Enough.

I try to keep this blog focused on music and avoid politics, but what the fuck is going on?

84-Year-Old Woman Becomes the Pepper-Sprayed Face of Occupy Seattle














You can only push the people so far, and we are reaching the tipping point.

Never forget, there are more of us than them.

HOLDER OF A BOULDER

Brothers in musical (and blogging) arms, Matthew Africa & DJ B. Cause are back again with a sequel to their impeccable Soul Boulders mix. For those of you not familiar, Soul Boulders is one my favorite mixes of all-time and put me up on some amazing artists (more than I care to admit - these dudes combined knowledge runs deep!). After 5 years they did not disappoint. More info after the jump...

At long last, DJ B.Cause and I are back with Soul Boulders 2, another 76 minutes of slow, funky soul burners.


The Soul Boulders sampler

To purchase the mix in digital form, go here.

To purchase the mix in physical form, please send payment via Paypal to matthewafrica at hotmail dot com. The price including shipping is $10 in the U.S, $11 to Canada. and $14 to the rest of the world.

Currently there is a limited number of copies of the mix available at Big City Records and Good Records NYC. We hope to place CDs with some of our other favorite stores soon.

For those who aren't familiar with Soul Boulders, here's the story.

Back in 2005, San Francisco's DJ B.Cause posted a mind-blowing 10-minute mini-mix on the SoulStrut message board. The songs were exquisite but hard to pigeonhole-- soulful and funky, but not purely funk or soul, slow, psychedelic, moody, maybe a little haunted. In other words, exactly my sound.

I sent him a message urging him either to finish the mix or to let me hop on and collaborate with him on turning his ten minutes into something CD length. I grabbed a dozen or so of my favorite records, figured out their sequence and recorded my half at B.Cause's house one rainy afternoon. Once B.Cause fleshed out his half and massaged the whole thing a bit, we released it in the spring of 2006. It was my first commercial mix CD.

The response to Soul Boulders was amazing. The Fader, The Wire, Wax Poetics and Hip Hop Connection said nice things about it. Friends and peers raved, telling us we soundtracked their summer, that it was their favorite mix, etc. In a couple cases, I even had people tell me that the mix changed their lives. Although it sold pretty modestly-- we only pressed 1,000 copies and gave many of them away-- it's easily the most beloved thing I've ever had a hand in. Over the years, people have consistently and insistently pressed me and Josh to give them more. So we did.

For me, Soul Boulders was hard to follow up because I worried a lot about how to make something that people would appreciate in the same way. The landscape has changed a lot since we made the first mix. Compilations, blogs and message boards have made a lot of formerly obscure music easily accessible and consequently everyone seems pretty blasé. Although rarity was never really the point of Soul Boulders-- creating something unique was-- the mix did feature a lot of music that was unknown to even hardcore soul listeners and that did help create some excitement around it. Since I more or less stopped seriously buying records in about 2005, I worried that I might not have a good enough set of records to construct another set; I didn't want to just present some tracks that didn't make the original mix.

Soul Boulders 2 features 40 meticulously mixed songs. Some are from common records, many are from rare ones, but all are (to us) extraordinary soul songs that embody a special feeling. We labored hard on the mix, cleaning up tracks, re-editing them to emphasize parts we liked, obsessing over the sequencing and tiny details in the transitions and generally polishing until we felt like we had made a worthy sequel. I think we succeeded.

SHIFT X REUNION

This Thursday 11/17: Shift X ¡Reunión! with Rhettmatic, Plann B and yours truly, live in full effect at The Ace Hotel Palm Springs. This is our first collab and more than a year in the making. We're about to blow the roof off this motherbitch.

LA/IE/SD folks, come down, party with us and grab a room for the night. Use the code REUNION and receive 15% off

What Kind of Sorcery Is This?

Mad Professor dubbing Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" live on air.

"It's a magic.."

