Sunday 31 July 2011

Sip The Juice, I Got Enough To Go Around

I gave Juice (Ernest Dickerson,1992) another watch the other night. In fact I realised I hadn't seen it since I first rented the video back in the early 90's.

The clothes have invariably dated as well as the hairstyles although if you look past this then it's still a good enough film.

The soundtrack is absolute killer. Have a look at the tracklist to refresh your memory.

1. Uptown Anthem - Naughty By Nature
2. Juice (Know The Ledge) - Eric B. & Rakim
3. Is It Good To You feat. Tammy Lucas - Teddy Riley
4. Sex, Money & Murder - MC Pooh
5. Nuff' Respect - Big Daddy Kane
6. So You Want To Be A Gangster - Too Short
7. It's Going Down - EPMD
8. Don't Be Afraid - Aaron Hall
9. He's Gamin' On Ya - Salt & Pepa
10. Shoot 'Em Up - Cypress Hill Crew
11. Flipside - Juvenile Committee
12. What Could Be Better Bitch - Son of Bazerk
13. Does Your Man Know About Me - Rahiem
14. People Get Ready (Remix) - The Brand New Heavies featuring N'Dea Davenport


The first track on the album is Uptown Anthem by Naughty By Nature which incidentally actually features over the end credits, brilliantly I might add.
And the inclusion of undoubtedly one of the contenders of Best Hip Hop Songs Ever as it's title theme, Juice by Eric B & Rakim just lifts the album into the stratosphere. This is such a great song with intelligent lyrics telling the story of a young man and his untimely death in the depressing streets.

Even Big Daddy Kane gets in on the act with the uptempo Nuff' Respect which although not lyrically his best is still a great floorfiller and gives the film a sense of urgency especially compared to slower numbers from MC Pooh and Too $hort.

Let me think, what other musical genre was popular back in 1992... New Jack Swing!
Swing Beat was assaulting our ears around the time of the film's release but was by no means a new music - remember Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing had a Teddy Riley track snuggled in the soundtrack ('My Fantasy').  Teddy's back again with Is It Good To You featuring Tammy Lucas and you might remember this was heard as the crew rolled into the record shop. And who can forget the female shop assistant...

Have a look at the scene with the guy doing a stick-up in the bar and you'll see a blink-and-you'll-miss-em EPMD acting like bar-flies at the end. They also contribute It's Going Down which is a nice mid-tempo jammy.

And who can forget Aaron Hall's warblings during the obligatory love scene?
Oh yes, when Q (Omar Epps) and his girl are getting their love-thang on, the smooth vocals and not entirely smooth beat of Don't Be Afraid comes floating on. A great song with a rather dodgy paedo-like title.

I have to say the dj scenes are especially well done and Omar Epps could almost be doing them for real instead of acting them. There are a few odd scenes with dj's cutting up different snatches of songs in quick succession - these are the days before Serato remember - when you know that they are just using LL's Mama Said album and then Troublefunk's Pump Me Up comes on.
But I'm talking from an anorak point of view and otherwise it looks like they've all done their homework.


  There are a number of celebrity cameos throughout the film as well as the aforementioned EPMD such as Special Ed, Queen Latifah, Red Alert, 3rd Bass' DJ Richie Rich and the ubiquitous Fab 5 Freddy which makes the viewing experience a little bit more enriching. Just think, could hip hop make a film like this nowadays and have modern-day hip hop cameos?

The always-entertaining Samuel L Jackson has a bit part - this was back in the days when he was just a bit-part actor playing junkies ('Jungle Fever') or baddies ('Coming To America') - although he plays a relatively normal character in Juice, albeit a bit slimey.

I haven't even mentioned Tupac yet.
Whilst not being a fan of his music - or his films really come to think of it - he really does seem to own the whole piece and posesses a real, raw screen presence which bursts through whichever scene he is in.
Tupac plays Bishop who always seems to be up for a fight and comes up with the idea of robbing the local bodega, introducing a gun into play.
His prophetic death at the film's closing scene certainly made me feel uneasy as it was now being viewed after Pac's passing - which hadn't happened upon my previous viewing.

