aka avant garde water cooler musical discussion
1. Duck Sauce debuts at Winter Music Conference
A-Trak and Armand van Helden co-conspired with the help of the Fools Gold imprint to flip the electronic underground on their ears last ear with magnificent disco reminiscing edit “aNYway,” which proved that there was cache and necessity for reminiscing about what nights at Brooklyn’s 2001 Odyssey must have felt like in 1979. Well, the top duo debuted Thursday night at the Winter Music Conference to rave reviews, dropping a cross genre blend of sonic debauchery that left all in attendance jumping, screaming, waving their hands high and getting into the electro boogie. Special thanks to Baltimore’s TaxLo and NO RULE and a plethora of other events organizer Cullen Stalin for the footage from last night. (footage after cut)
2. Freddie Gibbs. Continue to get familiar!
Gary, Indiana native Freddie Gibbs was sent to save rap music. You may not feel it needs saving, but this author swears that if he hears another kid in skinny jeans and a cardigan sweater go in over a hipster electro break, I may wretch. I miss angry yet vital rhymes by urban rhymeslayers who felt the need to inform us that life was hard. The influx of middle class emcees is wonderful. On some level, that bespeaks a certain notion of upward mobility for African-Americans. But for hip hop, something is gone from the beating heart of the genre for me when I can’t hear killer rhymes about, well, killing, or dealing drugs, and the hardships that lead to this behavior. There’s a necessary yin to yang ratio that is woefully off in rap music, so, take a seat, and enjoy Freddie Gibbs over the instrumental to “Drugs” by Lil Kim. It’s absolutely worth your time.
3. The So So Glos are at DC’s Black Cat Backstage on Sunday night!
I’m very heavily of the belief that Brooklyn’s So So Glos are one of the best bands in the universe. Blending classic punk with hints of electro and a VERY hook friendly style, they are easily the tightest sounding band in Brooklyn, and, given the musician per square foot nature of the area, that really says something. They started their own venue/living space/practice venue the Market Hotel, and are all about being nurturing and supporting of their scene and their music. DIY NYC punks that are eminently listenable and have a political message? Is it 1978, or 2010. Come to the Black Cat on Sunday night and decide for yourself.
4. Remember the Bobb Deep mash up collection by DJ Swindle? Hell….remember mash ups?
OK. About five years ago before every hipster that became a DJ had to spin a million parties to be worthwhile, the whole idea was to be a DJ and make “dope” mashups. For every 100 mashups I go through on my iPOD these days, (and trust, I have them ALL), maybe one stands out as a worthy combination after a few years of not listening at all. Of course, nobody in my mind still holds up quality and quantity wise to San Francisco’s Party Ben, but NYC’s DJ Swindle? He did a few of these collections, and of all of the many tracks, this take on Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones Part 2” blended with “I Shot the Sherriff,” from a thematic to meter of lyric holding to measure of track level, might be the best, and one of arguably the best mash ups ever. Do enjoy!
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