#dj scott la rock

[todayinhiphophistory]

Today in Hip Hop History:

DJ Scott La Rock of Boogie Down Productions was born March 2, 1962

[realnyhiphop101]

KRS ONE & DJ Scott La Rock The "Criminal Minded" Era 1987

[warhead]

[kkarmalade]

The idea is that they killed Hip Hop in the 2000's (see Nas, "Hip Hop is Dead") by, "making sampling illegal." Machines can now make infinite samples that don't incur the need for copyright approvals.

The issue is that the adversary's plan isn't, "make Hip Hop illegal" anymore- it's, "buy out every sector of the industry so there can be tight controls on what constitutes, "marketable" material. If you consider what's possible with edge technologies and blockchain we could have a monster on our hands. Fight back.

Get up stand up. Stand up for your rights. Stand up for better search. The people need information.

"Hip Hop and what it meant to DJ Scott La Rock."

[gerogerigaogaigar]

At this point I hope that anyone still here is at least enjoying some of my recs. Obviously over the course of these 50 songs I've had a few songs in the back of my head that I really liked, but didn't have anywhere to put them or there was just a better choice for the category. So naturally here's one last playlist of things I just really like and want to share. There's no rhyme or reason here just enjoy!

Break Da Law '95' I could do a thesis on how influential Three 6 Mafia has been on modern hip-hop despite the fact that I never hear anyone mention them. BREAK DA LAW BREAK DA LAW BREAK DA LAW BREAK DA LAW BREAK DA LAW BREAK DA LAW BREAK DA LAW BREAK DA LAW BREAK DA LAW BREAK DA LAW BREAK DA LAW BREAK DA LAW

King Kunta This is Kendrick's biggest hit. It goes really hard.

Really Doe Danny Brown featuring Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Earl Sweatshirt. I fucking love everything on Atrocity Exhibition. Top ten album for me.

My Philosophy The death of DJ Scott La Rock was a turning point for the hip-hop scene. My Philosophy perfectly underscores the transition from teen bravado to politically charged anger that can be seen in KRS-One's performance.

Humpty Dance This song is hilarious. You can't stop me from singing along.

911 Is A Joke Remember when Flavor Flav had a reality dating show on MTV? That was weird.

Shadowboxin' Liquid Swords is another top ten album and this is prolly the best track off it. GZA and Method man square off and RZA crafts a beat meant to give Method Man's style a bit more spotlight.

Spiritual Healing The leading act in industrial hip-hop. Dälek are confrontational, abrasive and really good. fans of industrial music might enjoy these guys.

Earth People Dr. Octagon is one of Kool Keith's personas. He is a space alien from Jupiter with green and silver skin a pink afro and exposed glowing brain. Dr. Octagon mostly does medical malpractice for fun. Sometimes my taste in things is the stupider the better.

guns.up I've decided to end on something completely abrasive and unlistenable to the general public. clipping is a harsh noise hip-hop project from the mind of Daveed Diggs. If that name sounds familiar to you then you probably remember him for his hatsune miku binder. Daveed Diggs originated the role of Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton. So my challenge to all the Hamilton fans is this: Try to listen through midcity by clipping. Do it wimps!

That's All Folks! Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

[acuorleggero]

Questa è una storia che nasce nel Bronx, al numero 1520 di Sedgwick Avenue, ma ha radici che partono da altri posti. Partono da New Orleans, da Detroit, dalla Giamaica. È in Giamaica, infatti, che Clive Campbell ha visto i primi sound system e le prime dance-hall. È un bambino, Clive, ma rimane subito affascinato da quelle casse enormi davanti a cui decine di corpi si muovono al ritmo del Rocksteady e dello Ska. Nelle orecchie rimbomba la voce degli uomini che al microfono sputano frasi su quei ritmi sincopati, su quel ritmo in levare che permetteva di dire tutto a tempo. Li chiamavano maestri di cerimonia perché, in fondo, quelle erano vere e proprie cerimonie e i Dj e i vocalist che provvedevano al suono erano visti come degli officianti. Clive ricorda tutto questo ora che la Giamaica è un posto lontano e lui è solo un altro ragazzo nero di New York. Ad esser precisi, Clive è un ragazzo nero del Bronx e la cosa, a metà anni 70, ha il suo triste rilievo. Il Bronx di quegli anni, infatti, non somiglia a Manhattan, non somiglia al Queens né tantomeno a Brooklyn o a Staten Island. Il Bronx del 1973, infatti, somiglia piuttosto alla Beirut della guerra civile. Incendi dolosi di interi distretti di quartieri controllati da bande ("I guerrieri della notte", per esempio, da qualche parte dovevano pur spuntare...), palazzoni sventrati diventati dimore di eroinomani, violenza ad ogni angolo di strada, violenza nelle stesse case. Clive cresce in mezzo a questo, perché da lì non si scappa, e si forma anche grazie a questo. Diventa un ragazzo che ama la musica e si ingegna per superare tutti gli ostacoli che la vita gli ha posto davanti. Uno di questi, paradossalmente, sta nel come riprodurre un suono "ballabile". I dischi Motown (grazie Detroit), i dischi Soul, Jazz e Blues (grazie New Orleans) vanno bene, ma fino ad un certo punto. I pezzi, infatti, partono con un break di batteria ma poi evolvono. A lui interessa quel break e interessa soprattutto che quel break possa durare a lungo. Più tempo uguale più ritmo. Per risolvere questa equazione ha una intuizione: due dischi dello stesso brano su due piatti. Quando il break finisce su di uno, fa partire il break dell'altro, e così via. Il tutto messo a tempo, il tutto con qualcuno che dice qualcosa al microfono. Clive ora si fa chiamare Dj Kool Herc e non lo sa ancora ma con quella festa che darà l'11 agosto 1973 al numero 1520 di Sedgwick Avenue darà una data, un indirizzo e una storia ad un genere musicale e ad una cultura, quella HIP HOP, che da un palazzone del Bronx arriverà in ogni angolo del Pianeta. Prima di Travis Scott, prima di Kendrick Lamar ma anche prima di Sfera Ebbasta, di Guè e di ogni altro artista che fa Rap, che ci piaccia o meno, che sia bravo o meno, c'è stato Kool Herc, c'è stato il black-out del 77, ci sono stati i Clash, Blondie, Grandmaster Flash, Africa Bambataa, Run DMC, KRS-One, EPMD, Dj Premier, Gangstarr, Pete Rock, Notorious Big, NWA, Ice-Cube, Snoop Dogg, Nas, Jay-Z, Outkast, Tupac Shakur, 50 Cent, the Lox, il southern, la trap, la drill, Griselda Records e tutto un universo musicale capace di mettere in rima ogni singolo aspetto della vita, dalle cose serissime alle autentiche cazzate. 50 anni di una sottocultura nata in strada e nutritasi di strada. It ain't hard to tell.

