Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Rest in peace DJ Matthew Africa - your spirit will live on through the records you shared











"RIP to one of the best beat diggers, djs, and all around nicest dudes in the game. You will be missed, but your spirit will live on brotha."

The above comment, posted by Tha Megatrononline yesterday, is just one of the literally hundreds of tributes  that have been written about beloved Bay Area DJ Matthew Africawho was tragically killed last Monday (9/3) in a car crash. Since Thursday last, when the shocking news of this well-known and well-liked DJ's sudden death began circulating, friends and fans from the Bay and beyond have been mourning his passing through memories of the music that Matthew himself loved so much and happily shared via his radio shows, blogs, 2 Busy Sayin’ Yeah podcasts, club sets, and mixtapes. That comment by Tha Megatron was posted on the
 MixCrate page for Matthew Africa's final mix, "Matthew Africa: Plays Seven Inches,"
made a few weeks ago. On August 14th, the tireless crate-digging Bay Area DJ made what would be the last entry on his blog. And in true Matthew Africa fashion, it was all about music and records, and about how he was really looking forward to spinning 45s at the upcoming weekend's 45 Sessions - both to play records and to hang out with fellow music fanatics/DJs like DJ Platurn, E Da Boss,DJ Enki, and Joe Quixx.

"These days I really never play 45 sets except when I'm out in NYC and drop in on friends who do vinyl parties like Mr. Finewine or JBX. The last time I remember doing that on the west coast was for an all-45 45th birthday party for my friend DJ Stef," wrote Matthew on that final blog.

And in further true Matthew Africa form (a guy known for executing exact and exhaustive detail on everything he did in life), the ever prolific DJ laced up "a warm-up" mix for the 45 Sessions (with full track listing) of what he described as,  "mostly '70's era funk and soul-- lots of classics, some recent favorites, some oddities. Hopefully there's some "oh shit, it's great to hear that," some "wait, what the hell is that?" and maybe an "ooh, he's got that?" or "wait, that's on 45?!?" or two." The 46 record mix's tracklist included records by such artists as
  Pearly QueenDionne WarwickHank BallardThe Fabulous Souls, The Soul Company,The Isley Brothers, and Marvin Gaye.


DJ Eleven's Matthew Africa Music Memories:
Matthew's musical tastes were so varied and deep, and he shared so much music with me over the twenty years we knew each other, that I could list hundreds of songs that will always remind me of him.  Some of the very special ones, which I uploaded here are:
Freddie Hughes, "Sarah Mae" - One of Matthew's favorite types of song was the melancholy soul song.  (Check his"Soul Boulders" series with B Cause for a lot more.)  This was a song he sent to me when I was working on a project and had asked him for suggestions, which I always did.  His ideas were invariably amazing, unexpected, and appropriate with a laser-like precision.  Dude knew music, loved sharing it, and put a tremendous amount of thought into making sure it was selected perfectly for every situation.  The first time I listened to "Sarah Mae" my eyes started to water and listening to it now, years later, I can't stop crying.

Mac Mall, "Sic Wit Tis" - Matthew was a huge fan of hip hop from all over the country, but a great Bay rap song was his SHIT.  I think about him every time the second half 
of the third verse rolls around in "Sic Wit Tis" and Mall switches to his slick-talk-pimp voice.  The beat smoothes out and the sweet sax comes in: "when we first meet, I give you full respect.  I'll be the sweetest motherfucker that you ever met."  It sounds like Mac Mall had an epiphany and is ready to treat his woman like a lady.  But then he finishes the verse as the sax player finishes up: "don't think think I'm stop doing scandalous shit, i'm taking mail, food stamps, checks, even WIC...  Bitch!"

Nice & Smooth, "Hip Hop Junkies (Spanish Fly version)" - I don't know how much Spanish Matthew actually spoke but anytime anyone played this version, which was pretty damn infrequent, Matthew would dance around and sing every single word.  "Yo tengo funky funky rhymes con un funky funky style" and on and on.  It was one of the most unabashedly joyful sights I've ever seen.
                                                                           - DJ Eleven


"it was because of DJing at KALX that we crossed paths. He was just one of my favorite DJ's to listen to, and he inspired me to dig deeper. It meant a lot when he struck up a conversation regarding something I was playing. Am listening to Can's"Halleluhwah" at full volume, right now. We shared a moment over this at KALX, long ago."

   - fellow KALX DJ Hugh Howie

"One day, years ago, I saw Matt shopping in the rap section at Amoeba Berkeley and he proudly recommended this isht..Dirty Raps Best of Too $hort.one of my favorite comp./mixes. "Oak-lin' Cal-uh For-nigh-yay" will never be the same without Matthew Africa. The nicest; in every hip and formal sense of the word."
            - William Smith  (aka KALX DJ Last Will)


        Matthew Africa DJing wedding party for Marin Moran and her husband Brian (Sept 2005)
"My husband Brian and I got married in September 2005 and Matthew was the only person on my list of potential DJs for the event. Matthew said yes without hesitation and proceeded to turn the evening into the booty-shakingest funk and soul dance party that any of us had ever been to. The groove was so perfect 
that it inspired a no less than twenty minute dance-off between Brian's sixty year-old father and his twenty-something best man. All the other guests danced on the sidelines while hollering with delight. Hilariously, another notable moment in the evening occurred when Brian's dad and I accidentally ended up dancing together to Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On".