In closing, it's still a worthwhile film even though some of the swingbeat tracks and fashion generally date it somewhat.


Some more shots from the film.




And this one for the anoraks. The disc is 'Sound Effects Volume 4' from Valentino Inc. It's a sound effects record that Q uses in the film


And I put this one up as it reminds me of my own teenage bedroom - well 21-year old bedroom anyway - at the time of the film's release.



The Soundtrack in superb 320kbps (131Mb)

The DVD (990Mb)

Friday 29 July 2011

ABU! Takeover Show Podcast - DSR56

Wow. What a blast last night was in the Disco Scratch chatroom.
Seriously, it was nothing but good times throughout the 2.5 hours with Norman graciously taking his summer holiday.

If you were listening in live right to the end then you will have heard the bonus Easter Eggs such as the classic Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Finch and Straight Outta Tipton, as well as some early Waxer productions AND an exclusive first-play of the unreleased studio mix of a track featuring Whirlwind D, '32 And Tea'.

Boomshanka!
Wow, again. '...Kangaroo' is a classic with it's ingenious use of a particular Simon Harris voiceover over Rolf Harris but '..Tipton', well, that's another story. I've heard this a number of times and yet I still fall about giggling with tears in my eyes EVERY TIME. Whoever made this is truly a master of this craft.

Again, this extra content is only available to the live listeners after the 2-hour show is over.

Anyway, as to the show itself - the last ABU! Takeover Show of the summer - it's now available for download below.

Thanks to everyone who tuned in last night. If you missed it then grab it now.

July 2011 Tracklisting:

01  Davy D - Keep Your Distance (aka Davy DMX from Davy's Ride 1987)
02  Dream Warriors - Wash Your Face In My Sink
03  Blade - The Comin' Is Near
04  Big Daddy Kane - The Wrath Of Kane
05  The 45 King - 900 Number
06  Ron B & The Step 2 Crew - Stitch By Stitch (dopeness from 1990)
07  David St George - Love Stimulation (Instrumental)
08  Jazzy Jay - Son Of Beat Street
09  Tuff Crew - Old School Jackin' (taken from DJ Too Tuff's Lost Archives album)
10  De La Soul - Attack Of The Stet (from a Nike mini EP)
11  Doug E Fresh - All The Way To Heaven
12  Cosby Rap - (found on a Mr T soundboard!)
13  DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - He's The DJ & I'm The Rapper

Comedy Spot
14  Kevin & Perry - Manchester

15  Run DMC / Beastie Boys Show Promo
16  3rd Bass - Gladiator (Easy Mo Bee Remix)
17  Chris The Glove Taylor - Itchiban Scratch
18  PM Dawn - Ode To A Forgetful Mind (It's A Shame)


Roots Of The Roots
19   Captain Sensible - Wot (12" Mix)

20  Paul Hardcastle - Rainforest
21  MC Lyte - Stop Look Listen (taken from Eyes On This 1989)
22  Mantronix - Bassline

The Funk Trunk
23  The Meters - Sophisticated Cissy (Taken from The Meters 1969)
24  BDP - Essays On BDP-ism

Going Back To The Old School - Respect Your History 
 25  The Treacherous 3 - Feel The Heartbeat

26  Afrika Bambaataa - Renegades Of Funk (Zulu Funk Edit) Mix by DJ Wildthing
27  Eric & Rakim - Juice (Know The Ledge)


Download July's Disco Scratch Takeover Show Now

Remember, we're not on the air again 'til 29th September. 
Make sure you're locked into the Disco Scratch chatroom at 9pm!

Wednesday 27 July 2011

This Thursday - ABU! Takeover Show


 
This Thursday. 9pm.
Don't be late.

Direct link:

www.discoscratch.co.uk/radio


Last one until after summer. Back in September, yo!

Carvelli - A Review

I just so happen to be in the mood for a bit of linguistic, lyric-licking and hark, someone appears to be knocking at my Venting Door Of Rant.

