"brrrrrrrrrrrr!"

all i want for xmas is for the mad decent/gucci mane mixtape to come out (and the state vs. radric davis on vinyl).  but as the big day gets closer and closer, i don’t think my yule is going to be “so icey” (see what i did there?)

if, like me, you’re a fan of gucci montana and can’t wait for this project to come out, check out the HEALTH remix of oj da juiceman and gucci’s “goodnight” from adult swim’s ATL RMX mixtape.

mp3: oj da juiceman ft. gucci mane/”goodnight (HEALTH remix)”

oh, and you can get the gucci t-shirt here at the mad decent superstore.  i probably will.

Like you didn’t peep this already but anyway, out of appreciation:

With its 10th release, The Hollertronix 12″ series have finally reached an end. For me, the first vinyls that came out from Diplo and Low Budget (along with their first mixtapes) are some of the most influential music I’ve come across during the last ten years. Now The Partysquad closes the series with a bang!

Thanks Hollertronix for making good shit.

Now go and buy this!

Beatport
Turntable Lab
Vinyl available here

To promote this release MD is also giving away this brand new Diplo & Jayou remix:

The Partysquad – “Murderer” (Diplo & Jayou RMX) (direct link)

The trio…I mean duo are working on their next LP release with Mad Decent. So you know you can expect to hear some true to form eclectic shit.

Updated: So apparently POPO is from Phili, who would have guessed. I have no idea where I got Brazilian from except maybe I got this duo mixed up with Bonde do Role. Also, we’ve learned that party mashups is not the best definition for Mad Decent music. Eclectic shit is the best I can do since Diplo was made known to me by his genre blending sounds. Wonder which is funnier…. Sorry for the wrong info.

I can’t deny that I will always love my Baby Daddy Diplo, ALWAYS. As for Gucci, not so much, but I am feeling the remix without a doubt.

Get it here: (Remember! SAVE LINK AS) Gucci Mane – Dangers Not A Stranger (DIPLO Remix)

Maluca- “El Tigeraso”

Topical and In Effect!

I came across this on the Mad Decent Blog and thought this is jokes
- Is by Tasc on the Spaceballers blog here: Space Ballin and made me laugh…

Tiger, Tiger Fever – is getting infectious!!

Tasc-Tigers Transgression by Tasc

And for those of you prefer a slow jam, there’s this…

Remember when we had our first Double Dutch?  Remember, Maluca came and performed for us?  Well….here’s her video!!  I’m not going to be surprised when North Philly bitches start rockin beer cans as rollers to the club because of this….I kinda want to already.

Here it is! Finally! This shoot is my pride and joy. The models are Caroline Polachek from the band Chairlift and Maluca, the new Mad Decent darling.

Available Here for $25.

I miss the Gorillaz.

They changed the whole music scene for me when I was still in high school. I hadn’t heard of anything quite like that before and they introduced me to possibly my favorite producer now Dan the Automator. And I’m a huge advocate of both cartoons and genre-bending so they seemed like a band tailor made for me.

It was four years between the release of their debut and sophomore albums, which would have put them on pace for another album in 2009, but as the year draws to a close it’s clear we won’t see it before the 31st of December comes around. At first there were reports we’d never see another Gorillaz album. Then reports that another one was on the way with newly designed characters (I’m a big fan of the existing designs). Then there were some underwhelming leaked demos, and some reports of guests as varied as Snoop Dogg and Barry Gibb, and a title: Plastic Beach. No news of a release date however, and more importantly no news of a producer.

In the virtual band’s short history, they have cornered the market on picking my new favorite producer. In 2001 they introduced me to Dan the Automator, of Deltron 3030, Dr. Octagon, Peeping Tom, Lovage and Handsome Boy Modeling School. All projects of sheer unadulterated brilliance. He immediately became my favorite producer. In 2005 they introduced me to the architect of the Grey Album, Danger Mouse, who went on to create the stupidly dope duos Gnarls Barkley and Dangerdoom, which composed my life’s soundtrack for the next few years. With no news of a new producer for “Plastic Beach” or whatever the new album will eventually be titled, I’ve decided to try and anticipate the band’s pick for a new album, and therefore create a sort of self fulfilling prophecy for who my new favorite producer will be (the Automator may still have it all-time though).

