DoF Friday Funk: Kill The Vultures

Friday Funk: Slick Rick

Hey, Fools.

Take a minute to feel decent today.

Like, now would be a good time for instance:

DoF Friday Funk: Marvin Gaye- Heavy Love Affair

Reno's personal favorite Marvin song ever. Enjoy!

Friday Funk: RJD2

Take equal parts kick and snare drum, add 1 blistering jazz flute and season liberally with funky horn stabs. Let play for 3:21. Repeat as (very)necessary.

Ill stop-motion video, too.

A feast for eyes and ears, Fools!

Please to enjoy the ever-eclectic RJD2 with this cut from a few years back:

Friday Funk: Binary Star

Buck up, all my 9-to-5 Fools! That boulder's only chained to your neck

for a few more hours and then the weekend's alllll yours.

Well… unless you have kids.

Or a second job.

Or if the boss from your first job needs you to go ahead and come in on

Saturday.

Or if you go to sch--you know what? I'll just shut up now.

Enjoy the tunes from underground favorites, Binary Star, and your weekend

(if you have one to enjoy).

Pretty interesting backstory, too… read their Wiki HERE.

DoF Friday Funk: Dopestyle

Monster beats. Monster rhymes. Heaven.

Don't cheat yourself out of a good weekend, Fools. Monday's coming way too fast…

DoF Friday Funk: Groove Grab Bag

Hola, Fools!

Let it be known that the DoF never, ever (ever!) fakes the funk.

As a testament to this, please enjoy the following installment of the DoF Friday Funk as we soul stroll our way to Saturday…

Friday Funk: Eric Lau

Take time out with this triple shot of soul from London-based producer Eric Lau.

Friday Funk: David Axelrod "Wandering Star"

DoF Friday Funk: DOUBLE FEATURE Hot Chip-Colours (Fred Falke Remix)/ PROJECT JAZZ- Hell Razah f/ Talib Kweli and MF DOOM

Hell Razah- Project Jazz f. Talib Kweli and MF DOOM


Hot Chip - Colours (Fred Falke Remix)

Friday Funk: Oddisee

From the 2008 masterpiece '101', here's Chocolate City Dreaming.

Friday Funk:Bibio

It's back. The old format you loved with headnotic youtube cuts.

We'll maybe have a few guest DJs from time to time, but until then, groove out on a little Bibio "Jealous of Roses"

DoF Friday Funk with: Maria Isa

The Twin Cities songstress and emcee selects 3 tracks for your aural pleasure and discusses music's inspirational force, the destructive powers of Soulja Boy and her new album, Street Politics.


DoF: Several years ago, you were on the cover of City Pages (a Twin Cities weekly) with a headline that read "Reggaeton Animal", but reggaeton is such a small part of your formula. Your style seems to follow the same sort of free-spirited format preferred by artists such as Tego Calderon or Calle 13. While both are considered "reggaeton" (by retailers, at least), their music is not imprisoned within the boundaries laid down by the "DemBow". Their albums tend to be a diverse exploration of hip-hop, salsa, soul, funk, r&b, reggae and beyond. Do you see them as an oddity in the reggaeton game, or do you get the sense that reggaeton as a genre is following their lead, stretching and diversifying its sound as the years go by?

MI: I consider Tego Calderon and Calle 13 phenomenal emcees that help place the genre of Reggaeton on the map and am an advocate to help others understand that they should not be placed in a box. Reggaeton is rooted by the Afro-Latino culture, just as the genres of Bomba, Rumba, Plena, Merengue, Samba, Bachata, and Batucada were. I don't believe it's odd to consider them as top players of the game, it's a movement representing a big part of "who we are" as Latinos and they are ambassadors of a genre which was once called "underground" due to not being accepted. I consider them to be the genre's best emcees that aren't afraid to crossover and express their diverse influences.

DoF: What do you hope to accomplish with your music; personally and for your audience? Does the goal change from song to song?

MI: I want my audience to have fun, feel free to express themselves to my vibe, along with being able to recognize the issues and rights we have as a movement of the world's citizens. I hope to assist or inspire one to learn something new about their roots and to not take it for granted. Walk, live, dream and stand up for what you want to see balanced.

DoF: How about your new album Street Politics? Is there a prevailing theme/message/feeling you'd like listeners to take away from it after listening?

MI: I would like listeners to think back on their lives growing up in their community, being brought up by their family and culture, along with capturing the images and stories that I express. No matter where one comes from anything can be accomplished. With Street Politics, I broke the writing process down as a collection of emotions I have experienced or captured from my surroundings. I consider it to be broken down in 10 chapters expressing love, knowledge, pride, sorrow, tragedy, confusion, enjoyment, passion, shock, and indulging inspiration. As Ruben Blades sang in Pedro Navaja "La vida te da sorpresas, sorpresas te da la vida..aye dios"

DoF: Do you think not having your homebase in NYC or LA has slowed your career growth to some extent, or has starting out in a "smaller pond" like the Twin Cities kind of allowed you the freedom to find yourself as a performer at your own pace?

