#16.5 // P.A. PASEMASTER MASE a.k.a PLUG #3 (Do As De La Does)

Kin Folk,
Hope everyone has had a good summer. Over here at GFS we're real ready for the fall. The changing of the seasons, the turn of the tides... Don't get me wrong, I love me some Wind N' Sea shore break just like the next guy. My general beef with summer though, is that it seems the season mandates even the most grown of folk dress like children. You know, short pants and flip flops... Now that fall has arrived a man might get the chance to wear some wool, perhaps even a bit of tweed. And it's definitely time to put some leather under our feet, isn't it? Man up, yeah? Don Draper says 'Yeah'.

So to follow up our Stones Throw Showcase summer series and celebrate the advent of a new season we've got some of our biggest and most exciting events of the year lined up for October, starting with this:



The staff here at the GFS offices have been working on procuring this particular event since the very day Grown Folk Shit started (almost an entire year, incase anybody's counting). Trust, it's a very special occasion, this exclusive Maseo dj set, not only for us here at GFS, but presumably for anybody out there who has any degree of appreciation for hip hop. I don't imagine that a De La Soul primer is required here, being that they are among the most widely recognized groups within the genre world wide, along side A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr and perhaps a few others. I am, however, going to use this space to put forth a concept and personal belief, to which everyone is welcome to respond (via comments):
- De La Soul, has more truly great albums (beginning-to-end-Illmatic great, not In My Lifetime Vol. 1-I-love-3/4's-of-the-record-but-could-do-without-the-Blackstreet-cameos great) at a total of four ('3 Feet High And Rising', 'De La Soul Is Dead', 'Buhloone Mindstate' and 'Stakes Is High'), than any other hip hop group in history (excepting Boogie Down Productions, with a total of five - 'Criminal Minded', 'By All Means Necessary', 'Ghetto Music: The Blueprint Of Hip Hop', 'Edutainment' and 'Sex & Violence' - perhaps six, should you want to consider 'Live Hardcore Worldwide', the live album... An anomaly of a catalog which, surprisingly, if any artist in hip hop is ever going to contend with, it's going to be Ghostface). It's a concept which provides evidence enough to argue that De La Soul is perhaps the greatest hip hop group of all time.
Relative to one's perspective, four great albums may not seem like a tremendous benchmark. Compared to artists like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, each with over ten beginning-to-end great albums in their catalogs, a single digit number such as four may seem unaccomplished. But let's be sure our perspective is adjusted properly to compensate for the field in which De La is working... The greatest of hip hop groups all plateau, at least within their recording careers, at three studio albums. Insert your favorite hip hop group here and apply... Eric B & Rakim - 3. Public Enemy - 3. Run D.M.C. - 3. A Tribe Called Quest - 3. Gang Starr - 3. Jungle Bros -2.5, maybe 3. M.O.P. - 2.5. The Beatnuts - 2 full lengths and an E.P. Pete Rock & C.L. - 2. The closest contender would have to be EPMD with flexible total of somewhere between 2.5 - 3.5 ('Strictly Business' and 'Unfinished Business' are both beginning-to-end triumphs... Most everybody seems to love one of either 'Business As Usual' or 'Business Never Personal' and have mixed feelings for the other).
The De La four album benchmark stands up even in the realm of solo artists: Slick Rick - 3. Kool G Rap - 2. Jay-Z - 1 and the aforementioned 3/4. Big Daddy Kane - 1. Biggie - 1. Nas - 1. One approaching competitor here would be, as previously mentioned, Ghostface with a debatable 3.75 ('Ironman', 'Supreme Clientele', 'The Pretty Toney Album' and 'Fishscale' all seems pretty perfect to me, but the middle two often provoke dissenting views, to say the least). As of press time, however, it appears that Ghostdini has taken a sharp left turn to become the (singing) 'Wizard Of Poetry', perhaps clouding his future...
Anyhow, point being... Pos, Dave and your dude Mase are one of the greatest of all time, if not the very best.
For nobody's sake but your own, please don't miss this shit.



Something we've yet to even mention, Maseo is a bona fide, no joke, official disc joc and record collector. Money is nice on the mic too. According to his bio, Mase made his debut as a dj at age 12. Snap!
Here's a recent (Aug 09) live set of his in two parts:
Part 1 is classic hip hop.
Part 2 is funk, soul and breaks.

While you're at it, enjoy this...



