Finger Lickin’ Good:Dante’s Fried Chicken

March 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Dante serving up some mean mock chicken. Who needs KFC?

Check out this review of party hosted by Dante’s Fried Chicken by Sarah White

The buzz about Dante’s Fried Chicken (DFC) parties is spreading like a hungry flu across New York… and beyond. The concept itself, KFCRIP, not only rolls right off the tongue, but lingers in the air like the smell of the mock chicken nuggets that dear ol’ Dante is cooking up in the room below.

To fully understand my obsession with the DFC, I first have to entice you with the many chapters that create the whole package.

My first few encounters with DFC fans were a little creppy..and they were borderline stalkers. Everyone who spoke of Dante’s nuggets seemed to foam at the mouth and fiend for a taste of his menu.

My first personal experience with Dante’s kitchen was in December, when he invited the whole TRACE Magazine office in for some grub. We were welcomed in with cocktails, bumpin tracks and comfy cushions. As he personally dished us up some of his signature dishes, I must admit, I felt a little drool ease its way down my lip. Smells filled the air as the room quickly was silenced as we stuffed our faces! It was amazing. I could have sworn my mock chicken was fresh from the coop. Seconds… Thirds… I found myself like others paralyzed like others and officially on the DFC wagon.

The illest part of it all, is that it all started from his show, The Dante Fried Chicken Show, where he cooks with and interviews up and comers like Betty Black from Kudu and Santogold.
Check it here.

Since that day, I have been going out of my way to get invited to DFC parties to fight through the crowd for my coconut non-chicken nugget, make you moan grits, and whatever else Dante’s cookin’ up. Read more

Posted by Sarah | Filed Under Culture, Music 

Introducing Wrong Lips

March 27, 2008 | 1 Comment

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Our close friend and LabSpace contributor Sarah White has join forces with fellow Trace Magazine writer Lichiban to start a new blog called Wrong Lips. It is a blog where they hunt for cool things in fashion, design, art and music. So show them some love and check it out. Below is a little bio of the two renaissance women.

sarahlichiban.jpg
wrong lips are Sarah White (singer/emcee, stylist, photographer, writer, TRACE blogger, Brooklyn ma) & Lichiban (visual artist, curator, activist, TRACE blogger, missing link/Brooklyn-Budapest connection). inspired by one of Sarah’s yet unreleased tracks, wrong lips was born out a desire to channel our creative energy freely into an independent outlet and to highlight issues, artists, musicians, events and phenomena we get exited about on a daily. this is our space to provoke, inspire, support, educate, share and shine. it’s all love. L

Read more

Posted by Tarik | Filed Under Music, blogging 

Bjork in 3D

March 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Photo from Videoshoot

My favorite elf-like woman Bjork (honestly, I would marry her) is about to return with a new music video that will be probably the most visually stunning video in a long time. The video will be for the song Wanderlust. Below is a little preview.

It will feature on a DVD accompanying the remix-ridden “Wanderlust” single (3-D glasses included!), due April 14 on One Little Indian. (from Pitchfork)

Posted by Tarik | Filed Under Music, video 

Under the Scope: Akala

March 19, 2008 | 2 Comments

Up and Comer UK MC AkalaYou know what? I really regret not going down to SXSW. I have been checking out over 768 tracks from some of the showcasing artists (yeah, I don’t have a life). Anyway, one of the artists I came across was a British MC by name of Akala. The track called “Bit by Bit” blew my mind. Akala has been doing his thing for a while now. Check out his page at SXSW.

From Wikipedia

Akala (real name Kingslee Daley) is a British rap and grime artist. He is the brother of the singer Ms. Dynamite. His recent music has seen airplay on various radio stations and music channels including BBC Radio 1, Channel U TV, Choice FM, Kiss 100 and BBC 1Xtra. Despite the fact he considers himself black or Jamaican, and talks about issues in the black community, he has a Caucasian Scottish mother who raised him by herself after his father left. His name is a Buddhist term meaning “immovable”.

He released his first album, It’s Not a Rumour on May 1, 2006. In September 2006, he won a Mobo Award for best hip-hop artist. Controversy surrounded this award, as Akala beat chart-topping artists like 50 Cent and The Game.

I have to say the Brits are more experimental with their beats than us patriots (with exception of a few). I wonder why.

Akala - “Bit By Bit”

Posted by Tarik | Filed Under Music, mp3 

Playlist for weekend of March 7th

March 16, 2008 | 3 Comments

Here is the playlist from the weekend of March 7th.


