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This is the eight and final blog on the Hip Hop Slam presents Positive Omen Japan Tour 2011 featuring DJ Quest, Mista B, DJ ALF, and DnZ that also included Quest’s son Alex - aka DJ Train – who traveled on the tour and did one performance. Included are the two tour overview video reports (above + below) care of Mista B who also wrote the in-depth report below. I had seen Mista B in New York City, right before he flew out to Japan, where we were both judges on the US DMC Finals. Likewise I had just seen DJ ALF shortly before the tour – well a week earlier at his wedding down in Maryland.  Exactly one week after getting married the DJ, who once lived in Japan, was heading out on tour of Jpaan. Now that’s some real dedication to the art of turntablism! DJ ALF also weighs in here on this blog on the tour. “The tour overall was grand! I think we have sparked a huge interest in the main purpose of the Positive Omen tour. Although some of the venues had a small turnout due to Obon, we had a great time jamming out.. So, whatever you can please donate whatever you can to a legit organization that will enhance the tsunami relief efforts in Japan. Thanks goes out to everyone whom have been supportive throughout the tour. This is just the beginning!” summarized DJ ALF of the tour.

Mista B says: “In Japan, I took part of a tour with DJs Quest, DnZ, and ALF. The tour was called the Hip Hop Slam presents Positive Omen Tour and it was for the people of Japan who had suffered through the earthquake and it’s fallout. The tour took us from Shibuya-Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Okinawa, Rupungi, and back to Shibuya. We were doing all kinds of gigs and events ranging from in-stores, live stream shows, party rocking events, and showcasing. We also took numerous forms of transportation to get around; from taxi’s to bullet trains. You name it, we rode it.

Not only was it my first tour, but I was flying straight from New York, having just judged and showcased at the DMC USA Finals. I flew half way around the world to be in Japan. It was a good mix of DJs on the tour because we all brought something different to the table meaning some interesting music to be. Some shows had limited space, or not all the equipment like turntables that we needed. For the most part, we improvised with whatever set-up we had but I think we rocked to the most of our capabilities. It was certainly a dynamic sound that we were creating.

One day, we took the train from Shibuya-Tokyo, to Osaka, lugging all our luggage, four mixer boxes, merchandise, and other random items. On this same day, we had four sets in three different locations. We sound checked in a place called Slow Land Cafe went to do an in-store at Manhattan-West Records, went back to do two sets at Slow Land Cafe then with whatever energy we had left, went to DJ our after part at Do With Cafe. We were taking three-four cabs to each location. It was crazy to say the least. With all that being said, I enjoyed the crowd at Osaka the most. They were so receptive to the music we were performing and very welcoming. I want to go back there if I ever go back to Japan.

Another highlight is performing at the DMC Eastern Japan Finals. The system there is different. For prelims, they DJs get three minutes. For the final round, the DJs also get three minutes. I don’t know if the rule varies from country to country but it did make the night go by fast. There were a lot of dope performances and the crowd really cares about their DJs. In the United States for instance, you do a beat juggle and less than half the crowd can follow it, let alone a complex beat juggle routine. In watching some footage I took, I see that a lot of men and women are following and head nodding with the beat juggles. I really appreciated this because it shows me the respect the little nuances and intricate things the go over a lot of people’s heads in turntabilism.

Everyone in the Positive Omen tour held it down too. Like I said earlier, it was a good balance of different but talented DJs. If we had the same styles, then I think the tour would of been a bit bland. Overall, I’m pretty happy and proud to have been apart of this tour. Being able to hang with talented DJs who are good people is a blessing or a positive omen haha! I’ve gained so much experience and I hope that the people of Japan enjoyed what we’ve had to share. Thanks to Tyron Daniels, Tomokuni Nishimura, Shux Files, Earl the Pearl (Monroe), Circus DJs, Japan DMC, DJs Quest, Alf, DnZ, and Hip Hop Slam!” – Mista B

