Tuesday, February 23rd

- Breakbeat Tuesday: I will be far far away on vacation so see everyone in early March sometime. Peace out. But, being that it's Tuesday, I can't leave you without dropping a break. I was trying to think of the perfect song that would illustrate how much I'm ready to get out of here and, other than Iron Maiden's "Run To The Hills," it came to me that Flaming Ember "Gotta Get Away" would be perfect.

The Flaming Ember were a rock / blue-eyed soul group that kicked around the Detroit music scene until they were given their first real big break in the late 60s by signing a contract with the legendary Holland-Dozier-Holland's Hot Wax imprint. At that time Holland-Dozier-Holland had broken away from Berry Gordy and the Motown machine in order to start their own thing, which became Hot Wax as well as their other imprint, Invictus. I always looked at Flaming Ember being their answer to Rare Earth. Good, kind of cheesy, but I liked them and they're not without merit.

I first heard the break from "Gotta Get Away" as the backbone to one of my favorite Diamond D cuts, and when I discovered the album a few years later it was definitely one of those "Oh snap" moments. In this case it's the simplicity that's the key. Straight ahead drums with that little organ stab = that crack. It's always stayed in my "classic rock breaks" crate since and always gets a good response when I play it out for a crowd in one of my sets. And plus I really dig what they're saying, cause man I am so ready to get away right now hahah...

The Flaming Ember "Gotta Get Away"

So yeah, that particular break works so well with people that I used it for a remix of Biggie Smalls that I did couple of years ago, and whenever I played it I got a tremendous response. I don't know I haven't shared this on my site in the past. Plus I have to make a concerted effort to not make my website about my "weird records that suck" - I have to keep a healthy allowance of bangers.

The Notorious B.I.G. "Party And Bullshit" (Cosmo Baker Remix)

Last but not least, here's a little interview that I did for the Tucker & Bloom blog. For those of you that might not know, Tucker & Bloom is an family owned bag company based out of Philly and Nashville, and a few months ago they gave me one of their bags to use. Turns out it's the nicest, most versatile bag in my collection, and I've been using it ever since. Thanks guys, and thanks for having me for your blog.

The Bag Messenger: Cosmo Baker Interview

Monday, February 22rd

My homies from Ego Trip (shout out to the illustrious Ted Bawno) in conjuction with my homeboy Dress and the Maysles Institute have been screening some crazy films from the the classic hip-hop era. You should go so this movie.

Wednesday, February 17th

- Breakbeat Tuesday: Yeah yeah, it's Wednesday I know. I was in Canada, chill out. (and shout to all my Canadian friends.) Anyway, yesterday was Mardi Gras and so I figured we'll make this week's post a tribute to that. I've never been to New Orleans but I have always wanted to. We almost went there a few years ago with the A-Trak "Sunglasses Is A Must Tour" but the date that was scheduled in 2005, for 2006 happened before Katrina (we went to Baton Rouge instead.) But anyway, I'm fascinated by the city, its rich history and culture, its spirit. Choctaw Indians, jazz, Second Line, voodoo, Wild Tchoupitoulas, honestly in concept the city has pretty much everything for me haha. And I don't really ever think my death, but have occasionally thought that I would like my funeral to at least have the spirit, if not the customs, of a Second Line march. But let's get to the music...

So obviously like any kid my age, there was a fair amount of Paul Simon / Simon & Garfunkel that I was raised on. In fact it's quite possible that "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" might have been one of the first songs that I memorized the lyrics to. And it's funny to me because when you're a teen and you want to rebel against anything that you parents like, it's very easy to say that Paul Simon isn't hip. "Turn this wack juice off mom, I want to listen to Public Enemy." But now that I'm older I have no qualms about not only accepting, but publicly proclaiming that Paul is that dude. Honestly, who doesn't have love for "Graceland?" And in my humble opinion, "Rhythm Of The Saints" is one of the finest albums of the 80s. One may say that without Paul Simon there would be no Diplo (oh snap, did I just say that haha...)

