• Highlights of the Justice League by Rocky Hanes
• Music Biz News inc. Wherehouse bankruptcy & new Digital DJ technology
• Hip Hop DJ News inc. Triple Threat DJs, the "TJ DJ" phenomenon, &
    BOMB European tour dates
• Rob Swift's Sound Event reviewed by DnZ
• Hip Hop Slam label news inc. the banning of the "Don't give a FUCK…" button
• Hookin Style Presents: Bay Area Exports DVD reviewed by DnZ
• History of the Hip Hop DJ series overview by DJ Killahoe

MUSIC BUSINESS NEWS OVERVIEW

Things are changing fast in all aspects of the music biz: from how music is being made'n'played to how it is being acquired (note: not "bought") by music fans/consumers…

The Ultimate Scratch CD, a "digital DJ" tool is one of an emerging new trend of "battle CDs" starting to be marketed. Released two weeks ago by New Jersey's Replicant Music Trading Corp. and for sale at the HipHopSlam.com Shop and other sites/retail outlets this sixty minute CD packs in the equivalent of five vinyl battle records. "It's great value and it is a sign of the these money-tight times plus it is all part of the rise of the new digital technology," said a Guitar Center salesperson, noting that 2003 will see many new CD "scratch" components hitting the market. Recently launched and creating a buzz is the new Denon DJ digital scratch tool (DN-S5000) which bills itself as "the world's first active CD player." DJ Pone, one of the vinyl DJs who has embraced the digital technology, reports that the new Denon CD turntable "takes digital DJ technology one step closer to the feeling of the traditional vinyl turntable" mainly because it has a platter that spins and moves like a traditional Technics turntable. More on this in future NEWS reports…

Since our last update, when we reported that last month a federal judge ruled that Internet service providers must now hand over the names of suspected copyright violators upon request, service provider Verizon Communications has fought back against the Fed's ruling announcing on Jan 30th that they would take "every means available" to protect their customers' privacy and that they viewed the Federal ruling as an "unconstitutional invasion" of their clients' privacy. At the time Verizon was the only service provider challenging the ruling…

Meanwhile another sign of change in the music biz as we knew it occurred with the sudden bankruptcy of the Texas based South West Wholesale one-stop/distributor, one of the biggest one-stops after previously deceased Valley. "It's a sign of the times," said Kerry Huffman of the indie Bay Area based one-stop/distributor Urban Life Distribution. "Basically it's bad for our industry since there are a lot of indie labels that will be greatly affected." While CD piracy and file-sharing are being blamed for many music businesses failing, most insiders point also to the big chains like Best Buy and Circuit City who sell CDs and DVDs at cost, eliminating any competition from other retailers (esp. small indies) and the distributors/one-stops who service them…

Further proof came with Wherehouse Entertainment filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closing 120 stores last month. The company also vowed to "retool" its remaining 250 locations with a plan to "aggressively merchandise DVD and videogames." This seems to be a trend in the retail record biz: to get away from selling CDs and focus on video games and DVDs. The equally troubled Tower Records/Video has already increased its percentage of DVDs and videogames in its merchandise mix… Wherehouse and many retail stores are also adding interactive sampling stations.

HIP HOP DJ NEWS

Mista Sinista was a no-show for his Jan. 31 Bay Area dates (apparently he was sick)…

Turntable Radio in the UK is putting together a DJ compilation to raise money to keep the radio show and its financially troubled broadcaster, London's nonprofit Resonance FM, on the air. For more info email: trick@turntableradio.com...

An amazing collection of classic hip hop DJ tracks has been released in the limited edition History of the Hip Hop DJ series (see full story below)…

Bas-1, currently residing in Sweden, is scheduled to join DJ Cash Money this month at a show in Gothenburg where he will perform his great song "To All The DJs"...