Recently, a "Harleen" from BMC Entertainment left a comment in this blog's 'Mouthpiece' chatbox asking me to review a song by the artist Carvelli.


Okay. Before I do that, Harleen,  I should first like to bring to your attention the sentence written above the chatbox.
It reads thus:


"..unless you are linking to sites that are beneficial to this blog's readership then they WILL BE DELETED. Or maybe I'll just take the mick out of you, spammy."

I assume that you will have read this first before leaving a link to the song in question? Or, heavens to Betsy, are you - in your capacity as an employee of BMC Entertainment - just mass-spamming blogs in the hope of someone actually liking the song?

Right, first things first.
Is this song "beneficial to this blog's readership"? Let's establish what this blog is and what it stands for shall we?
Ageing B-Boys Unite! is aimed at the more mature hip hop demographic who have a fondness for the old school and Golden Age. New music is strictly a no-no and rarely does anything get a mention here past 1994. And even then it is taken into a small, uncomfortable room and questioned at length.
You knew this though right, Harleen?

Therefore by realising the market and readership of this blog then you thought they would be the right kind of people who would enjoy Caravellio's music, yes? Because I assume that you will have done your research into where the best places are to promote your clients' work first, right?

I mean, these days promotion is a tough business and you have to plan correctly in order to get the best out of your business, don't you? I'm sure that you wouldn't dream of slapping every music blog with this link, would you? Would you??

Oh dear.

By spamming me and others do you think, Harleen, that this is the best possible solution in promoting your client?
Perhaps you didn't think that myself and others would wonder WHY you are asking us to listen to this particular song when it doesn't actually contain ANY of the attributes that us old school hip hoppers actually LOOK for in a song?

I can only assume then that you are hawking the song around in the desparate hope that someone, somewhere will actually like it and buy it. And you are in marketing/promotion?

If you had done your research properly then you would know that Ageing B-Boys Unite! is NOT the place for this sub-standard, clubby, un-hip hop song.
If you had looked at this blog properly then you would know that there is a chance that "maybe I'll just take the mick out of you, spammy."
In fact you have, with your shoddy actions, made we want to avoid all Caravanelli stuff in the future.

Look before you leap, Henry.

And for any spamming bots that look for emails to spam, here ya go. Eat em up, yum, yum
Harleen@bmcglobalentertainment.com
Harleen@bmcglobalentertainment.com
Harleen@bmcglobalentertainment.com

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Street Sounds UK Fresh 2011 Review - How It Went Down

I was lucky enough to be at the event and regardless of what happened and who performed (and who didn't) just being there was enough.

L-R Inch, Metronik, Waxer, Dee Jay, Fluent
I rolled into London with the First B-girl of hip hop, Inch High, bumping beats in the jeep.
We were in time to meet some of the Disco Scratch crew in the Big Chill House pub which was literally just round the corner from the Scala venue.

The UK old school had literally taken over the place and everywhere you looked was an ageing b-boy all dressed to impress with original Tacchini or Adidas threads, fresh out-the-box kicks and of course, those oh-so important fat laces.

Just one look at the queue outside the Scala made you realise just how many people still love Street Sounds and the old school.

Myself, Inch and Fluent had all brought our blackbooks and annoyingly, had our pens taken off us by the lovely doormen as we entered the building. No worries though as an extremely helpful and pleasant bloke behind the Grafworx stand gave Fluent some pens.
This meant we were free to carry on getting signatures and tags throughout the night. Fight the power!

Credit-One was on the decks when we touched down in the foyer and I saw original copies of Ultimate Breaks & Beats on vinyl which made me glad. There was a projected screen up above showing Beat Street, various Street Sounds memorabilia dotted around the walls - every edition of the Electro series was up (allegedly from Morgan's personal collection).


