My Soul For Real No Doubt: The DJ is the Cornerstone of Hip-Hop

Wondermike - Ain't That Right mix 1. Lyrics Born - The Bay remix feat. The Poets of Rhythm 2. Placebo - Balek 3. Large Professor - I Jus Wanna Chill 4. Flex Matthews - Up In My Room (Gospel mix) 5. Oh No - Get Away feat. Aloe Blacc 6. Slum Village - The Look of Love 7. The Cure - Close to Me This is a mix I did recently with a certain spot in mind here in my neighborhood. Short and sweet. Yeah. Let me know if you like... more to come... FEBRUARY 17, 2009 My Soul For Real No Doubt I http://msfrnd.blogspot.com

Z-Trip - Soundclash (white label) Lateef & Z-Trip - Time freestyle feat. Gift of Gab (Hard Left) Backyard Bangers - Yardwork (Hollyrock) Backyard Bangers - Opposite Direction (Hollyrock) 2tall - Coaster (Needlework) As many people as there are that know his name and are just generally familiar with who he is, I'm not sure if quite enough people are checking for Z-Trip as much as they should. Dude cut his teeth over the years in front of crowds (extra) large and small, home and abroad, hip-hop and otherwise. Z clearly bridges the gap...one of those select few artists who gets the nod to open up for legends such as The Rolling Stones, and I'm sure others. But when it's all said and done, hip-hop is what it's all about. Anyway...I want to put you on to a few things that I keep in my collection that I think you should know about, kind of on some stream of consciousness tip. Some of these tracks are more readily available, some stuff you'd have to track down, but all pretty dope. First things first, "Soundclash" is available as a free download over at Z's site...not a whole lot to say about it, but dude makes some great remixes/edits/mashups/whatever. Updating a classic Dawn Penn record never seemed so easy. Next up is an exclusive bit from 'Ahead of the Curve,' just a little sample (featuring Gift of Gab in this instance) of what you're getting from that collaborative mix project from Lateef and Z...definitely far from your average. I've also included a couple pieces from 'New Math,' the debut (and only?) album from some of Z's comrades, the Backyard Bangers, E. Moss & Troublemaker. And, finally, connecting the dots once again, a selection from my man 2tall. 2tall is definitely one of my favorite DJ/producers. Progressive, amazing talent, and consistent. "Coaster" is off a 3-track digital EP that was released a few years back around the time his debut 'Shifting Tides' dropped. The EP was not initially intended for commercial release, but, according to the man himself, due to some hefty stateside radio support, he decided to give the EP a proper release through Bleep. Peep game... AUGUST 24, 2008 My Soul For Real No Doubt I http://msfrnd.blogspot.com

Wondermike - Close Edge mix 1. Eric B & Rakim - Juicy (DJ Eli remix) 2. Windimoto - Don't Let Me Leave Alone (Nicolay remix) 3. Poly - My Emotion 4. Fergie - Glamorous feat. Ludacris 5. King Tutt - Justin remix 6. Usher - Love in This Club 7. Usher - Confessions Pt. II 8. Trick Daddy - I'm A Thug 9. Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River 10. Game - Dreams I put this mix together just recently as a demo of sorts, really just something to move the crowd. It includes some electro/house/hip-hop stuff and some straight club and hip-hop stuff as well, ranging from independent/progressive to big mainstream radio hits. Folks who know me may be surprised with some of these selections, but it's all about the context and the vibe... I understand that not everyone can tell a good DJ from a mediocre/wack DJ, and some folks dig deeper than others in their music listening habits, so I'm trying to bridge the gap a bit with some more recognizable tracks and some less known tracks. Over the years I've become familiar with and had the pleasure to listen to and learn from a lot of dope DJs, where skill and crate knowledge were the primary job requirements. I'm not sure if those attributes are as much the case with your average "DJ" in 2008, but that's where I come from, and that's what I'm trying to do. Without further delay, here it is...so see what you think. Hope you enjoy it. JULY 1, 2008 My Soul For Real No Doubt I http://msfrnd.blogspot.com

Sa-Ra - Rosebuds (Babygrande) Sa-Ra - And If feat. Ty (Babygrande) Sa-Ra - So Special feat. Rozzi Daime (Babygrande) Sa-Ra - Fly Away feat. Erykah Badu & Georgia Anne (Babygrande) Goapele - Fly Away (Sony/Skyblaze) Outkast - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (ON remix) (Laface) I first heard of Sa-Ra Creative Partners back when Pharoah’s “Agent Orange” single came out, probably the same time everyone else would’ve first caught wind of these cats. Their name itself sounds like they’re a hair salon or something, so needless to say I had no clue who they were, but then again, they were brand new on the scene. Considering how few releases they’ve put out over the years, it always surprised me how much hype they’d gotten. Still, apparently their talents were evident enough to be signed to deals with both Sound In Color and Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label, though unfortunately all that would result from these two situations was a single 6-track EP (a fairly lackluster one at that if you ask me.) For whatever reason though, I still check for these cats, and so when I came across their first full-length recently, I picked it up to see what the real deal is. Released in 2007 via independent label Babygrande, “The Hollywood Recordings” is (if nothing else) a good look at what they’re capable of. With nearly 20 tracks on the album, there is definitely a bunch of filler and just straight-up mediocre material, too much to really speak on this project as a cohesive album or even to rate it particularly high as a collective. However, there are definitely moments that stand out and suggest that some of the hype has been warranted in years past. I want to compare them (on some level) to Organized Noize…funk, soul, intergalactic isht. Or as they describe themselves: Afro Magnetic Electronic Spiritualism. I wouldn’t go as far as to say these two groups are on the same level, but Sa-Ra is heading in the right direction, and I’m hopeful that they keep doing what they do because the future looks (potentially) bright. It sounds like they may have a major label debut ready or in the works, but who knows if/when that will arrive. JUNE 14, 2008 My Soul For Real No Doubt I http://msfrnd.blogspot.com

