The Soundtrack of DJ Earl-E

Back in the Day/ SoundEdit Beats

2011-12-16T14:22:00.000-08:00

No Static by Unseen Legion-The Beats

When we were trying to make beats in 1992, we knew that the future of music was in computers, and really it was already here. My man Barry, who I worked with at John's Grocery, showed me this program called SoundEdit on his Apple computer. When I took Prose over there to see how to use it, we both saw the amazing potential, but we didn't have a computer. I had Barry give me a hard disc copy and the plan was set in motion...to become digital.
When we finally did get a computer, it had no monitor, so the homie Dawit used his student discount and charge card to hook it up. Dawit was a student from Kenya who lived across the street from the house where most of the crew, and their homies, and some cousins lived, at 112 E. Davenport. That crib was always crackin, with at least 13 people living in the 6 bedroom house. Their are too many stories from this house to sum it up here, so we will leave that for another time.
"No Static" is the first beat I made with the computer and program on a fall afternoon in a basement room of that house. The drums were sampled from a beat on our Alesis SR-16 drum machine called "What Can U DO?"- programmed by Prose. The rest was samples from records- I think Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Steely Dan. The vocal sample has many meanings behind it, but none more intentional than a tongue-in-cheek shout out to the 8-bit sound that we were working with that was based in a foundation of static. Also giving a nod to the record static pops, as well as trying to make a song that was just fun to listen to with the crew, with no static at all.
-DJ Earl-E

New Beat- Old Beat

2011-11-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

Headnodz by Unseen Legion-The Beats
This is one of the first beats produced by Earl-E and Prose. This mp3 was ripped from the only existing copy that was recorded on a cassette tape sometime in 1993.
Since we didn't have a computer, a sampler, or any recording equipment, we used the studios at KRUI (University of Iowa) where we hosted a radio show at the time. The list of equipment and tools goes like this:
2 turntables
4 records (for samples)
1 Alesis S-20 drum machine
2 Reel-to-reel tape machines
1 cassette recorder

The Procedure of making the beat:

First, we created a drum pattern on the drum machine. The song had A and B patterns (8 counts each) with an C part(4 counts) programmed as well. That makes 3 separate parts.
Next, we determined which samples we would play over each of these 3 parts. We picked two bass lines to go over the two A and B parts, which would become the verse (A), and chorus (B). We then picked two samples to mix into the A and B parts- a horn for the verse, and a vocal sample for the chorus. Then we added thirdsample for the C part. The intro is the bass line from part A alone.
This is where it gets messy.
First, we played the drum machine, pattern A. Then mixed the bassline and horn sample live, recording the live mix, with drum loop, bassline, and horn onto a reel-to-reel tape.
We repeated this process for the 2 other patterns like this:
Drum machine pattern B, bassline #2, and vocal sample (MMM, MMM from Big Daddy Kane).
Drum machine pattern C, bass line #2 (Sly Stone).
From here we took the tape from the reel to reel machine and isolated loops with our different parts. When we were done, we had four separate tape loops that were about 8-10 feet of tape long, spliced together at the ends.
Loop 1: Bass line #1
Loop 2: Drum A, Bass line #1, Horn
Loop 3: Drum B, Bass line #2, vocal
Loop 4: Drum C, Bass line #3
Next, we played each loop on Reel-to-reel #1, looping the tape around a bottle of spray cleaner, and recorded several minutes of each loop onto tape on Reel-to-reel #2. We mapped out the song according to how many measures of each we would need, and then cut and spliced the tape from R-to-R #2 until we had a song structured with an intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, outro
Lastly, this final mix was recorded onto a cassette tape, which is the only copy ever made.

Earl-E

Beat of the Week- #1

2011-07-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

20s Remix by Unseen Legion Beats

BEAT OF THE WEEK: 20s Remix

Producer: DJ Earl-E
Year: 1996
Equipment: Mac Performa, Sound Edit (8-bit)

DJ Earl-E made this beat in a tiny upstairs one-bedroom in the underbelly of La Habra, California. The crib, housing myself, Vega$, Obskur, Juggla Vein, Earl-E, the homie Conflict, and some chick named Megan (don't ask), always had random other folks hanging out until all hours. Shadoe, Ben, The lil homies C-Rack and Lil Giddy-up... Blowin' trees, makin' beats and freestyling was an everyday thing. Gotta love ghetto livin'! It seemed like there were about 20 people there at any given time. It was around that time that we first started using the name 20 Kliks for the crew.

