holding down the underground
wnur-gravel radio
Big ups to Tim Stroh and Gravel Radio for hosting Striz and myself-6-16-2009. It was a great chance for me to flex my downtempo/hiphop credentials – the result was serato blessed bangers and raw electonic headnod bizness.
striz got funky as a mosqueeter’s tweeter playing a mix of OG funk bombs and modern dope.
For a long time now, over and over you hear heads arguing that hip-hop is dead. Recently I got into a discussion about this very topic over at a favorite blog of mine Martini & Jopparelli’s Music Selections. Basically, although I love the classic jams (as evident in many of my mixes) I recognize that there are still amazing musicians in this hip-hop game. That discussion got me thinking about doing a 21st century mix to highlight what has been produced in the last decade. Why argue when you can listen and enjoy, right? Here’s the beginnings of my newest project. I present to you the years 2000 and 2001. I hope this continues to inspire your love of hip-hop music.
Tracklisting:
2000
Reflection Eternal- Too Late (prod. Hi-Tek)
People Under The Stairs- We’ll Be There (prod. Thes One)
Masterminds- Joints 2000 (prod. Mr. Khaliyl)
DJ Presto- Relax Your Mind (prod. DJ Presto)
Slum Village- Conant Garden (prod. Jay Dee)
Dead Prez- Hip-Hop (prod. Dead Prez)
Blackalicious- Deception (prod. Chief Xcel)
Jel- Stop (and Listen) (prod. Jel)
Funkstorung- Grammy Winner (prod. Funkstorung)
Rise- Do You Know Him? (prod. DJ Spinna)
Rubicon ft. Ronnie B- Mister Mister (prod. Rubicon)
Schoolz of Thought- One Of Those Days (prod. 88-Keys)
2001
Jigmastas- Nocturnal Jam (prod. DJ Spinna)
Alp- Pistachio (prod. Alp)
J.Rawls ft. J-Live- Great Live Caper (prod. J.Rawls)
Eyedea & Abilities- Liquid Sovereignty (prod. DJ Abilities)
Unspoken Heard- This Is Me (prod. The Sound Providers)
Hi-Tek ft. Jonell- Round & Round (prod. Hi-Tek)
Prefuse 73- Nuno (prod. Prefuse 73)
Mars Ill- Sphere of Hip Hop (prod. DUST)
Aesop Rock- 9-5ers Anthem (prod. Blockhead)
Cannibal Ox- A B-Boys Alpha (prod. El-P)
2002 (sneak peak)
DJ Shadow ft. Mos Def- Six Days Remix (prod. DJ Shadow)
Thankfully I was blessed with growing up in Chicago and loving hip-hop because it meant I got to listen to Common (Sense). This lyricist played with words like no other and to this day I’m STILL catching new wordplays in his classic album Resurrection. However, what I admire most about Common is his growth as a true artist. He has never been afraid to try on new sounds, new flows, and new directions… challenging his audience along the way. Some folks are great hip-hop MCs but Common will go down as a great musical influence. Since there is just too many incredible songs in his collection, I offer up this first installation.
“I met this girl, when I was ten years old and what I loved most she had so much soul…”
Tracklist:
“I’m the C O, double M, O, to the N”
Resurrection Inst
Reminding Me (of Self)
Announcement
Be
Breaker 1/9 Slope Remix Inst
Soul By The Pound
U Black Maybe
Doinit
Rock the Verse
Get ‘Em High
Respiration Inst
Act Too
Resurrection
Resurrection Large Prof Remix
The 6th Sense
Like They Use To Say Inst
Electric Wire Hustler Flower
Tekzilla
Geto Heaven Brooklyn Funk Remix
Forever Begins
radiohiro rockin it through the break a' dawn
(image courtesy JB)
Photo Slideshow courtesy John Bergman
Wow, just wow….
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New Year’s Eve… a time for celebration, friends, and basically just a good old fashion time to start the year off right. I bring to you a mix from NYE 2006. This one I challenged myself to step out of just a hip-hop framework and attempted to bring in a diversity of music from funk, rock, house, etc. You’ll notice each part has it’s own distinct flavor. Anyway, I hope you enjoy and let it just remind you to sit back, smile, and have a good new year.
