illReality presents STEW March 21st, 2010 at the Painted Bride
“What’s the recipe for a good STEW? Vince, along with Adam, Shelby, and Steve try to explain. illReality presents STEW March 21st, 2010 at the Painted Bride 6pm”
Vince Johnson is one of my good friends and also an amazing artist. He has put together a show called STEW, filled with so many talented philly artist, dancers, and more. Watch the vid and defiantly try to make out to the show and support. It’s is ONLY $10 (w/student ID) and $15 without!!!!!
/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />Tigersapien performing at Electric Butter w DJ PHSH and SCANZ
Tigersapien performing at Electric Butter w DJ PHSH and SCANZ. Tigersapien hits at 11 and an extra sweaty DJ set by special guest Sammy Slice directly after.
1st 2 people to respond with a picture of a baby tiger wins a name on the guest list. Post your email and contact tigersapien@gmail.com
myspace.com/tigersapien
Consequence & Kid Cudi – “Buggin’ Out 09″
i KNOW I’m late. But this is too dope. enjoy Consequence and Kid Cudi’s take of the Old Tribe video/track Buggin out.
Dollar Bin Jams: Dre Day Philadelphia Mix
1st Annual Philadelphia DRE DAY (And Everybody’s Celebrating!)
From Oakland to Sacktown, the Bay Area and back down, Minneapolis to Chicago, and LA to NYC, people be celebrating Dr. Dre’s birthday, and on Saturday Feb 20th we’re bringing the legendary party to Philly for the first time!
Eazy-E, Ice Cube, the D.O.C, Snoop D-O-double-G, and the group that said motherfuck the police, it’s all g-funk all night with DJs Ed Blammo, Ronnie Darko, Jay Yo, No Arms, and Shawn Ryan.
Costumes are definitely encouraged, and prizes will be given out to all the G’s and hustlers rocking their Dickies, Starter snapback hats, button up flannels, and any other west coast gear, but this ain’t the Fila Fresh Crew, so you better come correct.
Only 5 bucks to get in, and the first 40 to arrive get a free Colt 40oz. Pour a little liquor out for the Doctor, cause it ain’t nothing but a g-thang.
DRE DAY
Saturday Feb. 20
Upstairs @ the Khyber (2nd & Walnut)
$5 Cover
photos by Matpat
Ski Beatz – 24 Hour Karate School (Trailer)
24 Hour Karate School! Chea! Get it in Ski Beatz. Check out the trailer featuring Mos Def, The Cool Kids, Jay Electronica, Curren$y and others. Ski gets extra points in my book because “The Last Dragon” sample is classic and my favorite african american kung-fu film : ) This is scheduled to release March 30th.
DAN BLACK Feat:KID CUDI Symphonies Remix
DatNewCudi.com: Dan Black Feat. Kid Cudi – Symphonies Remix from DP on Vimeo.
The DAN BLACK Feat:KID CUDI Symphonies Remix video is probably my favorite Music Video this week.
Ursa Major/Heart Shape Box Social
A great way to end Valentine’s day with a bunch of local bands gathering at 39th and Haverford. Twenty bands to be exact and with genres that still put you in that type of mood to still come out and move. Acts such as:
- Ursa Major
- Ryan Elias Benner
- The Skin Cells
- Chewing Gum Tree
- Evan Bernard
- Sarahjane
- Butter Pecan (Candice)
- Gregory Mendez
- Trench Mouth
- Kaytee Della Monica
- Chris Baglivo
- Kill me.The King
- Little Black Rainclouds
- Mike and Tanc
- Nicole Snyder
- Drew Henkels (Drew and the Medicinal Pen)
- Diana Zadlo
- (((Taco)))
Although at Drexel’s campus, people still came out to see these bands. Sunday night? Who cares! Thank you President’s Day (if you got class, damn. Work in the early morning, damn) A good amount of people still came out. There were talented sets giving a vibe where everyone can come out and show a little love. Based at a house where they call “The Hot Pocket” they became festive for the holiday by having heart shaped balloons hovering across the celling, christmas lights above the performers, and great cheap beer called “Silver Thunder.”