Bay Area rap history circa 92 – one of the earliest Peanut Butter Wolf related productions before he  was called Peanut Butter Wolf (PBW) was in 1992 when a young (pre Charizma affiliated) “Chris Cut” was doing engineering production for The Siggnett Posse from San Jose. In the video above DJ Marz talks about getting the crew’s tape back in the day that also had a vinyl release. Marz also recalls many legendary Bay rap spots in the reminisce clip that should make ol skool Bay fools smile in recognition. As far as the music (all good) among my faves is the opening song on Side A of the tape “Get Right To It (J-Wa nz + D-Flat)” which has a a funky distinctly Bay Area sound (a little APG and a little RBL sounding), The release was on Both Sides of the Bay label. It was recorded in Venus Studio San Jose. Talking with PBW recently he recalled that, “the lead MC from the group was the nephew of the lead singer of the Village People.” And will there ever be a Siggnett Posse reunion with PBW in the mix? Anything is possible. Start a FB petition and make it happen.

Bay Area Playaz – compilation 1995 review by Billy Jam from No Joke mag

Saturday, March 6, 2010 posted by Billy Jam 12:23 pm

This review written by Billy Jam of the (then new) Bay Area Playaz compilation appeared in the underground Bay Area rapzine No Joke in its November 1995 issue back  when Mr Cee of RBL was still alive (he was killed on New Years Day 1996 about seven weeks after this was published) and when the most prolific Bay Area rap scene was at a real high point in both popularity and creativity. It was a different time for many reasons including the fact that people still bought (not download for free) their music – a time when CDs were popular but so too were cassettes and (to a lesser degree in terms of Bay rap releases) records.
  

Bay Area Playaz, the much anticipated compilation    about to drop from Anonymous Records, is the  ultimate Bay Area rap compilation containing as it  does, the best rappers and producers from the greater  Bay Area all delivering their very best (all original)  tracks! This impressive playlist, which tops all the  previously released Bay Area compilations, reads like a  who’s who of Bay Area rap. It includes triple-dope tracks from the likes of RBL Posse, Knumskull of the Luniz, JT The Bigga Figga, Master P and TRU, The Delinquents, Totally Insane, Guce, Sean T, GLP, Young Cellski, Hitman, The Link Crew, Mr. El, Sh’killa and talented newcomers, Street Thugs, whose song “Deep In The Game” could well be an underground smash.

From start to finish, Bay Area Playaz is one of those records that grabs your attention and never lets go. “It’s the sort of tape that you never want to hit fast forward on,” enthused project producer T. Cee. One of the reasons for this is the variety of sounds found on Bay Area Playaz courtesy of the various producers such as K-Lou, DJ Fuze, Cellski, Sean T, The Enhancer and JT.

With preview demo copies of Bay Area Playaz already a hot item on the rap underground circuit, pundits are picking their favorite tracks. Most seem to agree that RBL Posse, the popular Hunters Point duo comprised of Black C and Mr. Cee, have delivered one of their best tracks with “Miz Me” while the fun and cleverly scripted “Captain Wreck-A-Hoe” from Knumskull has already become other’s clear favorite on the compilation. Another crowd pleaser is the instantly engaging JT The Bigga Figga’s “X-Filez” which is also a tribute to KMEL, the station that helped launch the Fillmore rapper and his crew (the GLP) to national fame and fortune.

Another Priority Records artist, Richmond’s Master P and his posse TRU, also deliver some of their best work with the track, “I’m A Gee.” Other standout tracks include East Oakland power duo The Delinquents killer track “Can’t Be Stopped,” The Link Crew’s “The World In My Eyes” which is the album’s first single, East Palo Alto rapper Sean T’s “M Dash One” and Hitman’s “Everyday.” Bay Area Playaz is definitely the ultimate Bay Area rap compilation.

