Thursday, September 2nd

Skate Or Die: There's a holy trinity of the things that I've always been in to that definitely formed the man that I am today - rap music, graffiti and skateboarding. I never would have though that when I grew up at least one of them would be how I make my living and be what I'm kind of known for, this DJing thing. And I don't write graffiti anymore but like I've said in teh past, once a writer always a writer. And even though I still get the itch every once in a while, I curb myself. But I still like to be involved as much as I can, from checking fresh tags on the streets to staying abreast of other programs, such as Tatu X-Men's Paint Straight program (shout out to Chino and to my little homie Christian.)

The only one out of the three that I don't do is skate, and that's not because I don't want to (I recently tried during our Shotguns, Sixpacks & Serato tour much to chagrin of my wife.) It's just that I'm a cripple - excuse me, disabled - after a terrible car accident about 12 years ago. So my legs just don't work that way anymore. But the desire never left me. Like a graffiti writer who sees a wall and immediately in his or her mind comes the idea of how a tag or piece would look on it, like a DJ who when they  hear a specific piece of music immediately thinks about what it would be like to rock doubles of it, when I see a smooth ledge or rail or sweet bank, immediately I think about how great it would be to ride it. But tough breaks and that's just not in the cards for me, as much as I still feel the pull.

In 1985 my mom opened the first skateboard shop in Philly, Spikes Skates, which was located on the second floor of the original Mitchell & Ness shop. Immediately all the kids in the city had a haven, a chapel, a place of congregation. You're probably thinking damn that must have been the best thing in the world, growing up with your mom who owned a skateboard shop and guess what - you're absolutely right. Skating is what made me the dude I am today. I met so many lifelong friends during the time was open, as well as being exposed to some of the greatest skaters of that generation. And I have to thank my mom for that, so... thanks mom!

Original Spikes Team Rider shirt designed by Tony Vogdes

Spikes Riders at Love Park circa 1987

Roger Brown catching air over a car at one of the Spikes contests / expos at Tunn Tavern, 1986 / 87

Mike Vallely on a ramp at one of the Spikes contests / expos at Tunn Tavern, 1987 / 88

My homeboy Ari has organized the Spikes Skates 25 Year Reunion that will be taking place in Philly this Saturday afternoon. If you're in teh area come though and share in the love and the memories. It's going to be a great time.

Wednesday, September 1st

I love rap music. And I love it when a new rap song comes out and the people spitting really bring their A-Game. This new Kanye is ridiculous in the way. Each rapper kills it. If anyone would have asked me a couple years ago that my favorite "current" rapper would have been Rick Ross I would have asked them to stop smoking that shit. But here in 2010, there you go. And the crazy thing is that Rawsss doesn't even body the track as much as Nicki Minaj. Not even Kanye or Jay-Z don't come as hard as Nicki. Damn... Did we just witness a great shift?

The only problem I have is the sound. Damn Kanye, who the hell is doing your mastering and mixing? Everything I've been hearing from the album sounds muddy as hell. I hope that gets straightened out soon cause I would love to hear these joints mixed properly. Seems like people don't really care about "sound" these days. The Loudness War killed fidelity, and you know it's true. I would love to see producers and engineers watch the way that 10cc worked their studio magic in the video below for inspiration.

Tuesday, August 31st

Summer is almost done and honestly I'm not that mad about it. It was way too damn hot in Brooklyn this year anyway, and that's coming from someone that actually likes the warmer temperatures. So between the heatwaves and the widespread New York bedbug infestation, I'm looking forward to that first chill in the air so I can break out "Astral Weeks" and settle into autumn.

Speaking of heat, my brand new site is ALMOST almost almost ready for launch. I think a few more tweaks here and there and it will be up and running with a bang, and I can't wait. In fact, here's a little teaser screen-cap to get you interested...

