THIS SUNDAY!!!! 511 W. Englewood in Chicago!!! INAUGURATION BASHMENT!!! C'mon by, bring a friend!!! ALL DAY EVENT!!! DJs: Killa Shawn Slymm (Peanut Gallery) Thesselonious(Planetary Alignment/Big Yaahd Sound) Rusty Redenbacher (MudKids/Tornado Alley) & a few special surprise guests!!!!
"We artists are indestructable, even in a prison cell or a concentration camp I would be almighty in my own world of art. Even if I had to paint my pictures with my wet tongue on the dusty floor of my cell..."- Pablo Picasso
So, it's been pretty quiet around di Yaahd as of late, eh...? Well, big tings a gwan, people. Getting the music done, making the myths. One of my favorite forgotten elements of hip hop is DJing/beatsmithing. Whether making a track, or just spicing it up, the DJ/producer is an unsung hero of a lot of our favorite tunes. Sampling, as well, can be seen as an artform in and of itself. Not everyone can do it effectively, and some continue anyway. Speaking of, wanna hear the possibly most sampled 6 second drum break in the world?
(Just watch the first 2 minutes, see if you guessed right) Now, I was gonna give y'all the movie 'Scratch' to watch, documentation of the art of turntablism. However, I thought this might've illustrated "Beat Digging" a li'l better...
Sometimes, I don't even do the beat for my stuff. I think it gives me better vision of where the song should go. Proving my point, here's a li'l single I put together. Nothing major, just a few songs of "Mixed Media On Silicone", my upcoming free release...
"Herbs pirate, dem take wey all dat I cultivate..." Keith Porter, 1978
SO, there's a NEXT part of that WONDERFUL Keith Porter interview on The Itals YouTube channel. If you don't remember the first 2 parts, check HERE. The history of this vocal harmony group dates back to the days before reggae music, when the founding members joined rocksteady groups like the Tenors. The Itals have been steadily releasing massive roots and culture chunes ever since. They've never really gotten their due, overshadowed by roots acts like Culture, The Mighty Diamonds, and The Wailing Souls. Brutal Out Deh -- released on Nighthawk Records in 1981, their first and often considered their best album -- is well-respected, but not particularly unique or exhilarating and will likely sound dull and pedestrian to newcomers to reggae. This is not the album to give to someone who thinks that all reggae is boring and sounds alike. Still, the more hardcore roots fans should find enough to satisfy, as heartfelt gems like "Herbs Pirate", "Smile Knotty Dread", and "Truth Must Reveal" give an impression of why The Itals have lasted as long as they have...
Check a full biography on the group HERE at Nighthawk Records...
Hear di man a chat bout how di lyrics fi "Herbs Pirate" a come about...
SO, who remembers RUBBEROOM? The Chicago rap unit Rubberoom formed in 1992, comprising MCs Meta Mo, S.P.O., and Lumba in tandem with producers Fanum, Isle of Weight, and Fill Spector. After building a fervent local following on the Windy City club circuit, they issued their debut EP, Gothic Architecture, in 1994; the 12" "Street Theme" followed in 1997, and two years later Rubberoom released the full-length Architechnology. Now, I'm not messing with the full length, you can cop that on Amazon (please do.) The EP however, was only on cassette. I met S.P.O. first, then bought it from Another Level @ Lit EX (MASSIVE UPS!!) This was raw, dusty groove shit here. Independent hip hop, Chicago style. Those who were there, those who weren't, listen and enjoy...
So, if you DON't know who DJ Premier is, click HERE No, seriously, click it again. Now for the rest of us who haven't been in a cave since 85 or so, Preemo is one of the most sought after beatsmiths in the world, (or, he was). Hell, the man was so dope, he made us buy "Group Home" albums! (Those cats were NOT raw lyricists, for the record) He gave Gangstarr their signature sound, as well as working throughout the 90s as producer for KRS One, M.O.P., Das Efx, and too many others to name. Known for fiercely protecting his sample sources, Preemo is a heavy hitting pick for those tracking down originals on vinyl. Here, for you, I've got a 3 part mix of just that: DJ Premier originals. Gifted to me by DJ Shazam, here's 47 minutes (almost!) of some of the skeletal framework to a few favorites....
So, man been pon likkle vacation. While I was moving, chat wit di man Midas Wells, who tell me to bring you this. Well, actually, he just said the name "Jahdan Blakkamoore" to me and sent me to my own research.