...and this:
Earlier this year dj & producer J Period released this pretty incredible Native Tongues dedication program for his True Elements show on Scion Radio. The show is filled with mad entertaining interviews with various Native Tongues members. Below is a link to a portion of that program with Dave and Pos of De La Soul discussing how they first were introduced to hip hop and how they connected with Maseo and Prince Paul to form De La -
The origins of De La Soul interview with J Period on Scion Radio



Again, for your sake, we would like to recommend that you catch a ticket for this Thursday's Grown Folk Shit party with Maseo NOW. Tickets are available right here and at the top of this very blog.

Merci beaucoup,
GFS

#16 // D.a I.nner S.ound Y.'all

Online tickets: $20

Name (s) to put on will call

Email address

$15 PRE-SALE TICKETS

These are VERY LIMITED! and available at:

5 & A Dime
701 8th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 236-0364

Access Music
1537 Garnet Ave
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 270-3987

El Dorado
1030 Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 237-0550

#15 // Stones Throw Artist Showcase #2: DAM-FUNK

Say kin folk?
This week at Grown Folk Shit we are proudly presenting the 2nd installment of our Stones Throw Artist Showcase series, featuring LA's Dãm-Funk.
Evidently this brethren has been putting in work on the keyboards around LA for sometime, but now dude is set to really really do it this year with the release of his debut album "Toeachizown". The album will be released this fall on Stones Throw as a 5 LP set! That's two and a half hours of music! C'mon now... by no stretch of the imagination, is dude playing games.


(photo by Shaun Bloodworth from his recent photo essay "LA Dope")

Dãm-Funk is at least two beasts in one -
First of all, your man is putting out the craziest, most focused music. Peep his output over the last year (it's all available at the Stones Throw online store) and you'll get the sense that this is an artist who is so bout what he's doing that it would be a just wrong for him to be doing anything other than what he's doing. Following a series of 12"s and remixes (including most recently his remix of 'Summertime Clothes' by Animal Collective) Dãm has just released the first two volumes of recordings that will comprise his debut LP. The first volume is titled "LAtrik" and features just about the coldest cover art you could ever imagine.


Dãm on the sound of this volume:
“LAtrik is more of my 'electric style' (hence the title of this volume)..."


The just released second volume is titled "Fly" and has yet, colder cover art.


"They're joints that U can roll 2. Let your hair down 2. Vibe with a lady 2 (or vice-versa), + stay 'fly' 2. I know there's still some fly ladies & gentlemen out there... 4 U. - D-F "

There's a free download of the song "10 West" from this volume over on the stonesthrow.com newsfeed. Here's a bootleg youtube vid for the song, that we personally love...


Yo it's mad bootleg, but it's so nice... Those slick ass long exposure postcard-from-LA shots of the 10 freeway headed into downtown... It's like a trailer for lost Bret Easton Ellis film adaptation staring Prince instead of Andrew McCarthy.

Okay, so as a recording artist, Dãm-Funk seems to be really striving for something uncommon and earnest. Big up yourself for that duke.
Then, you have Dãm-Funk the DJ and record collector, at which both disciplines he appears to have super game. Ol' boy is getting his dj sets reviewed in the New York Times... He's got radio shows and mixes coming out all over the world, from places like the BBC and stussy.com... He currently has the most butteryest show up on the Stones Throw Podcast... Plus he holds down a regular LA party called "Funkmosphere".
Man, if everybody's party promo was this fly...



Possibly my favorite part about this brother is evidenced, in part, in the video below. "... my mission is to give homage and respect to the elders that brought funk down to us... you can't forget about this magical music... It's the people's music..." Yo, money has like the best attitude ever demonstrated by a musician, and I fully trust that dude is speaking from the heart. And to top everything off... A synth metal project?!?! So cold!



Special dedication to the entire Stones Throw camp (Jamie I see you!) for supporting forward cats like this and for making this Thursday's party possible.

xoxoxo,
GFM


Thursday August 6th, 2009
Grown Folk Shit / Stones Throw Artist Showcase #2:
w/ Dam-Funk

$5 at the door

Doors open at 9pm

#14 // Stones Throw Artist Showcase #1: Mayer Hawthorne & The County

Bonjour kin folk.
We're super dumb mad excited to launch our Stones Throw Artist Showcase Summer Series this Thursday. The first artist we are presenting in this series is Ann Arbor, Michigan native, Los Angeles transplant soul/doo wop singing sensation Mayer Hawthorne and his full band The County.



