Confessions of a DJ

Lil Wayne wants to be james brown

2009-12-23T13:01:00.001-05:00

For someone who made ubiquity his art form, Lil Wayne has done a stupendous job of disappearing this year. Sure, he was on tour and at the Grammys, but the stream of mixtapes and freestyles on which he built his reputation slowed to a drip. While he was taking a breather, others — in particular, Gucci Mane, and Lil Wayne’s protégé Drake — took his template and ran with it.
Skip to next paragraph
Related
Times Topics: Lil Wayne
Blog
ArtsBeat
ArtsBeat

The latest on the arts, coverage of live events, critical reviews, multimedia extravaganzas and much more. Join the discussion.

* More Arts News

Enlarge This Image
Andy Kropa/Getty Images

Lil Wayne (in glasses) at a New York City court in December. On Feb. 9 he will be sentenced in connection with a 2007 arrest for gun possession.

On Feb. 9 Lil Wayne will appear in State Supreme Court in Manhattan to be sentenced in connection with a 2007 charge for gun possession. He is expected to begin serving his sentence that same day: an enforced absence instead of the voluntary break he has been taking.

But as the days count down, Lil Wayne is re-emerging. On Tuesday his extended crew Young Money released its debut album, “We Are Young Money” (Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown). And this month his rock album, “Rebirth” (Cash Money/Universal Motown), leaked to the Internet after Amazon.com accidentally shipped some 500 copies to customers who had preordered it. Just like that, Lil Wayne is omnipresent again.

In a character-softening appearance last week on “The Mo’Nique Show” on BET, Mo’Nique asked him what he looks for in the artists he signs. “First of all, work ethic,” he replied. It was a reminder that behind Lil Wayne’s seeming effortlessness is a huge machine of carefully calibrated moving parts, and that this deluge of new material is no accident.

Lil Wayne has been piecing together Young Money for a couple of years. The crew features Drake, the former child actor from Toronto who stands on his own as a rap star; Nicki Minaj, the most invigorating female rapper currently working; and a host of lesser characters, from thugs (Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda) to semi-hipsters (Tyga) to kids (Lil Chuckee, Lil Twist).

Collecting a competent crew has been all but impossible in hip-hop in recent years; since 50 Cent spawned G-Unit, no one has been famous enough to try. And though “We Are Young Money” is spotty, especially on the part of Lil Wayne, there are strong indications that he’s a keen observer of talent. (And not just of rappers: this album is a showcase for the up-and-coming producers Kane Beatz and Chase N. Cashe.)

So far, “We Are Young Money” has produced two hits: “Every Girl in the World,” which was dominant this summer, and “Bedrock,” a current smash. It’s no coincidence that both feature Drake, as assured as any rapper when it comes to the topic of seduction.

The album’s unexpected star is Nicki Minaj, who raps with a comically nasal chirp that half the time sounds like the accent of a privileged, gum-snapping teenager from Long Island. (She is from Queens, after all.) More than anyone here, even Lil Wayne, she fights against the strictures of the beat, her flow pattern varying from stutter to fusillade, spitting out bizarre, color-theme rhymes (“Roger That,” “Finale”) and oddball metaphors (“About to get a mani-ped/I’m the big bad wolf, and your granny dead”).

On many songs Lil Wayne is present primarily in the form of an Auto-Tuned hook, leaving room for his squad but also implicitly removing himself from direct competition. It’s a benevolent form of arrogance.

Neither the crew album nor the experimental passion project has a proud commercial legacy in hip-hop. But for “Rebirth,” at least, Lil Wayne’s label had sizable expectations. According to Billboard, around one million copies were printed, one-third of which were distributed to retailers. (Lil Wayne’s last album, “Tha Carter III,” has been certified triple platinum, meaning three million copies were shipped.) After months of delays, “Rebirth” had been scheduled for release on Feb. 1, seemingly pegged to Lil Wayne’s impending incarceration.