Breakbeat Tuesday - Straight From The Philly Vaults: Back in March when I spun at The Do Over in Miami I think the second or third record I played was one that a whole grip of people kind of flipped their wig about. It was an instrumental version of The Ambassador's "Ain't Got The Love (Of One Girl On My Mind)" which is probably best know to our generation as the basis of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's "I Got A Love." Yeah, Ambassadors is a hot record, and definitely a heavy piece, but c'mon son... the INSTRUMENTAL?

So about 10 years ago my man D*** B**** whom I had known for a minute from around the collectors circuit and just from being "dude" in Philly hit me up and was like "Yo Cosmo, you have to hear these Ambassadors instrumental acetates." Of course I was like yeah fuck you son with them wolf tickets. But he kept on at it about them until I had to figure it out if he was bullshitting. Well, my man was not lying...

The Ambassadors was a sweet soul singing group from North Philly - and Philly was known for its sweet soul vocalist stylings at the time with groups like The Delfonics and the Stylistics. The Ambassadors were discovered by WDAS program director Jimmy Bishop who quickly signed them to his imprint Arctic Records. The Ambassadors released one LP, 1969's "Soul Summit" and they had a minor hit with "I Really Love You."

Here's a picture of Jimmy Bishop (left) with Joe Butterball Tamburo (far right,) the man who succeeded him as program director at WDAS and is still there to this day, and whom is one of my favorite DJs of all time.

It wasn't until 23 years later that the song "Ain't Got The Love" really became such a sought-after piece. It's an incredible song, actually written by another one of Bishop's discovery's - the incredible Barbara Mason - and produced by Bishop himself. Bishop produced a bunch of music at the time, including the very strange and psychedelic soul tune "Jason Pew Mosso" by The Interpretations.

So my man, the homeboy with the acetates, had this acetate which as an instrumental version of The Ambassadors "Ain't Got The Love" but it wasn't by them - it was by The Sam Reed Band. So it turned out that Sam Reed was a South Phillly based sax player who would session around town as well as being part of the house band at the world famous Uptown Theater on North Broad Street. Bishop put together a band under his and Sam Reed's direction to do all the music for the Arctic releases. Now I guess that they thought that the instrumental versions wouldn't fly as well as the ones with vocals. To me that's surprising considering who they have playing on these tracks - guys like Vince Montana, Ronnie Baker, Norman Harris, Earl Young. You know, the guys who became MFSB and pretty much CREATED disco and are the living embodiment of The Philly Sound (and the SalSoul sound as well hahah...) Well anyway, even though that acetate is dumb-rare, the song was released on the "Mutha Funkin Sonofa Bitch (The Truth Behind The Philly Legend)" compilation in 2006. This one is by special request, so enjoy!

The Sam Reed Band "Ambassadors Theme" (Arctic acetate 1969? / Funkadelphia 2006)

BONUS BEATS: It's been exactly 5 years since Katrina and seems like everyone forgot. I didn't, nor will I ever. Hold your head, Nola. You're stronger than you think, and more inspirational than you know. Here's a nugget from there, just one of many that magical place has given the world. And just in case you forgot, George Bush doesn't care about Black people.

Eddie Bo & The Soul Finders "We're Doing It (Thang) Pt. 2" (Bo-Sound, 1970)

Monday, August 30th

So yesterday marked the official end of the Sixpacks, Shotguns & Serato tour! Big thanks to my brothers and partners DJ Ayres, Smalltown Pete & Smalltown Mike for the adventures and the memories. It was a smashing success and wouldn't have been if we all weren't such dudes. Also thanks to Miche, Kenny Mac, Jo Magik, our friends at Scion and at Red Bull, Calgary, Banff, Saskatoon, Red Deer, Fernie, Winnipeg, Toronto and Brooklyn for showing love. We documented the whole tour fully so stay tuned for the full video coming soon.

For the last stop of the tour we  came to Brooklyn to participate in the very last Jelly NYC Pool Party. It was an amazing time and big shout to Sarah and Alex. Also thanks to Brooklyn for coming out and riding with us without any idea who the special guests were going to be. They ended up being Gucci Mane, DMC, Doug E. Fresh, Cool Kids and Chuck Schumer. Not bad for a lazy Sunday afternoon...