Gilles Peterson has called Mayer's 'Just Aint Gonna Work Out' "One of the biggest records of 2009!". Regarding the same record, Mark Ronson is quoted saying "I have no idea what this is, old or new, but it's fucking good!!!". If that isn't enough juice, try this effing awkward blog post on for size... It's Justin Timberlake calling 'Just Aint Gonna Work Out' "the perfect tune".



Alright, so ol' boy has JT, Gilles Peterson and Mark Ronson on his nuts...
He was also charted in May as one of Urb Magazines "Next 100".


(peep the entire article here)

... Not so bad for a dj from Ann Arbor. Kid done good.

The debut Mayer Hawthorn full length 'A Strange Arrangement' is due out this fall on Stones Throw Records, after which we fully expect dude to blast into the outer regions of fame and shinedom.



Before that happens, though, we are proud to offer you the chance to catch this rising star live amidst the warm and cuddly comforts of Grown Folk Shit this Thursday July 23rd. The evening's host will be resident grown ass joc Ikah Love, who will also be performing with The Grown Folk House Band and guest vocalist Latanya Lockett.

Tickets will be $12 at the door starting at 9pm

There are a limited supply of $10 pre-sale tickets available now at:

5 & A Dime
701 8th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 236-0364

Access Music
1537 Garnet Ave
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 270-3987

El Dorado
1030 Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 237-0550

Merci beaucoup!
Xoxoxo,
GFM



Post Script - If you remember what the Pete Rock show was like, you already know you're gonna want to get to the spot EARLY this night. No joke business.

Thursday, IT'S ON!!! (For OnLife)

So, EL||D is supporting a new local organization... and what better way to support than with a party?

Join us on Thursday, July 16th, as we cheers our glasses to the establishment of the OnLife Prevention Organization. To make sure OnLife gets the right start, we're donating party proceeds to their efforts.

OnLife is a non-profit based in San Diego which uses online social networks to help suicidal and depressed high school adolescents. Sounds great, right? It gets better – music from Ikah Love, Grown Folk house band with special guest Latanya Lockett, as well as a nice raffle will make this a great evening for a great cause. Hope to see you (and all your friends) Thursday! Cover: $5, Raffle tickets: $2

#12 // Music Man Miles of Breakestra

Before we get started here, I have to say WOW and thank you to everybody who came out for the Michael Jackson tribute this past Thursday... shit was fantastical! Merci beaucoup.
Also, I need to dedicate this one to the comrade Charlie Rock. Big up yourself for all the support duke!



So this week's guest folk Miles Tackett is an extremely talented musician, songwriter, producer, joc and probably all other sorts of things that we aint even knowin about. He lists 'Bad News Bears' among his favorite films and Howard Zinn's 'A People's History Of The United States' as a fave book on his myspace page, so you know he's official.
I first got to know Miles' name from his production work on the expatriate rapper T-Love's 'Return Of The B-Girl' EP in 1998. Shortly after that I caught a 7" from a group called Breakestra on the then still new Stones Throw record label. The record was pressed with with a single fiery funk tune stretched over two sides ('Getcho Soul Togetha' parts 1 & 2) and sounded like it could have been recorded in 1966. It also had dude's name on it as songwriter and producer. Trust, I was interested...



Miles also runs sound at a couple of proper funk/soul/live music parties in LA -
The Root Down has been running for 10 years and has been a breeding/meeting ground for talent in a manner comparable to the storied Good Life Cafe (for more info on the GLC check our previous post with DJ Nu-Mark).
Funky Sole has been going strong for 7 years with Miles and Egon of Stones Throw as resident selectors.


Root Down Sound Radio
on Scion Radio



Doors open @ 9pm
Free before 10pm
$5 after


**********************

Be Tee Dub -
There are a limited supply of specially priced $10 pre-sale tickets for the July 23rd Stones Throw Artist Showcase with Mayer Hawthorne and The County available now at the following locations:


701 8th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101


1537 Garnet Ave
San Diego, CA 92109


1030 Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101

#11.5 // Hearts Still Bleeding

AWWWW MAN........ Did we ever get the short end of that stick!

Like, can't we please re-negotiate this deal?! I'll trade 100 Bill Bellamys and at least 2 Janets to get back just 1 Biggie or Mike. Geez...