Listen (via Real Audio)

Hour 1
Princess(from Crime Mob) - “Pretty Rave Girl”
Mambo Sauce - “Welcome to DC (remix feat. Tabi Bonney, Don Choo, Big G, Wale)”
Wale feat. Bun B - “Go Mode”
edIT - “Battling Go-Go Yubari in Downtown L.A.”
M.I.A. - “Paper Planes (DFA Remix)”
The Lo(Camp-Lo) - “Lumdi”
Jorge Ben - “Umbabarumba” (Sound Advice Re-Edit)
Simbad feat. Tawiah - “Venus” (Rawfusion)
Connie Price & The Keystones - “Highlife” (Ubiquity)
Simon & Garfunkel - “Cecilia (DJ Silent Partner Bootleg)”
Santogold - “Les Artistes (XXXChange Remix)”
Little Dragon - “Forever”
The Constellations “WHTSTD”
Flying Lotus - “Momma Dingo”
Tony Allen - “Awa Na Re (Bonde Do Role remix)”
Amplive - “All I Need”
Soil and Pimp Sessions - “Memai” (Brownswood)

Hour 2
Roots Radics Band “B Side - Rydem - Cuss Cuss” (Massive B)
Subatomic Sound System “B Side - Our Father, Our King” (Bastard Jazz)
Sister Nancy “B Side - Version - Bam Bam” (Techniques)
Barrington Levy “B Side - Rose Dub - Black Roses” (Jah Life)
Garnett Silk “B Side - Version - It’s Growing” (Digital B)
Dennis Brown “B Side - Version - Songs My Mother Used To Sing” (Aquarius)
Cobra “B Side - Version - Flex” (Shang)
King Tubby “B Side - A Killer Dub” (Clocktower Records)
Richie Spice “B Side - Rhythm - Sweet River Rock” (Henfield)
Tenor Saw “B Side - More Golden” (Humming Bird)
Tanya Stephens “B Side - Version - Joy Ride” (Mad House)
Super Cat “B Side - Version - Cry Fi Di Youth” (Techniques)
Buju Banton “B Side - Version - Good Looking Girl” (Digital B)
Pliers “B Side - Murder - Bam Bam” (Taxi)
Super Cat “B Side - Version - Vineyard Party” (Wild Apache)
Tanya Stephens “B Side - Version - Joy Ride” (Mad House)
Super Cat “B Side - Dub Mix - Don Dada” (Wild Apache)
Mr. Vegas “B Side - Version Extreme - Durex” (In The Streetz)
Shaggy/Rayvon “B Side - Riddim - Big Up” (Big Yard)
Baby Cham “B Side - Riddim - The Return” (Mad House)

Posted by Tarik | Filed Under Music, Playlists and Shows, playlists 

The Constellations are Here to Save the Day

March 9, 2008 | 4 Comments

The Constellations

I just found about this new band called The Constellations from Atlanta from KissAtlanta. When I first heard their music, I was blown away. We played WHTSTD on this past week’s show. Think of it as Tom Waits meets the Gorillaz. The members inlcude Grammy-winning producer Ben H. Allen (Gnalrs Barkely), vocalist Elijah Jones & multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Devein Donnelly. The album will feature artists such as Cee-lo and new artist by the name of Asher Roth (sounds like a chilled out Eminem). And it will be the first group to have an all-girl clapping squad. A band to definitely to watch out for in 2008.

If you are at this year’s SXSW, you can check them out March 12th.

The Constellations - WHTSTD

The Constellations - Setback

Posted by Tarik | Filed Under Music 

Myspace Meets the DJ & the Mixtape

March 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Pacemaker site

In a previous post, I mentioned a cool device called the Pacemaker. Think of it as turnables and a mixer meets the iPod. Well the company who created the Pacemaker just launch a new social network for DJ mixes. They also give you free software to create your mixes and publish to the site and share with everyone.  You can do loops, beat match and effects with the software. However, you can only publish it to the site. You can’t save to it an audio file. I have been playing around with it and once I figure it out I will share my mix with y’all. Check out this mix someone did here.

pacemaker interface
(Screengrab of the software interface)

Could this be the end of the DJ(like me)? I doubt it, but it is fun. Give it a try and let me know if do a mix by posting it in the comments section.