Bay Area Top 50 Chart: Feb 1996 – Hip Hop Slam Radio Show Playlist

Monday, February 15, 2010 posted by Billy Jam 1:10 pm

 

INSANE & D-MACK's Released in late 1995 by In It Fo Da Money Records

 

14 years ago, back in 1996 Hip Hop Slam was in the midst of producing the “Pirate Fuckin Radio” show – a 100 part underground, micro-broadcast radio series that was heard on such stations as Free Radio Berkeley, SF Liberation Radio, Free Radio Santa Cruz, KBUD Mendicino, 89.1FM Seattle, Flavor 919, and 909 The Bomb in Miami. Not surprisingly the focus was on Bay Area hip-hop of all styles. Here is the chart from almost exactly 14 years ago – from the week ending February 27, 1996 which included such releases as (in the #39 slot) the cassette full-length pictured above – by Insane & D-Mack “Lookin’ Fo Da DOPEMAN” which was released in late ‘95 on Fresno indie rap label In It Fo Da Money Records.

HIP HOP SLAM BAY AREA TOP 50 (2/27/96) (*=New Release)

1) 2Pac “All Eyez On Me” (Death Row)
2)* IMP “Ill Mannered Playas” (In-A-Minute)
3) Richie Rich “Half Thang” (41510/Shot)
4) Peanut Butter Wolf “Step On Our Ego” (South Paw)
5) Lil Gangsta P “meet the lil gangsta” (Erin)
6) The Dangerous Crew various (Dangerous/Jive)
7) Askari X “Message To The Black Man” (Slow Motion)
8  Hobo Junction “E.P.” (South Paw)
9) Various “The Dark Side EP” (Tough Street)
10) MadFace “Black Attracts Heat” (Corn Field)

11) Rappin’ 4-Tay “Aint No Playa” (Rag Top/Chrysalis)
12) The Click “Game Related” (Jive)
13) Conscious Daughters “Gamers” 12″ (Priority)
14) N.O.A. “forilla” (120)
15) Various ³”Bay Area 4080 Nation Wide” (promo-only tape)
16) Dr Octagon (feat Q-Bert) “Dr Octagonocologyst” (Bulk)
17) The Solesides Crew Presents (Solesides tape)
18)* Celly Cel “It’s goin’ down” (Sick Wid It/Jive)
19) The M.O.B.B. ³never trust them h*¹s² (Bounce)
20) Spice 1 “1990 Sick” (Jive)

21)* Funky Aztecs feat 2Pac “Slipping Into Darkness” (Conspiracy)
22) Kinfolks various (Extortion)
23) Game Related “Soak Game” (Big K)
24) JT The Bigga Figga “Dwellin’ in the Labb” (Get Low/Priority)
25) Suga T “Recognize” (Sick Wid It/Jive)
26) Get Low Playaz (GLP) “What we known fo” (Get Low)
27) Ironic “De Vallejo” (Conspiracy)
28) Tabb Doe “Reality Check” (Incognito)
29) Underground Rebellion “A-1Immaculate Funktism” (Treasure Line)
30) Souls of Mischief ³No Man’s Land² (Jive)

31)* Milkman feat Da Goonz “It’s on” (Major Music)
32)* Sacred Hoop demo tape (Miasmatic)
33) Silent Cries From The Ghetto/The Soundtrack various (Trigga Happy)
34)* Gansta Rhyme Posse “Skunk” (Strapped 4 Life)
35) J. Dubb ³Game Related² (Relentless)
36) Street Thugs “Not to be fu.?ed with” (Snake Pit)
37) Ant Banks (MC Breed) “Money…” (Jive)
38) Totally Insane ³Back Street Life² (In-A-Minute)
39) Insane & D-Mack “Lookin’ Fo The DOPEMAN” (In It Fo Da Money)
40) Tha Dangla (G-Note)

41) Bay Area Playaz various (Anonymous)
42) RBL Posse¹s Hitman ³Solo Creep² (The Right Way)
43)* Marv/Mitch & LeMay “Livin In THa Strange” (Out Tha Drout)
44) Tha Fast 1 (G-Note)
45)* Land Of Da Lost (Lic N’Snot Records)
46) Hook Boog “Kreepin while ya sleepin” (Abyssal Giantism)
48) Marty James “This is how it goes” (Black Diamond)
49) Mr X “One time at the door” (Jungle)
50) Skip Dog “Ist the money,then the power” (BodyBag)