Wednesday, April 28th

01 Live at The Do-Over Miami 28th Mar 2010 by cosmobaker

Hosted by ALOE BLACC
Recorded live at DO OVER- WMC at BAR in Downtown Miami on Sunday March 28th 2010

All vinyl, a little tipsy off the sangria, wearing the dashiki so you know it's going down...

Enjoy!

Track list:

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds "Fallin' In Love"
Sam Reed Band "Ambassador's Theme"
Freddie Scott "(You) Got What I Need"
Brothers Johnson "Strawberry Letter 23"
Keni Burke "Risin' To The Top" (Unreleased Acoustic Version)
Toto "Georgy Porgy"
Herb Alpert "Rise"
Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame "Weak At The Knees"
Q-Tip "Breathe & Stop" (Classic Rap Live Blend)
D-Nice "Call Me D-Nice"
King Tee "At Your Own Risk" (Old English Mix)
The Notorious B.I.G. "Nasty Boy" (Classic Rap Blend)
Kid 'N' Play "Gittin' Funky"
LL Cool J "Mama Said Knock You Out"
Eric B. & Rakim "I Ain't No Joke"
Stetsasonic "Go Stetsa I"
MC Lyte "Paper Thin"
Brand Nubian "Feels So Good"
Rude Riddims "Bounce"
House Of Pain "Jump Around" (Pete Rock Remix)
George Shearing "Aquarius" (Todd Terje Mix)
Esther Williams "Last Night Changed It All"
Maggie Threatt "Soupy"
James Brown "I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing"
The Diplomats "I Can Give You Love"
The Rimshots "Dance Girl"
Bohannon "Let's Take The Country To New York City"
Inner Life "I'm Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair)"
Alicia Myers "I Want To Thank You"
Patti Jo "Make Me Believe In You (Extended Disco Edit)"
Chic "I Want Your Love" (Tangoterje Edit)
D-Train "You're The One For Me"
Idris Muhammad "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This"

Tuesday, April 27th

Breakbeat Tuesday - It's funny that sometimes you don't even know what your look at when it's right in your face. For instance, today I was listening to a self-titled record by the Bobby Boyd Congress. Bobby Boyd is a singer, songwriter, saxophone player and band leader who formed his group The Congress in Brooklyn back in 1970. Brooklyn was a hotbed of musical talent at that time, eventually giving us many legendary groups, including but not limited to Mandrill, The Fatback Band and B.T. Express. With The Congress Boyd created a unique sound that was centered around his powerful vocals and horn arrangements, but with a really heavy psychedelic tinge to the songs with distorted guitars and whatnot. I'm not sure if it was a preemptive move because of the saturation in the scene of  funk bands or if it was because of lack of success, but in 1971 Boyd moved himself and the entire band to Paris. That wasn't an uncommon thing to do for musicians back then. While in France they released the self-titled record which is a funk monster and a bit of a holy grail, with prices fetching up to $1000 for a copy. Here's 2 songs from it, the first which includes a monster breakbeat about 2/3 of the way though, which is somewhat reminiscent of the Sweet Linda Devine break that Black Sheep (& everyone else) used.

Bobby Boyd Congress "Straight Ahead" (Okapi, 1971)

Bobby Boyd Congress "Dig Deep In Your Soul" (Okapi, 1971)

So basically I thought that this particular story for Breakbeat Tuesday was going to end there, with this incredibly talented New York cat packing his bags for overseas, releasing one stunning album  before fading into obscurity. But I did a little more searching around about the backstory and there's a whole other gigantic dimension to it. Apparently after a couple of years, Bobby Boyd decided that he had enough of living overseas and decided to pack it in and go back to New York, but the band stayed in France where they fell in with producer Pierre Berjot aka Pierre Jaubert. Berjot rechristened the Congress "ICE" and they soon recorded a self-titled album for Berkeley California based Prestige Records. Unfortunately I've always found the ICE record to be somewhat tepid, and lacking the raw edge the Congress had. But around the same time they renamed themselves the Lafayette Afro Rock Band and released a few more records. These ones were distributed in Europe but also got distribution on a African Funk specialty record label based on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn called Editions Makossa. It was these records that have 2 of the most monster funk tunes of all time. At first listen you will recognize both of them as songs that whether you know it or not are ingrained into your psyche. So with no further ado I present to you for Breakbeat Tuesday, the Lafayette Afro Rock Band.