Obskur was the one who came up with the name 20 Kliks Records. I think it started around the idea of moving from the 20th century into the new millennium in which all the years started with 20. But there was much more to it. 20 is also a dub ($20), and a dub sack. Who doesn't love that? And Kliks are cliques (crews) and also a measurement of distance (kilometers). There's actually more to it than that as well but I don't wanna have to kill you for knowing too much. So I'll just leave it at that for now.

The beat is simply made with the Sound Edit program that gave the freedom to chop and layer samples, but had limited sound quality and no metronome. The sample may be from Grover Washington's "Mr. Magic," but really is probably only recognizable to true heads the way it was sampled, slowed down, and layered. This is one beat that didn't have any drums or bass added, just a string/keyboard sample that Juggla dug out of the crates and played from vinyl along with the beat until we found the right sound. We then decided to use the beat right away and recorded a scratch version of "20s-Remix" on the Tascam 4-track. We had just recorded the original version at a mobile studio run by some shady characters Juggla met at who-knows-where. They made us sign paperwork and we instantly knew we were never gonna pay the engineer for the master recording, so we decided to do another version that we would own outright. Since it was called 20s, you know I had to drop 20 bars.

Enjoy!

- Prose

CHECK THE REMIX

2011-05-23T14:40:00.000-07:00

I found out about this contest last week, and thought it sounded like good fun. I haven't been a pop music fan since Thriller, especially most of the new pop crap (ala BEP, etc.) that sounds like bad 80's techno, but this song has some great vocals and flavor. I also found out that Jason Reeves is from the same hometown as me, and has worked with people that I know, so seemed like a no-brainer, plus I could come out $500 bucks richer and a chance to collaborate with Jason in the future. GO VOTE NOW!

BATTLE OF THE BANDS- WE NEED YOU!!!

2011-05-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

ALL RAGE AREA FANS- THIS IS THE SHOW THAT YOU MUST NOT MISS! NOT ONLY IS IT IN A GREAT VENUE WITH 2 OTHER HAND-PICKED BANDS, BUT IT IS FREE, AND YOUR SUPPORT OF THE RAGE AREA CREW WILL HELP US MOVE ON IN THE COMPETITION. THE WINNER GETS TO PLAY THE THURSDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES UNDER THE STARS ON THE SANTA MONICA PIER, AS WELL AS OPEN FOR A MAJOR HEADLINING ARTIST TBD IN JULY.

DJ Earl-E and Prose: EP-is-odes Official Release

2011-03-05T10:12:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:

SOUND OFF!!!

2011-02-16T00:48:00.000-08:00

The Sound and the Fury- the NEW song from E.P. (Earl-E and Prose).

This song was written and recorded in January of 2011, at a time in history that saw a popular people's movement erupt into revolution in Egypt and Tunisia, as well as street protests and demonstrations in Yemen, Bahrain and many other countries.
Even here at home in the U.S., we see injustices all around us and know that our voices continue to be unheard and our needs remain unaddressed.
Now, we don't promote violence, but we do believe in real freedom, and in standing up for what we believe in. For this reason, in solidarity with the worldwide call for human rights, justice and equality, we are sharing this song with as many people as possible.
We hope you will listen, forward and share it, online or in person, with as many people as possible, since history has proven time and time again that a united people with one voice can bring about great change.
Thanks for listening…and Power to the People!
-DJ Earl-E and Prose

Video from the vault- "Now and Forever"

2010-12-31T00:13:00.000-08:00

My homie Andrew Hawtrey and I shot this video one night in Los Angeles for fun. We took the Jeep out on a foggy night and got some sweet footage of the city after dark. Andrew did the filming and editing for the project, I did the driving. This video has been sitting on a DVD in my coolection at home, and I just now got around to getting it up on YouTube for the world to see. Hope you enjoy...

DJ Earl-e w/Rage Area -" Lavaman " video

2010-12-05T08:57:00.000-08:00

This video is from a local spot in Santa Monica called Harvelle's. They have a sick Wed. night with the House of Vibe All-Stars, which includes members of great L.A. bands like Fishbone, The Untouchables, Ozomatli, Jurassic 5, and more.
Rage Area had the opportunity to open for this band, and some of the horn players even joined us on a couple of songs to add some soulful flavor. I've been playing with Rage Area for a couple of months now, and this was one of my favorite gigs so far. Check it...

Halloween with Too $hort, Shiny Toy Guns, and Rage Area

2010-10-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Halloween Weekend is here and we are ready to party! Discounted tickets are still available here. This event is also the "Official Halloween Party" for the Long Beach Comic Con going on all weekend, so there should be some great costumes.

