The Constorium of Greater Minds

I’ve been meaning to post about his for over a month. Last February, I was invited to attend Dilla Day at XM studios, the headquarters of XM Satellite Radio, here in DC. It was a retrospective of J-Dilla’s life and music featuring a panel discussion with hip hop icons Pete Rock and Talib Kweli and special guest Ma Yancey. Attendance was strictly limited to 60 people; mostly people in the music game. I worked my producer/WMUC DJ/music-blogger credentials to scoop up one of the limited tickets for myself. Needless to say, the entrance policy kept things pretty intimate.

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This is what sweetness hears when he sleeps

Not Bill Shatner’s but it works

A catchy tune that has novelty value

If you like Lupe this might be your bag

The sample to one of the greatest songs of all time by the greatest woman of all time

Just surfing the internet in a daze checking shit out…. came upon a couple of things that I thought were worth posting.

First is this Paul White beat tape over at Dazed Digital. It’s so on point. I’m already on my second listen and it’s quite dope. I’m usually pretty skeptical about things like this but apparently this dude is on the up and up and it’s not hard to see (hear) why.

Next, on a more visual note is a series of pictures taken by Dennis Stock. They’re all from the filming of the Planet of the Apes. It’s great how they capture the spirit of the period and of LA and Hollywood from back in the day. I smell a BAPE tshirt somewhere in the mix.

Yo, think about coping Lupe’s new album “The Cool”. Its out Dec 18th. Ive downloaded to check it out and it is sounding pretty hott. Imma cop it legit off itunes pretty soon….

Last night the Stones Throw 2K Sports tour came through DC, stopping at the infamous Blackcat nightclub.

Despite its infamy, it’s not the usual hip hop venue. It most often plays host to up and coming or underground indie and punk rock bands. Nevertheless, I’ve seen plenty of shows there and I’m always happy with the intimacy of the place. The main stage, where last night’s show was held, is small enough with a high enough stage to make no view a bad one. Two bars flank the standing-room-only audience section ensuring a quick trip to the bar without missing any of the action.

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to look for new music and expand your horizons. one of my favorite things in life is music, i’ve been playing it (in one form or another, and not very well!) since middle school band. at this point in my life it’s obvious that i will probably never be a ‘musician’ but listening and collecting is something i can do for the rest of my life. and if it makes sense to listen well or collect well, then i think i do both…well.

i have a huge and varied music collection that spans vinyl, cd and mp3 and i’m constantly on the hunt for new and different sounds. i love the way music can evoke a feeling, transport you back in time or remind you of a certain place in the world. jazz always makes me think of new york city and a lazy summer afternoon in the park or the village. hip hop calls up memories of the ’streets’ - whether they be in nyc, seattle, berlin or any other city - and all the style, sounds, and vibes that go along with that image. classical recalls memories of italy, and the relaxing notes of a smooth electronic/jazz fusion take me away to a secluded beach somewhere on the med.

i know many of my friends share the same passion and in particular the members of the consortium were brought together so close for, amongst other reasons, our love for music in all its varieties. so, i challenge you to listen to something different tonight, while you’re kicking back at home - hit up iTunes and browse for an hour or so and then download a couple of tracks that sound good to you but you’d never thought you’d like. check out some Slayer, check out some David Bowie, some Miles Davis or some Cole Porter classics, whatever it is you thought you’d never dig - i’m sure there’s a track that will make you change your mind. to give you a head start here’s a playlist i found while browsing around the net this morning. it comes from a japanese’s cat’s blog, a dude with some very refined, and excellent taste:

1. Ray Barbee Meets The Mattson 2 / “Yeppers”
2. Sweetmouth / “I Know Why The Willow Weeps”
3. Morgana King / “Like A Seed”
4. Was A Bee / “This Is What You Are”
5. Jack Wilson / “On Children”
6. Grant Green / “Dracula”
7. James Mason / “Funny Girl”
8. Mackey Feary Band / “A Million Star”
9. Tuomo / “I Won’t Worry”
10. Azymuth / “Brazil”
11. Andre Orefjaro feat.May Yamani / “Cookin’ ”
12. Iman / “Who Was I Trying To Fool”
13. Heavy / “Wonderlove (For Minnie)”
14. Marlena Shaw / “Save The Children”
15. Adriana Evans / “Love Me”
16. Damon Aaron / “Freedom”
17. Ben Watt / “North Marine Drive”
18. Joao Donato e seu Trio / “Jodel”
19. Sagittarius / “Song To The Magic Frog (Will You Ever Know)”

the theme of the list is a relaxing, jazzy one. it culls tracks from modern jazz, classic jazz, and the fusion of jazz and electronic music. i’ve already downloaded the ‘is a bee’ track and jack wilson track form iTunes and recommend both. i can’t wait to listen to these songs in my loft in the city…one day brothers. all for now, keep exploring music and life.

thanks to http://blogs.dion.ne.jp/benben_noanoa/ and the music lover behind it.

The Knife is a musical duo from Sweden formed in 1999. The band consists of siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer, who also run their own record company, Rabid Records.

One of the group’s distinguishing characteristics is their unwillingness to cooperate with the media or the mainstream music scene. The group rarely makes public appearances, most of their promotional photos feature the members wearing masks, usually venetian masks and until recently, they outright refused to perform live concerts.

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heartbeat

González was born in Gothenburg, Sweden to Argentine parents in 1978. In 2003, he released his debut album, Veneer, in Europe. The album has since been released in the UK, on 25 April 2005, and on 6 September 2005 in the United States.

His trademark sound is solo classical guitar with soft melody. His work, although mostly original, does include acoustic covers of such hits as “Heartbeats” by his fellow Swedes The Knife, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division, “Born in the U.S.A.” and “The Ghost of Tom Joad” by Bruce Springsteen, “Hand On Your Heart” by Kylie Minogue, “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat and “Teardrop” by Massive Attack.

heartbeat

stay in the shade

this shit is retardedly stupid, but…konnichiwa bitches, anyway