MI: I love being from the Twin Cities, wouldn't change it for the world...It's who I am and has helped me develop my style. I would say being from the Twin Cities is a benefit for the times when I have performed in NYC and LA. I am a firm believer of things happening when the right time is presented. I would most definitely NOT say things have been slow here in the Twin Cities...it has been my class room which has prepared me to express my work and message. It many ways I feel it is a privilege.

DoF: What's the single most excruciatingly painful thing going on in music right now?

MI: Soulja Boy as a "hip-hop" artist..may Wu-Tang bees come to sting him!! jk....not hating just expressing my opinion. I feel the children are being poisoned by commercial radio not waking the hell up! I guess the Money gets one the Power!

DoF: Do you think music has a role to play in encouraging social change/movements?

MI: Yes I do think this....I breath this! It's what motivates me the most!! Didn't you watch Obama's inauguration parties!!! Those musicians and artists help spread the word.

DoF: If you weren't making music, what would you be doing with your life?

MI: I'd probably still be a FULL TIME working on a Political Science Degree. A good friend always keeps me smiling saying I can do that when I feel ready to finish.

DoF: What's your most recent iTunes purchase?

MI: OFF THE WALL-Michael Jackson: CLASSIC AND INSPIRATIONAL..TOTALLY DESERVED MORE GRAMMYS.....

LOSO'S WAY-Fabolous: I actually can dig the Dominicano's vibe on this...so is everyone else, he made #1 this week on BB. But I'm vibing the lyrics on Raekwon's new joint [House of Flying] Dagger[s] feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, and Method Man, too.

FIN

And now make way for the Funk, straight from Ms. Isa's iPod to your groove-hungry ears. (Note: While DoF has a fairly strict "No Fabolous" rule, this joint is kinda hot. Seriously. Give it a chance. I won't/can't vouch for the rest of the album, though.

Michael Jackson - Get on the Floor

Fabolous - Pachanga


Raekwon - House of Flying Daggers

A very special thanks to Maria and SotaRico Productions for taking the time to chat!

DoF Friday Funk: Maria Isa

Be sure to mark your Jonas Brothers calendar for next Friday, August 21st, when Minneapolis songstress/lyricist Maria Isa joins the DoF Crew for a quick chat before taking over the virtual 1s and 2s for a trio of tracks as the Friday Funk's Celebrity Selectah.

Until then, here's a tasty cut off her new album, Street Politics, in stores now. Hear the full tune HERE.

Maria Isa photo courtesy B Fresh Photography

DoF Friday Funk with: Kevin Beacham aka DJ Nikoless

Ed. note: Friday Funk has been hijacked! Every week we'll have a quick chat with a new ambassador of the rich and savory Twin Cities music scene, then hand over the keys to the Funky Bus for 3 spins.

First up? The DoF is proud to welcome the host of Minnesota Public Radio's Redefinition Radio and product manager for Rhymesayers Records (homebase for Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Toki Wright, Eyedea and Abilities, a newly-signed Evidence and more for you readers outside of MPLS), Kevin Beacham.

You can also catch him around town as DJ Nikoless, the fearless 45-spinner of funk, soul and hip-hop.

As host of Redefinition Radio, Beacham brings an historian's appreciation of hip-hop to the air waves, pulling would-be classic cuts out of the cracks of the mainstream consciousness and giving them their time to shine... if only for a few minutes.

Each cut is typically bound to the ones played before and after with a chosen theme for that particular show (ie greatest DJs, best lyricists, sample origins etc etc).

Needless to say, when hip-hop finally gets the Ken Burns treatment, he'd probably be smart to talk to Beacham.

Listen live every Saturday at 11pm (CST) or check out past shows HERE .

Ed. note: Interview conducted over email. Everything has been left as is from the original exchange. No editing done because, well, we're keepin' it REAL (lazy)!

DoF: First, a little word association: Autotune... go!

KB: The longest running, most annoying music trend of all time!

DoF: You're a DJ (I know, BIG stretch). You have only one chance to get everybody on the floor. What do you play?

KB: I don't really think about DJing in that way, but I figure you are always safe with any MJ or Prince hit, but since I like to be a lil odd ball I'll go with The Jackson FIve "I Want You Back", that's worked very effectively for me over the last year or so.

DoF: You're a DJ. The club owner needs you to clear the room immediately because Prince just paid to have the place all to himself. What do you play?