The TJ DJ phenomenon is one way to describe the amount of DJs who work for grocery chain Trader Joe's (TJs). DJ Platurn (Oakland Faders) who works at the Emeryville TJs says other TJ DJs at his store include Impereal (Turntable Technicians), Devro, and bedroom DJ "Pete"… Meanwhile at the SoCal Redondo Beach TJs one of the employees is DJ T-Rock who reports that there are "also a lot of musicians and beat makers and art people who work here." Platurn says that one reason TJs is popular with DJs is that "Unlike a lot of retail jobs TJ's is cool and they are lenient towards artist types… they will be understanding and work with you and around your tour schedule if you go on the road."…

T-Rock along with Foreign Legion, Azeem, and Dave Paul will be touring Europe in March as part of the BOMB Hip Hop tour with dates including Munich's Beatstreet at Atomic Cafe (March 5), Amsterdam's Melkweg (March 8), Paris' Nouveau Casino (March 9), and Gothenburg, Sweden's Pusterviksbaren (March 16). For more details on this BOMB tour: www.bombhiphop.com/newbomb/bombpages/Europetour.html…

In related news the legendary BOMB Hip Hop zine, which was published from Oct. '91 to Oct '96, will return with a special one-off issue this month. Look for it in magazine stores and music spots including Tower or find out more about it at www.bombhiphop.com…

3/3/03 (March 3rd, 2003) is the appropriately chosen release date for the debut album Many Styles (Fat Beats) from the Triple Threat DJs. Featuring Shortkut, Apollo, and Vin Roc the Bay Area DJ supergroup, known for including all DJ styles from battling and party rocking to scratching/beat juggling, has enlisted such collaborators as Talib Kweli, Mystic, Rob Swift & Roc Raida of the X-ecutioners, Souls of Mischief, Main Flow, Goapele, Nimm and Zion I. Fellow Bay Area hip hoppers Zion I appear on the album's lead off single "Hit Em Off. The DJs threw a party, along with Mr. E, Derrick D, and Mike Nice last weekend at San Francisco's Border Cantina to celebrate the new single and the turnout was so large that there was a long ass line around the block for these much-loved Bay Area DJs. We will be reviewing the album here in future NEWS but meanwhile you can get more info: www.triplethreatdj.com…

DJ/producer/inventor/all around hip hop renaissance man Shing02 stopped by Hip Hop Slam recently to talk about his Faderboard invention which he created for Vestax who will market the DJ instrument later this year. So what makes the Faderboard unique? "Whatever note you sample you can assign it to key," said the Japanese-born, Oakland resident Shing02. "It could even be a vocal sample… it's sorta like a sampler keyboard but it operates on a fader," he said adding that, "Up until now the fader was used to cut things up that were coming into the fader. So i said why can't we trigger a sound with a fader? Sure, technology-wise it is nothing new. We have this type of equipment with Midi controllers but it wasn't until now that it is a real instrument." You can hear the Faderboard played by Shing02 along with his DJ crew Freelancers United on the forthcoming Scratch Attack Vol. 3.

For more info e-mail shing02@e22.com or visit: www.vestax.com & www.e22.com

HIP HOP SLAM LABEL NEWS & CONCERTS/EVENTS UPDATES

The brand new Hip Hop Slam release, the amazing DJ compilation Scratch Attack Vol. 2 that features such DJs as QBert, Alien Army, DJ Happee, DJ Jester, and DJ Quest, is just now getting into stores. Already it has been played and added to the charts of numerous radio stations nationwide including KUSF San Francisco, KZUU Washington State, KCPR San Luis Obispo where it is #2 on this week's CMJ new music chart, KPFA Berkeley, WRIU FM, WZBC in Boston, WFMU in East Orange New Jersey, KFJC in Los Altos Hills Cali, WRCT FM, and WRAS in Atlanta, GA. The 25 track CD is available to purchase online here and at such sites as turntablelab.com and thegiantpeach.com. DJs note that there will be a modified single vinyl version (Scratch Attack: the LP) dropping in the beginning of April…

Coming right before that release will the next Hip Hop Slam DJ collection in the series: Scratch Attack Vol. 3 (a 30 track collection featuring DJ T-Rock, Alien Army, Kid Ginseng, Shing02 & Freelancers United, DJ Platurn, and many more talented DJs/producers)…

