This Guy.

PART 8: CHRIS GRAHAM

Part 8 of the series I've just started, focuses on local Ras Trent look-alike, Chris Graham.

He's got a write-up/Q&A over on the NBC Miami NiteSide blog(?). There really has been a bunch of rumblings about the new spot, most likely a direct result of Graham's involvement. Did anyone else get that mass e-mail, errr, press release(?), he sent out asking to have his write-up blogged/tweeted/paid attention to? I'm looking forward to that beer you now owe me, Chris. Your cander only reminds me that I too need to blatantly clamor for publicity and dissemination of said publicity -- have you read your New Times today? Tell a friend. K'thx.

The spot takes over the old Blue space, which always struck me as one of the more awkward spaces for clubland to fill -- feels more like a long hallway than any space I'd like to hang out in for much longer than a beer. Judging from the pictures it looks like they're going for the kitsch -- but who doesn't like conversation-starters?

That's about all I've got on this place as I haven't even been there. Chris is a great (read: swell) guy that makes amazing chicken wings. Plus, he will buy you your first beer if you mention that you saw this review(?!) on the blog.

Best of luck dude.

*EDIT: After reading a bit into the recent past of this NBC NiteTalk series, they really cover a bunch of the family in there. Credit to John Hood (who has more bylines than Jesus) for shining some light on these guys n gals --- even Javi(PS14/Bar) gets love! I think I've got to take the newly founded This Guy series to the next.

Now I just gotta think of questions that aren't so formulaic. Suggestions?

Where's Egg Foo when you need him?

Mr. Oizo - Analog Worms Attack

No idea where I copped this 10" EP, but I remember replaying the A1 over and over. Everything sounds like its peaking to shit with a nasty grunge synth slashing through. It's somewhere between some downtempo instrumental hip-hop and proto-dubstep w/ the wobbles. Break out your black hoodie for this 1999 jam. Interesting to note that the cuts on here are from the Frenchman Feadz.

Flip Ya For Real

What's up with social networking if I can only get the video post, and not the invite to attend? I didn't know this was going down!

Brief research [via] tells me:

"So, if you’re looking for a cool, innovative and attention grabbing way to advertise your business, sign spinners, who charge an average of $60 a hour, may be the way to go."

Keeping the options open.

Bernard Wright - Spinnin'

Perfect early 80's funky jazz. "Another mojito for Mr. Underhill at Cabana #3."

Also noteworthy for the sample at ~1:26.

Yeah?!? Yeah.

"This is a place where the very rich go to party within a few miles of some of the poorest people in America. It is a city where political corruption has become a way of life"

Not quite sure about the headline, but an interesting article from The Guardian on what promises to be an even more interesting book which looks at the city that I know as the "Sunny Place For Shady People™"

Somewhat along these lines, I just got home from djing at Klutch, where, contrary to a number of online reports, some of the Jersey Shore cast showed up. Pauly D, The Situation and the Other Guy Who Isn't The Buff One [sadly?! I am only a little familiar w/ the show], all rocked out till closing time. As its 6am, I won't go into a rambling diatribe about the state of affairs when chants of "Fist Pump!" are answered by the trio and launch the crowd into such a ridiculous frenzy that people didn't give a second thought to spraying their $1500 bottles of Veuve Clicquot all over the club, crowd and my computer...

Eh, I'm tired.

Speaking of being tired, I partly blame the cool event that Sweat Records put together earlier today that I had the pleasure to play [to shoppers and a 'captive' crowd of ~12 people sitting down on the couches staring -- I haven't done an in-store in a little over a year now, and I don't miss the relative awkwardness at all], after LeSpam and just before ANR took the stage. I played a bunch of randomness including the criminally still unreleased Amanda Blank cover of PJ Harvey's "Driving" (Devlin looking smart in the YouTube), new LCD track "Home", and some other things that happened to catch my eye on the *gasp* laptop screen. *oof*...

Yeah that's right, I'm the dude who shows up to play at a record store's 5-year anniversary party which also happened to fall on Record Store Day 2010, looking for a Serato setup. I suppose that's good enough a point on said subject (the subject being me ,'sharp-as-a-razor', not the death of record stores.

Anyways, there's a 3-part Q&A series w/ Lolo on the Miami Herald's site.

Also, props to Dan aka Doormouse, who had an opening celebration today for his new gym space, 305 Crossfit (59th & NE 4th Ave). Apparently he's too buff to write on this site anymore, but his MySpace comments to himself are none the less for it. Eh...

Sedat the Turkish Avenger - Fist Funk

Chips And Dip

I want him at the next Contrapalooza

Man, I dunno what the hell is going on right now. I was surfing through the YouTubes to find some clips of people dancing to DJ Chipman's "Kick Back", and then somehow ended up on this lonely guy's clip.

Then naturally I played the clip while also streaming the Chipman song below. Kinda difficult to time correctly, dancing guy starts a couple seconds early, but really it doesn't matter. Oh man, I need to go to sleep.

DJ Chipman - Kick Back

For those that are unfamiliar w/ Chipman, his tracks are Miami pirate radio staples! The Wu-Tang, Peanut Butter Jelly, and the Eamon remix called Beam Ahh, are all his works. To do the above song, or anything else you may find (look here), Miami justice be sure to play it +16 or on 45. Yeah that's right, the closer itis to 200bpm!!! the better. See below:

Almost an A.C.T. battle goin down around the 3min mark.

Shouts to the Fully Fitted Family; ya'll need to update your blog with things other than an old Pase Rock track from 2008! For those that don't have the track, go to their blog and download it -- XXXchange on the production!