Lafayette Afro Rock Band "Darkest Light" (Makossa International, 1976)

Lafayette Afro Rock Band "Hihache" (Editions Makossa, 1974)

It is highly probable that I will be playing at least one of these songs that posted up at tomorrow's Class Act party at Southpaw with Anonymous and Eli Esco. Obviously on vinyl, obviously. Don't trip or slip...

Monday, April 26th

I decided to post a record today to share with the world and looked out the window and it is one dismal, grey, rainy day here in New York. I typed the word "Rain" in my iTunes and found a list of records that would do the trick, but one jumped out at me immediately....

I've got some friends visiting New York from overseas and over the past few days we've been having an ongoing discussion about the perception that people outside of the US have about the people here. It's like, with all our progress, they must think we're idiots. Granted most people know to give New York, and the coasts in general, a pass. But damn man, and now with this whole Arizona Jim Crown thing... I know a lot people don't believe in evolution. What about devolution? Anyway, listen to this very early P-Funk ditty and chew it over. "... and the president's talking bout a change, but nobody's got sense enough to come in out of the rain."

Parliament "Come In Out Of The Rain" (Invictus, 1970)

On a lighter note, I'm glad that people like my site and all the content that I post up on it so much. The feedback over the past several months has been incredible. And, I love writing and after a long hiatus I feel as though I've found my voice again, and am committed to keeping the momentum rolling with this. But, let's not lose site, at least I can't - this is my personal website and I am a DJ / musician and I hope through the site I can drive more commerce my way. Let's not get that twisted. Always trying to get that next gig...

And so this past Wednesday I was DJing at the Kastel Lounge inside the Trump Soho. It was pretty standard as far as hotel lounge gigs go, and so I kind of was playing what I wanted. Early on in the night I dropped Steve Arrington's "Way Out" and 30 seconds later this dude comes over with a heavy British accent and says to me "Mate, this is my favorite song of all time. When it's done, give it a rewind, from the top why don't you?" So I said sure. I looked around the room and I noticed that I was providing innocuous background noise except for one single table of about 10 folks in the corner, who we're just going nuts over everything that I was dropping. After a while they would come up to the booth, "Mate, play some Gap Band!" "Mate, Larry Young's Fuel." and the occasional "CHOOONE" for something that I dropped. Turns out it was these guys, in town to film something for The Colbert Report. I did not know...

So back to Steve Arrington, dude has always been one of my favorites. Both with Slave and as soloist, way too dope, and his very existence is good evidence for my theory that Ohio is actually the funkiest state in The Union. Steve's a longtime favorite, and so when I saw this tweet from Peanut Butter Wolf the other day I got super excited. You may or may not know that Steve is teaming up with Dam Funk for his next record. The living legend is coming back with the funk, and it's helmed by one of the dudes that's really handling things proper. So be on the lookout for that no question. And in the meantime, I'll leave you with Steve's "Way Out."

Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame "Way Out" (Atlantic, 1983)

B/W - As an aside, this came in my email box the next day. I normally don't pay attention to these things, and nor do I get geeked over this stuff, but this one hahah, this one I found to pretty damn cool...

Sunday, April 25th

Excited for this. My homie DJ Anonymous from Helsinki came over to New York (beating that damn volcano) and so we hooked up a quick party for us to rock out with. Anonymous is one of the dudes that I've met in my travels that really knows his stuff. I think that may be a Helsinki thing - every time I'm over there people are full-on about the music and are really locked in.

So it's going to be me, Anonymous and Eli at the downstairs at Southpaw. Lots of fun and good music for sure. Put some examples of what I am planning on playing on the Facebook Invite Page. Plus I'll be rocking all vinyl. Not that that really means anything anymore. The limbo between being a gimmick and a handicap. Eff it, I don't really care anymore except it's a tremendous amount of fun to me, and the way it always should be...