Hip Hop Slam was invited by KUSF's Beatsauce crew (Wisdom, J-Boogie, & Raw B) to get on the decks for an hour on 90.3FM, San Francisco on Sunday Feb. 23 from 6:30PM-7:30PM. Representing Hip Hop Slam on the turns and/or on the mic will be DJ Pone, DJ Platurn, DnZ, DJ Munkifunk, Billy Jam, Timi D…, DJ Spair and other special surprise guests down with Hip Hop Slam…

DJ Quest along with Albert Mathias and Andrew Kushin (collectively known as Live Human) currently have a Sunday residency, from 7PM til Midnite (small donation asked at door), at San Francisco's 26 Mix (3024 Mission St.). Last Sunday guitarist Peter Whitehead joined the trio for an amazing set....Many Hip Hop Slammers are expected to participate in the big San Francisco Peace March on Sunday, Feb. 16. Schedule is: 11AM rally @ Justin Herman Plaza, 1PM march up Market Street, and 2PM rally at Civic Center. More info: www.bauaw.org…

Billy Jam along with DJ Wisdom will be among the judges at the emcee battle at the Black Box in Oakland on Sat. 15th…

The Hip Hop Slam battle record label imprint Don't Give A FUCK Style Battle Records—home to the Shigger Fragger Battle Beats, Breaks, Loops, and Shit…—caused a bit of controversy recently when a button manufacturing plant in Tennessee refused to print buttons because of the word "FUCK." (Note: you can buy buttons from the Shop.) A similar scenario occurred a few years ago when a printing plant in Southern California objected to printing the Pirate Fuckin Video VHS covers because of the "F" word. In that and this recent case another printer agreed to print the dreaded word…

DJ Krush, who made a cameo on the 2000 Hip Hop Slam release, DJ Sushi's Lost Dub Plates EP is scheduled to perform at the DNA in San Francisco on Feb. 20th

HISTORY OF THE HIP HOP DJ Vols. 1, 2, and 3
by DJ Killahoe

Santa Monica's DJ History, part of the underground collective of West Coast DJs and hip hop appreciators responsible for the limited edition CD collections related to some era or sub-genre of hip hop history, is responsible for the amazing new 3 CD set: History of the Hip Hop DJ. (Now available from the Shop.) To help preserve hip hop's history these DJ's donate sets of CDs to select public libraries in California and New York. The DJ tracks contained in the set hail back mainly to the old school (meaning 1980's), a period in hip hop's history when the DJ got a lot more respect than today. Tracks included in these collections are a nice mix of DJ solo tracks and MC/DJ tracks when emcees rapped endless praises of their DJs. When did you ever hear Nelly rapping his love of a DJ? All I can say is that these collections (many with hard to find tracks) capture a great time in hip hop. Just check out the individual tracking on each volume. It says it all:

History of the Hip Hop DJ Vol. 1

01) "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the wheels of Steel" Grandmaster Flash (1981)
02) "Do You like scratchin?" Worlds Famous Supreme Team/Malcolm McLaren (1982)
03) "Military Cut" Grand Wizzard Theodore & Kevvie Kev Rockwell ("Wild Style" S/T) (1983)
04) "Rockit" Grandmixer D.ST/Herbie Hancock (1983)
05) "What is a DJ if he can't scratch?" Uncle Jamm's Army/Egyptian Lover (1983)
06) "Jay's Game" Jam Master Jay/Run DMC (1984)
07) "Techno Scratch" Knights of the Turntables (1984)
08) "Surgery" Dr. Dre (1984)
09) "AJ Scratch" DJ A.J./Kurtis Blow (1984)
10) "Freshness" Knights of the Turntables (1985)
11) "Code's Megamix" DJ Code Money & Schoolly D (1986)
12) "The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff" Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince (1987)
13) "Basstronic" Unknown DJ (1988)
14) "The Universal Mix" DJ Universe (Too $hort) (1988)
15) "Lesson 4" DJ Shadow (1991)
BONUS CLASSIC DJ INSTRUMENTAL:
16) "The 900 Number" The 45 King (1990)

