This is a blog used to help promote DJ Kool Emdee and dedicated to GOOD music and those
who love good music, be it old or new school. Any music or links posted are for SAMPLE PURPOSES ONLY. We wish that you would support all artists by purchasing their bodies of work.
Many of you may know that the magnificent DJ Jazzy Jeff is one of my all time favorite DJs. Hailing from Philly and the champion of the 1986 New Music Seminar DJ Battle. This is also where the Hip-Hop nation got it's first taste of a new style of scratching called "transforming" from this veteran turntablist. The term stems from the sounds the robots made when they transformed from the form of vehicles on the popular cartoon series the Transformers that was popular in the 80's.
1986 also brought about Jeff's first studio album recorded with the Fresh Prince (Will Smith) titled Rock The House. This album contained one of the few songs that solely featured a DJ showcasing turntablism. "A Touch of Jazz" is considered by Hip-Hop enthusiasts as a classic and is also the name of Jeff's production company that's responsible for the music behind a few notable R&B and Hip-Hop acts.
The foundation of many Hip-Hop tracks contain elements of music done by other artists that a DJ or producer uses in the art known as "sampling", who some are now considering to be the "5th element" in Hip-Hop. This will be the first of many installations of break downs of Hip-Hop records that have multiple samples.
A Touch of Jazz displays why Jeffery Towns is deserving of the name DJ Jazzy Jeff. Pay him a visit at DJJazzyJeff.com.
Produced by Marvin Gaye for the Trouble Man movie and motion picture soundtrack on Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records in 1972.
Both "Change" and "Places & Spaces" are from Donald Byrd's Places and Spaces album released on Blue Note Records in 1975, and was produced by the Mizell brothers.
A dash of Texas heat from flautist Bobbi Humphrey off her Blacks and Blues album released in 1973 on Blue Note Records.
"Mister Magic" is fitting for the late saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. This is the title cut from the album Mister Magic released on Kudu Records in 1974 and produced by Bob James.
Bob James' Three is a Creed Taylor produced album released on CTI Records in 1976 that includes "Westchester Lady".
This is by far one of the most sampled records in Hip-Hop history, especially by many DJs who engage in turntablism. At the very end of this song you will hear the classic phrase..."Ahhhh....this stuff is really fresh!"
I'd like to take the time to wish Ovum Recordings a happy 15th anniversary. It's not too common that indie record labels hang around as long, so that's gotta feel pretty special for DJ/Producer Josh Wink who founded the label in Philly over a decade ago. With it's Progressive House and Techno being it's main staple, the label has grown to be a favorite in Europe.
Josh Wink also returns for 2010 with a full length 'Remixed & Peeled' version of his When A Banana Was Just A Banana (released in 2009). Critics claim it to be the "most prolific electronic album of 2009".
If you happen to be in Miami this Wednesday March 24th, you can catch their huge celebration at the Winter Music Conference (WMC) where there will be a tag team DJ set with fellow label mates. For more info, mosey on over to Ovum-Rec.com.
For my fans who come out to support me and read this blog, we're off to another exciting journey in music. Those who know me more personally or just by seeing me out and about know how I'm constantly digging for new tunes to continue to take my own style of DJing to new heights.
I didn't quite know how to term this new style of house that I have been spinning for the last couple of years, until I came across an article online that calls it 'Fidget'. Mind you, there are some local Dubstep/DnB promoters who would list Fidget on their flyers, but I thought it was something that was an extension of the two by having the rapid pace of DnB or the slower, grimey dub style production like Dubstep. After doing a quick search, I found it to be simply House music...but House music with muscle. The term Fidget was coined as a joke by the DJ/Production team of Jesse Rose & Switch, but this genre is definitely no joke. Fidget House is a style of house music that is defined by 'snatched' (sampled) vocal snippets, pitch-bent dirty basslines and rave-style synth stabs over glitchy 4/4 beats.
Below is another mix done by me and you can grab it for FREE. The beats thump hard and like any other song, you know the bassline is the glue to keep it all together. If you happen to have a good sound system, the bass might hit you hard enough to where you'll be glued to your wall. Enjoy!