Tuesday, April 20th

Rest In Power Keith "Guru" Elam (July 17th, 1961 - April 20th, 2010)

My morning regiment is pretty consistent day in and day out. I wake up, hit the bathroom, go into the kitchen and get the coffee started, and not so long afterwards that I'll pick up my phone to see what messages I missed during the evening. Needless to say the news of Guru's leaving this planet was one of the first pieces of news that I got this morning. Shocked, and saddened, I said to my wife "Jesus, Guru has died." A few minutes later as we sat on the couch, she turned to me and, with tears in her eyes, said to me "This is so sad. It was 'Step In The Arena' that made me realize I was a real hip-hop 'head'..."

That statement is actually more poignant than one might initially think. Of course being a lifelong hip-hop fan and "head" (and not wanting to actually date my old ass) I been around the block a few times and I've seen a lot of artists and groups come and go. But with Gang Starr there was something different. My man Kenny first introduced me to them with the "No More Mister Nice Guy" album back in what must have been 1989. I wore that cassette down like nothing else and, while admittedly in retrospect it's not the greatest album in the world, there was a special spark that was contained in the pairing of MC Keith E.E. The Guru and DJ Premier. Songs like "Positivity," "Knowledge," "Gotch U," "DJ Premier In Deep Concentration," just kind of had an energy unlike any rap songs that I had heard before. And I don't think I have to even mention "Manifest" which for my money is one of the greatest hip-hop singles of all time. I was already a huge fan  by the time "Step In The Arena" came out. A front to back classic. A record that I studied. I learned every rhyme, every scratch, every nuance in the beats and in Guru's distinctive and unique voice and delivery.

Obviously Guru and Primo went on to solidify the legacy of one of the greatest rap groups to have ever graced this earth. But the main point that I was getting at in reference to what my wife said about "Step In The Arena" making her a hip-hop "head" is this: I think that Gang Starr might be the first rap group that I really claimed as being "mine," and this is hard to explain. It's not in a possessive sense, or not in a braggadocios way of saying "I knew of them first." But it's more in the way that I felt the music they made really was my own personal soundtrack. Or maybe it's just that the records that they came out with, that I listened during those formative years as a teenager, they really defined me in a way. Kind of hard to put into words right now, so I may need to revisit these thoughts later on. But straight up, Guru - one of the greatest MCs of all time, of Gang Starr, one of the greatest rap groups of all time - will surely be missed. Much respect to all your peoples and family, and to the entire hip-hop nation who has also suffered a great loss. But the music and the legacy lives on forever, and nothing can erase that.

"More than a decade of hits that will live forever..." A selection:

Gang Starr "B.Y.S." (Chrysalis, 1992)

Gang Starr "Jazz Thing (Video Mix)" (CBS, 1990)

Gang Starr "The Planet" (Chrysalis, 1994)

Guru "Trust Me feat. N'Dea Davenport" (Chrysalis, 1993)

Gang Starr "Just To Get A Rep" (Chrysalis, 1990)

Gang Starr "It'z A Setup feat. Hannibal" (Chrysalis, 1998)

Gang Starr "Sabotage" (Chrysalis, 2003)

Guru "Certified feat. Bilal" (Virgin, 2000)

Gang Starr "Positivity (Remix)" (Wild Pitch, 1989)

Tony Touch  "The Piece Maker feat. Gang Starr" (Tommy Boy,  2000)

Gang Starr "Check The Technique" (Chrysalis, 1990)

Gang Starr "Gotta Get Over (Taking Loot)" (Sire, 1992)

And as always, if you would like to drop me a comment hit me up at twitter.com/cosmobaker and hit me up with an @cosmobaker jawn. Feedback is always appreciated and you know I will get back at you.

Tuesday, April 13th

So it was a great week and weekend. Thanks to everyone that came out to see me and Eli rock on Saturday - that was a lot of fun, and I got a chance to play all vinyl again, which is such a special treat for me. And apologies to everyone that came to see me rock at Santos - unfortunately there was a scheduling and time slot mix-up and I didn't get a chance to play, but will be back there soon. In the meantime I will be in Zihuatanejo, Mexico this weekend but back next week with a full schedule of events. So I hope to see you all out. Okay, now off to the races, or better yet... The Breaks!