KB: Ha, hopefully i never have this problem or maybe i'll just throw on an instrumental to a soul classic and sing it myself..ha. I don't know, I guess it depends on the type of place I'm playing at. Everytime I think I have a good idea, my thought goes two seconds further and sees people on the out skirts feeling it cause it's their thing and the dance floor just changes crowds...ha. I guess I'll go an alternate route and rather than throw on something they might hate, I'll pick something that is beautiful but most people can't dance to, so maybe some "Billy Holiday" or "Sarah Vaughn" type thing...you are hurting my brain with the questions already.... :O)

DoF: Ice-T playing a cop on TV: Sell-out maneuver, or cannily ironic career move?

KB: I wouldn't call it a sell out move, I suppose that's because the irony is so great that I wouldn't want it any other way.

DoF: Obviously, hip-hop owes a large debt to funk/soul. Would it be safe to call hip-hop the natural evolution of funk?

KB: I think that's one way to look at it. The Roots of Hip Hop definitely rely heavily on Funk. Like Hip Hop, Funk also built its sound by meshing different genres, so they are alike in that as well. I do think Hip Hop's origins couldn't be explained with just Funk though, so though it may be a huge part, it's not limited to just that.

DoF: What three tracks would you like to see scratched off of samplers' lists forever?

KB: Honestly, I don't feel that way about any sample. I much rather scratch some producers off and prevent them from ever making records...ha. I like it when a creative producer takes a "used" sample and does something clever with it. To me that can be as satisfying as flipping an unheard sample...if done properly.

DoF: What's the preferred setting (at home, on the road, at a show etc.) and medium (iPod, vinyl, live etc.) for you to listen to a new piece of music? In other words, how do you like to experience music?

KB: Definitely driving in the car is how I hear most my music and it's been my preferred way for the longest. That's why I love road trips.

DoF: You can push a magic button, and the career of one figure in hip-hop will never have happened. Whose life, times, and body of work gets forever stripped from the public's consciousness?

KB: That's a tricky one. The problem is, the originator is generally never the problem, it's the imitators and they are like lil roaches so they are hard to single out. Can we just delete whoever popularized "auto tune", that is if we are blaming "hip hop" for that...

DoF: Hip-hop is rapidly approaching middle age. How well do think it's aging? Is it in the midst of a midlife crisis with a Camaro and a 20-yr old girlfriend, or is it pulling a George Clooney and just getting better with age?

KB: I think Hip Hop has had "a mid-life crisis" since birth...ha. I think it's doing fine. I suppose it's right about where it should be in life. It's not the "Dream" but it's a pretty accurate reflection of reality, if you are into that sort of thing....

DoF: In your estimation, what's the most irritating aspect of hip-hop-culture? How about the facet you wish was more widely-revered?

KB: The thing I get annoyed by the most in Hip Hop is all the complaining. Seriously, people have complaints about everything! Most of the people from my generation act like Hip Hop has been ruined and they miss the "Old Days" with Treacherous 3, Furious, BDP, Rakim, Etc... so they give up on it and just listen to whatever is hot on the radio...Really???? That's the best they can find to listen to?...not to mention that generally goes against the so called problem they have in the first place. Then you have the generation about 10 years younger than me who are like the so-called "Hip Hop Purists" who like to criticize everything for not being Hip Hop enough or what is Hip Hop or not and every time they use a point of reference for what was "real" in Hip Hop it's from the late 80s or early 90s when Hip Hop was already infiltrated with corruption many years before that. Then you have the new generation who don't respect the past at all and just talk reckless and disrespectful about just about anything. Of course, I'm generalizing, but I think that's the attitude from the majority from those three "groups". I could go on forever about that, I pretty much just did I suppose...ha. As for what I wish was more revered you can look right back at those same things and have all them "act right". Basically, I wish people stopped trying to put Hip Hop in their own personal box and define that way. Just take it for what is and appreciate it as a whole. You don't have to love everything but appreciate where it came from and that it is a part of the Culture. It is my goal to never become "upset" with Hip Hop. The things that I don't like, I simply avoid them. You don't have to be subject to any of it. If the songs on the radio annoy you...turn it off. If you hate how Hip Hop is represented on TV, turn it off. If you think Hip Hop shows are too "White" then go (if you are "Black" of course...ha). I mean that's just some of the regular complaints I see/hear that people claim show that Hip Hop Is "Dead" but all of them can be fixed and/or avoided. and if you love Hip Hop then why would you let those things ruin it for you?

DoF: How about the Twin Cities hip-hop scene in particular? In your opinion, what are some of the good and/or unique aspects as compared to other cities? The bad?

