Sexy People

The World Wide Web is full of billions of images of beautiful, sexy people doing beautiful, sexy things. Some of them are doing these things to each other. Some to themselves. Some to pregnant animals. With all that sexy beauty at our fingertips sometimes it's nice to take a break and spend a little time with the awkward.
Sexy People provides much needed respite.
I don't remember how I found this site. And I don't know fuck all about it besides the tag line is "A Celebration of The Perfect Portrait" and it's the brainchild of two visionaries calling themselves Renzo and Larson. The site is stacked with some of the most uncomfortable professional portraits, most of which were submitted by the subjects themselves. There is no editorial, no satire, no judgment, no bullshit. Just flick after glorious flick.

Shystie

Chanelle Calica, AKA Shystie, is one of the UK's best rappers. The lady is king. Featured on tours and tracks with Dizzee Rascal, The Streets, and Basement Jaxx, and starring on TV and movie screens, Shystie is more than a murmur. Europe has become more than familiar with this Grime dyme, but what does the US think? Ask your super hip cousin who lives in Williamsburg what she thinks about Shystie and she'll look at you like you asked her if she checked out the sale at AJ Wright. Well fuck your cousin, I hate that skinny bitch.
I first got up on Shystie when she and Lady Sovereign SLAYED Frost P and Zuz Rock on 2003's "The Battle" which later appeared on the SOV's Vertically Challenged EP. Shystie's flow had the typical Grime machine gun etiquette mixed with a schoolyard brutality that really caught my attention. Remember in 9th grade when Chantay marched down to the blacktop, pulled out her ear rings and went off on Orlando for talking to that skeeza Tiffani Raymond? Yeah well Shystie rhymes out her neck like that. Swagger and style: get out your notepad, Lil' Mama.
Shystie's supposedly got a new record coming out this year and I'm ready. A couple of tracks are up on myspace. Get em while they're hot.

Diamond In The Dirt was released on Polydor , Universal in 2004. It has yet to be released in the States. When it is I'll buy it on wax but until then I'm spreading it like PB&J.

Two New Busta Mixtapes

Apparently this is Busta Mixtape Day cause these are numbers two and three for Dangerous Entertainment Today. I haven't even heard them yet but I had to up 'em as soon as I got 'em.

Busta's Back
The Drug Bust

Mike Giant @ White Walls, SF

Mike Giant is doing only one solo show this year and this is it. The show starts Oct. 11th and runs through Nov. 1st.

White Walls Gallery
835 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

Modernaire

Manchester's England's Modernaire are fantastic. The players' names are Oscar Wildstyle, Cruella De Mill, and Chesty LaRue for christ's sake. On their best tracks they've succesfully combined upbeat synthpop an early Frontier Records mood and on their worst tracks they've come close. I may be out of line here but I'm reminded of Strawberry Switchblade on a few of Modernaire's singles. Not that they really sound anything like Strawberry Switchblade but I'm put in a similar place. Which is a very, very good place.

Pix Magazine has a short interview with Oscar Wildstyle

I haven't gotten my hands on any of their vinyl yet (seriously, my birthday is less than a month away) but I have gotten my hands on a fistful of tracks.

This one is my favorite:
Bloodshed in the Woodshed

Dillagence

Just in case you slept on this last year this is your wake-up call. Last November Mick Boogie and Bustah Rhymes released this web only mixtape of a whole bunch of J.Dilla beats dressed up with Bustah, Rah Digga, Talib Kwali and more. This shit is killer, especially "Taking What's Mine" and "Lightworks".

Here's Mick Boogie's press release from November:
Busta Rhymes has teamed with Mick Boogie to release a new online mixtape entitled “Dillagence” that they hope will continue to showcase the talents of the late J-Dilla.

The new mixtape features exclusive songs produced by Dilla for Busta that have never seen the light of day. It also features Papoose, Cassidy, Talib Kweli, MOP, Rah Digga and more.

“When I called Busta with this idea, he was so excited,” said Mick Boogie. “One day I woke up and my in-box was flooded with songs and songs of crazy Busta/Dilla material. I’m honored to be a part of this project.”


“When Mick brought this concept to the table, I felt the timing was right. Dilla left so much incredible music behind with me personally,” says Busta Rhymes. “It’s almost like he knew I was a vessel for him, and would be able to continue to champion his movement.”

Dillagence

Tonight: Veni Vedi Veci

Sunshine and I are getting done up for a night out. This outta be good. Thanks to Andy Souza of 4 G's Magazine for the 411 on the party. If you haven't checked out this months 4 G's you need to. The "G"s stand for "Graffiti, Girls, Guns, and Ganja". I know, right?! Plus my boy Chris Jehly hooked up the cover with the ubiquitous Ricki Watts.

Rumor has it Your's Truly might be spinning at Chris's opening in Nov...

Upstart!!

I've finally got a night at the Ruby Room! Ruby's my favorite joint in the East Bay, for sure. The spot is always full of heads that are worth being around and the staff rules. From $2 Pabst to $14 shots of St. George's single malt scotch this place has something for everybody. Hands down, though, the best thing about Ruby is the DJs; especially now that I'm on the roster!
"Upstart!!" is an upbeat party 'cause everybody fucking hates Mondays. There's definitely and English slant to the night with a lot of stuff like the Jam, Elvis Costello, original 2 Tone, '77 punk rock but I mix it with the best electropop of the last 30 years, new wave, New Jack Swing, hip hop, and '80s R&B. As far as I'm concerned this is the only Monday night dance party in the East Bay.

The Jump Off

Oakland is a hell of a town. With in two weeks of moving here I landed my first residence. Radio Bar is a rad little spot in downtown Oakland that I do Friday happy hour. The format started as what ever my mood for the night was but now I've settled it to mostly lyric based hip hop from Whodini and Audio Two to Ghostface and MF Doom. It's a good chance to listen to great rap without worrying that the new T-Pain track is gonna pop up any second. I can't think of a better way to get the weekend started. Do it!

Party!

Leaving Boston was bitter sweet. My last derby bout was more emotional than I expected. I worked with the Dames since before the first bout so I really had the opportunity to grow with them. They really helped make me the DJ I am today.
My going away party was off the fucking chain! Sunshine convinced me to have one at Charlie's Kitchen which is the Harvard Sq. bar I started drinking at when I was 15. The joint was packed with most of my favorite people on the East Coast (with a few notable exceptions, like my brother). We went till 8 in the morning and I think I'm still feeling it...

New Digs

So we've finally moved out of Boston and to beautiful Oakland, CA. I've wanted to move here since I toured here with a band in '01. I got out here in June to start my new day job and my girl Sunshine followed in July. We couldn't be happier!