CTI Records was founded in the late 60s by legendary record producer Creed Taylor as a subsidiary of Herb Albert's A&M Records. It was a very distinctive record label that during the early and mid 70s was very much at the forefront of releasing a sound that bridged the gap from jazz to funk to easy-listening, all with a certain swing to it. Taylor, along with his artists and other in-house producers and arrangers, took the de rigueur sound of tepid 60s soul / jazz and infused a particular sheen to it that gave it all a very modern sound. That sound was embraced en-masse by a whole generation of hip-hop producers who mined the readily available CTI catalog in dollar bins to help sculpt the landscape of rap music in the late 80s and early 90s, a debt that often goes overlooked. And "diggers" often poke fun at CTI records because, for many of us, when we first started digging in the crates it was all the CTI records that many of us got in the initial stages of amassing our collection. So while many look at it the records as almost being somewhat pedestrian, I challenge that the back catalog is stronger than many of the rarer pieces out there. And trust me, I've GOT RECORDS, dudes...

Okay, tying this whole thing together, Bob James recorded a cover version of Paul Simon's "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" for his 1975 release "Two." It is a funk-infused monster a times, an easy-listening masterpiece at others... (did I really just say "easy-listening masterpiece?") But the thing that James' version is best known for is its incredibly infamous breakbeat at the top.

Bob James "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" (CTI, 1975)

And just to make it so that I'm beating you all over the head with the obvious, here's a Mardi Gras tribute treat courtesy of my homie Supreme La Rock. For the few of you who don't know him, Preme holds in own in Seattle and one of the illest DJs I know, period. Not only is his DJ game sick, he's one of the top diggers in the world and has been for as long as I can remember. His is game to respect, no question. You should also check out his podcast here. So Preme sent me this record by The Spotnicks, a pop group from Sweden who recorded a version of Mardi Gras - complete with their own breakbeat. It's pretty ill, and completely different from the Bob James version. Check it out, and happy Mardi Gras yall...

The Spotnicks "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" (Mariann Grammofon AB, 1978)

Saturday, February 13th

So tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I'm feeling a certain way, and I hope that all of you out there are feeling me on that. Don't want to go any further on that, but here's 2 songs that really give me chills when I hear them. They're relatively new-ish, not like the classics / oldies that I'm usually posting up on her. One is by British singer Lewis Taylor, from his "Lost Album" from 2005. This song has him channeling his inner Burt Bacharach or Brian Wilson for a little slice of pop-perfection. The second is by D'Angelo from his masterpiece "Voodoo" and there's not really much MORE I can speak about that record, so I'll just sit back and listen, and enjoy. PS - Thanks to all my Canadian friends. You're all really tops and hope to see you again soon.

Lewis Taylor "Let's Hop That Nobody Finds Us" (Slow Reality, 2005)

D'Angelo "The Root" (Cheeba Sounds / Virgin, 2000)

She done worked a root.
Done worked a root that will not be reversed
Then I go on, go on my role in her play with no rehearsal
Said, I left my mojo
Left my mojo in my favorite suit... yes I did, yeah
She left a stain, left a dirty stain in my heart, I can't refute.

She done worked a root!

In the name of love and war took my shield and sword
From the pit of the bottom, that knows no floor
Like the rain to the dirt, from the vine to the wine.
From the Alpha to creation, to the end of all time.

Said I went, Said I went, Said I went to the doctor.
The man told me there ain't nothin' wrong with me
But I beg to differ, I been feelin' this pain for much too long
I feel like my soul is empty
My blood is cold and I can't feel my legs
I need someone to hold me.
Bring me back to life b4 I'm dead.

She done worked a root... root... root.

I feel my soul is empty
My blood is cold and I can't feel my legs,
I need someone to hold me
Bring me back to life before' I'm dead...

She done worked a Root.