Shot of the Tonic

2010-10-25T23:30:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to rocking the Whisky with a super dope dub band from Jamaica, Dubtonic Kru. This will be the first time I've rocked the stage that was the home to one of my favorite bands, the Doors. Rage Area, like The Doors, is also out of Venice, and is bringing together a multitude of sounds and influences to create a unique and new sound. BREAK ON THROUGH....

Earl-e Goes Dub

2010-10-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Yo- I just started collaborating with Venice band, Rage Area and am planning to step in and play some shows with this electronic/dub reggae outfit. The beats are 808 thick with ultra groovy basslines and vocals. Some big shows coming up soon, so looks like the start of something irie mon. E-mail me about tickets for any of these shows- yo@djearl-e.com

Limited Time- WHOLE ALBUM digital download for 99 cents!

2010-10-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

DOWNLOAD HERE

In an effort to get some more feedback and reviews on my album, I am offering my latest, Wax Onomatopoeia for digital download for only 99 cents. That is the WHOLE ALBUM, artwork and highest quality 320kps files direct to your computer instantly. You may still order a physical copy of the CD, for 10 times the price, but for the casual listener, how can you beat a dollar for a full hour of hip-hop dopeness, mixed by a true fan of music.
This album isn't just a collection of beats and scratching. It is a story told through the language of a hip-hop DJ, an autobiography of a beat junkie. Let me know where it takes you, where you listen to it, and when. What do you dislike about it? I wanna know...
Do it now.

Visual Remix Project

2010-09-09T13:08:00.001-07:00

These paintings are inspired by some of my favorite albums and their artwork...my version of visual sampling...
Paintings are on canvas with acrylic and paint pen. Contact if interested in purchasing any of these works. djearlunseen@yahoo.com

In A State of YO

2010-07-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to be a D.J. When I was a kid, I had a little red tape recorder that I would use to record songs off the radio. I would announce the songs like the jockey, along with sports commentary from my childhood friend Jon Miller and my brother, J.D. We would even make up the commercials sometimes. I then took a TV and Radio class in junior high, and read the school announcements, complete with a news, sports and weather report. When I went to college, I started off as a communications major, so I could get a job at KRUI, the University of Iowa student run station. I soon changed my major to Art, but a job at the radio station kind of found me. Sophomore year, I met a DJ at the station and my friends and I started guesting on her show for fun. Kelly Balfe was voted the stations best personality, and she was the first to show me how to mix a beat, as she was also a legendary DJ at the 620 Club. After getting my own FCC license and show, I would pick up overnight and holiday shifts while most students were out of town. I would spend hours in the studio (sometimes on-air) practicing mixing (I didn't have my own turntables yet), and making tapes for any party that would put it on. My man Schwaahed had moved into a legendary party house at 222 E. Prentiss with Anthony who was an artist and DJ also, and this is where we met Prose and his brother Speakeasi. Soon, Prose and I had moved in and after finally purchasing my own turntables, switched up my radio show to an all hip-hop format, and called it A State of Yo... after the song by the Brand New Heavies and Black Sheep. There is only one known copy of this radio show, recorded on this date in 1993- the golden era of hip-hop. I believe this was the first show that I brought my own tables and mixer into the studio to do it up full-on mix show style. After going back and listening to this, I don't know how we stayed on air so long with all the FCC violations (NO station ID's, multiple swear words, and I don't think Prose even had an FCC license). Thanks to Rosanne for making this tape, you can hear where the song cuts off about 45 min. in when she had to flip the cassette. If you would like to listen to the first half of the show, download or podcast, just go to my drop -the password is happybirthday

420 MIX

2010-04-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a classic mix that I made for my man Mariano around 8-9 years ago I think. The first draft was on cassette tape, that's all I know.

Stoned is the Way of the Mix- DJ Earl-e

Take 2 and pass...
R.I.P. Guru

Bean Sprouts 2010

2010-04-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

Spring is here, so I thought I'd drop a little freshness. My garden and new daughter have been taking most of my attention these days, so I let my camera help me slow down and watch the flowers grow, so to speak. This beat almost made the Wax Onomatopoeia album, but it was just waiting to be put to video..