After all the first dances (Brian and I, father/daughter, son/mom, etc), Matthew was transitioning into getting everyone else on the dance floor with a little smooth Marvin Gaye. I was about to grab Brian for another dance when Brian's dad swept me up for a bride/father of the groom dance. As Marvin Gaye sang "I'm asking you baby to get it on with me", Brian's dad beamed and twirled me around, completely unaware. I looked over at Matthew and we both chuckled as he sort of shrugged. It was a terrific night." 
         
                         - Marin Moran (fellow KALX'er) who wrote a more in-depth tribute to Matthew on her blog


Jonatha Sklute's Musical Memories of Matthew Africa
"I'm devastated by the loss of my friend Matthew. Two songs that have been in my head over the last couple days have been the Lijadu Sisters' "Life's Gone Down Low", a psychedelic afro-funk track that I hipped him to a number of years back at my record shop; he took it home and used it on the original Soul Boulders* mix. It sounds melancholy, but the lyrics convey an uplifting message of togetherness. Another tune on my mind is by the Bay Area soul group Chain Reaction, called "Lady In Red". This song popped into my head early this week, as if sent directly from Matthew's departed spirit. I couldn't place it... until yesterday, as I was mourning and playing Matthew's mixes, I realized it was from his Soul Boulders 2* mix. "Lady In Red" is about a woman, but there's a bridge in there that could as easily be about Matthew: "I know you've got to go (start another day, start another day)/the cards you never show, no (always have to pay, always have to pay)/and when I see you again (I'll know this game)/I'll be much older then, but you'll still be the same..."


Sunday, August 5, 2012

The Boris Gardiner Happening - Every Nigger Is A Star OST (1973)



Track 1 - Every Nigger Is A Star
Track 2 - You Just Got Be In Love
Track 3 - Rough & Tough In The Ghetto
Track 4 - Ghetto Funk
Track 5 - Home Again
Track 6 - Funky Nigger
Track 7 - Deadly Sting
Track 8 - Rats In The Ghetto
Track 9 - Every Nigger Is A Star (Reprise)
Track 10 - Negril



http://rapidshare.com/files/373110455/Boris_Gardiner_Experience_-_Every_Nigger_Is_A_Star_OST__1973_.zip


even rarer one. And perhaps in need of the most explanation since the film, starring Blaxplo-smoochie Calvin Lockhart of west-indian heritage, is hardly to be seen in the Imdb. There's an interview about the making of the soundtrack in the Jamaica Gleaner w. Boris Gardiner HERE. This movie is supposed to try and turn the word Nigger on its head for the black population of Jamaica in the '70s, much like the ghetto Youths of today like to Use the word Ma' Nigga affectionally. Needless to say the film flopped and sank into obscurity (perhaps for good reasons). The only trace I've seen of it is this poster on e-bay: 

The title and the circumstances are truly grim, but this OST's appearance on here is IMHO a call for celebration. It's underservedly remained unissued in complete form. The tracks Ghetto Funk and Negril have appeared on a comp or two and the singles from the LP have been known to circulate among collectors, hence my requests in the column. But this!! The sound quality is very good considering the source and DAMN! Boris Gardiner knows how to git down, there are soulful vocals and rumbling reggae basslines, gut bucket blues and ripping organwork as always. Savour this gem. 


The first few tracks are straight up soul which is then followed by the glorious organ grooves of "Ghetto Funk" 

Boris went on to record a UK Number 1 single in 1986 with "I Want To Wake Up With You".




Sunday, April 1, 2012

THAT NIGGER'S CRAZY


Richard Pryor
A1I Hope I'm Funny (3:26)
A2Nigger With A Seizure (5:24)
A3Have Your Ass Home By 11:00 (2:30)
A4Black & White Life Styles (3:40)
A5Exorcist (1:53)
A6Wino Dealing With Dracula (2:10)
B1Flying Saucers (1:15)
B2The Back Down (3:42)
B3Black Man / White Woman (1:00)
B4Niggers vs. Police (1:48)
B5Wino & Junkie (7:12)

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?wywfuxmnton

PASSWORD IS... LUCY

Redd Foxx - Laff Your Head Off



(Year Unknown - 196?) M.F. Records

Side A
Presenting The Intimate Redd Foxx In A Highly Informative Series Of Discussions , Some Of The Subjects being Sex, The Pilgrim, Fathers, Sex, Eating (grass and other things), Sex, Mothers (allkinds), Sex and Tarzan's Yell.

Side B
This Is The Side Where Redd Talks About Things Like Sex, Toilets, Sex, His Brother Gladys, Sex, Pregnant Men, Sex, His Wife (with and without Sex), Kids (legitimate and Illegitimate), Sex And A Husband With Lying Eyes.

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?xwvngbby4lg


PASSWORD IS.... LUCY

Richard Pryor - ...Is It Something I Said?


