Tuesday, December 30, 2008

WICKED AWSUM




Take that beantown.


Happy birthday Lebron.

Bust a Botch and Hit the Throttle

Motherfuck a Dark Knight or the Watchman, wheres the Save-A-Hoe aka Lieutenant-Roast-A-Bootch flick?

Monday, December 29, 2008

Soul Glo Calypso



Bunji Garlin - "Put in the Thing" (from Global 2007)

Trinidad and Tobago's answer to Jamaican Dancehall, the word Soca is literally just the combination of the words soul and calypso, The difference between the lifespan of the two genres is that the early Soca (1980s) that I have is on a roots revolution Marley type tip, where as even in the 80s Dancehall was stricly for the dancehall. Fortunately for us deviants, this track by Soca superstar Bunji Garlin is an absurdly blatant anthem of sexual penetration. This track differs from most Soca I have, being a lot slower and more thumpy, yet not dubby enough for a dancehall riddim. I almost have a feeling this track might have ended up like this to appeal to the other islands in the Carribean, as there have been beefs between Soca and Dancehall/Reggae artists on the music, including Bunji and Jamaican artist I Wayne. Soca is now made all around the Caribbean but doesn't really compete with Jamaica being one of the largest music industries in the world. The "Soca Bhangra" meeting between Bunji and Punjabi Soca artist Shammi is worth hearing too, though it barely makes any sense.

He's Never Straight



Rocket from the Tombs - "Ain't It Fun" (from The Day The Earth Met Rocket from the Tombs 2002/1974)


"Reminds me of a conversation I had with a 15-year-old on a bus in 1968. She had just gotten out of the psycho ward after kicking a meth habit. "All I could listen to was the Doors. It was like Jim Morrison could see inside my head better than any shrink...now I can't stand their records." She later picked up a mild junk habit, and once when presented with the opportunity to ball her my own meth use negated my abilities. I digress, although somewhere in the larger digression lies some justification for the kind of people who can scrawl "I love my life!" on their shirts and get written up in The New Yorker.

Okay, the Modern Lovers album is good stuff. It's the album Transformer could have been (how important it is that we recall the dates). In a year that has brought us such dross as Station to Station, Coney Island Baby and The Eagles' Greatest Hits, you owe it to yourself to buy this record.
"

-Peter Laughner (Modern Lovers review in Creem Aug 1976)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Punk Magazine: Are you a rock star?

PL: YES! Can play maniac guitar better than Richard Lloyd or Ron Ashton, sing like Dylan with a cattle prod up his ass, make “Metal Machine Music” with only ONE amp, and look like nobody else so I’m original – Buncha other reasons but who wants to be verbose?

PM: Your favorite stars?

PL: One, Tom Verlaine. Two, John Cale – Drunk as a skunk! And Welsh, too! Three, Patti Smith – Despite the hype – She can sit on my face any time she wants.

PM: Good meal out?

PL: One, PATTI SMITH. Two, Katz’s Deli on Sunday AM withy hangover & Tina Weymouth.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This album made me so morose and depressed when I got the advance copy that I stayed drunk for three days. I didn't go to work. I had a horrible physical fight with my wife over a stupid bottle of 10 mg. Valiums. (She threw an ashtray, a brick, and a five foot candelabra at me, but I got her down and sat on her chest and beat her head on the wooden floor.) I called up the editor of this magazine (on my bill) and did virtually nothing but cough up phlegm in an alcoholic stupor for three hours, wishing somewhere in the back of my deadened brain that he could give me a clue as to why I should like this record.

-Peter Laughner (Review of Lou Reed Coney Island Baby Creem Aug 1976


More Laughner writings here.

African Pearl Necklace



Ensemble Instrumental de Mopti - Ambodejo (from African Pearls Vol. 3 One Day on Radio Mali 2006)

I have fallen off with the African joints, so here is a real monster from Mali. The word radio in the title of this release kind of lowered my expectations as it made me think about the Sublime Frequencies radio discs, which generally are the weaker ones. Luckily Syllart founder Ibrahima Sylla wasn't just turning a dial on this one, which is two cds full of great selections of 50s, 60s, and 70s Malian music. Sylla was born in Mali and is obviously no stranger to the music. Some of the selections are a bit more rock or pop sounding, this track has really strange flutes that give the rest of the instruments air to breathe. There is a vocal ranting similar to the Yaala Yaala Pekos and Yoro Diallos disc and not unlike a more holy version of toasting, The highlight of the collection but such a wide variety is covered here its definitely worth tracking down.


