Melvin Bliss's "Synthetic Substitution" is my favorite break of all time.
I love drum breaks and could go on for days about the greatest ones, but "Substitution" stands out. Those drums sound so immense, hit so hard and are so funky-- there's just nothing close.
On this week's 2 Busy Saying Yeah show, I mix and talk about 47 of my favorite songs that sample "Substitution", plus play the song itself.
1. Ultramagnetic MCs: Ego Tripping 2. Xperado: Watch Your Step feat. O.C. 3. Divine Force: Holy War 4. Ghostface Killah: Mighty Healthy 5. N.W.A.: Real Zaggin Don’t Die 6. Too Poetic: God Made Me Funky 7. Onyx: Throw Ya Gunz 8. Pharcyde: Ya Mama 9. Pete Rock & CL Smooth: For Pete’s Sake 10. Public Enemy: Don’t Believe the Hype 11. Willie D: Put the Fuckin’ Gun Away 12. MC Jr. Cas: Walk On the Wild Side [Club mix] 13. Almighty RSO: One in the Chamba feat. M.O.P. 14. Group Home: So Called Friends 15. T-Wiz: Good Thing Goin’ 16. Knowledge: Put On Your X 17. Def Jef: Black to the Future RMX 18. Top Choice Clique: Peace of Mind 19. Biz Markie: Cool V’s Tribute to Scratching 20. Supreme Nyborn: Versatile Extension 21. Ultramagnetic MCs: Pluckin’ Cards 22. Freddie Foxxx: Crazy Like a Foxxx 23. Percee P & Ekim: Now They Wanna See Me 24. Robbie B & DJ Jazz: Comin’ Correct 25. AMG: Trunk of Funk 26. Zhigge: Toss It Up 27. Public Enemy: Brothers Gonna Work It Out RMX 28. Public Enemy: Brothers Gonna Work It Out 29. Von Love: This Is How It Should Be Done 30. Choice M.C.: This Is the B-Side feat. Chill Phill & MC Sergio 31. Ol Dirty Bastard: Cuttin’ Headz feat. the RZA 32. Wu-Tang Clan: Clan In Da Front 33. Naughty by Nature: Yoke the Joker 34. Ghostface Killah: The Champ 35. Funk Lab All-Stars: La Da Da 36. Digital Underground: Tie the Knot 37. Too $hort: Hoes 38. EPMD: Mr. Bozack 39. De La Soul: Stone Age 40. Coolio: I Remember feat. J-Ro & Billy Boy 41. Method Man: All I Need 42. Scarface: Murder by Reason of Insanity 43. Eazy E: Eazy Street 44. Gang Starr: Code of the Streets 45. New Style: Drop the Bomb 46. C.E.B.: Get the Point 47. Brotha Lynch Hung: 24 Deep 48. Melvin Bliss: Synthetic Substitution
I'm currently working on turning this sprawling podcast into a streamlined, hard-hitting mixtape. When I get around to that, I'll share what I know about "Synthetic Substitution" itself and about Melvin McClellan, p/k/a Melvin Bliss.
2 Busy Saying Yeah - Why you gotta keep bringing up old hits?
In this episode I play and talk about some of my favorite songs that got reissued in 2009. The bulk of it is soul and funk, although there's also disco, psych, gospel, rap and weird foreign hybrids of many of the aforementioned styles.
Most of the selections are from releases that are legitimately licensed and carefully assembled, with proper mastering, handsome packaging and thoughtful annotations. I have a lot of respect for those who take the time and effort to do it right. I hope you support them so that they can continue the work that they do.