PART 1- the beginning – PART 2- a little funky –
PART 3- back to basics – PART 4- tricked out ending
1
Beatles- Elenor Rigby
Talib Kweli- Lonely People
Rusty Pelicans- All I Have Inst
Rob Swift- Define Music
J5- Monkey Bars
Bustah Rhymes- Dangerous Remix
Andre Johnson- Way We Swing
Lords of Underground- Chief Rocka
Mr Scruff- Come ON Grandad
Onyx- Slam
Cut Chemist- Lesson 4
MLK Jr.- I Have A Dream Speech
2
Precyz- Comanche
Eminem- Drug Ballad
Quantic- Don’t Joke With A Hungry Man
Ugly Duckling- Turn It Up Inst
Aretha Franklin- Rock Steady
Lifesavas- Fa Show Remix Inst
Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock- It Takes Two
Up Bustle & Out- African Friendship
Rock Master Scott- The Roof Is On Fire
Kurtis Blow- The Breaks Inst
Sound Species- Approach To Sub City
Lionel Richie- All Night Long
St. Germain- So Flute
De La Soul- Keepin’ The Faith (7″ UK) Mix
Michael Jackson- Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough
Chekov- Turntable Soul Kicking
George Carlin- 7 Words You Can’t Say
3
Wu-Tang- Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthin To Fuck With
Dr. Dre- Still D.R.E. Inst
Reflection Eternal- Too Late
J-Live- Whoever
Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince- Brand New Funk Inst
N.O.W. ft Corinnena Joseph- Play On
Lauryn Hill- Ex-Factor Acapella
DJ Shadow- Midnight in Perfect World (Gab Mix)
4
Prince- When Doves Cry
Cassius- Feeling For You
Pepe Bradock- Demarre Le Chouve
Stevie Wonder- Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing
Eddie Mates- Afreeka
Mos Def- Umi Says
AC/DC- You Shock Me All Night Long
gettin freaky, what else? (photo credit dj m@ earth)
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In honor of the pictures of old parties and flyers, I bring you two mixes from the vault. The first is only the beginning of a mix I did for a night at Lava Lounge. For over a year, illmeasures held down Saturday nights on Damen Ave. I enjoyed that time so much… the crew always there, loads of friends, strangers… all feeling the joy and vibes of our night. It was a great time indeed. This is one of the best beginnings of a mix I did, where the rest fell off so only I get to hear the complete version. Next, I drop to you another infamous Halloween party mix. Again, illmeasures just keep things dropping on Halloween year after year. Some truly great times. This one is from 2006.
Digital Underground- Nuthin’ Nis Funky
DJ DSL- Neu, 6 Min
KRS-One- KRS-One Attacks
Ol’ Dirty Bastard- Shimmy Shimmy Ya
RJD2- Cut Out To FL
MLK Jr.- I Have A Dream speech
Tribe Called Quest- Can I Kick It?
Dr. Dre- Still D.R.E. Inst.
Dr. Dre- Forgot About Dre Acapella
Lifesavas- Head Exercise Remix Inst
Blackalicious- My Pen and Pad
The Roots- In The Music
J-Live- Play Inst
Reflection Eternal- Too Late
High & Mighty- BBoy Document
Numskullz- I’m Alive Inst
J-Live- Stir of Echoes
Masterminds- OneTwoThree
J5- The Game
Schoolz of Thought- Everythingsallright Inst
Prefuse 73- Nuno
Hi-Tek- Round and Round
Common- I Used To Love H.E.R. Acapella
LT Dilla- Chi Town Riders Inst
Black Eyed Peas- Lil Lil
Funkdoobiest- Holdin’ It Down
Freddy Fresh- It’s a Latin Thing
Alkaholics- Aww Shit
El-P- Lazerfaces’ Warning RJD2 Remix Inst
Disney- Haunted House sounds
M.R. vs Q.S.O.- Pushin Ronson
Jazzanova- The One-Tet DJ DSL Remix
Lauryn Hill- Doo Wop Remix
Japanese 12″ Inst
Digital Underground- Same Song
Lone Catalysts- En La Ciudad Inst
DJ DSL- Coming w/The Sound into Happy Bear
MLK Jr.- “I Have a Dream” speech
Redman- Da Goodness
Big Bossa- Roller Bootie
Public Enemy- Bring Da Noise
DJ Food- Conscioiusness (Unconscious Dub)
Justin Reed Resonate Chicago 2009
Woo to the mf’in T! what a party!
Thanks to mr Nate Manic for capturing my set, and for throwing down such a righteous set with partner in crime Duke Shin! I was interupted at both ends by tecyhnical difficulties but I have rendered the meat for ya’ll. If i get bugged enough I’ll post a tracklist otherwise just listen with your ears brainiac!
Jreed live at RESONATE4 (right-click, save-as to download)
Sloan's Hot Carla fire sculpture in the "dirt room"
I think it’s fair to say Resonate 4.0 was an unqualified success. I’m still exhausted from the whole weekend!!
This event just keeps getting bigger, bassier, badder-ass, and better! At least 1400 people jammed 15,000 square feet of party mayhem. The familiar Dirt Room and Video Room were complemented by an impressive Gallery – complete with a small stage of its own, and several cool art installations and live painting booths. The Dirt Room featured a 25 foot rocket installation, a canvass-covered dome that put me right back at Burning Man, and a sound system the size of which impressed even a jaded-out old-schooler like yours truly. The Video Room had it’s own “Kosmic Krystal Palace” installed environment, live painting, and of course, the usual incredible video effects that have been the staple of Resonate for the last three years.
Can’t wait until next year – hopefully I’ll be caught up on my sleep and re-energized by then!
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