(Oh yeah, I am not positive this is actually a picture of the same group, but there is a good chance it is)

A Sleepy Fucking D Sleepover



Sleepy D - "Sleepy Fucking D" (from The Best of The Bay 2008 Mixtape 2008)


While Hurricane Chris talks about going to clubs hes not even old enough to get into, 17 year old east Oaklander Sleepy D aspires to turn 18 so he can soon drop hammers at the juice bars. The beat on this one is Yay Area minimalism, but not so dependent on the bass bombs. Pretty strange bucket sounding drums with some scattered sinewaves. Been pretty impressed by bay production recently, especially by The Click in a spaceship sounding "I can Sell That" on 40 Waters new one. The Messy Marv tracks on this Best of The Bay mixtape are not to be slept on, and I would have put them up but couldn't resist posting this picture I stole from Sleepy's myspace page.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Insect Circus Cumbia



Dick el Demasiado - Mosquito de Cumbia (from ? 200?)

This is a case where Byron Coley's over the top similes would actually be useful rather than just weird music dork ramblings. "A swarm of mosquitos bombarding you on a merry-go-round full of Colombian accordion players after your tripping partners thought you'd be more comfortable at a circus when the acid went bad" or something like that. Truly one of the more wacked out cumbia songs in existence, not to outshine the fireworks cumbia or Demasiado's other track where he samples pigs. Still on the search for where this is from, as this is the result of downloading random files with cumbia in the title on soulseek.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Locked up Behind Xanex Bars



Lil Wayne - I Feel Like Dying (from anything that wasn't The Carter III)

Alright, this isn't new, but I'll take any chance I can get to point out great Wayne vs The Carter III Wayne. I understand that Weezy at his most blatantly drug-addled wasn't really in the record companies plan for going platinum, but if his latest effort consisted of him playing guitar with his feet it would still sell millions. Ether way, this is a slice of the next great psychedelic rapper along with the Divine Styler, New Kingdom, and Fabo. "I Feel Like Dying" takes Wayne swimming around a bottle of Louis the XIII, playing football on marijuana streets, and diving off a mountain into sea of codiene, all revolving around a haunting sample reminding his listeners that just because Bun B did it, he's got no interest in putting down the cough syrup. Most likely, the song was pulled for the same reasons Led Zeppelin were called satan worshipers, the track has secret verses when you play it backwards. I dunno how true that actually is, but it's surprising how clear words come up from the alleged backmasking. Be on the lookout for Mr. Carters greatest psych rap hits, including this track as well as "Me and My Drank", which sounds like Wayne was sucking down Dust Off cans the studio keeps to clean their mixing boards.

Brain Is Gone OH NO




Bathroom Renovations - Apathetic Hell (from VA - The Potent Human EP 1980)
Bathroom Renovations - Intensly Henna'd (from VA - Unzipping The Abstract LP 1980)

In an attempt to steer away from rap music for a bit, here is a band from the pre-Smiths Manchester scene with one of the best band names ever. These tracks are their entire discography, sharing spots on these two comps with The Mekons and a bunch of other bands that only released two songs. There is pretty much no info on any of these bands because of this, and the only thing I have heard about these guys is that they were more hippies than punks. Makes sense, for this is some twee ass music. Once upon a time I was really into this kind of stuff along with the Weird Noise bands, The Homosexuals, ect and I still hold a certain fondness for all it's shit-fi glory.

Music of Micronesia



The Musicians of Micronesian - The Spirit of Micronesia (1995)


I was reading a bit on the group of islands known as Micronesia a few months back and the search for music from this crazy place begun. I am interested in music from every part of the world, and luckily these tiny islands were easier to crack down than I expected. After going through several weird websites that haven't been updated since the 90s I found this fucking amazing disc. Micronesia consists of a grouping of islands in the pacific; the Republic of Kiribati, the republic of the Marshal Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia which are Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap, the Republic of Palau, Saipan and Guam. I really have never heard anything like the music on this disc, which consists of recordings from most of the islands. Sticks, conch shells, little kids laughing, terrifying sounding moans, hymns, and the sound of the tide are the main contributors, a box making a guest appearance. Heavy on the vocals and most of the time obvious what they are about, one native islander on Amazon.com even got pretty pissed that they included one of the funeral recordings. Some of the most powerful music I have ever heard that unfortunately seems to be out of print. Recorded on Smithsonians off-week sometime in the 90s, grab this wonderful stuff.