Mixed by DJ Kool Emdee (Blackadelic Tribe Productions)
Fidget House 1. Alex Reece - Pulp Fiction (Foamo Remix) 2. 2 Bit Thugs - A Good Look (Stupid Fresh Remix) 3. Will Bailey & Calverton - Equador 4. Angie Brown - Movin' Up (Stupid Fresh Mix) 5. AC Slater - Jack Got Jacked (Jack Beats Remix) 6. Rye Rye ft. M.I.A. - Bang! (Party Hoppaz Bootleg) 7. Estelle - American Boy (Nadastrom Remix) 8. Lee Mortimer - Champion Sound 9. Lock n' Load - Blow Ya Mind (The Squatters Remix) 10. Shab Ruffcut - Twist (Wonk Remix) 11. The Qemists ft. Wiley - Dem Na Like Me (A1 Bassline Remix) 12. Andy George - Big Dipper (Original Vocal Mix) 13. Adonis - Rockin' Down The House (Mickey Slim Remix) 14. Defunct! - Flashy Fidget Frame (Original Mix) 15. Jakz - Got The Power 16. Jon E. Industry - Look Out (Lazy Rich Remix) 17. Ryan Riback - Boom (Lee Mortimer Remix)
Every February, Trinidad & Tobago has it's annual festival called 'Carnival' where the natives spend months preparing costumes, parties, and music for it's biggest event of the year. Not only is this a massive street party where you find beautiful people parading in colorful costumes dancing to Soca tunes. Here you will also find an event where music literally takes center stage in a competition which started in 1993 called the International Soca Monarch.
Each year, winners are chosen in two categories, the Power Soca Monarch for uptempo Soca songs, and the Groovy Soca Monarch for slower songs. Before 2001, there was only a single competition for both slower & fast paced songs where one winner was chosen. Contestants compete for thousands of dollars in cash and other prizes and the chance to win the crown for best Soca songs.
Veteran Soca singer Faye Ann Lyons-Alvarez made history in 2009 for being the first woman to win the competition, as well as winning in a single year for both categories with her songs "Bumper" & "Meet Superblue". The only other person to win in both categories in a single year(2006)is Shurwayne Winchester for his tunes "Ah Can't Wait" & "Don't Stop".
The 2010 Power Soca Monarch crown went to JW & Blaze for their single "Palance", which debuted at #8 on the Caribbean music charts. On 'Fantastic Friday' the duo won in a blow-out number of votes. Defending champion Faye Ann came in second place with her hit "True Lies".
As many of you know, i'm always in search of music to see what and who's out there that brings something to the table that's worth listening to and add to my collection of course. While searching, I stumbled across Esperanzah of Rotterdam, not to be confused with Ms. Spalding. However, you can pretty much consider them both to be in the same class of new talented artists who have plenty of years to offer great music.
Now here's the part i'm sure you will all love. Esperanzah is offering The Birthday EP for FREE in celebration of her 25th birthday. The reason it's titled as such is, it was mixed on her recent birthday. For more updates on what's to come, stroll on over to her Myspace page. Enjoy!
Most of you who read my blog pretty much notice that I don't post many artists who are on mainstream radio these days. Not to say that i'm knocking all popular ("pop" for short) music, because there are many artists who are gaining popularity without being played on commercial radio.
Brittany Bosco is a newcomer hailing from Atlanta who is getting her share of fans across the U.S. and starting to gain a larger following overseas. Her first LP, Spectrum 2.0 is one to add to your collection. This is not your average, run of the mill CD that you spend your hard earned money on and then you find out it only had one good song. After hearing Ms. Bosco's range and clarity, it will make you raise and eyebrow...or both. What also makes it refreshing and a must have is she's not putting herself in a box by dealing in only one music style. It's almost as if she was yoinked out of the 70's or 80's to make an appearance in the here and now. And to go by the standards of yesteryear, it's good that she has helped to keep the tradition of making a complete album where you can listen to the whole thing and not get bored...or trash it.
Her label plans to re:release Spectrum 2.0. For a limited time, you can get a FREE download of the whole album on her Bandcamp page. Future plans are for her to release a new album titled Ragdoll. Check out the first track from her upcoming album below, which is also available as a FREE download. Her website is still under construction, but in the meantime, you can keep updated on her where-abouts and music via Myspace.
Sometimes you have to keep some things short and sweet. Much good can be said about the most powerful producer in the music industry, however, i'll leave it up to you, the readers to do your own research on this living legend.
Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is a music conductor, record producer, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. During five decades in the entertainment industry, Jones has earned a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend Award in 1991. He is best known as the producer of the albums "Off The Wall" and "Thriller", by pop icon Michael Jackson, which has sold over 110 million copies worldwide,[2] and as the producer and conductor of the charity song “We Are the World”.