RAER

Some of you might remember wonderkid/prodigy, A-ko from his 7" on Melting Pot or the Soulstrut compilation that came out a few years ago. I've always been a big fan and today he liberated 7 rare and unreleased songs from '04-'11. For fans of RJD2, DJ Shadow, etc. (man, I fucking hate comparisons, but it's kind of apt here), this is highly recommended.

"Alright, everybody always wants this so here. its all the official, and unreleased complete songs ive done as A-ko. its a zip file. 7 mp3s. 2004-2011. my complete 45, my complete 12" (minus the remix) the one track i did for the breakbeat raer comp, and the two unreleased tracks i did after my questionable relationship with melting pot basically ended. enjoy. PLEASE. enjoy." - A-ko

A-ko - Collection



*Bonus Like a Throttle exclusive*
Live version of Salt's "Hung Up". Dude is a beast on the drums.

Salt/A-ko - "Hung Up"

Much 2 Much

Hey y'all, I literally just got home after being gone for almost a month and there's a shitload to catch up on! A lot has gone down including new releases from the fam y mas.

Exile has a new solo rap album called 4TRK Mind. This has been in the works since before we went on tour a couple years back. Don't buy it.

People Under The Stairs just released their 8th (!) album Highlighter, becoming the first record in history to be recorded in 24-bit HD-AAC. I'll let Thes explain the audiophile nerdery below.



I had a crazy ass trip, including DJing a wrestling match in Holland with Kid Koala, rocking The Do-Over in Berlin with Benji B & Waajeed, playing "I Am Somebody" to a packed crowd in Paris the day of Mehdi's funeral (words cannot express), barely making it out of Moscow in one piece and finally ending with a week in Vegas DJing Justin Timberlake's golf tournament (which only added to the WTF of this whole month).

Here's some pics and a quick vid I put together from what footage I had. It wasn't much, but you do get some backstage interpretive dancing from a Russian girl who asked J******* *** to marry her.



That's enough with the plugs. I'll have some new music up this week. I came back with a grrrrrrip.

Uno

BOOM FROM THE CANNON

Yo, serious question, but how many social outlets does a person need? Blogging, Google+ (ha.), FB, Twitter, Tumblr, MySpace (see Google+), etc.

The reason I ask is, I've been going hard on the updates pon di facebook and twitter and leaving my blog baby in a geocities dumpster on the side of the internet highway.
With that said, there's a lot of stuff to update as well as a bunch of new music for you.
So let us begin...

First and foremost, TONIGHT is ¡Reunión! with Special Guest DJ Evo live and direct from Vancouver, Canada.























Really looking forward to rocking with my man. Especially after hearing this mix available for free from he to thee.
SOUL POWER VOLUME 2 by DJ EVO

I've finally got all the dates locked in and the Way Out Of Living Tour Part.2 is in full effect. If you're around any of these cities it's a must you come party with us. Pretty sure I'll be officially German after this trip.























For those who missed it, here's my set from The Do-Over, Portland last month. I coulda sworn I posted this drunk one night, but I guess not. This is definitely a different vibe than the LA set, but it's what I was feeling. You don't guide the VQ, the VQ guides you.

DJ Day Live at The Do-Over, Portland 7/10/11 by DJDay

You can download this and other sets from Thee Mike B, Cosmo Baker, Dirty Dave, Haycock and Devon Who right here.

You can also get a bunch of free mixes, DJ tools, remixes and original music on my SoundCloud.

