Brand new from Ghostwirdah (@GhostWridah on twitter)
"Listening to Big L one day last week and got inspired to drop bars on this classic joint for this weeks weekly freestyle. RIP to one of the nicest to ever do it, Big L!" - GhostWridah
I came across this Charles Hilton Brown "Owed To Myself" record today and finally got the opportunity to drop the needle on it...dope. He's got some cover material like "Try a Little Tenderness", "Ain't No Sunshine", and "Love Train", but the highlights are easily the funky originals. The album was recorded in Italy and released in 1974 on the Ampex Records label and apparantly is considered a rare issue but there was a reissue done by Schema Records in 2000. Charles Hilton Brown was military based in italy in the 60’s and was the lead singer of the Four Kents. But it was in England where he met up with a scathing Afro-Funk band called Assagai and they decided to record an album that Charles felt was “Owed To Himself". This is the ONLY album ever recorded by Charles Hilton Brown. Ever. I did some research and through every possible resource I know - I could not find any history of any piece of the album ever being sampled. This is exactly the kind of thing that separates me from other DJs - diggin in the crates for gems just like this, then flipping them into my mixes. Normally I would sit on a secret weapon like this, but today I'm going to share two of his original tracks to give you a taste of the flavor I'm about to twist in my mixes.
Here's Charles Hilton Brown's "GRF" and "I'm Coming Home"
Here's some liner credits for those who might be interested: Artwork By [Design] – Gianni Ronero, Luciano Tallarini Bass – David Ganpot Chorus – Duo Macumbo Congas [Congos] – Ayinde Folarin Drums, Percussion – Gabriel George Guitar – Keith Ganpot Keyboards, Organ, Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Peter Nelson (4) Mixed By – Charles Hilton Brown, Gabriel George Mixed By, Engineer [Mixing] – Sergio Marcotulli Producer, Arranged By – Charles Hilton Brown Saxophone [Alto & Tenor] – Frederick Mathias Saxophone [Tenor] – Kirk Redding Technician – Gino Incerti (2) Trumpet, Trombone – Roy Edwards Vocals – David Ganpot (tracks: 8), Frederick Mathias (tracks: 8) Edited and mastered at Massive Arts Milano.
I hear artists complain about DJs all the time when DJs require payment for slots on a mixtape, among other things, but they all (radio spins/mixtapes/club spins) apply here I think. For the sake of this rant I will strictly focus on my most recent mixtape "Slap That Mix 5" which dropped yesterday.
This is one of those events that EVERY SINGLE ARTIST SHOULD ATTEND! Not just be there, but be prepared. Where and when else could an artist have access to over 900 DJs?! My Core DJ family gets it in like no one else (radio/clubs/mixtapes/touring/tv) but you get access to not only my Core DJ family, but ALL DJs. If you're an artist or work in marketing/brand promotions or you're in artist management/PR - this is your best opportunity to effectively reach into a massive gathering of DJs to drive exposure to your music/product. 900 DJs in one place at one time.
My tips for artists: start preparing now. Make sure you have merchandise (tee shirts, posters, CDs, stickers, etc), but step your game up and get some quality material. The last thing you want to do is hand 900 DJs a CDR with Sharpie writing scrawled on it. Get units pressed professionally (visit www.nationwidedisc.com for great quality and good prices or to just compare to others). As a DJ, I don't personally want to walk around with a huge stack of CDs all day so I prefer artists give me flash drives on a lanyard. Check out www.pexagontech.com to consider getting custom flash drives made with your name and logo. Everybody loves free tee-shirts and what better way to promote yourself than on the backs of 900 DJs?! Don't get that cheap and crappy press on/iron on garbage. Step your game up and get quality screenprinted tees made. They're not as expensive as you might think and they last forever. Personally I use www.teesfortexas.com for all of my tees. Their prices are excellent, turnaround time is fantastic, and the quality is second to none. You can visit www.teesfortexas.com to compare to a local screenprint shop in your area.
Get connected with #TheBigShow and follow @MixshowLive2012 on twitter.
#MIXSHOWLIVE (The CDJsR16), DALLAS, TX!!!! May 4th-7th, 2012, Dallas Renaissance Hotel (Downtown Dallas)
Call 877-333-9940 x2 for details. Over 900 DJ's from across the globe (over 300 already on hold for registration) & also stations from around the country broadcasting LIVE from the DFW!
Da' Hitman kicks off his birthday celebrations with volume 5 of his "Slap That Mix" mixtape series, featuring music from majors and indies ranging from coast to coast. "Slap That Mix 5" is extra special to Da' Hitman as his first mixtape as an official Core DJ. Of course the cover model Niagra Fallz is a Core Model, too!