In the name of love and war took my shield and sword
From the pit of the bottom, that knows no floor
Like the rain to the dirt, from the vine to the wine.
From the Alpha to creation, to the...

To the end of all time..

Like the rain to the dirt, from the vine to the wine.
From the Alpha to creation, to the end of all time.

Thursday, February 11th

Happy Bornday to my man Rehani - Yo, me and this dude go back like almost 20 years. Like back in the day when we were young whippersnappers running the streets of Philly, with our backpacks on, smoking beedis and my dude carrying his machete (seriously.) MAD HIP-HOP, son. Those were some really good times though.

Funny enough, I came across this mix today with him on it. It's a live recording from me and Rich Medina's old party The Remedy back from 1998. This snippet is recorded live from the club with DJ Jazzy Jeff on the wheels with Black Thought, Common, Rehani and more spitting freestyles over "Love Rap" and "Mardi Gras." It's kind of the hottest schitt you never heard before (this is the first it's ever being put out there.) But yeah, this is how we used to get down.

DJ Jazzy Jeff, Cosmo Baker & Rich Medina "Live @ The Remedy, 1998 Pt. 3, feat. Common, Black Thought, Rehani, Rasheed, Dice Raw, Scratch & more..."

So yeah, happy birthday my man. Glad that we still here after all these years haha... And Rehani (who you also may know as the guest rapper on the J Dilla produced "Dynamite!" on The Roots "Things Fall Apart" album) told me to say to ?uestlove to stop fronting on the Dynamite sessions with him, Riq', Common, Slum Village with Dilla, Ahmir and Pete Rock on the machines... YO. SON. C'MON SON.

Okay, so this coming Sunday is Valentine's Day and I was planning on doing a Valentine's Roll 2 mix but I just didn't have the time to make that happen. So I decided to just re-up the original Valentines Roll mix that I did for last year, so you can have some nice tunes for when you spend some time with that special someone... enjoy!

'

Cosmo Baker "Valentines Roll"

Tracklist:

The Friends Of Distinction “Circles”
Aretha Franklin “Call Me”
Donny Hathaway “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know”
Rick James “Fire & Desire” feat. Teena Marie
Curtis Mayfield “Sweet Exorcist”
James Brown “That’s My Desire”
Otis Redding “That’s How Strong My Love Is”
Sam Cooke “Bring It On Home To Me”
Irma Thomas “Ruler Of My Heart”
Al Green “Simply Beautiful”
The Isley Brothers “Voyage To Atlantis”
George Harrison “I’ll Take You Anytime”
Stevie Wonder “I Believe (When I Fall In Love)”
Patrice Rushen “Settle For My Love”
Prince “Adore”
Quincy Jones “The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)”
Rene & Angela “Your Smile” (12″ Version)
The Isley Brothers “Fire And Rain”
The Smith Connection “Rainy Days And Mondays”
Darondo “Listen To My Song”
The Beach Boys “Forever”
Rita Wright “I Can’t Give Back The Love I Feel For You”
Black Ivory “Got To Be There”
Brenda Russell “So Good, So Right”
Bonnie Pointer “More And More”
David Bowie “Can You Hear Me”
Earth, Wind And Fire “Can’t Hide Love”
The Rolling Stones “Let It Loose”
East Of Underground “I Love You For All Seasons”
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell “If This World Were Mine”
The Delfonics “Walk Right Up To The Sun”
New Birth “You Are What I’m All About”
Steely Dan “Any Major Dude”
Bill Withers “Can We Pretend”

 

- Wednesday, February 10th

So I'll be heading up to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics this Friday - that is, if I can get out of the city. Apparently there's more snow here than in the mountains for all the skiing and snowboarding business. Well, I'm not going to bring any if I can do it carry-on.