There are a few pre-requisites it seems to being the next Gorillaz producer, that hopefully I can use to predict the new producer.

1) They need to have started as a DJ.

2) They must have a basis in hip hop production.

3) They must be comfortable working in multiple genres.

4) They must be an up-and-comer in the music industry.

And most importantly…

5) Their name must start with a D.

For some reason the Gorillaz seem to employ a number of personnel who’s names begin with the letter D, including their only two producers to date. Also the Gorillaz founder is named Damon Albarn, and their in house rapper for their first album was Del the Funky Homosapien. On their second album Demon Days, without Del to rap they brought in De La Soul and DOOM. Also randomly, Dennis Hopper is on a track. I think I’ve made my point.

So what follows is my list of candidates for the new Gorillaz producer:

Damon Albarn

He’s been the brains behind the outfit since the beginning, and while he’s not a DJ or a hip hop producer, he has to have picked up some game from the first two albums while working with some of the mad geniuses of hip hop. And since no producer has been announced, who did those first leaked tracks (sure as hell wasn’t Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett, who’s seen Tank Girl)? If Damon does in fact produce the new album, expect a lot of old Blur joints to start popping up on this blog.

Dub L

No faster way to look stupid than to tattoo your own name on yourself.

The small amount of material I’ve heard from this man, is still some of my favorite music period. His collaborations with my second favorite rapper Aesop Rock are brillaint (Shere Khan is one of my favorite songs ever) and his work with Ann Colville as the Controls proves he can work outside rap if not necessarily hip hop. Still, he’s very downtempo and I don’t know he has the versatility to pull off a Gorillaz record plus calling him an up and comer is a stretch, he’s seemed to remain in obscurity for years and I don’t think he’ll be coming out anytime soon.

Dabrye

Another niche producer who has quite an underground reputation and not much of one elsewhere. Just the kind of producer Gorillaz love to pull from obscurity. However Dabrye is an IDM (Intelligent Dance Music – the worst named music genre since alternative) artist, and although he produces for mostly rappers (including Gorillaz alumnus DOOM on “Air”) his sound remains clearly in that electronic vibe. Also, like Dub-L, he’d need to pick it up to give Gorillaz those left field dance hits they’re become known for.

Daft Punk

Doesn't this picture make it look like they really walk around like this...

Daft Punk at this point are more than up and comers. They’re an established solo act, and are too established to step backwards and do a Gorillaz album. And although they’re basically DJs, they’re very clearly electronic house, and rarely deviate from that, with few ventures into hip hop or alternative rock. But seriously, how dope would a Daft Punk Gorillaz album be? Come on. Fuckin’ redefine dance music, that’s how dope.

The Dust Brothers

Appointing the Dust Brothers wouldn’t really be recognizing an up and comer, but more like a rescue from irrelevance. The once legendary architects behind the Beastie Boys’ “Paul’s Boutique” have laid pretty low in recen years. They’ve handled a number of Beck albums, none of which have really caught the fire they captured with Odelay (Beck went with post-Gorillaz Danger Mouse for his latest effort). That said they’re versatile enough (did you now they produced Mmm…Bop?) hip hop enough, and definitely ill enough. They’d almost be a shoo-in if they weren’t so old.

Dr. Dre

What? Dr. Dre can do anything.

DJ Shadow

He's already been Gorillazified...

My personal choice for the new Gorillaz album for years, the godfather of instrumental hip hop, is big enough to be a huge get for a new Gorillaz album without overpowering the Gorillaz name. Most people gettin’ busy to the next Feel Good Inc. may have heard of DJ Shadow, but won’t be familiar with his work. Plus DJ Shadow has worked on Gorillaz-esque projects before with the first UNKLE album (pure dope). And DJ Shadow could use a rebound after the disappointing solo hyphy effort The Outsider. That said as INCREDIBLY BRILLIANT AND DOPE as a DJ Shadow Gorillaz album would be, it would also be the most depressing Gorillaz album to date. Shadow CAN make upbeat music, as shown by the Outsider, but it’s not his strength, as shown by the Outsider. So although I think DJ Shadow would make the best Gorillaz album, I think there is a better choice for producer…

Diplo

Diplo is that shit. And it’s not just ’cause I live in Philly, he’s that shit. He’s a DJ, with a hip hop basis, whose worked in different genres and he is the definition of up and coming. He is absolutely perfect for the new Gorillaz album.

