Brazilian Mix #5: The Birthday MIx

Grisha's Brazilian Mix #5 (sendspace)

Well it's been more than a year since #4. About time, I say. It's not that birthday is a theme of this one, but my good friend Doron over in Chicago has a birthday today. I'm in Tel Aviv and mine is tomorrow. this is from two days ago, and it's specially for the occasion, and it's probably my favorite of the series so far, too. Enjoy.

Banned In The Dutch Antilles

Ai Sa Si - Ik wil Een Poesje Zien

I wonder if Luke and co. were expecting this when they were busy exercising their right to misogyny. That an Afro-Surinamese group might chant their needs in Dutch too. I found it sort of funny that this had such a similar melody to 2 Live Crew, curious and confused and able to use Google translator the results told me it was indeed the same lyrics too. But no 808s in sight, this is done by the same kawina group that did the original version of Faluma. Of all the weird covers and songs lost in translation I've collected (and there are a lot of them), this one might take the cake.

Weird Mixtape(s) Vol 2

Follow this thread through the Dutch version of Myspace and you will find not one, but about 40 old bubbling mixtapes. It's important you hear these shitty cassette and vinyl rips to understand the genre, and it's fortunate that these still exist. Many Bubbling tapes were confiscated and destroyed by the government in Curacao due to political protests (see MC Pester), and even in The Netherlands bubbling was banned from clubs and bars. Most of the Megaupload links still work, the others usually don't. Enjoy the sped up dancehall brought to you by DJ Moortje, DJ Memmie, DJ Reflex, DJ Pac...

"Waka Waka"

Boima's WFMU post about the detective work involved in retracing the steps of a mystery tune we were both recently hunting down went up today, detailing the journey of a Cameroonian military song lost in translation throughout the world. I was introduced to it through a Bubbling remix of a Dominican Merengue pop hit, him a Darkar rap song. We found traces of what we were referring to as "Waka Waka" in The Netherlands, Suriname, D.R., Rwanda, Liberia, France, Senegal, taking many forms but always retaining the same sweet melody. Youtube videos were piling up, but the origin was unknown to us until Boima solved the case which ended up stemming from a rather humorous 1980s military band in Cameroon. Wasn't my guess as to it's roots but hey, it's globetrotting abilities were alarming so really are we surprised?

Aléké

Unknown Suriname Aléké Band - ? #1
Unknown Suriname Aléké Band - ? #2

Aléké is a musical meeting between the Creoles of the Dutch Antilles and the runaways of the West Indies. During the gold rush of the 19th century, people from neighboring islands and coastal Suriname and French Giana traveled south to find work, areas occupied by those descended from fugitive slaves (Maroons to some, not so P.C. to others) where gold was found. Thus the existing Creole forms of song and dance such as Winti and Kawina (coastal-Surinamese music with links to Dutch military marching bands) blended with the music of the inland settlements which was known to be very well preserved from it's African roots. The new form of music became very popular among the Creole and Ndyuka people, eventually spreading throughout the country and into neighboring French Giana in the 1960s. These two tracks actually have nothing to do with the record cover above (which is the first commercially released Aléké recording from 1980), but are fantastic recordings that should give you a good idea of what Aléké is. I apologize for the lack of information concerning the musicians being nameless, not my intentions. For further reading and where I've pulled my sources from, read Kenneth Billby's Aleke: New Music and New Identites in the Guianas, available as a PDF.

Viben

K-Liber - Liber Nan So ke Kome

These guys are my favorite non-U.S. Hip-Hop group for a number of reasons. The first being that I have become a slave to Bubbling/Bubbeling/Bobbeling. The second being how successful they are able to mesh it with their craft, like DJ Moortje was their DJ Screw. And it's not just rap in another language too lost in translation for me to fully understand, but really in its own league of "rapping" in the same way Dancehall and Reggaeton are well, sort of Hip-Hop. Curacao is a different island, and while it was bitten by the raggamuffin bug along with the rest of the Caribbean it comes with its own set of rules. This is why K-Liber are able to place on pop charts in the Netherlands, and in this case able to pull off straight up Tambu as a reminder of where they come from. A pop group making references to the root, modern national pride not far off from certain Jamaicans trying to link Daggering to Kumina. A further investigation into the idea that "it's all hip-hop" to quote Toy Selectah, and to me both strengthening the legitimacy of non-U.S. hip-hop as well as further distancing it from such.