DMC showed the crowd he's still the King Of Rock (courtesy Brooklyn Vegan)

He brought Andrew WK out to do "It's Tricky" and "Walk This Way" (courtesy Brooklyn Vegan)

Then Doug E. Fresh came out unannounced and showed why he's the "Worlds Greatest Entertainer." (courtesy Brooklyn Vegan)

Then it was Gucci Time... (courtesy Brooklyn Vegan)

Me, Ayres & Jane on stage while DMC rocks.

Me, Pete, Ayres & Mike - GREAT SUCCESS!

Thanks to my friends at Brooklyn Vegan and also my man Nicky Digital for some great shots and footage (including this exclusive video of DMC, Andrew WK and Les Savy Fav‘s Tim Harrington performing "Walk This Way."

Friday, August 27th

Big shout to my Turntable Lab family for the release of the new FREE EP, Secret Hangout Volume 2.  This is a free compilation with joints by me and DJ Ayres along with our friends Thee Mike B, Blu Jemz, Michna and more. All the music is really good and fun, and my contribution is the Doobie Brothers edit that I did a couple of years ago that people were sweating. So now it's time to grip it - on that other level.

This is slightly involved so pay attention.
1) Go here http://digital.turntablelab.com and log in (or create an account if you don’t have one already).
2) go to cart, click redeem promo code and enter “newfriend”
3) checkout and voila! no purchase necessary!

Tuesday, August 24th

This is a quick update from on the road, so I'm going to make this short and sweet. The Sixpacks, Shotguns & Serato tour has been going swimmingly so far - although it's been somewhat lacking in the sixpacks and shotguns department. Thankfully there's been enough of Serato to go around. Each show has been even more dynamic than the next, and much love to everyone in Calgary, Banff, Saskatoon and Red Deer for coming out and showing much love. We have 2 days off which will be spent in the studio, and also getting aquainted with various Canadian beers and firearms. This week finds us dudes hitting up Fernie, Winnipeg and Toronto before returning to New York for the Grande Finale. Watch right here for some official updates this week. But off to the races, and the beats, for today is Tuesday...

Breakbeat Tuesday - Food For Thought: Today marks the second installment of Breakbeat Tuesday with a special guest and I'm extremely privilege to have this person come through and drop some heat. You could say that the very term "Breakbeat" was solidified into our lexicon by the release of the Ultimate Breaks & Beats compilation series from 1986 to 1991 by Street Beat Records. This collection was compiled by two legends - Lenny Roberts and Breakbeat Lou. So it is my sincere honor today to present Breakbeat Tuesday, brought to you by the one and only Breakbeat Lou...

WOW, I’M ACTUALLY WRITING FOR COSMO BAKER’S BREAKBEAT TUESDAY! After a couple weeks of obstacles, I’m finally here. It is so awesome that he created this forum for the genre of BreakBeat.

Well before the featured Breakbeat cut, here’s a brief 411. For me, record collecting started back in 1973 when I purchased my first record - Willie Colon’s track “Che Che Cole” Featuring Hector Lavoe on 45 (FANIA 515). This was the beginning of my addiction to vinyl (which at last count was approximately over 20,000, that includes the likes of Benny More, The Four Seasons, Run-DMC, Luciano Pavarotti and everything in between.) My DJ career started in late 1974 with jams and house parties (yes and hooky parties too lol...) My breakbeat diggin’ days started in 1977 when I bought “Space Funk” by Manzel at Crazy Eddie’s on Fordham Road in the Bronx.  Even though I was cutting beats since ’75, all those beats I rocked then belong to my crew. After DJing for several years I started getting more into the elements of music which led me to production in 1981 and subsequently the birth of the original break beat series. Now for the featured Breakbeat!