One of the masterminds of the electro Hip Hop movement coming out of Philly and Baltimore, Diplo is coming off the success of producing M.I.A.’s Paper Planes (nominated for record of the year at the Grammys) as well as producing for Santigold and Amanda Blank and and being half of another animated character based band Major Lazer.  He’s got his hand in careers of a bunch of hipster hip hop acts that are about to pop as that trend heads closer and closer into the mainstream. And he’s good. Plus his Philly sound will give the Gorillaz another influence after going with Bay area funk in Dan the Automator, and Atlanta soul in Danger Mouse. Diplo can do the dance shit easy, but he can do the alternative shit too. He’s the go to guy.

But obviously, none of these guys are going to be the new producer. Why? Well mostly because this list was basically compiled based on how many producers could I think of who’s names started with a D. Secondly because the Gorillaz always pick a producer that I don’t know of, and I then discover through them. I’m pretty familiar with everyone on this list.

So Gorillaz… who’s it gonna be?

Watch it be Dre Day…

A lot of my time in the past two weeks has been spent going to shows of varying genres around Philly. One of the highlights being the Mad Division party at the Mausoleum on Nov. 20th. I got very excited about the lineup when I first saw the flyer for this event and I didn’t leave the venue disappointed. The tunes were as I described to a group of kids outside on Spring Garden, “grimy, hip-hop influenced, electro, housey, dubstep”. Interpret however you like. It was a non-stop dance party from beginning to [when I left]. Time and again I’ve had a similar time-line of events occur when partying at the Mausoleum: dance ass off, drink 6 packs, give high-fives, watch kids dump PBR on each other, wait in line for bathroom, dance more, etc… New to me was use of the upstairs bathroom [great success!], Flufftronix, who I was well aware of but didn’t previously have the pleasure of seeing live, and Fool’s Gold’s own, Kingdom. I remember dancing pretty hard during his set under those crazy video projections and strobe-like lights [also new].

Check this out!
Kingdom – Exclusive Mix for Lower End Spasm
http://dot-alt.blogspot.com/2009/03/kingdom-exclusive-mix-for-lower-end.html

It’s late notice, so if this is the first you’ve heard of it, you’re probably too late; I unfortunately can’t make it, but I felt that a steezey flyer for a steezey line up deserved to be shown!

On a side note, as previously mentioned the Bigger than Baz crew have set up their own label, to celebrate they gave their first two tunes away for free back in September (I know I’m a little slow off the mark with these ones). Anyways, the links are below so fill your boots, then head to beatport for the Scarlet Harlots EP.

Shorterz 99 – Enigma Groove

Shorterz Pimps – Spin Spin Enigma

First published 23rd May 2009

Apparently Major Lazer is a Jamaican commando who lost his arm in the secret Zombie War of 1984. The US military rescued him and repurposed experimental lazers as prosthetic limbs. Since then, Major Lazer has been a hired renegade soldier for a rogue government operating in secrecy under the watch of MI5 and the CIA.

So, there’s a renegade commando with a lazer arm and a rocket powered skateboard who fights the spoils of vampires, zombies, pimps, mummies and other unsavory forces of evil, and judging by his myspace he also makes some of the sickest dancehall and electronica around. So far, so very early morning weekend cartoons.

On closer inspection it seems that Major Lazer is the moniker for Diplo and Switch’s new side project. It looks like Mad Decent are set to do for dancehall what they’ve already done for baille funk. The album, ‘Guns Don’t Kill People, Lazer’s Do’, released next month, was recorded at the legendary Tuff Gong studios in Jamaica, and features a plethora of guest appearences from the likes of Santigold, Mr Vegas, Crookers and my personal favourite Turbulence, amongst others.