That release has now been canceled, but what an odd note to depart on it would have been. By Lil Wayne standards, “Rebirth,” clunky and confusing, approaches catastrophe. By the standards of rappers reaching outside their comfort zones, it’s admirable but not effective, lacking the tonal consistency and emotional ambition of its most obvious predecessor, Kanye West’s “808s & Heartbreak.” By the standards of contemporary radio rock, it’s passable, possibly even good.

At minimum, it shows a sense of adventure. Mostly, Lil Wayne hews close to power ballads and classic rock, a predictable entry point for a guy who sent out tie-dye promotional T-shirts for “Tha Carter III.” Those kinds of songs here (“Prom Queen,” “Paradise”) are among the most ponderous. Lil Wayne’s lyrics on “Paradise” — “Sometimes we try to find a road to the riches, need roadside assistance/Blisters on my knees, from begging for forgiveness” — could just as easily come out of the mouth of Chad Kroeger of Nickelback.

More at NYtimes.com

BTW Mad Decent should sign Brik Mason

Video: Major Lazer,

2009-12-23T12:58:00.001-05:00

Video: Major Lazer, “Hold the Line (Frikstailers Cumbia RMX)”

Posted using ShareThis

NNEKA

2009-12-20T09:45:00.000-05:00

At Cargo, London, 2009
Background information
Birth name Nneka Egbuna
Also known as Nneka
Born December 24, 1981 (1981-12-24) (age 27)
Origin Warri, Nigeria
Genres Soul, Hip hop, R&B, Afrobeat, Reggae
Occupations Singer, Songwriter
Instruments Guitar
Years active 2004-present
Labels Yo Mama's Recording Co./Sony Music Entertainment

Nneka Egbuna (born 24 December 1981) is a Nigerian-German hip hop/soul singer and songwriter. She sings in English and her traditional language of Igbo.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Biography
* 2 Music career
* 3 Musical style
* 4 Discography
o 4.1 Albums
o 4.2 EPs
o 4.3 Singles
* 5 References
* 6 External links

[edit] Biography

Nneka is the daughter of an Igbo Nigerian father and a German mother[1]. Nneka is an Igbo name taken from the language of the Igbo people who live in the Eastern part of Nigeria and means “Mother is supreme, mother is the best”. The singer was born and grew up in Warri, in the Delta region of Nigeria. Here she went to primary school of the Delta Steel Company and later to secondary school at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Nneka relished the experience of singing from an early age in her school and in the church choir. After relocating to Hamburg, Germany, at the age of 18, she pursued a career in singing alongside a degree in Anthropology[2]. She divides her time between Nigeria and the German city of Hamburg[3].
[edit] Music career

Since 2003 Nneka has been working closely with the hip hop beatmaker DJ Farhot, a producer living in Hamburg. As a young singer she first gained public attention in 2004 while performing as an opening act for dancehall reggae star Sean Paul at Hamburg Stadtpark.

After releasing her debut EP 'The Uncomfortable Truth' with the music label Yo Mama's Recording Company, she performed on her first tour with Patrice Bart-Williams in April 2005, playing shows in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

She finished recording her first album in the autumn of 2005. Entitled 'Victim of Truth', it was released not only in Germany but also in England, France, Netherlands, Nigeria and Japan. Garnering rave reviews from the media, the UK's Sunday Times later declared it “the year’s most criminally overlooked album”, comparing it favourably to 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'[4].

Following the release of the album, Nneka enjoyed a sustained and successful period of touring, performing at festivals such as Chiemsee Reggae Summer, Haarlem (BevrijdingsPop), Den Haag (Park Pop) and Saint-Brieuc (Art Rock Festival) as well as in respected venues like La Maroquinerie and New Morning in Paris, Tivoli in Utrecht, Paradiso in Amsterdam and Cargo and ULU in London. She has also supported artists such as Femi Kuti, Bilal, Seeed, and Gnarls Barkley.