History of the Hip Hop DJ Vol. 2

01) "King of the Beat" Pumpkin (1983)
02) "Ultimate Scratch" Uncle Jamm's Army/Egyptian Lover (1983)
03) "One For The Treble" Davy DMX (1984)
04) "Larry's Dance Theme" Grandmaster Flash (1985)
05) "Marley Marl Scratch" Marley Marl/MC Shan (1985)
06) "Play That Beat Mr. DJ (Lesson 1: The Payoff Mix)" Double Dee & Steinski (1985)
07) "Eric B is President" Eric B/Rakim (1986)
08) "Ugly People Be Quiet" Cash Money/Marvelous Marv (1986)
09) "Now That Whodini's Inside the Joint" Grandmaster Dee/Whodini (1987)
10) "Itz Krack" DJ Code Money/Schoolly D (1987)
11) "You're Gonna Get Yours (Terminator X Getaway Version)" Terminator X/P.E. (1987)
12) "Hip Hop Dancers' Theme" Jazzy Jeff/Fresh Prince (1988)
13) "DJ K La Boss" EPMD (1988)
14) "Music To Be Murdered By" Automator (1990)
BONUS DIGITAL SCRATCH DJ TRACK
15) "DJ History's 50 Vinyl Sound Bytes Popular with Hip Hop DJs in the 1980's"

History of the Hip Hop DJ Vol. 3
01) "Like This" Mixmaster Gee (1985)
02) "Jazzy's In The House" Jazzy Jeff/Fresh Prince (1988)
03) "House Party" DJ Man
04) "What I Like" 2 Live Crew feat. Mr. Mixx (1985)
05) "Cuts Like These" The Ultimate Force (1986)
06) "I'm the Master" Mixmaster Ice/UTFO (1990)
07) "The Pure" Captain Rock (1984)
08) "Lesson 2 (The James Brown Mix)" Double Dee & Steinski (1985)
09) "Reckless" Chris "the Glove" Taylor / Ice T (1984)
10) "DJ's and MC's" Rodney O & Joe Cooley (1988)
11) "Return to the Planet Bass" DJ Debonaire/Maggotron (1988)
12) "Feel My Bass" DJ Matrix (1988)
13) "Do I Have Any Witness" DJ Zero/MC 900 Ft. Jesus (1988)
BONUS TRACK:
14) "War of The Worlds" DJ Juanito (1990)

Rob Swift / Sound Event
Tableturns www.tableturns.com
Album review by DnZ (tfsdjz@hotmail.com)

Rob Swift's latest solo project, Sound Event (tableturns.com) is an album not to pass up. Swift approaches this album as a turntable musician, and to communicate who he is and his thoughts as a person living in today's world. He also invites some of today's greatest DJ's including DJ Melo-D, DJ Radar, D-Styles, DJ Klever, and DJ Quest. Swift does his own rendition of Chuck Chillin's "2-3 break" with DJ's Klever and Melo-D. He also works with jazz great Bob James on the salsa flavored "Salsa Scratch" on which D-Styles joins the two. Also Sound Event is compiled of jazzy, spaced out, and of course Hip-Hop styles. He works with one of the dopest emcee's I think Supernatural on the intro which is dope cuz Supernat is just flowin' all of title tracks on Swift's album which only took him two takes (read interview for more info: www.youthradio.org), and he also lays his freestyling abilities on "Interview with Colored Man" based on a black super hero. Now to think Rob Swift didn't have a spacey side, think again. On the spaced out track "Tronic" he gets down with one of the dopest beat boxers (next to Rahzel of course) The Human Orchestra Kenny Muhammed. Also appearing is Dujeous?, Large Professor, J-live, Gudtyme, and Eddeganz. Even if it seems like almost every track has emcees, it's still a good CD so don't go around saying "Ah, this shit is like a mix tape, what da fuck?", this is what you should do, stop, wait and just listen to it, yes it's like a mix tape but showing you where he comes from and how it is. And it is all original material. Rob Swift has progressed in composition and in his producing skills since his last CD Ablist, so go out, buy it, and let him show you his shit.