Check this Michael Jackson tribute video mix recorded live from the mixer during Stones Throw label boss Peanut Butter Wolf's vj set at at the Echoplex in L.A. this past Thursday just hours after the news of Michael's death broke:



You can rsvp now to:
GROWNFOLK.RSVP@GMAIL.COM
to get on the list for this Thursday's Grown Folk Shit Michael Jackson Tribute Night celebration




*************************************


In semi-related news, we're getting ready over here at Grown Folk Shit HQs to launch our Stones Throw Artist Showcase Summer Series. 1st up on July 23rd we have Ann Arbor Michigan native, Los Angeles transplant, multi-instrumentalist, doo wop/soul singing sensation Mayer Hawthorne along with his full band The County.





Next, on August 6th we will be hosting L.A.'s 'Ambassador Of Boogie' and recent Animal Collective remixer Dam-Funk. Peep a NY Times article covering a recent Dam set at APT here.

>



Merci beaucoup.
Xoxoxo,
GFM

Young Guns Summertime Ish

Let the games begin! Its the summer, the heat is on and Young Guns is going down at El Dorado this saturday with a unique first time event. We've put together an epic showdown of sorts, and no there isn't any real weapons involved. We are bringing in a total of four turntables so that two djs can mix together at the same time. Its the ultimate battle to make you dance! The format is two records each per dj, going back and forth live. Who will make you dance harder? DJ Groundfloor or Gabe Vega? Come show your support for this hybrid dance party/live sporting event and cheer for your favorite mix master!



Put those PBR cans on quick draw and be down at the old booze corral before high moon this Saturday for the showdown.

CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW MINI MIX

Mixed by DJ GROUNDFLOOR

Tracklist

1. Metric - Help I'm Alive (Twelves Remix)
2. The Gossip - Heavy Cross (Fred Falke Remix)
3. MVSC - Sunshine
4. Passion Pit - The Reeling (Calvin Harris Remix)
5. La Roux - In For The Kill (Skream vs Foamo Remix)

See you Saturday!

G

#10 // 'Pardon Me, Uhh As I Come Back...'

So, kin folk, recently I've been checking for some of the more breaks oriented producers doin it these days... producers like Quantic, Dusty and the mysterious Shoes folk. There's some quality jawns out there - check this piece by Will Holland of Quantic's newest project Flowering Inferno... Dumb. The more I listen to a lot of these records though, I can't help but think how cracking and how distinct Grown Folk Shit resident dj Greyboy's shit is. For reals. Just sayin...


There's no slacking in your dude's turntable or record collecting game either...

The proof however, as they say, is in the puddin, and we'll be serving up mounds of that shit this Thursday at Grown Folk Shit:

-THURSDAY JUNE 25TH
grown ass resident dj:
GREYBOY
plus
IKAH LOVE
AND
THE GROWN FOLK HOUSE BAND

*Grown Folk House Band starts at 9:30pm

$5 at the door
or
FREE W/ RSVP TO:
GROWNFOLK.RSVP@GMAIL.COM



post script - tons o stuff coming up this summer, including an on-going series of Stones Throw Records artists showcases...
Here's a taste of the science:

Thurs July 9th:
MUSIC MAN MILES of BREAKESTRA
(Root Down/Funky Sole/Los Angeles)

Thurs July 23rd:
MAYER HAWTHORNE live
(Stones Throw Records)

Thurs August 6th:
DAM-FUNK
(Stones Throw Records)


Watch this space...

#8 // The Know How

Shite!!! Mad vexed at the moment. I just lost my second ebay auction of the day... Both to the same person. There's some other DH nerd out there real happy n shit about the clobber they just got over on me for. C'est la vie... Let's try, at least, to concentrate on what's good.
Super homies, The Upstarts are gonna join forces with The Grown Folk House Band for a very special performance tonight at Grown Folk Shit. Add to that a banging ass guest spot from our key comrade Latanya Lockett, and you've got a no-bullshit party. Bet.

Peep the Upstarts new video jawn:

The Upstarts "GOT WHAT IT TAKES" from Garvin Ha on Vimeo.

Jumps at 9pm.
$5 at the door, or free with rsvp to:
GROWNFOLK.RSVP@GMAIL.COM



P.S. - special guest folk: DAMON BELL next week 6/11

Hey Buddy!!

Well Young Guns is almost five parties deep and its been twelves types of awesome all the way through. I would like to focus our attention to exhibit A below:



What is she thinking? Whatever it is, it is what the Young Guns parties are all about. Lets try figure this out saturday night- I hope everyone reaches that level at least once in the evening. To get you there we've got some of the finest hometown jocks around, and not the kind that will give rufees to your girlfriend.