In February 2008 she released her second album, 'No Longer at Ease'. The title of the album is taken from a novel of the same name by Chinua Achebe and reflects lyrical the content of the record. Most of the songs are political, talking about the plight of the Niger Delta and the corruption in Nneka’s homeland. “No Longer at Ease” combines the political and the personal in “a winning mix of soul, hip-hop an reggae”[5]. The lead single from it, 'Heartbeat', became her first song to break into the German Top 50[6]. In September 2009, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number twenty.[7]

The following months saw tours in France, Italy and Portugal, while she also supported Lenny Kravitz on his French tour in April 2009.

Nneka has been nominated in three categories for the 2009 Channel O Music Video Awards[8], and won an award for Best African Act at the 2009 MOBO Awards.

In November of 2009, Nneka staged her first concert tour of the United States where she performed shows in New York City, Vienna (Washington DC), Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Furthermore she was a special guest on The Roots Jam session. Her first US release Concrete Jungle is set for February 2, 2010.
[edit] Musical style

Even though Nneka sings more than raps, she names hip hop as her primary musical root and most important source of inspiration, while citing artists such as Fela Kuti and Bob Marley as well as contemporary rappers Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Mobb Deep and Lauryn Hill as key influences in her own pursuit of musical recognition[2].

Her lyrics reflect much of her history and life in Nigeria as well as her time spent in Western Europe. Her songs stress the issues of capitalism, poverty and war and are often loaded with moral and biblical messages and references, with some music commentators comparing her to Erykah Badu, Neneh Cherry[9] and Floetry[10].

The Party Squad,

2009-12-17T11:21:00.001-05:00

The Party Squad, “Murderer (Diplo & Jayou RMX)” MP3

Posted using ShareThis

AllHipHop.com Daily News - : Nick Cannon Launches Multi-Media Company, New Projects

2009-12-16T09:53:00.001-05:00

AllHipHop.com Daily News - : Nick Cannon Launches Multi-Media Company, New Projects

Posted using ShareThis

New Music Video by Muse

2009-12-14T10:15:00.001-05:00

btw Mad Decent should sign Brik Mason

Leighton Meester..Too much Gossip

2009-12-14T10:08:00.000-05:00

btw Mad Decent should sign Brik Mason.

Premiere: Toddla T f. Herve

2009-12-12T18:30:00.001-05:00

Premiere: Toddla T f. Herve & Serocee, “Shake Ya Body Naked, Shake It (DJ Sega Philly Club RMX)” MP3

Posted using ShareThis

Number 2 club in the world according to DJ MAG

2009-12-07T09:41:00.000-05:00

You are here:> Home > Top 100 Clubs
Top 100 Clubs 2008
back | search
Top 100 Clubs 2009 - No 2 - Fabric

2: Fabric

Words: djmag

If you could study the art of club programming like any other science, then there would be no better masterclass than Fabric. Never once sacrificing even the smallest shred of musical integrity, their line-ups are a perfect alchemy with just about every single boundary-breaker from almost every genre imaginable represented.
Whether it be Martyn or 2562's Detroit-gleaned dubstep, Johnny D's darkly seductive techno, Alex Metric's cut-up machine madness or the deviant disco pop of The Black Ghosts, if a new sound rises then Fabric is the first major club to stick their neck out and give it that vital platform.
But that's precisely because it's music rather than money that has always driven the unstoppable force that this converted meat-packing factory has become.
"It's an institution built on acquired taste and honest passion rather than commercial business," believes erstwhile resident and Fabric music director Craig Richards. "Nearly 10 years on there's still no real plan apart from to continue as we are. Most people behind it have worked from the beginning and their energy never diminishes. There's no ethos, no spreadsheets, no corporate bullshit and very little branding."
"You would think that after all these years the people running it would take the night off but they're all there every week in the thick of it 'til 8am," confirms Claude Von Stroke. "They really do live and breathe it and that's what makes the difference. And not only that, they take a lot of risks with their bookings."