Good news: my homie DJ Too Tuff - who has been locked up on some bullschitt charges - was just released from custody and is heading home. They had him locked up while he was suffering from thyroid cancer and had surgery behind bars, but thankfully he's free. Now it's just time to finish beating that cancer. Get well my dude, and feel free to contact him to send your well wishes at www.myspace.com/djtootuff

- Tuesday, February 9th

- Breakbeat Tuesday: So for the past couple of weeks the Breakbeat Tuesday feature has been getting it's world tour on and so with that premise we're going to take a trip to Cameroon and check out the legendary Manu Dibango. Manu is one of Africa's most famous and accomplished musicians and was instrumental in the development of "afro-funk." He's possibly most known for his breakbeat classic "Soul Makossa" which most people probably know from its appropriation by Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Something." But it's also widely considered to be the first real "disco" record (having been broken by David Mancuso at his Loft parties.) It's actually quite an interesting story.

So this past summer my wife and I were driving in the car listening to Grandmaster Flash play a set of all rare breaks during one of Hot 97s Mixmaster Weekend and Flash was dropping straight lava. A lot of breaks that I knew, and a lot that I didn't know. Then he busted out this African sounding track that made both of our necks snap. After a minute I said this must be Manu but I didn't know because I had never heard it before. Turns out I had the album all along, but honestly I just never got past the song "Weya." Anyway, this is "Senga" which is not your typical "breakbeat" but it is still the lava joint.

Manu Dibango "Senga"

Speaking of African music, let me introduce my homeboy Frank aka Voodoo Frank. We met years ago - I don't remember that circumstances - and we have stayed cool ever since via the music and digging community. Dude is a thorough dude, a class act, and knows more about certain styles of music than almost anyone that I know. A few years ago he took a several year long trip traveling around Africa strictly to find music, and he kept a chronicle of his adventures. Dude is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to Afrobeat, High Life, all that stuff. Check his blog at voodoofunk.blogspot.com for some incredible music and even more incredible stories.

And for real when it comes to dedication in this "digging thing of ours" I really don't think anyone can test this dude at all. He makes us all look like "that little dude" hahah. Also check Frank out in the Africa edition of the latest Wax Poetics magazine, as well as my stromie Rich Medina.

- Sunday, February 6th

Last night The Rub at Southpaw was absolutely incredible. We're so fortunate that our party is consistently the best time with the best people. Thanks again and again and again to everyone that came out last night, and to all of Brooklyn Massive in general. The full set of photos by the one and only Kenny Rodriguez can be found here at www.doobevision.com

- Friday, February 5th

Scion Radio 17: Busy P February Interview Preview from Scion A/V on Vimeo.

- Thursday, February 4th

This is real dope...

So my man Espo is taking over Northern Liberties Tatoos in Philly this and next week in commemoration of his amazing A Love Letter For You project. No, he's not doing the ink itself but he will lay something down on your skin to get inked by one of the dudes in the shop. Let me let him tell it though:

Hello,

Celebrating the release of “A Love Letter For You Brick Valentines On The Philly Skyline” book by Free News Projects, we’re doing a series of events in Philadelphia. The one I’ll tell you about here is I am taking over the Northern Liberties Tattoo shop for a week (more or less depending on demand), and the only artwork that will be on offer will be all Steve Powers, all week long. All your favorite icons, punchlines, poignant reminders of the futility of life, hilarious illustrations of our inadequacies, True depictions of true love from the Love Letter project, and of course, PIGEONS. Its all here, it’s cheap, its permanent. No, I’m not tattooing, no skills. I will, however, sign your arm and let one of the skilled pros on staff at Todd’s shop re-ink it, fair enough? Sometime during the week, we’ll be having a book signing at Exit Philadelphia Skateshop next door, watch the project blog www.aloveletterforyou.com for time and date. THANKS

Best Regards
Steve

- Tuesday, February 2nd

- Breakbeat Tuesday: This week I'm going to talk a little about Janko Nilovoc. He's a Montenegro born, France based jazz composer whose keys can be found on a ton of  (mostly library) records of the 60s and 70s. Think kind of like European jazz space fusion, with elements of psychedelic rock combined with classical Baroque music, and you've kind of got an idea of his sound, Janko is an absolute genius with his arrangements and the way he's able to convey moods with his compositions.