For The Xians



John Fahey - "Silent Night" (from Christmas Guitar 1982)


...and the nons.


A track from the only Christmas album I like.



Happy Holidays yalls

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Go Go Gadget Club Mix



Junkard Band - Sardines (Tittsworth Remix) (from Balmer Loosies 2006)


Baltimore house twerking of the classic Junkyard Band cut done in good taste.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Lil Lil Wayne



B.G. - Fuck Big Boy feat Lil Wayne, UNLV, and Tec (from True Story 1995)


Here's Lil Wayne at 12 years old dissing a then 25 year old Mystikal to a Mannie Fresh beat with fake dog barks, barely audible triggermans, and a synth playing the hootchy cootchy dance song. Not much else to say, aside from this first B.G. album being pretty great and this track might be one of the weirdest things I've ever heard.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Chancha via Circuito - Rodante



Chancha via Circuito - "Cumbia Murguera" (from Rodante 2008)

If there was one person responsible for my buying into the cumbia hype this year, I would hold Pedro down in Buenos Aires responsible. Right as my obsession with the slow stomp was really taking off, the ZZK guys came to Portland and played a show to pretty much just me and anyone I dragged to Berbati's Pan. Even with nobody out on the dancefloor when I arrived, mr Chancha via Circuito was out there cutting up a rug by himself. When his own song (and probably the track I listened to the most in 2008) "Cumbia Murguera" came on, the venue didn't seem as empty. There were only about ten people moving their feet, one of them being me and the other was the man himself. We were both equally psyched on it, and while my rusty spanish didn't help out our conversation, he was cool enough to give me some CDs. His name has something to do with a train, and the music is a steam engine fueled by peoyte. While this album would be considered a cumbia record, the range of sounds and influences go much farther than South America. This only makes sense as the origins of cumbia themselves are rooted in three different continents. While still retaining the slow clave rhythms, some tracks act as a dancehall riddim while others remind of the Muslim rule of the Iberian Peninsula. The album reads naratively without sacrificing any elements of ass shaking commonly found in villera band Damas Gratis but without the long mullets. The weed leaf painted synths are definitely still here however, and this album along with The Fauna and El Remolon records continues the ZZK tradition of being sequenced to play like a psychedelic experience. One of my very favorite records of the year that makes me excited to hear what comes out of Buenos Aires next. The album can be grabbed here along with a bunch of awesome free mixtapes.

"I Brought The Flutes This Time"



All $tar Cashville's Prince - Mo Problems (from Starlito's Way: I Am Not Your Friend Mixtape 2007)


Yeah, the Nashville native is a favorite around here.

The hardest rapper to google seems to forever be a mixtape artist, but with the rap industry being in the state it is everyone seems stuck to the slimcase kinkos cd-rs and 3 year album delays. Maybe hip- hop will go the way of noise music and do one sided cassettes and candy paint pyrex lathe cuts. This first Starlito's Way mixtape has a lot of flutes, working well with All $tars' Rosé addled flow. Sounds like he recorded this while sitting on a Gucci pillow with a hookah in the middle of the booth. "Grey Goose" was fun, but he made a good decision to hold back on the alcohol anthems and if he decides to stick with the trippy vibes I am all for it. With most rappers using movie beats nowadays its nice to know one is using porn beats.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Hood Dudes Jamming Synths

Another dope Junkyard Band video.

Planet Junkyard

Strange footage of the Junkyard Band back in the day in a car commercial and random shots of D.C. while doing Planet Rock.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

ZZK Mixtape Vol. 5 - Tremor



Once again another cool mix from Buenos Aires' ZZK Records. This one is a good mix of remixes and mashups from the ZZK camp, much of which consists South American folk joints. Only problem with this one is it starts off with that lame new M.I.A. song "Boyz". Almost turned it off but luckily it gets good quick and the Q-Tip mashup later on makes up for it. Like the others you can download this one for free here. Much love to you all down in Argentina and props on the artwork for these.

