DUSTY CRATES

It’s a rainy, cold Monday in the H and I found some funk for you to jam to today. It’s a mix good enough to get you out of this funk and long enough to tide you over ’til the weekend, once the weather warms up. It’s also a classic mix that should fill in the gaps between not only you and the Gap Band, but also their legacy. Computer <3 !

The influence of Uncle Charlie Wilson on r&b and hip hop is extraordinary. From being the main force in the legendary Gap Band, who’s classic songs “Yearnin For Your Love”, “Outstanding” and “Dropped A Bomb On Me” have been sampled in countless popular songs, to being featured on many newer artist’s current songs.

Recently NYC’s DJ Synapse recorded a mix that takes listeners through some of the greatest Charlie Wilson compositions and Gap Band classics, and the songs that sampled them, as well as newer songs by Kanye West, T-Pain and Lil Kim that have featured the music.

Charlie’s new album Just Charlie and the single “You Are” is starting to get airplay on urban radio.

Download the full mix here:

http://soundcloud.com/edubdigital/outstanding-charlie-wilson-the-gap-bands-hip-hop-legacy

Embed code:

Outstanding: Charlie Wilson & The Gap Band’s Hip Hop Legacy by edubdigital

Outstanding: Charlie Wilson & The Gap Band’s Hip Hop Legacy: Mixed By DJ Synapse

1. Yearning For Your Love – Gap Band (Original)
2. Runnin’ (Jay Dee Remix) – The Pharcyde (Samples “Yearnin’ For Your Love”)
3. Life’s A Bitch – Nas (Samples “Yearnin’ For Your Love”)
4. The Joy FT. Pete Rock, Jay -Z – Kanye West
5. There Goes My Baby – Charlie Wilson
6. All Of The Lights – Kanye West (Feat. John Legend, The-Dream, Ryan Leslie, Tony Williams, Charlie Wilson, Elly Jackson, Alicia Keys, Fergie, KiD CuDi, Rihanna & Elton John)
7. Download (Remix) – Lil Kim Ft. T-Pain, Charlie Wilson, The-Dream & Soulja Boy
8. Computer Love Remix – Zapp Feat Shirley Murdock & Charlie Wilson
9. Boy You Knock Me Out – Tatyana Ali feat. Will Smith (Samples “Outstanding”)
10. Happy – Ashanti (Samples “Outstanding”)
11. Summer Bunnies – R. Kelly (Samples “Outstanding”)
12. Alright (Humps For Your Trunk Mix) – Kris Kross (Samples “Outstanding”)
13. Da B Side – Da Brat Feat. Notorious BIG (Samples “Outstanding”)
14. Every Little Thing I Do – Soul Four Real (Samples “Outstanding”)
15. Outstanding – Gap Band
16. Blow Your Mind – Redman (Samples “Outstanding”)
17. Snoop’s Upside Ya Head – Snoop Dogg Ft. Charlie Wilson
18. Oops Upside Your Head – Gap Band
19. Mo Pussy – DJ Quick (Samples “Oops Upside Your Head”)
20. Burn Rubber On Me – Gap Band
21. Humpin’ – The Gap Band
22. Supa Sexy – Charlie Wilson Feat. T-Pain
23. You Dropped A Bomb On Me (Remix) – Gap Band
24. Fake Hair Wearing Bitch – 2 Live Crew/No Face (Samples “Oops Upside Your Head”)
25. Tommy’s Groove Outro

>> www.charliewilsonmusic.com
>> www.facebook.com/djsynapsenyc
>> www.twitter.com/djsynapse

It’s that time again, mi gente! Our monthly pachanga, Bombón, is in full swing again!

So bring your güiros, maracas, cowbell or anything else you wanna shake tonight at Avant Garden (411 Westheimer, 77006). DJs Navo, OG Bobby Trill and yours truly (Gracie Chavez) will keep you moving, so step your cumbia game up! DJ/MC Bobby will lead the “grito” contest–aye, aye, ayeeee!

While we get our hustle-on, peep out Houston’s own Panchitron, who’s raverton tracks were recently featured online.

Panchitron-Everyday by Panchitron

RSVP for Bombón – Houston (www.facebook.com/BombonHouston) now and check back for updates and upcoming events every First Friday!

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!