Harp Strings

Juan B Mora Y Los Indolatinos - Yasy Moroti (from Musicas Rescatadas de Coleccion)

Paraguayan Polka and Gaurania have been staples in my relaxation as of late, for those times when I worry about all the bass I put into my ears and just feel like enjoying a nice couch to lie down on. Polka isn't at all uncommon in Latin America where Germans ect immigrated to, and Paraguay was even a hot spot for war criminals to try and settle after World War II. It was also the location of the first communist experiment (see Nueva Australia?!). The Paraguayan version is way different than the European one, both musically and it makes me want to reach for a good tequila than a stein of beer. Very different melodically and very heavy on the harp, an instrument that dates back to the 16th century in South America. Los Indolatinos are maybe more of Gaurania band, but with plenty of elements of Paraguayan Polka as well. If your interested in hearing more of this stuff, there is plenty to be found here.

Don't be afraid of the word Polka, Schlachthofbronx fans.

Crawling Similar To An Ant

I.D. and Baobinga - Still Tippin (Hush Up Riddim) (From Bass Music Sessions 2010)

A lot of bassentric rap remixes tend to go in the wrong directions, often so far into the deep end that the low end loses its original purpose. That, and there's almost no point to a lazer bass version of a Gucci track when he's already rapping over such. On paper, these feats might seem like a perfect match for Hip-Hop in this decade, but in reality it's pretty much always bad. Which is why this is at risk of being in the wrong hands especially due to the monumental importance of Still Tippin to the communities that would go on to make such remixes, the people who learned about Houston in 2005. It was a big track to me no doubt, having been collecting Screw tapes for only some time before the single got it's northern exposure. The Hush Up Riddim fits like a glove, and I might be able to picture this outside of a club and inside somebody's car on vogues. Still very much a DJ track, but it retains the original twang without having to use words like "syrupy" or "lean soaked" that are rarely avoided when any Texas references are made. No over the top cut-up techniques exercised here ether, with or without the Paul Wall verse. Lots and lots of delay though. Part of the Bass Music Sessions album, a free release out March 1st that you can read more about here.

Jheri Curl Sucker Wearin' High Heel Boots

Welcome to Swagtard Hell

Based God Metal t-shirt. Here.

Any fashion post will be done a la Kayne. Hah.

We Can Pop Xanex

Three Six Mafia - Stomach 2010

Oh man, this song is fucked up.

Free Your Slaves And Your Ass Will Follow

Tambu plays a large part in the roots of much of the music of the Dutch Antilles as mentioned by the likes of DJ Moortje and can't be ignored by those of us who love movement of the hips. Much like Batuko in Cape Verde and other dances done by displaced Africans, it was forbidden by European Slave traders due to it's "risque" nature, labeled as heathen and remained in secrecy for hundreds of years. The story of cultures condemned due to ass shaking can be told a number of ways (more on the 200+ year old history of Juke/Jit later) but since we've been talking about Bubbling a lot this video seemed totally appropriate. My collection of this stuff is small but growing, Grupo Zojojo being the top dogs so far. I recommend spending time on Youtube checking out some of the performances, which are more than worth watching.

Weird Mixtapes Vol 1

Since countless instances of philosophizing the mixtape have occurred before, I'm not going to add anything to the pile. Instead, I'm going to make it a regular feature over here to talk about the hidden gems I've collected from secret Youtube links, Datpiff, and street CD-Rs. The ritual of digging through all this shit is one that makes music fun for me, and probably the reason I'm content about the lack of solid albums in the world today. Hopefully I'm finding some stuff your not, but if you got something you want to talk about send it, I like getting emails.


Munchi - Baltimore Club Promo 2009

"Weird" isn't really the word to describe most Baltimore Club, but it works when we're talking about the complicated relationship it has with the Netherlands. As strange as Bubbling is to begin with, it's even stranger when your trying to make Bmore anthems with the Murder She Wrote Riddim. The title of 20 year old Dominican born, Rotterdam raised Munchi's demo is a bit deceiving, because I don't think Dutch Pop remixes will get you a gig in Maryland. Maybe in a parallel universe where people pop and lock while doing the Crazy Leg, but we live in a world where the Wu-Tang and the Dutty Wine sit on ether side of Watagatapitusberry. Your usually supposed to pick a side but the young producer's culture clashes push the kind of buttons we love to talk about around here. An outsider with a passion who gives back almost as much as he takes, these tracks are like classic Unruly records holding hands with Mr Moortje and the friendship they have is pretty damn cute.

