Wednesday, July 31, 2002
This article is a nice little quick picture of how AOL-Disney-Vivendi are trying to control what digital media you can play on your DVD player, your stereo, and your computer. Gillmor is talking America, but as the US goes, so goes the rest of North and Central America. Why is this important. . . Do you make music, make film, or use a file-sharing program? Then it's important for you. More on this in the weeks to come, I'm sure.
Tuesday, July 30, 2002
The homey Deem is playing a benefit for the Flaps Off the Side of the Moon festival. It's August 1 at Bumpers (Bank, south of Queensway) featuring Audiofix, Archer of Bellyfull Sound and b-boys. Show love.
Monday, July 29, 2002
I will never tire of bootlegs that pair underground hits. If you feen for 'em too, watch out for the Danger Mouse series. . . Beatnuts over uptempo Air, Xzibit over Radiohead, fire.
Mos Def, Diverse & Prefuse 73 have a lil sumthin' (RJD2 remix)out on Chocolate Industries. How did these dudes ever connect?? . . I've steered clear of most of the cats RJD2's produced in the past, but his name is starting to pop up everywhere like Soul Bro Uno remixes in 95. And I like the horns I'm hearing. Just like Pete!
Thursday, July 25, 2002
The latest news on 4Hero, fresh as of July 15. Hold it Down remixes, Da One Away, Shaun Escoffery, Moonstarr, Scattered Snares vol. 1, etceteron. . .
From Smack: While visiting Beijing, China, Vince Carter played a little two-on-two with Yao Ming. Each superstar was matched with a little kid but the game was enough for Carter to have an assessment of Ming�s ability, calling him a future star in the NBA. He also said, "I said to myself, 'He's tall. I'm going to dunk over him.' Now I don't want to."
Monday, July 22, 2002
I'm listening to Kaidi Tatham's remix of the Herbaliser --> go here and scroll down to "Mr. Holmes (Remix)". I really haven't been able to get heavy into a lot of a broken beat stuff because there's too much ticky-tack percussion going on. It's cool if you can program off-beat in 7/4 time, but I need a song bredren. This mix leaves just enough space for the melody to do its thing and I like it more with every listen. As well, I saw Kaidi play with the Herbaliser last month and he was one of those happy, too-much-energy people like Steve Nash. Tough freestyle chops too.
Here's a little more on Kaidi Tatham and his work in the Herbaliser, Agent K, Bugz in the Attic, and many other projects. Dude even played on the Fela Kuti/Roy Ayers collabo!
Here's a little more on Kaidi Tatham and his work in the Herbaliser, Agent K, Bugz in the Attic, and many other projects. Dude even played on the Fela Kuti/Roy Ayers collabo!
Interesting Okayplayer discussion about whether MCs need to be "rap along-able" to achieve mass appeal.
Sunday, July 21, 2002
Caught Dogtown and Z-boys a few days ago. Would have liked to see a wider variety of old footage, but the rest of the crew loved it unconditionally. A real window into the vibe that led the surfers to take skating out of the dark ages. I love picking up on the environment led to scenes like this that raised the bar on a subculture (e.g., early 80s NY hip hop, London hardcore/jungle in early 90s, Bay area in scratching in mid 90s). I also never realized that dudes used to skate with their hands grazing the pavement like that, which strikes me as beautiful and quaint.
I am listening to Kweli's Good to You at this moment and want to reiterate in the strongest way possible that this fits more heat in its grooves than you will find between Rosario Dawson's thighs.
I am listening to Kweli's Good to You at this moment and want to reiterate in the strongest way possible that this fits more heat in its grooves than you will find between Rosario Dawson's thighs.
Friday, July 19, 2002
New Grindin remix featuring Kardi. . . all these Kardi bootlegs are fiya!
Tuesday, July 16, 2002
Back (without the Black air force unos). Today's recommended check is the videos section at DnB Arena (thanks to bassndaplace). Some of my favourite shit out for the past few months is the new generation of vocal tunes and RnB re-rubs coming out of the drum'n'bass scene. All much loved (and looking good) are DJ Suv & Tali "Do You Remember", DJ Marky & Stamina MC "LK", and the boom-lick Shy FX & T-Power "Shake Ur Body". Peep the Fatimah-style RnB dancers in the last one - this is how "Who Told You" should have turned out.
Some classic sides on there as well. . . "when I'm weak, you tell me that I'm strong" . . . Matter of fact, the whole site is worth checking, especially the heavy-duty and often updated audio section.
Some classic sides on there as well. . . "when I'm weak, you tell me that I'm strong" . . . Matter of fact, the whole site is worth checking, especially the heavy-duty and often updated audio section.
Thursday, July 11, 2002
Oh and listen to the new Kweli/Kanye fatty. More underground stuff when I get back, but I DO like some of this crossover stuff: it is good music.
