A few months ago I heard author/professor Mark Katz interviewed on Billy Jam's "Put the Needle On The Record" Radio show. I'd heard about Groove Music and had been meaning to read it, but it wasn't until after hearing Mark speak with Billy Jam (Hip Hop Slam) that I immediately ordered the book and proceeded to devour every page. I like to read and am a Hip Hop DJ myself, so there was no excuse not to read this. I'd read other books that touch on turntablism (notables I recommend: Last Night a DJ Saved My Life, Can't Stop Won't Stop, & Making Beats: The Art of Sample-Based Hip Hop), but this is the first book I'd ever seen to focus exclusively on the topic of Hip Hop DJing.
Mark does an excellent job breaking down the history and culture of Hip Hop DJs, often going straight to the source and letting the pioneers themselves share their stories. He builds on what those other books I mentioned started, but takes it to levels never before seen in print (for example, going deep into the famous "ISP vs. X-Men" battle from 1996). Mark writes with a scholarly flare that reflects his academic background, which makes the book even more engaging because he's able to draw some really interesting connections and conclusions. He also writes with a passion that's contagious and treats the subject matter with the utmost respect. Needless to say, it's become my new favorite book and I can't thank him enough for writing it.
Mark was kind enough to answer some questions after I reached out to him. Check it out HERE.
The ‘Twelve 12s’ series is back with our 48th installment once again and another one from myself – Superix with an ALL Vinyl ALL live Beatnuts production special!
‘The Beatnuts are unquestionably one of the greatest production outfits in hip hop that we’ve ever known and also one of my own personal favorite groups. Over the years, they have not only worked as producers & remix specialists for some of hip hops elite artists – they also established themselves as great artists in their own right making some truly bonafide classic albums & EPs, plus a ton of great instrumental projects on the side. I’ve put together some of my personal favorites here from mostly their earlier years, that both includes their solo records and a few lesser known killer remixes. Hope you enjoy the mix!’
"It’s not often that Day blesses us with a new mix, but on the cusp of Land Of 1000 Chances, he took a second to put the instruments down and compile a set that gives us a rare glimpse into the musical inspiration behind the critically acclaimed new LP. Featuring songs both new and old, originals and remixes, WOOL2 picks up where the first left off; a perfectly balanced mix of wonderful music to herald in the coming spring."
Free DL right here > pl70.net/downloads/wayoutofliving2
1. Intro
2. Back To The Streets
3. Steely Rushen (Day Live Blend)
3. KONE – Funk 3481
4. Zavala – The City Is Mine
5. The Roots – Hot Shit (I’m Back!)
6. Colman Brothers – On A Better Day I’m Dreamin’ (Tall Black Guy Remix)
7. Odyssey – Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love
8. America – Are You There
9. Marvin Gaye – Time To Get It Together (DJ Smash Alternate Mix)
10. Robert Jay – Alcohol
11. CFCF – You Hear Colours
12. Rhye – The Fall
13. Day – Land of 1000 Chances (WOOL Mix)
14. Dungen – Det Tar Tid
15. Antonio Adolfo & Brazil Brazuka – Luizao
16. Silvio Cesar – A Festa
17. Redbone interlude
18. Melody’s Echo Chamber – You Won’t Be Missing That Part Of Me
19. B-Sides – New Cut Up
20. Maker – Things Cannot Stop Forever Remix
21. Inch By Inch
22. Christian Prommer’s Drumlesson – Strings Of Life
23. Day – Green Fin
A selection of vintage erotic & porn movie soundtracks (Black Lolita, Laure, Summer school, Aunt Peg, Madame Claude, Skin Flicks, Odyssey, Emanuelle and the Girls of Madame Claude, Vampyros Lesbos, SessoMatto, Sexshop, Sex O'clock USA, Glenda, Emanuelle and the last cannibals...)
If Lord Finesse was a baseball player he'd be in the Robert Hall of Fame for his Triple Crown record in hip-hop. Whether he's on the microphone, drum machine, or turntables, you know he'll be chasing that MVP crown. Last month The Underboss and Slice Of Spice hit Japan for the 'Soundwave Tour' where Finesse tore it up on the 1s and 2s. We recorded a live 2 hour set on 2.14.13 in Tokyo and as promised we're sharing it with all his fans in two FREE DOWNLOAD installments. ENJOY!
In this episode, Adrian Younge shows off the record store he created at the Artform Studio, explains the influence European composers have on Wu-Tang and hip hop, and teaches how to pick records based on their cover art.
To me, the key moment comes when Gopnik sits with a couple of university professors who are studying the psychology of sound. They discuss an experiment in which a pianist played a Chopin song, and then the recording was manipulated to “much more variation within the tempo, or much less; with more variations within the volume of notes, or much less.” The manipulated recordings were played for people who then relayed their feelings about what they heard.
In other words, they were making the music sloppier or cleaner, testing to see at what point sloppiness turns music into just a mish-mash of sound, and, conversely, just how listeners respond to music that is so regimented as to be absolutely flawless.
They found that listeners like the middle ground. A little variation is the human touch; too much makes a mess of things.
Or, to steal a terrific quote from Chuck D: “The funk lies in the imperfections.”