[top-the-cat]

So I mentioned the other day that I had been vinyl shopping at Psychotron Records in Sutton Coldfield recently, and I am still working my way through my new finds…

We’ll start with this by Lee Scratch Perry and if you know Lee Scratch Perry, then you know exactly what this is going to be. Essentially, volume one of the 12” versions of his biggest hits of the 70s. They had the next couple of volumes in there, but I figured I would start at the start, as the opening track is the Original Upsetter 12” mix of Disco Devil, which you may know as Max Romero’s Chase The Devil or The Prodigy’s Out Of Space, or Dreadzone’s Iron Shirt, to name the first three that come straight to mind . (Apparently, according to Wikipedia, Max Romero’s came first, but Perry produced it and the original Disco Devil was his dub version)

But yeah, if you know that track, you know what this whole record is going to be about; five dubbed out tracks by either by him or produced for others by him, with plenty of echo, extended breaks, and let’s say hazy atmosphere to them.

My only criticism though is the bass isn’t as heavy as I figured it would be on the early tracks. I mean, they are all from the same end of the late 70’s but the tracks on the B side sound better, and I’ve got a pretty decent system to play it on, but its not as heavy and gut rumbling as I figured it would be… Still good though!

Lee Scratch Perry presents Disco Devil Vol 1, Discomixes From The Black Ark

OK, so this is just the 12” single and listening to it, it’s not the exact version that I know and to be honest, I’m not really that impressed with it. The quality is fine, but it kinda’ goes on a bit too long and it feels just a little forced. It’s like there’s no soul left in it. There’s the instrumental on the other side, but again, it’s the instrumental of this alternate version and yeah, if I wanted to sample or battle with it, then it’s there, but lets be fair, neither of those are really going to happen.

Plus, the title of it is weird. Everyone knows that Grandmaster Flash had nothing to do with it and it was Sylvia Robinson of Sugar Hill Records that made it and in turn destroyed the Furious Five, but why call it Grandmaster & Melle Mell? What’s the & got to do with it??

White Lines (Don’t Do It) by Grandmaster & Melle Mel

Now were talking! If you don’t know, Buddy Rich was a classic jazz drummer, who played with all sorts of greats from Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Luis Armstrong to Count Basie and Charlie Parker. And when you listen to him, he fucking wails on those drums. I mean, he is firing off high speed drum & bass style breakbeats in perfect time, which as a teenager back then, would do the same things to you that jungle would do today.

The first side is a bit jazz standard business. Its calm and maybe a little smooth, but all the while you can hear him trying to restrain himself from going wild. Every now and then though, he lets loose with a little drum break or an inspired fill and it all kicks off. It picks up a bit on the second side with his band barely being able to keep up with him. Pure class!

Stick It by Buddy Rich

Have you been listening to BBCRadio6 over the last couple of weeks? They have been doing some specials on 50 years of hip-hop and some hip-hop specials from the decades. (It’s actually 90’s day on the radio today and I’ve been proper getting my rave on whilst I should be working!) But one of the groups they have been playing a fair bit is BDP, or Boogie Down Productions, which is essentially KRS-One, Scott La Rock, Red Alert, and a few other random DJ’s, producers, and people. And the point is, I’ve been quite surprised by how much I have been liking it. I mean, I’ve always been a hip-hop head, but figured all the best stuff came from the 90’s, as most of the best music does.

So I saw this from ’89 and figured I’d give it a spin as it was only £6. There are no tracks on there that I know but plenty of samples that I do. Its all classic funk and soul samples with the usual KRS socially conscious message over the top. Which is all good in my books.

Ghetto Music: The Blueprint Of Hip-Hop by Boogie Down Productions

I’ve spotted this in my local record shop a few times and looked it over it without buying it. And it was still there last time I was in, so I thought I’d have it away… and it’s like nothing else in my collection.

