One Block Radius, Louis Logic & Pigeon John

Tonight!



One Block Radius is the relish Z-Man with singer/producer Marty James and DJ MDA. Z-Man is one of the greatest performers ever, so it's guaranteed to be a fun show.

At 111 Minna. See you there!

Oh yeah, and last night we went dumb at the Slump & Grind 2 release party.

Slump & Grind 2: It's a celebration.

Tonight at the DNA Lounge is Hey DJ, featuring DJ Revolution (he's from Northampton, Mass--whatup Lori!) as well as Ross Hogg and DJ B.Cause celebrating the release of their mix CD, "Slump & Grind 2," the follow-up to the ever-slumping "Slump & Grind." Go to the shop section of Ross Hogg's site, ItalSelection.com, and add to cart NOW.

The DNA Lounge has a live webcast, so you can watch/listen online and the audio will be archived for two weeks. That's one thing I love about the DNA (I've been going there since the late 80s--I remember when Doc Martin was a barback). It almost makes up for their expensive-ass drinks. But not quite. Big thanks to DJ NeoGeo, who will also be rocking the turntables with his homie Boogie Brown. Check for them at FormulaDJs.com.

Also tonight is what I call the 10:00 Free Grime Giveaway at Anu on Sixth Street. Info at dubliminal.net.

J Dilla R.I.P. / The Beatnuts

One of the greatest producers ever, Jay Dee aka J Dilla, passed away this week, days after the release of his album Donuts on Stones Throw. He worked, performed and produced throughout his illness and up until the end. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.



I'm off to the Red Devil in a couple of hours to check out the Beatnuts for the first time since they toured with Organized Konfusion and Common Sense (yeah he was still Common Sense and I got my "Resurrection" t-shirt that night). Show is sold out, a little surprising for a Sunday night.


DJ Marz portrait by yours truly

The Gurp City Art Show and Concert was epic! Big thanks to DJ Marz for a huge and successful event. Unfortunately Serg gurped out at midnight (festivities started at 2 pm!) and we missed Eddie K and Baldhead Rick. The new Eddie K material is dope ("OOOOooh!"), do not sleep on it.

Spindig was really fun last Friday night. The Chief Enablers rocked it--and saved my favorite song for last, "Are You Online?" Funny stuff. Don't miss next month's on Friday, March 10. It's my birthday party with special guest DJ Charlotte the Baroness. The homie Matt Sonzala SoReal will be in the house and we'll be heading over to Studio Z right after at 9:00 for this:



Please come out and celebrate my 44th, yes 44th, birthday with me. Then, it's on to Austin for SXSW 2006. Can't stop, won't stop.

DJ Premier in SF 2/2

DJ Premier will be here Thursday night, February 2nd at the Fluid Ultra Lounge. I'll be passing out the Gang Starr buttons I made. And probably wearing my Gang Starr pendant. Morse Code is DJing too so it'll definitely be fun and the music will be top quality.

Thursday is also Trinity's birthday. Happy Birthday!!

The Gurp City Art Show is this Saturday, please come and check out Serg's and my artwork along with that of other Gurp City friends and fam:



My birthday on March 10 is about to be insane. First, special guest DJ at the Spindig happy hour party is Charlotte the Baroness. That's 6 to 9. Then, DJ Rapid Ric is in town from Texas along with my good friend Matt Sonzala So Real, DJing over at Studio Z. San Francisco is so ready. I can't wait. Mark your calendar now, then please come out and party with us.

How old am I gonna be this year?

Sacred Hoop AND Motion Man!

Luke Sick and DJ Marz, San Jose

Tonight at the Elbo Room: Red Wine Presents: Motion Man plus
Fat Hed, Sacred Hoop and DJ Toph One. Like whoa. Big ups to Toph for putting this dope lineup together on a Saturday night.



Motion Man is great live (I wish he'd put on a cape and do "Mo' Like Flows On" just once.), and I've been fiending for some live Sacred Hoop action since Luke Sick returned to the Bay from Arizona. DJ Raw B will be providing the beats for Luke to spit to. Not sure if KutMasta Kurt will be DJing for Motion Man. Hope so.