Richard Pryor - ...Is It Something I Said?
Label: Reprise Records Released: 1975
Tracklisting:
A1 Eulogy
A2 Shortage Of White People
A3 New Niggers
A4 Cocaine
A5 Just Us
A6 Mudbone - Intro
B1 Mudbone - Little Feets
B2 When Your Woman Leaves You
B3 The Goodnight Kiss
B4 Women Are Beautiful
B5 Our Text For Today

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ckj2nlhmygk


PASSWORD IS.... LUCY

Akrobatik: Enter Tha 63 Chambahs EP


Boston Bruin’s left winger Brad Marchand has earned the nickname “Noseface Killah” and begun referring to his team as the “Bru-Tang Clan” to go along with it. With the aliases catching on, Marchand teams with Boston emcee Akrobatik for the Wu-Tang inspired Enter Tha 63 Chambahs EP. Tracklist & link are below.

1.) “Bru-Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing To Puck Wit”
2.) “Radio Skit #1”
3.) “Triumph” (Game 7)
4.) “Fish” (Noseface Killah Anthem)
5.) “The Illest Team”
6.) “Radio Skit #2”
7.) “Protect Ya Net”
8.) “All That We Got Iz You” (Ode To The Fans)
9.) “Radio Skit #3” (Outro)

http://www.sharebeast.com/g54tatjokgrv

S.T.I.N.K.Fest: Tape Crusaders (Wu-Tang Tribute)


S.T.I.N.K.Fest was inspired by El Michels Affair’s reinterpretations of Wu-Tang Clan’s classics and decided to rewrite to them for his first project in the Tape Crusaders series. S.T.I.N.K. remakes 9 Wu-Tang joints for this dope tribute. Shout out to H2O for the link.

1. Intro

2.Wu-Tang Fans Ain’t Nuttin to Fuck Wit

3.Protect Ya Neck

4.C.R.E.A.M

5.Da Mystery of Chessboxin

6.Brooklyn Zoo

7.Glaciers of Ice

8.Duel of the Iron Mics

9.Criminology

10.Can it Be

DOWNLOAD

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Robert Glasper Experiment – Black Radio



A future landmark album that boldly stakes out new musical territory and transcends any notion of genre, drawing from jazz, hip hop, R&B and rock, but refusing to be pinned down by any one tag. The first full-length album from the GRAMMY-nominated keyboardist’s electric Experiment band—saxist Casey Benjamin, bassist Derrick Hodge, and drummer Chris Dave—Black Radio also features many of Glasper’s famous friends from the spectrum of urban music, seamlessly incorporating appearances from a jaw-dropping roll call of special guests including Erykah Badu, Bilal, Lupe Fiasco, Lalah Hathaway, Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra), KING, Ledisi, Chrisette Michele, Mos Def, Musiq Soulchild, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Stokley Williams (Mint Condition).

for more info and buy check: www.robertglasper.com
Tracklist
01. Lift Off Mic Check (feat. Shafiq Husayn)
02. Afro Blue (feat. Erykah Badu)
03. Cherish The Day (feat. Lalah Hathaway)
04. Always Shine (feat. Lupe Fiasco and Bilal)
05. Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.) (feat. Ledisi)
06. Move Love (feat. KING)
07. Ah Yeah (feat. Musiq Soulchild and Chrisette Michele)
08. Consequence Of Jealousy (feat. Meshell Ndegeocello)
09. Why Do We Try (feat. Stokley Williams)
10. Black Radio (feat. Mos Def)
11. Letter To Hermoine (feat. Bilal)
12. Smells Like Teen Spirit

DOWNLOAD! MEDIAFIRE

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Timeless: A Suite For Ma Dukes


Backstory: Miguel Atwood-Ferguson takes some of the late-great hip-hop producer J Dilla's greatest songs and arranges them for a 60-piece orchestra. Add a live audience and performances by Talib Kweli, Dwele, and Posdnous and you get a reinterpretation that adds to the legend of Dilla. 2/3 of the album is strictly orchestral work with the occasional accompanying drums. Surprisingly, the live appearances don't ruin the flow of the album but actually give the concert a dynamic live fluidity. The Stakes is High track that nears the albums end never fails to give me goosebumps every time I listen to it. Highly recommended

Timeless: The Composer/Arranger Series (Remixed)



Timeless was the live recording of the decade somehow. How else could this dream festival have happened – and have been recorded and filmed so beautifully. Now Timeless has been remixed. Six great producers across genres have taken a bite from each of the concerts and remade the magic.

For more info and buy check: www.mochilla.com

Tracklist

01. Mulatu Astatke – Yèkèmo Sèw (Te’amir Remix)
02. Suite For Ma Dukes Orchestra – Untitled / Fantastic (Georgia Anne Muldrow Remix)
03. Arthur Verocai – Balada 45 (Jneiro Jarel Remix)
04. Mulatu Astatke – The Radcliffe (King Britt’s Smoke Out Remix)
05. Suite For Ma Dukes Orchestra – Fall In Love (Black Spade Remix)
06. Arthur Verocai – Caboclo (Mario C. and Joey A. Remix)

http://www.mediafire.com/?alamde26h95ojal