Moving into the main room we saw one of the Nu-Electro acts who I'm not sure which (there was a girl vocalist). Soon a cypher appeared on the dancefloor and there were some blokes throwing down nicely in the circle.
Dave Pearce, Morgan Khan
This was wound-up as the music stopped and ex-Radio London 'A Fresh Start To The Week' dj Dave Pearce walked onto the stage. He was met by cheers and some boos - he was an odd choice considering he has been well out of the hip hop scene for a number of years now. Although I can understand that Dave was a big part of the burdgeoning UK hip hop underground in the late 80's.
He brought on Morgan Khan to a truly rapturous and appreciative crowd and it was not difficult to be swept along by the whole feeling of love that was emanating throughout the room.

Wax - "MIKE....ALLEN!!"
Dave talked of UK Fresh and mentioned the legendary avuncular Capital Radio jock Mike Allen. It was at this point when my man, Waxer surged through the crowd like a hot knife through butter, pumping his fist and yelling our Uncle's name. Respect.

On next came DJ Chuck Chillout and The B-Boys (Brother B and Donald D) who performed well but seemed to want to try new tracks which never actually materialised. This could've been down to a mixture of running times and technical difficulties - Chuck on the decks looked utterly lost and bemused and kept staring at his laptop as if expecting it do the work for him.
I should just point out that I did not see a laptop near the decks with the lads near the front of the building (Credit-One...etc).
The 'Boys were soon out of time and yet Brother B rocked on with an acapella of Girls Part 2 just before the final curtain.

Up next was another legend - Arthur Baker. Unfortunately Arthur is a studio wizard which is where the magic lies and in my opinion doesn't really transfer to live performance. This is nothing to do with Baker himself as he knew his limits and made the best of what he could do by over-emphasizing the turns of knobs.
However he did some live remixing of all his own hits and it was Planet Rock which got the loudest response rather than Breaker's Revenge. But I suppose that wasn't surprising being that he was responsible for the record that KICKED THE WHOLE ELECTRO-FUNK SCENE OFF IN THE FIRST PLACE!

Dave Pearce, The Captain, Rob
I was mooching around the different rooms flitting in and out of the Main room when I bumped into Rob Evans. Rob was the sole instigator responsible for bringing Captain Rock over. Apparently he had been looking for him for the best part of 6 years in the hope of getting him to perform.
He was also looking for him again at the Scala as he had gone walkabout and was due onstage thus my meeting with Rob was curtailed.

What can I say about The Captain? Here was someone who was so incredibly humble. Someone that thought his best years had passed him by; someone that thought he would never get a second chance.
Captain Ron Green Rock had battled some personal demons and had even been homeless during his time in the wilderness and the fire in his belly had never been extinguished. In actual fact he had most probably been eating nothing but charcoal and petroleum as when he hit the stage he was ON FIRE.
The Dip Ship had touched down and he was in control. The Captain was making a real effort to entertain and looked like he had been practising his moves for quite a while. You could tell how hungry he was for this; almost as if his life was depending on this one performance as he proceeded to throw his hat into the fist-pumping crowd.
Sadly it was all over much too quickly and he was off to cruise at hyper-speed. But what a performance.

The last act of the night was Newcleus who while not being truly devastating - mainly due to wack sound problems - still managed to rock the house. I give them extra props for bringing the use of a vocoder on stage to really give that Electro feel.
As the performance came to a close they were joined on stage by all the other acts and you could see the love they all had for each other and non-existence of egos.


Morgan and Dave came on and rounded-up the evening and all the acts were presented with specially-made graffiti canvases.

And that was it.

There was an attempt for more music to be spun (by Geoff Allen?) but he was abruptly stopped after 10 minutes which was odd as there was still over an hour left until the official finish.

Although billed, Grand Mixer D.St was a no-show down to visa problems. This might have explained Chuck Chillout's lacklustre efforts on the decks. Actually that's not fair as Chuck DID look like he was having fun but maybe he just hadn't had enough time to practice.


Epilogue.

Yes, at the end of the day Morgan Khan is a businessman BUT to do something like this 25 years later when the scene has quite obviously peaked a number of years ago is a task that could only be done with a huge amount of love and respect.
And talking of which that is exactly what I have for the man for his work not just on Saturday but for shaping the kind of person I - and a generation of others - have become today.