1. Man: “And In the Beginning” Revelation 2. Little Francisco Greaves: “Moving-Grooving” V/A - Panamá! 3: Calypso Panameño, Guajira Jazz & Cúmbia Típica on the Isthmus 1960-75 3. The Blue Rhythm Combo: “Take the Funky Feeling” V/A - Tropical Funk Experience 4. Kukumbas: “Respect” V/A - Psych Funk 101 5. Chocolate Snow: “Inflation” V/A - Eccentric Soul: Smart's Palace 6. Lyman Woodard Organization: “On Your Mind” Saturday Night Special 7. Nite-Liters: “Valdez In the Country” A-Nal-Y-Sis 8. Demon Fuzz: “Disillusioned” Afreaka! 9. The Pretty Things: “You Might Even Say” Philippe Debarge 10. P.E. Hewitt Jazz Ensemble: “Bada Que Bash” V/A - Spiritual Jazz - Esoteric, Modal + Deep Jazz From the Underground 1968-77 11. Lizzy Mercier Descloux: “Hard-Boiled Babe” V/A - Ze 30 - Ze Records Story 1979-2009 12. Gichy Dan's Beachwood No. 9: “On a Day Like Today” (Todd Terje's Friendly Children Edit) V/A - ZEVolution: ZE Records Re-Edited 13. Chemise: “She Can't Love You” V/A - DJ Spinna Presents the Boogie Back: Post Disco Club Jams 14. Cubie Burke: “Down For Double” [JM After-Session M&M Mix] V/A - John Morales - The M&M Mixes 15. Herman's Rocket: “Hanged in the Universe” V/A - Jean-Pierre Massiera - Psychoses Discoïd (1976-1981) 16. Chorus Reverendus: “Dans Son Euphorie” V/A - Wizzz! Psychorama Français 1966-70 17. Apostles of Music: “Wade In the Water” V/A - Local Customs: Downriver Revival 18. The Metros: “Since I Found My Baby” Sweetest One 19. Willie Hutch: “A Love That's Worth Havin'” Soul Portrait 20. Ronnie McNeir: “In Summertime” Ronnie McNeir 21. Andrew Brown: “You Made Me Suffer” V/A - Light: On the South Side 22. Sugar Pie DeSanto: “Use What You Got” V/A - Go Go Power • The Complete Chess Singles 1961-1966 23. The Daughters of Eve: “Help Me Boy” V/A - 2131 South Michigan Avenue: 60s Garage & Psychedelia From U.S.A. & Destination Records 24. Brigitte Fontaine: “Il Pleut“ V/A - Dirty French Psychedelics 25. 24-Carat Black: “I Want to Make Up” Gone: The Promises of Yesterday 26. Sensational Saints: “How Great Thou Art” V/A - Forge Your Own Chains 27. Amazing Farmer Singers of Chicago: “I Got a Telephone In My Bosom” V/A - Fire In My Bones: Raw Rare + Otherworldly African-American Gospel (1944-2007) 28. The Relatives: “Don't Let Me Fall” Don't Let Me Fall 29. John Heartsman & Circles: “Up From Down” Music of My Heart 30. Azambuja & CIA: “Tema De Azambuja” V/A - Black Rio 2: Original Samba Soul 1968-1981 31. Tafo: “Karye Pyar” feat. Nahid Akhtar V/A - The Sound of Wonder! 32. The Animated Egg: “Sock It My Way” Guitar Freakout 33. Natural Elements: “Tri-Boro” 1999 34. Sport "G" & Mastermind: “Live” V/A - Random Rap 35. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou: “Koutoulié” The Vodoun Effect - Funk & Sato From Benin's Obscure Labels 1972-1975
Willie Mitchell passed away earlier this month. He produced some of the greatest soul music ever made, so this week's show collects 45 of my favorites, including some big hits from Al Green and Ann Peebles, as well as great music from a handful of lesser-knowns.
It's tough to talk about Mitchell without talking about Al Green, the artist Mitchell worked the most with and had his greatest success with. Green's gift is so overwhelming and his vocal identity is so established that it's easy to overlook Mitchell's role in shaping it. But to hear Green's work prior to recording with Mitchell, or even to hear their early recordings before Mitchell crafted Green's signature style, and to compare it with his mature style is to understand exactly how important a producer can be.
Mitchell plucked Green from relative obscurity, brought him to Memphis and recorded him for almost two years before they hit upon Green's sound. Early singles, like "Back Up Train", "Gotta Find a New World" or "All Because", show Green to be a better than average soul singer—strong, gritty, agile—but offer no clue as to how sinuous or graceful Green's vocals could be. It took two albums and a dartboard approach to find out what worked and apparently even Hi Records didn't recognize it at first; Green's breakthrough, "Tired of Being Alone", wasn't the first single from Green's second album with Mitchell, Al Green Gets Next to You, it was the fourth.
Once Mitchell hit upon a formula for Green, he worked subtle variations on a style that paired lush strings and jazzy chords with a restrained, lightly earthy backbeat. It was a perfect setting for Green’s music and their run of albums from I'm Still in Love With You to Livin' for You is almost flawless.
Mitchell’s touch was also evident in a host of other records he cut at Hi Records’ Memphis studio, both for Hi mainstays like O.V. Wright and Ann Peebles and for out-of-towners like the Detroit Emeralds and Denise LaSalle. Mitchell was not just a producer, he was an engineer, too, and the sound he coaxed from the room and from Hi’s band is instantly identifiable. Signature elements stamp all of these productions, like the wheeze of Charlie Hodges’s organ, the full, slightly tame sound of the Memphis Horns and especially the bone-dry snap of a snare drum, whether played by Al Jackson, Jr. or Howard Grimes.
The other acts Mitchell produced may have been less successful than Al Green, but many made remarkable music. When their songs were up to snuff, O.V. Wright, Syl Johnson and Ann Peebles all regularly made music that was nearly on Green’s level. Soul journeymen like the Masqueraders and George Jackson cut some of their best material with Mitchell, too.
I’ve tried to capture some of the breadth of Mitchell’s work in my mix. It’s not really his greatest hits (that would have required too much Al Green) or a selection of songs that have been popularized by sampling (though many were) and Mitchell’s work as a trumpeter and bandleader gets really short shrift (truth be told, I really dislike the music he made under his own name). I chose my favorites and tried to shape them into a mix that would function as an introduction or a celebration of his incredible body of productions. Enjoy.