We welcome back J Rocc for our 25th Anniversary slot in hour 2, having featured on Solid Steel back in 2005 and also played at the Solid Steel night at Cargo for the 'Keep in Time' release. He's a man that's also known for his Broadest Beats and for this mix he opens with Krautrock legends Faust and moves through similar 70's jazz/prog/rock territory with The Abstract Truth from South Africa, Lokomotive Kreuzberg from Germany and Psychedelic Rock from South Korea with He 6! Then it's a sharp turn into an 80's New Wave and a leftfield disco selection featuring music from Doris Norton (an 80's Italian Delia Derbyshire), Das Ding, Dominatrix, Klein & MBO and Visage, all mixed to perfection as you'd expect from the founder member of the Beat Junkies.
PART 3 + 4 - J Rocc twitter.com/jrocc
Faust _ The Lurcher _ EMI
Scorpions _ Action _ Brain
The Abstract Truth _ In A Space _ EMI
Lokomotive Kreuzberg _ Lohnpredigt _ pläne
Labyrinth _ Labyrinth _ unknown
He6 _ Theme _ unknown
Doris Norton _ Caution Radiation Norton _ Durium
Das Ding _ Makimono _ Tear Apart Tapes
Yazoo _ Nobodys Diary _ Mute
Dominatrix _ The City That Never Sleeps _ Rec
Crash Course In Science _ Flying Turns _ From Jupiter
Klein & M.B.O. _ The MBO Theme _ Atlantic
Visage _ Pleasure Boys _ Polydor
Autumn _ I Say You Hello _ Minimal Wave
Berlin _ Sex (I'm A…) _ Geffen
James White And The Blacks _ Contort Yourself _ Ze Records
Delta 5 _ Mind Your Own Business _ Rough Trade
‘Big Phat 90′s’ is a nostalgic chronological musical ride through some of the decades dopest moments, reworking the classics with his unique blend of custom graphics, video sound bites and renowned turntable technique to rock the ‘slamminest’ 90′s house party since Kid n Play raised the roof.
In true 90′s style, here is a cassette friendly 45 minute ‘mixtape’ version of the set, enjoy!
Chopped Herring Records was founded back in 2001. The same year DJ Woody became the first European DJ to win the International Turntablist Federation World Championships. At that time Herring HQ was located in Manchester, a 40 minute drive through Lancashire to Woody's hometown of Burnley. Chopped Herring Records' owner Pro Celebrity Golf and Woody had crossed paths on numerous times spinnin' in Manchester and the North West of England during the 90's, so it only seems natural (like the migration of Herring in the Baltic Sea) that C.H Recs and DJ Woody should 'hook up' for a mix at some point. 'Fly Fishing', a selection of released and unreleased tracks on Chopped Herring Records, mixed by DJ Woody is something we've been thinking about for some time. Since the Herring catalogue has grown dramatically in the last couple of years it seemed an appropriate time to get in touch with one of the greatest DJ's to ever do it to de-bone some Herring fillets in his inimitable, flavasome way. Chopped Herring Records and DJ Woody proudly present 'Fly Fishing'..
RACK LIST:
Intro
Phase n Rhythm - Brainfood (1987)
Da Henchmen - Blame It (1993)
Da Dysfunkshunal Familee - Far from the Average (1994)
J.V.C.F.O.R.C.E - 3 the Hard Way (1992)
Phase n Rhythm - The Force of the Matrix (1987)
Action Bronson - The Madness (Instrumental) (2011)
Da Henchmen - Brooklyn Bastards (1993)
Finsta Bundy - State of Emergency (1998)
Da Henchmen - Bronx Session [Unreleased] (1995)
Horror City - Take it How You Want it (1995)
Meyhem Lauren - Got the Fever (2010)
Finsta Bundy - Bushwick to Shin-Juku (1999)
Da Henchmen - Hot 97 Radio Spot [Unreleased] (1995)
Action Bronson - Shiraz (2010)
Meyhem Lauren - Drug Lords (2012)
Natural Elements - Life Ain't Fair (Original) (1995)
Da Henchmen - Live Wire (1993)
Action Bronson - Imported Goods (2010)
Burgundy Blood - Hello (2012)
Jay Glaze ft Rod Hotley - Out to Lunch (Instrumental) (2002)
Meyhem Lauren - Get the Money Black (2013)
Action Bronson - Get Off My P.P. (2010)
Tha Grimm Teachaz - Poobutts (????)
Da Dysfunkshunal Familee - I'm in the House (1995)
Da Henchmen - What U Gonna Do? (1994)
Q-Ball & Curt Cazal - Down For Mine (1994)
Finsta Bundy - What You Gonna Do? (1999)
D-Stroy & DJ Tony Touch - Frienemies (Original) [Unreleased] (1994)
North Bronx Alliance feat Aiello Wilson - Black Soil (1997)
Meyhem Lauren feat Roc Marciano - Cross Roads (2010)
Meyhem Lauren - Another Hustle (2010)
Meyhem Lauren - Live Shit (2009)
Action Bronson - Medley
Outro
One of my early mixtapes. This was done in 1996 for Fat Beats to sell in the store. I did it 100% live, which meant that any time I messed up making it I had to go back and start over. I only had one Technics 1200 at the time, and one crappy belt drive. To my ears now it's full of rough transitions, weird tempo changes, and off beat cuts... But it worked at the time, and was my entré to radio in NYC when G-Man and J-Smooth of the Underground Railroad radio show heard it and invited me up to spin. All original vinyl on a breaks and beats concept. Hope you enjoy this artifact!
