Based in the nation's capital since 2000, DJ D-Mac has been burning up dancefloors everywhere he goes. Spiritually akin to the anything-goes-as-long-as-it-is-funky approach of turntable heroes The Avalanches, balaeric-era Chemical Brothers, Dynamo Productions, Coldcut, DJ Food, & Cut Chemist among others, D-Mac brings an eclectic, party-rocking, crate-obsessed mix of tunes to his DJ sets.
Everybody has his or her own idea of what Hip Hop is. Most of what people debate with regards to, “what is and is not Hip Hop,” should be more accurately phrased as, “when was Hip Hop.” Depending on how old you are and when in the course of your journey Hip Hop made it’s way into your music library often dictates what Hip Hop you consider true school. For me it’s the early 90s.
As I’ve gotten older and watched Hip Hop change I often find myself thinking, “the kids these days,” or, “you call this Hip Hop?” But the truth is that Hip Hop, just as in all genres, is for the people and the masses decide what is worthwhile. Sadly commercial radio and media seems to be geared toward selling music as opposed to creating an avenue to explore it. Nothing is easier to sell than sex, drugs and the rock stars that seem to have both in abundance.
Unfortunately it often seems to this DJ that tracks with a positive or intelligent message lose their impact at the gut level. But when the merger of conscious lyrics and great production does happen what you have raises the hair on your arms and makes you want to start a movement to better man kind… at least for a minute. For me Talib Kweli’s “Get By” is one of those tracks.
Talib Kweli Greene (aka Talib Kweli) hails from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means ”student” or “seeker” (طالب); his middle name in Swahili means “true”. Combine a name like that with a mom who is an English professor and you have a recipe for an incredible MC.
“Get By” is an awesome example of rhythm and word play. The message urges people to look at their life style but offers compassion for those caught up in drugs and crime. For me the chorus says it all. To wake up in the morning, every morning, and live through life’s highs and lows with simple goal to lead a better life, “just to get by.”
This morning, I woke up Feeling brand new and I jumped up Feeling my highs, and my lows In my soul, and my goals Just to stop smokin, and stop drinkin And I’ve been thinkin – I’ve got my reasons Just to get (by), just to get (by) Just to get (by), just to get (by)
As a side note this track was produced by Kanye West before he got big… and ridiculous.
Here’s a bit of shameless self promotion. I’ve been sitting on this little edit I did of Kabbala’s Afro disco classic “Ashewo Ara” for a minute. Figured it was time to share. Can’t wait to test this one at Sol Power this weekend, along with a few other fresh Sol Power edits we’ve been cooking up.
Bahamadia’s album Kollage was a favorite of mine back in college. During a recent trip to Som Records I came across a copy of the LP and was reminded of what a killer boom bap record this is.
impossibly smooth and deep delivery
Bahamadia’s delivery is unique; impossibly smooth and deep, it occupies a space in the register that blends into the track rather then riding above it. Combined with production from Premier, Guru, and the Roots when they were all near the height of their creativity, this album has few tracks that I skip. Still a few tracks really stand out, and one of my favorites is “Uknowhowwedu.”
Check it on the youtube below…
Katie & Josh’s simply wonderful June wedding at The Goodstone Inn continues to delight. This afternoon I happened across the blog post written just two weeks ago by their photographer Bryan Johnson. I was reminded of what a sweet and genuine couple Katie and Josh are, and how lucky I was to work with such great people on their big day!
And I was reminded of how completely on top of their game Maria and Kelly at Ritzy Bee Events were with this one! The details were all so impeccably and flawlessly executed. No wonder it made it into their Southern Living Wedding Planner Keepsake book.
Analog Players Society “I Can’t Wait” dropped back in mid-December and someone asks me about the tune every single time I play it.
Analog Players Society is a troupe of Brooklyn musicians who put Nu Shooz‘ classic ’80s party cut in a sexy reggae framework and it cooks. Cecilia Stalin was a great choice to handle the vocal.
Hurry up and grab your own copy of the 7-inch before they’re gone. You’ll get the download immediately to hold you until the vinyl ships.
Get ready for another incredible night of the sounds of the African diaspora: samba, salsa, afrobeat, cumbia, merengue, afro-latin deep house and more. With live percussionist Boogie on hand to push the music to new rhythmic heights.
For proof of the power, plenty of live mixes are available at solpowerdc.tumblr.com.
Saturday, February 4th 9:30 pm ’til late Eighteenth Street Lounge 1212 18th ST NW Washington DC, 20036
For this post I wanted to post up about Cuetec, a 25 year old producer from Berlin who makes sublime deep slo-mo house and downtempo. I became aware of him via his re-work of A Tribe Called Quest a couple of months back and I’m always keen to check out his new productions and edits. I love the emotive keys and smoothed out edits he adds to all his productions.
I posted up his re-rub of the Delegations track “It’s Your Turn”. The Delegations were an R&B group from the 70′s that hailed from the UK. They only had one hit here in the states called “Where Is The Love (We Used to Know)”. An interesting side note is that a lot of their music was sampled by hip hop and house artists, namely “Oh Honey” which was sampled on Three Times Dope‘s “Funky Dividends,” from 1989′s Original Stylin’.
Brand new to the ghetto funk scene, Father Funk just dropped this bass-heavy, wobbly remix of the Beastie Boys’ “Ch-Check It Out,” the first single from 2004′s To the Five Boroughs. More specifically, he strips the Beasties acapella down to the stuttered chorus and lays it over a bed of sampled funk guitar, wobbly digital bass and thick beats.
Father Funk delivers the goods from the North West of England. With three remixes uploaded in as many weeks, Father Funk is on a roll.
Today’s song of the day is about that magical time in most everyone’s lives, happy hour. From the prolific, eccentric, and lyrically brilliant (and therefore shamefully under-appreciated) Jazz Butcher’s wonderful and absolutely essential 1984 album A Scandal in Bohemia, “Soul Happy Hour” is—according to founder Pat Fish’s own liner notes—”An important personal statement.”
Over a gently bouncing acoustic folk-pop backing (love those brushed jazz drums!), Pat Fish croons his clever ode to the special joys of alcohol: Whiskey, Vodka, Special Brew
All of this is good for you
Gin sling, Cointreau, brandy sour…
Blot right out! Soul happy hour!
I was first interested in The Jazz Butcher because David J. (of Bauhaus, Tones On Tail, and Love and Rockets) played bass, but I soon found that as a group The Jazz Butcher held their own particular charms. Every album—especially their mid-to-late 80s output—is filled with wonderful songwriting, inventive arrangements, and performances that range from folk to funk to punk to cabaret.
While the original album on tiny UK indie label Glass Records is rare, A Scandal in Bohemia was remastered and reissued on CD in 2001, making it much easier to own in full digital glory.
Unfortunately it often seems to this DJ that tracks with a positive or intelligent message lose their impact at the gut level. But when the merger of conscious lyrics and great production does happen what you have raises the hair on your arms and makes you want to start a movement to better man kind… at least for a minute. For me Talib Kweli’s “Get By” is one of those tracks.