All Blurred Out



Salem - Trapdoor (unreleased)

Meth teeth rather than gold teeth, leather pants instead of Evisu jeans, I really don't know the deal behind these weird goth kids aside from being one of the only examples of screwing and chopping working outside the realm of hip hop and soul music. Maybe from Chicago, maybe from Michigan, maybe the love child of Kevin Sheilds and Michael Watts. Hoodgaze on the one hand, Loveless as the world turns slow on the other. This stuff can be found at both Turntable Lab and Rough Trade, which adds more to the headscratching that is Salem. I believe this track is going to, or already is out on their new 7" but I can't find details yet. One of the most enjoyable things to come out of 2008, and the creepiest. Brings Hope for next years David Banner/power electronics band collaboration.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

A Festival With No Name

To all you New Yorkers, go check out Phil Niblocks 19th annual loft festival at Experimental Intermedia tonight to hear Erstwhile Records CEO spin 8 hours of music today from 3pm to 11pm including one of me and my friend Grahams tracks from our cdr we put out in 2007 (the one with the duct tape). Some great improv music will be spun, and the festival continues until the 21st. Go check it out!

224 Centre Street at Grand, Third Floor, N Y 10013
212.431.5127 | 431.6430
fax 212.431.4486

You can listen to it streamed live here

for more information on the fest, go here.

That Type of Son Of a Bitch



Snatch and The Poontangs - "Two Time Slim" (from Snatch and The Poontangs 1969)


Johnny Otis a.k.a. "the type of cocksucker to start an uprisin in a motherfuckers ass" put together this album somewhere between "Hey, Shine" and his son's psychedelic pop masterpiece "Strawberry Letter 23". Infact, Shuggie is on this as a teenager playing guitar. A fine album of sexually charged blues that must not be looked at in a novelty way, but as a brilliant work of filthy interpretations of African American folklore brought to you in part by the land where player hater came from.

PS, it seems as though my slowed down metallica post "mysteriously disappeared" which is a shame because I was pretty happy with that cover. Oh well, Lars is probably watching everyone on the internet who utters his band name, so ill refrain from posting any such thing on here.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Bruce Davidson



I said there was going to be more photography on here.


Before NYC got all pretty, Magnum photographer Bruce Davidson was key in documenting Harlem during the civil rights and beyond. "East 100th Street" remains one of the finest photobooks I have ever seen and "Subway" is a beautiful look at the MTA before the buff and the broken window policy. You can flip through a good portion of his books here.

Monday, December 08, 2008

Meet Mahjay



New photo series of mine of mine. Mahjay is a local high school kid who boxes at a little gym across the street from my house on Chicago ave. He dragged me into his gym a few months ago after he saw me with my clunky ass view camera in the park and we have been buddies ever since. My neighborhood has about 5 schools in a 10 block radius and this gym is packed with kids after school everyday. My first series on people so far, though I didn't really do anything aside from take light meter readings and click the shutter. Little dude was directing my ass.

Rest of the series can be seen here.


This blog needs more photography, music related or not.

Baltimore Throwback



Frank Ski - Live on V103 Early 1992


A real early radio set from family man and Obama friend Frank Ski (as pictured above with a Sloth?). Lots of old proto Bmore tracks as well as some percolating from the man you brough you Pull Ya Gunz Out and Whores In This House

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Since Were All About Vocoders and All...



Mr Flagio - Take a Chance (Vocal Version) from Take a Chance 12" (1983)


The 8 minute mystery that defines Italo for me. I have never found any information on this guy and I think this is all he ever put out. Fair enough I guess? I would have thrown up the whole 12" but one of the tracks is corrupt for some reason. I felt this site needed a bit of a hip hop break, yet with all the talkin through synths going on these days this track is still relevant.

Saturday, December 06, 2008

The Seventeen-Five-a-Keyan



All Star Cashville's Prince - Busy Freestyle


Nashville's finest over my favorite Jeezyesque beat of 2008 from part two of his "We were going to call it seventeen five a keyan but it didn't fit on the cover" series. All Star is one of the younger guys, but he comes off as mature for his age. Hopefully he isn't serious about putting down the goose and only drinking cough syrup though. Would be a shame for him to go the route of Big Moe before he actually gets an album out.