DOWNLOAD

Drop Bombs Like Hiroshima

Reflex DJ - Death Row Bubbling Battle Mix

While were still on the subject...

Weird The Club Up

Unknown DJ - Bubbling Battle Loop Mix

Bubbling battle tracks can be a scary swamp to trudge through, and you will step in plenty of shit along the way. Cramming 10 songs into 5 minutes while pulling them up and down like taffy is no easy task. The hardest part is making them not sound ridiculously corny, and tracks are often full of lame sound effects, muscle flexing, and sometimes even fucking South Park samples (I have a great track that's ruined by just that). A bad taste similar to the one Breakcore always leaves in my mouth. Yet sometimes, it all falls into the right place. This is one of those miniature DJ mixes that makes my obsession worth it and I can forget about all the incredibly dated turntable masturbation that I've put me ears through. A perfect battle track and like the best, an incredibly weird one too. Tiny guitars and a ghost organ lead into DJ Class' Tear The Club Up(!!!) and we are happy. From what I can tell, Baltimore Club isn't so rare in these parts and as strange a phenomenon as Bubbling is to begin with I'm not even surprised. There might be some kid in Suriname baking up some Juke for all I know (I can dream can't I? I mean they fuck with Paul Johnson). It's all one big mutated diaspora due to Dutch Slavery that has it's roots planted in Turkish raves, Jamaican cartoon chase footwork competitions, and the Mad Decent Website.

Edit: The DJ says his name at the end but I can't make it out very well. Maybe you can.

Enough of the Talk, Let's Show 'Em What You Got

Not the only Footwork music video out there, but the only one I know with smoke machines and a teacher that jukes(!!!). SO POSITIVE.

Blowin Bubbels

Reflex DJ - Kassav Bubbeling Remix

Bit more DJ friendly version of Zouk La Ce Sel Medicament Nou Ni for the Antilles crowd.

A Holy Ghost Kiss

Reverend Julius Cheeks - If Servin God is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Right

Woke up this morning with my mind on Jesus, but when I reached out into the darkness all I could hear was Luther Ingram. The good lord told me not to worry and that the good Reverend Cheeks would be my guide. Rather than white collar he wore sun glasses with a Stax sharpie shirt, and there was a Black Moses poster on the wall in place of the cross. "Are you an angel?" I asked. "Angels don't sing like this, they never had trials and tribulations like us" he said. We talked about the Soul Stirrers and sports over coffee and cigarettes and I got the feeling he was a little bothered by the fact he never got any of that Soul Jazz money. Servin had become more popular in his church than any traditional ever had been, and when asked about it all he had to say was "if Memphis soul is wrong, I don't wanna be right". I was sent off with a recording that he claimed was "an hour and a half long version of If There's a Hell Below, Were All Going to Go", which I unfortunately left on the bus. If you find a CD-R with Jesus in a yellow leisure suit and a guitar on it, holler at me.

Drunken Daggering Fist

Buju Banton - Can't Count (Shaolin Temple Riddim)

This doesn't seem to be on the CD and is probably a few years old but I've been enjoying it lately. I also fuck with Kung Fu flicks pretty hard and while it's not as interesting as Sinogrime its got funny synths. Macka Diamonds performance is cool too.

Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy

DJ Milton - Acosmic (from Hittin Hard 12" 1994)

This is ether Milton's first or second 12" and as I don't see a bright future in any of them being reissued anytime soon I doubt I'm hurting anybody by posting any of his music. Behind closed doors chipmunk chatter a little slower in that nineteen-ninety four way, maybe appealing to the prudes even if said chipmunk might be saying "fuck it". One of the most unique voices in Ghetto House who really knew how to work vocals over interplanetary project party music. Cosmic records provided an early home to a handful of Chicago singles worth checking out, even if their labels didn't look as cool as Dance Mania's. Also, purple side b/w white side is far inferior to Hennesy side b/w Swisha side.

And come to think about it, there is basically a sped up inferior version of this track that is Milton's guest appearance on DJ Flint's Spank You Very Much. When your this deep into a catalog the lines between Dungeons and Dragons and Ghetto House get kind of blurry.

The Right, The Right, The Right...

DJ Nehpets - Cupid Shuffle Juke Remix

Happy Valentines Day.

"It's After The End Of The World, Don't You Know That Yet?"