- Breakbeat Tuesday: So Rod Stewart is one of them dudes that was just way too corny for me growing up, like he was the antithesis of "cool" for people my generation. I know that he had a pretty potent musical pedigree, but by the the time I was really exposed to him he had really gone the way into faux-crooner mode, completely schmaltzy and lame. Now I kind of gave him the benefit of the doubt because my mom and them liked him, and even as a kid I dug his disco-crossover "Do You Think I'm Sexy" which is a guilty pleasure (even though it's directly lifted from Jorge Ben's "Taj Mahal" for reals...)

But like I said, I knew there was more to dude and I never really knew how bad-ass Rod was until I started peeping Faces, his original band with Ronnie Wood. Dudes were really on their schitt. Stewart and Wood came over from The Jeff Beck Group so they were already well-versed in that British Blues style. These 2 dudes, complete with the rest of the band (originally called Small Faces) gelled like glue and rocked like crazy. And attitude, they got that attitude in spades.

So in the short time span of less than 4 years these dudes put of 4 incredible albums and made their mark, only for everyone to go there separate ways and careers, most notable Stewart as a solo artist and Tony Bennett imitator, and Wood joining The Stones for further fame, glory and excess decadence. But About The Breaks, this one is off the 1971 "Long Player" album. "Bad 'n' Ruin" is a really great bluesy number that just moves, and when it gets to about the 3 1/2 minute mark, drummer Kenney Jones just lays in for 4 bars of hard-hitting, straight ahead openness. Nothing fancy or intricate, but just smacking. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Sometimes, simpler is much better.

 

Faces "Bad 'n' Ruin" (Warner Brothers, 1971)

Bonus YouTube Beat: Check out Faces performing Bad 'n' Ruin on Britin's Top Of The Pops in 1971.  Super ill performance and dudes go off on it. A really great video, and when Jones' drum solo comes on he smacks it even harder than he does on the actual recording. Plus, check out Ronnie's toilet seat guitar. Nasty...

Before I forget, big shout to my homie Kenny Rodriguez for taking some photos of me this past week. We have about 800+ to go through but they're probably going to be some of my new press photos, so as soon as we sort through them I'll have them up on the site. You can peep the preview gallery here and definitely stay tunes for the finals. Kenny is crazy talented with his...

 

Thursday, April 8th

We're on a world tour with Mister Malcom McLaren, We're going each and every place including Spain, Asia, Africa, Tokyo, Mexico, He went to the places where the people told him not to go... Rest In Punk Mister McLaren.

Malcolm McLaren & The World's Famous Supreme Team  "She's Looking Like A Hobo"

All that SCRATCHING is making me ITCH... So in speaking about scratching, I found that crazy DJ Noize routine that I was looking for that I mentioned in a post last month. Here it is... BUGGING.

Continuing our scratching theme in honor of the late great Mister McLaren, here's one of my favorite videos take on the DJ Johnny Juice who is one of the nastiest dudes to ever touch the platters. He's actually the DJ that's responsible for doing most of the ghost cuts all of the first 2 Public Enemy albums but he never got the credit for them (although Chuck does shout him out on Rebel Without A Pause - "Juice on the loose, electric wire..." So peep game.

Wednesday, April 7th

So the homie DJ Nu-Mark guests on Rub Radio this month. He talks about everything from his days as producer and DJ for Jurassic 5, to swing jazz, to crossing paths with a very young Kanye West, to crate digging and DJing around the world. Nu-Mark takes over the turntables for a banging live set recorded at The Rub party in Brooklyn. And as always, us three Rub dudes throw down, spinning new and classic hip-hop and dance music.

Listen at http://scion.com/channel2 or at the widget at the top right corner of the page...

Tuesday, April 6th

So last month I mentioned something about my homie Skeme Richard and his party Hot Peas & Butta. Skeme is one of the last true soldiers of the funk, and a Philly native just like me, and the Hot Peas & Butta al 45s events that he is now throwing in different cities across the globe are an amazing time. So when he told me that he was doing one in New York, and says "Hey Cos, and bring a bag of vinyl maybe" of course I couldn't say no. And wouldn't you know, he recorded it...