Essentially, its two guys, Big Black and Black Harold playing African, spiritual jazz on just kongo drums and a flute. There’s chants, rolling rhythms, screams, mysticism, and I’m sure the odd voodoo incantation in there for good measure.

It’s the soundtrack to beatniks sitting in a circle, smoking old grass, wearing polo-necks, stroking their beards, reciting poetry and I fucking love it!

I tell you, I was clearly born in the wrong time. I would have made a quality beatnik. Grooving to this, dropping out, getting stoned, writing bad poetry, sleeping around... Can you dig it daddy-O?

Message To Our Ancestors introducing Big Black

Last one for today and this was a compilation I spotted and bought it purely for the fact that it has Asha Puthli on it, who I first heard on Gilles Peterson’s show, about seven or so years ago. He was interviewing her, cutting with bits of her music, which was a mix of jazz, with a bit of sci-fi disco but not like how you would imagine. And he’s trying to get an age out of her, by asking what sort of year the tale she was relating to was and she stops him, and you could hear the look she gives him over the radio, and just goes “Darling. No” and I pretty much fell in love with her right there and then.

So yeah, bought this mainly as it opens with an Asha soulful disco jazz track and the rest are all fairly similar jazzy/disco rare groove numbers that would be make you feel like you’ve just uncovered some hidden gems going through your parents record collection in the loft.

Not sure why it's written out in biro on the label, and to be honest, it's not the best pressing either, but as the title suggests, these are cool classics....

Cool Classics Vol. 10

[lets-talk-spirituality]

Hip Hop Playlist

Because nothing can make you feel cockier than rap! And 2023 is a year for cockiness after spending years being way too humble.

🎤🎧🎸🥁🎹🎺🎻🎷🪗🪇🪈🪕🪘🎤🎧🎸🥁

DNA- Kendrick Lamar

My Hood- Jeezy

All Day-Kanye West

Piss on your grave— Travis Scott

U Mad? — Vic Mensa

I’m different—2 Chainz

Ain’t I— Yung LA

Rubberband Man— TI

Rubberband Man— A$AP Ferg

Beat It— Young Dolph

U guessed it— OG Maco

Final Warning— NLE Choppa

Not Nice—Megan Thee Stallion

Bricks— Gucci Mane

Halle Berry—Hurricane Chris

Hard in da Paint— Waka Flocka Flame

Grove St Party— Waka Flocka Flame

Snap Yo Fingers— Lil Jon

Hypnotized— Plies

U don’t know me— T.I.

We Luv Deez Hoez— OutKast

Yeah Right— Vince Staples

Smoke & Retribution— Flume

No Long Talk— Drake

John— Lil Wayne

Money in the Grave—Drake

Suge— DaBaby

Throw Some Ds— Rich Boy

You was right— lil uzi vert

Bitch—moneybagg yo

Press—Cardi B

No Frauds— Nicki Minaj

Party Up— DMX

Hold It, Now Hit It— Beastie Boys

Fuck that shit— Three 6 Mafia

Birdz— wuki

Materialism as a means to an end—$uicideboy$

Love Again— Run the Jewels

Gas Pedal—Sage the Gemini

Whole Lotta Choppas— Sade ft Nicki Minaj

Whole lotta money— Bia

Bills paid— Dj Khaled

All Ass— Migos

Fuckwitmeyouknowigotit—Jay Z

Track Star Remix— Mooski

Lookin’ Boy— Hot Stylz

Thick— Dj Chose

Laffy Taffy— D4L

The way I live— Baby Boy Da Prince

Independent— Webbie

Roll Out (My Business)— Ludacris

Holidae Inn— Chingy

HAM— Kanye West

Backseat Freestyle— Kendrick Lamar

Diana— Pop Smoke

Blasé— Ty Dolla Sign

IV. sweatpants— Childish Gambino

Hella Neck—Carnage

Bricks—Carnage

I Like Tuh— Carnage

Going through changes—Eminem

Yahhh!— Soulja Boy

Still Dre— Dr. Dre

Nuthin’ But A G Thang— Dr. Dre

Pressurelicious—Megan Thee Stallion

Hot N****— Bobby Shmurda

Don’t Like— Chief Keef

Panda— Desiigner

Swing— Savage

Tie Me Down— New Boyz

Mrs Right— Mindless Behavior

Shake Senora— Pit Bull

Dance (ASS)— Big Sean

Amen— Meek Mill

Started—Iggy Azalea

Look At Me!— XXXTENACION

All Gold Everything—Trinidad James

Famous—21 Savage

Enough— Flume/Pusha T

You Be Killin ‘Em—Fabolous

Country Grammer— Nelly

Lock Jaw— French Montana

We Fly High—Jim Jones

Move (If You Wanna)—Mims

Rock Yo Hips— Crime Mob

I Know You See It— Yung Joc

Hood N****— Gorilla Zoe

Throw Some Mo—Rae Sremmurd

Flex (Ohh, Ohh, Ohh)— Rich Homie Quan

My N****— YG

Flex Like Ouu— Lil Pump

Whoopty— CJ

Shoulder Lean—Young Dro

Ridin’ Dirty— Chamillionaire

Lean Back— Terror Squad

Where the bag at—City Girls

Stupid— Ashnikko

Spoil My Night—Post Malone

Slow Motion—Juvenile

Too much sauce— Future

Lean Wit it Rock Wit It— Dem Franchize Boyz

P.I.M.P— 50 Cent

[respective]

My taste in music in 20 albums

On Instagram I was challenged by @piahinckle to choose 20 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music. One album per day, for 20 consecutive days. No explanations (mostly), no reviews, just cover images on my Instagram @rialdrummer.