It started back in the mid to late '70 when I first heard it, but what I remembered most about this track is; I’m walking into the P.A.L . (Police Athletic League) on Webster & 183rd Street in The Bronx, the words coming out the speakers were “Hey Fellas I’m talking to you, you and you…..” for about 6 times then he cuts straight into the break we all know “Woo Yea” followed by the horns riff and lyrics ‘It Take Two To Make A Thing Go Right” the he goes back to the “Woo Yea” and the horns as he spins back faster and caught it 4 to five times and then he gets faster catches at the “Woo Yea” for about 6 or 7 times. The D.J. was Grandmaster Flash and of course the Breakbeat is “Think (About It)” by Lyn Collins (the LP Version).

This beat kept lingering in the back of my mind. The funky, uncanny production of James Brown with the J.B.’s., those signature drums with tambourines, along with the awesome horn section on a bed of organ riffs and rhythm guitar topped off with Lyn’s vocals at a 113BPM guarantee bop your head funk!  This experience let us to dig for a mint copy and add it the Ultimate Breaks and Beats compilation. When it came to actually record the record, I had discussed with Lenny what I heard @ the P.A.L. and because every DJ at the time was not as fast as Flash we decided to create the infamous “WOO YEA” edit, which is synonymous with the Rob Base hit and many others. Since we reintroduced it in 1987 it has been sampled hundreds of times and from numerous sections of the song!

In conclusion, it is without a shadow of a doubt that Lyn Collins' “Think (About It)” has played a pivotal part in the music! (Especially the UBB edit shameless plug… lol). Until Next Time If There Is A Next Time!!!!!!

Lyn Collins "Think (About It)" (taken from Ultimate Breaks & Beats Vol. 516 - Street Beat Records)

Okay yo so how bad is that? Like I'm in awe, straight up. Thanks so much for blessing my page with your knowledge, Lou. And for all you people out there don't forget to check out Lou and the great site and resource of knowledge at www.ultimatebreaksandbeats.com

Monday, August 23rd

I just thought that today would be a pretty good day to post some random images of some bad-ass people. Not anything dealing with music or my life as a DJ - or fuck it maybe it does. I don't know, who the hell cares, cause these folks wouldn't give a shit. Now for some assorted bad-asses.

Bumpy Johnson getting into a car in Harlem. Bad-ass.

The infamous Nicky Barnes cover of The New York Times Magazine. Bad-ass.

Vasquez from Aliens. Seriously seriously bad-ass.

A picture of an undercover cop in NY in the 80s. I first saw this flick when I was a kid and it scared the shit out of me. It's pretty bad-ass though.

Bjorn Borg was my favorite tennis player when I was growing up. Dude is and always be bad-ass, and his glasses are as bad-ass as you can get.

Wednesday, August 18th

My homeboy Chairman Mao - one of the dudes behind the grand legendary Ego Trip Magazine and all it's TV shows and offshoots - will be in my hometown of Philly this coming Friday. For the record, Mao is one of the baddest DJs I know and has a record collection to match that claim. So he will be in Philly playing 45s for the launch of O by O at Ubiq this Friday evening so Philly represent!

Tuesday, August 17th

Breakbeat Tuesday - Call Me Ishmael: I've been collecting records for a long time now and have amassed a pretty sizable collection at this point. Currently I own approximately over 15,000 records, across genres and formats, and it's spread out over my apartment here in Brooklyn, my storage space about 2 blocks away, and the basement of my mom's house in Philly. Thankfully my mom has put up with my obsession, as well as my wife - who actually encourages me to have vinyl in the house (she finds it aesthetically pleasing.) Truth be told, when we moved into our new home last year, I put all the rest of my vinyl into storage but around January or February of this year I started pulling pieces because honestly, as a DJ, my house just felt naked without any black wax around. Here's a photo of what my house USED to look like (just a slight angle...) from an piece called Dust & Grooves that my man Elion Paz did in early 2009.

