In an effort to further explore the myriad and "Komplicated" musical tastes of the modern "post-Black" denizens of the world, we present Spin City, which will feature recommendations from some of the world’s finest DJs, headlined by the selections of our own "resident DJ," comic book fan, Star Wars and wrestling aficionado and all around swell guy, the world famous DJ Jedi [Facebook, Twitter and podcast].
Normally this appears on Monday afternoons, but due to Jedi and our editor-in-chief enjoying birthdays over the weekend, all heck broke loose. Sorry about that. Here we go …
Currently in rotation …
- Black Opera, "Black City" ("Rack City" Freestyle)
I'm checking for pretty much anything these cats so much as even breathe on in 2012. Their latest is a bangin' reinterpretation of Tyga's catchy, if overly simplistic club anthem, "Rack City." Black Opera's accompanying video is just about as awesome as the song itself.
- The Roots, Dilla Joints
Not sure what the story is behind these. My best guess is, they're a batch of "sandwiches" (Walk-on music for guests of the Jimmy Fallon show, musical bridges for coming in and out of commercial breaks, etc.) that all just happen to be tributes to Questlove's hero, the late J-Dilla. Perhaps they were leaked. Perhaps they were "released." Who knows? At any rate: This folder fulla treats landed in my inbox the other day and has been in heavy rotation ever since. Enjoy. - Yasiin Bey fka Mos Def, "N****s In Poorest" ("N****s" In Paris Freestyle)
Hov and Ye hate rapping about the current economic depression because, as Jay-Z puts it, "the sh**'s depressing." The Artist Formerly Known As Mos Def proves otherwise as he takes The Throne's iconic hedonistic club banger and gives it a somewhat more realistic representation of how the other 99% lives. I'm lovin' it. - Azeala Banks feat. Lazy Jay, "212"
By all rights, I should hate this song. If I were a passive listener, I could be forgiven for being turned off by the borderline bottle service club-sounding techno-ish beat, the potty-mouth raps about not much, and the sing-songy hook/bridge. As an active listener, I know better: This chick can rap her ass off. And because of this indisputable fact, all of those superficial shortcomings that would otherwise have me hitting the fast forward button if handled by someone less capable, somehow all work out here. Azeala Banks has some of the most witty, dense, multi-syllabic, yet effortless wordplay and flow I've heard in ages from anyone … much less a female. She also kinda got a voice on her, too. Enjoy the video link, but be warned: NSFW.
- Hudson Mohawke, "Cbat"
This joint's been out for a minute now. But it popped up in my playlist shuffle the other day after not hearing it for months, and I had to bump it on repeat about four times before I could go on to the next song. Coming through a well-equipped sound system, this quirky, synth-driven bit of instrumental hip hop brilliance is a PROBLEM.
- Bonus Throwback Joint: Jimmy Castor Bunch, "It's Just Begun"
We lost a great one this past Monday. Singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/Everything Man Jimmy Castor made a significant impact on numerous genres in his lifetime, from doo-wop, to Latin Jazz, to breakbeat funk. "It's Just Begun" is a now musical staple of any respectable b-boy function, and one of my favorite funk jams ever recorded. RIP.
You can see me spinning at these exciting events this week.
Wednesday, 1.25.12
THE LAST REFLECTION EVER!
Live musical performances, DJing, dancing. Hosted one last time by Joshua Silverstein. Special guests: Led Zeppagain, August Emile
9pm-2am
$10 all night, 21 & over
Location: Zanzibar
1301 5th Street (at Arizona)
Santa Monica, CA
Barring unforeseen challenges, Spin City should be waiting for you, right here on Komplicated.com, every Monday afternoon.
[Source: DJ Jedi]