I'm off to NY for a few days, so no posts 'til next week. In the meantime, look back at the Writer's Bench and re-live a golden era of graffiti history.
Wednesday, July 10, 2002
Been tempted by the first 3 seconds of this jammy far too many times up on the top 40? Listen to the whole Obie..
Every wondered where the Roc producers got the idea for Oh Boy, The Life, and all the other pitched up vocal beats hittin these days? The secret is revealed :-)
Tuesday, July 09, 2002
Disclosure: Greentea is family from way back. G is a digger, DJ, and producer who's respected round the Crates List, Ebay, and dusty furniture stores everywhere. Stopandcop is the umbrella most of his projects fall under, including the e-digging operation, mixes and ill design. The latest mix CD is Play W/ Fun, where "Record collecting culture meets college house parties." There's always a twist. Is duke also working with the gay emcee? Stay tuneded.
Required earing: the first Smiff N' Wessun album. Remember Bucktown, Sound Bwoy Bureill, can't forget Let's Git It On. Banginest hip hop bass ever sits on here. Also check the Bucktown rmx w/ MOP - "What it is homeskillet, homes kill it!"
Required earing: the first Smiff N' Wessun album. Remember Bucktown, Sound Bwoy Bureill, can't forget Let's Git It On. Banginest hip hop bass ever sits on here. Also check the Bucktown rmx w/ MOP - "What it is homeskillet, homes kill it!"
Monday, July 08, 2002
Grimey! I would never have guessed that DJ Quik sampled the Addicted loop from his TV. . . I do love to hear the dustiness on Top 40 hits, though. Neps and Tim are runnin that. Current favourite: check for the left-over hi-hat and static on the snares on Tweet's "Oh My".
Saturday, July 06, 2002
Here's a great guide that outlines, from start to finish, how to release a record: indiecentre.com.
Friday, July 05, 2002
I did not know: SNL's Maya Rudolph is Minnie Riperton's daughter (!) and used to be in The Rentals, that Weezer side project.
Thursday, July 04, 2002
Check Supastition's "da Waiting Period" video. Cool little Grassrootsy beat and quality low-budge video. . . "I need some of this, I need some of that". He reps NC and is part of this sqidduad.
This brings to mind. . . As file sharing eats away at much of the majors' business model and digital video tech comes down in price, I look forward to the progression of music videos of the next few years. No need for million-dollar budgets and the restrictions that come with them. In the same way that samplers and computers have turned hobbyists and given birth to Roni Sizes and DJ Shadows, we'll finally see some next shit!
Speaking of, new Shadow video.
This brings to mind. . . As file sharing eats away at much of the majors' business model and digital video tech comes down in price, I look forward to the progression of music videos of the next few years. No need for million-dollar budgets and the restrictions that come with them. In the same way that samplers and computers have turned hobbyists and given birth to Roni Sizes and DJ Shadows, we'll finally see some next shit!
Speaking of, new Shadow video.
Wednesday, July 03, 2002
Looks like Kelis is pulling a NERD and re-recording the album with live instruments. Like any 'Tunes release, the OG version was kinda samey, but made up for it with a few stand-out tunes that provided the unique steez gumbo that is "Nep".
Who's that playing Rockstar and Lapdance behind Pharrell? Spymob.
Worth checking for: Nuspirit Helsinki, a Finnish Jazzanova-type collective. The site design is beautiful as well.
Who's that playing Rockstar and Lapdance behind Pharrell? Spymob.
Worth checking for: Nuspirit Helsinki, a Finnish Jazzanova-type collective. The site design is beautiful as well.
Metasoul is a weblog worth peeping. Another perspective on this whole jazz funk soul Afro break thang and the ideas that are growing out of it. This one comes at it from the disco/house angle (not my thing), but poke around and you'll get turned onto some books, artists, other shit.
Here's a "what have you bought lately" post from the Jawn. . . lots of good reminders next time you hit the record store like Five Deez, Artifacts, Spacek. . . I'm not sold on Joi though. What jammy should I listen for?
Here's a "what have you bought lately" post from the Jawn. . . lots of good reminders next time you hit the record store like Five Deez, Artifacts, Spacek. . . I'm not sold on Joi though. What jammy should I listen for?
Tuesday, July 02, 2002
Caught the movie Atanarjuat this weekend. It's a little long, but fuh-resh too. The preview does not do it justice - makes it look like some ol' Disney shit. Not the case. A strong, action-packed story that transcends the Inuit culture and a real look into the traditional way of life. Oh snap, and a WILD dueling scene! Massively bundled-up dudes running slomo in snow inspired me to make a big booming, loping beat.
Here's a well-written review.
Here's a well-written review.