Also, thanks to this guy, I've sort of rediscovered the unparalleled joy of playing vinyl in my DJ sets. Please, do not get me wrong - I LOVE Serato, I swear by it actually. I use it predominantly for my sets, and it has opened new doors for me both creatively and professionally. But there's nothing like "that real thing" know what I'm saying? And the funny thing is that over the past 6 months I've been on a wild vinyl-buying binge and it's felt great! And I've bought shit from flea markets, "boutique digger" shops, second hand stores, personal collections, eBay, Discogs, even the back of a pet store (that's another story for another time.) I've spent cents on the dollar for spectacular finds, as well as having spent over 4 figures for one piece. All in the game, and I accept that.

So there's a lot that I have, and a lot that I don't have, but I'm always on the come-up. But there are a few joints out there that are super elusive to me. They don't have to even be that rare, they just don't cross my path, my own personal record "white whales" so to speak. This is one of them, that I don't have, and am waiting for the day I actually have a copy of this 45 in my hand. It's the thunderous "Hey Joyce" by Lou Courtney. Courtney hails from Buffalo, NY (Caps I see you) and was a one-time member of The Fifth Dimension. He came out with this record on Pop-Side in 1967 and it's a stomper. A real heavy break beat as you will hear, and some amazing vocal work by Mr. Courtney over production one one-time Funk Brother Robert Bateman. I first got hip to this record when I heard it used on Main Source's "Breaking Atoms" and then about a decade later it again rose to prominence for being used in the DJ Shadow / Cut Chemist 45. But this record rises above all... and I STILL DON'T HAVE IT. I need it. I want it. I've played the MP3 from California to Moscow (where it got an incredible response actually) but nothing beats having the actual vinyl.

So THERE YOU HAVE IT, folks. Cosmo DOES NOT have everything. There are fractures in the armor appearing... So I'm going to creep over to a corner and sulk, letting my head drop. And then I will raise my fist to the sky, shaking my head while tears or anger form in my eyes as I exclaim "I'll follow him around the Horn, and around the Norway maelstrom, and around perdition's flames before I give him up!" I will not give up on you yet, leviathan of a 45. I will find you yet, and have my revenge...

Lou Courtney "Hey Joyce" (Pop-Side, 1967)

Monday, August 16th

Weekend Wrap-Up: So I had a pretty busy week this past one, but then again when do I not? This past Wednesday, me and ?uestlove DJed at a private affair which included an absolutely incredible live performance by Janelle Monáe, in intimate midtown Manhattan space for about 300 people. Truly mindblowing, and also, yes I love my life. Then on Friday I shot out to Denver for the first time in about 5 years to rock the newly established Beauty Bar. It was a fantastic time and party, and thanks to all of Mile-High Massive for showing, up, as well as the whole Beauty Bar crew, and last but not least my homeboy DJ Jimi Scott.

Here's some shots of this past Rub at Southpaw by the one and only Kenny "Doobie" Rodriguez. As I've said again and again, the photos, and videos, and live recordings of these shows really do not do it justice. You have to come out and experience if for yourself in the physical. Trust me, it's worth it. For more photos you can click here to peep the entire photo set.

This week me and Ayres are hitting the road with Smalltown Pete & Smalltown Mike AKA Smalltown DJs for a quick Canadian tour: Sixpacks, Shotgun & Serato - The Amazing Traveling DJ Revew. It's going to be super so please make sure to check us when we come to your town.

Thursday, August 19
Hi-Fi Club
219 10th Ave. SW Calgary, Canada

Friday, August 20
The HooDoo
Banff Canada

Saturday, August 21
Scratch
215 2nd Avenue South Saskatoon, SK, Canada

Wednesday, August 25
The Bulldog
Fernie BC, Canada

Thursday, August 26
The Pyramid
176 Fort Street Winnipeg

Friday, August 27
The Drake
1150 Queen Street West Toronto, ON

Sunday, August 29
The Pool Party
East River State Park
90 Kent Avenue Brooklyn, NY

(+ Afterparty at Brooklyn Bowl!)