But all this would mean nothing if it weren't for three ingredients. The overawing industrial setting, the main room's warm engulfing soundsystem and a crowd that have come to trust Fabric implicitly as a forum for the sounds of tomorrow.
Ever surrendered to one of Richie Hawtin or Ricardo Villalobos's epic techno vortexes here? Ever been caught up in the thrashing crowd-surfing mayhem that has whipped up at live shows from Pendulum or Digitalism? Or maybe you've been in the thick of it when Skream has road-tested tracks like his recent 'La Roux' remix? If so, then you'll surely agree - when it goes off, there is still no club in the UK quite like it.
"As a DJ you can basically do what the fuck you want, which is pretty rare," explains one of Fabric's current favourites Toddla T. "Part of the reason is the soundsystem. Records sound so good that people can get their heads round the weirdest sonics on it. Last week, I closed the main room and got away with playing loads of old Manchester acid house, some funky and my usual heavy Sheffield sound."

mr. 59

2009-12-01T15:37:00.001-05:00

59. Dirty South
Style: House
Best known for: 'Better Day' or 'Let It Go'.
Gig of 2009: Ultra Music Festival, Miami.
Tune of 2009: The Temper Trap 'Sweet Disposition (Axwell & Dirty South Remix)' (White)
Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009: Avicii
The track that changed your life: Shakedown 'At Night (Kid Crème Mix)'
What makes a good DJ great: Reading the crowd and always trying to be as fresh as possible.
Most underrated DJ: I don't know, I don't really get time to watch other DJs play.
Biggest challenge this year: Being away from home for so long.
Top tech toy: My MacBook laptop. It does everything!

"Amazing gigs, lots of production," says Dragan Roganović, aka Dirty South, in surmising 2009. The Macedonian-born, Australia-dwelling DJ and producer has certainly been keeping the right company, producing tracks with his muckers Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso, while stopping off on his three-month European tour early this year. Both, he hopes, will also feature on his debut album, which, once he's finished building his studio, he hopes to get cracking on before the end of the year.

Arguably the biggest house music talent to emerge from the Australian electronic music scene, his remix CV from this year alone reads impressively, having (ahem) touched up the likes of The Pussycat Dolls, Snoop Dogg and U2, alongside John Dahlbäck and countrymen Pnau. He also gave a rub to Axwell, Ingrosso, Angello and Laidback Luke's sprawling summer anthem 'Leave The World Behind'. And that's without mentioning his star turns with Erick Morillo and the Swedish House Mafia at Pacha Ibiza this season.

Currently doing the rounds too is his (and Axwell's) mix of Australian band The Temper Trap's 'Sweet Disposition'. Though unavailable right now, he reckons it won't be long before the band release it, thanks to the massive buzz surrounding the mix online.

Surely good advice.

btw, mad decent should sign Brik mason

Gucci Mane f. Lil Wayne

2009-12-01T15:35:00.001-05:00

Gucci Mane f. Lil Wayne & Cam’ron, “Stupid Wild” MP3

Posted using ShareThis

mr 18.

2009-11-30T11:43:00.001-05:00

18
Carl Cox
Moved Down
18. Carl Cox
Style: Funky, pumping and emotional.
Best known for: I hope it's good music, a big smile and great times.
Gig of 2009: Exit Festival in Serbia. I did a double team with Green Velvet in front of 30,000 people, that was pretty amazing.
Tune of 2009: Cirez D 'On Off' (Mouseville)
Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009: Alan Fitzpatrick
The track that changed your life: Chip E 'Time To Jack', an acid-house record that sounded alien when it was released.
What makes a good DJ great: Having a good attitude to the position that you're in. That has to remain the same throughout your career.
Most underrated DJ: Nicole Moudaber. I've been following her career for the last three years - her productions and DJing. She's amazing.
Biggest challenge this year: Getting to all the parties on time, based on my schedule. And I managed to do that!
Top tech toy: Native Instruments' Maschine. It's changed the face of my DJing.