Cosmo Baker Live All 45s Mix @ Bullies & Brothels

- Breakbeat Tuesday: I was speaking to my friends about my baby brother the other who is like the best dude ever. He lives literally on the other side of the world (Japan) and I never see him, which sucks, but I know he's there and he knows I here and no amount of physical space can erase that cause we're brothers and I got his back forever.

I had been doing this thing with records for a while and he kind of fell into it after me on some old brother emulation schitt, but he also kind of owned it in his own way. For instance, he was the dude who put me up on Stone Alliance. You might know that from the Beastie Boys line "I like Sweetie-Pie from the Stone Alliance, everybody knows that I be dropping science." Trust me when I tell you that the song he's referring to is smooth as butter, unlike that rap lyric. Stone Alliance was a Afro-Cuban jazz fusion group who's nucleus consisted of  established Jazz heavyweights Gene Perla, Don Alias and Steve Grossman. They got together in the early 70s and only put out a few records, but during that run they laced us with this saxophone-driven funk monster "Sweetie-Pie." Simple, effective, to the point, and absolutely on fire...

Stone Alliance "Sweetie-Pie" (Happy Bird, 1976)

Here are two really great usages of this sample, both used in completely different ways but both kind of incredible. The first is a 7" by the mysterious Chopp Master Flopp, better known to must as Brooklyn's own DJ Spinna. The illustrious Spinna does a masterful job with "Peetie Swei" where he basically just takes the original and chops it to all hell , completely re envisioning the original. He didn't need anything except the original and the MC.

Chopp Master Flopp "Peetie Swei" (Sure Shot, 2006)

The second usage here is the Large Professor Remix of Leader's Of The New School's "What's Next." This was the lead single off of the second LONS album and, while the original is okay, Extra P propels it into a completely different ballpark with his take on it. Based mainly off the 24-Carat Black "Brown Baggin'" sample, he uses the horns from "Sweetie-Pie" to complete the chorus and bridge. This is a great example of an era when rap used multiple samples in one song and yet somehow it worked and didn't sound cacophonous.

Leaders Of The New School "What's Next (Large Professor Remix)" (Elektra, 1993)

Monday, April 5th

There were some great times at The Rub this past Saturday at Southpaw in Brooklyn. Thanks to everyone that came out to support us, and continue to support us month in and month out. Here's some shots from our "unofficial" official Rub photographer, Kenny Rodriguez.

Photos from The Rub, Saturday April 3rd, by Kenny Rodriguez

Saturday, April 3rd

So I woke up today and after breakfast, I put on the iPod shuffle in the house and the first song that started playing was one of my favorites - the Billy Stewart rendition of the George Gershwin classic "Summertime." I know today is only April 3rd but It put me in such a mood and made me anticipate the wondefrul seasons ahead that I just had to rap about it for a little bit.

The summer of 1999 was a hot one in Philly. It was the first summer that I had spent after being in a pretty horrific car accident, one where I almost didn't live, and had to learn to walk again, and basically put the pieces of my life together after having it shattered in a thousand tiny bits. It also was the first time ever in my life that I owned a car. It was sold to me by the boyfriend of a friend of my mother. He was moving out of the country and had no use for it so the offer was made to me. Growing up in Philly, one never really needed a car. It was walk, skate, bike or SEPTA anywhere and everywhere. But, because my legs were still weak, and I also thought that it was that time in my life where I stepped up my game, I bought the little gold 1987 Jetta from the guy. Unfortunately, I gave him half the money and he gave me the car, but before I could give him the remainder of the balance he moved to Eastern Europe. The unfortunate thing for me was that he left without giving me the papers, registration, all of that stuff. So here I was with this car that was technically mine but was actually illegal as all hell. Of course with no registration or pink slip I couldn't get the car insured. Oh, did I mention that I didn't have a drivers license yet either? That's just a minor detail that's in there too.

