This one has been sitting on the Hardrive for a few years (2006). One for the Bruk or Broken Beat heads. This joint came about as a collaboration between myself Erik Rico, and Rhamis Kent. Affectionately called the Arizmendi Jam after the pizza spot in Oakland where we would meet up at when Erik Rico was in town from LA. One day we were sitting there eating, and Rhamis says “Yo let’s go get down on some stuff.”
So we headed back to my crib, and I pulled up a track that I had sitting. Erik started vibing loaded up some synths, and we were off. A fun collabo taking turns adding elements. Erik layed the synths and Bass, I layed the pads, and Rha added another Bassline. Goodtimes. I miss that time when so many producers were letting go of the 4×4 and running for the fence (sigh). I hope you can dig. This is the 1st of several things I will be giving away over the next yearin celebration of Deepblak’s 10 Year Anniversary.
Two soon to be highly sought after pieces now available. First is a Limited Edition 12inch of Vertigo/Sun OF Cycle off the Ancient Tones (FUR004) project on Further Recordings. These come with beautifully hand screen-printed album jackets! [ Buy ]
The Second is a Remix of “I’m Coming” for Deephouse Don Jus-Ed on Underground Quality. This is the 1st vinyl single off his Next Level Album. As you know UQ records don’t hang around long, and this one is no different laced with a jaw dropping beautiful remix from Levon Vincent. [ Buy ]
Aaron Carl (1973-2010) – Sky (Mahagoni)
Nasrockswell – 3 Way Mirrors (cdr)
GB – Happy Summer Solstice (All City)
Tazz – Lost (Underground Quality)
Afrikan Sciences ft Tata Salah Kongo – Xicuahua/Xicuahua Melli (Nubian Hai)
Ahmad Jamal – Sophisticated Gentlemen (Argo)
Ron Trent and Trinidadian Deep (Rude Boy Science) – Black Man’s Techno (Future Vision)
Donnie Hathaway and Robert Flack – You Are My Heaven
Zaphryn Follicle – Gravity (dismphonium.tumblr.com)
Cody Chestnutt – What Kind Of Cool
Pursuit Grooves – Don’t Be Afraid (cdr)
The Hue – Step To This (cdr)
Ezel – Secreto LP (Ocha)
Kelvin K – Reflection (Grass Roots Records)
HIEROGLYPHIC BEING – Residue (Mathematics)
Recloose – Land Of The Lost Dance (Rush Hour)
AYBEE – 11:11 (cdr)
Loft Soul ft. Lisa Millet – Dear Friend (Glenn Underground Mix) (R2)
Erik Rico and Marc Mac – Destiny (Life Notes Music)
Joni Mitchell – Hejira
Connected with my Brother Simbad in town from London to play this weekend. We tried and FAILED to catch Fred P. at a an outdoor event in SF. We could Not get a Cab from Glen Park Bart station after 45 mins of trying. Go figure…it gets better.
So we head back to the Mission to grab something to eat. We stop at this Indian spot and order some food. This Girl sits at the table right next to us with her food. She has a pretty impressive spread, but she’s solo. So our food comes, and we are eating when all of a sudden she get’s up. Simbad’s like “I hope she not leaving?” I’m like “No think she just is grabbing some napkins.”
Then I see her walk out of the restaurant!? We’re like whoa that is ill she only took like 3 bites out of her food then bailed? So I’m looking at him, he’s looking at me, and were looking at her spread. Simbad starts going in on her Naan, and I grab some of her curry beef. We’re like that was weird, but oh well. Why after like 5 mins she comes back???
Half the Naan is gone, and we are like “heeeeey we thought you left…(insert oh ish grin)”. She said “Nooo I went to grab a beer”. Ohps. She was totally cool about it though, and I did not mention me going in on that curry beef she had.
My Brother Fred P. aka Black Jazz Consortium recently touched down in SF for the 1st time as guest of the mighty Jonah Sharp. Good vibes all around. Here are a few moments.
So i’m getting ready for another practice/jam-sesh for the Deepblak Live thing, and Afrikan Sciences is toggling tracks and effects with his phone..wtf? Love It!