NOISE RADIO MIX

2010-02-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

This is a 30 min. mix that I put together for Noise Radio, on KRUI 89.7 FM from the University of Iowa. Noise Radio is an electronic/dance music show that airs live on Sat. nights 8-10pm. Resident DJ/host Vince Woolums gave me a segment of the show, and since I started my DJ career at KRUI, I was thrilled and honored to put down an exclusive mix to shake some booties in my hometown. I venture into the electronic realm a little more than I usually do, for the Noise Radio listeners, but still manage to lay some original tracks, get irie in the mix, and bring it home with a hip-hop classic. This mix first aired on 1-30-10. Download the mix here for FREE and check out how the flow goes.

zSHARE - DJ Earl-e NOISE RADIO MIX.mp3

Frankie Bones- Ghetto Technics vol. 16 A-side
DJ Earl-e - Reza Nate
Zhane - Mr. DJ
Zero 7 - Destiny (Photek remix)
Sylk 130 - Last Night A DJ Saved my Life
Bob Marley - So Much Trouble in the World (Bill Laswell dub)
Easy Star All-Stars - Lucky Dub
DJ Earl-e - Aria 51
Prose- Everyman
DJ Earl-e - Neva Enda
Nas - The World is Yours

Liner Notes III: Zsong/Slayin'

2009-11-20T22:56:00.000-08:00

The following are excerpts from the liner notes of the full-length CD Wax Onomatopoeia (2009) by DJ Earl-e.

"Zsong" is sort of an interlude song, raw and uncomplicated. It is another song from the "93 Poway days (see "Wax On" liner notes), but this version is the second version. The original cut had some other elements in it, like a sample of a skateboard ollie for a snare, a sample of a pinball table flipper, and more, but a computer hiccup somehow lost the original version, leaving this simpler song in the mix. What I added later, to lend to the continuity of this album, was the intro which was taken from a late night session with my homies Juggla, Vegas, and Prose. I was house-sitting in a small trailer on a bout an acre of land on the outskirts of Iowa City in the dead cold of January 1994. This was one of those nights where we just played music and left the mic on record, capturing some fleeting bits of genius in between the ridiculous and ludicrous moments...I'm not sure what this part was, but it sure makes us laugh to this day. The Captain Z bit just had to go with this song.
The title "Zsong" comes from the guitar loop, can you guess why?

The next song, "Slayin'" is a newer song from Earl-e, but started with an old idea. Back in high school, I was in chorus, and we would sing a Christmas medley including "Jingle Bells" and "Sleigh Ride." I do think that I felt like slaying my chorus director after singing these for the 2000th time...
The song is really a (maybe not so) subtle commentary on the 24-hour media fed society and how many of these pundits, experts, and academics (the vultures) relish in the reportage of carnage.

Liner Notes II: Fly Into the Son/Reza-Nate

2009-10-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

The following is part 2 of the liner notes from DJ Earl-e's album Wax Onomatopoeia.
As songs often do, these next two songs bring back memories of specific times and friends. "Fly Into the Son" was crafted around 1998 in the living room of my good friends, Sam and Mose. Some great reggae shows that came through Iowa City the previous summer, like Black Uhuru, Burning Spear, and Culture, and brought some positive vibrations and motivations to the mix. This song started as a reggae song, but as my songs often do, it sort of grew into something more. I was doing a couch tour then, living between Minneapolis, Iowa City, and Davenport with my wife traveling for work, so I had to make my studio on-the-go. The Akai S-20 is a cool, little, easily portable sampler that does just enough to be fun, make some tight loops, and record a 4-track sequence. Limited memory forces you to get creative with your samples, but it still lets you do some interesting chopping, and gives you a chance to let the song evolve organically, like playing an instrument. If you know my other albums, you will recognize the title from a (Roy Ayers) sample that I used in the song "great planes" on the Environ Mentalz album. This is part of a recurrent theme of using recurrent themes in my music.
The next song, "Reza-Nate," is a work that started as a collaboration with another friend into the realms of deep house/electronica (although my man Vince said it was almost dub step -but I'm still gonna call it hip-hop). Reza is the guy that you will always have fun with, you will probably do something you never tried along the way, guaranteed laughs, and is probably the friend that would have gotten you in the most trouble as a kid. He is always turning me on to new music, and inspiring me with his positivity, and love of life. So, Reza is a music lover and he wants to make some tracks. This is one of a couple that we started working on, and realizing the limitations of my GarageBand setup, left abandoned. I still think we'll make an album someday... I dusted this one off, added a few samples, mixed it down, and you get the name of our band, Reza-Nate.