First up we've got local indie rockers turned dj trio Buddy Akai. Playing a live electronic dj set. As pioneers of the San Diego indie dance movement I'm not sure I need to introduce them but for those that dont know here is little sample to geek out on:

VIMBY - Buddy Akai

Oh by the way I also put together an exclusive Young Guns mini mix for ya! It more on the laid back tip, its short and sweet, and its great to hear before you go out or even after. Can you tell I heart Phoenix?

Tracklist
1. Phoenix - Fences
2. Little Boots - Rich Boys
3. Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane remix)
4. Phoenix - Liszomania (Classixx Remix)
5. Ghostland Observatory - Sad Sad City

Click Here For Download

I'm going to keep this post short and sweet. To check out all the photos from last time go here:

Young Guns Myspace Photo Blog


See you Saturday!!


Love,


Groundfloor

#6 // "I Strive To Be Live Cause I've Got No Choice..."

Whappen kin folk? Everybody good? No pork flu? Cool...

So... In 1992/93 my super dude Joaquin Parral and I used to ride around in his yellow Volkswagen Bug and... well, do nothing really. We would just ride and listen to tapes. Joaquin and I had been in a band together a few years prior to this point. Joaq was the very first hardcore kid I knew who got real serious about hip hop and record collecting. I remember the day I walked into his room at his mom's crib where we used to rehearse and stuff, and I was looking around for his drum kit... Joaq was like, "Yo I sold my drum kit for this...". It was a used pair of 1200s and some dude's record collection Joaquin had bought from an ad in the newspaper. Riding around in that VW Bug, Joaquin put me on to a lot of stuff. For years that was the move... It was like the Hypemachine of the day. Joaquin Paral's yellow VW Bug, that was only still running because Joaq's brother in law was a Volkswagen mechanic that could keep the thing going waay past it's natural life cycle, was like the craziest music blog of 1992. If you had a couple of hours and you wanted to hear the new jawns, you'd call Joaq (who was by this time known as DJ Keen - even though I suggested the name 'Radio Joaquin' like Radio Raheem), hop in the whip and pop in a tape. The first time I ever heard 'Come Clean' was in Joaquin's ride. We drove around and listened to nothing but that song for hours, save for the time it took us to rewind the tape back to the beginning each time the track ended. I really need to give sincere thanks to my key comrade DJ Keen (CYP REP!!!) for everything that he has put me up on over the years and for everything that that knowledge has brought to my life. For real, for real.

I will, very specifically, never forget the time ol' boy played me the 'Mecca And The Soul Brother' cassette for the first time. Not to get super emo or weird about it, but hearing Pete Rock's production on that album, in a way, altered the way I listened to music for ever. Trust me, 1992 was not a bad year for hip hop... 'Daily Operation', 'Stunts, Blunts And Hip Hop', 'Sex And Violence' (all three of which may arguably represent the individual pinnacle of an artist's career)... But after really listening to 'Mecca And The Soul Brother' everything else, even some of my most favorite shit, sounded sorta amateur. I bugged out on that album for a very very long time. I honestly still listen to that record and 'The Main Ingredient' album, with what could most likely be considered a disproportionate frequency. I don't know how long it's been since you've listened to either of those records, but if you go pull them off the shelf right now and sit back and listen... really listen to everything that's going on in those songs... how well its all composed with the rhymes and how efficiently it's all orchestrated... if you listen hard enough, you'll hear, in my opinion, what is possibly the most rarified moment in music and art... that moment when an artist is so in tune with their craft, so in touch with the essence of what they are creating, that the artist has become their craft. Pete, to me, personifies hip hop and the craft of beat making all over those records. I truly consider Pete Rock's music, from then up till today, a gift for which I am thankful.

Alright... I'm done. Thanks for letting me share.

So, uhh... guess who the special guest folk is this Thursday over at the ol' Grown Folk Shit party...



Soul Brother #1 Pete Rock, The Chocolate Boy Wonder
is coming through the El Dorado this Thursday for a very special guest dj set. We're all extremely excited about this. We decided that this very special occasion was good cause to spend effing hours on the interweb youtubing (semi)informative and (hugely)entertaining Pete Rock videos, the cream of which you now get enjoy, starting with my personal favorite...





1991 'Yo! MTV Raps' interview with Fab 5 Freddy... Pete on the beat box for a live, walking through the streets of Mount Vernon, version of 'Straighten It Out'.



Future Music Magazine interview... Pete on the MPC. Chopping Pat Benatar?



Guitar Center Sessions... Pete, 9th Wonder, Dj Revolution, DJ Nu-Mark and Just Blaze getting emo talking about 'T.R.O.Y'.