So here we are. There were problems here and there but that's the nature of a live event. Is £40 a bit pricey for the event? Especially as not all the acts billed were there?
Maybe. But as a one-off I was pleased to have attended as I got the chance to speak to many people - a lot I still don't remember who you were, sorry! - I got some photos and I got some great signatures in my blackbook.
But most of all I've got the memories of seeing some of my childhood heroes performing their hits just as I wanted them to when I was a lad of 14.

Captain Rock & Metronik
The most enduring memory for me will be the fact that Captain Rock came out to the waiting line of people outside the building and personally shook everyone's hand and told us how much it meant to him.

A special mention needs to be said for the aforementioned Inch who not only provided the transport for me but kindly took in myself, Waxer and Dan Fluent back to her crib so that we could party-hardy to the breaka dawn. Well, tea, toast and a sit-down. Thank you!

Lastly, there are whispers of a Street Sounds event being held every year.
And there are rumours of acts such as DJ Cheese, MC Chill, T LA Rock, The Aleems, Knights Of The Turntables, MC Spyder D,  MC Shan and Davy DMX who are ready and willing to come and perform in London.


Hmmmmm, watch this space.







Photos courtesy of Joe Atari and Inch High, 2011 All Rights Reserved

Sunday 17 July 2011

ABU! Tees - One Week Left To Order

Thank you to all those who have bought their Ageing B-Boys Unite! t-shirts.
To those who are umming and arrhing, you have one week left to make your purchase.
Remember, next Sunday 24th July is the final deadline to buy your shirt because after that they will be gone. Your chance to shine will be over and you will be ridiculed by EVERYONE.

Guilt tactics? Whatever it takes, son

Click here to see all the details of ordering, sizes...etc...

Be there or be forgotten. Or something.

UK Fresh Reunion - Respect

I want to send a massive shout to everyone who managed to get down to The Scala on Saturday.
And sorry to anyone who missed out.

Full report and pics coming soon but for now I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who I spoke to - I really can't remember everyone I did manage to chinwag with but it was truly great to talk with like-minded people and trade stories and comments.


Perhaps if you're still feeling that vibe and you haven't heard it yet then maybe you'd enjoy the Ageing B-Boys Unite! Mike Allen Tribute Show which is by far our most listened to podcast so far.

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Spare Ticket For Fresh Reunion

I have ONE spare ticket for this Saturday's Fresh Reunion in London.
If you want it, get in contact with me NOW!
Mates' rates applicable....

Email me here

Monday 4 July 2011

DJ Wildr's Crucial Electro Mix 1

I heard this on the last Street Sounds Radio show (Friday 1st July) and thought it definitely needed to be heard by everyone.
Why am I jammin' to this, you ask?
Is it because I'm going to the Fresh Reunion? Or is it because I spent the last month in a small room with no windows for 23 hours a day listening to nothing but old Mike Allen shows purely for research?

Who knows, but what I do know is that this is dope and worth 12 minutes of your time.
It's crucial, actually.



When you're done, don't forget to check out Señor Wildr's other mixes here. He's a busy chap and isn't just going round in circles within the same genre so definitely worth your time.
In fact it's er, crucial that you do so (Ed - oh, come on!)

Sunday 3 July 2011

ABU!......It's The Business.

The Street Sounds UK Fresh Reunion 2011 Video

Less than 2 weeks to go and the preparations for the Street Sounds UK Fresh Reunion are in full swing.

Saturday July 16th is the date, The Scala in London is the place. Nearly exactly 25 years to the day of the original and legendary UK Fresh 86 as well.

I will be in attendance along with Mr & Mrs Waxer, Inch, Crimes, Steve B, Ambush and most definitely many others attached in some way to either ABU, Disco Scratch or Heroes Of UK Hip Hop.

It's certainly going to be an interesting night because apart from the acts and DJ's themselves, I'm looking forward to meeting up with like-minded individuals who are now past all the teen-angst and screw-faces and are just up for getting down.

Let me know if you are going as we'll definitely hook up at some point in the night.

Guests confirmed so far:

NEWCLEUS

CAPTAIN ROCK

THE B BOYS feat.