Liner Notes: Wax On/ Pacific Coastin

2009-09-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

Every song has a story. The songs I put together are the stories that make up who I am.These are the first 2 tracks from my new album, Wax Onomatopoeia.
"Wax On" was made specifically as an intro song, but not necessarily for this album. Originally made around late 1994, the song was unofficially titled "Bring it On" and was made with just 2 loops. My production studio was basically two turntables, an Apple IIc computer and a program called SoundEdit. I had recently journeyed from Iowa with my boys Brian and Jonathan, in a beat up Chevy conversion van that used to belong to my grandfather, ending up in an apartment in Poway, CA . We were broke, and spent most of our time hanging out at the bowling alley, smoking, mixing records, making beats, and skateboarding. Those few hot summer months were productive and I made a tape of all the beats I had cranked out. "Bring it On" was the intro joint. For the new album, I wanted that same feel, so I revived the song and added some vocal samples of inspiring personalities (Kobe, Bob Sanders, Bergwood). You can go to my YouTube page to see the video for the song.
"Pacific Coastin'" is a remake of a song (called Lsong) that was made in that Poway apartment, and is sort of the follow-up to a song called "Drivin'" from my Environ Mentalz (2003) album. The song cruises like a drive through Malibu and rolls like the hills of Cali's Central Coast. As my story often goes though, this journey also has its beginnings in Iowa. In a record store. Filing through the familiar bins in Real Records (now gone) on Washington St. in downtown Iowa City, I heard a funky jazz sound. I asked who this groove came from and discovered 'Big" John Patton on a Blue Note re-issue. The smooth organ, cool guitar, and Latin percussion quickly became favorite listening and sampling material. Simple Citizens know what I'm talkin 'bout. Thats why I had to sample the vocal hook from their song "Variations in D Minor," which brings to mind this same vibe. I currently live about 6 blocks from the PCH, and I love bumpin this joint along the way.
Get the album here, or download individual songs.

New Release- "Wax Onomatopoeia" Official release!

2009-09-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

After a bit of a printing mix-up, the new album has arrived and is ready for shipping. Copies will be available for ordering or download by Sept. 10. My first facebook contest winner will be getting his copy by the end of the week. More contests to come...stay tuned.
Full liner notes for the album will be posted here in the next few days as well. I feel that every song has a story, and as I go, I will tell these stories. Earlier postings have songs from the album, but as a celebration of the release, I'm making 1 song available as a free download for a limited time.
PURPLE GRACKLE

2009-08-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

Neva Enda video:
This is the new video from the soon to be released album Wax Onomatopoeia (out Aug 25). Dig the beat. One.

Soul Scribes- July 4 Video

2009-07-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

This was taken at our show in Ventura, CA on July 4. The event was "The California Music Fest" with over 150 bands playing in several venues on the Main St. and an outdoor stage as well. There were probably 20,000 to 30,000 people out that day, but not many with wristbands ($25 bucks a pop), and therefore, not much traffic inside the venues. Played with some other great artists including Big Joe Hurt and Keaton Simons.
Our regular bass player, Trever, was in Switzerland for over a month working on a movie score, so Charlie- the original bass player in the band, jumped at the opportunity to get down. Sal, our guitar player, was also M.I.A., so Justin stepped his game up and held it down nicely. Your favorite DJ even got on the mic, but the lyrics belonged to the legendary Rakim- a tribute to a hip-hop classic, "Paid in Full."
We play next @ the Airliner in downtown L.A. on Thurs. July 23-FREE, and then a FREE SHOW Thurs. July 30 after the "Twilight Concert Series" on the Santa Monica Pier at Rusty's Surf Ranch. I will be spinning a DJ set that night as well, so get yer ass down.

New video for "Wax On" by DJ Earl-e

2009-06-10T00:04:00.000-07:00

Finally, a new song from the new album, Wax Onomatopoeia, out this Summer from DJ Earl-e. "Wax On" is the intro song to the CD, so it is only fitting that it is the 1st release. I actually made this beat sometime in 1993-94, with the idea of it being an intro for an album like this. In fact, many of the beats on this album were mined from the vaults, giving them that crusty sound and authentic feel. I will detail the production aspects later, but for now, "sit back, relax, and listen to some hip-hop."

Check the remix.

2009-05-09T02:05:00.000-07:00

Did this remix for a contest. Let me know what you think.
Open Happiness- featuring Cee-Lo Green, Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco), Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Janelle Monae, Tracis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes).

Open Happiness - soul scribe vibe mix - DJ Earl-e

Soul Scribes to rock the Santa Monica Pier

2009-04-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

We are stoked to be playing at the legendary Rusty's Surf Ranch located on the Santa Monica Pier. 2009 is the 100 year anniversary of the Pier in Santa Monica, and the rides are still running. A new solar powered ferris wheel was installed last year to replace the old one. The roller coaster is rickety, but you know I'll be riding it Friday night. Hope all can come out to support the band, and I look forward to having some good times with the peeps. We are also working on a new song or two that we hope to debut that night.

We start at 8:30 sharp and have a full hour to get down. Hope to see y'all there. $7 at the door w/I.D. ($12 under 21 without parent)

Friday Night with Soul Scribes

2009-04-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

The latest flyer for Soul Scribes designed by DJ Earl-e.