1. Al Green: Love & Happiness 2. Al Green: Love Ritual (Remix) 3. Ann Peebles: Somebody's On Your Case 4. O.V. Wright: Ace of Spades 5. Syl Johnson: The Love You Left Behind 6. Ann Peebles: It's Your Thing 7. O.V. Wright: A Nickel & a Nail 8. Willie Mitchell: Groovin' 9. Al Green: So You're Leaving 10. Al Green: Tired of Being Alone 11. Al Green: Let's Stay Together 12. Ann Peebles: I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down 13. Al Green: Call Me 14. Al Green: Your Love Is the Morning Sun 15. George Jackson: Aretha, Sing One For Me 16. Jean Plum: Here I Go Again 17. Syl Johnson: Anyway the Wind Blows 18. Ann Peebles: I Can't Stand the Rain 19. The Detroit Emeralds: Baby Let Me Take You In My Arms 20. Al Green: I'm a Ram 21. O.V. Wright: Are You Going Where I'm Coming From 22. Ann Peebles: Run, Run, Run 23. O.V. Wright: I'd Rather Be Blind, Cripple & Crazy 24. Ann Peebles: Trouble, Heartaches & Sadness 25. Al Green: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry 26. Al Green: I'm Glad You're Mine 27. Al Green: What a Wonderful Thing Love Is 28. O.V. Wright: Let's Straighten It Out 29. The Masqueraders: Let the Love Bells Ring 30. Al Green: La La For You 31. Syl Johnson: Steppin' Out 32. Syl Johnson: I Hate I Walked Away 33. Syl Johnson: Could It Be I'm Falling In Love 34. Al Green: I Wish You Were Here 35. Al Green: Simply Beautiful 36. Erma Coffee: You Made Me What I Am 37. George Jackson: Let Them Know You Care 38. Al Green: Something 39. Al Green: Strong As Death (Sweet As Love) 40. Syl Johnson: Wind Blow Her Back My Way 41. Betty Everett: Just a Matter of Time 42. Teacher's Edition: Sleepy People 43. Al Green: Jesus Is Waiting 44. Syl Johnson: It Ain't Easy 45. Ann Peebles: I Still Love You
If there's interest, I might break the mix into individual tracks and upload them as a .zip, but it's kinda a lot of work, so we'll see.
Statistical shits and giggles:
Number of songs by Al Green: 17 Number of songs by Syl Johnson: 7 Number of songs by Ann Peebles: 6 Number of songs by O.V. Wright: 5 Number of songs by George Jackson: 2 Number of songs by none of the above: 8
Since my last new rap show back in November there's been a slew of major rap albums released, as well as some great indie and mixtape stuff. I've sifted through as much as I could find time to listen to and gathered some gems.
It's a diverse selection of songs, covering Oakland, Alabama, Tennessee, New York, Louisiana, Houston, Atlanta, D.C., Virginia Beach and other places, and featuring everyone from buzz favorites to past-their-sell-date superstars. A disproportionate share of the music comes from Huntsville, Alabama, but that's just because they've been making a disproportionate amount of great rap music. Enjoy.
1. Yelawolf: Box Chevy Pt. 3 feat. Rittz 2. Juicy J & Project Pat: Ike Turner Pimpin' feat. Slim Thug & New Generation 3. MJG: Dope Track 4. Webbie: Money Getting Taller feat. Pimp C & Lil Phat 5. G-Side: This Is Life 6. DJ Paul: Hi Way (I'm Gone) 7. Mia X: Grown Woman Shit 8. R. Kelly: Put Some Money On It feat. Rick Ross 9. Whitefolkz: Take a Picture 10. Wyld Money: G-Spot (Remix) feat. Gucci Mane 11. Korleon: Ray Charles feat. Bohagon 12. Mac Shawn: And You Do Know That 13. Drag-On: Money feat. Neo Da Matrix 14. Proton: Fuck the Economy 15. T-Boz: Get It Get It feat. Yung Joc & Too $hort 16. Tabi Bonney: Duhh 17. Souls of Mischief: Fourmation 18. Mos Def: 24 Hour Karate School 19. Kanye West: I'm So Appalled 20. Freeway & Jake One: Know What I Mean 21. G-Mane: 5th Wheel feat. Spyda, PT & Bentley 22. Z-Ro: Bottom to the Top feat. Mike D 23. RapTite: That's My Shit 24. J. Stalin: Pot of Gold feat. Mistah FAB & Kaz Kyzah 25. Messy Marv & DJ Fresh: In My Bloodline feat. J-Stalin, D-Lo & J-Mo 26. The Knux: Fuck You 27. Josie Stingray: Gotta Get It 28. Natural Elements: Off Beat Bop 29. Clipse: Counseling feat. Nicole Hurst 30. Jay Electronica: Glass Everywhere (Act I Encore) 31. Redman: Coc Back 32. OJ Da Juiceman: Frank Sinatra 33. Lil Jon: All the Way Crunked Up feat. Pastor Troy & Waka Flocka 34. Project Pat: Burglar Bars feat. OJ Da Juiceman 35. Cam'ron: Ooh Baby feat. Vado 36. 50 Cent: Strong Enough 37. Black C: Stay With Me feat. Hermanata 38. Betta Half: Cruisen 39. G-Side: In the Rain feat. Bentley 40. L.E.$.: Sittin' Low 41. Starlito: Magic Carpet Ride 42. Dude 'N Nem: McDonalds
Statistical shits & giggles
Songs by artists who were more popular in the 1990s: 12 Songs from the Bay: 6 Songs from New York: 6 Songs from Huntsville: 5 Songs from Atlanta: 5 Songs from Memphis: 4 Songs ripped from videos: 3 Songs by artists from New Orleans who don't sound like they're from New Orleans: 2 Songs featuring artists who were platinum in the 1980s: 1
This week's 2 Busy Saying Yeah is a mix of 38 Christmas songs, mostly rap, but with some soul, too.