Proceeding from the first posting on December 11.

Max Roach and the M’Boom ensemble “Re: Percussion” the album is sometimes called. I heard this in the early ‘80s at a time I was getting interested in the history of jazz and particularly jazz drummers. Had the good fortune to see Max’s quartet (Cecil Bridgewater, Odean Pope, Tyrone Brown) at the old Yoshi’s, around the time of the “Scott Free” album.  This M’Boom record planted a seed for my later musical explorations in the ‘90s and started an appreciation for me of Max Roach as bandleader and conceptualist. I’d already heard some of his work with Charlie Parker. A decade later my band was covering “Morning / Midday” and “Jamaican Sun” by this group and I was email pals with Omar Clay’s partner.

The Mamas and the Papas “A Gathering Of Flowers”.  On the turntable constantly during my late high school years. Released between the ’68 breakup and the ’71 reunion. Interviews on the record with Cass and John hint at the glories and disappointments felt in the group.

Van Morrison “Tupelo Honey”. Great songs, ace band. The title track is really a classic (Cassandra Wilson’s cover is further evidence). Gary Mallaber (vibes) and Ronnie Montrose (guitar) stand out to me.

Family “Fearless”. United Artists was a label that took chances on musical artistry and signing Family was a commercial risk.  I found this album in 1973 in a cutout bin and it had only been out for 18 months.  The album is in turns gritty and pretty. All songwriting, playing and singing contributions are excellent, with John Wetton playing a key role on guitar, bass and vocals.

Rory Gallagher “Irish Tour ‘74”. Songs burned into memory from my days as a record store clerk and DJ. Most of my friends in the day were Rory fans going back to his band Taste and a few of us saw him at UC Santa Barbara around 1974.  If I had to pick one Rory record…  Watch him on YouTube.

“The Drums”. Prez Records in Santa Rosa was a destination store for me in the ‘80s and I found this used 3-album set for cheap there.  Introduced me to Art Blakey (“Ala Mode” remains a favorite song of mine), Connie Kay playing with Milt Jackson, Dannie Richmond, Paul Motian and many more great tracks.

Iain Matthews “Valley Hi”. Michael Nesmith cut a lot of great sides within and after The Monkees. To my ears almost nothing by him surpasses the achievement of helming this album.  I’ve followed Matthews’s career going back to his brief time in Fairport Convention up to the last decade and I know he’s not crazy about this record but to me it’s absolutely a gem.  Songs by Randy Newman, Jackson Browne, Steve Young (“Seven Bridges Road” before the Eagles recorded it) among others.

Gil Scott-Heron “Pieces Of A Man”. It had to be a long shot that an AM rock station would put “Lady Day and John Coltrane” on their playlist but that’s what KRLA in Pasadena did. And so I heard it and began an appreciation of Gil Scott-Heron that I continue to hold.

Marc Benno “Minnows”. This was another AM radio long shot in 1971 and KRLA won the day again for “Speak Your Mind”. A ballad that ebbs and flows in intensity.  Jim Keltner’s drumming first caught my ear on this song. This was around the time that Benno was playing rhythm guitar with The Doors on the L.A. Woman sessions, and after his collaborations with Leon Russell on the Asylum Choir albums. Many friends of mine also appreciate this album.

Weather Report “Sweetnighter”. Previously unaware of Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul, I saw Weather Report in July of 1973 and “Boogie Woogie Waltz” convinced me that I needed to dig more deeply into this music.

Fairport Convention “What We Did On Our Holidays”. Along with the records that Nick Drake would make a few months later, sums up for me some great years of British “folk rock”.

10cc “Sheet Music”. Between their first two albums this one comes out on top for me. It’s close. I was a fan from the release of “Rubber Bullets”.

Harry Belafonte “Calypso”. “Jamaica Farewell” was likely the first set of song lyrics I memorized. Mum had his playing often in our apartment in the late ‘50s.

Brinsley Schwarz “Nervous On The Road”.  I like this best of the band’s records (it may be because adding Ian Gomm to the band was so complimentary to the talents of Nick Lowe, Brinsley, Bob Andrews and Billy Rankin). For this pick I could have swapped out Dave Edmunds’s “Get It” or the Rockpile album “Seconds of Pleasure” but since the list is supposed to describe how my tastes were influenced it makes sense to refer to early period Brinsley.  Made me a Nick Lowe fan for life.

The Monkees “Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.”.  My introduction to the group. I hadn’t seen the tv show at that time (November and December 1967) at least as far as I recall. Coming at them strictly through these tracks I was impressed by songwriting, production, vocals, guitars and humor.  Not bubblegum, at all.

“Pat Metheny Group” By September 1978 I was being introduced to ECM albums by a friend. I’d enjoyed previous ones but that month when I heard the first notes of “San Lorenzo” something resonated with me that hasn’t stopped.

Graham Parker and the Rumour “Stick To Me”.  This is a rough-and-ready collection produced by Nick Lowe. Drumming by Steve Goulding, guitar leads by Martin Belmont are highlights. The title song, “Soul On Ice”, “Clear Head” are standouts in a great set making this my favorite GP album for all time.