First things first, obey your thirst... Would the world be a better place if good rappers still got endorsement deals soda pop manufacturers?



INI 'Fakin' Jax'... One of my fave Pete Rock beats for one of my fave Pete Rock projects. Plus it's a classic and tasteful, mad low budget rap video.


This very special Grown Folk Shit party featuring guest folk Pete Rock is this Thursday May 7th at El Dorado.

The night will also feature resident grown ass dj Ikah Love plus a live set by Ikah Love and the Grown Folk House Band with guest vocalist Latanya Lockett.

The party starts at 9pm.

Tickets at the door will be:
$8 before 10pm and
$10 after


A very limited number of $8 pre-sale tickets are available now at El Dorado, as well as the following locations:



5 & A Dime
701 8th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
5andadime.com




California Sound & Lighting
1919 San Diego Ave
San Diego, CA 92110
calsound.com




Access Music
1537 Garnet Avenue
San Diego, CA 92109
accesshiphop.com










xoxoxo,
Grown Folk Management

Young Guns: The Godfather

Wow! Before I get started I just gotta say that Lykke Li at the Belly Up tonight was phenomenal. The gist of it: a Swedish singer/songwriter in Solana Beach at on a Monday night right after Coachella (where she also performed) completely sold out. Why such a big deal? Imagine a one-in-a-million voice somewhere between the Nordic rasp of Niko and the ethereal cooing of Blonde Redhead. It was something very special and everyone was stoked to be there. She even covered 'A Milli" by Lil Wayne and "Can I Kick It?' By A Tribe Called Quest- IN STYLE! On that note lets talk about this Saturday night because I'm sure we will witness an equal level of awesomeness.



Where do I begin? Franki Chan is one of my heroes. Not because he is a jet setting DJ, or because he is world famous for his record label/production company, IHeartComix (home to Designer Drugs, HeartsRevolution, Matt & Kim and many others). He's got something few DJs can claim- he helped start a new movement in music, a movement that is close to the hearts of tens of thousands of musically-discerning southern Californians.
He almost single-handedly lit the indie dance party fire in LA in the later half of this decade. He brought out French Electro super bad asses Justice for their first American show. He help break Spank Rock, MSTRKRFT, Simian Mobile Disco, Crystal Castles, Boys Noize, and many others to the Southern Californa masses with his bi-monthly party called Check Yo Ponytail in LA. He did it before "electro" was a buzzword, and he is a big reason the genre has moved to that point. For that he is rightfully called the Godfather by many. Below is a video that documents Check Yo Ponytail on Halloween night 2006. This was the first night Justice performed in the states to scores of screaming fans. Did I mention MSTRKFT was there too? It was a catalytic moment in dance music culture and we at El D are proud to have him get behind the decks this Saturday for your entertainment.

Here's one of Mr. Chan's recent mixtapes



Last thing, for everyone looking for the photos from our last party, you can find them here.
In fact, for all the photos check out the photo blogs on our profile at: myspace.com/younggunssandiego

See ya soon!

Love,

Groundfloor

POSSO!

Hey everyone!

DJ Groundfloor here, first of all, tip of my hat to everyone that came out to the Shark Attack party! The dance floor was full and abundant with smiles at the end of the night- a true measure of a good time. You can find the photo from that night right here. The Young Guns parties are shaping up to be among the best in our fine city, if you haven't come out yet, we've got a great party lined up for you this saturday!

In sync with San Diego Fashion Week, we bring you the official Fashion Week Closing Party for those who know. Our guest entertainers for the night are two girls from LA that have made their mark on both the fashion and music industry. Marylouise Pels and Vanessa Giovacchini are collectively know as Posso, a forward thinking fashion lifestyle brand and a cutting edge DJ collective. They are perhaps most well known in the fashion industry for resurrecting the popularity of the Spat , a now sought-after vintage fashion accessory. In recent times they've made their mark on the music world, DJing at amazing parties alongside Cut Copy, Them Jeans, Steve Aoki, LA Riots, and many others. Posso will join us this Saturday for a party you won't want to miss.



Lastly, if your on the 'space feel free to stop by and say hi!

www.myspace.com/younggunssandiego

See ya soon!!

DJ Groundfloor

#5 // DJ Nu Mark Interview

Peace kin folk.

