DUSTY CRATES

The BCH is back!

Brick City House‘s very own Sista Stroke recently recorded an exclusive mix for a Chicago House FM webcast called, “Funk Force” hosted by Seraphim and airs Thursday evenings.

Stroke says:

The mix is called Backseat Bangers, and I did it with a long drive in mind. There’s some great cuts on here from some pretty great producers whose work I’ve really come to admire and love.

Hope you guys enjoy this mix. And please, feel free to pass it on to whomever you think might enjoy some boogie-bounce in their life! Enjoy Music and Freak Freely! Peace, Sista Stroke

And bangin it is, indeed! No need for foreplay with this one. Enjoy!

Backseat Bangers – Sista Stroke (mp3)

A couple of weeks ago, we are embarked on a showcase of new sounds in H-town with BOMBON. The takeaway: people have been waiting too long for this kind of night in Houston!

As cumbia is gaining momentum worldwide, it’s exciting to see how this folkloric tradition has been given so many new mezclas and treatments. The future of South American-inspired electronic riddim has no shortage of color or creativity.

MICHEL CLEIS – LA MEZCLA (ROBB G REMIX) by ROBB G

In the coming months, you’ll hear a collection of fresh uptempo melodies and bass-heavy beats that make up a variety of “Cumbiatron.” From Cumbia, Bajo Tropical, Salsa, Latin Beats, Baile Funk, Reggaeton, Moombahton, y Mezclas AfroLatinos, we have banded together to bring you this full-on Latino experience, without a need for a passport.

To see where the next sound of the Americas is headed next, mark your calendars para saborear BOMBON each month with yours truly, Gracie Chávez, plus DJs Navó, OG Bobby Trill and Tonio.

Starting January 7, 2011 and every first Friday of the month, centrally located Avant Garden (411 Westheimer, 77006) is hosting our first in a series of Latin parties full of irrepressible music, live instrumentation, cinematic loops, spirited libations and excessive dancing!  Now, why would you want to miss the next one?

¡Entonces, ponte los zapatos pa la pachanga!

As some of you may know, Dias de los Muertos happens to be one of my favorite annual holidays. Forget the Halloween hype–these two days in November (1st and 2nd) always remind you to celebrate life! So why not to start early.

Tonight, we kick off a weekend of celebration with Afro-electro beat freestyler Chico Mann in Houston. The lineup, brought to you by Squad Media, includes downtempo maestros DJ Sun and Mr. Bristle, and myself (Gracie Chavez) spinning un Bombón de cumbia and eclectic world beats upstairs at The Mink/Backroom (3718 Main @ Alabama, 77002).

Chico Mann was recently featured on one of my favorite remixer’s excursion, Mexicans with Guns’ “Me Gusto,” which is more of a banger for your soul than it is a soundtrack for the dead. Chico (aka Marco Garcia) describes his native style as “the convergence of electro, Afrobeat and freestyle.” “It’s kind of a statement to this genre of music that hasn’t really been developed until now,” he says.

Check out Chico’s “Oye, Mira, Cuidado!” live clip to see what’s in store tonight. Log on to Soular Grooves to get more insight or listen to my Cumbia Nena mix I recorded live on (now-extinct) KTRU radio station. Then, RSVP on FB to join us tonight.

Pero no se te olvide–Ponte los zapatos porque vamos a bailar!

The end has come, my fellow DJs. The tables have turned–one last time.

It’s time to find a special place to store your Technics turntables because Panasonic has just announced that they are no longer making the analog, direct drive record player. For nearly four decades, Technics have been the reliable standard for DJ equipment, keeping the music going for disc jockeys and party-goers well into the wee hours of the morning weekend after weekend since 1972.

After a year of speculation, the recent decision from Panasonic comes because of “a decline in demand for these analog products and also the growing difficulty of procuring key analog components necessary to sustain production.” But don’t run out with $2Gs to buy a pair of Pioneer 2000 CDJs just yet!

There are a few places that are still selling parts and servicing turntables. You can find replacement parts online and in the Greater Houston area, you can still take your decks to shops like Sound Exchange. Or, on the home front, get them repaired by Chris Cardenas (aka DJ G.Wizz) of  Fahrenheit-Media who has been servicing decks by WOM for years now. I personally like this DJ’s personal touch ;P!

So before you retire your tables to a place where they collect dust next to Edison’s “sound writer,” phonographs and other antiques, collectibles, curios, let’s hope true audiophiles with a love for wax and DJs with expansive record collections alike keep these record players and their legacy well preserved for years to come.

The new Def Jam Rapstar game releases this weekend nationwide and we’ve got the (promo) goods here in the H to keep you in the know.

On October 5th, you’ll be able to experience the first true interactive hip hop music game on any popular gaming console. The final seven tracks, which includes Beastie Boys, Snoop and Kanye, available on the MC game were announced today, bringing the total to more than 40 of the all-time hottest hip hop cuts to be featured on Rapstar.

Newly added tracks include:

ARTIST – TRACK
Beastie Boys – Brass Monkey
Kanye West – Stronger
N-Dubz – I Need You *UK Exclusive
Notorious B.I.G. – Big Poppa
Rob Base – It Takes Two
Roots Manuva – Witness The Fitness *UK Exclusive
Snoop Dogg Gin and Juice
So Solid Crew – 21 Seconds *UK Exclusive
Soulja Boy Tell’em – Turn My Swag On

More than a karaoke game,

…Def Jam Rapstar allows YOU to be the star by rhyming, using your console camera, and uploading your video to the fully integrated Def Jam Rapstar community at www.defjamrapstar.com.

Our Def Jam/Fahrenheit-Media street team will be out in full-force this weekend giving away promotional items at a show or venue near you. Look for us at Bassnectar at Warehouse Live on Friday, Michael Franti at HOB on Saturday, and at the usual DIRB! spots like The Lot on Washington, The Flat, Grand Hall and Boondocks.

So get ready, ’cause the world is your stage!

Eschew 3 is Daniel Allen‘s latest mix that’s best for coasting.

Eschew 3 by Daniel Allen

Get it on SoundCloud. Whee!

UPDATE
Part 7 in this series is with my DIRB! pahtnah Squincy…and, yes, he got his hair did for this Kracker Nuttz interview!

I’m super honored to be part of this with the Kracker Nuttz…see you all there in November! Thanks for the interview, guys!

The Kracker Nuttz 12 Yr Anniversary coming NOVEMBER 2010… DJ’s get ready to experience something new!!!
DJ Gracie Chavez interviewed by Reko Trill and shot by Druski.

http://www.krackernuttz.com
http://www.krackernuttz.wordpress.com

I love long weekends and this…

I Love You So (Krusha remix) – Cassius (mediafire)