The Gary Burton Quartet with Eberhard Weber “Passengers”.  I think this was probably the beginning of my awareness of Gary Burton’s albums. A great introduction. As a vibes player myself there are major lessons and enjoyment for me throughout his catalog.

Love “Forever Changes”. Surrounded by Love fans in my 20s but not giving the group much time of day then, I locked into the band’s and Arthur Lee’s artistry in my 40s. Like so many people I now appreciate every song on this classic album. Was fortunate to catch the 2003 edition of the band at The Fillmore.

Gene Clark “No Other”. After leaving The Byrds, Clark wrote and recorded many excellent songs showcasing his poetic and melodic gifts. This album is the top of the mountain for me, and public appreciation for the songs and the production have grown greatly in the 50 years since its release. YouTube has video of a tribute tour for the album from a decade ago.

RUNNERS-UP

Elvis Costello and the Attractions “Imperial Bedroom” and “This Year’s Model”

XTC “English Settlement”

Beach Boys “Summer Days (and Summer Nights!)” and “Sunflower”

(Many) Iain Matthews records across the decades, along with titles by his Fairport mates Sandy Denny, Dave Mattacks, Richard Thompson, Ashley Hutchings, Judy Dyble. A nod too to drummer Martin Lamble who had a playing style so well suited to their early records.

Buffalo Springfield “Retrospective”

Carpenters “Ticket to Ride”

Rolling Stones “December’s Children”

The Move “Shazam”

Joni Mitchell “For the Roses”

Bruce Springsteen “The Wild The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle”

Beatles single “Rain” b/w “Paperback Writer”

Man (The Man Band from Wales) "Back Into the Future"

[demondmayhew016]

#HIP HOP LEGENDS ✨ #BDP ✨

#D-NICE 💿🎼🌹💘👑🎤✨

#KRS 1 💿🎼🌹💘👑🎤✨

#RIP DJ SCOTT LA ROCK 💿🎼🌹💘👑🎤✨

[queermtl]

QUEER MTL THINGS TO DO: JANUARY 2023

EVENT OF THE MONTH:

👯 Starting off the lunar year correctly, Lust Cove presents MOONCAKE at Café Cleopatra on January 13, 2023, featuring an all-star Asian cast of singers, strippers and burlesque artists. Marking the year of the Rabbit with a night of sensual performance art, MOONCAKE features Bellamie Beastly, Big Daddy Queen Power, Joy Rider, Kaya Koko, Lia Jasmine and others. Highlighting amazing Asian talent, MOONCAKE is not to be missed! Tickets available now at Eventbrite.

EVENTS

💃 Tango/Salsa Queer’s sessions start with the new year, with Salsa Queer on Monday nights from 20:30-21:30 and Tango (beginners/intermediate) on Tuesdays at 19:00-20:30. Contact tango.queer@hotmail.com for prices and location. 

🎥 The latest royal cinematic biopic Corsage opens at Cinema du Parc from January 6, 2023. Also playing are TÁR starring Cate Blanchett, and the Nan Goldin documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed. Check listings for dates and showtimes. (The intimate Cinema Moderne also features screenings of TÁR and All the Beauty and the Bloodshed).

📚 The Violet Hour Book Club will meet and discuss the novel The End of Eddy by Édouard Louis on Saturday, January 7, 2023. 

✏️ Drink & Draw returns to Bar Le Cocktail on Wednesday January 7, 2023 featuring live models to sketch and drinks close on hand. Presented by Hommehomo.

👕 The All Gender Plus Size Clothing Swap is coming to Frigo Vert on Sunday, January 8, 2023. 

🕺 Choreographer Scott Fordham brings Limitless to Cabaret Mado on Monday, January 9, 2023, featuring a choreography showcase of his pieces with special guest performers. Tickets here. 

🎥 Reel Gay screens Shrek 2 on January 10, 2023 at the Diving Bell Social Club, hosted by drag king extraordinaire Charli DeVille alongside a host of queer comedians and unforgettable live commentary. Book your spot here.

🎶 Dry Cleaning (with Nourished by Time) take over La Tulipe on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

🎤 Epiphany at L’Euguélionne bookstore promises a new year’s QTBIPOC open mic to celebrate moments of joy and sustenance on Saturday, January 14, 2023. Tickets at Eventbrite.

🛼 There’s no better way to beat the winter blues than tying into your roller skates and jamming to your ‘90s favourites at the Roller Skating Jam on January 14, 2023. Tickets here.

🎤 Lizzo fans rejoice! The Lizzo Burlesque takes over Cafe Cleopatra on January 14, 2023, featuring performances by Roxy Torpedo, Minx Arcana, Robyn Ravenous and others. Tickets at Eventbrite.

💃 The Chapter & BKHZ present Waacking Winter Ball at Studio Tango Montréal on January 14, 2023. Marvel from the sidelines or register to compete! Tickets here.

🍽 Le Frigo Vert hosts a Trans Inclusive Dinner on Sunday, January 15, 2023, featuring vegan, gluten-free eats, games and quiet zones for conversation and interaction. Tickets here. 

🎭 Marvel at DiiP, featuring Zed Cézard and David Menes plus guests at Cabaret Mado on Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 3 PM, and again on Sunday, January 29. Grab tickets here.