DJ Trouble Minimix

Imagine a footwork battle in a Mad Max movie and your close. Imagine a Nurse With Wound album made on Fruity Loops and your closer. Sure, Nate sold his soul to the devil in return for a Rap career but this is an even darker shade of black. A cold and hopeless Midwest winter science fiction soundtrack made in a vacant board-up with tape loops and a drum machine, almost free of references despite being music for your feet. More questionable than most things that make me worry about the youth. DJ Trouble remains a bigger mystery to me than any other Chicago DJ who doesn't answer emails, and as far as I know he has almost no web presence. I'm almost convinced he doesn't exist but the kids say he's real. I guess you don't actually need a Myspace to be among the living, and along with his fellow tradesmen he's proof thisstuff doesn't only exist on the internet. Still, it's perfect "I'm not going out tonight" music. This short little mix I found mislabeled as DJ Nate is all three of his tracks I know of, somewhat mixed together. DJ Trouble, if your out there get at me. We need to have a talk. I'm worried.

Face It

DJ Deeon - Have You Thought About It (from the time when you could download music on myspace)

Really beautiful music.

Moments In Moments In Love

NGUZUNGUZU - Focus Mixtape Vol 1: Moments In Love (zshare)

You know, that song, but a whole mix of where that song left it's footprints. A lot more places than I ever collected. I had no idea these guys went this deep with it but I should have known when they sent me the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble version. All for this as I have a habit or listening to certain songs for hours at a time. This is dedication to an obsession that I fully support. When you have beat boxing in it, you know you've got a serious problem!

P.S. 69 Boyz? Ghetto House?! Cumbia?!!!!!

I thought it was cool when Gucci did it, but I'm now convinced nobody digs harder.

Track List:

MOMENTS IN HOUSE: ESSENCE

GO DOWN BABY: DIAMOND K

MACHETE MOMENTS: ERIDSON VS. LUCIFER (NGUZU EDIT)

SUPERSTAR REMIX: DJ (7)+->

ART IN MOMENTS : DJ QUEST VS. LIEBRAND (NGUZU EDIT)

TONITE: 2 SMOOTH

MOMENTS IN LOVE: ART OF NOISE (A.MC EDIT)

EVERYDAY: DJ DEEON

MOMENTS: DJ GODFATHER AND STARSKI

TOOTSIE ROLL (QUIET STORM CLUB REMIX): 69 BOYZ

MOMENTS IN LOVE: ART OF NOISE (CASPA REMIX)

TIP OF MY TONGUE: JAGGED EDGE FT. GUCCI MANE AND TRINA

THE ART OF FUNKIN: DJ FUNK

MOMENTS IN LOVE: ART OF NOISE (UNKNOWN DRUM N BASS REMIX) (NGUZU VOCAL EDIT W/ AALIYAH)

MOMENTS IN LOVE (BEAT BOX REMIX): RHAZEL

MOMENTO ENAMORADO: LOS DADDYS

DOING IT WELL (REMIX): LL COOL J

MOMENT: JT AND THE BIG FAMILY

MOMENTS IN LOVE (EXTENDED MIX) SNIPPET: ART OF NOISE

MURDA MO: BONE THUGS N HARMONY

THE WORLD HAS TOO MANY FREAKS: KRAYZIE BONE FT. ADINA HOWARD AND PLAY N SKILLZ

PONY (BOOTY BASS REMIX): GINUWINE

RNB 24 INSTRUMENTAL (ART OF NOISE REMIX): DJ SMOOTH4LYFE

MOMENTS IN LOVE (LIVE AT HIGHLINE BALLROOM, NYC): HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE

Mix Series Vol 5: Dubbel Dutch

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Dubbel Dutch makes just the kind of mess we like over here. Big weird track lists that we can't file under anything. Austin to Africa and everything in the middle, the familiar becoming unfamiliar. Crafted with the touch of tone control records by someone who cares, thinking about composition as much as blurring the lines of House music. I think dancing too. A soundtrack for invisible cities, I'm definitely going to be using this one for headphones and train rides.