Worked out better that way, cause now I'm excited enough to want the world to hear it. His mixtape, "Bazooka Shot" is just that. A pure fiyah lick!!! The album, Buzzrock Warrior is pretty wicked, too. He's been around, though. Putting in work since the early 90's, Jahdan was first heard with Boot Camp Clik. To quote Gold Dust Media: "Jahdan Blakkamoore has been a member of the Boot Camp Clik since early on in his career, making heavy noise with his verse on Smif N Wessun's classic "Sound Bwoy Bureill." So it's only right that he hooked up w/ Steele of Smiff N Wessun for a verse on the remix to "The General," the first single from his Buzzrock Warrior album. For more info, check out his crew at duttyartz.com" Now I know most of y'all ain't clicking on all these links, so lemme get to the goodies. But first: Buzzrock Warrior was released on September 15th. You just might wanna pick that up. Real talk. Roots fans, dancehall fans, hip hop fans, likkle someting fi ALL...
Jahdan, Steele, Tek, and the band getting it IN!!!!
So, I was reading this article the other day that said you can hack your brain into only sleeping 2 hours a day. Yeah, that's what I said too. Bullshit. And WHY would anybody wanna do that, anyway? Well, I've noticed a few of my compatriots burn the same midnight lamp I do. So, can we adjust our bodies to a schedule of only REM sleep? Should we? I'll include a link to the article too, because I thought LONG and hard on that one. You can't say it doesn't sound good. Or can you? Comments are open and welcome...
Drapetomaina is what I'm calling these songs that just HAD to get out. Not quite enough for an official EP, but didn't fit the album, either. This is me, produced by Midas Wells... Enjoy...
1:Shark Wilson & The Basement Heaters – Make It Reggae 2:Yabby You- African Version 3:Yabby You- African Queen 4:Bob Marley & The Wailers - Love Wont Be Mine 5:Yellowman- Lost Mi Love 6:Michael Prophet- Never Fall In Love 7:The Main Attractions - Once Upon A Time 8:Buju Banton- Hold Me Tight 9:Anju Kumbz & Flourgon- Big Sound 10:Rub A Dub Riddim 11:Ritchie Spice- Di Plane Land 12:Fantan Mojah- Most High Jah 13:Ginjah- Never Lost My Way 14: Ganja Farmer Riddim !5:Mad Scorpion- Love Meh Empress 16:Marlon Asha- Girl I Love You 17:Khari Obafemi- Marijuana 18:Marlon Asha- Ganja Planter 19:Josey Wales- It Haffi Bun 20:Tippa Irie- Mi Chronic 21:Junior Kelly- Blaze 22:Ritchie Spice- Folly Living 23:Chuck Fender- Cry For My People 24:Serengeti Riddim 25:Junior Cat- Naa Lef Mi Dawg 26:Perfect- Can I Get A Kiss 27:Sadiki- Feel Like A Fool 28:Leroy Smart- Miserable Woman 29:Freddie McGregor- How Could You Leave 30:Cornell Campbell- My Convesation 31:Beenie Man- Gal A Run Mi Down 32:Perfect- Love Has Found It's Way 33:Wayne Wonder- The Way I Am 34:Delroy Wilson- Consider Yourself 35:The Ethiopians- Woman Capture Man 36:Burning Spear- Door Peep 37:The Gladiators- Bongo Red 38:The Viceroys- We Must Unite 39:The Gladiators- Trials And Crosses 40:Joe White- Rudies Everywhere 41:*lost this one to the crates. don't remember WHAT it is* 42:Len Allen Jr. White Belly Rat 43:Alton Ellis- African Descendants 44:Jackie Mittoo- Hang 'Em High
Alright, haffi get a ting off mi chest. First of many, so get used to it. Man STILL a build pon di podcast ting, by di way. Getting the .jpeg together, printing di tracklisting. Haffi nice it up fi unu, sight...?
One of my favorite songs to come outta di Yaahd that I wasn't a part of. Produced by Cool D., vocals by Dirty Heat featuring Chris King, from the yet to be released album, "Stuff According...
"Chill God.' Yo the Sun don't chill, Allah..."- Raekwon- Knowledge God Some of us, like myself, hardly ever sleep. Up late, up early, especially in the beginnings. I adopted the terminology from a Shock G. interview. Sleep is for those who have nothing better to do...
Basically... Been the theme song of the strong for YEARS! Accept the invitation to the other side of the light. This blog is a chronicle of what's been done, what we dig, who we are. Stay tuned, and remember, you were first @ the table...
This is the beginning of something in the works for YEARS. Midas Wells, Rob Walker and myself were DESTINED to do this, seen? Reggae mixes, AfroBeat, Hip Hop, it's ALL coming soon. Remember: You were here first to witness...