THE YEAR IS 2001 AND THE PLACE IS TEXAS. Stones Throw head honcho Peanut Butter Wolf is DJing while a sharply dressed young man approaches the DJ Booth with his Prom date in tow to formally introduce himself. Thus begins the story of James Pants.
What began as a dream Prom night to see his hero DJ went to an internship at the label to eventually landing the ultimate fantasy by being signed to the roster and championed as the ‘next big thing’ by none other than Peanut Butter Wolf himself – on top of critics like Busy P, Urb, XLR8R, & Dazed & Confused Magazines.
Mr. Pants is a purveyor par excellence of that unmistakable “fresh beat”: 80’s Soul, Electro Boogie, Early Rap, New Wave, & Post-Punk Disco, all of which can be found on Welcome where James plays drums, keys, guitar and sings (Last.fm, 2011).
Known as Los Angeles’ “ambassador of boogie funk,” DâM-FunK represents the citizens of the Funkmosphere. Headquartered in the Culver City section of L.A., DâM (pronounced ‘dame’ as in Damon) spent the last few years cultivating a musical renaissance rooted in the early-80’s styles known as boogie, modern soul and electro-funk.
As a DJ/selector, DâM-FunK attracts the most discerning boogie funk aficionados within driving distance of his storied Monday-night Funkmosphere parties. But it’s not just collectors at the bar toasting to the melodic sounds. Anyone who grooves to the likes of Slave, Aurra, early Prince, Prelude Records and the like, will get a dose of those groups’ unknown contemporaries – more obscure but equally funk-worthy.
The next phase of the ambassador’s mission: continuing the classic West Coast tradition into today’s scene with DâM’s own original “modern-funk” compositions. By plugging in his arsenal of vintage synths and drum machines, DâM channels the galactic harmonies of his inspiration into his own brand of new boogie. Stones Throw Records’ like-minded honcho Peanut Butter Wolf brought DâM on to the team to glide into the future with his unique, synth and bass-driven vibe. It’s a promising new chapter for Southern Cali space funk (Last.fm, 2010).
In 2001, Madlib took a turn away from traditional hip hop music, releasing his first Yesterdays New Quintet LP, Angles Without Edges. Yesterday’s New Quintet is a Jazz-based, hip hop and Electronic-influenced quintet made up of four fictitious characters, Ahmad Miller, Monk Hughes, Malik Flavors, Joe McDuphrey; and Madlib under his real name, Otis Jackson Jr. Madlib has continued to record other albums under the different guises of YNQ members, including 2002’s tribute to Stevie Wonder, Stevie, 2004’s tribute to Weldon Irvine, A Tribute to Brother Weldon, Joe McDuphrey Experience, and other singles and EPs released only on vinyl (Last.fm, 2010).
Released Albums:
Yesterday's New Quintet - Angles Without Edges
Yesterday's New Quintet - Stevie
Yesterday's New Quintet - Yesterday's New Universe: Prepare for a New Yesterday Volume 1
Yesterday's New Quintet - Uno Esta EP
Yesterday's New Quintet - Bomb Shelter EP
Reference:
(2010). Yesterday's New Quintet. Last.fm. Retrieved from
http://www.last.fm/music/Yesterday%27s+New+Quintet
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Released Albums:
The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble - Miles Away
The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble - Summer Suite
Reference:
(2010). The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble. Last.fm. Retrieved from http://www.last.fm/music/The%2BLast%2BElectro-Acoustic%2BSpace%2BJazz%2B%2526%2BPercussion%2BEnsemble
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Koushik Ghosh, a first-generation Canadian born to two genetic engineers and brother of Himadri Ghosh from the techno group Teste, goes by just his first name as a producer and singer on Peanut Butter Wolf's Stones Throw label. DJing since 14, Koushik grew up outside of Hamilton, Ontario, going to Indian classical singing lessons with his mother and listening to bands like My Bloody Valentine and Funkadelic, and later on, Madlib and Jay Dee. After completing his masters degrees in biostatistics and ethnomusicology from the University of Vermont, Koushik went on to release 2005's Be With (whose sound reflects the eclecticism in his musical tastes), which includes songs off his Be With, One in a Day, and Battle Times EPs. Previous to that he co-wrote and sang two songs on Manitoba (later re-named Caribou)'s 2003 Up in Flames record. Koushik's long awaited full-length debut, Out My Window came out in 2008 and not very coincidentally, had much in common with Caribou's 2007 Andorra (Brown, 2010).
Released Albums:
Koushik - Be With
Koushik - Out My Window
Koushik - One In A Day EP
Koushik - Battle Times EP
Koushik - Beep Tape
Koushik - KG Rhytm Trax
Reference:
Brown, M. (2010). Koushik. All Music. Retrieved from http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll
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Cut Chemist has been recording and performing for over twenty years.
He started dj’ing in 1984, at age 11 years old .
In 1987 aged 14 Cut started recording with his friends including Chali 2na.
Cut first became known as a founding member of both the rap group Jurassic Five and the Grammy award winning Latin funk outfit, Ozomatli.
Keeping his involvement with both groups in tandem with one another, Cut has developed a taste for music and rhythms from around the world while keeping his ethic for the hip hop tradition.
His mix-tapes and remixes became critically acclaimed. His ‘chemist’ moniker was fully realized with his instrumental, Lesson 6: The Lecture. A musical journey that challenged hip hop production with music theory ideals.