Tuesday, August 10th

This weekend was so dope, from DC to Philly back to NY. It was one of those weekends that reminds of of why it is that I do what I do. So shouts in no particular order to all of DC, all of Philly, DJ Meistro, DJ Deep Sang, Sam "The Man" Burns, Tittsworth, Will Eastman, Morgan, Jay Goodwill, Thomas, Matt Stackswell, DJ Stylus, Lee Jones, Dirty, Del, DJ Apt One, Scott, Brendan Bring'em, Skeme Richards, Mark Lowyns, Tamir Z. Brown, Bobbito, Greg Nice, Aiko, DJ Wayneski, DJ Evil Dee...

Speaking of DJ Evil Dee, I mean that's my man and all, but yo that man is a problem. He kind of ripped things to shreds last night at the Niketown jawn last night. Really made me not want to DJ after him hahah, for real. So SALUTE to Evil Dee and of course to the whole Beatminerz camp. Don't forget to peep Beatminerz Radio.

Breakbeat Tuesday - You Done Did It: So it just happened by chance that the past 2 Breakbeat Tuesdays were with songs featuring one of the greatest drummers of our time, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie so this week I decided to dedicate solely to this man who is one of the greatest of all time and without a doubt one of the godfathers of the breakbeat.

To say that Pretty Purdie changed the game is an understatement. His unique innovations in drumming changed the way that not only the instrument was played in pop music but also in the way that it was recorded. And his innovations in rhythm and time are invaluable. Let's not mention that his drumming can be found on basically the laundry list of the GOATS of music - James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Gil Scott Heron, Steely Dan, Curtis Mayfield, The Beatles, Miles Davis, Hall & Oates, The Rolling Stones and so on and so on.

When I was in school (and yes, I went to college for this music shit haha...) one of the things that I studied was the ancient African tradition of spacing, breath, time or air interspersed between the notes in music and how that empty space was just as important if not more to the construct of the song. The notes, beats, melody are the materials that the song is made up of but the empty space between all of that, the "ups" or the "ands" is actually where the song truly lives. I don't want to go to far into it because that's like thesis material, but point being, Purdie has a philosophy with his drumming that is pretty much exactly this. He calls it his "ghostnotes" as you can see in his explanation here.

Pretty Purdie is directly responsible for so many famous recorded drum beats in history it's ridiculous. But here are just a few that I love and want to share with the world. The first one is the ferocious "Soul Drums" off of the also titled album from 1968. Basically it's just a soul-jazz saxophone vamp that kindly steps out of the way when Purdie is ready to come in and blow the roof off the place with absolutely THUNDEROUS drumming. See for yourself.

Bernard "Pretty" Purdie "Soul Drums" (Date, 1968)

Next up is the song "Hap'nin" from the Purdie composed soundtrack to "Lialeh." For those that don't know, "Lialeh" is an adult film (called "The Black Deep Throat") in 1974. I've never seen it, but this is a pretty dope instrumental funk jam from the soundtrack.

Bernard Purdie "Hap'nin" (Bryon, 1974)

Last but not least is a track from the 1977 collaboration album between Purdie and The Last Poets. I think this is a great track that showcases his drumming as the sole instrument in a song and the driving force, even when it doesn't actually stand out in front and more just rides in the background as the wave that The Poets can ride on.

The Last Poets "Blessed Are Those Who Struggle (Douglas, 1977)

Thursday, August 5th

I'm trying to embrace this position that I seem to all of a sudden be in, that being one of "elder DJ" or some shit like that. Well let me share this knowledge jewel to all my young-dunns out there that read this site. Here is some on point advice that you have to heed, thanks courtesy of my man man and Sheen Brother Number 1, 4th Pyramid.

Wednesday, August 4th

Events & Thangs This Week in Philly, NY & DC: So this week I have 3 events which I'm psyched about. Of course obviously it's the first Saturday of the month so we're going to be at Southpaw for The Rub. Plus this month we have one of my good homies and certified member of the Tice Squad, Steve1der throwing down with us. Good times, as always, so definitely come through.

