard aka Harmonic 313 is a long time electronic music producer who's also got that soulful strut instead of that syncopated staccato some electronic cats like to serve. He's had some brilliant rmxs left and right and on Monday Jan 28th, Warp Records released his new record, Harmonic 313's EP1. If you're fan of that future music, what I am now calling Robotica™, you'll absolutely enjoy this one. And to boot, sprinkle in some of that Detroit swing, and you'll be certain to add this one to your recent rotation. But, one of my favorite parts of this release is the online element: Harmonic313.com
By entering the site you're immediately taken to a spacescape very reminiscent of that scifi classic Tron: the artwork is just brilliant. But even more fun is the game you're prompted to play by the most vintage of voices: Speak & Spell.
Anyhow, there is a prize 1nce you've completed the 5 levels: you'll be offered a free download of a secret track unavailable on the EP1.
Whilst Harmonic313 dot com takes you for a spelling bee in space, Call To Arms will set the pace. Enjoy.
So when I left QB, and moved into my new place, I swore that i would start cooking tons more. Why shouldn't I have? I spent a small mint on a nice stove by Kitchen Aid and was also messing with come cookware from Calphalon.
So, I've started to look @ baking since I did miss my dad's (yes indeed my dad) paternal pastries. He used to make a sick banana loaf and I would have to keep myself from boxing the whole thing in 1 or 2 days. Esp when it was hot w/ peanut butter. YES! Anyhow, so it went - the genetics @ work. I tried a few weeks ago and succeeded but wanted to make a next attempt @ a oatmeal loaf. As you can see above. Just added sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds as well as currant. 45 mins @ 425 and....
So you know that you can safely ask to have some oatloaf when you see me next. It's tasty and healthy as well. Dope.
Anyhow, I look fwd to cooking alot more. Though I see myself posting about this somewhere else soon.... Shouts to my man Connoisseur of Consumption aka Kevlar.
So, this is so funny. A few weeks ago, I hit my man Jon up and I asked him to send me some Zaki tracks. I wanted to post about the show. But I got caught and sidetracked. Now, NOW blows my spot up. JESUS. Anyhow, I'll still big it it.
I 1st met Zaki years ago @ the historic Vice shop (and now history) in Queen West. She was boys w/ my man Gambino J. I still recall when I 1st saw her and she started to get her chops up singing and what not. My man Nick Holder was producing tracks so I was hella stoked. Look @ she now! Dope. Man, I'm just looking fwd to seeing the show. And you should to. Opening will be this project that I've heard great buzz about, Hero and my man Jerome Blackwell aka Taktiks will be on the steels. I didn't forget you Jerome! I'm sending the email. And big me up when you f*cking drop that Tuesday, cause you know you will.
You know how I stay about accessories. And as far as I know, even though I do make calls on my cell all day, I like to switch phones according to my mood and what I'm rocking. Some are smaller, sleeker and have that... um, je ne sais quoi. Smell my Comme Des Garçons??
Enter the new Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism, the newest offer form the Nokia Prism Collection. Quite the mouth full for just a phone. Wait. No. It's a fashion accessory if you ask me. The new watch really. They 1nce said that the watch was being replaced by the cell phone - though blasphemous as a statement, the fact is that cats would quicker leave their watch behind than cell. Someone started to think and applied some fashion design to the phone category. You ended up w/ The Nokia Zac Posen Collection in 2004 (seen below)
and they are now offering a new release from the Prism Collection. The 7900 Crystal Prism.
Nokia worked in collaboration with the creative designer Frédérique Daubal, which resulted in unique laser-etched graphic designs and distinctive wallpapers for the Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism. The wallpapers inspired by Daubal communicate the reflection of light and capture the feel of angular prisms and triangles. Lasers are not limited to Js and A1s.
I could go into a techie ramble, but why?? A fashion ramble would be so much better. But I will add one thing: They've compared it to the same lines and designs as the infamous Prada offices.
Ready for the Prada building in your pocket? I am.
So I sat there wondering what should be the perfect announcement for my one hundredth post. What better to announce my 1st official night:
Yep. And it goes like this:
You Know What Love Is. mymanhenri.love.jay Thursday Feb 21st 2007 @ Andy's Pool Hall 489 College St, Toronto. Along side world famous CRCL RSRCH as part of Rock it. Shouts to Nik T for the link. The entire night will be FREE! Mark it pon your calendar.
To commemorate his life, I will play from James Yancey's extensive catalog, but as well play my entire set on an MP.
Say it with me 1 time...
I'm pretty pumped. Been longing to set a more serious DJ schedule for those who love that Robotica™. Let's GO!
So whilst I bang out the snares and kicks, my man J.Rawls pays tribute w/ that smooth sh*t. Enjoy.
Size med, thinn finns, 1nce constantly bespectacled but now more off than on. Now on 1st name basis with foreign immigration. Window seats if I have my say. Amaretto sour when I play the back, banana jacks when I spark the night, Jager bombs when I'm calling the shots - let's do it right. Family all day long.