Some acts were acoustic, some were through amps/microphones but the songs the bands sang were fantastic folk love songs.
To focus on one of the bands, you should check out the 17th act of the night: Ursa Major.
Pittsburg based band with a hint of Philadelphia, Ursa Major came out with a set list that made people get into their music, turn to your neighbor and say “Who’s this band?” and why can’t I stop feeling their music. Too good.
Ben (voice, guitar) and Jim (voice, banjo) threw down vocals simultaneously while they both had their instruments sway in a matter where they just play their songs to show their love while Steve (banjolin, voice) and Tim (bass) threw in some backup vocals when needed. Kyle (drums) added some great beats with the brush patterns he used for majority of the songs.
For fans of Dr. Dog, Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Violent Femmes.
Check them out:
www.myspace.com/weareursamajor
The Love Tape
Many talk about how rap music is all noise and misogyny. However, as true heads know, rap has a wide spectrum of expression and effort, as all people do. Exhibit A, my favorite rap songs with the word love in the title. Even so, every song deals with a different form of love.
1. Love- Elzhi
2. Love- Mos Def
3. I Used To Love H.E.R- Common Sense
4. Love Is (remix)- Strange Fruit Project
5. Good Ol Love- Masta Ace
6.Luv 4 Me- SunN.Y.
7.Luv-Zion-I
8.One Love- Nas
9.Love Is…-Common
10. Teenage Love-Slick Rick
11. True Love featuring Decompoze-One Be Lo
12. No Greater Love- Blu & Exile
13. Love Language featuring Les Nubians- Reflection Eternal
14. It’s A Love Thing featuring CL Smooth- Pete Rock
15. Do For Love-2PAC
16.Love of My Life featuring Max B- Jim Jones
17. Lovin You featuring LA the Darkman- Inspectah Deck
18. Lovin’ It featuring Joe Scudda
19.Love Movin’-J Dilla
20.Love Jones- J Dilla
21. Give Love A Chance- People Under The Stairs
22. Fall In Love-Slum Village
23. I Love The Dough featuring Jay-Z-The Notorious B.I.G
24.Love’s Gonna Get Cha- KRS-One
Android Memories by Tomasz Kaluzny
This audio/visual experience comes from the Photography portfolio of Tomasz Kaluzny. Tomasz is based out of Lodz, Poland and more of his work can be found here. These images are paired well together with the instrumental sound-scape they are accompanied with. There is a stillness within the atmosphere, a sense of alienation that is easy to sympathize with. The only catch here being that these images are supposed to be stills from a memory of an Android. Without getting too caught up in the concept, I can safely say that the gelling of the two mediums is really well executed. Check it out for yourself.
Top Rap Track of 2k9 According to Some Blog Drops References to Philly Locations
Photo via Passion of the Weiss
The “whole hip-hop world” (scroll down) waiting for Jay Electronica to “drop the classic that literally everyone knows is in him”. I think this that may mean slightly more hype than that which surrounded the anticipated release of Girls’ Album. Anyway, the only hip hop blog I sort of read or have ever read named his track, “Exhibit C”, number one of the decade. Some Philly locations are tangentially related to this greatness.
I was on Cecil B, Broad Street, Master, North Philly, South Philly, 23rd, Tasker
Other Locations Referenced by Jay Electronica in the Hit Hip-Hop Track, “Exhibit C”
“Meserole Ave”
“New York”
“The South”, (rappers of)
“The Magnolia Projects in the Third Ward Slum”
“Peru”, (a shrine in)
“Baltimore, Baton Rouge, [My crew in] Richmond”
“6 Mile, 7 Mile, Hartwell, Gratiot [where niggas really would pack a uhaul truck up...]”