And speaking of SoundCloud, I've been doing a lot of digging on there the last few days and coming up with some gems. This is definitely one of them and guaranteed to be played tonight.
Byrdie Green - Return Of The Prodigal Son (Dj Twister Edit) by Dj Twister


Last but not least, here's this month's ¡Reunión! Top 10 (in no order)

Day:

1. DJ Angola -Spottie
2. Master Jay & Michael Dee - T.S.O.B.
3. Grand Puba - 360 (What Goes Around) (SD50's Remix)
4. DJ Pump - Game Theory 2011
5. Byrdie Green - Return of the Prodigal Son (DJ Twister Edit)
6. Pools - Blue Dream
7. Suonho - The Ghetto
8. Quantic Y Su Conjunto Los Miticos Del Ritmo - Dre En Cumbia
9. TLC - Creep (Astronomar Moombahton remix)
10. Krystal Klear - Tried For Your Love

Aimlo:

1. Toro Y Moi - Saturday Love
2. 6th Borough Project - Deep C
3. Beastie Boys feat. Santigold - Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win
4. Circle Research - Rock Creek Park
5. Housse De Racket - Roman (Oliver Remix)
6. The Stepkids - Shadows on Behalf
7. Jon Kwest - Your Life
8. Craze & Heartbreak - Summer Riddim
9. Breakbot - Fantasy
10. Little Dragon - Nightlight

Enjoy and have a good weekend, y'all!

1

I AM JAY CURRY

I'm up late, high on that younameit, filling out Russian visas and listening to Jay Curry. Feels good, man.

Coachella Valley rrrrrrrepresent.


Jay Curry - Cheetah Print Rose$

Choimatic

My man 100 grand, Moe Choi has been quietly killing the game from The Hamptons to Cannes after years of running the NY club scene. He just sent me this mix to share with you good people, but I'll let him break it down for you instead...

"Here is a 20 minute snippet of a wedding I DJ'ed. Cocktail hour heat. This is for you to bump on a lazy Sunday folding your laundry. Something for you to bump while you spoon with a dreamy latin bird on your tempurpedic & 2500 thread count Egyptians. Something for you to blast while you think about your master plan Cuz ain't nuthin but sweat inside your hands. Something for you to play when you invite that dimetastic shorty over to the lab for the first time. Something to bump while you do your dishes. Something for you to bump while you blaze that Jack Herer. Something for you to bump while you organize your gas receipts. Big shout to DJ Day for the giving me good winful advice on older broads. And to J-Zone, that gumby cut is not gonna get you any shellfish. No Wepa for you....."

Choimatic - Cocktail Mix

Sky High

Rest in Power Alphonso "Fonce" Mizell (1943-2011). He and his brother Larry have been a huge influence on me since I began making music. I had no idea how much of an impact they made until I realized how many of my favorite records they were involved with. The list of artists go from Bobby Humphrey and Donald Byrd to The Jackson Five, Marvin Gaye and beyond.

I was fortunate to have met him during a Red Bull Music Academy brainstorm session in my hometown earlier this year. Needless to say, I ran home and grabbed a record for an autograph (I'm the guy who doesn't get "starstruck", but this was a once in a lifetime chance to meet my musical heroes). He was in poor health at the time, but coming home this week to find out he had passed hit me deeply.

Friend and fellow blogger Matthew Africa made a mix last year celebrating the genius of their production career. I highly recommend checking it out and reflecting on one of the greatest producers of our era.

DJ Matthew Africa - 2 Busy Saying Yeah 21 - The Mizell Bros.

Here's a couple Mizell produced edits I've previously posted...

Gary Bartz - Gentle Smiles (Saxy) (DJ Day Sax-less Mix)

Johnny Hammond - Shifting Gears (DJ Day Alt Mix)

There would be no this if there was no him.

Do-Over PDX/Chicago Throw Down

Just got back from a hevay Do Over weekend in Portland with the homies Thee Mike B, Cosmo Baker (who utterly crushed the whole building), Dirty Dave, Haycock, Devonwho and the sisters Dimepiece. Always a good time and never a dull moment with the crew. Here's a few pics from the festivities...












































































































































Also this weekend I'll be back in Chicago rocking with the homies Intel, Merk 1, Tim Zawada y mas Friday and Saturday night. See y'all in a minute!