As a genre, Christmas releases tend toward the superficial, the exploitative, the quick cash-in, but they can be pretty entertaining. This week I play a lot of seasonal-themed crap and also some of my favorite Christmas songs.
The rap portion of the show (roughly the first 70 minutes) features a lot of stuff I enjoy because it is so clearly throwaway product-- strip-club songs dressed up with tinsel (the Ying Yang Twins x2!), Xmas trees flocked with filth (Jiggie Gee), perfunctory remakes (Jim Jones, H-Town) and stuff that's only connected to the holiday in the most arbitrary way (the Jacka & Husalah). In many of the songs, the disconnect is gleeful.
The latter half of the show features some more traditional holiday music. There are plenty more throwaways, many of which nonetheless hit a nerve, like the Miracles' gorgeous take on "Merry Gentlemen", Sun Ra's goofy doowop or James Brown's "Let's Unite the World at Christmas", a song that never fails to put me in a more benevolent mood.
1. Run DMC: Christmas In Hollis 2. Jim Jones: Ballin' On Xmas 3. Ying Yang Twins: Deck Da Club 4. Hard Call Xmas: My Christmas Bells 5. B-Boy All Stars: B-Boy Christmas Shout Outs 6. Dana Dane: Dana Dane Is Coming to Town 7. C-Murder & Master P: Christmas In Da Ghetto 8. Kam: Holiday Madness 9. Poison Clan: Christmas Spliff 10. The Treacherous Three: Xmas Rap feat. Doug E. Fresh 11. Kurtis Blow: Christmas Rappin' 12. Super Jay: Santa's Rap Party 13. Jiggie Gee: Christmas Fuckin' Day 14. Juice Crew All Stars: Cold Chillin' Christmas feat. Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante, MC Shan & Fly Ty 15. Sweet Tee: Let the Jingle Bells Rock 16. K-Nock: Where Dey At Yo! feat. 24-K 17. Snoop Dogg: How We Kick It On Christmas feat. Kokane 18. The Cold Crew: Rappin' Christmas 19. Audio Two: Christmas Rhymin’ 20. Outkast: Player's Ball 21. Trick Daddy: Ain't No Santa 22. Ghostface Killah: Ghostface X-mas 23. Ying Yang Twins: Carol of Da Bellz 24. Snoop Doggy Dogg: Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto feat. Bad A$$, Daz, Nate Dogg & Tray Dee 25. The Jacka & Husalah: Halloween Christmas Gremlins 26. The Jackson 5: Christmas Won't Be the Same 27. Marvin Gaye: Purple Snowflakes 28. James Brown: I'm Your Christmas Friend, Don't Be Hungry 29. James Brown: Hey America 30. James Brown: Christmas Is Love 31. Chocolate Snow: Let Me Be Your Christmas Toy 32. The Emotions: What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas? 33. Lou Rawls: Christmas Will Really Be Christmas 34. Stevie Wonder: What Christmas Means to Me 35. Sun Ra: It's Christmas Time 36. James Brown: Let's Unite the World at Christmas 37. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 38. H-Town: Knockin’ Boots For Christmas
This week's 2 Busy Saying Yeah is a mix of 37 new songs that remind me why I love rap music-- an ATL ex-stripper goes ballistic, Huntsville does what it does, a few old favorites show they can still rip, 50 Cent and Plies drop songs I can't front on and I finally stop sleeping on Curren$y and play four of his songs. In short, just another week of 2 Busy Saying Yeah.
