So tomorrow – this Friday night – me and my man Rich Medina are going to lay waste to Philly. I mean straight come through like Godzilla and Mothra and just wreck shop, straight up and down. We’ve been talking about this since forever and now we’re fully focused, together, and motivated. Really psyched about this cause this type of shit is really my favorite. So. Much. Fun. That. I. Cannot. Express. It. Enough. So anyone who knows the history knows that me and Rich been partners in this Remedy 215 thing of ours since the mid 90s. Plus we’re doing it at Fluid which is where it all started for us. So it’s kind of a no brainer. Expect nothing but heat all night, from all angles.
Now not for nothing, with all humility I will say that we’re both pretty fucking good when it comes to slanging these little records. So to get you all in the mood here’s a few clips of some of the guys that I think are the absolute best in the business when it comes to playing 45s. They are the one and only 45 King and DJ Rockin’ Rob. You all know 45 King obviously (if you don’t then what the hell are you even doing here on my site?) Rob isn’t as well known outside the NY area but for my money he’s one of the best DJs around, something that I got into a conversation with Chairman Mao a few weeks back about. I have to roll up to the parks one of these days and check homie when he’s rocking. Anyway, enjoy the clips and hope to see you all out tomorrow night!
Friday, December 17th, 2010
Seven Inches Or Better –
The Remedy Pays Tribute To The Originators Featuring the deadly duo Cosmo Baker & Rich Medina Playing nothing but 45s all night long @ Fluid – 613 S. 4th St. – Philadelphia, PA
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 the 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, a, Spend 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 the area come though and share in the love and the memories. It’s going to be a great time.
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” Tamburro (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 and legendary 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!
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.
Thursday April 24 – Thursday Night Fever – Philly, PA 
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…