Get connected with Da' Hitman on twitter @DAHITMAN. Follow the cover model Niagra Fallz on twitter @NiagraFallz and visit her website www.missniagrafallz.com. A special shoutout goes to Core Models boss Kami (@KAMI2HOT on twitter) for her help with the cover art. Of course you know a shoutout goes to the Core DJs boss Tony Neal (@IAMTONYNEAL on twitter) for bringing Da' Hitman into the Core DJ family!
If you're a DJ, get connected with Tangie on twitter @tangiethegreat and get her music in your mixes. If you're a producer, get connected with Tangie on twitter @tangiethegreat and get your beats in her ear - I know she's plotting a new mixtape an I want to get behind it so give her some heat to flame up. If you're just looking for someone with a unique sense of humor and flat out funny to follow on twitter - follow @tangiethegreat. I promise you will laugh within 3 days of following her!
If you are not familiar with Masspike Miles and his smooth R&B then you're in for a special treat. You thought Maybach Music was all about rap and Rick Ross? Get familiar with Masspike Miles and press play on "Say Hello To Forever". The title track leads in with some sexy saxophone under the production from DJ Pain and Masspike slides right in to launch the project with an immediate top pick. Selecting just a few top picks from this album is difficult since the majority of the album is dope from top to bottom. I was eager to hear "Priceless" (produced by Roc & Mayne) to see how Raekwon would pull off rappin into a R&B "love" record, but Raekwon and Masspike Miles make a great combination and nailed the record. "Let You Go" has a throwback vibe that reminded me of a blend between Smokey Robinson and John Legend. I really liked the way Masspike didn't try to overpower the Xtreme Beatz production, but instead laid back and just floated along with it. Smooth. "Candy Store" continues with the fly vibe under the production of Roc & Mayne once again. I was diggin' "Love Come Down" (another Roc & Mayne production) until the chorus comes in and gets real loud with almost a soft rock sound similiar to old throwback Chicago or Journey albums. I'm not a big fan of that sound. "Imprefections" with Fred the Godson is definitely another top pick and possibly my favorite from the album. It's the first record that leads off with rap and Fred the Godson has such a dope voice that its a perfect boost to the energy of the entire project.
I need some help from all the DJs and producers that dig in the crates; please remind me where the breakbeat from "Shattered Picture" comes from? You've heard the beat a hundred times EASY, but I'm drawing a blank on the original artist and song. Regardless, "Shattered Picture" is definitely another top pick from the album. Props have to go out to Ikey Boy from the Inkk Well Studios for the mix and engineering which really stands out with the crisp drums and especially the snare of "Shattered Picture". The beat riding under "Hard Rain" is immediately recognizable as the classic Barry White "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby" and even though the break has been sampled literally hundreds of times it's still dope. "Departed" has crossover appeal, but not my vibe so I had to just let that one ride. I like accoustic guitar usually, but I think that PM Dawn-style beat (especially the snare) just irritates me.
"Moonwalk" is surprisingly the first record with any real thump under it, thanks to the production from Cozmo. If you know classic Rose Royce you will immediately recognize the signature "Wishing on a Star" melody in "Moonwalk" and if you really dig in the crates you'll recognize the Peter Paul and Mary "Leaving on a Jet Plane" which was actually written by John Denver in 1966. Masspike does a nice job of twisting the words, but the originals can still be recognized. "Cover Me (I'm Going In)" is the only song from the album that is not written by Masspike, with the credits going to Real Smart Mouf/Tye Huntley.
If you're looking for the best single-potential record from the project I would have to say "Flatline" featuring Wiz Khalifa is that record. It's up-tempo enough to get some spin and has a edgier street flavor. Of course bringing in Wiz Khalifa will always help to boost any record, but even without Wiz "Flatline" has single (specifically radio) potential.
An interesting side note on "Say Hello To Forever" revolves around the artwork. I hit Masspike Miles on twitter asking about the significance or symbolism of the artwork and he shot out a link to Saint Cecilia, the patroness of musicians. After reading about Saint Cecilia and her martyrdom I am even more impressed with the efforts Masspike Miles put into this album.
Saigon's "Warning Shots 3: One Foot In The Grave" finally dropped! I've been waiting for this one every since the first leaks started running out and Saigon drove the wait to a frenzied pitch when he leaked the "Women Are The New Dogs" right before the drop date. If Saigon is going to get radio spins from this project, "Women Are The New Dogs" is probably the most likely to hit the airwaves. I think its the best record in the batch with production from Red Spyda and the Jovan Dias feature.
One of my favorites is the "BBB (Real Niggaz Never Die)" with the classic Buju Banton sample riding throughout the Sire-produced track. Of course as a DJ I always favor any track that includes a DJ scratching; even if it is minimal its a dope touch. I also like the "I Am 4 Real" record with the Outkast sample. The lines "These mutha fuckas might get more listens than me, but they ain't got a quarter of the authenicity" really ring true for Saigon and ring even louder in the face of all the artists that like to rap that phony shit. "Hungry" is another top pick and again another Sire-produced record. I really want to know where Sire ripped that piano loop from - it's dope. I saw on twitter that the video for "Hungry" is supposed to roll out Thursday so I'll be watching for that.
