The Constorium of Greater Minds

keep playing those mind games

from liverpool to tokyo

On my recent trip to O’ahu, I had this on non-stop.

Finished up a new mix this weekend featuring some new vinyl pieces I picked up a couple weeks ago in Japan. It’s a rough mix, done live in ‘the studio’ with all wax. Thanks go out to Dam Funk and James Pants of Stones Throw and Beat Electric for putting me onto some of these tracks. Definitely check the links.

Nick Love Japan       (Right Click and Save As to download. Click to Stream.)

Track list after the jump….

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James D. Yancey, you may know him as your favorite producer’s favorite producer, died at the age of 32, just three days after releasing his final, seminal album. J Dilla was a musical genius, he belongs in the musical canon, colleague of Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, or John Coltrane.

February plays host to tributes throughout the world, as fans of all stripes come out to celebrate the man and his eternal music. I recently visited one of a series of tribute events in Los Angeles. Illa Jay, House Shoes, J Rocc, and Madlib all were there to reminisce and smile at the memories we all shared.

I hit the bar. Madlib orders a Martini next to me. I finger at the bartender and order two shots – Tequila. And two waters, tap, please. After reminding Julie of the tragic story of the famed producer (she’s been to her fair share of Dilla related events), we concurred that it was necessary to drink in his honor.

Turning to Madlib, I ask him what J Dilla’s drink was. He leans in. Hawaiin punch. I can’t believe it, but somehow I can. Motioning, he tells me how J Dilla preferred to smoke. It all made sense. Marijuana is the link that ties all of the hall-of-fame musicians together.

So this February, if you can’t make it to a tribute jam on your block, throw on some Champion Sound, and smoke ‘em if you got ‘em, for Jay Dee.

(legal disclaimer: I make no representation of what Madlib, aka Otis Jackson Jr., actually said or meant in any conversation with me. I’m a fan, and I’m not trying to blow up spots, slander, or defame his reputation as a serious,  professional artist)

Universal Mind Control

2008 was a good year for music. The Carter III went muliplatinum. Kayne put together an album with nothing but an auto-tune and a TR-808.  Q-tip releases his first album in almost ten years and “Hipster” music was thrust to the forefront of the scene.

The times, they are a changing. But, if you’re like me, you don’t really know what to make of it all.

Still though, there was and is lots of good music floating around – it’s just harder to find.  The music industry, and the listeners along with it, are in a state of confusion. The problem, I figure, lies in the fact that radio listenership is down 18 percent from 1998 among 18- to 24-year olds. People no longer make trips to the local music store. Finding music has been reduced to a solitary pursuit, scattered among the millions of blogs, MySpace pages, message boards, online music magazines, and endless commentary. There are no singular tastemakers, no all-powerful all-reaching influencers like there used to be. That leaves music fans drawing numbers out of a hat. And everyone’s drawing a different number.

Maybe it’s just me, living in a big city, surrounded by all different cultures and tastes, but when I ask anyone what kind of music they’re into, invariably, I’ll have no idea what they’re talking about. It could be I’m just out of touch, spending too much time with dusty vinyl and golden-era hip-hop.

For those not able to make sense of the new music landscape (or without the url to Turntable Lab), I’ve prepared a list of some of my favorite releases as of late. With the exception of the Metro Area LP, all came out in 2008, although at only about 10 titles deep, not complete or well thought out enough for a best-of-the-year-list. Hopefully, you can find that special something for that special someone, or a few new tacks to accompany you on your holiday travels.

Download “Gold” Dam Funk – Rhythm Trax Vol. 4, Stones Throw

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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