Posted by Tarik | Filed Under Music, gadgets, mixes 

Go Go Gadget

March 6, 2008 | 1 Comment

I found two interesting gadgets for DJs. The first one relates to Serato and devices like Torq and Final Scratch. Lately, I have been getting gigs with other DJs who use different Vinyl control devices. It is a pain to try to switch between them. I have Torq and then the other DJ has Serato or Traktor Skratch. Everytime we switch off, there seems to be a problem. This is where this little device comes in. It is called the Magma Switchbox. It allows two digital vinyl system to connect and then the switchbox connects to the mixer.

switchbox

With the MAGMA SWITCHBOX Digital-DJ, two digital DJ-Systems like Serato and Final Scratch can be plugged simultaneously to a mixer (also Battle-Mixers with only 2 x Phono/Line inputs) and can be combined with a usual DJ setup. That means that it is possible to constantly switch between the signal of the turntable (THRU), the CD-player (THRU) or two digital DJ setups (A or B) with two Phono/Line inputs of the mixer.

Diagram

It cost a little over $200.00. However, it is not available stateside. You can grab it here.

The next gadget is very interesting. What do you get when you cross an iPod and Serato? A Pacemaker. It is a ultra portable DJ setup. The Pacemaker holds 120 gigs of storage and it has software to organize and sync your music. It has a mixer and built in effects. You can even create loops and cue points like Serato. You can play back MP3, WAV, AAC, WMA, and FLAC and it has about an 18 hour playback. Now you can rock a party in your pants. I think it cost around $500.00.

Features:

  1. Line out and headphones crossfaders
  2. Pitch bend, cue, loop
  3. EQ, sound effects
  4. Dedicated headphones and line out jacks
  5. USB 2.0
  6. 120 GB hard drive
  7. Sound to noise ratio of > 100 dB
  8. MP3 with Variable Bit Rate, AAC, WMA, WMA lossless, OGG, FLAG, WAV
  9. 13 ms input latency
  10. 18-hour battery life; 5 hours in DJ mode
  11. Mac and PC compatible (assuming they just make it a USB Mass Storage device)
  12. Save mixes

If the guys at Pacemaker are reading this, we would love to try it out, and be the official spokesman for the device.
pacemaker

Posted by Tarik | Filed Under Music, gadgets 

Urb’s Next 100: Midwest Representing!

March 5, 2008 | 1 Comment


I just got the latest issue of Urb Magazine. Couple of our friends are some of Urb Magazine’s Next 100 and the station we started Rhythm Lab Radio is in it too.

The GlamourCongratulations to our friends “The Glamour” hailing from Milwaukee. The duo has been rocking in Milwaukee for sometime now and I don’t see them stopping anytime soon.

“Comprised of neon-loving kids Ahser Gray and Richard Galling. The Glamour is Milwaukee’s answer to a hipster prayer. With a sound borrowing from French touch and sweaty Midwest loft parties, their signature tune “Kidz Night” made them every blogger’s wet dream. “It’s simple,” says Asher. “Our mantra is just, ‘let’s party!’” -Urb Magazine

The Glamour - “Kidz Night”

Black Blondie

Another big congrats goes to Minneapolis’ Black Blondie. We have know those guys for a while. A band in a league on their own. Looking forward to hearing more from them.

“Black Blondie’s sassalicious frontwoman Samhara Linton’s look and sound resembles a drug- and beehive-free Amy Winehouse…if she had a hip-hop background, better lyrics and killer style. The Minneapolis foursome are together a shining example of the soul-filled creativity coming out of the Midwest. Withor without the beehives.” -Urb Magazine

currentFinally, big respects to one of our employers 89.3fm The Current for “keeping the Twin Cities on blast” Rhythm Lab Radio have been on The Current for almost three years and they have brought freshness to the airwaves in the Twin Cities. You can find Rhythm Lab Radio here and you can here it every Saturday at midnight following our man Kevin Beacham’s Redefinition Radio (one of the sickest hip shows in the country).

“Minneapolis-St. Paul might represent America’s 15th largest metro area, but their NPR station is first class. And it’s not just, “A Prairie Home Companion.” “The Current” proves that Minnesota Public Radio is totally modern, with free form sets music fans in bigger cities would die for. Fortunately, the web has made live in-studio sessions by Tori Amos, Art Brut and Ulrich available to everyone, making MPR a destination even for those not inclined to brave the brutal winters”.

Posted by Tarik | Filed Under Music, announcement, mp3 

Dizzee+UGK

March 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Dizzee+UGK

I just got a new track from Dizzee Rascal’s album Math & English which will have a proper release on April 29th on Definitive Jux. The first single “Where’s Da Gs” was recorded with UGK before Pimp C passed away (RIP). The album also has collaborations with Lily Allen and Drum and Bass producer Shy Fx.

I have to say UK MCs such as Dizzee, Kano, and Wiley are killing it on the mics. I wander why they can crossover here in the states. Is it the accent? I just don’t get it.

Dizzee Rascal feat. UGK - “Where Da G’s”

Posted by Tarik | Filed Under Music 

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