THANKS TO ANTHONY VALADEZ FOR THE HEADS UP ON THIS ONE....PROOF THAT ROGER TROUTMAN IS AN INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - THE SELECTOR KIRK
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOMEBOY. TONIGHT GET DOWN AS WE CELEBRATE THE BIG 4-5 AT SWEATER FUNK. FOR THIS EVENT WE WIL BE PLAYING STRICTLY 45'S ALL NIGHT LONG. EXPECT MODERN SOUL, STEPPERS AND BOOGIE DOWN CLASSIC. CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE CREW BRINGS OUT!
SUNDAY SOUL
Sunshine Anderson sampled this on "Something That I wanna Give You"I WANT TO PAY YOU BACK (FOR LOVING ME)-CHI-LITES (1971)
CHARLIE SINGLETON & STARGASM
The tune snaps along with a great little indie groove -- funky, bassy, and with some warm keyboards behind Charlie's higher-styled vocals. Catchy and straightforward. Really wonderful little tune! (White label promo, with an ink stamp on the label.)
CHARLIE SINGLETON & STARGASM - I WANNA BOOGIE WITH YOU 1981
ARE HIPSTER AND LAPTOPS KILLLING THE GAME
courtesy of ali on the air
Hey Mr. DJ, put a record on…no really. I mean a fucking record. you know, those vinyl thingies that old time people used to play?
While having dinner with Ian last night, the topic of dj culture came up. The electro, hose, nu-rave scene has burst like a serato pinata here in LA, and in NYC as well. Now, I’m always a champion for new music and creative outlets…but it seems to me there is a glut in the market. It’s like that Jack Black joke in the Tenacious D pilot, about aspiring musicians… (paraphrasing) “if you suck, and we ask you to stop, you must stop!” Lately I can’t walk into a bar without screaming FOR THE LOVE OF KRISHNA, PUT THE I POD DOWN!
It seems that with the nightly dance parties in heavy supply, anyone, and I do mean anyone, with a laptop and i tunes is now a DJ. So where does that leave the DJs who have been doing it for years? What does it mean to be a DJ? Is it style? Are you a DJ if you can scratch? Is it substance? Does being a DJ constitute having a good selection and crate digging your heart out? Or can you get by if you get the crowd to dance by playing Thriller and Justice off your Nano? And is it any great feat to get a bunch of kids cracked out on Sparks to sway and slam to a beat? Ugh.
Does a good music producer make for the best DJ? Or is it shiny stickers spelling out your name on the back of your laptop? I’m an on air radio DJ and I spin at some of the local clubs, in between bands. I spin mostly rock and punk, so I don’t get asked to be on the hipster club bills. Does this make me less of a DJ? OK, don’t answer that last question.
Ian mentioned that some of these club promoters/indie label owners/hipsters in American Apparel DJs, have their own booking agent. And big time bookers too. What makes someone pay thousands of dollars to have a specific DJ flown in for a party? Is it name recognition? Does a lot of website party photo ops constitute recognition? Or do you need to be seen walking the red carpet with the Good Charlotte boys? And why do some of these hipster dj duos think that they’re famous?
One unnamed duo, who have recently gotten a bit of local hype, claim that their fame is wearing on them. Heavy is the head that wears the black leather fedora. Woe is the electro boy in a Members Only jacket. Too much fame! How do they get up everyday and lace their free Puma kicks? Now I’m sure you couldn’t pick them out of a line up. Nor are they gracing the covers of any magazines. In fact, if you took them out of the insular LA/NYC scene, no one would know who they are. But they behave that their lazy re-mixes are an art form so great that they should be given the VIP treatment wherever they go. I smile as I wonder how long these ‘famous’ guys would last in a spin off versus someone like Pete Rock.
Which begs the question: Is DJing an art form? What does it take to make something art? By playing someone else’s music, are you then too a musician? How much do you have to change a piece of music to make it your own? How many seconds of a sample can you use in order to patchwork together a song? Is cutting together a track of samples any less artful than editing sound of instruments being played in a studio?
In my moonlighting as a clothing designer for Rock-N-Role, I take vintage cast offs, de-construct them and make them into something new. I consider that designing, but I’m sure the people at Parsons would consider it cheating or whatnot. One of my favorite artists, Banksy, often takes pre-existing works and adds his own cheeky flair. Is that not real art?
If you’re a DJ with your own album out, ala Junkie XL, or Cut Chemist, does that set you apart from the popular kids who speed up a Justice track and call it a new mix? Where does the line get drawn? I believe that the great Steinski is an artist the way he blends together bits and pieces of old movie quotes, Zapruder film audio and beats…but he can’t legally sell The Lessons. So sales and charting can’t be the only measure of a man (or woman).
Someone like Shadow, who can keep a crowd going and has a flair for ’spinning plates’, certainly earns the respect and worship of many…but is his art form cheapened by an up and comer serato spinner in a hyphy crunk hoodie and neon wayfarers? Or is there room for both?
A lot of the old school dj/turntablists that I’ve interviewed are very careful not to slam serato. “It means I don’t have to carry 80 pounds worth of records on the airplane with me.” said one. But they do say that you can’t polish a turd; meaning if you kill on the decks with 45s, then you’ll be great with serato. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you will still suck. Technology can sink or swim you.
I personally give more respect to the record collectors, or ‘vinyl trekkies’ as Kid Koala calls them. Spending hours and hours at odd hours, digging through dusty crates connotes a certain commitment to the craft, as well as an obvious love for music and sense of musical history. But is any of that important when faced with 200 electro/emo hispters who ‘just wanna dance’? What do you play to those kids…what you like or what they want to hear? And whatever happened to street cred?