Stone Jam

Back to the music (and just in time for the weekend)...
This edit has been getting crazy run for a minute. InnerWestSoul's tasteful flip of Slave's "Feel My Love". Enjoy.
Feel My Love (InnerWestSoul Edit) by InnerWestSoul

Gracias to Merk 1

The Re-Return

Hey everybody, I know shit has been chirp city over here as of late, but I have not forsaken thee...
I wanted to let you all know I'll be heading back to Europe again this fall. SO - to everyone who's hit me on the blog, FB, Twitter, carrier pigeon, smoke signals etc. about coming to their city, now is the time. I still can't believe after all the mail I've gotten from England over the years I still haven't rocked London, Bristol or anywhere in the UK. Somebody make that happen!

For bookings and inquiries contact Jonathan Kim at jkim645@gmail.com. Tour kicks off (again) this September.





































HEY BUD.






















Like I promised, here's a photo re-cap of part 1

Large up Patski, Chris and everyone at Club Juicy, Wulf, James Pants and everyone at Red Bull Music Academy, Olski, Wido, Robert, my homie like no other Suff Daddy, Joscha and everyone at 123 Rakete, Anatoly Ice and the crew at Cult Club Moscow, the dude who overslept to take me to the airport in Bodo, KRTS, Vertual Vertigo and everyone at Beat Freaks, and of course everyone who came out and rocked with me! BRB

And to keep it music related, this has been on repeat.

¡Reunión! w/Haycock & Hyder

What a trip! It's good to be back home and just in time for ¡Reunión! tomorrow night with special guests Haycock (The Do-Over) and DJ Hyder (Blunt Club/Abstract Workshop). VQ in full effect. Definitely gonna be a live one. I'll be posting a full tour re-cap soon, but in the meantime if you're within a hundred mile radius of PSP, you should definitely swing thru.

Way Out of Living//EU Tour

Hey y'all, I'm overseas bound once again. Every time I go away there's always some kind of self reflection/life examination thing that goes on. Shit is a trip, but I've come to embrace it. If you would've told me when I started doing this that I would see over a dozen countries, meet some amazing people and actually make a living, I would've laughed in your face. I've been incredibly blessed not only with this music thing, but in my life in general, and I'm grateful. I know it sounds corny/cliche/whatever, but none of this could have happened without the support of you, my fam and friends. Thank you. [/end emo rant]

Now, let's hope I make it back in one piece after rocking the fuck outta these places...

Jolyman

If I owned a label I would sign this dude.













Why more people aren't talking about Arthur Joly is beyond me. Experimental dub producer and fellow gear nerd who records analog to tape by way of Brasil.

Czech it...

Jolyman - Some Tropical Dubs

LaDDers

I'd been meaning to post this up for a minute. Some of you are probably up on this, but for those that are not...

Swiff D is the producer behind Pac Div (and Busta, Snoop, Meth & Red, Estelle, etc.) and a monster on the beats. I won't get into how ill this dude is, I'll just let you listen for yourself. He dropped a free instrumental album called LaDDers at the beginning of the year ("Sherman Way" is my shit - bonus points for it being my grandma's old street). that you can grab after the jump.

Swiff D - LaDDers

Vibrations

Youtube, you done good.

Shout out to Berlin

Way Out of Living

Annnnnnnd I'm back...

As some of you know, I'm a part of the co-op/collective/art gang known as Piecelock 70, and every month we're dropping something for the folks. Whether it's free music, apparel, mixes, skate decks, albums, etc. something new is happening. It just so happens that April was my turn to set it off, so I come to you all with new mix in hand and new shirts (if you're so inclined).
The original idea was to do a ¡Reunión! mix, but I wanted to get all fancy with it and time was not on my side. Instead I went with the first thing that moved me and it's what set off the whole vibe of this mix**.

For those that know me, indeed I like to flow I’m not the most prolific dude when it comes to mixes. I have a habit of perfecting and personalizing a little too much and to be honest, this one is no different. It’s spring again, the world is falling apart and we could all use some “feel good” music, which is why I put this together for you, for free. I hope you enjoy it.






