When it comes to rocking down the house, few do so with the panache of party techno supremo Carl Cox. One of the architects of dance music, this DJ's DJ has continued to blaze a trail through the years, innovating and pushing the movement forward, without sacrificing one iota of his passionate beliefs.

The latest example is his new concept, Join Our Revolution - a club night that saw Coxy corral Space Ibiza throughout the 2009 summer season, with a smorgasbord of the world's freshest DJs invited along for the ride. Carl's happy to report that it's been a roaring success, and that it's only just the beginning of his new musical revolution.

"The closing was just phenomenal, with Danny Tenaglia playing in one area, and me playing from beginning to end in one room. The job was done, we got the point across and we're looking forward to more Join Our Revolution nights in the future," Cox smiles.

Presently in Australia finishing his third artist album with super producer Josh Abrahams, Cox also has another ace up his sleeve - his first ever mix for Global Underground, inspired by his times at insane desert festival Burning Man. It's bound to be another defining moment for the techno titan.

Download Chip Tha Ripper feat Curren Big Sean Fat Raps prod Chuck Inglish mp3

2009-11-30T11:40:00.000-05:00

Download Chip Tha Ripper feat Curren Big Sean Fat Raps prod Chuck Inglish mp3

Video: Maluca,

2009-11-30T11:36:00.001-05:00

Video: Maluca, “El Tigeraso”

Posted using ShareThis

We Make it Good Mix Series v. 11: Salem

2009-11-25T09:43:00.003-05:00

We Make it Good Mix Series v. 11: Salem

Posted using ShareThis

Charles Hamilton,

2009-11-25T09:43:00.001-05:00

Charles Hamilton, “Charles Hamilton Is Back” MP3

Posted using ShareThis

Mr. 28

2009-11-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

28. Richie Hawtin
Style: Techno and house and everything in between.
Best known for: Who knows, I think that's always changing and depends. Twitter DJ? Falling off the stage in Tokyo in January? The list goes on!
Gig of 2009: Metamorphose Mount Fuji, Japan. Maybe the sake had something to do with it?
Tune of 2009: Marco Carola 'Party People' (Plus 8)
Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009: Acumen (Producer) Barem (DJ)
The track that changed your life: Still the one that Derrick May played at the Bankle building, that I've been trying to recreate ever since!
What makes a good DJ great: Patience, timing, communication, dedication, humility and self-confidence!
Most underrated DJ: Zip.
Biggest challenge this year: To get the rest of those really talented DJs off turntables and into the digital world, where their creativity can open up further!"
Top tech toy: "Paul van Dyk virtual iPhone glow-stick."

Richie Hawtin is probably the most popular DJ in techno, and the one name certain to polarise opinion. Some see him as a digital innovator, while others think he has sold out his underground roots to become a techno pop star. No matter what side you belong to, there's no doubt that Hawtin is a fascinating character, as his answer to DJmag's question about how the recession affected him shows.

"I think the recession has actually helped my gigs this year," Richie reckons. "We've put more effort into each gig than before, spending extra energy and ideas on lighting, visuals and the entire experience," he explains.

This approach means that Hawtin has plenty of fond memories of gigs in 2009, from "smoothly transitioning between house, techno, tribal and back again," with Dubfire and Luciano at La Dune in Toulouse, France, to his favourite gig of the year, "at a warehouse in St. Louis, with huge speakers, one lightbulb and a bunch of kids freaking out."

Technology continued to loom large in his performances. He integrated Native Instruments' Maschine into his set up, alongside his usual four digital decks.