I’m just playing hipster’s advocate here, trying to get a discussion going…
…but it seems to me that a lot of these new DJs are in it for fashion…or perhaps because it pays better than working at Urban Outfitters and the hours and drugs are the perks they’re looking for. How many of the new DJS consider what they’re doing an actual craft or career, and how many are just in it to be pimped by Scion or Nylon. If we could send a camera crew to each of their homes, would we find them listening to music in their off hours? I mean really listening to music. Pushing their boundaries and searching for the next sample that will blow our minds.
BU BIZNESS - THE LOST TRACKS EP
I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH OLD TRACKS AND COMPILING SOME OF MY FAVORITES TO SHARE WITH YOU. IF YOU LIVE ZERO 7, AIR, THEN YOU WILL DIGG THIS. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING "WHAT HAPPENED TO BLUBIZNESS" AND ALL THAT D-TEMPO YOU'VE BEEN MAKING. WELL WERE STILL TOGETHER BUT FOCUSING ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS AT THE MOMENT. YOU WILL BE HEARING MORE FROM US IN 2009. ENJOY THE TRACKS.
BLUBIZNESS - GHOST TRACK 1
BLUBIZNESS - GHOST TRACK 2
BLUBIZNESS - GHOST TRACK 3
KFC - KF CHRONIC DISPENSARY
LA weekly
There has been an abandoned Kentucky Fried Chicken in Palms, slumping sadly these past few months on the corner of Exposition Blvd. and Hughes Ave. What, locals wondered, would replace it? A new burger joint? A Peruvian rotisserie chicken stand? It turns out that the KFC has been replaced by… a KFC. In this instance, though, the KFC stands for “Kind For Cures”, and while they do sell things that are edible, you can’t buy them, or even ask about them, without a prescription.
There have been marijuana dispensaries popping up all over Southern California of late, but this one is slightly different. Rather than tearing the whole thing down and starting from scratch, the proprietors of this alternative KFC decided to incorporate the design of the previous tenants. They have removed the official Kentucky Fried Chicken logo, but the rest of the building remains mostly intact.
So do they plan on selling hot biscuits with THC butter? Can you order your Pineapple Express by the bucket? Do they offer family meals? “No comment.” Hm. I suppose we’ll have to take that as a no.
Kind For Cures, 3516 Hughes Ave, Palms, (310) 836-5463
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
R.I.P. Aaliyah
On this day 8 years ago, baby girl Aaliyah died . . .
Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001)
On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah and eight others were killed in an airplane crash in The Bahamas after filming the music video for the single "Rock the Boat". The pilot, Luis Morales III, was unlicensed at the time of the accident and had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his system. Aaliyah's family later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Blackhawk International Airways, which was settled out of court. Since then, Aaliyah has achieved commercial success with several posthumous releases. Selling over 24 million records worldwide, she has been credited for helping redefine R&B and hip hop and has been named the "Queen of Urban Pop".
Rest In Peace !
Monday, August 24, 2009
ESPO AND THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE
Graffiti artist Steven Powers aka Espo in conjunction with the city of brotherly love Philadelphia, has launched a series of new works part of the artist series love letter street mural exhibit. “Love Letter is literally a love letter painted on the walls facing the Market elevated train. 40 local and international artists will paint the walls in august and the letter will be on view for one and all starting as early as Labor Day. The project will encompass 50 painted walls between 63rd and 45th street on Market Street, a documentary film with scripted elements, a sign school and shop that will provide training for area youth and free signage for businesses on the market street corridor, and 2 books documenting the project. One of the books will be a small paperback that will be distributed to area businesses free of charge, for them to sell to visitors. The other book will be a larger hardcover book that will document not only the artwork, but the neighborhood and the inspirations of the Love Letter Project.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
STEPPERS MIX - DJ HOSS
Steppers Cuts 5/28 Dj Hoss - Various
THIS MIX IS SERIOUS. IF YOU LIKE THE BOOM BAP 105-110 BPM SOUL THEN YOU WILL THIS MIX. LISTEN TO MORE MIXES FROM DJ HOSS. I CANT STOP LISTENING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
STEPPER'S EVENT - GROWN FOLK MUSIC - BAY AREA
August 28, 2009
Steppin in Shades of Brown Weekend
Meet and Greet
Chicago Style Steppers Only
Bayside Pavillion
2203 Marina Square., Alemeda, CA
8:30 pm - 1:30am
Ticket Details below
August 29, 2009
Steppin in Shades of Brown Weekend
Steppin in Shades of Brown Main Event
Chicago Style Steppers Only
Midtown Ballroom
420 14th St., Oakland CA
8pm - 2am
Tickets Only
August 30, 2009
Steppin in Shades of Brown Weekend
Finale Set (Brunch)
Chicago Style Steppers Only
Kimballs Carnival
561 1th St., Oakland CA
12pm - 4pm
Tickets Only
August 30, 2009
Steppin in Shades of Brown Weekend
After Party
Chicago Style Steppers Only
Arimosa
522 2nd St., Oakland CA
7pm - 2am
$5 Door
Package 1- Registration Fee $35.00
Includes Fri or Sat Event, and Panel Discussion
Package 2- Registration Fee $70.00
Includes Both Friday and Sat Events and Panel Discussion
Package 3- Registration Fee $95.00
Includes Both Fri and Sat Events, Sunday Brunch, and Panel Discussion
ALL ATTENDEES MUST REGISTER AND SUBMIT PAYMENT IN ADVANCE!!!!!
THERE WILL BE NO ONSITE-REGISTRATION AND NO TICKETS SOLD AT THE DOOR!!
Final Day to Register will be Aug 8, 2009
Email Damone @ Damone@steppersonly.com for more details
www.steppersonly.com
DONT KNOW WHAT STEPPERS IS ALL ABOUT. LISTEN TO THIS SET LIST.
Chicago Steppin CStyle!
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