1. DJ Benzi: Pop Them Thangs feat. Donnis
2. Brisco: Thinking to Myself feat. Lil Wayne
3. Curren$y: The Jets Son feat. Dee Low & Jean LaPhare
4. Young Dro: Don’t Know Y’all feat. Yung L.A.
5. Pill: Coastin’
6. All Star: Weed Smoker Music
7. WarrenJae: Sleep feat. Playboy Trae
8. Gucci Mane: Follow Me
9. Z-Ro: Rollin’ On Swangas feat. C-Ward
10. Freddie Gibbs: Iodine Poison
11. G-Side: I Remember
12. B.o.B: Paper Chase
13. Aisha Sekhmet: White Man’s Bitch
14. 50 Cent: So Disresepectful
15. Beanie Sigel: All For It
16. T.D.: Going Off 2009 feat. Peedi Crakk
17. Fashawn: Bo Jackson feat. Exile
18. DoDat: Hot Spitter
19. De La Soul: La La La
20. Phil Adé: Try Out
21. KD: Someday
22. Curren$y: 16 Switches
23. Hit Boy: Ahh Shyt feat. Chase N Cashe
24. Kurupt: Bacon & Eggs
25. A.P.B.: Betta Chick
26. Del the Funky Homosapien & Tame One: Special
27. G-Side: My Aura feat. PT of Untamed
28. GLC: Let the Pimpin Commence feat. Cory Mo & Mistah F.A.B.
29. Curren$y: The Seventies
30. Jay Electronica: Suckas
31. Sean Falyon: Wonderful Life feat. Playboy Tre & Scar
32. Sandman: Here & Now
33. Plies: The Letter
34. Natureboy Rowe: Thanking Thowed
35. Bentley: Where I’m Comin From
36. Fly Gypsy: 2 Step
37. Curren$y: Rapper Weed
2 Busy Saying Yeah 10 - Matthew Africa & DJ Fuze Are So International!
This week I'm joined by one of my favorite DJs, DJ Fuze.
Fuze is a Bay Area rap legend best known as the DJ for Digital Underground and the Luniz and for being one half of the group Raw Fusion. He has toured everywhere and has produced Digital Underground, 2Pac, Dru Down & the Luniz. He is also a phenomenally hard party rocker with great skills and deep knowledge of many styles of black music, from rap to funk to the music of Africa and the Caribbean. In the second half of the show, he joins me and drops a great mix of dancehall that's too new for the club plus some classic soca and African hits. I had no idea how big a Vybz Kartel fan Fuze is, but there it is.
In the first half of the show, I play a mix of some of my favorite African funk records. Since comps long ago outpaced my African digging, almost all are from those. Nearly a third were taken from Soundway's phenomenal Ghana Soundz 2, which is a great place to start if you want more in this style.
1. Ebo Taylor Jnr. & Wuta Wazuri: Mondo Soul Funky
2. Honny & the Bees Band: Psychedelic Woman [Bonobo remix]
3. Orchestra Baobab: Kelen Ati Len
4. Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo De Cotonou: Dis Mois La Verité
5. Marijata: No Condition Is Permanent
6. Matata: I Want You
7. Orlando Julius Ekemode: Alo Mi Alo
8. Ebo Taylor: Atwer Abroba
9. William Onyeabor: Body & Soul
10. Sir Shina Peters & His International Stars: Yabis
11. The Sahara All Stars of Jos: Take Your Soul
12. Oscar Sulley & the Uhuru Dance Band: Olufeme
13. Asiko Rock Group: Lagos City
14. C.K. Mann: Funky Hi-Life
15. The Ogyataanaa Show Band: Disco Africa
16. Shina Williams & His African Percussionists: Agboju Logun
DJ Fuze!
17. Demarco: Roof Over My Head
18. Vybz Kartel: Life Sweet
19. Vybz Kartel: Versatility feat. Indu
20. Konshens: No Money to Give You
21. Erup: Pop Dat
22. Laden: Time to Shine
23. Mavado: Mockingbird
24. Beenie Man: Stack & Pile
25. Beenie Man: Pop Off
26. Elephant Man: Horny Wine
27. Vybz Kartel: Mentally Insane (DJ Fuze’s Town RMX)
28. Vybz Kartel: Gaza Commandments
29. Demarco: Some A Seh
30. Mr. Vegas: I Am Blessed
31. Vybz Kartel: Dollar Sign
32. Serani: Badmind
33. Keak Da Sneak: Super Hyphy (DJ Fuze’s Anger Management RMX)
34. Mistah F.A.B.: New O.A.K. (DJ Fuze’s Anger Management RMX)
35. Vybz Kartel: Go-Go Club
36. Konshens & Dario: Do D Ting
37. Mr. Vegas: Gallis
38. Mavado: Never Believe You
39. Isaac Blackman: To the Ceiling
40. Machel Montano: Fly Away feat. Collie Buddz
41. Soca: Hot & Groovy
42. Traffik: Sweetness feat. Shayne Bailey
43. Busy Signal: Up In Her Belly (Magalenha)
44. Fay Ann Lyons: Wine Fast feat. Beenie Man
45. Benjai: Tanty Say feat. Scarface
46. Magic System: Premier Gaou
47. Awilo Longomba: Karolina
48. Les Championnes: La Ronde Des Fillettes