“Hollis Ave”
“London”
I don’t know if the fact that he references many places makes his references to Philadelphia less special. Maybe each one is special in it’s own way. Don’t know all these places. I wonder if they have anything in common with North/Southwest Philly* besides having been (possibly metaphorical) host to Jay Electronica at some point.
This Song May or May Not Reference Popular Web2.0 App, Twitter—You Be the Judge
Nas hit me up on the phone, said “what you waitin’ on?”
Tip hit me up with a twitt, said “what you waitin’ on?”
Diddy send a text on the dot every hour sayin, “When you gon drop that verse nigga you takin’ long.”
He does have Twitter. And he’s been tweeting (twitting? twatting?) ?uestlove:
So there you go. An (exclusive) investigative report from Philadelphia’s favorite arts-and-culture blog team.
*I’m reading “Broad Street” as “North Broad”
Vic Chesnutt Has Died
You can donate here to help Vic’s family pay medical bills associated with his hospitalization and death.
UPDATE: The Constellation Records website posted an announcement confirming that Vic Chesnutt died this afternoon (Pitchfork; ArtsBeat Blog, NY Times)
Examiner.com reports that singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt died yesterday. According to Pitchfork:
45-year-old Athens, Georgia singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt is currently in a coma, various sources report. According to Tweets from Chesnutt’s friend Kristin Hersh, the coma is a result of a suicide attempt, but that has not been confirmed.
And further:
Several sources are reporting that Vic Chesnutt has died, although some, including Billboard, have now reverted to their original reports, suggesting that little remains in the way of confirmation. More soon.
If you came out to see him at First Unitarian last October, you got to see him with members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, A Silver Mount Zion, and Fugazi. And you got to see him.
Philly is Tomsk is Hoth is Home
Keith keeps saying, "It's like Hoth out here"
Maybe he means, "It feels like home"
Internet bro Tom Scott made a site that fetches Yahoo! weather data for your city and then compares it to Star Wars. If it’s cold, your city is Hoth. If it’s rainy “but temperate”, your city is Endor. I think Keith will like this, especially considering the tiny text at the bottom of the Hoth graphic:
You May Have to Climb Inside of a Tauntaun for Warmth
Sigh. I think Star Wars is a tired meme. We’ve climbed inside tauntauns, stayed on target, had to let the wookie win, gotten cocky (only to be reprimanded), realized it’s a trap, been convinced that our fathers were dead in the literal sense while the understanding of our father’s death is understood by observers in a metaphorical sense, and so on—but despite all that, we haven’t found the droids we were looking for. Wonder if the main propagators of this meme are older / aging but not yet ‘old’ dudes that, in the present moment, feel the need to stick to memes / references / whatever (zombies, ninjas, pirates) that represent their ability to still be wacky via absurd comparisons between the real world and the world of Star Wars. This identification / reference to Star Wars may be a way for them to indicate their ability to sustain a meaningful connection with media they consumed as youths. I think some people might be afraid of how ‘not having seen Star Wars’ is becoming more common. What are the current generation connecting with or finding meaningful anyway? In 2k9/10 is there or can there exist a cultural entity with the ubiquity of Star Wars? Is Avatar the new Star Wars?
I have a similar yet different feeling about the writers over at Pitchfork (or one of them at least). For your consideration, a selection from Chris Dahlen’s re-review of Merriweather Post Pavilion:
At its core, Merriweather Post Pavilion is very ordinary. The lyrics read like stuff you’d talk about around the grill. Even that UFO at the start of the disc sounds like its drain got clogged. But on their strongest and—not coincidentally—most accessible album to date, celebrating the everyday is the point. High-pitched electronics heighten alertness. Every detail of the daily routine brings joy. The lover you dream about is the one at home. And making that home is the thing that makes life amazing.