This is always a fun night with lots of friends and family that come through. Soul Scribes usually plays 2 sets with me spinning select cuts from the crates. Last month I went with funk, the month before was Bob Marley Day...so I went with strictly roots that night. Still haven't picked a theme for the night this month. Any ideas?... It is a tiny dive bar, but the bartenders are cool and it's like family when we play a show there. I'm still hopin' Prose will be comin thru with some songs. Last month my boy Andrew came down and he ended up with a free CD. Soul Scribes plays at the Witches Brew on the first Friday of every month. Stay tuned for posts about Soul Scribes playing live on May 8 @ Rusty's Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier!

New DJ Earl-e Mix-Tape Out Now!

2009-02-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

New mixtape from DJ Earl-e. Remixes of classic and new hip-hop tracks. Download the entire mix for free now! Available for limited time only!!!

53 minute mix perfect for rockin on your iPod or burn a copy for your homie. Help spread the love...

Parental Advisory: Explicit lyrics

Updated DJ Earl-e Blog: Easewax

2009-01-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

The official blog of DJ Earl-e. Updated information on where you can get music, watch video, and contact DJ Earl-e.
www.djearl-e.com

Soul Scribes at O'Brien's

2008-12-10T14:38:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to rockin' Santa Monica once again this Thurs. night (Dec. 11). We have been workin on some new songs...here's a taste of a low quality recording from our lockout space. Just go to our facebook page and check out the song, "For Two." Find Soul Scribes on Facebook

2008-10-05T22:09:00.000-07:00

Soul Scribes playing the 2nd Thurs. of the month at O'Brien's Irish Pub. Check us out...

Funky Gem- 24 Karat Black

2008-07-17T00:03:00.000-07:00

24 Karat Black
24 Karat Black Theme

I don't know exactly how to classify this..do you call it jazz, funk or soul? All I know is that it is a groove and a half. I picked up this record in the fall of '94, when I had moved back to Iowa from a 3 month stay in San Diego. This compilation has a few classic gems on it including :The Three Pieces- Backed Up Against the Wall, Blackbyrd's - Wilford's Gone, and Gary Bartz- Celestial Blues are my favorites.
These tracks were taken from the vaults of Fantasy Records, which absorbed some other labels including Stax, Riverside, Prestige, and then was absorbed by some larger label.
24 Karat Black was a group of studio musicians, headed by Dale Warren, that sat in sessions with the likes of Issac Hayes, the Bar-Kays, and others on the Stax/Volt label.

Proper gander

2008-07-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

While listening to KPCC today, I heard the program, AirTalk with Larry Mantle. THis is a show aired on NPR, so you expect a little bias from the "left," but is that always good. Here's the issue...taken from the AirTalk web page on www.kpcc.org

"The latest New Yorker cover depicts Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in a turban, fist-bumping his gun-slinging wife. Obama's campaign has condemned the rendering as tasteless and offensive. Even McCain's campaign agreed. The New Yorker says it's simply satire. Is it really offensive - or is it just funny? Could it have a negative impact on Obamaâ€™s (italics added- this is actually published on the KPCC website. WTF?) campaign? If so, is that fair? Should we be concerned that it might play into the fears and ignorance of the voting public? Or should we all just lighten up?"

I was in general agreement with the host that this cartoon is satire. It is obviously making fun of all the attacks on Obama from those who would have us believe he is Muslim, too black, un-American, elitist...or whatever. I was a bit turned off by the fact that Larry Mantle was amazed that one couldn't see it as merely funny satire. " I can't believe that there are really people that believe that, but I guess there may be," he said after talking to a caller who was offended by the article. There are still lots of charged emotions built into our society, and these images repeat the same images that have conditioned our society. It is a matter of perception.
The thing that is not ever said is this: It doesn't matter to the opponents of Obama if it is satire or not. Their message has gotten through loud and clear, and with the great help of the "left-leaning" media. Good thing Jon Stewart is on vacation right now or millions more people who wouldn't read the New Yorker would be bombarded with the image as well. The people who run the presidential campaigns are advertising people. They understand and have studied the effect of repeated images on people. Like my man Prose quoted to me from Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, "sixty-two thousand four hundred repetitions make one truth." "The McCain" people are lovin' that Obama's image of a terrorist who rolls with Angela Davis is gettin plastered on TVs everywhere. Much greater than the 1 million readers the New Yorker (who has more readership in Los Angeles than anywhere else, no doubt our Larry Mantle is one of them.) gets monthly.
The bottom line is that this campaign has issues of race and historical context that many people have strong emotions about. The cover of the New Yorker was put out for one reason: to sell copies. To make money. Controversy sells. Racism is easy. Everybody has an opinion. So, you still wanna be in show business?
I don't really like Carlos Mencia either.