Below are links to an album mix by Diplo, sort of a 5 minute run through of everything we have to look forward to, and also the remix of lead single ‘Hold The Line’ by Dave Kelly (found on the fantastic Mad Decent blog), personally I can’t wait, all of the artwork and the story concept is very reminiscent of the dub albums released by The Scientist in the 80’s, while the tunes heard so far, are exactly what you would expect from a collaboration between Switch and Diplo; plenty of beeps, blips and beats, but with some of the most exciting talent from around the world on the microphone. June 16th can’t come quick enough.

EDIT: The album’s out and it’s as sick as could’ve been expected, get on it here.

Major Lazer – Lazer Boom 1 (Diplo Album Mix) (Mediafire)Major Lazer – Call Me (Dave Kelly’s Hold The Line Remix) (Mediafire)

First published  24th May 2009

This was super tast. It felt like a village, or a boutique festival, with a huge sense of community. No mean feat for a one night event! It would be impossible for me to report on everything that went on, so I’ll stick (obviously) to what i saw.

First up in the live room were Shake Aletti who did nothing to dispel any comparisons to Chromeo with their Sheffield take on P-Funk. Next up were Scarlet Harlots who delivered a home coming show worthy of a returning champion.

Into the main room; a superbly transformed pool area, Boy 8 Bit and Fake Blood warmed up for what in all fairness was the main event; the Birmingham debut of Diplo. Those in the tent were taken on a musical journey through hip hop, dancehall, electro, dub step and just about everything else, all accompanied by the captivating Mad Decent visuals which were on top form all night.

With all the furor surrounding Digbeth at the moment, and the potential troubles facing the Rainbow and the ramifications this could have on the music scene in the area, the 23rd of May was an ideal advert for the positive effect of these club nights as people from all walks of life came together in pursuit of pleasure in superb surroundings.

Facebook event link: http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1138908604142&f=1&e=-12#/event.php?eid=208690905364&index=1

Mad Decent link: http://maddecent.com/blog/2009/11/13/deathface/

MySpace link : http://www.myspace.com/sweatinparty

whowhat.tv recommends…

WHO? COOPERS, beer barons and SORRY GRANDMA, Melbourne institution!

WHAT? NEW BREW LAUNCH PARTY = GOODNIGHT!

Where? Sorry Grandma, CBD; Cover? RSVP only; Drink Specials? Oh so special

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BONUS: OOH-EE and BANG GANG DJ’S!

THEN HUMPTY-DANCE ON OVER TO..

WHO? PAUL DEVRO, MAT CANT, YOUNG STEEZY + MORE

WHAT? MAD DECENT MAJOR PLAYER + CHEAP ENTRY + MERPUSSY = DIRTY MESS

Where? The Mercat, CBD; Cover? $10 all night (Door Only); Drink Specials? Who cares!?

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BONUS: Listen to this free Paul Devro mix

ALSO CHECKOUT..

Stanton Warriors@BROWN ALLEY ; Goodwill + The Aston Shuffle@ROXANNE, Bang Gang + Bangs@SORRY GRANDMA, Nick Thayer + Perplex + Mat Cant + More@REVOLVER!

AL

So, Major Lazer’s latest offering from the album ‘Guns don’t kill people Lazers do‘ has arrived, and I’ll be honest… I’m not really feeling the song. I mean you gotta admit, it’s no ‘Pon De Floor’?. But the video is amazing! Directed by Eric Wareheim and featuring Nina Sky, Ricky Blaze and four of the ugliest girls to appear in a music video since Windowlicker. It has to be seen to be believed. Check it out!

Knockturnal

Good God, this is going to be an amazing event. All of 2009’s best new producers in one room playing all the songs we’ve lusted after and blogged about. It’s Bristol bad boy of dubstep, Joker with his homey Nomad helping out. Then from southeast London is the Nightslugs‘ Lvis 1990 and Bok Bok. Wait, just when you thought it couldn’t get any better there is Fool’s Gold rookie of the year, Kingdom from Brooklyn. To round out the bill you have the DJ Sega, Dirty South Joe, Flufftronix and Lady Prowl to get down to.

