DC::DJ Dredd Presents: Michael Jackson Birthday Celebration

It’s a known fact that around Michael Jackson’s Birthday there always will be a party being had! But If ANYONE has ever been to a DJ Dredd party KNOWS that he’s gonna throw down and its NOT the party to be missed.

click the flyer to purchase tickets

DC:: (5/18) AudioTRIP

What do you get when you put ..Dj Spinna x Rich Medina x Daz-I-Kue x Waajeed together?

AudioTRIP –You want to board this flight!!!!

Oh did I mention that its FREE

DC::(4/29) AFROBEAT 4 YA SOUL x AFRICA AFRICA AFRICA

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GOOD FOLKS AT LUNCHBOXTHEORY

&

FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE!!!

Rest In Beats –Guru

Guru, born Keith Elam from Boston, Massachusettes, was a creative soul who was raised in a middle-class family, one that didn’t quite understand his urge to have a rap career.  Guru’s father, Harry Elam was the first black judge in the Boston court, and his mother, Barbara worked in the Boston public school system.  Guru himself graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta in 1983.

Guru (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) met DJ Premier in 1988,  they went on to have six critically acclaimed albums, two of which, “Moment of Truth” and “Full Clip” were certified gold.  In 1993 Guru released the first in a series of  hip-hop, jazz influenced albums titled, “Jazzamatazz”, which not only helped bridge a genre but also generations.

When I first heard GangStarr I was in Junior High school, a friend of mine was blasting this really infectious  beat,–I could hear it through the headphones, I couldn’t quite make out the words but the beat caught me.  I asked him who was he listening to, he replied, “GangStarr, girl your mind isn’t ready for this”.  After convincing him to let me listen, Guru’s rough raspy voice, intelligent rhymes and his penchant for dope storytelling had me hooked.  Lets just say that guy never got his tape back and GangStarr had a new dedicated fan.

In the late nineties, I was fortunate to meet Guru in NYC after a Roots concert.  He was pleasant, down to earth and very humble.  It was an honor to be in his presence.  When I heard word of his passing I was deeply saddened even though I only met him once and didn’t know him personally he was still a part of my life — musically.  There’s a lot of tragedy surrounding Guru’s passing, his relationship with his family, and the infamous “letter” supposedly penned by Guru to be released upon his death.

Well since the above piece was written for another site, but someone already wrote about it, I can now vent a bit.  First of all let me say that I wish no ill things to come to Solar, BUT …it’s gonna come on him, maybe not today, tomorrow or even a few years, but it will come to him –its his final destination.  I don’t know whats motivating him to lie, be snake like, or any of the other malicious things he has done and is planning.  I so don’t support anything that has anything to do with Solar, and thats MY word.

Mochilla x Vtech Presents: DC Timeless Premiere

Timeless Premiere: Special Midnight Screening
Sat 4.17.10

Timeless: The Composer/Arranger Video Series is the name of a concert
series that was created in homage to the composer/arrangers who have
influenced hip-hop in the most literal and profound ways. The
Composers include the late J Dilla, Ethio-Jazz Pioneer Mulatu Astatke
and Brazilian talent, Arthur Verocai. These recorded performances are
full orchestra with special guests. It will be video mixed live by the
one and only J.Rocc (Stones Throw Rcds, Beat Junkies). Timeless was
conceived by production house Mochilla in Los Angeles during February
and March 2009 and included the performances of over 150 musicians in
front of ecstatic sold out crowds. These three historic events were
recorded and filmed in exacting detail with Mochilla’s unmistakable
style.