Then on Sunday I will be rocking in my hometown of Philadelphia at (in my opinion) one of the best rooms in the country, Silk City. Silk City is one of the places that I got my start as a DJ and I'm so happy that it's still around, and as well as still relevant. The Sunday party is pretty much a strictly house and classics affair so get ready cause we're gonna make it happen on that level. Philly is where I got my soul...

Friday will be my first appearance at Washington DC's U Street Music Hall this Friday. For those who don't know, UHall is owned by my homies Tittsworth and Will Eastman. Great dudes, great DJs, and friends of mine, so I'm honored to be rocking at their spot. And I've heard it's one of the best rooms in the country, so I'm ready to go. Also I will be rocking alongside some of my favorite DJs, Deep Sang & Meistro, as well as the DC legend Sam "The Man" Burns, so I am truly truly honored.

The night is Red Fridays and is again a strictly house and classics affair, and I'm very happy and honored to be involved with this. Last time in DC I played with my man Sharkey at LMW and it was a great time and such a dope party. But that time I was definitely playing more along the lines of a hip-hop set. So this time around my DC people will be seeing a different facet of me. But the thing is with me is that there's just as much a part of my DJ lineage with house and classics as there is with rap music. That's one of the things about growing up in Philly - as a DJ you learn to incorporate all of that stuff into your repertoire, and you become a better DJ because of it. Nowadays where everyone is a "open format DJ" I'm grateful that I mess with dance music because I truly love it, and not by a sense of necessity.

Check out the interview that I did with Marcus Dowling for the DC based www.tgrionline.com site. TGRI stands for "True Genius Requires Insanity" and so I'm with that: Mention the name "Cosmo Baker" in a circle of DJs, and cats get quiet and speak in hushed tones. I've seen it happen too many times to forget. It's a quiet borne of reverence, borne of a man who is supremely talented at his craft, a guy who is a trademark of excellence in blending music that bridges genres and brings people together... Pretty cool, so check it out in full here.

Also, here's a cool article that was written about me in the Washington Post: "When U Street Music Hall set out elevate the level of dance clubs in Washington, one of the first ideas was a homage to the beloved underground house club Red. Since then, Red Fridays have followed the same formula as their namesake, a spectrum of deep and soulful house sounds delivered by veteran locals and big stars to feed the appetites of serious dancers. This week's pairing of must-see spinners is Philly's doctor of records Cosmo Baker and D.C. house grandfather Sam "The Man" Burns. Baker is one of the best open-format DJs in the game, who mastered rocking a vast variety of genres on vinyl before digital DJing made it much easier. There's really no genre of music he can't play convincingly and none he hasn't studied extensively. Booking a vibe chameleon like Baker for a house night is an intriguing choice that will lead the dance floor in unexpected directions, as a skilled musicologist can connect house to elements of funk, disco and jazz"

RIP Bobby Hebb: Lot of old school music legends passing these days. Bobby Hebb wrote a perennial classic, "Sunny" back in 1963. My mom used to tell me about how Bobby wrote the song in response to the assassination of JFK. I only recently learned that on the same day JFK died, Bobby's brother was stabbed and killed. No wonder the song is so impassioned. So let me connect the dots here. Bobby Hebb released the original "Sunny" in 1966.

10 years later, German based disco group Boney M released their version.

In 2003, Mark Ronson came out with "Ooh Wee" that samples the Boney M version.

In 2010, U-Tern remixed Ronson's latest record "Bang Bang Bang" to critical internet acclaim.

Mark Ronson & The Business INTL - Bang Bang Bang (U-Tern's Disco Dub) by U-Tern

Tuesday, August 3rd

Breakbeat Tuesday - Welcome To The Neighborhood: A couple days shy of exactly one year ago we moved into our new home in Fort Green right off of Fort Greene park. Had anyone ever said to me that I would be a property owner at my age, in New York, especially in this neighborhood I would have said that you were smoking freebase. But, here we are, living the life, and I couldn't be a happier man. Special love and kisses goes out to my wife - congratulations on one year, hon!

