Cover of "Something About Us" by Daft Punk, performed on Nintendo DS Ubisoft Jam Sessions, Midi controlled software electric bass, drums, synth, vocoded vocals, and solo theremin, recorded in a single pass, with a single camera.
In today's Sure Shot, I carried on about a couple of new Fania comps that have been getting serious burn around the crib lately.
You should move that Gilles Peterson comp to the top of your "must get now" list. It's pretty much all I've been listening to and I'm not even coming close to burn out stage yet.
Two discs worth of undeniable gems hand picked by a dude who always delivers. I'm at the point where I'll snatch up anything his name is on anyway, but this is so very winnin'.
Can't really hide my disappointment over the bill change that leaves SFP and Little Brother out of the equation for tomorrow night's Big Daddy Kane show. I Doubt I take time away from my family to go to this now.
But The Granada is a great venue and BDK is one of the greatest of all-time, as evidenced by the timeless joint above showing Marley Marl at the peak of his genius.
As for the new S1 CD, it is really good. There are 4 or 5 cuts on there that are as good as anything he's ever done and I'd love for "Callin' Me," the collab with LB's Phonte, to get some major attention.
OK, this is a 7+ minute clip -- and yes, your time investment is completely non-refundable -- but damnit, if you don't see this, you will never see this. Please make sure the rest of the world sees it too. Do your part for America.org.
I was zoning out while eating tonight, when suddenly the Marvin Gaye tune "I Want You" started bouncing around my dome. That's actually a pretty common occurrence. It's easily one of my favorite songs - never get sick of it.
I remembered that somewhere along the line I had seen a documentary that had a clip of him laying on a couch and singing it while rehearsing with his band, trying to figure out the arrangement.
I remember being pretty blown away at how cool the rehearsal sounded and hearing the song stripped down without the lush strings and brass that were so integral to the version that ended up on the album of the same name.
"I bet I could find that on YouTube," I said to myself, while ignoring my family and picking a piece of roast beef out of my teeth.
It took me all of ten seconds to find it once I got on my computer. So frickin' cool.
I love you, oh Lord of technology and interstrong. You also make porn completely feasible, if that's indeed the way someone wishes to spend their time.
The Official Kixpo Mixtape got posted this morning over at Picnic's blog. Mostly produced by Picnic (he hosts it too) and mixed by Niro - it's 24 cuts deep with features from Krack, Dawg Wonder, Knes, Paul Wall - it go on and on...And it's the nice price of free.
They are one of the best live bands I've ever seen. As soon as I know when they're rolling through, we'll let you know too.
And if you're into the trippy, textured, psychedelic downtempo groove - check out Grupo guitarist/producer AQ's side project Ocote Soul Sounds with Martin Perna of Antibalas fame.
He's definitely my all-time favorite undersized 4. Check out the clips and vintage pics.
My favorite LJ story was from the Dr. Pepper tourney his senior year at Skyline when Woodrow had a three-on-one fastbreak and pulled out to set up a play because LJ was the one.
Now that's intimidation! He really did look like a pro middle linebacker goofing around with jr. high kids.
Speaking of noted sneaker activist Bobbito, this seems like a nice spot to segue into a Kixpo reminder. It's on and poppin' at the end of this month and this year's version includes a 3-on-3 tourney. Me, Benny and Norm are gonna smash MFer's.
But do make plans to post up all weekend. Last year's was great success...
Thursday nights at The Nasher Sculpture Center are free to the general public from 5-9 as part of their Summer at the Nasher series.
They tabbed my boy Jeff Mitchell from the Phonophreaks to put hot joints on blast this summer. He was kind enough to ask me to spin summin' with him next Thursday night (July 10th).
Expect a little funk and soul, vintage hip-hop, funky disco breaks and all manner of assorted good-good. Make it if you can.
My homie Rerog turned me onto a post over at Soul Strut about a German DJ searching for classic Afrikan funk records and a filmmaker following him around to make a doc happen.