Track list:
DVA - Natty
DJ Gregory / Sidney Samson - Salon Feat. Dama S
DJ Sdunkero - Tops Off
NKC - Marie
Contakt - Not Forgotten
DJ Donna Summer - Back
Ghosts On Tape - Predator Mode VIP
Cheasleun - Off the Glass (Ghost Town rmx) - dd fast edit
DJ Icon Audioadiccion - La Musica
Busy Signal - wooeeii gal wooeeii (Murlo refix)
MessLess - Killing Kuduro
Rudy Currence - Christmas Card (Buckmaster's Love Dub)
Distal - Love a la Venturo
Brandy / Fantastic Mr. Fox refix
Raffertie - 7th Dimension
Kingdom - Mindreader bok bok rmx V. Starkey - Ok Luv (vocal dub)
Party Boyz - Flex v. Rude Kid
Big Dope P - Kazfara Juke
Cold Pumas - Jela (Murlo's Carribean Twist Rework)
Dj Nut Nut - Special Dedication
Instra:mental - Watching You

Only Time I'm Ever Posting a Trip-Hop Track

Audio Sports - Return to 1 More (from Era of Glittering Gas 1992)

Getting into Boredoms back in high school was when music got really fun for me. Me and Yamatsuka Eye go back like car seats, and this Audio Sports record is kind of a hidden gem. Maybe not in Japan in the early 90s, but I'm impressed by how good it still sounds 20 years later. I mean it's Trip-Hop for Christ's sake, and not in the same way that say Fabo is Trip-Hop. Heavy on the weed, I imagine Eye's dreadlocks wrapped up in a studio kinda cloudy listening to Buju Banton and Main Source. I dig the rapping throughout the album, but their re-version of this riddim (whose name slips my mind right now) is my favorite moment.

Throwback To The Future

DJ Technics - Doo Doo Rock (remix) (from Dick Like a New Jack 12" 2002)

Perfect Baltimore Club, though maybe not as perfect as Rock the Boat.

Don Dadaist

DJ Posh E - Dada Supercat Bubbling Remix 2006ish

It's a shame the last 30 seconds don't go on for about 10 minutes longer.

Go Go Yardies

Backyard Band - Reggae In The Yard (from Jungle Music 2000)

Seems as though some Go Go bands in DC are also known for doing whole Regg'Go sets, not sure if this is a new thing or what. I have some scattered tracks of the sort, this Backyard Band joint being the first time I ever heard of such a thing.

"I Don't Have No Skin Hang-Ups"

Charley Pride - Is Anybody Goin to San Antone? (from VA - From Where I Stand 1998)

My laptop is in the shop right now so for the next week or so I'm going to be posting random stuff found on my old computer and maybe some vinyl rips. Going to be throwing some curve balls, half of which you will probably hate but I expect you hate half of the music I post regularly anyways.

Grammy winner, semi-professional baseball player, manic depressive, and the most successful black Country music artist who ever lived. In fact, Charley Pride was the best selling artist since Elvis on RCA in the mid 70s. He surprised many early in his career who came to see a white man play hillbilly music, eventually becoming the 2nd black artist ever to play the Grand Ole Opry. Did I mention he was nominated for an Oscar too? This kind of success isn't even really possible in the music industry today, and Pride had one hell of a battle within the white medium he was working with. That and dealing with good friend George Jones' Klu Klux Klan tour pranks(read, great/fucked up book). A very interesting artist who put out some great ballads on the poppy tip. I generally lean towards the "drunk and alone" side of things, but sometimes I'm a sap. This is his cover of a Doug Sahm tune and one of my favorites. Off of From Where I Stand, a chronological box set of black Country music that is wonderful.

Oh...My...God...

We are going to keep most fashion talk off of here, but this is really something. By Japanese designers Destroy Babylon, who also make tube socks that say just that.

"I Wanna Learn How to Footwork"

First Lil B announces he's doing a footwork mixtape, then the New Boyz hang out in Chicago and discuss dance moves with the locals. Juke's biggest supporter these days is the Jerkin scene, almost keeping it alive on a national level. You don't even see this kind of blending going on in the Midwest so much. It's a beautiful thing.

Duppy Cousin?

As you should already know, this blog doubles as the Chicago division for The International Center of Duppy Research. Our team is hard at work digging deep into Jamaican folklore through dusty newspapers, microfilm, children's books, and documents that we can still access through our alumni JSTOR accounts. Dedicated to finding every piece of the puzzle, we have stumbled upon a missing link from the Caribbean brought to our attention by Soca legend Michel Montano's Trinidadian Thriller video Jumbie. A Jumbie, or Jumbee, in some ways follows the story of the Duppy but with transformations across the Black Atlantic that resulted in different demons than the Jamaican version. Mermaids, possessed animals, and witches are some common themes among Caribbean folklore, but in other places such as Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, the spirit of a dead person not yet descended into the afterlife by way of minibus* takes on different forms. In some ways, the Jumbee has a more mysterious and complex history, with more rules laid out as far as what form the demons will take. In Guyana, a Backoo is the spirit of a baby who died before being named which are known to look like short men with large eyes, long limbs, and who are absent of kneecaps. The spirit feeds off bananas and milk, and is stuck inside a glass bottle until released. Overall, the main factor separating the Duppy from the Jumbee are the influence of both Amerindian and European folklore which have altered things especially in places like the Dutch Antilles and Montserrat. While our resources are still being pulled (see picture above), our anonymous informants at Wikipedia tell us a few tips for living a Jumbee-free life:

• leaving a pair of shoes outside your door; jumbies don't have feet and would spend the entire night trying on the shoes to get them to fit before moving onto you.
• leaving a heap of sand or salt or rice outside your door; jumbies are compelled to count every grain before the sun rises.
• when coming home late at night, walk backwards so that the jumbie would be unable to follow you inside.
• if one is being chased by a jumbie, cross a river, as they cannot follow over water
• Leave a rope with many knots by your door step. Jumbies love to try to untie knots, so they will forget about you while trying to untie the knots.

Our people are being sent all over the world and the internet in search of more information for our readers to raise Jumbee awareness so you don't end up victim of ruckus. To those who dare confront ether a Duppy or a Jumbee, make sure you bring plenty of rum for both enjoy the sweet taste of fermented sugar cane.


* Winkler, Anthony C. "The Duppy". Akashic Books, 2008.

Circle Jerkin

DJ Nate aka Baka - You're A Jerk (from Bakastine the Halloween Mixtape vol 1 2009)

Chicago vs Panama vs Nigeria. Panama still wins but I couldn't resist. Nate sounds pretty keyed in the intro/outro.

Space Aged Juking

DJ Puff - Real Pimpin (from DJ Deeon Presents: DJ Puff - Lime Green 12" 1996)

DJ Puff put out two 12"s under the wings of Deeon in the 90s and nothing else which makes me believe it could have just been a fake moniker or his imaginary friend. I really don't like joking about these things though, because in some cases there's a reason why the discography just stops. Like the AJ Mcghee track I brought up a few weeks ago, this is a meeting between Ghetto House and southern Rap. Legendary Memphis duo 8 Ball and MJG get the Dance Mania treatment that I wish more on the bottom of the map would. And I don't mean Wayne or Gucci like you hear on the radio here, I wanna hear Pimp C shouting anthems fragmented by claps.

Bob Dylan Ferro Gaita Wrote Propaganda Songs

Kidy - Fuzilerus (from Funana and Batuku vol 6 2010)

I don't know a lot about Kidy aside from a few of his music videos, but there are some overwhelming sound effects here. The gun shots aren't used as hi-hats or anything but there are helicopters, screams, and old western pistol sounds. My Portuguese tells me this is an anti-military tune, but I don't speak Portuguese. I think I'm generally interested in these sounds used in music and this sorta works in the way Rogério Duprat used Music Concret in Tropicalia. Meaning it's actually part of the compositional aspect of the story rather than a sound effect.

Maladeee Maker

Zaza Twins - Instru Logobi Maladeee (???) 2009?

Man this needs to be played LOUD. On the street and at levels of public disturbance. Like how all those Tecktonik videos look, except with better dancing and people having more fun. Really exciting stuff coming from the kids in France that I can't get enough of. No surprise this transformation occurred ether, sounding uplifting and intimidating like current Kuduro. Coupe Decale Instrumental was one of those tracks that made me lose it in 2009, and I was glad to find more by Lyons' Zaza Twins. More music that fits perfectly under Soulja Boy. What Logobi really means I really don't know, I just watch Youtube videos, but there is some good information here, and here.

Thanks to Boima for help IDing this track.

Yuh

Vybz Kartel - Thank Yuh Jah 2010

Dude has been sick with the slow jams lately.

Por Barrios

Grupo Cordon - Subiendo Aun Mas (from "unknown street cd-r")

This is one of those weird internet finds that combines digital digging with actual field work, and I remain the arm chair researcher. I have no recollection of even trying to find this, but this was in a folder I grabbed on Soulseek titled Candombe Uraguay - Original CD Grabado en Las Calles de Montevideo (Por Barrios) Excelente! This is the real deal, por barrios! We've never been to Montevideo, but somebody brought back CD-Rs that are even more mysterious now that we can't physically hold them.

Without trying any harder to philosophy the situation, this mystery folder is a great mix of some of the bigger groups like Cuareim, Ansina, and these guys Cordon. Candombe is Uruguayan drum music that originated from people that escaped countries with heavy slave trade such as Bolivia and Paraguay. It's popular street and festival music that is still strong among the small Afro-Uruguayan and Afro-Argentine communities. I've yet to hear any digital club mutations, this is straight up drumming, and lots of it.