Crate Digs Vol.1 -Dred Scott

2008-07-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

Crate Digs is a section where I go randomly into my stax and pull a handful of records. Record number one is from an obscure artist named Dred Scott. This record is from 1993 and I got it as a promo copy from the record label while I was a DJ at KRUI.

I'm a man who listens to the music more than the lyrics at first, so I'm gonna drop the "Duck Ya Head"- Funky Flute Mix from the B-Side of the "Nutin' Ta Lose" 12" Single. It is just a funky hip-hop instrumental with a little Funk Inc. sample and a smooth flute solo. This reminds me of some of the stuff from Guru's early Jazzmatazz albums. Both songs were produced by the arist, with a Marley Marl remix on the A-side.

Find out about the real Dred Scott.

Hard Times - Pt. 1

2008-07-13T16:16:00.000-07:00

Hard Times
David Newman
from The Best Of David Newman.

This song was recorded in Nov. of 1958 with David Newman playing alto sax and Ray Charles on piano. Newman actually spent 4 years as a member of the Ray Charles Orchestra before recording his first solo album at Ray's suggestion. The rest of the players were from the orchestra as well and include: Bennie Crawford- baritone sax; Marcus Belgrave- trumpet; Edgar Willis- bass; and Milt Turner- drums.

Is anybody listenin?

2008-07-11T23:17:00.000-07:00

Check out this video: Prose-For Whom The Bell Tolls

Add to My Profile | More Videos

In this day we are bombarded by quotes and images. What Obama did, how Jesse Jackson wants to cut his nuts off, and how our troops are finally "turning the tide in Iraq." The media spends a lot less time covering how Dennis Kucinich has put forth his third motion in the House of Representatives to commence articles of Impeachment for the President. Or how Iran is testing missiles in response to Israel's "training" exercises that look too much like preparation for Israeli bombing raids on Iranian nuclear refinement facilities. Keep diggin' for the truth.
Casey J. Porter's You Tube Page
http://cbftw.blogspot.com/
911truth.org

Pump It Up Homeboy

2008-07-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

This song really says it all...and it is a hip-hop classic, so you should just check it out.

Ice Cube
Today Was A Good Day (remix)

Thanks all for the b-day love. Another circle completed.
One.

Jazz Gem- Ruby, My Dear

2008-07-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

This is a somewhat melancholy, yet pretty ballad from Thelonius Monk (piano), recorded in July of 1957. Also playing on the record are a young John Coltrane- alto; Wilbur Ware- bass; and Shadow Wilson- drums.

I watched the movie Thelonius Monk: Straight, No Chaser on Fri. The movie is a documentary using mostly archival footage of Monk in 1968. His mad genius can definitely be tasted by watching this truly unique individual at work. It was executive produced by Clint Eastwood, a piano player himself, in 1989. You can get it anywhere...Netflix.

Motiv8

2008-07-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

Ya gots ta K.I.M. (Keep it Movin'). I was listening to this

Sizzla CD called Reggae Max (I believe it is an import and has 21 tracks on it- bought it @ the Wherehouse). This song Do Some Good came on and got me in a nice mood, helping me stay positive and motivated. It is a compilation CD, so I don't know which Sizzla album this song comes from (and there are a lot of Sizzla albums), but I've never been disappointed with the limited doses that I've sampled. I feel like sitting down to write this is doing some good and it is also practice. Sharpening the tools and sharing my life and passions.
Speaking of sampled, I sampled Sizzla on one of my songs- just a short intro- for my song, dub stylee, on the album Environ Mentalz. That song was inspired by a couple of friends of mine, Sam and Mose...dubbing is a must.
So, my wife Beth and I rode about 20 miles today on our bikes. My motivation is vacation on bicycles in the form of RAGBRAI starting June 20. Hey, Lance Armstrong will be there, so I need to at least feel in shape when I get to ridin 80 mile days. So tomorrow, I will get up and do it again...which brings me to

Soul Scribes, the band I've been playing with for the last 2 years. Before I was in the picture, Sal Lopez had a band with some others, including his brother, Justin. Their band was called Mindshift, and they made only one album in 1999 before the band broke up. Sal brought some of this material into Soul Scribes and adapted it to the new style, members and growth. Noisemaking 101 was released in March of 2007, and just as we started gaining momentum and making a buzz in L.A. and elsewhere, our MC, Phil "UP" Benjamin, in June 2008, made a difficult personal decision to leave the band and follow his heart elsewhere. Since then, Justin Lopez has joined Soul Scribes full time, and I fully expect Prose to continue to collaborate with the band and put his sound into the Soul Scribes mix. So, will this song get the hat trick?