Also, I really love this picture and that record store looks amazing

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

The Silver Tongued Devil and Earl



What I would do to hear a hip hop cover of "The Pilgrim - Chapter 33"

Shaking The Rafters and Geeking to The Pulpit

"He is rumored to have seen unidentified flying objects in the area of west Atlanta known as Bankhead"

Just Wanted to Make Love In This Club



Free Plaxico?

Monday, December 01, 2008

Trap House Mantra



G Side - Speed of Sound

What happened to the days when sampling meant Led Zepplin and Willie Hutch? Over the course of a year, I have aquired a Mudvane based club track, an Indiana Jones Baile Funk riddm and now some Alabama boys dabbling in yoga and meditating to Goodie Mob. I would have been a lot more relaxed if my hippie elementary teacher played this and passed around a bottle of cough syrup than burning sage and playing Enya. "Starshipz and Rocketz" has been getting tons of play around here, and these Huntsville guys are getting weirder by the mixtape.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Needs More Congas!



Backyard Band - "Sippin on Some Syrup"

"I’ll never forget: Oliver North put a $100 bill in my bucket one day. It was just beautiful, man — coming up man, tackling everything I needed to tackle, just being able to experience what was going on in the city"


-Anwon Glover on the birth of Backyard Band

A killer 10 minute tribute to the habit lil wayne can't kick. My favorite Go-Go hip hop infusion for sure. Apologies for the weird skip at the beginning.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Mannish Boy Was Here




While eating Jamaican food and checking out maybe the best art collection I've ever seen I was directed across the street by owner of said art. This was Muddy Waters first Chicago home and at times Howling Wolf's and others. No idea what goes on or who lives there now but it had a real weird vibe to it. Has some weird witches hat on top too. For those interested its down on 43rd and Lake Park in north Kenwood. More Chicago music landmarks to come, and maybe next time I'll actually take the picture.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

How the Fuck Did this Happen?



Recently came across this great photoblog Angola Em Photos via Kuduro Files with lots of beautiful photos of the country that brought you "Hard Ass". Browse through the pictures while jamming some of the crazy music and podcasts that are updated pretty regularly.

I really can't think of another form of music I've had more trouble following than Kuduro. Hopefully more resources like these will keep popping up.

Friday, November 21, 2008

WONDERful

Eyes are for suckers

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Shape Notes Everywhere


13th Floor Elevators - May The Circle Remain Unbroken(from Bull of The Woods 1968)

Obviously one of the most haunting covers ever recorded, The Elevators sans Roky let this Carter Family joint drift into oblivion by way of delay. Happens to also be the final song on their final album, being one of the better ways for a band to die off. My only complaint is that its not atleast 20 minutes long. Compairsons to Dadamah's "High Tension House" are proof of a look into what was to come circa 1989 during the summer of love.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

"...It's You That I Want But Him That I Need"


Al Green - Beware(extended mix)

"Carlotta was in another part of the house listening to music. I then decided to take a bath. After I got in the tub, I soon heard a noise, I looked up and Mary was standing with the steaming pot in both hands. In the next second, my world exploded into a thousand splatters of pure agony. Mary had added grits to the water, making a thick, boiling hot paste. With all her strength, she hurled it at me. The grits scorched my naked back. The pain was so intense that I started screaming.

Carlotta burst in. "Al!" she screamed. It was then that I saw the egg sized blisters rising on my burned flesh. Mary rushed out of the bathroom.

Carlotta called a ambulance and was tending to me as best she could-when suddenly, we heard a gunshot. Despite being in pain, I rushed to Mary, she lay on the floor dead, clutching a gun."


Twas this rather unfortunate incident which caused for one of the greatest albums of all time.

Monday, November 17, 2008

"You Need Fa Sho Money"


Allhiphop talks to Scarface on Obama, rap, and retirement with his last album "Emertius". They aren't too convinced about the hanging up of the boots, and I can't say I am ether.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Welcome Back Cooper

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Killadelphia vs Killinois




I unfortunately won't be able to go to this but if your in the Chicago area definitely show up. Can't say Debonair is my favorite place($$$), but its got a pretty cool dancefloor. My advice would be get smashed beforehand to avoid spending Arab Money on beer.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Overlooked Western Part 2



Ennio Morricone - Il Grande Silenzio Theme (from "The Grand Silence OST")

Unfortunately, Kinski doesn't get a match struck on him like in "A Few Dollars More". I Could watch that scene over and over and still almost piss myself. Still a great flick with a great Morricone soundtrack to go with it.