🎥 Queer City Cinema presents QALEIDOSCOPE: Queer Film and Performance on Tour in Montréal at La lumiére collective on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 and GIV Video on Friday, January 20, 2023. Featuring a curated selection of eye-popping new works, QALEIDOSCOPE highlights the artistic vision of queer Canadian filmmakers. Tickets available here for the 17th and here for the 20th.

🔨 LESPACEMAKER presents a series of Atelier de Queer on Friday, January 20, 2023 (to make a leather collar and cuffs), and two on Saturday, January 21 (to construct a chest harness and build your own booty harness).

💪 Diablos Boylesque: New Year's Edition is coming to Bar Le Cocktail on January 21, 2023 to get 2023 off to a scantily-clad start. Tickets at Eventbrite.

🎸 The Historical Queer Music Night is raising funds for Rock Camp Montréal at Turbo Haüs on Monday, January 23, 2023, featuring covers of lesbian and queer music from the 1970s and 1980s, and DJ sets by Alex Ketchum and Kiersten Beszterda van Vliet. Tickets here.

🧠 Join everyone’s favourite Jeopardy trans superhero for An Evening with Jeopardy Champion Amy Schneider at the Cummings Centre on January 23, 2023.

💣 le Cabaret des Bombes, 50 Shades of Scandalous is sure to knock our socks off and blow some minds on January 28, 2023 at Café Cleopatra. Tickets here.

🐻 Join the bears at Bar Le Stud on Tuesdays for Karaoke and Wednesdays for Retrowave ‘80s nights.

🤣 Stand-Up St. Henri Open Mic runs on Tuesdays at Montréal Improv. With a focus on giving stage time to women, non-binary, queer comedians and allies, it’s the perfect fit for comedy fans. Tickets at Eventbrite.

🎤 Get your karaoke on every Sunday at Notre Dame des Quilles!

☕️ Join the Union for Gender Empowerment’s weekly event Coffee, Solidarity, Care and Feminism every Wednesday at 6:00 PM at McGill University. Tickets and details here.

PARTIES

🥳 Start the year off at Pittbull Events’ Rough Start on January 1, 2023 at Club Unity. Tickets available at Armada. 

🥳 FRKY returns with their FRKY || Winter party on January 7, 2023 at Ctrllab.

🥳 Chá da Alice spins the best of pop, funk and reggaeton at Cabaret Berlin on January 14, 2023. Grab tickets at Eventbrite. 

🥳 The Dark Eighties: Cult 80s Party returns to Bar Le Ritz PDB on January 20, 2023. Dress in black and get on the dance floor! Tickets here. 

🥳 Nuit ÆX brings a stellar lineup of DJ talent including Danny Daze, Martyn, Data Plan, Zi!, Odile Myrtil, Cloud Canopy and Space Graft to Club Soda on January 21, 2023. Tickets here. 

🥳 GOSTOSO – Montreal Edition World Tour brings the hottest sounds of Brazil to Cabaret Berlin on Saturday, January 21, 2023.

DRAG

👑 Every Tuesday, Canada’s Drag Race season 3 winner Gisèle Lullaby hosts Full Gisèle at Cabaret Mado. Tickets and schedule at Cabaret Mado’s website.

👑 On Friday nights, the legendary Mado Lamotte hosts Mado Reçoit at her namesake club, Cabaret Mado. Each week, she shares the stage with a hand-picked roster of queens. Tickets and lineup info here.

👑 Throughout the pandemic lockdown, Uma Gahd and Selma Gahd entertained us all regularly on Twitch. On January 7, 2023, they’re bringing their Jackpox Games to an in-person event at Bar Le Cocktail, guaranteeing a night of gaming fun and drag goodness. Tickets here.

👑 Amy Haze and a surprise cast heat things up with Roasted Celes to Cabaret Mado on January 11, 2023. Grab tickets here.

👑 Cabaret Queer at Cabaret Mado features singers, drag kings, queens and burlesque performers all under the same roof on January 12, 2023, hosted by Tracy Trash. Tickets here. 

👑 Bar Le Cocktail kicks off their annual MX Cocktail with Concours MX Cocktail on Thursday, January 12, 2023 (continuing each Thursday of the month). Tickets here. 

👑 Explore the darker side of drag with Démone LaStrange’s The Strange Show at Bar Le Cocktail on Saturday, January 14, 2023, featuring performances by Kitana, Infernal Desires and Aliss Love. Tickets here.

👑 Yikes Macaroni brings their Drag Open Stage (On the Menu: First Timers) to Notre Dame des Quilles on January 19, 2023. Get dressed and get on that stage!

👑 Montréal’s up and coming future drag stars get edgy with Trashilaz on January 26, 2023 at Cabaret Mado, presented by Aizysse Baga and featuring Alias Love, Iggy Zob, Démone LaStrange and Rosie Bourgeoisie. Tickets available here. 

👑 Bar Le Cocktail’s regular weekly events include Butterfly de Nuit with Miss Butterfly on Thursdays, Vendredi Fou with Michel Dorion on Fridays, Samedi Drôles de Drags with a rotating cast of queens on Saturdays and Dimanche Show with Michel Dorion on Sundays. Check listings for specific details, and pick up tickets here.

👑 Get the gang together for a Diva Royale Drag Queen Dinner Show (or a Drag Brunch) throughout the month. Available dates and tickets available at Eventbrite.

👑 Also running throughout the month, Illusions: The Show features some of Canada’s best drag celebrity impersonation. Check their calendar and availabilities here and here.