Nobody Move

DJ Moortje - Nobody Get Hurt (from I'm Back 1997)

This track is really interesting to someone like myself who never had a background in Drum and Bass, yet listens to plenty of music that was affected by it's existence. Discovering Bubbling has led me to rewind to the early days of Jungle to find missing pieces of the puzzle, but I haven't spent much time with DnB outside of a bit of DJ Zinc and DJ Hype. Even then it's not really for me, but Moortje pulling up Yellowman's Breakbeat hit like it was the Murder She Wrote Riddim is exciting as a parallel between genres. Technically and historically there's plenty to compare the two in a Venn Diagram, which forces me to backtrack down the paths I missed first time around and never particularly cared about. Questioning relevance is even more confusing and if the theory that technology=genres is right it will only get more so.

Believing

Manara - Miracles 2010

2009 was a great year for the Night Slugs crew that was obvious even if you never showed up to any of their parties. I've never been to London, but the output spawned from last year definitely got me more curious about the sound these guys push for. My awareness of UK Funky borderlines on ignorance, but when seasoned with some familiar territory like these guys tend to do I sink into the mix like a warm bath. Not that I'm afraid to listen to a set that only contains the unknown (quite the opposite), but hearing how well DJ Deeon fits in is exciting to this Chicagoan. Manara hooked it up with a short but sweet fix for the habit, and now we can stay warm inside with headphones. Sure, a hot sweaty club can be relief from the cold, but have you ever gotten drunk and slipped on the ice on your way home? Not fun.

Tracklist:

Paula Abdul – Cold Hearted (Dubstramental)
Roska- Gone to a Better Place
Aero Manyelo – My 8 Kids
Aaron Carl – Oasis (Nick Holder Vocal Dub)
DJ Gregory – Klappa
DJ Gazzeto – Cruel 22
Shaun-D – Spanish Fly (Kingdom remix)
Ikonika – Brown Acid remix
GIRL UNIT – I.R.L
Dj Deeon – Freak like Me (Brenmar mix)

My Dance Moves Science Fiction

Fabo - Gik Tales Mixtape 2010

I don't know if it makes up for his long absence, but it's pretty damned nice.

Like Two Bad Nurses.

Bun B - Adrenaline Rush Freetyle (from No Mixtape 2010)

It's obligatory that I post Bun spitting over one of my most cherished Hip-Hop beats ever.

Last Night a Pirate Radio DJ Saved My Life

Mosholu Park - At The Fire

Lamin is back with another transmission pretending to be a mix, though instead of seamlessness we have maplessness. Like a broken shortwave radio with good taste, a lot more compositional than just shooting off blanks to a make believe audience. I don't think our friend cares much for the technical triggers widely used for blending songs like the common disc jockey, but he knows the loopholes and secret tunnels scattered throughout his selections like the back of his hand.

Haiti Continued

Nu Look - Pedi Chelbew (live) (from DJ Flo: MVP Kompa Live Mix vol 1 2009)

Super winey guitars from a Kompa band out of Miami.

"Dominica Soca"

Mr Benji N2O - Fire 2009

A super sick Bouyon track I've been into lately, which is/is like Soca from Dominica usually done by bands (I guess?). I've been happy with Trinidadian production as of late, but some of the synths these cats use are off the chain. They even cover American Hip-Hop tracks, and while not on a funk tip I can't help but think about D.C. Go Go bands doing the same(?!). Pretty fucking cool, and there's a lot of extra energy in this stuff that is hard to achieve in a studio. Mr Benji N2O is the front man of Triple Kay, one of the biggest bands from the island. This one is just crazy, like they were channeling Sun Ra and Hurricane Chris at the same time.

Dahomey Diaspora

Rara La Fraicheur De L'anglade - M Pap Mache A Te Anye (from Vodou Music of Haiti 1997)

Rara is heavily rooted in the spiritual music of a 10,000+ year old religion known as Vodou, which made it's way to Haiti during the slave trade from places like the former Kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin). I think most outsiders would immediately think of zombies, witchcraft, and old National Geographic images of Africans conducting heathen rituals if the word "voodoo" was brought up, but many religions throughout the world share it's original roots. Just look at New Orleans, where above ground it's commercialized and influenced a ton of music (hello Dr. John), and below ground where it's still practiced in secrecy. A lot of influences from Christianity have mixed in, due to former slaves covering up their "pagan" rituals from their oppressors. For those not familiar with Vodou Music of Haiti: Angels in the Mirror, it's a great compilation of spirituals ranging from gorgeous vocal tracks to this one which is straight up Rara. You can't hide from those horns, and while we're on the subject I think anyone who isn't scared of them should hear The La Drivers Union Por Por Group CD for an interesting phenomenon that most likely isn't a coincidence.