49. Ellon DJ & Mix DJ 1er: Bobaraba
50. Romain Virgo: Mi Caan Sleep
51. Marcia Griffiths: Keeping It Real feat. Busy Signal
This week I play a mix of dance music that kicks off with late 70s/early 80s disco, funk and soul, shifts into some current stuff (including new tracks from the homeboy DJ Eleven and the folks at Solid Bump!) and then loops back around to a few classic favorites. No talking, no drops, just music for dancing. The tracks I play are these:
1. Too Sweet: You’ve Got to Find Yourself
2. Idris Muhammed: Could Heaven Ever Be Like This
3. Candido: Thousand Finger Man
4. Kenix feat. Bobby Youngblood: There’s Never Been No One Like You
5. GQ: This Happy Feeling
6. Tony Silvester & the New Ingredient: Cosmic Lady
7. Sir Bentley: Street Shuffle
8. One Way: Music
9. Radiance: You’re My Number One [Dub version]
10. George Clinton: One Fun at a Time
11. Aaron Broomfield: Polyphase
12. Casper: Casper’s Groovy Ghost Show
13. Alton McClain & Destiny: It Must Be Love
14. Cloud One: Don’t Let This Rainbow Pass Me By
15. Final Edition: I Can Do It (Anyway You Want It)
16. Duck Sauce: aNYway
17. Laberge: We Don’t Know
18. DJ Eleven: Dance Our Way
19. Domu: Worldwide [Solid Groove’s Wednesday at Midnight mix]
20. Ultramagnetic MC’s: Poppa Large [Matthew Africa’s Switch RMX]
21. Dan the Automator: Rapper’s Delight [Tepr RMX] feat. Casual & Chali 2na
22. Malente: I Like It [Riva Starr Snatch! RMX]
23. The Juan Maclean: Happy House [Chateau Flight RMX]
24. Soul Central: In-ten-city
25. Fred Falke: Back to Stay
26. SoulPhiction & Move D: The Limelight [Trusme RMX]
27. Status IV: You Ain’t Really Down [Jazzanova RMX]
28. The Rolling Stones: Under My Thumb [Todd Terje dub]
29. U-Tern: Without You
30. Toby Tobias: In Your Eyes [Tensnake RMX]
31. Dayton: We Can’t Miss
32. Heaven & Earth: I Really Love You
33. Starpoint: Don’t Leave Me
For the latest installment of 2 Busy Saying Yeah I tried to catch up with a backlog of new rap music I've been listening to. People whine about where rap is now but if you pay attention there's a lot that's worthwhile. In this show I play some of my current favorites plus a couple older things that wormed their way into the mix. Oh, also, I talk a lot more than I have been doing lately.
1. Big Boi: Shine Blockas feat. Gucci Mane
2. Illie: Oh Noo
3. Phat Mob: Wrong Number
4. Raekwon: Ason Jones
5. Spank Pops: Beautiful Noise
6. Dizzee Rascal: Chillin' Wiv Da Man Dem
7. Frank Nitt: L.O.V.E. feat. DJ Quik & J. Black
8. Beanie Sigel: Don't Stop feat. Snoop Dogg
9. People Under the Stairs: Trippin' at the Disco [DJ Day RMX]
10. Kurupt: I'm One feat. Terrace Martin
11. Dam Funk: Hood Pass Intact
12. Meek Mill: Make 'Em Say
13. 5th Ward Weebie: Bend It Ova
14. Peedi Crakk: Smile (You Mad)
15. The Game: I'm So Wavy
16. Ghostface Killah: Guest House feat. Fabolous
17. G-Side: Be There
18. DJ Cunta: Bands on My Wrist
19. Rudi Deville: Yea Tall
20. SwagZilla & Stackamil: Wut2dayiz?
21. Mr. Marcellus: Think It Over feat. ST 2 Lettaz
22. Stanza: Amilliondollars
23. Big Boi: Fo Yo Sorrows feat. Too $hort & George Clinton
24. Remi: Phone Codes
25. Lil King: Bet She Can't Do It
26. Jay Electronica: Exhibit A (Transformations)
27. Mistah F.A.B.: Follow Me
28. Rhymefest: Angry Black Man feat. Lil Jon
29. Mac Meezy: New Boy (Cool Kid Flow)
30. Roach Gigz: Gassin' Em
31. Sam Bostic: Get Away feat. E-40
This week I pay tribute to my city, playing an hour of the best new rap music out of Oakland and talking with Oakland representer DJ Fresh.
DJ Fresh was recently named West Coast Mixtape DJ of the Year on the strength of his excellent Tonite Show series of artist-themed albums. We talk about his incredible work ethic, his background as a top-ranked turntablist and DJ for Nas and upcoming projects including installments of the Tonite Show with Messy Marv, San Quinn and Raekwon. Also, we play songs from the brand-new Tonite Show album and PTB label boss J-Moe offers some thoughts on why Bay rappers can't separate the streets from business and describes D-Lo performing "No Hoe" at an Oakland middle school (!).