"Summer In The City" sampled by The Pharcyde for "Passin' Me By"
Al Jarreau
Alwyn Lopez "Al" Jarreau (born March 12, 1940, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States) is an American singer. A seven-time Grammy Award winner, he is the only vocalist in history to win in three separate categories: Jazz, Pop, and R&B.[1]. He also won the Grammys within a span of four consecutive decades — the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is a singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Boston, Massachusetts. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
Taylor achieved his major breakthrough in 1970 with the #3 single "Fire and Rain" and had his first #1 hit the following year with "You've Got a Friend", a cover of Carole King's classic song. His 1976 Greatest Hits album was certified Diamond and has sold 12 million US copies. Following his classic 1977 album, JT, he has retained a large audience over the decades. His commercial achievements declined slightly until a big resurgence during the late 1990s and 2000s, when some of his best-selling and most-awarded albums (including Hourglass, October Road and Covers) were released.
William James Adams, Jr. (born March 15, 1975), better known by his stage name will.i.am, is a rapper, songwriter, singer, actor, and producer. will.i.am rose to fame as a frontman and co-founder of the hit hip hop and pop group called the Black Eyed Peas, with rappers Apl.de.ap, Taboo, and later added member pop singer Fergie.
Neil Sedaka (born March 13, 1939; Brooklyn, New York) is an American pop singer, pianist, and songwriter . His career has spanned over 50 years, during which time he has written many songs for himself and others, often working with lyricists Howard Greenfield and Phil Cody.
Sam "Lightnin’" Hopkins (March 15, 1912 — January 30, 1982) was a country blues guitarist, from Houston, Texas, United States. Born in Centerville, Texas, Hopkins' childhood was immersed in the sounds of the blues and he developed a deeper appreciation at the age of 8 when he met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church picnic in Buffalo, Texas. That day, Hopkins felt the blues was "in him" and went on to learn from his older (somewhat distant) cousin, country blues singer Alger "Texas" Alexander. Hopkins began accompanying Blind Lemon Jefferson on guitar in informal church gatherings. Jefferson supposedly never let anyone play with him except for young Hopkins, who learned much from and was influenced greatly by Blind Lemon Jefferson thanks to these gatherings. In the mid 1930s, Hopkins was sent to Houston County Prison Farm for an unknown offence. In the late 1930s Hopkins moved to Houston with Alexander in an unsuccessful attempt to break into the music scene there. By the early 1940s he was back in Centerville working as a farm hand.
Hopkins took a second shot at Houston in 1946. While singing on Dowling St. in Houston's Third Ward (which would become his home base) he was discovered by Lola Anne Cullum from the Los Angeles based record label, Aladdin Records. She convinced Hopkins to travel to L.A. where he accompanied pianist Wilson Smith. The duo recorded twelve tracks in their first sessions in 1946. An Aladdin Records executive decided the pair needed more dynamism in their names and dubbed Hopkins "Lightnin'" and Wilson "Thunder".
Lightnin' Hopkins on guitar with Wilson "Thunder" Smith on piano.
Hopkins' style was born from spending many hours playing informally without a backing band. His distinctive fingerstyle playing often included playing, in effect, bass, rhythm, lead, percussion, and vocals, all at the same time. He played both "alternating" and "monotonic" bass styles incorporating imaginative, often chromatic turnarounds and single note lead lines. Tapping or slapping the body of his guitar added rhythmic accompaniment.
Much of Hopkins' music follows the standard 12-bar blues template but his phrasing was very free and loose. Many of his songs were in the talking blues style, but he was a powerful and confident singer. Lyrically his songs chronicled the problems of life in the segregated south, bad luck in love and other usual subjects of the blues idiom. He did however deal with these subjects with humor and good nature. Many of his songs are filled with double entendres and he was known for his humorous introductions.
Sly Stone
Sly Stone (born Sylvester Stewart, March 15, 1943, Denton, Texas) is a musician, songwriter, and record producer, most famous for his role as frontman for Sly & the Family Stone, a band which played a critical role in the development of soul, funk and psychedelia in the 1960s and 1970s. Sly & the Family Stone was started in San Francisco, California.