"Bring Me Down Pt 3" with Joe Budden really brings out the cadence capabilities from Saigon and is the only record in the project that is produced by Just Blaze. This made me hit Saigon on twitter and ask why the "Just Blaze Presents" title, but Saigon explained that Just Blaze is the hosting voice that you hear at the end of tracks. Knowing that, I have to give props to Just Blaze for not branding the project by screaming all over the music and burrying it. For DJs like me this is a big deal because I can run the tracks right into my mixes without waiting for "no-DJ" versions.
I know that Rick James is responsible for all the vocal chops in "Kinky", but Sire pitched the samples just right so that I had to listen a few times to figure out if someone came in to sing the Rick James lines. Props once again to Sire for his production skills.
"Say Yes" is dope for the use of breakbeats (which is really apparant throughout the project), but more-so for the storytelling Saigon lays out in the record. I fully expect a whole grip of "remixes" to "Say Yes" since Saigon left so much beat laid out naked at the end of the track. If you've ever been a fan of Public Enemy, tell me you weren't waiting for the 'buzz' to rub and Chuck D to jump in with "Don't you know, don't you know"!
I didn't like "Yeah Yeah" with that west coast swing on the organ and the throwback snare hits. The breakdowns are dope though. Didn't really dig "Come Again 2012" either. I'm on the fence with "When Did U Get Hot". I dig the flow and the message is one I can definitely see myself using as a catch phrase, but I'm not a fan of the electric guitar or the production overall. "War and Chaos", "Where to Find Me", and "Learning as We Go" are ok, but not highlights from the project.
Green Lantern comes through for production on "Cutdabullshit, Cutdabullshit" and Saigon drives the beat with the perfect cadence and flow. The only knock on the record is it goes too long at 4:06 and would have been a lot better trimmed to under 3 minutes. "Another Man Down" really had me amped up like it was some old MOP/Onyx shit. There's a good chance somebody is going to get his face stomped in with "Another Man Down" as the soundtrack blaring in the background. Then I'll walk away singing that "rum-pum-pum-pum" haha - oh wait...nevermind. The final track "Mr. Cool" is dope as hell with some killer-pimp vibes and Saigon driving the nail in the coffin for a load of wack rappers. I think that is probably the whole appeal to "Warning Shots 3: One Foot In The Grave" for me at least. I'm constantly hearing people complain about the lyrical downfall of Hip-Hop, but Saigon proves that is bullshit. You want Hip-Hop? Wrap your ears around Saigon's "Warning Shots 3: One Foot In The Grave".
As a warm-up for his new release “Savage Journey to the American Dream”, Stalley offers a series of songs called “Songs by Me, Stalley”. The first is “City of 30,000 Wolves”, a tribute to Stalley’s hometown of Massillon, Ohio over DJ Toomp production with DJ Khaled on the intro. Savage Journey to the American Dream is coming soon! Follow @Stalley and @Bluecollargang
I know everyone is trying to stretch it out until they get those tax refunds so I'm going to help out with a tax break special: Full mixtape package for $150 ($200 savings). The tax break special is limited to the first 2 paid packages and expires January 31st. You can pay using paypal or any valid debit/credit card, just click on the Pay Now button below:
Once payment has posted you will be contacted with confirmation and instructions for submitting your music.
WHAT DO YOU GET WITH A FULL MIXTAPE PACKAGE: - an actual mix with a real DJ (putting the MIX back in MIXTAPES) - guaranteed 10,000 hits within 7 days or your money back - guaranteed posting to a minimum of 20 websites within 7 days or your money back - front and back cover art (600x600 at 100dpi) including all info you supply - Press release (Sent to PR wires and other media) - html code to embed mixtape player (from a minimum of 3 different sources) - url links to listen/download from all sites (minimum of 5) - daily updates on number of hits and web postings until minimum is reached - facebook and twitter promotion for a full week - free UNIQUE STYLES tee and REAL DJ SHIT tee
Feel free to listen to my most recent mixtape "SLAP THAT MIX vol.4" and see the web penetration of the promotion (posted to more than 40 different websites, exceeded 35,000 hits within 2 weeks). You can also look over my mixtape catalog over the last 2 years to get more familiar with my skills as a DJ. Just visit MIXTAPES.
All music submissions must be in MP3 format. Whenever possible, I prefer to have the street, acapella, and instrumental versions of all songs to be placed on the mixtape. The mixtape will be an actual MIXTAPE with an actual mix. I will not bury your music with me screaming all over it or burying your music under a bunch of drops and tags.
I reserve the right to reject any submissions if they are too wack to have my name stamped on them. As much as a mixtape represents your name and your brand, the same is true for my name and my brand. In that case, your money will be refunded within 24 hours. If you have any specific questions or comments, please post as a comment below.