Hi Haiti 2

Ti Band L'avenir - Panamam Tombe (from Méringue: Haïti Chérie 1993)

Wayne Marshall comes through with one of his favorite Haitian joints.

Haiti Part I

T Man - Jump Up (From Ayiti Diasporap 4 Life vol 1 2008)

I'm not exactly helping out with the situation much, but I feel the least I can do is put up some Haitian tunes. That's all that's going to be posted here for a bit, and if you feel like contributing something, feel free to email me. Also, please show up to Dutty Artz Tropical Relief this Saturday if you happen to be near NYC.

First up we have a Hip-Hop track from a compilation my friend picked up for me when she was in Haiti last summer. I think you might be able to buy this somewhere, and it's worth hearing. Not much out of the ordinary as far as Haitian Rap goes, which to me sometimes sounds like Southern States Hip-Hop with Kompa influenced beats.

Re: Pendergrass

Teddy Pendergrass - Easy, Easy, Got To Take It Easy (from Teddy Pendergrass 1977)

RIP Teddy Pendergrass

1950 - 2010

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

DJ Slugo - Respect My Grine vol 1,2,3

Slugo was kind enough to give away his previous volumes of his Respect My Grine mixtape series while he's finishing volume 4 up. For those of you that don't know, the series covers local Chicago talent, much of the time shedding light onto the young artists making music in the city. Generally comprised of local rappers, you will find the likes of Tha Pope, DJ Nate, and sometimes people I know (what's up Khallee?). Definitely for those interested in following what the kids are doing Hip-Hop wise in the city today.

2010!!!!!

NGUZUNGUZU EP 2010

The club, the bedroom, and both at the same time.

Llet Ot Tog Ev'i, Yrots Elttil A S'ereh Won

Pappawheeli - Paul Revealed (Paul Revere Instrumental Backwards Un-masking)

Maybe it's my love for a lot of things Music Concret, perhaps it's just hanging around DJs but I can be a sucker for music sped up, slowed down, and even backwards. If this wasn't already obvious then I'll admit listening to Rihanna backmasked quite a few times. Miami Bass historian Pappawheeli flipped the Beastie's Paul Revere to unveil proto-Miami Bass from 1986 in the form of reversed white boy Rap, a bit different than how I remember hearing one of my first Hip-Hop songs. Played forwards it's already got the silence gaps and stop-and-start patterns that a lot of Electro tracks since Afrika Bambataa tended to have, but reversed it has even more hiss to the cymbals. That year was a pretty big one for the genre's predecessors, and this wasn't even able to influence those without the mechanism to play it at the speed that secret messages can be heard and therefore maybe a bit irrelevant and mostly for novelty enjoyment. I mean I'd be pretty psyched if a song played backwards sparked a highly influential musical movement, but hey we're in a new decade that will give us the Easy-Bake-Oven of screwed and chopped and backmasking machines via iPhone apps.

Crown Heights Affair "Galaxy of Love"

Here's a song for all you eager disco explorers. My newest vehicle for transport is by the late seventies hit by the

Crown Heights Affair, "Galaxy of Love".

The song opens different than the typical disco song. It sets us up delicately, with wind surf ambiance and piano tinklings, something that could be a whole song in its self, preparing us for a long flight. You take off and you realize that your flying very high and fast, with the SFX of space whizzing by your head. And with The high heaven vocals, the song soars bright and clear like a beautiful cartoon. This large group of hard working musicians play with vigor, and take the pleasure in bringing you higher than you've ever been. This is a Band of the Clouds, demanding you to dance with it's stern Horn Sorcery and disgusting Bass breakdown. The featured Synth Lazer even takes A Solo, flashing like a rainbow gradient gamma ray. And then suddenly, the band suddenly brings it all to stop, leaving you to drop from the highest point in the sky! Enjoy.

-J.Shorts

(The sound quality isn't too bad for a Youtube Clip)

Buckets

While I'm not willing to give up, this is probably the closest Juke will ever come to Go-Go.