Hope everybody is well. The Grown Folk Shit parties have been real super rad. Give thanks to everybody who has come through and checked us out so far. If you have been by El Dorado on a Thursday, you will most likely have noted that the Grown Folk House Band is cracking as well. If you have yet to come by, don't trip... The band is there every week, along with really super duper rad djs. Take this coming Thursday for example, when DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic-5 drops in for a very special guest set.














Nu-Mark is perhaps best know for his work as co-producer and dj (along with Cut Chemist) for the gold selling group Jurassic-5. He was also a key figure in the late 90s DJ explosion, which really re-positioned the joc at the forefront of not only hip hop culture but the greater collective international consciousness. Having toured the globe with Jurassic-5, as well as on his own, performing at some of the worlds largest and most prestigious music festivals - Coachella, Bonnaroo, The UK’s Reading Festival, and Japan’s Summer Sonic - Nu Mark has really put a lot of time and hard work into developing his creative and groundbreaking DJ routines. Over the last two decades your dude has taken his record collecting real serious too, having built a, surely enviable, collection of over 35,000 pieces. In 2004 Nu Mark started releasing his own projects with the instrumental 'Blend Crafters Vol. 1' record and his 'Hands On' mix-cd. More recently, Nu has produced tracks for various other artists, including his J-5 comrade Chali 2na and an truly amazing remix of the classic Pharcyde tune '4 Better Or 4 Worse'. Currently working on his new album, Nu Mark is clearly as busy as ever, so we really want to thank the guy for taking time out of his day recently to discuss his work, his plans for the future, and some of his thoughts on djing and record collecting with GFS resident grown ass dj Ikah Love. Peep the technique:

IKAH LOVE:
Congratulations, it's seems as though you've been a consistently busy dude over the last 10 or so years. What sort of stuff have you been involved in recently?

NU MARK:
I just produced a song with Pharoahe Monch and a group out of Australia called Hilltop Hoods for their album.  I produced a joint on DJ Revolutions album.  I produced a song called Epiphany for a group out of D.C. called Panacea.  I just produced a remix for Pharcyde called "4 Better or 4 Worse".  I did two songs on Chali 2na's album.  The latest greatest is that I'm working with Saturday Night Live's writers and Andy Samberg on the Lonely Island album that just came out!  I produced two songs on the album......excited about that!  These are the guys that made "Dick In The Box" and "Jiz In My Pants" that you see on SNL.  Funny Stuff.  I'm about a 3rd of the way done with my album.......that's gonna take a while.

IKAH:
You've had a pretty amazing career already. Are there special moments or highlights that particularly stand out in your memory?

NU:
It's tough to say because there's been a lot of unexpected highlights.  I'm proud of being able to sell close to 200,000 records independently with J5 after many, many labels turned us down.  I'm happy that I've had a chance to work with Big Daddy Kane and the Beatnuts.  I trip out on how successful the movie Scratch was.  I still think it's an important documentary.  I really like what Shadow, Cut and myself did for the "Pushin' Buttons" song for Shadows album.  I've always enjoyed "Swing Set" and "Acetate Prophets"...those songs took a very long time to create.

IKAH:
How about the version of John Lennon's 'Imagine' that you did on the 'Blend Crafters' record... That song is not only an unlikely tune for a hip hop producer to cover, but the result is sooo good. How did that come about?

NU:
It was my idea to cover it because the record I used in the production was amazing.  It just felt right.

IKAH:
You've had the chance to play all over the world to so many different crowds and types of people. Do you feel djing abroad has in any way informed how your approach to djing here in the U.S., or in general?

NU:
Yes, it's opened my eyes to electronic sounding beats.  The states is a little less open to genre's such as Dub Step etc..  Europe likes dance songs where the states gravitates more towards rugged Hip Hop and Rock.  It's fun to take influences from both.

IKAH:
Can you put a finger on what it is about djing a party that still gets you open?

NU:
Umm, I still really enjoy blending songs together.  I also really enjoy the idea of being able to select a song people haven't heard in a while and play it in my own special way or blending two songs from a great era.

IKAH:
With all of your experience, do you have an opinion on what makes a good party, or one that's particularly fun to play?

NU:
When people dance and drink.....it's a party.  When people just stare at the DJ it's more of an exhibit.  I like to see people having fun personally.

IKAH:
Word up. How long have you been collecting records? Do You remember the first record you bought?

NU:
I've been collecting for 24 years.  My first record I was given was Monster Mash the Halloween record but the first record I purchased was U.T.F.O. Roxanne Roxanne.

IKAH:
What do you think it was that got you into collecting?