DJ Day - Way Out of Living

**TRACK LIST IS IN THE COMMENTS!**

Life.

#latepass

PL70

This is real. This is happening now. This is direct from Us to You.

Here we go...

Bourke Bourke Bourke

Hey y'all, I know it's been a while since I've posted new music (and let's be honest, that's why you're here, right?), so allow me to introduce some of you to Ad Bourke. A lot of folks are doing the whole boogie/electro/wonkstep/yaddayadda thing, but this dude definitely stands out.
I stumbled upon his album Mirage and bought the whole thing after hearing 2 songs. Highly recommended, so cop that.

Ad Bourke - Solar Commuter



In other news, those of you who missed The Sleep Over last weekend (aka Vision Quest 2011), I feel for you. Some amazing moments and an incredible party all around. Big up to Senor Strong, The Haycocks, Morse Code, Lefto, Classixx, Archrival, Pubes, Induce, Azul213, and Cosmo Baker whose wolf spirit hasn't left the desert since RBMA. Z-3 por vida.

EYAOISM

Once again it's on...Eat Your Art Out IV tonight! Roller girls, amazing art, free beer, the infamous grilled cheese truck, and yours truly along with DJ Expo & DJ Mahf - afterparty at Escapism with one of my favorite DJ's on the planet, Phoreyz (seriously, dude is one of the best - don't sleep.), Jim Mahfood and the rest of the crew. On top if it all we're celebrating Expo's birthday tonight. I've already apologized to my liver in advance. Brace yo self...

Press Rewind If I Haven't Blown Your Mind

New mix from the one Magneto just in time for Loverday...






















DJ Magneto - By the Power Vested In Me (<::download here::)

01 - Inner Circle - Groov'n in love
02 - Tristan Palmer - touch me take me
03 - Zap Pow - If You Don't Know Me by Now
04 - Marcia Griffiths - The First Tine Ever Saw You
05 - Zilverzurf - Good Vibes (feat Simone Moreno & Papa Dee)
06 - Dennis Brown - sitting and watching
07 - Gregory Isaacs - Night Nurse
08 - Jacob Miller - Baby I love you so
09 - Elizabeth Archer & The Equators - Feel like makin' love
10 - Susan Cadogan - Fever
11 - Lorna Bennett - Breakfast in bed
12 - Sharon Forrester - Silly, wasn't it?
13 - Alton Ellis - It's a shame
14 - Desi Young - i don't know why I Love You
15 - Boris Gardiner - You Make Me Feel Brand New
16 - Cole Porter - You'd be so nice to come home to
17 - Estelle - Come over
18 - Sheilya Hilton - The Bed's Too Big Without You
19 - Wayne Chin - Won't do for love 7"
20 - Diana Ross - Love hangover (JA Airlines Mix)
21 - Myrna Hague - Touch me baby
22 - Sugar Minott - Good thing going
23 - Sade - Love is Stronger than pride (Mad professor mix)
24 - Christine Lewin - Juicy fruit
25 - Carol Cool - upside down
26 - Jennifer Lara - I am in love
27 - Black Harmony - Don't let it go to your head
28 - Janet Kay - Lovin' you
29 - Freddie McGregor - Natural collie

Where I'm From

Palm Springs, Cat City is where we chill...

These cats were a big influence on me coming up and the first local group I ever heard on the radio. I should do a post on all the folks who paved the way for me to be where I'm at. Soon come...



Yo, did I post this already? Shit is getting blurry

It Is What It Is

Gettin' real with it.

theLIFT X PSP

This Saturday & Sunday theLIFT migrates to the Ace Hotel/PSP for an overnight getaway. This is a special occasion and definitely not to be missed. I got word of the surprise guest on Sunday and that alone is worth the trip...