"We also introduced our Twitter DJ application, giving a real time insight into the way a DJ builds and creates his or her individual dynamics within a set."

btw Mad Decent should sign brik mason. Trust. I need a remix toooo

mr.46

2009-11-20T10:19:00.000-05:00

46. Dubfire
Style: House and techno
Best known for: Being one half of Deep Dish.
Gig of 2009: Back-to-back with Richie Hawtin at Exit Festival.
Tune of 2009: Fergie, Reset Robot & Alan Fitzpatrick 'Gas Mask' (8 Sided Dice)
Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009: Reset Robot
The track that changed your life: Royal House 'Can You Party Idlers'
What makes a good DJ great: Humility, originality and drive.
Most underrated DJ: Davide Squillace
Biggest challenge this year: Sneaking all my heavy gear onto flights as carry-on luggage!
Top tech toy: Native Instruments\' Maschine

There can be no doubt that Dubfire has become one of the biggest names in techno. A regular at all of the world's major clubs and festivals, Dubfire says, "I usually gauge my top clubs on how much fun I've had playing, so with that in mind, my best dates were Flex in Vienna, F12 Terrassen in Stockholm, Cocoon at Amnesia in Ibiza, Kiesgrube in Neuss, The Warehouse Project in Manchester, La Huaka in Lima, and Shindig in Newcastle."

A vociferous champion of digital DJing, Dubfire says that new technology, as much as changing trends, has impacted on the music he plays.

"Since incorporating Native Instruments' Maschine, I've been able to add a new layer and dimension to my sets," he says.

He also believes that technology will keep progressing. "This excites me no end. I think the next phase will usher in touch-screen laptops, smaller hardware and better controllers, DJ software enhancements and more cross-platform hardware/software compatibility."

Yelawolf – Pop The Trunk

2009-11-18T11:07:00.000-05:00

Yelawolf – Pop The Trunk

CFCF,

2009-11-18T10:52:00.001-05:00

CFCF, “Big Love” MP3

Posted using ShareThis

AllHipHop.com Daily News - : Pioneering UK Rapper Derek B. Dead

2009-11-16T10:59:00.001-05:00

AllHipHop.com Daily News - : Pioneering UK Rapper Derek B. Dead

Posted using ShareThis

The Clipse have a realll videeo with reall chicken

2009-11-16T10:52:00.002-05:00

I am a vegetarian but the chickens in this video look tasty. Clipse always seem to balance it out with their music. I still wish Rick Rubin would have blessed them with some music. Please rick bless me with some music. Hi bron bron.
btw MAd decent needs to sign Brik MAson.

mr 68 is a worker..

2009-11-15T10:35:00.000-05:00

68. Boys Noize
Style: Techno and house.
Best known for: Boys Noize Records, tracks on Gigolo and Turbo.
Gig of 2009: Rockwerchter Festival in Belgium.
Tune of 2009: Erol Alkan & Boys Noize 'Waves' (Boys Noize Records).
Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009: Djedjotronic
The track that changed your life: Thomas Bangalter's 'Trax On The Rocks Pt.1'
What makes a good DJ great: Teaching people and surprising them is so important.
Most underrated DJ: Housemeister
Biggest challenge this year: It's always a challenge to surprise myself with new tracks and do something innovative.
Top tech toy: Roland TR 727

Such is the diligence Alex Ridha, aka Boys Noize, puts into his work, he decided this year was the year to give up the remix.

"I put so much energy inside, and so much music, I end up changing the track, and writing a lot, and then sometimes the remix gets bigger than the original," says Ridha.

So while we lament his re-rubs of Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Tiga and Justice, we can be heartened by the fact that now he's freed up a bit of time, he can spend it more wisely.

"Already I've been working in the studio producing for Black Eyed Peas, Kelis, Kano. Erol Alkan too, we wrote a lot of tracks. But the most beautiful thing happening right now in my music for me is producing the Gonzales album. It's like black and white coming together."

Not that this should detract from his own album, his second 'Power', out last month. Now among the most feted of the DJs and producers to emerge from the fusion of the techno, electro and house music scenes, Alex Ridha is in seriously hot demand. Just don't ask him for a remix.

New Video for Bump N Sniff Edited by Ben Craig

2009-11-13T10:59:00.000-05:00

Video: Cool Kids,

2009-11-13T09:44:00.001-05:00

Video: Cool Kids, “Knocked Down”

Posted using ShareThis