The show kicks off with a mix of some of the best of current Oakland rap from all styles: turf raps, political raps, cupcake raps, undie raps, you name it:
1. Philthy Rich: Straight from Oakland feat. Ros, J-Stalin, Stevie Joe, Kaz Kyzah, Shady Nate, Lil Blood, Eddie Projex, Beeda Weeda, Keak Da Sneak & Mistah F.A.B.
2. Lyrics Born: Block Bots feat. Trackademicks & Clyde Carson
3. Shady Nate: Head Doctor
4. Sleepy D: Sleepy Fuckin’ D
5. Stevie Joe: 80s Baby
6. D-Lo: You Played Me feat. Rico
7. Clyde Carson: Take It to the Hotel feat. R. Kelly
8. J-Stalin: Millionaire Status
9. Kaz Kyzah: Freeway
10. Beeda Weeda: You Don’t Hear My Tummy
11. Shady Nate: Jug feat. J-Stalin, X.O. & Gary Hawkins
12. Jern Eye: Blowin’ Up feat. Roc C
13. Brwn Bflo: Powerful People
14. Bicasso: Warz Over feat. Saafir
15. Crown City Rockers: Forever Song
16. Vell4Short: Shirts & Baggy Pants
17. The Grouch & Eligh: Say G&E!
18. StreetMedia: Push
19. Mayne Mannish: Flight to Boston
20. Casual: Town Bound
21. Guce & J-Stalin: Another Quelo
22. League510: To the Beat [Trackademicks RMX]
I know I messed up by leaving out some Oakland rappers that belong in there (Zion I, Mistah F.A.B., etc.) and including a Berkeley rapper that doesn't (Lyrics Born), but it's due to my general unfocused-ness, not hate. I tried to make the mix as comprehensive as I could but I'm sure there's a lot of great stuff I don't know or just spaced on.
Big shout to my dude XJ, who figured out how to get me mp3s for two of the highlights of the mix, Mayne Mannish's "Flight to Boston" and Casual's "Town Bound".
My man DJ Anonymous from Helsinki passed through town last week and I persuaded him to drop a live set for 2 Busy Saying Yeah. I hadn't planned on making another soul mix so soon after the Soulful Disco one, but his set inspired me to dig out some more mellow soul gems.
Several of Anonymous's selections have previously been featured on his excellent blog, DJ's Delight, which features a ton of great dance music of every stripe and is among the blogs that inspired me to do it. If it's not in your bookmarks already, jump on it.
New Yorkers can catch Anonymous tonight with the #1 homie DJ Eleven at Fam at Von Kellar or on Saturday with Chairman Mao at Grand Groove at APT. I had the pleasure of rocking with him, B.Cause and Vinnie Esparza last Friday and can tell you he really puts it down.
1. The Commodores: Oh Yeah 2. Brenda Lee Eager: When I'm With You 3. Pure Gold: I Miss You 4. The Bar-Kays: Feels Like I'm Falling in Love 5. Sylvia: Sweet Stuff 6. Harry Ray: The Next Time I See Your Face 7. Wyndchymes: Unconditional Love 8. Arawak: Acaddi A Bali 9. Isaac Hayes: Vykki 10. Dave Grusin: Either Or 11. James Ingram: Ooo 12. Ronnie McNeir: Sexy Mama 13. Tony Silvester: Verry White 14. Benny Golson: I'm Always Dancing to the Music 15. Quincy Jones: 100 Ways 16. Heatwave: Mind Blowing Decisions 17. Jimmy Sabater: Mind Blowing Decisions 18. The Gimmicks: You Can't Hide Love 19. Leroy Hutson: Never Know What You Can Do (Give It a Try) 20. Eddie Fisher: It's That Music 21. The Inner Drive: Party Man 22. Wee: Find Me, Love Me 23. Deliverance: Loving You 24. Jorge Dalto: I've Got You On My Mind 25. Vytas Brenner: Avila 26. Twilight: You Know It's Me 27. Leo's Sunshipp: Madame Butterfly INST 28. West Wing: I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby 29. Mighty Ryeders: Lovely 30. Willie Tee: Get Up 31. The 3 Pieces: Backed Up Against the Wall 32. Sunni Nash: The 3rd Movement 33. Trilogy: (K.C.) In the Ghetto 34. Side Effect: Private World 35. Willie Hutch: Love Me Back 36. Brenton Wood: All That Jazz 37. The McCrarys: On the Other Side 38. Barry White: You're the One I Need 39. Joe Thomas: Mr. Mumbles 40. Frank Walton: Safari 41. Sylvia Striplin: You Can't Turn Me Away 42. Funk Factory: Rien Ne Va Plus 43. The Nights: Hangin' Tough
As always, you can subscribe to 2 Busy Saying Yeah via iTunes or readers like Google and Yahoo.