As is this way with most internet forum threads, dudes start throwing rocks at each other and that has nothing to do with why I'd post this.
I'm the demo here and I figured some of you might be too. It most definitely looks/sounds good to me.
If you want to get some of this sound in your life, dig Frank's blog.
The Roots throwdown at HOB tonight. I've seen 'em many times in the last decade plus and they're always on point. And it seems that you can always count on a ?uestlove DJ gig following the show.
Tonight he'll be spinning at GhostBar as they celebrate Paul Levatino's birthday. Levatino is one of the heavies in Badu's world.
?uestlove is a great DJ because he's way into the music - all kinds.
He's not just playing records or trying to get people to dance. He's using his knowledge, feel and musicality to spark a vibe and I always enjoy that just as much as the live show.
Duffy is the current throwback soul singer du Jour from the UK getting lots of press. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get around to listening to her record. It's been getting a lot of burn in the hovercraft lately, however.
I had the 7" to "Mercy" sent to me and it was sitting in the box for at least a week before I got around to playing it. When I did peep it, it didn't blow me away.
I understand why they're pushing it in the states. The song has good energy but the production approach almost sounded like some sort of pastiche thing Will I Am might throw together.
The song has subsequently grown on me, but it ain't the type of thing to get me jacked up. Here's ?uestlove's remix.
The rest of the record is more my speed. She's going to be lumped in with Amy Winehouse, but the flavor is way different. There are no weed or Slick Rick lyrics and Ghostface won't be jumpin' on any of these joints.
In case you missed it video. "Stress" is the latest song and controversial video from the genius that is Justice. Not for the faint of heart. Makes me want to play GTA IV!
The great Ben Rogers knows how important this band is to me and told me all along he'd make sure he'd come through with some great seats and not to worry about it.
Found out this afternoon just how little I needed to worry.
Dude came through with 18th row, center stage. Mindblowing!
Loves me some Ben.
Actually I guess I kind of overrated my fandom as I didn't even know VH1 rolled out this From The Basement special a few days ago.
I'm slippin'.
I think it was recorded in the great Nigel Godrich's studio.
Keeping the Wu-Tang theme flowing, here's a look at an upcoming documentary based on the now deceased O.D.B aka Ason Unique. It's being edited by his brother so there should be some rare behind the scenes stories about the crazy Bastard. *Language Warning*
Gentle reader, I'd like to introduce you to Steve. He is a cat. He wears a toboggan. Steve parties to pretty much any beat you like, but for whatever reason, he particularly likes the following joints:
Embrace Steve, my friends (why is Dirk in this picture?). And don't be afraid to expose him to some of your favorites. Steve does require a respectable BPM, though. He is not a quiet storm-type of cat.
This limited edition 12" is a classic, roots-styled joint originally recorded in 1979 and is issued with the full 6-minute plus discomix version that was so popular at the time.
If you aren't familiar, that basically means that halfway through the tune it gives way to the dub treatment, which is nice and smoked out. And since we're just bringing you a snippet, we don't make it that far so you'll have to order it to get the full hit.
No doubt you've seen the commercial for Dockers - San Francisco, which uses Marlena Shaw's "California Soul" to great effect.
My ears perk up whenever I hear songs in commercials that have been the sample sources for classic hip-hop cuts - in this case Gang Starr's "Check The Technique."
Generally the ad agencies that come up with this stuff are filled with younger folks on the creative side. So I'd assume that whoever arrived at the idea of using this song got to it because when they finally heard it they recognized it from Gang Starr, not because they had deep soul crates.
The only reason my soul crates do have any depth at all is because of the Primo's and 45 King's of the world.
It's not like many people grow up on the sounds of Cadet (though you could do a lot worse then to blessed with the music of Charles Stepney infiltrating your living room as a kid).
Anyway - nice ad even though them drawers are kinda flavorless.
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