Chick Corea – Beyond The Seventh Galaxy (Polydor)
Pink Floyd – Any Color You Like
Paul Randolph – Earth To God (AYBEE’s Blakslap Mix) (Still Music)
Vince Watson – Mystical Rhythm (cdr)
Afrikan Sciences – Holding Hands with Danger (Nubian Hai Records)
DJ Qu – Tunnel Vision (Strength Music)
Damon Bell – Taste (cdr)
Jus-Ed – I’m Coming (Levon Vincent Remix) (Underground Quality)
Nicuri – RGNA (Strength Music)
Dam Funk – Mirrors (Stones Throw)
AYBEE – A Kiss (Malena Perez Vocal) (cdr)
Hati Munetsi – Ceremony (JT Donaldson Techno Mix)
J*Davey – Lazy Days
Jenifa Mayanja – In Progress (Bu Mako)
Alton Miller – In & Out (Fatsouls)
Ron Trent – Paradise (Prescription)
Lars Bartkuhn – The Uprising (Sonar Kollectiv)
Afta-1 – Por Detras
Galaxy Group – Ease Back (Loveslap)
Loftsoul feat. Lisa Millet – Dear Friend (DJ Spinna Mix) (R2)
The Mighty Jus-Ed dropping the AYBEE Remix of “I’m Coming” at the famed Club 11 in Tokyo. Make sure to grab this release (UQ-033) out on vinyl in about a week which also features a KILLER remix by Levon Vincent.
Recently did and interview with the Deepblak Bredren for Friday Night Sessions (KUSF 90.3). Enjoyed the opportunity to chop shop on music and the general goings-on. Massive respect to Mike B., Cez, Andrew Jervis, and Tomas for the invite. Goodtimes…plenty of comedy hope you enjoy.
Welcome again to BLAKTROPOLIS the future city of Sound. Once again within vol. 2 we find a wide tapestry of sonic excursions. Along for this trip you will find many familiar faces from BLAKTROPOLIS vol. 1 accompanied by a fresh set of contributions from 17 year-old prodigy Shen-7, Damon Bell, Exes4Eyes, Lady Blacktronika, Anansi 70, Oakland songstress Omega, DJ Cecil, and the Legendary Ron Trent. Compiled by AYBEE these selections stay true to the Deepblak pursuit of Sonic Freedom. We hope you enjoy.
I recently got a chance to check out Dam-Funk in SF. I have been following Dam since I stumbled onto his music many moons ago on myspace, long before his current fame. He has a genuine passion, and has been REP‘ing his sound when no one was looking. That is highly commendable in today’s world where gimmick reigns supreme. Truly good to see this cat getting just acclaim, and doing his thing. Catch him if he hits your town…
Rammellzee (or RAMM?LLZ??, pronounced “Ram: Ell: Zee”, born 1960 in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York), was a graffiti writer, performance artist, rap/hip-hop musician and sculptor from New York. His death was announced on 29th June 2010.
Rammellzee’s graffiti and art work are based on his theory of Gothic Futurism, which describes the battle between letters and their symbolic warfare against any standardizations enforced by the rules of the alphabet; his treatise, “Iconic Panzerisms”, details an anarchic plan by which to revise the role and deployment of language in society. Rammellzee is often identified as an artist apart of the Afrofuturism canon; Afrofuturism is identified discourse concerned with revisioning racial identity through the tropes of science fiction and fantasy narrative or aesthetics.
He was also instrumental as one of the original hip hop artists from the New York area who introduced specific vocal styles which date back to the early 1980s.[citation needed] His influence can still be heard in contemporary artists such as The Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill. His song “Beat Bop” was featured in the film Style Wars.
Discovered by a larger audience through the 1982 cult movie Wild Style by Charlie Ahearn, his fame in graffiti circles was established when he painted New York subway trains with Dondi, OU3, and Ink 76, and doctor Revolt. Rammellzee was also a member of the Death Comet Crew, with Stewart Albright and Michael Diekmann. In 1988, he and his band Gettovetts recorded the album “Missionaries Moving.” In 2003, Rammellzee performed at the Knitting Factory in New York with the newly reformed Death Comet Crew; subsequently, Troubleman Unlimited re-released recordings made by DCC between 1982 and 1984; additionally, their single for “Exterior St.” was featured on the compilation, Anti-NY, with contemporaries, Ike Yard, Sexual Harassment, and Vivian Goldmann, among others. In 2004, he released his debut album Bi-Conicals of the Rammellzee, produced by Gomma Records. Rammellzee also performed at Knitting Factory with guitarist Buckethead several times.
His artistic work has been shown in art galleries throughout the US and Europe. Currently, Rammellzee’s Letter Racers, and other Noise includes artistic works by individuals mostly identified with their musical contributions.
In a recent interview, he stated that his name is derived from “RAM” plus “‘M’ for ‘Magnitude’, ‘Sigma’ (?) the first summation operator, first ‘L’ – ‘longitude’, second ‘L’ – ‘latitude’, ‘Z’ – ‘z-bar’, ?, ? – ‘summation’.” He now performs in self-designed masks and costumes of different characters, which, as he states, represent the “mathematical equation” that is Rammellzee. On the basis of his “Gothic Futurism” approach, he sometimes describes his current artistic work as the logical extension into a new phase which he calls “Ikonoklast Panzerism.”
Rammellzee makes a cameo appearance near the end of Jim Jarmusch’s 1984 film Stranger Than Paradise.