Cut also found time to collaborate with DJ Shadow on what would be one of the worlds most sought after mix cd’s, Brainfreeze, soon to be followed by its sequel, Product Placement.
Eventually Cut left both Jurassic Five and Ozomatli to pursue a career with Warner Bros where he landed his first solo LP, The Audience’s Listening in July, 2006.
The title track was quickly placed for the first Worldwide Apple Nano commercial with Cut performing at all major US and European flagship Apple stores, while the single, The Garden became a favourite with taste makers and the single “What’s The Altitude” became one of the most viewed videos on YouTube.
In 2007 Cut Chemist supported Shakira on her Oral Fixation tour where he dazzled her audience with his selection of world music and a cut ‘n’ scratch audio visual presentation, something that no one has ever done before or since, garnering Cut Chemist with the reputation of pushing the boundaries of what a ‘DJ’ can do.
Upon returning to LA he made a cameo appearance as the chemistry teacher in the academy award winning movie JUNO and will also be featured in another forthcoming Jason Reitman production, Jennifer’s Body.
Later in 2007, Cut concentrated on making marks in LA of the highest praises by headlining the Hollywood Bowl with long time friend and collaborator, DJ Shadow. there they began the year long campaign for the third instalment of their mix cd series this time entitled “The Hard Sell” which toured all around the world to sell out venues and Festivals.
It’s 2009 and Cut is back in the lab re inventing his sound, but in the mean time you can hear a remix of Nat King Cole’s “Day In Day Out’ due to be released this Spring. Cut also plans to release a series of reissues through his label A Stable Sound. “what ever comes next you can expect the same ethic of artistic integrity” says Cut. “Hip Hop is not a specific type of music, its how its presented. I feel I’ve always proved that and will continue to do so (Cut Chemist, 2010).
Released Albums:
Cut Chemist - The Audience's Listening
Cut Chemist - The Litmus Test
Cut Chemist - Live At The Future Primitive Session Volume One
Cut Chemist - Rare Equations
Cut Chemist - Cuttin' Class
Cut Chemist - Brainfreeze with Dj Shadow
Cut Chemist - Product Placement with Dj Shadow
Reference:
(2010). Cut Chemist. Cut Chemist. Retrieved from http://www.cutchemist.com/bio/
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It was around the age of 11 when making beats won out over video games to become Oh No’s most obsessive pastime. Over the years, as the Cali-bred b-boy honed his skills of rhyming and producing, it became obvious that – like his brother Madlib (iconic hip-hop maestro), his father Otis Jackson (cult ’70s soul singer) and his uncle Jon Faddis (renowned jazz trumpeter) – Oh No would go on to pursue the family business of music.
Oh No debuted as a producer and MC in his own right with The Disrupt, his 2004 full-length on Stones Throw Records. With recent beat production on the albums of fellow Oxnard, CA-based MCs Wildchild, MED and new signee Roc ‘C’, Oh No has probably logged more beats on Stones Throw releases than anyone else besides Madlib. In recent years, Oh No has carved out a funky style related, but distinct, to that of his famed sibling, as magazines like XXL, The Source and URB have all attested. A landmark collaboration with jazz/funk legend David Matthews (arranger behind many of James Brown’s finest albums) at last year’s Red Bull Music Academy – where Mr. Matthews composed an orchestral piece based on a single Oh No beat – hinted at the scope of things to come from the young underground impresario.
The hip-hop world can now witness Oh No’s musical vision with Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms, a unique concept album made of beats derived solely from Galt MacDermot samples. Known primarily as the composer of the late-’60s smash musical HAIR, Galt MacDermot distilled the essence of R&B rhythms and Broadway melodies into a unique and potent groove for the Age of Aquarius. After his breakthrough hits from HAIR, MacDermot perfected his sound throughout the following decades on his own imprint, Kilmarnock Records, backed by longtime collaborators, jazz/funk drumming legends Bernard Purdie and Idris Muhammad. MacDermot offered Oh No access to his huge (and still growing) catalog of music for his work on Exodus.
Once he put his own sonic stamp on the composer’s inimitable material, Oh No pitched the 70-plus beats he made to the MCs in his network. A formidable cast heeded his call to lyrically bless – from veterans like De La Soul’s Posdnuos and DITC legend A.G. to current indie powerhouses like Murs and Vast Aire. Longtime Oh No comrades like LMNO, M.E.D., Aloe Blacc, Wildchild and Dudley Perkins do their parts, while appearances from Buckshot of Black Moon and Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers lend additional weight to the all-star cast. While he only touches the mic on three tracks here, Oh No’s production efforts alone prove that he is one of those musical mavericks who – like Galt – hear the unheard rhythms first, and lead the way for the rest (Stones Throw).
Hailing from Southern California, Dayeve Xienze, real name Dayeve Masangcay is a skilled underground hip hop and trip hop disc jockey, who loves to make sample-based music with a touch of acoustic guitar and keyboard, ever since 1998. His music can be considered abstract, experimental, distinctive, eccentric, weird and wonderful. It can be categorize as trip hop, underground hip hop, turntablism, breakbeats, electronica, cinematic, avant garde, film score, and space age.
This blog is dedicated to my Trip-Hop, Downtempo, Electronica, Dubstep, and Underground Hip-Hop Instrumental Addicts.In this blog, I will be spotlighting a beat innovator from around the world each day. I will also provide the artist's bio, album releases, music videos and more.
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