So here I was driving this little Gold Bug around the city riding so dirty that it's incredible, but I loved that little car and I didn't really care. It didn't have air conditioning, and it sometimes wouldn't start when it rained. Also, there wasn't any tape deck so I was forced to listen to Philly radio. Around this time I had really started to have my fill of commercial rap music, which was probably more a change in me as much as it was within the music itself, so I found myself tuned into WOGL "Oldies" 98.1 FM most of the time. I would drive around the city that long, hot summer incessantly, just exploring and taking the vast city in. One day while driving down Germantown Avenue the sounds that came through the tinny-ass speakers was a revelation, this incredibly soulful voice singing in this staccato rapid-fire delivery of scat, launching into this incredibly rich and full orchestrated version of "Summertime." It was coming through the speakers, going right into my brain, as I was soaking up the summer scenes right in front of me in Funky North Philadelphia. It was like one of those moments where all the planets and stars align and the universe pulls the curtain back to give you a glimpse of a very special and ancient secret. I drove to my mom's house and immediately asked her about this version, and at first she couldn't figure out who I was getting at, but as soon as I did for her the "BrrrrrrUP BruP chupdupadup CHUP" she said "Oh, that's Billy Stewart!" I went out that day and found a copy of his "Unbelievable" LP at Bob Dicky's 9th Street Records and it was a wrap for me from that moment on.

Billy was kind of a wunderkind, starting his singing career at the age of 12 with his brothers singing gospel tunes on local Washington DC radio. During his teenage years he sung with another musical legend and DC native, Marvin Gaye, and like so many artists of his time, Billy gained great popularity when he made the transition from spirituals to singing secular music. He signed to Chess records and that's where he put out most of the records in his tragically short career. All his records have a distinct sound to it which may be attributed to being on the Chess imprint but I really think that the key ingredient to the magic of his music is the way that he attacked the song vocally with such a radical and unique approach. His version of "Summertime" is such a departure from any rendition of it before and is so hardbody, he owns that song from now until forever. I said yesterday that his version is more punk rock than most punk rock songs.

And so I'm listening to Billy today. He's one of those artists that I just feel a deep connection to. I don't think that you can say that he's under appreciated in any sense - just go to a low rider convention in California and I would bet that 2 out of the 3 cars will be playing his tunes. And he's obviously not under appreciated in the hip-hop community - just ask Just Blaze, K-Def and Vance Wright. But today I'm very focused on my dude, and I am DEFINITELY playing your music tonight at The Rub. Thanks for making me a little happier today, Billy. And I hope that his music moves my readers a little bit as well. So here's a few choice pieces from Billy. I'm starting with a record that I posted up last year but became pretty popular again after Just Blaze touched it for Jay Electronica's "Exhibit C."

Billy Stewart "Cross My Heart"

Billy Stewart "Sitting In The Park"

Billy Stewart "Every Day I Have The Blues"

Billy Stewart "Tell Me The Truth"

And of course the tune that inspired me to write about this today... Here's to the upcoming summer!

Billy Stewart "Summertime"

Friday, April 2nd

Holy fusking schitt, I love DJing so much. Dudes, DJ Scratch. I'm not saying, I'm just saying, do you know what I'm saying? SAYING. Damn... Just Damn.

DJ Noize. I was here to witness this when it happened in NY at the New Music Seminar back in what must have been 1993 or 1994. The whole room erupted when Noize did his last set. The whole room was electric. I had never seen anything like this before in my life... and I'm from Philly, the HOME of the DJ. I tried looking for Noize's "Ten Scratch Commandments" but for the life of me I can't Maybe I imagined it all. It's crazy.

One of my favorite living DJs on the planet, the one and only Skratch Bastid. Dude is so dude, it's crazy. I don't know what they have in the water up there in Canada to breed such nasty DJs. Eff it, I see schitt like this and I'm ready to retire. The rhythm of his notes, dude got them GHOST NOTES popping like crazy. Paul I SEE YOU SON!

Last but not least, rest in peace to one of the greatest to ever walk this earth, the one and only Grand Master Roc Raider.You changed the game in ways  that I doubt you ever could have imagined.

Thursday, April 1st

So first things first, thanks to everyone that I ran into, was involved with, played with and just generally spread vibes with in Miami last week at WMC. It was an absolutely incredible time and there's too many friends to mention on this quick blog update, but I will do a full proper recap very very soon. But big up to everyone indeed. Shark Attack was very real.

Me, 4th Pyramid & Idris Elba discussing Sheen Bros. business. More on that to come...