What’s interesting about this passage is not the euphoric tone, which is so prevalent in P4k’s coverage of the band it may as well be prescribed in their style book. Its the object of the writer’s euphoria, the ‘celebration’ of domestic themes (see below) that totally blows my gourd. There’s nothing wrong with the author’s (or presumable AnCo’s) stance—that domesticity is desirable, that it “makes life amazing”. It just seems like a 180 from the ’sex, drugs, and rock & roll’ aesthetic promoted in music and music writing since, uh Zeppelin*. Unless I’m wrong, Rock Stars (who AnCo undoubtedly are) are normally thought of as living on something like a different world. I think this world is like ours, but more hardcore. They have more extreme drug / alcohol / sex /ego / attitude problems. Back stage passes, bowls full of condoms, groupies, Heroin, misguided upward bass tosses, cocaine, silly pants, suicide. A Rock Star lives and dies hard.
Animal Collective is not ‘that band’. They are married bros, having kids and loving life. They are making music but they prioritize making a proper home.
A Day in the Life of Panda Bear, a Reverse Bono**
I’ll get up and I’ll either make myself a sweet coffee or make an instant one if I’m feeling really lazy. Then I’ll do a bunch of emails and internet stuff for an hour or two. Then I’ll have lunch with my wife then go to the studio to work for four hours then I’ll come home and pick my daughter up from school, give her a bath. Then my wife gets home and we’ll make dinner, have dinner, then we’ll hang out with my daughter, put her to bed, then my wife and I will hang out and then she’ll go to bed, then I’ll hang out and go to bed.
MPP succeeded by “celebrating the most common connections between human beings”—what does that mean? He’s talking about Family Values, the Values discussed by Dahlen in the paragraph above. I think Dahlen’s assumed audience is composed mainly of aging indie bros. Maybe they used to be cool / wild / relevant and had crazy sex and drug experiences. Maybe there was a time when they were something like Rock Stars, living awesome hardcore lives (as understood through the myth of the Rock Star). Now it’s time to settle down, to provide. It’s nice to have music that speaks to their current reality.
A Lyrical Analysis of “My Girls”
There isn’t much that I feel I need
A solid soul and the blood I bleed
But with a little girl, and by my spouse,
I only want a proper house
I don’t care for fancy things
Or to take part in the freshest wave,
But to provide for mine who ask
I will, with heart, on my father’s grave
On my father’s grave
(On your father’s grave)
I don’t mean to seem like I
Care about material things,
Like a social status,
I just want
Four walls and adobe slats
For my girls
Throughout the song, the speaker says two things. He says something like “I have simple needs”, and moves on to say something like “I am a provider”. In the second stanza, he pledges on his father’s grave to “provide for mine who ask”. I think that part might be about continuity, something about becoming a Man. I think this song is about realizing that it’s Time To Nut Up And Become A Man. To Become A Man is to desire a stable home life, to want to care for spouse and children.
Let’s compare to Amanda Petrusich’s write up of the song, which happens to be Pitchfork’s number one song of the decade:
[T]he catchy, gloriously harmonized highlight of Merriweather Post Pavilion, is all heart—arguably the most earnest expression of basic human want recorded in 2009. Panda Bear’s promise to provide a proper house for his wife and young daughter, in the wake of his father’s death [...] “My Girls” feels like a life preserver for people tottering on the precipice of adulthood….”My Girls” is ultimately a celebration of the simplification—of desire, of priorities—that comes with growing up.
I don’t mean to state the obvious, that
‘My Girls’ is about growing up,
Like getting a steady job and
Focusing on family or whatever
I just want to emphasize
That the number one song of the decade (according to Pitchfork) is the number one song because (again, according to Pitchfork) of its appeal to a universal understanding of ‘what it is to be human’ or what we (probably men) should want. Really? I think it might be that these authors are themselves “tottering on the precipice of adulthood” (c.f. nostalgia, Memory Tapes, Chillwave, H-pop). I think that they / we are scared of the future, of growing up. Oh. Well maybe they are completely right and I’m deluding myself whatever.