Along with James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic, Sly & the Family Stone were the pioneers of 1970s funk. Their fusion of R&B rhythms, infectious melodies, and psychedelia created a new pop/soul/rock hybrid the impact of which has proven lasting and widespread. Motown producer Norman Whitfield, for example, patterned the label's forays into harder-driving, socially relevant material (such as The Temptations' "Runaway Child" and "Ball of Confusion") based on their sound. The pioneering precedent of Stone's racial, sexual, and stylistic mix, had a major influence in the 1980s on artists such as Prince and Rick James. Legions of artists from the 1990s forward — including Public Enemy, Fatboy Slim, Beck and many others — mined Stone’s seminal back catalog for hook-laden samples.
After a mildly received debut album, A Whole New Thing (1967), Sly & The Family Stone had their first hit single with "Dance to the Music", which was later included on an album of the same name. Although their third album, Life (also 1968), also suffered from low sales, their fourth album, Stand! (1969), became a runaway success, selling over three million copies and spawning a number one hit single, "Everyday People". By the summer of 1969, Sly & The Family Stone were one of the biggest names in music, releasing three more top five singles, "Hot Fun in the Summertime" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" / "Everybody is a Star", before the end of the year, and appearing at Woodstock.
I got some good news, and I have some bad news. The good news is, Hip-Hop duo Little Brother is about to drop a new album on 420 Day (that's April 20th for my non-smokers...LOL). The bad news is, this will be their final album. For now, here's the first single from their upcoming release titled "Left Back". Enjoy!
Robert "Bobby" McFerrin, Jr. (born March 11, 1950) is a vocalist and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song "Don't Worry, Be Happy". He is a ten-time Grammy Award winner.
Lynda Cheryl Smith (born March 11, 1957), better known by her professional name Cheryl Lynn, is a disco, R&B and soul singer best known for her 1978 disco classic, "Got to Be Real". For more info on her, log on to her official Myspace page here.
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin (born March 10, 1963) is an American record producer and the co-head of Columbia Records. Rubin was the original DJ of the Beastie Boys, and co-founder of Def Jam Records with Russell Simmons. He then established American Recordings. With the Beastie Boys and Run D.M.C., Rubin helped popularize a fusion of rap music and heavy metal, and he has worked extensively with hard rock and heavy metal groups, notably Danzig, Slayer, Linkin Park, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica and System of a Down.
I have to start off by saying that New Zealand is currently ON FIRE right now with the way their artists are representing on the Soul and Jazz markets. Which brings me to mention multi-instrumentalist Lewis McCallum who has made some noise previously (since 1998). His last studio album "Wake" was pretty darn refreshing, and now he comes back to smash again with his latest (out now) called "Syntheology". His first single "First Date" is a 'certified banger', and features the vocal talents of Francis Kora of the family Reggae band KORA, also of New Zealand. I'm sure your ears will enjoy this one. For more info on Lewis and where he and his band will be playing, visit his Myspace page here.
Erykah Badu
On February 23rd, Ms. Badu will be releasing her sixth studio album on Universal Motown titled "New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh". The album was suppose to have come out shortly after "New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War", but was pushed back because of her pregnancy. As usual, her albums and live performances are really impressive. For an appetizer, here's your chance for your ears to get ready for the main course by giving a listen to two singles released so far.
1. 20 Feet Tall (produced by 9th Wonder) 2. Window Seat (produced by Erykah Badu and James Poyser) 3. Agitation (produced by Shafiq Husayn) 4. Get Money (produced by Erykah Badu, James Poyser, Karriem Riggins and Thundercat) 5. Don’t Be Long (produced by Ta’Raach) 6. Love (produced by J. Dilla) 7. Umm Hmm (produced by Madlib) 8. Fall in Love (produced by Karriem Riggins) 9. Incense (produced by Madlib) 10. Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 1) (Undercover Over-Lover) (produced by James Poyser) 11. Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 2) (produced by Georgia Anne Muldrow)
"Chilly B", born Robert Crafton III in Brooklyn, New York in 1962, was the co-founder, multi-instrumentalist, writer, and MC for the pioneering Hip-Hop/Electro group Newcleus. His most notable performances were on Newcleus' "Jam On Revenge (The Wikki Wikki Song)" for his bass licks and for his rap verses on "Jam On It". Chilly B passed away on February 24, 2010 after having a massive stroke. He was 47.
Tom "T-Bone" Wolk (December 24, 1951 - February 27, 2010) was the longtime bassist with Hall & Oates (since 1981's Private Eyes album) and was also at one time a member of the Saturday Night Live Band. Wolk also worked with Carly Simon, Jellyfish, Squeeze, Elvis Costello, Shawn Colvin and Billy Joel over the course of his career. T-Bone Wolk died on February 27, 2010 of a heart attack. He was 58.