DJ Ayres, Catchdubs, VinSol

Damn, had a blast at the premiere of the Superfriends party at Milk last weekend. Vin got me in free, Nick gave me THREE (count 'em, three) drink tickets and Ayres blessed me with a New Year's Eve at The Rub CD and a 10-Deep/The Rub tank top. "What nice boys," as my mom would say. In the words of the late, great Robin Harris, "Thank you, please come again." The Superfriends party now happens every Thursday night at Milk. I think I want to try and catch Mark Ronson on February 23rd.


A big Matthew Africa fan (me) and Matthew Africa @ Superfriends

So when I first ordered this Funkadelic shirt, it got lost in the mail and they sent another one. Both eventually made it to my mailbox, so now I have an extra. I know, I should send it back. But I don't have much time for the ol' post office, so if any of my friends out there want the extra, let me know. It's a lavender women's large. Speaking of Funkadelic, here's a good interview with Bernie Worrell.

EXCITING news: The VE Radio show will be on the actual radio dial, thanks to KULT Radio at 89.9 FM in San Francisco. Tentative air times are Wednesday nights 7-8 and Saturday nights 10-11. You can listen live online if you can't get it on your radio dial. My radio dreams are soon to come true. Thanks to any of you who've taken the time to listen to my dusty old records, self-serving drops and rambling on VE Radio.

Catchdubs in SF 1/21

NYer and Fader editor Nick Catchdubs is back at Milk tonight, this time with DJ Ayres of The Rub. Can't wait to hear what they'll play. Nick was last here back in September for Westside Gangbang with Roxy, and it was hyphy to the height of hyphe-tivity. Let's see if the alleged Milk "hyphy ban" has any effect on tonight's selection. Side note: Does anyone remember the Milk Bar in Berkeley, circa 1990, if I remember correctly? DJs played hip-hop and I think they didn't serve alcohol, hence the name. Milk on Haight certainly does, thank goodness.



Last weeks XXXPlosive tour was just that, explosive. After Ross Hogg's opening set, Pase Rock and Cosmo Baker ripped shit with Spank Rock sprinkling vocals. Pase had us pose for pictures with his Scion bag for some reason, Serg actually danced, and I still have a bruise on the top of my foot from the girl (or ONE of the girls, I should say) who was freaking DJ Marz at the bar.

We have our tickets, hotel and car reserved for SXSW. I can't wait. We're flying in and out of Houston and hanging with the one Matt Sonzala So Real.

VE Radio may actually be on the radio soon. We may be hooking up with a local pirate station. Stay tuned.

Spindig Happy Hour::Friday 1/13

The Spindig happy hour party is this Friday, January 13th at 330 Ritch Street. Spindig goes down every 2nd Friday from 6 to 9 pm. It's free, pints are 3 bucks, there's pizza and the music is good. What more could you ask for? I'll be playing some new and old hip-hop and R&B joints, some 80s new wave and ska, and some late 80s-early 90s LA rap. I think.

After that I think we're heading over to Milk to say what's up to Pase Rock. He's on the XXXPlosive Tour with Cosmo Baker and Spank Rock. Our pal Ross Hogg is opening. Should be fun and of a high musical caliber.



DJ Morse Code told me that DJ Premier is playing at Fluid tonight, but I've seen nor heard nothing to confirm that.

New Year's Eve Eve Eve

Tonight I'll be walking the four blocks over to the Hemlock Tavern to see and hear DJ Marz on the wheels of steel. He plays from 9 til 2. I'll also be scoping out the place to see if we'll be able to play "VETV" somewhere in there at the Gurp City Art Show on February 4th.

I'm working on a huge portrait of Marz for that show. Sure to be epic.


DJ Marz on VETV



Tomorrow (Friday) night we're going to check out the free party at the DNA Lounge with DJs Joe Quixx, B.Cause, Teeko (it's his birthday!), Doc Fu and more. You can watch/listen online. Look for me in the back bar camera.



Last time I was there, I told Cut Chemist about my idea for my 45th birthday party--an all-star DJ lineup playing all 45s. He signed on! So mark your calendars for Saturday, March 10, 2007. Hopefully I can get "Zack" and "Josh" too.

Happy New Year!