An Account of the Effects of “My Girls”
Have you had a moment at a party or at a dance club where the six to eight well drinks have kicked in and you hear a song and look at your friends and you all simultaneously realize your common love for the song? And then, as a friend explained to me, you “sing at” each other? Or better, do you sing at someone you’d like to leave the club with? Different songs do it to different people. “My Girls” is a song that does that to me and the people among whom I often find myself drunk. I not-so-clearly remember this happening three times***. Imagining myself and others irresponsibly drunk and singing about family values, I feel a bit of a disconnect between reality, the song’s theme, and my connection to the song. It probably makes some Freudian sense.
Speaking of Getting Fucked Up
Stuart Berman’s disambiguation between the first track of Girl’s Album and the Iggy Pop song with which it shares a name (“Lust For Life”) makes an appeal similar to that of Dahlen and Petrusich:
But if Iggy’s anthem was about getting fucked up, Girls’ version is about being a fuck-up—less a celebration of excess than an appeal for basic human needs.
Basic Human Needs (stated as wishes)
Boyfriend (1)
Father (1)
Loving Man/Men (in your life) (2)
Suntan (1)
Pizza (1)
Bottle of Wine (1)
Beach House (where you could make a big fire every night) (1)
Basic Human Needs (stated as wants)
Walls (4)
Adobe Slats (???)
Basic Human Needs (sum of all)
Basic Human Needs (according to Robert Plant)
Lemon, Squeezed (1)
You (??)
Basic Human Needs (couched in uncertainty)
New Heart (1)
Basic Human Needs (according to my to my top OkCupid match’s “The Six Things I Could Never Do Without”
1) Writing Instrument
2) Paper, I would like it to be binded if only for convenience’s sake
3) Music
4) Book(s)
5) Lighter
6) Orange Tic Tacs
Basic Human Needs (Riot Grrl stance)
Not You
Or, You (0)
Please use the comments section to discuss your interpretation of basic human needs.
*This is in no way substantiated.
**Pedestrian.TV remarks, “…Lennox remains scarily modest and even self deprecating about his work. It’s a refreshing twist on the rock star persona—a kind of reverse-Bono if you will. PedestrianTV seems obsessed with Bono, given this and their characaterization of Memory Tapes bro: “Dave Hawk is a music industry rarity – a reluctant rock star. He’s like the anti-Bono”.
***Though the last time was just me singing to one person. I sang the chorus like “I just want/Four walls and Adobe Creative Suite…”
I Have Reservations About This But This Is About You Not Me (Fanning the Flames of Blog Hype)
Sleigh Bells “A/B Machines” LIVE at Le Poisson Rouge NYC from AbzPunkPhoto on Vimeo.
I heard about a band today called Sleigh Bells. They seem to be the center of a veritable internet hype avalanche, of which I/we am/are a part. They make me feel like I’m listening to Britney Spears’ ‘indie’ crossover hit. I hear she did this with “Toxic”. Is this true? Sleigh Bells are recording in January, and Pitchfork will probably name it ‘album of the year’ 2k10. Actually, Pitchfork’s top ten next year will be:
10. Token Rap Album
9. Album With Three Or Four ‘OK’ Songs On It That Is Heavily Influenced By Brian Wilson/Surf Rock And Not An Animal Collective Album
8. My Videos Are ‘Mad Creepy’: An Album By Girl Who Was In The Knife
7. Sleigh Bells Debut Album
6. Kid A (Remastered On 180 Gram Free Trade Organic Vinyl Including Hidden Dis Track: ‘Fiery Furnaces Ain’t Shit—In Memory of William Basinski’)
5. Rockband: The Beatles
4. Album From Previously Unknown British Act Released In November ‘10 And Referred To As ‘Beloved’ By January
3. Animal Collective EP
2. Panda Bear/Atlas Sound Double LP Feat. The Walkabouts Synthetic Choir And Digital String Band
1. The Animal Collective Movie
(hat tip to yvynyl. As usual)
Songs I can’t get out of my head: To Clean by Woods
Say hello to Woods, some young men from Brooklyn who (gasp!) have a band. Their song To Clean off of their latest album Songs of Shame has taken over my brain. I have honestly made attempts to not listen to/sing this to myself but to no avail. There is something about the extremely simple structure/short length/noisy guitar solos (samples?)/whimsical distant falsetto vocals/crudeish harmonies that just sucks me in. In an attempt to cast off this addiction, I decided to share the video with the world in the hope that maybe my obsession will go with it. I sorta hope it doesn’t
Mad Division at the Mausoleum, Tonight!