ALPHA 606

miami's very own armando martinez, as you all may have forgotten (like myself) ive been rip rapping all my vinyl (ive taken a large break). i came across this and just couldnt pass up ripping up the fat rhyme to mp3. classic new miami electro or in his own words (dirty low down cuban electronics), with congas! i forgot the name of this track so if anyone could help me out it would be highly appreciated.
check him out here and his space here.
i miss music like this.

alpha 606- congas 1 @ 320 vinyl rip <--- link here

In Miami This Weekend?

Playing here alongside most other reputable djs in Miami.


Apparently N.E.R.D. wanted to do include Santi in their band recently. You can catch a bunch of vids w/ them rocking out at some MTV party on them innernets. (Laziest blog ever? Yes. Yes we are. At least I posted a photo.)

Flying to Paris on the 15th with the homegirl, so catch me before I leave.


Also, Happy Birthday DS!

Perrine, FL

From the makers of Cocaine Cowboys. 

My boy Titus says dude w/ the crazy hair was Kimbo Slice's old bodyguard, then they had a falling out; now he's holding these in his mother's backyard.

Lonely Ladi Luv

Ladi luv otherwise know as just Ladi, was an artist signed to the Miami label Joey Boy records, (whose other artists include Bass patrol, dj fury, the puppies (who also have a great tarck y-2-c) just to name a few). Ladi was you could say a one hit wonder, which boggles my mind because for the time, region, and genre (not to mention her age i know she was in her teens) the album (Anything Goes) itself is pretty dope. Her album was produced by the Magnetic Force (who released the single "hip hop bystander". you might have heard her single "good to the last drop" played out somewhere sometime in the past or present, it tends to get a lot of play. I chose to share this track from the album with you all mainly because its valentines day haha, and its one of my top 5 tracks from the album, not including "good to the last drop".

here you go
Ladi Luv- Lonely Heart- Joey boy 3001 @320

WVUM '00-'02

Back when I was hosting The Underground on WVUM, if there was one label I was constantly checking for, it was Tru Thoughts.  I have no idea how I got put up on them; but "Thank You!" to whomever was responsible.

I was so hooked on their sound that when I found out that Will Holland, aka Quantic, was going to be heading to the States for a gig in Philly and another in NYC, I hit up both Paul Jonas and Tom Simpson (awesome guy) to try and sort out a gig in Miami.

At the time a 'budget' to me was $200-$250, [imagine a 'broke-college-kid', then imagine a 'broke-college-kid-dj'; we're the 'brokest' kind], and after they tried negotiating, they realized I really didn't have anymore money.  So, because Will really wanted to play Miami, my $250 stretched out far enough to bring him down on the only night the venue (I/O Lounge, now The Vagabond) had open that particular week, a Monday.  

Needless to say, Quantic's non-NYC/Philly US debut was poorly attended.  That was probably the first time I started getting hip to the fact that Miami is just a 'little' behind the (music) times.  

Anyways, for all those squares that still aren't hip to Quantic or Tru Thoughts, get with this shit.

Quantic - Life In The Rain

Quantic produced this song when he was 20yrs old.

Quantic - Super 8 (Part 1)

Mawglee - Dreaming

Natural Self - Soloman (Nostalgia 77 Mix)

And the highest recommendation possible for this last track!
Alice Russell - Hurry On Now

Taken from her debut album, Under the Munka Moon. Buy it any chance you get; I've got two vinyl copies & one on cd.


I would also highly recommend -- possibly even more so than Alice Russell's LP -- purchasing TM Juke's Map From The Wilderness LP --- she's featured on two great songs on the album. I still play them out frequently.

* If you've downloaded any of these songs, congratulations, you're now only 6-8 years behind.  

Miami Wins Again!!!

For those that live here, its no surprise; but for those coming down to visit for WMC -- if you plan on driving down, or renting a car, Miami has the won the venerable 'least courteous drivers' award -- courtesy of an AutoVantage report.

For those that can't translate the politically-correct title for the award, it pretty much equates to you getting cut off on your way to work; not once, not twice, but thrice --- and not just by an overly-aggressive 20-30 yr old machismo guy. Nope, we're talking about steel-faced grannies pulling some sneaky-ass maneuvers. Your work day sucks and you can't wait to get home; but on your way home, you get cut off again. Then you speed up and run through a red light to catch up to that asshole. Don't worry about signaling when you change lanes, or even when you just took that left turn. Finally you get some retribution as you cut his ass off; but then he pulls alongside and flicks you off (probably throwing his cup of coffee on your windshield) and yells some shit bout "Tu Madre!". You catch up to that fucker, sliding in real close, and force him into the guardrail; but unluckily, your car spins out. When you get out of your car, he's already pulled out the gun from his glovebox, and it's about to be ON!

Here's a bunch of video clips AutoVantage compiled as they interviewed some Miamians.

*Edit: HOLY FUCK!! I JUST REALIZED OMD's VERY OWN MALIBU X IS IN THIS FUCKING VIDEO!!!!!!! BLOWING MY OWN MIND IN 2008!!!

The guy @ ~1:38 who comments on the guns, reminded me of when I first moved to miami for school - and a Miami-Dade cop addressed an orientation crowd about safety in Miami. I distinctly remember him saying that 1-out-of-4 cars pulled over in normal traffic stops have firearms found in them. Sweeeet!  

Sly & The Family Stone - M'Lady @ 320

Barrington Levy Ft. Buju Banton - Living Dangerously @ 197 VBR

p.s. Don't even THINK about being a pedestrian in Miami! D-E-A-D-L-Y! For erryone.