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2 Busy Saying Yeah - Substitution

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 show, I mix and talk about 47 of my favorite songs that sample "Substitution", plus play the song itself.

2 Busy Saying Yeah 19 - Substitution

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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.

2 Busy Saying Yeah 16: Why You Gotta Keep Bringing Up Old...

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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

2 Busy Saying Yeah - Willie Mitchell tribute mix

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.

Episode 15 - Willie Mitchell tribute mix

Matthew Africa's Podcast

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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.

2 Busy Saying Yeah - new rap music 3!

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.

Episode 14 - New Rap Music 3!

Matthew Africa's Podcast

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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

2 Busy Saying Yeah - Holiday special: A very 2 Busy Saying Yeah Christmas

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.

Episode 13 - Holiday Special: A Very 2 Busy Saying Yeah Christmas

Matthew Africa's Podcast

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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

I'm kicking myself for forgetting to put this on:


Ice Cube: "Put It in Your Egg Nog" (St. Ides, 199?)

2 Busy Saying Yeah - Pimp C tribute mix

December 4, 2007 was going to be about the best day ever: my lady and I had fancy reservations to celebrate our first 6 months together, I had gamed my Netflix queue to get the first 3 discs of Season 4 of The Wire in the mail and two of my favorite rappers had albums coming out (Ghostface's Fishscale and Scarface's Made).

That morning I turned on the computer and saw that Pimp C had died and it knocked me sideways. The news hit me harder than most rap deaths because it was so unexpected and it seemed so unfair.

I've been meaning to do some kind of tribute mix ever since. A few days after Pimp C passed, I devoted a full KALX show to his music, but due to technical constraints, time constraints and the goddamn FCC, it wasn't what I wanted it to be. This is.

This week's show is not a best of or a greatest hits, it's just a mix of some of my favorite songs featuring Pimp C. I spent a fair amount of time on sequencing but mixed it live, so pardon me if it's occasionally choppy. Also, to keep the mix short and maintain the focus I had to omit a ton of great verses by Bun B-- don't forget him.

Episode 12 - Pimp C Tribute Mix

Matthew Africa's Podcast

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Here's what's on the mix:

1. One Day (UGK)
2. Playaz from the South (UGK)
3. Suicide Doors (David Banner)
4. Like That (Remix) (UGK)
5. Pourin' Up (Pimp C)
6. Chunk Up the Deuce (Lil Keke)
7. Sippin' On Some Syrup (Three 6 Mafia)
8. The Game Belongs to Me (UGK)
9. Big Pimpin' (Jay-Z)
10. Gravy (UGK)
11. Something Good (UGK)
12. Pregnant Pussy (UGK)
13. I Left It Wet for You (UGK)
14. Use Me Up (UGK)
15. I'sa Playa feat. Bun B (Pimp C)
16. Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) feat. Outkast (UGK)
17. What Means the World to You RMX feat. Trina (Cam’ron)
18. I'm In Love With a Stripper RMX feat. Paul Wall (T-Pain)
19. Cause I'm a Playa (Project Pat)
20. 3 in the Mornin feat. DJ Screw (UGK)
21. I'm So Bad (UGK)
22. Freaky Deaky (Willie D)
23. Swang (Trae)
24. It's Supposed to Bubble (UGK)
25. Ridin' Dirty (UGK)
26. Swishas & Erb (UGK)
27. Comin' Up (Pimp C)
28. Ain't That a Bitch feat. Devin the Dude (UGK)
29. Havin Thangs (Big Mike)
30. Havin' Thangs feat. Big Mike (Pimp C)
31. Let Me See It (UGK)
32. Dirty Money (UGK)
33. Da Game Been Good to Me (UGK)
34. Get Crunk (Crooked Lettaz)
35. Murder Man Dance (Spice 1)
36. A Thin Line (Pimp C)
37. Cocaine in the Back of the Ride (UGK)
38. Talkin Smart (Project Pat)
39. Front, Back & Side to Side (UGK)
40. Used to Be feat. E-40 & B Legit (UGK)
41. Fuck You (Lil Boosie)
42. Choppin' Blades (UGK)
43. Murder (UGK)
44. Pocket Full of Stones (Port Arthur Remix) (UGK)
45. Overstand Me (Pimp C)
46. Look at Me (UGK)
47. I Don't Owe U feat. Ronnie Spencer (918)
48. Akickdoe! (C-Murder)
49. Family Affair (UGK)
50. Holdin’ Na (UGK)
51. Knockin Doors Down (Pimp C)
52. Bumpin’ My Music feat. Project Pat (Ray Cash)
53. They Down With Us (Scarface)
54. Pinky Ring (UGK)
55. Heaven (UGK)
56. I Miss My Homies feat. Silkk the Shocker (Master P)