It definitely pays to be a Philadelphian, come out to the Mad Division event, tonight! Don’t miss out on Nightslug. Nightslug consist of two of London’s first and only dedicated heavy bass and global gutter inspired Djs: BOK BOK & L-VIS 1990. Make sure you don’t miss this beat-dropping musical experience, tonight at the Mausoleum (N 12th St & Spring Garden St).
Schoolly D Live in Concert at Acoustic Soul
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Come watch the original makers of electronic beats, Schoolly D and DJ Code Money. This is going to be one the best hip hop shows coming through Philadelphia. Other performances by The Soul Asylum, The One Sun Lion Ra, The Soundbwoi Killaz, Alien Architects, True Dialect, Voss, Daynomi Thomas. It’s only $10 for admission to real-raw hip hop. The concert will also be broadcast live worldwide at watchurmouth.com. For more information, featured request, etc. call Damali at (267) 241-1787 or email acoustic.soul@ymail.com.
McJAWN Goes to 2009 CMJ
Words and Photos by Edgar Alan Dough
CMJ in New York is like all the things that make Philly better rolled up into one week – long lines, industry dickheads, overzealous scenesters and 7-dollar beers. But that didn’t stop McJAWN for stepping out and getting in on the action. Here’s a rundown of the things we saw, heard, and _______________
Speaking In Code | a Documentary film by Amy Grill
Described by the film makers as “a human movie about computer music”, Speaking In Code is about the techno scene across the world, and more-so about the people involved. Amy Grill and her husband, David Day live in Boston, where David is trying to ignite a fire in the Red Sox Nation, hoping to turn them into bass thumping club-going techno-heads. As hilarious as this premise sounds, it’s actually not. His struggles to transform his home-town are cut together with other stories of come-up and struggle in lands where techno does reign supreme. In Germany, the film follows dudes like Modeselektor, and The Wighnomy Brothers (apparently they are famous), and journalist-ternt-DJ Philip Sherburne in Barcelona. The movie’s pretty entertaining thanks to the characters, but much like the music it documents, too often over-the-top and self indulgent.
Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy4uqwSxwfE
Bananas! | a Documentary film by Fredrik Gertten
A deeply disturbing and fucked-up tale of a lawsuit filed by the workers of Nicaragua against Dole Food Company over pesticides used at the banana fields causing sterility in the workers. In the second poorest nation in The Americas, agriculture work is the main source of employment, so when it was found out that Dole’s pesticides cause sterility, the number of affected men was in the thousands. Bananas! follows LA-based ambulance chasing lawyer, Juan Dominguez, as he preps the case, rallies the plaintiffs, and cruises down Sunset in his red Ferrari. The characters are rich, and the story is heartbreaking. Though, loose ends and the world’s inability to ever really get retribution for wrongs done by big corporations, ultimately makes it a dissatisfying film, unfortunately.
Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VYPQ6jJKWY
Better Recognize Showcase | @ BB Kings
After standing in line for long enough to start talking to the police horses that make Times Square smell like the petting zoo at TKTKT Philly’s Zoo, the show, put on by Nah Right and OnSmash.com began. The first act we caught was Stalley, who was joined by Mickey Factz. The up-and-comer spit some knowledge-laden lyrics and put on a dope show for an opening act. Then came the main attraction for the night for many, young Atlanta trap-star Pill. After rocking the shit out of some new joints, bringing out Gary, Indiana’s own Freddie Gibbs, and delivering two renditions of his Pink City anthem, “Trap Goin’ Ham”, he left the stage a considerable amount more crunked than when he arrived.