Not long after I moved here I did my best to walk around the neighborhood and get my acclimated. Here's the market, the bank, here's where I get my keys made etc. One afternoon while I was heading home down Dekalb Avenue I walked by this really cool looking coffee shop that was playing some fantastic sounding Salsa so, being the coffee addict and music lover that I am, I decided to go in a check out my local java spot, with an energy and excitement for having discovered this brand new thing...

... It wasn't a coffee shop. It was a random Puerto Rican Ex-Marine's kitchen that he just happened to be sitting in at the time with his buddies (all Marines I gathered by looking at the tattoos,) watching the Yankees game. The all stopped and just stared at me as I was standing right in the middle of his kitchen. I was silent, looked around and saw the giant USMC and Puerto Rican flags hanging on the wall, turned back to them and said "Um, I think I made a wrong turn..." They were dumbfounded, and didn't say a word over the blaring music or the competing volume from the Yankees game. They just stared at me for what seemed an eternity. Then I realized, I was wearing my Phillies cap. I quickly made my exit.

"Welcome to the neighborhood..."

I walked by there all the time and of course they're still there, hanging out, holding court. Don't don't seem to recognize me. I don't always wear my Phillies cap though. A couple weeks back I walked by and they were playing this song:

The Latin Blues Band feat. Luis Aviles "(I'll Be A) Happy Man" (Speed, 1968)

Lot of people might recognize this song as being the sample source for Christina Aguilera's DJ Premier produced "Ain't No Other Man" although that might be up for debate. If you've made it this far you should check out this really interesting about the background behind this song at Oliver Wang's Soul-Sides. I discovered it after I had written this, and then learned from it that the drummer on this song is the incomparable Pretty Purdie - same drummer as last week's BBT. How about that... Well, it's good to be home.

Monday, August 2nd

Kings Go Forth: So yeah, I used to be a graffiti writer. And when I say "used to" that actually means that I always will be, even if I don't actually lend my talent to writing on walls anymore. But it's just one of those things that, once you have been "there" it never really leaves you. You write your name in the steam on the wall while you shower, you break your neck checking out new work while you ride the train, you see a wall and there's a little voice in you that might say "A can of Rusto with a Kitchen Magic cap would look SO GOOD on that..." It's the little things really. Kind of like how an ex-skater can see a certain ledge and go "Damn that looks like it would be fun to ride" and then will continue walking by. I might start talking a little more about my graf history in the coming months. It's always good for stories, and I've got plenty... But I digress!

Here's a really sick photo gallery of old school California / Mexican / Cholo graffiti taken in what has to be the 70s. Now Cholo graff is it's own entity - completely unique and in it's own world. I grew up in Philly and it's widely recognized that Philly is one of the birthplaces of graffiti - specifically called "the birthplace of style" by my man Espo. Philly writers been doing their thing for a while. I remember my mom telling me about "Bobby Beck In 59" being up all over the place. There were all the writers from the late 60s and early 70s that got into the action like Cornbread, Cool Earl, Top Cat, Tity, Dr. Kool among others. Of course there also were the guys from the late 70s and early 80s that were the ones that inspired me to get my name "out there" - names like Clyde, Estro, Pez, E-Z, Mr. Blint, Deadhead, Credit, Jay-Cee, Razz, Japan, Kozmo and my local neighborhood kings, Pap & Brez. But that Cali Cholo shit is on another level, and it goes back all the way to the 1920s. Real ill behavior. Peep the joints below...

She has got so much flavor... reminds me of my moms kinda.

Okay, you can peep all the rest at Kid Deuce's "Golden Age Of Gang Graffiti" Flickr. So yeah, I'm gonna start going through my old flicks, sketches, all that hot shit, start posting it up. Until then I'm gonna leave you with couple jawns from some dudes that really fucked my head up (in a proper way) back in the day...