DJ CHUCK CHILLOUT

ARTHUR BAKER


 
MC: BBC RADIO’S DAVE PEARCE (....hmmmm?)

DJs: GREG EDWARDS, DJ MIRAGE, ANDY SMITH, MIKE GEE more…


Plus

B-Boy Battles & Performances

Mixing

Graffiti Exhibition

Street Sounds Memorabilia

Plus more…


There's still unconfirmed guests in the line-up and I'm hoping and praying that it might just be one particular Uncle of Electro that is dear to all us ageing b-boys...!









NEWSFLASH




And this news just in, point your computer's browser to Waxer's gaff on Thursday 14th July at 9pm where his Disco Scratch Radio Show will be a Street Sounds Special.
Oh yes.

Friday 1 July 2011

Download - The ABU! Mike Allen Tribute Show

He Could Crush A Grape
For anyone that missed it, here is the link to the show which went out live on www.discoscratch.co.uk/radio on Thursday evening.

There was a lot of banter in the chatroom and a full house with the usual suspects and extra guests including the one and only Morgan Khan making a brief surprise appearance.

Apologies as the usual precision-tight editing was slightly off on the broadcast due to some nerdiness, the details of which I'll not bother you with. Save to say Waxer was on point and managed to bring the show to a great conclusion.
Last-minute editing may be some people's bag, but not mine baby.

Sadly to anyone who didn't catch it live, you will have missed the Easter Eggs after the show.
This included Straight Outta Tipton, a play on NWA's tune from their first album. Just writing about it now is bringing grins to my mush and tears to my eyes. The producer of this version is clearly a very sick individual who needs medical help.

Finchy's Theme was played also. This is a remixed version of Rolf Harris' Tie Me Kangaroo Down with added scratch from Waxer utilising a certain vocal ident spouting the recognition of the one and only Agent Finch by none other than our very own Simon Harris.

Lastly, Wax hit us with a very, very exclusive and hot off the press playing of his intro track to the upcoming Heroes Of UK Hip Hop Mix Swap 2011.
As with the other tracks here, these were played, as Rakim would say, only for the listeners. It pays to listen live. And to the very end.

Remember, the next ABU! Takeover is Thursday 28th July.

Tracklisting:

01  Marley Marl & MC Shan - Marley Marl Scratch
02  Lil Jazzy Jay & Cool Supreme - B-Boy Style
03  Latin Rascals -  Axel F (New York Rap Remix)
04  Freestyle - The Party Has Just Begun
05  Roxanne Shante - Bite This
06  The Willesden Dodgers - Gunsmoke Breakout (for Laz-E)
07  Dedications 1
08  Two Sisters - B-Boys Beware
09  LL Cool J - I Can't Live Without My Radio
10  Sweet Trio - Non-Stop
11  Run DMC - Jam Master Jay
12  Egyptian Lover - Dance
13  The LA Dream Team - The Dream Team Is In The House
14  DJ Born Supreme Allah - 2, 3, Break (The Sequel)
15  Man Parrish - Hey There Homeboys
16  Krush Groove Allstars - Krush Groovin'
17  The Hardrock Soul Movement - Do It Any Way Ya Wanna
18  The Dynamic Duo Ft Shaquan - Knights Of The Turntables
19  Dedications 2
20  Sparky D - He's My DJ
21  Z3MC's - Triple Threat
22  MC Shy D - Rap Will Never Die
23  Boogie Boys - Breakdancer
24  Sanny X & P-Rez - Splashdown
25  Dr Funkenstein - Scratchin To The Funk
26  Kid Frost - Terminator

A big respect to Ramses for coming to the rescue with some of the tracks and massive props to Simmo for providing the Groove Chart as well as other info from his website.
I advise you all if you haven't already, to visit the best Mike Allen website on the internet:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Disclaimer - Important!

The links to MP3 files provided in these posts are to be used for previewing only. AGEING B-BOYS UNITE ™ does not keep the files here, this Blog is merely a gateway, an Information Desk if you will, to point you in the right direction. Once downloaded, all files should be destroyed within 7 days.