Mindshift- Do It Again(1999)
Soul Scribes- Do It Again (2007)

Songs of Freedom

2008-07-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

Being "Independence Day" and all, my thoughts go historical. History of this country, and personal history.
I spent a few childhood summers on my grandparents farm in Iowa. My grandpa Ruble used to collect old cars and every 4th of July, he would drive one of the cars in the Osceola July 4 parade. We would go and throw candy to all the people (but not too much, we don't want to throw ALL of it). That really is just remembering good times from the past, not really anything to do with patriotism.
While listening to KPFK yesterday, somebody quoted an historian, David Hackett Fischer. He has written a book called

Liberty and Freedom.
I haven't read it yet, but history is always interesting. It deals with U.S. history and what our forefathers- the common people, thought about freedom and how the United States came to be. One of the quotes was from an interview with a soldier from the revolutionary war and said something like this: what we wanted to show those redcoats was that we always thought ourselves as free, and they didn't think we should.
So, that makes me think... are we free. The spirit of our forefathers IS alive today, but not in power today. Check out the book, The Framing of Mumia Abu Jamal by J. Patrick O'Connor. Then listen to a selection: Homeland and Hip- Hop by Immortal Technique on the album Revolutionary Pt.2. He has a new album that dropped on June 24 that I WILL be buying. Stay tuned...
I must conclude with my favorite song of freedom, Redemption Song , by Bob Marley. This version is from his very last concert in 1980, from the city of Pittsburgh, PA. It is the last song on disc 4 of a gem of a CD box set called Songs of Freedom.

A Hip-Hop Gem - Diamond D

2008-07-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

Starting my new blog in the month of July, my birth month, I was thinking of rubies (the gemstone of July). Since this is my month, I have decided to drop a few gems on ya'... Number 1:

Diamond and the Psychotic Neurotics
Stunts, Blunts and Hip-hop

Diamond D (rumor had it that he dropped the "D" over legal rights to the name or something) was the first to call himself "the best producer on the mic." This was one of my top 5 albums of 1992. The title track, Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-hop is pretty self explanatory...and having just turned 21 at the release of this album, you may understand my fascination with the song... and album. Great, simple, bass driven hip-hop (this track samples the Buddy Miles Experiment- more on that later) with catchy hooks. The epitome of 1992. Favorite lines: "give us a kick like a football punt,/ so much money has been spunt./Much, much more than Donald Trump's./I hope my boom spot doesn't get bumped./ As I listen to Thelonius Monk," Click below to listen:

Mix Down Babylon.mp3

2008-07-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

Live mix recorded in 2002 (but just as relevant today) from 100% vinyl...oooh hear the crackle and pop. The theme of this mix is this: anger at the political system, fear mongering corporate owned media, police brutality, corruption, twisted mentalities, abuse of power, social injustices, ...AND HOW THE MUSIC CAN SAVE US. THE REVOLUTION WILL BE DOWNLOADED!

SONG LIST FOR MIX DOWN BABYLON

The Clash- Sean Flynn
Bob Marley- Burnin' and Lootin'( Bill Laswell dub)
The Beastie Boys- Cookie Puss (inst. version)
Meat Beat Manifesto- Radio Babylon
808 State- Reaper Repo
Busta Rhymes- Gimme Some More (inst.)
Kraftwerk- The Telephone Call
Public Enemy- Brothas Gonna Work it Out (inst.)
Buju Banton- Sufferer
Supacat- Rama Jama (Kenny Dope remix)
DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince- Brand New Funk (inst.)
Bobby Konders- Rising to the Top
Arrested Development- Revolution (inst.)
Sly and Robbie- Fatigue Chic (remixed by Howie B)
Sly and the Family Stone- I Want To Take You Higher, You Can Make It If You Try
The Jungle Brothers- I Got It Like That (vocal dub)
Parliament- Flashlight (Cameron Paul's Loops vol. 1)
De La Soul- I Be Blowin' feat. Maceo Parker
Eric B. and Rakim- In The Ghetto (drum and vocal mix)
Tha Mexakinz- Phonkie Melodia
Madlib- The Rain 12" Beats 11 & 12
Cutty Ranks vs. Poison Chang- Limb by Limb (Drum and Bass remix)
Outkast- Hootie Hoo (inst.)
Mobb Deep- Give It Up Fast (inst.)