1. Cold Flamez: Miss Me, Kiss Me 2. Jaye Cooley: Drippin Wet 3. YT: Call Me Daddy feat. New Era & TayF3rd 4. Dizzy: Swagg It Out 5. YG: AIM Me 6. Looney Toonz: Cock A Doodle Doo 7. Swagg City: That Hoe Crazy 8. Asia Lynn: Bad Bitch 9. Vixen Ent: Toot My Shit 10. Clothes Off Movement: Better Than You 11. J.R.: Inhale It feat. TayF3rd & Ashlii 12. NHT Boyz: Introduction 13. Dinoo Supreemo: Dirty Ass Vans 14. Rude Boyz: Go Hard 15. Go Go Power Rangers: Tippin on My Dick 16. New Boyz: You're a Jerk 17. Rude Boyz: Tight Jeanz 18. Fresh Boyz: I Rock Skinnies feat. New Era 19. YT: Skinny Ass Nigga 20. Pink Dollaz: I'm Tasty 21. Camille Tianna: Hot Commodity 22. TayF3rd: Heard About Me feat. Project & New Era 23. Turfeazy: In a Tree 24. Vixen Ent: Bust Me a Nut 25. The Lowz: She Poppin' feat. Nie'Starr 26. Julian: Jerkin Song 27. L7: Knock Knock 28. YB: 2 Step 29. Ro2co: Toot It Up Done 30. Dinoo Supreemo: Step To 31. Aeiress Ent: Billy 32. Wes Nyle: Dougie 33. Nokio: Hi I'm a Jerk feat. YT 34. YB: I'm a Jerk 35. Jayy Starr: Where the Functions 36. New Boyz: Cricketz feat. Tyga 37. YG: I'm Still Poppin 38. Young Sam: I Do My Thang feat. Asia Lynn 39. Payso: Beat That Pussy feat. Cold Flamez 40. New Era: Dumb Bitch 41. Draft Pick: Get It Jerkin 42. Julian: Do It Don't Stop 43. The Bangz: Get It Girl feat. Pink Dollaz 44. Asia Lynn: Tip Toe feat. Aaliyah D 45. Fly Guys: We Jerkin 46. Ro2co: Shooting Dice 47. TayF3rd: Conceited
As always, you can subscribe to 2 Busy Saying Yeah via iTunes or readers like Google and Yahoo.
Mac Mill was a Berkeley/Oakland rapper who put out a couple of singles and one EP, 1995's One Mill-Yon. When "Arabian Hump" came out I have a distinct recollection of a local TV news story about the controversy the song was generating and Mill offering some hilariously unconvincing rationalization about building cross-cultural understanding through imitating the speech of dudes who ran the liquor stores where he shopped. I"m pretty sure he knew "sand ni**er" was a slur, though.
After years and years of doing a relatively freeform college radio show, I've been wrestling with how to adapt it to internet radio with my new show, 2 Busy Saying Yeah.
My sense is that you can't really grow an internet audience through serendipity like you can with broadcast radio-- people who happen to be switching the dial, get seduced by a song and stick around to see what else you have. Instead, I think you have to offer something really identifiable and desirable to get them to go out of their way to check you out in the first place and then, if the quality's good, maybe they'll be impressed enough to keep coming back, subscribe, etc.
Last Friday's show is a step in that direction. I wanted to create a mixtape-quality set that would merit repeated listens and hopefully some word-of-mouth. It's a live, two-hour mix of late 70s/early 80s soul music with no back-announcing and minimal talking. The selections are drawn from a bunch of sub-genres-- boogie, modern soul, disco, jazz-funk, etc. Some are obvious, some rare, others just neglected, but it's all great music.
Listen and if you enjoy it, please spread the word.
1. Brief Encounter: Human 2. The Jones Girls: When I'm Gone 3. Jean Terrell: Rising Cost of Love 4. Cream De Coco: Disco Strut 5. Donna McGhee: It Ain't No Big Thing 6. Quietfire: Makes Me Wanna Shout 7. Bill Cosby: You're Driving Me Crazy 8. Breakwater: Work It Out 9. The Sugarhill Gang: Passion Play 10. Carly Simon: Why 11. Sister Sledge: Reach Your Peak 12. Rick James: Moonchild 13. Flowers: For Real 14. Rance Allen Group: Reason to Survive 15. Raw Soul Express: The Way We Live 16. Chocolate Clay: Free (I'll Always Be) 17. Heaven & Earth: Let's Get It Together 18. James Bradley: I Can't Get Enough of Your Love 19. Hunt's Determination Band: No. 1 Lady 20. Stevo: Pay the Price 21. Leon Ware: Can I Touch You There 22. Roy Ayers: Love Will Bring Us Back Together 23. Don Blackman: Heart's Desire 24. Azymuth: Dear Limmertz 25. Junior: I Can't Help It 26. Karin Jones: Here I Go Again 27. Linda Clifford: Runaway Love 28. One Way: Hold It 29. Hipnotic: Are You Lonely? 30. The Strikers: Hold On to This Feeling