Friday Night Live: Breakestra, Z-Trip & Radar

See you tonight. First at the DNA Lounge and then at Mighty. Both shows are going til 4 am, but I think after 3 am I will turn into a pumpkin.

Happy Anniversary, Future Primitive! Check out the first episode of VETV for an interview with Mark Herlihy and FPS DJ RasCue, launching January 2006.

See you at Happy Hour

The first Spindig was a big hit and it's gone monthly! See you at 330 Ritch Street from 6-9 pm.

Emo Rap Fest

I took some pics of Sage Francis years ago when he was a guest at the Anticon monthly showcase, and they keep getting jacked and showing up all over the internet. This one, too.

Since the Time Machine show on the 15th, which was dope (Peep the choreography.), Serg sprained his foot at the Glue show so we haven't gone out much. We saw Sage Francis, Sole and the Sol.ILLaquists of Sound on Wednesday at the Grand (weird venue), on the Knowmore.org tour. Sleep was also there -- an all S line-up. Not to take away from the stellar performances, but a highlight of the show was Sole telling off the drunk girl up front who kept fucking with his laptop table.

Atmosphere rolls into town this week and is at the Fillmore Wednesday and Thursday. Both nights are sold out. I'm looking forward to a good show. In all my years as an Atmosphere fan (it started when my friend Kevin from Kentucky sent me a dubbed tape of Overcast in '98), I've never seen Ant.

We filmed the first episode of "VETV" last Sunday, at the Hunter's Point Shipyards with Eddie K and DJ Marz, at Future Primitive Sound Headquarters with Mark Herlihy and DJ RasCue, then at Groove Merchant with Cool Chris. Shoot day went great, but now the hard work begins: editing. I'll be spending all my spare time on this until January, when VETV.us launches. And then hopefully afterwards as well, as we produce one episode per month. (Graphic/motion designers, hit me up, I need help!) I made up a radio show that isn't really on the radio, and now I'll have a TV show that isn't on TV!

It's Time Machine Time

Get your hands on Time Machine's TM Radio. It's got a bunch of Time Machine tracks of course, plus tracks from Jahpan, The Procussions, Celph Titled and more, plus a DJ Mekalek mix session. Go to Glow In the Dark's site for more info.

Going to see them tonight at Slim's with Giant Panda and People Under the Stairs. I hope they have choreography like last time, so good.

Last night's Spindig happy hour party was a great success! I'd like to get a monthly going at 330 Ritch where DJs can play what they like and maybe feature some live music too. It's so close to work, they're open for happy hour on Fridays anyway, AND I do like to play records.

It's Friday: Countdown to Happy Hour

Come on down to our happy hour party at 330 Ritch Street. DJs Hoj, Stevie, Nick Will and I will be spinning house, hip-hop, 80s, soul and whatever we want. It's free!


(Click the pic above to see the poster.)

"Quality of Life" was very good. It's refreshing to see a film set in San Francisco that's gritty and authentic. It's good to see a film that involves hip-hop that isn't corny. (DJ D-Sharp's in it and Tajai ain't a bad actor.) I'll write a detailed review as soon as I have time. Go see it this weekend!

Quality of Life

Locally-produced graffiti film "Quality of Life" premiere is TONIGHT at 7 pm at the UA Galaxy on Sutter @ Van Ness Avenue. See you there! Runs for a couple of weeks. Check the website and the trailer. "Quality of Life" is an independent narrative feature film about two graffiti writers struggling to maintain their friendship after getting busted for painting. It was filmed and edited in the Mission, and played film festivals around the world last year (won awards in Berlin and Stockholm). QoL was made by locals and stars many well-knowns in the SF art and music scene (including Tajai, Sam Flores, Abhor, and TopR, among others).

What a weekend.

Friday night after happy hour at 21st Amendment (try the Watermelon Wheat), we meet up with our friend Woo and head over to Milk for Night of the Remix.



DJs Kingmost (not shown here, that's Vin Sol on the right) and Morse Code killed it. 3XDope's "Funky Dividends" over Kanye's "Gold Digger" beat was my favorite.



Special guest DJ Mike 2600 was introduced to the hyphyness that is SF. I also have random crowd shots of white tees, collar popping, gettin' low and shirt removal that I won't post here. But believe me, it went down (and so did one guy's pants).