A couple more dynamic duos followed afterward, Kidz in the Hall and Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y. Consequence followed with a short set, and brought out young Mr. Cudi, who proclaimed (as he usually does), “I’m wasted!!!” as he got the mic to perform “Make Her Say” and “Sky Might Fall”. What was supposed to be the highlight of the night was Gucci Mane protege and frequent money-getter, OJ Da Juiceman. But even as Miss Info was introducing him with lavish praise, the bridge-n-tunnel crowd was getting their Silky Johnson on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dzxef1muoQ). Even his biggest hit, “Make The Trap Say Aye”, couldn’t save him, and he was booed the entire 15 minutes he was on stage. Tragic.
The headliners did their damn thing. Rae, the supreme coke commander of the Wu-Tang Clan, ran through classics like “C.R.E.A.M.” and bangers off his new classic album like “Catalina”. Scratchy voice and all, dude still puts on a dope show. The homies from Yonkers also tore through LOX classics like “Money, Power, Respect” as well as solo cuts, like “Blow My Mind”, and “I Get High”. Too bad all that dope hip hop couldn’t make the hate in the room dissipate. Give love a chance, guys.
ZUZUKA PODEROSA brings Baile Funk and the Jungle to Philly’s Barbary >>>McJawn Exclusive Interview
Zuzuka Poderosa (mc / dj /dope homegirl) drops Brazilian bred, Brooklyn based swagger like no other. A stylistic blend of Funk Carioca and NYC rumble add a breath of fresh air to today’s international music scene. She’s hard to miss with her unapologetic sultry Portuguese lyrics. This, coupled with booty bumping basslines, she packs New York nightclubs like sardines.
Zuzuka turns the BARBARY into a wild jungle on THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12th. Doors at 10pm. Free Entry.
McJawn: How did you first get into MCing and rocking the mic?
Zuzuka: I was a DJ before I got to the mic and all my life I’ve been interested in music. I have a Brazilian background, where we thrive on music. Then when was older i moved to the West Indies for a bit, then New York, which led me to love Drum’n'Bass music. Satellite & Breakbeat Science were like my second homes. I’ve spent so much time and money there over the years. Later in 2003 I met my good old friend J. Stones from Tropicalia in Furs Records. There I started my rare collection of Brazilian records. Joel & I started to throw parties in N.Y, the SambaFunkSoulBeat . Around 2005-2006 I met w/ the crew from Nossa that were also doing the Brazilian Favela/Clash parties in the city, we became friends and soon enough I went to the studio where they were recording and I quickly wrote ” Ai Voce Gosta” and got on the mic. Then boom!! All the DJ’s in NY had the song in their set, and I couldn’t believe they were really digging it. “Ai Voce Gosta” was, and still is such a hit. Kassiano produced it and Gandja Monteiro directed the video.
McJawn: How would you describe a typical baile funk in the favelas of Rio?
Zuzuka: Baile funk means a lot for the communities, it’s all about the communities you know. In every Favela there are huge Baile funk Balls. This is where residents go out to have fun. You don’t usually see a kid from the favela going to zona sul club and paying 100 reais to get in. It would be impossible. At those Baile Funk parties in the favelas, that’s where you will find the most amazing DJ’s and MC’s. You will also find gigantic speaker systems, fireworks, amazing dancers, and battles… it’s amazing!
But Baile has been looked down in society, since there’s lots of racism and lack of freedom of expression. Talking about drugs, sex, or violence disturbs the masses, especially the upper class. I have some friends that have been arrested because they were talking about smoking weed in their song and talking about sexual acts, so they got arrested for soliciting drugs and pornography. I mean, is that really necessary?