Sat & Sun February 5-6th, 2011.
theLIFT - "LOVERS' LOST GETAWAY"

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Ace Hotel & Spa
701 East Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Spring, CA 92264
http://www.acehotel.com/palmsprings
760.325.9900

special guests:
DaM FUNK (Stones Throw)
RAUL CAMPOS (KCRW)
DJ DAY (Subcontact / MPM)
SCOTT K (Nitty Gritty)
EDUARDO CASTILLO (Voodoo / Eclectech)

**VERY X-TRA SPECIAL SURPRISE GUEST @ SUNDAY POOL PARTY**

theLIFT hosts/residents:
WISEACRE (Louie & Chan)
JEREMY SOLE (KCRW / Afro Funké / Musaics)

visuals by ACID WASH
TURBO SOUND SYSTEM by VICTOR

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

ACE amenities:
√ discounted rooms with theLIFT promo code.
√ 2 pools, hot tub, cabanas, hammocks.
√ "king's highway" diner (and poolside service).
√ table tennis.
√ family welcome, babysitting available
√ dogs welcome.

EXTRA options:
√ premium suites.
√ all-day and late-night menu.
√ spa treatments (reservations recommended).
√ in-room s'mores, "bbq party", or "taco party".
√ in-room turntable (+ complimentary vinyl selected by theLIFT).
√ same-day, round-trip shuttle from LA (SEE BELOW).

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

"trueHEADS" (overnight, all-inclusive package):
$190 - discounted room rate (with promo code: theLIFT).
√ includes admission to pool party and late-night LIFT in "The Commune".
√ book rooms at 760-325-9900 or www.AceHotel.com/PalmSprings.
√ don't forget to mention promo code "theLIFT" for discount.

if just plan to pop out for the day/evening on sat or sun:

"dayTRIPPER" (one-day party shuttle from LA):
$45 - theLIFT PARTY SHUTTLE (LA > Palm Springs > LA)
√ includes admission to pool party and late-night LIFT in "The Commune".
√ shuttle sound system playing "theBEST of theLIFT" (past dj sets).
√ leaves LA, saturday at noon.
√ leaves THE ACE, saturday at 2am.
√ limit 40 passengers (first-come, first-served!).
√ email: LiftShuttle@Musaics.com to reserve seat(s).

"theDROP-IN" (non-overnight guest options):
$20 - admission to pool party AND late-night LIFT in "The Commune"
$10 - admission to ONLY the late-night LIFT in "The Commune".

RSVP

tumbln'

Innervisions

1981 BBC documentary on Stevie Wonder's 1980 tour. Amazing. Watch it now before it gets taken down...

Back Together Again

Next Thursday marks the one year anniversary of my weekly party, ¡Reunión! at The Ace Hotel, and what better way to have it than a true reunion with my brother Rip One and the Innernational Crew. This will definitely be one of the books! LA/IE heads make the drive out and don't miss a rare chance to see a legendary DJ plus surprise guests for free! Stay at The Ace and get a discounted room rate (code:Reunion).

Much love to our past guests, DJ Nu-Mark, King Most, Thes One, Exile, The Gaslamp Killer, Huggs, DJ Eleven, DJ Magneto, Jamie Strong (The Do-Over), O-Dub, Jeremy Sole (KCRW), Mr. Supreme, Doc Delay, and Ohmega Watts.

I still remember buying this tape at Beat Non Stop and buggin' the fuck out. I got home and called the number on the back and the rest is INL history...

Brothas Under Madness

This shit still goes.

l o v e

LTD - Love to The World (DJ Day re-edit) by DJDay

Trying out this Soundcloud thing (forgot I even had an account!). Here's a re-edit I did of LTD's classic a few years ago. Straight to the point on this one, but it never fails.

*Re-Up*

Thou Art Saying Though

The Winning Hand

This has been getting much late night run lately. Shout out to Mr. Jeigh & Doc Delay

















Law - The Winning Hand