[todayinhiphophistory]

Today in Hip Hop History:

DJ Scott La Rock of Boogie Down Productions was born March 2, 1962

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 9.19 (after 1950)

1950 – Korean War: An attack by North Korean forces was repelled at the Battle of Nam River. 1957 – Plumbbob Rainier becomes the first nuclear explosion to be entirely contained underground, producing no fallout. 1960 – Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Ayub Khan sign the Indus Waters Treaty for the control and management of the Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas rivers. 1970 – Michael Eavis hosts the first Glastonbury Festival. 1970 – Kostas Georgakis, a Greek student of geology, sets himself ablaze in Matteotti Square in Genoa, Italy, as a protest against the dictatorial regime of Georgios Papadopoulos. 1976 – Turkish Airlines Flight 452 hits the Taurus Mountains, outskirt of Karatepe, Turkey, killing all 154 passengers and crew. 1976 – Two Imperial Iranian Air Force F-4 Phantom II jets fly out to investigate an unidentified flying object. 1978 – The Solomon Islands join the United Nations. 1982 – Scott Fahlman posts the first documented emoticons :-) and :-( on the Carnegie Mellon University bulletin board system. 1983 – Saint Kitts and Nevis gains its independence. 1985 – A strong earthquake kills thousands and destroys about 400 buildings in Mexico City. 1985 – Tipper Gore and other political wives form the Parents Music Resource Center as Frank Zappa, John Denver, and other musicians testify at U.S. Congressional hearings on obscenity in rock music. 1989 – A bomb destroys UTA Flight 772 in mid-air above the Tùnùrù Desert, Niger, killing all 170 passengers and crew. 1991 – Ötzi the Iceman is discovered in the Alps on the border between Italy and Austria. 1995 – The Washington Post and The New York Times publish the Unabomber manifesto. 1997 – The Guelb El-Kebir massacre in Algeria kills 53 people. 2006 – The Thai army stages a coup. The Constitution is revoked and martial law is declared. 2008 – A Learjet 60 carrying musicians Travis Barker and Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein crashes during a rejected takeoff from Colombia Metropolitan Airport in West Columbia, South Carolina, killing four of the six people on board. Barker and Goldstein both survive. 2010 – The leaking oil well in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is sealed. 2011 – Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees surpasses Trevor Hoffman to become Major League Baseball's all-time career saves leader with 602. 2016 – In the wake of a manhunt, the suspect in a series of bombings in New York and New Jersey is apprehended after a shootout with police. 2017 – The 2017 Puebla earthquake strikes Mexico, causing 370 deaths and over 6,000 injuries, as well as extensive damage. 2019 – A drone strike by the United States kills 30 civilian farmers in Afghanistan. 2021 – The Cumbre Vieja volcano, on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, erupts. The eruption lasts for almost three months, ending on December 13. 2022 – The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is held at Westminster Abbey, London.

[mannytoodope]

Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One(standing for Knowledge Reign Supreme 1)and Teacha. He started hip-hop as part of the rap group Boogie Down Productions, which he formed with DJ Scott La Rock in the mid-'80s. After the death of La Rock, KRS-One continued as a solo project. KRS-One kept the message of Boogie Down Productions of being politically active and socially conscious. He also started the Stop the Violence Movement in honor of the death of La Rock. I remember seeing his videos on MTV during the mid-'90s. They played the song" Sound of The Police, "which was thought-provoking when I checked him out, listened to his lyrics and cadence, and made his way to my list. KRS-One is a hip-hop artist who has always been interested in intelligent and deep songs that carry weight and has been caught up in the commercial side of hip-hop. Today, KRS-One still performs and gives lectures on the preservation and history of hip-hop and political topics. KRS-One is one of the game's most essential and thought-provoking rappers. It's 50 years. He is one of my favorite rappers.

[lboogie1906]

Lawrence “Kris” Parker (born August 20, 1965) KRS-One, MC, producer, philosopher, and activist was born to Jacqueline Jones and Sheffield Brown in South Bronx. His mother was a secretary while his father, who worked as a handyman, was deported to his native Trinidad.

He left home in his early teens and lived on the streets of the Bronx as hip-hop culture began to emerge. He ended up in a Shelter where he met a social worker named Scott Sterling, a.k.a. Scott La Rock, an experienced DJ, connected with him who had developed an identity as a graffiti writer who signed “KRS-ONE” (Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone).

In 1984 Scott La Rock, he, and two other rappers collectively became Scott La Rock & the Celebrity Three and released a song called “Advance.” “Advance” discussed nuclear war prevention. Scott and he formed their group, The Boogie Down Crew, in honor of their borough’s nickname, the “Boogie Down” Bronx.

The Boogie Down Crew changed the group’s name to Boogie Down Productions. BDP’s first album Criminal Minded ushered in a new strain of rap music that brought consciousness to the violent realities of life on urban American streets with songs like “9mm Goes Bang” and “South Bronx.” Scott La Rock was shot in killed in 1987.

BDP released By All Means Necessary. The album discussed stereotypical imagery in rap, safe sex, corruption in law enforcement, hip-hop as a teaching tool, and violence in hip-hop. He was invited to lecture at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, and NYU on the rise of rap music. He created the Stop the Violence Movement and produced the all-star collaborative anti-violence song “Self Destruction”. He provided the theme music for I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. BDP would release four more albums before he began a career as a solo artist. He is the founder of Human Education Against Lies as well as the Temple of Hip-Hop.