Saturday afternoon we hit up Justin Torres' record sale and I picked up some hip-hop 12s and a sealed MC Ant LP. Also got the Loose Ends 12-inch with the Gang Starr remix that I lost a few years ago. Thank you, DJ B.Cause!

With Soul Strut homies Mike 2600 AND Terry_Clubbup in town, we organized a little karaoke party in Japantown. Words can't describe what ensued, but here are a few visuals. Note the progression from cool and calm to outright foolishness. SO fun.










More over at Serg's blog.

We got press.

Serg's and my blogs are listed in this week's SF Weekly cover story about hip-hop blogs. Now I feel obligated to actually write stuff.

See you at Milk this Friday night.

13 and God

photo by Odd Nosdam

Back to the Great American Music Hall for Themselves and The Notwist as 13 & God. Every song was bangin'. BANGin'.

Ask Jel about the time MC Lyte walked into his dressing room while he was changing.

Hell's Winter Release Party SF

Y@k Ballz was a surprise opener for Cage Saturday night at Slim's. Well there was some other kid earlier who rapped over other people's beats, including Mr. Dibbs', who wasn't good. Hell's Winter is pretty damn good, and very different from previous Cage stuff. I hear he was scared to release it. Glad he did it anyway. He says he'll be back in November. I like Cage's new look too. My friend Dan says he looks like he's in Weezer. Check out this week's VE Radio for "Good Morning" and some other great new and old joints.



Aesop Rock shared the stage with Y@k, Cage and El-P.



El-P says he won't be back until the spring, after his album is done. I got this shirt.

Feist-y

Feist at the Great American Music Hall, Sept. 17, 2005

Does anyone else love rap AND Feist? Holla. Girl's got soul.

Last time I talked to Buck 65, he was mad at her for flaking on the recording session for his album, since he had given up attending some big play (or something with Tom Waits ?) that he had tickets for to film her "One Evening" video (which I LOVE, love love!). Listen to Feist.

Friday night we caught Boom Bip and his band at the Bottom of the Hill. He's touring with Interpol so they cooked up a rock lineup and ol' Bryan Hollon was rockin'. What does he NOT do? He is good peeps.

Filipino! Filipino!

DJ Jester the Filipino Fist rolled through San Francisco again (as he likes to do), this time DJing for the always awesome and sweet Grand Buffet. They played the Hemlock Tavern last Tuesday night and were on FIRE. Jester's opening set consisted of some genius mixing of country, Southern rap and 80s. (He loves Terence Trent D'Arby's "Wishing Well.") Grand Buffet was awesome as usual. They're not even halfway through their tour, so catch them if you can.

As much as I hate the Black Eyed Peas, I'm obsessed with the song "Bebot." Thanks, Kersten and Diane! "Filipino! Filipino!"

Happy Birthday, Serg!

This is where we'll be tonight, celebrating with the crew.



His next birthday is the 20th. Ask him why he has two.

Record Auction for New Orleans

The kind folks at Soul Strut are now hosting members' vinyl auctions/sales in the "Let a Heatrock Loose" forum. All money goes to the Red Cross and their relief efforts in New Orleans. Register and raise some money! I plucked this Pete Rock & CL Smooth promo from my Pete Rock collection.



Includes a slipmat autographed by Pete Rock.

"The idea should be to pick something that will hurt you not to have. That’s what sacrifice is about. That pain you’ll feel is called empathy, compassion, camaraderie. Because every time you think of that particular record, and you feel the pang of its absence, you can think of all the victims of Katrina who lost their entire record collection, their pets, their homes, their loved ones, their lives, and you can count yourself among those who were part of the solution."

Last month we saw Saafir perform not once, but twice. Look out for the new album, the three tracks he performed, "Crispy," "Cash Me Out," and "PDs" (I'm making up the titles based on the choruses) are DOPE. At Kevvy Kev's 21st Anniversary (21 years! Incredible.) showcase for The Drum show on KZSU Stanford, Saafir shared the stage with Money B and Ras Kass. Warmed my hip-hop heart.





As always, please check the weekly VE Radio Show for a half-hour mix of hip-hop vinyl gems.