So, If you’re in Philly do not miss this show! If you’re around Philly take a train or the Chinatown Bus. I’m flying in from Los Angeles and Beats™ is flying in from Chicago. It’s going to be legendary. To get you hyped, I’m lacing you up with some hot mp3 action:

Gucci Vump – Sha! Shtil! (L-Vis 1990 Remix)
Jinder – Youth Blood (Bok Bok Remix)
Marcus Price & Carli – Mat, Bira, Kvinnor, Weed (Kingdom Remix)
Passion Pit – The Reeling (Flufftronix Remix)
Smarttech – Took The Trompeta (Dirty South Joe is 1/2 of Smarttech)
Turboweekend – Trouble Is (Joker Remix)

Markus G

This past Friday I partied at the American Museum of Natural History for Fader’s monthly jam One Step Beyond, known for bringing in the best DJs for this one-night museum takeover. Brooklyn-based Matt Shadetek & Dj Rupture killed it promoting their new disc Solar Life Raft which has been getting positive album reviews all around for its smooth genre-hopping style. Mad Decent’s newest signee Maluca was also there. Her debut single ‘El Tigeraso’ originally produced by Diplo is fyre with it’s sexy Latin-reggaeton vibe. An awesome soundtrack to dance the night away under the planets, moon & stars

DJ Rupture – Mirage: Quest, Brooklyn Anthem

Timeblind & Matt Shadetek – Space Cadet, Strength In Numbers

Gang Gang Dance – Bebey (Matt Shadetek & DJ Rupture remix)

Maluca – El Tigeraso (Gumar’s Magic Mix)

갑자기 DHL에서 연락이와서 뭔가 세금을 내야하나?라고 생각했었는데

올 여름에 홍콩에 갔을때 만나 친구가 된 Jason(DIESEL)이 선물을 보내주었다.

Jason은 Hong Kong DIESEL에서 일하는 친구인데, 발티모어로 유학을 가서

공부를 하였고 음악을 매우 좋아하는 친구다.팔에 가득있는 문신때문에 처음엔

좀 무서웠으나 알고보니 참 선하고 영혼이 맑은 친구였다.암튼….

이렇게 집으로 외국에서 온 선물을 받아보는게 진짜 오랜만인것 같다.

설레이는 마음으로 선물을 열어보니 이건 뭐 와우!!!!

종합선물세트 느낌으로 ” DIM MAK x MAD DECENT” 티셔츠부터

스티커들,책,그리고 용도를 알 수 없는 이상한 고무링(아마 이어폰 줄을

감아 놓는?)등 선물들을 보내주었다.나도 Jayass처럼 언젠간 이런

포스팅을 할 날이 올줄 알았다.나도 Jayass처럼 “고마워 Jason!!”이런

말을 할 날도 올줄 알았다.후후후

Really thank you Jason!It’s dope.

hope to see you soon in Seoul!

La Roux: bringing ginger kids back into style

One of the bands I’ve followed quite a bit this year is La Roux. You’ve probably heard a lot about lead singer Elly Jackson’s signature copper quiff and how she’s all young and cool and the future of electropop music, but more so than their actual output it’s the La Roux remixes and mash-ups in particular that have captured my interest.

Diplo is a remix master. He fucked with my favourite TV on the Radio song (which, in turn, became one of my favourite remixes) and reworked everything from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to dead prez to Britney Spears. If I wasn’t married to the idea of this post title, I’d rename it “Diplo invented the remix.” Anyway, earlier this year he was the first DJ on my radar to really start bigging up La Roux with this New Wave-y, well-paced remix of Quicksand, the band’s first single, created by his Mad Decent imprint.

Dubstep somehow blew THE EFF UP this year. Producer/DJ Skream (this frighteningly young British dude, who has also reworked the Klaxons and DJ Mujava) is really riding for the viability of the remix as a way to promote lesser known artists, obscure club one-offs and remixers themslves to a broader audience. His manipulation of “In For the Kill” helped both this song, the band and him grab the spotlight. To see another La Roux permutation, check out how dubstep and electropop have reached out to rap with this remix by local artist Hollywood Sines. (Full disclosure: we’re friends, whereisplanithollywood.com)

I’m a mellow chick and so my personal favourite take on La Roux comes from Nacey in the form of the winsome “Bulletproof”. The original album track is loud, jarring and gets gunning from the beginning. Nacey takes this intensity and, without losing it, morphs the song into an equally impassioned, pensive piano jam.