He married Ramona Scott, a.k.a. Ms. Melodie (1987). He married Simone Parker. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[gerogerigaogaigar]

Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded

The story of Boogie Down Productions is necessarily a two part story. I'm not sure if the follow up album By All Means Necessary is on this list. It should be. In 1987 only a few months after releasing this album DJ Scott La Rock was killed in a shooting while trying to break up a fight. Criminal Minded is typically seen as the first gangsta rap album. It introduced the exaggerated kayfabe of kids with guns shooting each other over Petty squabbles over which borough is best. BDPs second album By All Means Necessary is a stark stripped down album with serious lyrics about inner city violence and other socially conscious themes. Scott La Rock's fingerprints are all over both albums in very different ways. Criminal Minded is full of camp bravado and the beats are matched to that energy. A little cheesy and a lot of heart La Rock chooses samples that keep the mood light despite the violent subject matter. And both La $ock and KRS-One will often devolve into silly little riffs on completely random songs (Hey Jude by The Beatles and It's Still Rock And Roll To Me by Billy Joel). It's a light and cheesy album that still shows off frank depictions of life in the Bronx while also ahowcasing the talents of KRS-ONE, D Nice, and of course DJ Scott La Rock.

Kraftwerk - Trans-Europe Express

By the time Kraftwerk hit the scene electronic music had already existed for decades. But before Kraftwerk it was mainly the realm of experimental mavericks and there was little commercial interest outside of a few oddities. With Trans-Europe Express Kraftwerk found themselves refining their sound in a more ambient and minimal direction. Tracks average six minutes a pop and feature rolling soundscapes of mechanical synths. The songs take more influence from minimalist composers and feature melodic ideas that slowly evolve over a long run time. It's an amazing album although it definitely overshadowed by the follow up album The Man-Machine which makes this one look like a warmup.

Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger

This was Willie Nelson's eighteenth album, but the first where he had full creative control. The result is a sparsely arranged concept album about a man trying to get away with the murder of his wife and her lover. The use of perfectly placed covers of country classics interspersed with original numbers to tell a coherent story is incredibly well done. And the stark instrumentation makes every single note feel significant. Every sorrowful guitar solo and walking bass line communicates as much story and emotion as the lyrics themselves. This is one of the greatest masterpieces in all of country music.

Daft Punk - Discovery

Where Daft Punk's debut Homework featured very traditional Chicago style House music Discovery evolved the sound into something completely new. The rigid mechanical grooves are replaced with a new, softer sound influenced by pop and R&B. Naturally fans of their first record hated it. In fact hating the newest Daft Punk record is kind of a tradition in the fandom. The instant commercial hits that were One More Time and Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger are well known but the album is loaded with catchy enjoyable tracks from start to finish. Whether it's the buzzsaw arpeggios of Aerodynamic or the slow balladry of Something About Us, the albums deep.cuts hit just as hard as the hits. Not to mention Too Long, my favorite Daft Punk song, which is a sprawling ten minute prog house epic.

Metallica - s/t (the black album)

After riding high as one of the greatest thrash acts of all time Metallica finally hit the mainstream by putting out one of the most tedious and boring pieces of shit imaginable. Yeah Enter Sandman has a pretty iconic riff, well one good song doesn't make a good album. Literally everything after that sucks and it's the opening track. The album is a slow plodding mess that is constantly on the verge of becoming the thrash metal version of a Cinderella ballad. And let's not forget the overtly libertarian song Don't Tread On Me! Fuck this cringe ass album. I scooped the cat box right after listening to this and I'd rate that as a better experience than listening to the black album.

Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality

Master Of Reality provides the blueprint for all slow, sludge, stoner, and doom metal to come. The guitar and bass are down tuned and the sound is chuggy which hugely influenced later bands looking to make their sound heavier. The opener, Sweet Leaf is the original stoner metal song. And the acoustic interludes, Embryo and Orchid are definitely echoed in the slow acoustic intros to a million death metal songs.

Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes

Tori Amos seems to be working through some emotional baggage here, but my god is it the most overwrought garbage I've ever heard. Plodding piano ballads come one after another only occasionally pausing to become interesting. Little Earthquakes wants to be meaningful so very badly. It wants to be Hounds Of Love so very badly. But where Kate Bush can craft evocative beautiful music and lyrics Tori Amos produces melodramatic piano ballads and lyrics that feel like chatgpt trained on Kate Bush songs. I'm gonna say it again just to be mean: listen to Kate Bush instead.

John Coltrane - Giant Steps

After an iconoc tenure in most of Miles Davis' groups in the 50s saxophone legend John Coltrane set out as a solo artist. Giant Steps wasn't his first outing as a bandleader but it was the one that cemented him as the jazz artist of the 60s. The performances are monstrous here super special credit goes to Paul Chambers on bass for not just being able to keep up but for doing it with flair. The real thing about this album though is the chord changes. Coltrane pioneered a series of chord changes that used third intervals to keep the root of the chords equidistant from each other resulting in a loss of tonal center. The songs rapidly change keys and wind up being famously difficult to improv over, and that's before the frenetic pace of many of the songs comes into play. You may not understand any of what I just said, but trust me your brain can hear the effects. It's beautifully disorienting and you have no choice but to give in to Coltrane's whims, trusting that he knows where it's going