Now tons of people have touched his music for hip-hop from The Beatnuts to (most notably) No I.D. for Jay-Z's "D.O.A. (Death Of Autotune)." But here's a little piece that I unearthed that I think has been completely unscathed by those greedy thieving  hip-hop samplers (No Albini!) It's kind of like the hardest smacking drums that I've heard in a while, and just perfect for this week's edition of Breakbeat Tuesday. So I hope you enjoy, and respect the architects.

Janko Nilovic "Roses & Revolvers"

And here's another added bonus for all you rap-dudes.

Janko Niovic "The The Space"

 

And for your viewing pleasure, here's an interview with Sheen Bros. AKA me and my man 4th Pyramid about what we're about, how we came about, and what we're doing. Thanks to my man Zeb over at www.gpmentertainment.com for hooking this one up.

- Monday, February 1st

Oh yeah, here we are in February and it is officially cold as schitt, and that is no joke. Today is also the 62nd birthday of the late, great funk-pioneer Rick James. Rick is incredible because his music was so original and in no way was confined to any certain box. He created PUNK-FUNK and his sound was as comfortable to fit alongside Michael Jackson, The Whispers, The Temptations and Smokey Robinson as it would be with Funkadelic, Talking Heads, Liquid Liquid, Blondie, The B-52s, ans so on and so forth. Not settling for just being an incredible solo talent and multi-instrumentalist, Slick Rick went on to produce some of the biggest names in music at the time as well as bringing us the incredible Teena Marie as well as his own Mary Jane Girls. Let's also not forget that dude got his start as a musician alongside another musical giant, the great Neil Young, in the sort-lived Motown group The Mynah Birds. And as aside, I will be bold enough to say right now that if there was no Rick James, there would be no Prince. Dispute that all you want, you know it's true.

So when the whole world has relegated Rick's work, and life, to a (admittedly funny) joke, don't overlook the man who did things his own way and took no shorts, and changed modern music for the better. Well alright, you squares... FIRE IT UP for the one and only King Rick! Also also, thanks to Mister Playo, my 2nd grade gym teacher at Greenfield Elementary, who used to play "Super Freak" during gym period for us to run around the track to. That was the best! Here's a really great - both informative and poignant - blog post about Rick and his legacy on weallbe.blogspot.com

In commemoration of Rick Jame's birthday, here's a treat for the world. Just remember, "Brothers, sisters, there's got to be UNITY...

DJ Eleven & Cosmo Baker Present "I'm Rick James Bitch!"

So I've teamed up with the folks behind Fela! The Broadway musical (you know, Jay-Z, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith haha... as well as my people at HHC Marketing) to help spread the word about the greatest musical to hit the stage in recent memory. This is truly a magical event, and I encourage everyone and their moms to attend. Fela! the musical is truly a magical show, and anyone that knows me knows how much I revere the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti. He stands as a giant in modern day history, not only in music but in human rights and political activism as well.

So tickets to the show are kind of pricey (like most Broadway shows) but you can use the following codes to get tickets at a discount rate. Do not sleep on this!

Discount off:

$60 (regularly $99) for Wednesday matinees

$75 (regularly $112 - $122) for all other performances

How to order:

1: Visit www.broadwayoffers.com and use code FEHHC107

2: Call Telecharge @ 212-947-8844 and mention code FEHH107

3: Bring a printout of this discount to the Eugene O'Neill Theatre at 230 West 49th Street.

Restrictions: All prices include a $2 facility fee. This offer is valid through 2/28/10. Not valid for Saturday night performances. Other blackout dates may apply. Each order is limited to a maximum of 8 tickets for this promotion.