KB: One of the things that initially attracted me to the MPLS scene is that it was very embracing. I worried when I moved here it would be like starting all over, but it wasn't even close to that. When I got here I was getting more money, gigs and all that then I did in my 10 years on the Chicago scene. However, now that I've been here for awhile I've started to see some of those some negative aspects of the Chicago scene here as well. I've grown to know in my experience that the scenes everywhere are all pretty similar. Particularly now when regional individuality is a dying art overall. We will eventually all be one people....in the end, not sure if that is a bad thing or not. However, the road to there is a bit "distracting". :)

DoF: Getting back to Autotune, Mary J. Blige is currently in a cell phone commercial (puke) featuring a new song in which she supplants her vivacious chords with fucking Autotune. Is this the R&B equivalent of Jessica Alba getting an unnecessary ass job and using it to promote a designer sweatpants line?

KB: That is a great comparison...that makes absolutely no sense. I mean is it really the "understanding" that no matter your degree of singing skill that "auto tune" will make it a "better", or more popular, song??? I thought auto tune was to mask that fact that you "couldn't" sing.... Honestly, if I hear "auto tune", I immediately "turn off", "delete", and/or "block out" the source....

KB: OK, three records that I want to spotlight...these types of questions always make my head explode...ha. I just love so much music I never know how to narrow down or which direction to go. Anyway, I decide to go with 3 fairly standard records that I love, that always work well for the dance floor but I don't hear other people play. They are all great balances of Soul, Funk with a touch of Disco.

1)Rose Royce-You're A Winner ('80): Rose Royce is easily one of my all time favorite groups. My parents used to listen to them a lot when I was a kid and it stuck. Norman Whitfield produced the bulk of their work and I think he is one of the greatest Soul Producers/Song Writers of all time. This cut is actually from one of their later albums. By now disco was in full stride and it created a nice vibe of Soul, Funk, and a lil dash of disco.

2)Roy Ayers-Love Will Brings Us Back Together ('79): Just about everyone is familiar with the man himself. His 70s Catalog is a sampling gold mine. Every X-mas as a kid my parents always had a record or two under the tree from "Santa" to the family. One year it was his "Fever" album where this song comes from. It has a lot of great change ups and breakdowns that keep it interesting. This song has been a great one that always gets a "few" people on the floor which I prefer rather than trying to start off too strong with something high caliber and then risk losing them by not maintaining the same level non-stop....bring em out slowly is my favorite process.

3)Johnny Guitar Watson-Telephone Bill ('80): Man, I love Johnny Guitar Watson. He is just one smooth dude. His voice is amazing, his instrumentation is generally great and he is mega-nice on the guitar....hence the name. I remember my parents going to one of his concerts when I was about 10 and me staying at home, in my PJs (probably Snoopy) playing his records imagining what it was like. He gets a lot of attention in Hip Hop from sampling but usually from the same 2-3 songs. However, he has an extensive catalog of great material that I never hear anyone playing. I didn't know what to pick for sure. I decided to go with "Telephone Bill" to rep for my Hip Hop roots because Mr Watson is killing it with the flow on this one. This is a great representation of his style on all levels; he is the ultimate player on the "rap" vocal, the chorus shows his great singing and it comes to a close with a nice "bluesy" guitar solo.

KB: Aight, that's about it. Thanks to D.O.F for peeking into my brain. Thanx to everyone who checks my DJ Sets and Mix CDs/Downloads. I just dropped a "Comedy" Mix CD called "Bits & Beats" for Stand Up! Records and have a few more projects in the works.

Peace-
Kevin Beacham (a.k.a DJ Nikoless)
www.myspace.com/djnikoless/Facebook: Kevin Beacham

Kevin's Bits & Beats Mix CD will be available for free download here at The Diary shortly. Check back for your copy!

Friday Funk: Pete Philly & Perquisite

Holland's best hip hop export.


Hope f/ Talib Kweli



Third Degree


Mellow

Friday Funk: Plej

Also filed under Hot Sh!t.

DoF Friday Funk: Wu Tang with a focus on ODB

Big Baby Jesus, Dirt Dog, Dirt McGirt, Joey Bananas… whatever you wanna call him, just sit back for a few minutes and enjoy the man's incomparable style. Nothing says Friday like the Ol' Dirty. Trust.

Oh, and for an extensive list of ODB aliases, go here.

Friday Funk: Hird

Great Fan Video.


And their classic "Getting Closer"

The DoF Friday Funk: The Meters

"The Handclapping Song"

aka

One of the best summertime cookout jams of all-time.

The Meters, much like the Wu, ain't nuttin' to fuck wit. Their minimalist funk is practically custom-made to be sampled, and they deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as JB and George when talking about the foundations of hip-hop.

Scroll to the bottom of the Blip.fm player to release the ants straight into your pants.