Dilla – Stop! (Stones Throw) Dionne Warwick – You’re Gonna Need Me (Warner/Spy) Usher – Throwback (LaFace/Jive) J Laine + The Players feat. Alison Carney (Subsoniq/XM) or really just straight jacking for beats. But I’ve got no problem with it (why would I?), especially when the source material is this nice. I’ve come across this tune a bunch of times recently so I figured I’d put the pieces together and put it out there a bit. The names Holland and Dozier are attached to the original tune from Dionne Warwick’s 1973 album Just Being Myself. If you’re a Motown head, that probably means something to you. Not much to say about this music, except that I’m glad to have it in my collection. To know that these cats created this 35 years ago is crazy to me. Those dudes were on something else. Jay Dee, Just Blaze and Holland and Dozier all on a same plane seems to make sense too. Also included below is part of a live performance from J Laine and the Players, with MC Grap Luva from Subsoniq’s broadcast of Dilla Day on XM Radio a while back…dope to check in a live environment. And props to Norman Rexwell for putting me on to the original track. MAY 23, 2008 My Soul For Real No Doubt I http://msfrnd.blogspot.com

DJ Premier - Intro / Guru freestyle Ras Kass - Golden Chyld (Premier, Capitol) Connekt 4 - Just One of Those Days (unknown, On Point) When I was in school, I spent some time working for The FADER magazine/Cornerstone promotion out of NY. This is when I first discovered the Cornerstone mixtape. Back then (a bit moreso than today,) these joints were pretty consistent and on point. Cats like Babu, Jazzy Jeff, Vice, Hi-Tek, Tony Touch, and many other top-notch producers and DJs were at the helm from month to month doing what they do. I could probably post some other dope moments from past Cornerstone tapes, but I'll focus on the man who I think has best represented on these mixtapes over the years: DJ Premier. Premo always seems to have more input as far as the tracklist goes when he is hosting the tape (which certainly helps set him apart,) but he also brings more quality music and exclusive music to the table. And not your typical 'exclusive' as other fools point out on their mixtapes...we're talking dope tracks that you can't get elsewhere, but wish you could. The audio here is (mostly) from Mixtape #47, where Premo and Green Lantern hosted (right around the time D&D closed if I'm not mistaken.) The first part of the audio is how the mixtape opens...Guru setting the stage. Next up is Ras Kass. If you recall, when Ras was still held captive by Capitol, the single 'Golden Chyld' sort of made the rounds...classic record. Ras Kass in top form, and Premier likewise. Finally, I'd never heard of Connekt 4, but it's a nice little track and just a simple example of how Premier does his own thing and breaks new music (maybe not to the masses necessarily, but he breaks records no less.) APRIL 22, 2008 My Soul For Real No Doubt I http://msfrnd.blogspot.com

DJ Spinna - Music In Me feat. Shaun Escoffery (w/ intro) Das Efx - Microphone Master (Domecrackers remix) Growing up, electronic music to me was more corny than anything, probably because I only heard lame club music and trance-type stuff on the radio. Working and interning at certain spots, and just living and DJing a bit in DC and NY over the years though has exposed me to the world of electronic music. I definitely now have a much greater respect and appreciation for the different genres of electronic music, especially house. One record I came across early in my days of discovering house music, etc. was from Spinna. I realize for many that it seems all too obvious how dope Spinna is with his house production, but regardless, I'm glad I have this record in my collection, and I think it's a great entry-level (if there is such a thing) house record for beginners like I was (and am.) For those of you who don't mess with house, check this joint before you dismiss the genre like I used to. For those of you who are house lovers, you already know the deal. This version (below) is off 'Here to There' from BBE's Beat Generation series. You can also cop this on 12", which gives you a slightly reworked/extended version (by Paul Simpson.) Dope in either format if you ask me. The 2nd part of the audio is a remix Spinna and Joc Max (aka The Domecrackers) did for Das Efx. APRIL 8, 2008 My Soul For Real No Doubt I http://msfrnd.blogspot.com

Blaq Poet - Watch Your Back (DJ Premier, Year Round) Cashulty - No Win Situation (Sebb, Fat Beats) Smiley the Ghetto Child - The Wake Up Call (DJ Premier, Fat Beats) Blaq Poet - Message from Poet (DJ Premier, Year Round) Been digitizing a bunch of my records lately...here's a little mix of tracks from the extended Gang Starr foundation, Year Round Records, etc., listed above in order of appearance. I know not many people are buying records these days, certainly not as much as in years past, but tracks like these (which seem to be available primarily on vinyl) make trips to the record store worth it...as infrequent as those trips may be. (That being said, record stores are few and far between now too.) Not sure if any of these ever saw CD release or not. Images may not be great, but I don't have the means to do my own photo scans, so deal accordingly. March 24, 2008 My Soul For Real No Doubt I http://msfrnd.blogspot.com

DJ Troubl - You Know (instrumental) I don't know a whole lot about DJ Troubl (www.myspace.com/djtroubl,) except that he's French, he won the Allies Beatdown at one point (and some world titles to boot,)and he's an ill DJ/producer. This was one of a couple joints up on his MySpace some time ago, and if it's at all telling of what else he can do, I can't wait to hear more. March 8, 2008 My Soul For Real No Doubt I http://msfrnd.blogspot.com