Today, I want to wish a very happy birthday to one of the most important people in my world, my big sister Zoe Strauss. Like any big sibling, they are probably the first person in your life that you aspire to be just like and Zoe is no exception to that rule. She's a constant source of inspiration and joy in my life and I find myself incredibly blessed to have her in my life. All my siblings are incredible and I will make sure to spread love to all of them on their respective birthdays, but today is Zoe's day!

(From left) Zoe, with my brother Walker, me and my baby sister Savannah.

You know, I'm pretty accomplished at what I do, in this world of music and DJing and whatnot, but I'm nowhere near the level of what Zoe has done with her work as a photographer and visual artist. Again, we're grown men and women and yet I'm still trying to be just like my big sister! I know that I've spoken highly of here on these pages but I can never do so enough. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZOE! I love you and may you be blessed with constant puppies and the spirit of BF to follow you for life.

I mentioned that Zoe is a very accomplished photographer. So make sure to visit her website and also make sure to go and buy her book. I promise it is well worth it, and you should actually buy multiple copies and give them out as gifts. Below are just a few examples of her work.

I also wanted to give a shout out to today to another person who has been a tremendous influence on me and my life, someone who's impact has made it so that I live the life and have the career that I gave today. That person is another constant source of inspiration, and a friend, King Britt.

Now anyone who's anyone, or anyone who knows the real deal, knows who this dude is. It's not even a mystery to know what his place is in the story of Philly - scratch that - global music. He's a true genius and a renaissance man. But other than that, he's an amazing dude that has a heart unlike any other. When I was a kid, and I'm talking 16-17 years old, I used to go to the small clubs in Philly where he would be spinning just to sit outside and listen to him play. Dude was just ill with all sorts of wild funk as well as current off the wall schitt. Truly mind-expansive type stuff, for me at least at that young of an age. Now I guess the story goes that I was a bit of a prodigious talent when it came to being a DJ in a sense. I hadn't even turned 18 years old yet I was spinning in some of Philly's biggest clubs at the time. I used to get clowned by folks because my mom would cold drop me off at the spots so I could go DJ, all the while absorbing all the glory and madness that nightlife has to offer at a very young, and impressionable age. But because I was so young I really didn't know any better, I hadn't really developed the business acumen as a DJ, and was happy to be doing what I was doing for nothing. King would come to check me downstairs at Revival, where at the time I was one of the only "downtown" DJs playing hip-hop, but also would consistantly be throwing James Brown or Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers and all sorts of "classics" like that into the mix. I guess you could say that King discovered me, told me that I was much better than having to be this guy rocking a dope party for $35 a night (TRUE STORY) and that he was going to look out for me. Soon after, he gave me a guest slot at his flagship night Back To Basics at Silk City. After rocking there with him several times, he brought me on as a resident with him and DJ Dozia. That was 1994, and it was really my first big break in the game. Ever since then my career has had a certain trajectory and no matter what, I always look back at that one moment in time when a bigger dude reached down and helped out a little dude, even though he didn't have to. And for that I am forever grateful.

King has just recently released his latest (and supposedly last "dance music" record) on the classic New York dance music imprint Nervous Records. It's entitled "The Intricate Beauty" and it's a powerful look at this master at work's vision and philosophy on music, and how it moves him, and how it moves you. This 11 song LP is a feat in itself because it's terribly hard to create a dance record that has a true consistency and isn't just a collection of songs. But King kind of nailed it with this, with songs that showcase his vast array of influences, but never loses sight of the fact that right now it's time to dance. It's also a very "Philly" record and I appreciate that because he always reps. But all in all it's one of the best dance LPs that I've heard in many years, and one of the best releases of the year so far by far. And I'm saying that with all personal bias aside. Here's one of my favorite songs from the album, featuring the legendary Byron Stingly (of Ten City fame) singing an infectious groove based on one of my favorite Sylvester classics. Definitely worth it to go and buy this record, so go and buy this record immediately!

King Britt "Get Up (King Britt Old School Dub feat. Byron Stingly)"

I'm going to leave you today with a funny interview that me and the other dudes from The Rub did last year with my homies from Suite 903 and The Fader. So check this out for a few laughs and I will catch you on the flip side!