However, Baile Funk has become main stream, and all the kids from zona sul, or any other upper class neighborhood are listening to baile funk and I’m sure their parents are not so fond of it. It’s really breaking the barrier and those zona sul kids are going up in the hills to go to Baile Funk parties every weekend more and more. Just like Samba became a culture, I think Baile funk will become its own. Baile Funk just needs to have more freedom of expression. I just don’t get it. In Brasil, you can turn the TV on and all you see is ass, ass and more ass and that’s soliciting sex too, but the TV says it’s legal and it’s OK. Meanwhile Baile Funk culture is looked down upon for mere words.
McJawn: Baile Funk received a lot of exposure to places around the world as well as even main stream clubs in the past 5 years or so, do you see the funk carioca moving forward in north America and around the world?Zuzuka: Yeah it’s definitely been a huge movement, especially in Europe. In the U.S not as much, but I hope I can contribute to make Baile Funk big here in the U.S too. Outside of Brasil, Baile funk has earned respect from many other countries, and has become a phenomenon. Basically you take very little, put it on a MPC and create something entirely new. A pure form of ghetto music. This culture has changed the way that people view remixing and performing live electronic music.
McJawn: Working on any projects now? Any tours/albums we can look out for?
Zuzuka: We’re working to bring the monthly party that we throw every second friday at Le Poisson Rouge to Brazil in February. BOOmCha showcases singer’s, MC’s, producers, DJ’s from AfroBass, Kuduro, Baile Funk, Dancehall and many other genres. It’s the World Bass Movement Tour.
I haven’t put any album out yet, but by next year I will definitely surprise you all.
Meanwhile you can check my myspace for all my new music www.myspace.com/zuzukapoderosa
McJawn: You play a show in Philly next week! Philly is a dope place to bring new sounds, will this be your first show in Philadelphia?
Zuzuka: It is my first time playing in Philly and I’m super excited!! I know people in Philly always have had great taste in music. I remember back in the day we would drive there just to go to a dope drum’n'bass party on Thursdays. I will be playing The Barbary’s Double Dutch party on Thursday, November 12th alongside WOOLES DJ from Apavoramento Sound System who’s here from Brasil. I hope all the Philly Funkeiros come out en masse because this Amazon Warrior Queen is going to make this club wild like the jungle.
AMAZON JUNGLE. BARBARY. FACEPAINT. NOVEMBER 12th.
Photo Courtesy of Sarah Boyle.
Biggie vs Miley: Party in the USA, Party & Bullshit
I found this on Yis’s facebook. And I thought to myself: really, Yis? Truth is, I just can’t help myself, other than listening to Drake, this is a guilty pleasure of mine.
“So I put my hands up. They’re playing my song. And the butterfly fly away. Noddin’ my head like yeah. Movin my hips like yeah. I got my hands up. They’re playin my song. I know I’m gonna be ok. Yeaaahhh, it’s a party in the USA! Yeaaahhh, it’s a party in the USA!”
AMARI – Your Kisses feat Vanache (rmx)
#MusicMondays @Vanache
NEW MUSIC BY YOURS TRULY.
PRODUCED BY VANACHE
=> LISTEN HERE <=
I wanted to drop this sonic basket of goodness off to you guys. It’s been a while since anyone has heard any music from me, and I’m proud to announce this remix that I work on with Italian pop group AMARI. I’m especially excited because this is the very first remix I’ve ever done with anyone. So I hope you guys receive it well. (^_^)
download track:
AMARI – \”Your Kisses\” – feat Vanache (rmx)
Getting Psyched For 2010
![vampireweekend-contra[1]](http://mcjawn.com/blog/wp-content/themes/tma/images/latest/2009/10/vampireweekend-contra14.jpg "vampireweekend-contra[1]")
Listen to (or download for FREE) the song Horchata off the new album. More at www.vampireweekend.com.