NU:
In the eighty's DJ's were judged on their ability to play dope records.  The scratching thing was brand new and it was more about your song selection and being able to simply keep up with all the great music being generated by all genere's at that time.  Rock, New Wave and Hip Hop were at an all time high!!

IKAH:
That's super cool to hear somebody who is maybe known to specialize in one area, talk about the value of keeping up with everything, including things perhaps outside of that area of expertise. Are there things that you collect that might surprise your average fan?

NU:
Well I try to collect really bad music that just makes people laugh...you know.  I like bad demos and quirky songs.  Lately I've been really into Bulkan music.....Borat type shit.

IKAH:
Is there a section of your record collection that you are most proud of?

NU:
I'm proud of my Soul and Hip Hop collection for the most part.

IKAH:
The film 'This Is The Life' which documents the late 80s, early 90s community surrounding the Good Life Cafe was recently released. How closely involved were you in that community?

NU:
Well, I was really occupied with my DJ crew at that time (Bum Rush Productions) but we kept hearing about the Good Life Cafe and how some of L.A's dopest mc's would perform there every thursday.  Finally we went down there and were simply blown away at the creativity our city displayed.  We were DJ'n so much on the other side of L.A. that it was tough for us to get to the Good Life but the times we were there were amazing.  I met Cut Chemist around that time and that's when things changed for me and Hip Hop became my career.  The movie is off the chain.  I highly reccommend it to anyone who likes creativity.

IKAH:
It seems to me, that in the last couple of years there are a couple places where people want hip hop to fit comfortably. On one hand you have the pre-eminent 'ring tone rap' artist... On the other hand you have an emerging category of 'scenester rap' with artists like The Cool Kids and Kid Cudi. At the same time you have the commercial success of genuine funk and soul acts like The Dap-Kings... Something that you might expect to precipitate the resurgence and success of more roots oriented hip hop acts such as Jurassic-5. do you think an artist pushing the kind of sound and references that J-5 did could sign to a major and make a real career for themselves in today's market?

NU:
Ahh, it's all Hip Hop to me.  I really dislike categorizing and spreading this music thin with all the labels etc...The states needs to have such logical/mathmatical answer to what a group sounds like and where they fit.  Creativity is more vast than that.  Sometimes there is no "why or what".  Sometimes these groups have a sound never heard before and you can't compare it but people find securtiy in sayin it's a blend of this and that.  Not sure about a group like J5 fitting into todays commercial market.....just not sure.  I've always been terrible at predictions though.  We were fortunate to have impecable timming with our independent movement!  I think people always crave something different and cutting edge as it pertains to the underground.  Even if a new group blends many different sounds together the people begin to say that this artist is the next big thing even if they fizzle out in 3 months.  I think that the majors are mostly looking for pop acts these days due to the terrible condition of the industry.  There are exceptions with some of these smaller inprints though.  The internet is the strongest tool outside of touring these days for underground music.

IKAH:
You have a pretty strong presence on the interweb yourself. There are, in particular, a lot of youtube clips of you on tour doing the stuff with the MPC and the toy instruments. Can you explain a little bit about what you're doing there?



NU:
Yeah, well I started re-wiring some of output jacks of my old and new musical toys so  they can play through my mixers.  The goal was to fill the stage up with innovative toys that could make for a dope performance.  I have old toys like the Chimp with the cymbals (he plays the cymbals like a metronome while I tap out a beat on a drum machine).  I have newer toys like the Music Blocks that actually have a bar of music that plays on each side of each cube.  You'd have to see it in action.  Each side of the cube has a different shape......so stars are piano
lines, circles are bass lines and I do a routine with two Music blocks and my mixer in the middle.  I have mini turntables, mini keyboards and much, much more.  It never ends...Lots of fun.

IKAH:
Are there any djs or artists that you are checking for currently?

NU:
Pacific Division (these cats are the truth)!! Dom Kennedy, Onra, Lonely Island and Bulkan Beatbox!

IKAH:
How about the future? What are your plans?

NU:
Just trying to get more beats placed in movies, television, albums and finsh what I started with my own album!



The party this Thursday April 2nd is $5 before 10 pm and $7 after. There are also a limited number of pre-sale tickets available for $5, which will be honored at the door all night. These pre-sale tickets are available now at El Dorado,as well as the following locations:








5 & A Dime
701 8th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
5andadime.com





California Sound & Lighting
1919 San Diego Ave
San Diego, CA 92110
calsound.com












xoxoxo,
Grown Folk Management