And while were at it...


Alan Bishop's Ennio list from a while back.

Left Even More Offspring Than Old Dirty


Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Constipation Blues


A year, two years ago, he stayed perpetually oiled. Black and white scotch. Preserved in alcohol, he used to say. Drunk. Once, in the early 60's, traveling from Jamaica to Boston, he wound up in Buffalo after boarding the wrong plane at what was the, in those days before the donkey's demise, Idlewild Airport in New York. Blearily thinking himself to be in Beantown, he hopped a taxi and asked to be taken to a certain hotel where he had a reservation. The hackie told him there was no such address, no such hotel. Jay got pissed, jumped out of the cab and found a couple of Buffalo's finest. They told him the same thing. It wasn't until later that evening, whilst sobering up in the clink, that he realized he was in the wrong city. Which is pretty drunk.


-Excerpt from "Screamin' Jay Hawkins and The Monster" by Nick Tosches

RIP (1929-2000)

The Arkestra of St. Thomas



Count Ossie and The Mystical Revolution of Rastifari - Grounation
A serious 30 minute Nyabinghi banger. Definitely rooted in rastifari, but it packs a mean little early reggae section that sounds like The Upsetters might have been in the proximities. Must not sleep on the double album this is from of the same name.

badly shot video of the band back in the 70s





PS. While I named this site after a Sun Ra album, I promise to not make anymore "The Sun Ra of ______" comparisons anymore.

"Who I know and What I Know is No Concern of Yours"



Django Theme Song

Friday, November 07, 2008

Africa Emerge



Been loving the recent Kuduro fused Hollertronix output. Highlights Portugal's Baraka Som Sistema with their reworkings of Skream's "Blipstream" and breathing new life into "A Milli" with Diplo on board. Angola's DJ Zinobia drops a hammer and Radioclit do a really weird version of a Fischerspooner song I can't believe I actually knew. Some seriously wacked out remixes that remind me that I need to throw some Kuduro up on this here page. Grab this shit from Turntable Lab.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

About Damn Time






November 18th

Brazen in All Kinds of Ways

Monday, October 27, 2008

The Very Best Mixtape


A bit late on posting about this but ether way I am way excited about The Very Best. French born London living DJ/producers Radioclit teamed up with Malawi native Esau Mwamwaya a while back and have been making some seriously fun music. The name is a bit dorky but they kind of are too. With their little youtube video a while back you can see the range of artists they have been working with. This little joint right here is just the mixtape to their upcoming album due November. A lot of these tracks have already been rolling around the net, but about half of em are new to me atleast. Mostly mashups, covers, and remixes, its kind of a strange context for Esau, hollering in Chichewa over Michael Jackson, DJ Mujava, Cannibal Ox, and M.I.A.'s played out but still awesome joint of the decade "Paper Planes". This hybrid of Malawian sing-rapping is exciting for music of all walks of life. The "Black Phil Collins" and the dudes "who know way too much about africa" (quote Diplo) are definitely having a good time making this great music that could suit some kind of Lion King meets Hollertronix flick as the cover suggests.


The dudes are nice enough to give the mixtape away for free here


Real album drops November 1st and will be available for free download as well as a CD version.

Stopping The Bullshit


Taken from "DMX Here I Am" XXLmag Interview

XXL: Are you following the presidential race?
DMX: Not at all.

You’re not? You know there’s a Black guy running, Barack Obama and then there’s Hillary Clinton.
His name is Barack?!

Barack Obama, yeah.
Barack?!

Barack.
What the fuck is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?

Yeah, his dad is from Kenya.
Barack Obama?

Yeah.
What the fuck?! That ain’t no fuckin’ name, yo. That ain’t that nigga’s name. You can’t be serious. Barack Obama. Get the fuck outta here.

You’re telling me you haven’t heard about him before.
I ain’t really paying much attention.

I mean, it’s pretty big if a Black…
Wow, Barack! The nigga’s name is Barack. Barack? Nigga named Barack Obama. What the fuck, man?! Is he serious? That ain’t his fuckin’ name. Ima tell this nigga when I see him, “Stop that bullshit. Stop that bullshit” [laughs] “That ain’t your fuckin’ name.” Your momma ain’t name you no damn Barack.