See www.mochilla.com/timeless for movie trailers

Presented by Vtech and Mochilla
Produced by Munch for HedRush

Reception: 10:30p
Beer Sponsored by PBR
& Complimentary CIROC
Red Berry & Coconut Cocktails

Screening: Midnight Sharp

Free Admission. Limited Seating. 21+

Must RSVP timeless@pookiesgallery.com

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co.
641 D Street NW
Washington, DC 20004

Sonnymoon

click photo to download

I recently went to SXSW found a new gem in my room –no literally!! Sonnymoon, held a performance in the Couchsessions suite (which happened to be my room, too)

Dane Orr and Anna Wise are well versed musicians and recent graduates of the Berklee School of Music, and former school chums with Aftermath producer Dawaun Parker.  My first introduction to their music was the electro’d out cover of Drake’s “Houstonatlantavegas” which in my opinion is way fresher than the original. They are bridging the avant-garde musical gap by mixing and blending  jazz, soul, electropop in a delicious musical dish..

….but you dont have to take my word for it….listen for yourselves!

just thank me later!

I dont rock the aisle

she’s a teacher..but its evident that she still is learning –i dig that about e.badu

NYC: Robert Glasper x ?uestlove | March 29th

MONDAY, MARCH 29TH 2010 – 9PM

Robert Glasper’s Annual Birthday Celebration

f/ The Robert Glasper Experiment and Special Guests

Monday, March 29th 2010
Sullivan Hall (241 Sullivan btw Bleecker & West 3rd)
Doors @ 9PM
Special Guest DJ – ?uestlove & Preservation

ADMISSION IS $15 WITH RSVP TO EVENTS@REVIVEDALIVE.COM
MUST RSVP BY SUNDAY, MARCH 28TH BY 10PM EST

Otherwise it is $20 Day of Show.

SXSW::Day 1

Day  1 –Didn’t start off as smoothly as I wanted it to, but it did confirm that a certain friend isn’t a reliable person.  Lets just say that if I didn’t wake up when I did –and normally I don’t – SXSW would’ve been a distant blur.  So, I hustled my procrastinating ass up and out the door.  Actually, it was a good thing that said friend didn’t come –overheard that traffic was crazy! Now once on the Marc train, I was in my own world being kinda upset due to the fact that my pampered ass wasn’t being chauffeured around (lol) , so needless to say I was kind of standoffish …but when am I not (lol), After I lugged my über heavy over packed suitcase up on the seat next to me a woman sat down, and loudly asked if I was a dj.  Mainly because of these (insert photo of headphones)

I politely told her , “No, I’m not”.  “Well, you should be..you sure do look like one”, she replied.  I laughed it off proceeded to creep back into my sheltered social networking world blocking out the real world around me. But, she kept me submerged in her world.  She loudly & proudly introduced herself as Ruth, and that she was born in the 80s, works for & competes in the Special Olympics, loves to swim, loves Disco, that Rico Suave song, and thinks that Haddaway is sexy.  She supports gay rights, has commitment issues, loves to be single because that way she can dance with any guy in the room.  Ruth is Autistic.  So for roughly 15 mins, I engaged in a lovely conversation with a wonderful young lady.

lets fast forward here a bit –got on plane, sat beside handsome man,  put on headphones, zzzzzzzzz, closed window, zzzzzzz, missed the on flight beverages, zzzzzzz, plane landed in ATL, woke up.

Now, I’m on the layover portion of the journey.  I feel like I should be on the ground running –instead I’m sitting on my bum at Delta’s “recharge” center  (looks over at phone—its charging sloooooooowly)

Fresh off the plane, gotta run to the bathroom –something didn’t agree with me –boy oh boy.  After I gather my luggage; I wait!! My ride to Austin doesn’t arrive until 4:30 –by 6pm we were on the road to Austin (yeeee haw)

Highlights of the day: Hanging with Malik, Meeting Amir (finally), Jcrillz and seeing the DC massive!

Bacon in a cone?!?!

You Don’t Want to Miss This :: Little Giant Birthday Celebration!!!

Little Giant x Tayyib of two.one.five magazine is throwing one helluva birthday shindig –shame I’ll miss it because I’ll be at SXSW –but just because I get to miss out on the fun doesnt mean that you have to!! Plus, when’s the next time you’ll get to hear King Britt, Rich Medina, Dj Statik & Questlove all at the same party?!?! hmmm

Go give him a birthday lick or two or 15…