So you’re not following the race. You can’t vote right?
Nope.


Full Interview here.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Took a Walk Down to St Bernard




Just felt like pointing out a few great New Orleans Bounce resources that make me happy. I had always had some trouble finding any bounce or older N.O. hip hop outside of a few DJ Jubilee mixes and some random compilations until now. A lot of the CDs are out of print and the 12''s are hard to find for us lazy people. Luckily some people on the internet are cranking out lost classics. These people are:


Matt Miller is the man responsible for the new documentary on NOLA Bounce "Ya Heard Me" (which I am dying to see), and has written a great article on the history of Bounce music here. You can view the trailer for the documentary here.

EMYND from Crossfadedbacon has started a great new bounce blog with great links to articles and mp3s. His Mad Decent mix is a great collection of tracks as well.

Twankle and Glisten has an amazing collection of classic 12"s and really rare albums from Louisiana and its updated all the time. Don't sleep on this one.

and of course Noz over at the reborn swanky looking Cocaine Blunts throws up joints from the crescent city now and again.


Don't sleep on these people

Monday, October 20, 2008

“All My Music is Inspirational"



Young Jeezy - "My President" (ft Nas)


On my way home from school in 2005 I saw a guy with headphones on yelling out the lyrics to "Get Your Mind Right". Later I heard "My Hood" atleast 3 times in a row at a barber shop in south Chicago.  Even if you never hid dope in the mattress, Jeezy's music is a motivational tool, just ask Michael Phelps. A good deal of time has passed since any Jeezy karaoke spottings occured, and Its been three years since "Lets Get it" dropped. The trap house was in need of a new anthem, and "The Inspiration" didn't really provide. Luckily in 2008 Jeezy won the trapper of the year award again (being beaten out by Malice and Pusha T in 2006) and was just in time for another economic crisis as well as an election. Whether or not Jeezy is the right candidate for CHANGE is an issue, he's already claiming his president is black. His dope boy swagger and movie beats are still intact, and this time dudes into politics. Like Juve did with "Get Your Hustle On" after Katrina, Jeezy did with "The Recession" as the stock markets fell. His rapping is at peak performance and he's still your favorite trapper's favorite trapper. Anybody seen the scale?

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Just Like Uncle Freddy



I am a few days late as I as in NYC last weekend, but an Alton Ellis post is needed. He had been having a rough year battling cancer and it was his time. One of my favorite Jamaicans no doubt. His rocksteady swagger and anti-rudeboy jams get a lot of play around these parts(not that I'm anti-rudeboy). He passed away last friday in a west london hospital. You will be missed Alton.

Some Classic Alton Joints:

Alton Ellis - Can I Change My Mind
Alton Ellis - Rocksteady
Alton Ellis - Ain't That Loving You
Alton Ellis - Cry Tough
Alton Ellis - Black Man White Man

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Crooklyn Zoo



This friday, saturday, and sunday is Bryank Eubanks and Andrew Lafkas' three days of music event in Brooklyn. I will be playing on saturday with my good friend Richard Kamerman and am really looking forward to all the music. Anyone in the area should definitely come out and hear some weird sounds. for more info, go to the rasbliutto page for more info.


Schedule:

October 10th 8pm $5
Lutheran Church of the Messiah
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY
Solo
Sean Meehan: percussion

Duo
Mike Bullock & Andrew Lafkas: doublebass

October 11th 8pm, free
Listen Space
Brooklyn, NY

Duo
Dave Barnes: electronics & Richard Kamerman: electronics

Trio
Bonnie Jones: electronics, Jonathan Zorn: supercollider, & Mike Bullock: doublebass/electronics

Duo
Tucker Dulin: trombone & Barry Weisblat: electronics

October 12th 9pm, free
Fotofono
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Trio
Tandem Electrics (Richard Kamerman/Reed Evan Rosenberg) & Bonnie Jones: electronics

Duo
Bryan Eubanks: electronics & Jonathan Zorn: supercollider

Solo
Kenta Nagai: guitar


Looking forward to the music and eating food! I would really appreciate it if someone took me to that cumbia record store in Queens too.


As for the slowdown on the blogging, I promise more when I return. My "Weird Africa" mix is close to done.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Trans Panamanian Express


Shabba Ranks - "Dem Bow"

The amen break of reggaeton, or something like that.