For an in-depth interview with Rob Swift himself, check out my interview at www.youthradio.org

Hookin Style Presents: Bay Area Exports DVD
www.bayareaexports.com
www.hookinstyle.com
DVD reviewed by DnZ (tfsdjz@hotmail.com)

Bay Area Exports is a DVD showcasing a very diverse sample of both established and fresh DJ talent from the Bay Area (no shit). Styles vary with each of DJ's represented including Tomkat (who put this project togehter), DJ Disk, Swift Rock, Teeko, DJ Zeph, H.O.P., DJ Spair, and Saucer. Each ably show off their respective skills in scratching and in beat juggling. They give good demonstrations of their talent with some good camara work including nice over head shots (which I think are the best if you're trying to learn) and a dope ass split screen type shit. And as a special feature they show you what forms of scratches and juggles they used in their individual showcases: also showin from different camera angles. Yo, if you wanna see the next up and coming stars of the Bay Area and the world of SCRATCHING then check this shit out.

Features include:

• Over 30 technique demos including "The Hydrophonic"
• DJ showcase with bonus animation track (pretty good)
• Choose multiple camera angles on the fly (dope, especially for the beginner DJ)
• Behind the scenes bonus footage

!!!OnE!!!

MEMORIES OF A JUSTICE LEAGUE SOLDIER
by Rocky Hanes

We reported in our last update that hip hop fans should spill a little on the curb for the recently closed Justice League (JL) club in San Francisco which for its five-plus years of operation hosted countless live hip hop shows. But since then we have been informed that apparently the suddenly closed club will reopen in a several weeks. Michael O’Connor, the club’s owner could not be reached for comment, but many local DJs and promoters were confused at the latest news as they too thought that the Frisco club, which reportedly had been struggling for some time—another victim of the city’s depressed DOT-bomb economy and had closed its doors recently and canceling several shows at the last minute, was closed for good. Believing that the club was R.I.P. former employee Rocky Hanes, who worked at the club for several years in many capacities from bar back to stage manager and sound and lights technician, laced up his Top Ten memories of the historic Frisco club including a listing of many of the great acts that have graced the stage of JL up to the present.

ROCKY'S TOP TEN MEMORIES OF THE JL

1} First off, BOLT-the club night were they did crazy visuals, electronica & beats and had Ataris and shit set up everywhere. Most of all, it was where I met my soulmate for life, my luv'in wife Kim {who got me out before the ship went down}

2) The "Welcome Home Show" for MIX MASTER MIKE with APOLLO and SHORTKUT. Damn, did we really see that!?? An amazing show!

3} The Future Primitive SOUNDSESSION with Z-TRIP, FAUST & SHORTEE, DJ ZEPH, DJ ANNA, and DOZE GREEN ON DA BOX with DA BRUSH! As all seen in the movie SCRATCH. Also all the FPS shows put on by my dog MARK HERLIHY, much love.

4}HIP HOP SLAM PIRATE FUCK'IN RADIO BROADCAST, Feb. 2000. A live pirate radio broadcast outta the JL with an antenna on the roof c/o Mac Ran/DEEZ NUTTZ....can't remember complete onstage line up but there was Peanut Butter Wolf, Foreign Legion, and Quasimoto I think. It was a blast! big shout to BILLY JAM for putt'in it down.

5} BUCKETHEAD w/DJ DISK - GIANT ROBOT-oh my god do I luv dat BUCKETHEAD, gore guitar and skratch: what a combo!!

6) All of the MR.BROWN shows {whuz up CHRIS} always a great collection of talent!

7} Oh shit, lets not forget the phattest weekly klub of its time PAUSEATIVITY: a great place to see new raw talent -RADIOACTIVE- , be with folks & family{and fly ass girlies}, all hosted by the most underrated talent all time, MY DOG 4 LIFE, DJ PAUSE {MUCHO LUV}

8} "DENSITY" - featuring crazy ass jungle, drum&bass shit, with stand out shows like FATBOY SLIM, SLY FOX, BREAKBEATERAD, HERBALLIZER, DJ ANGEL, AND so many more mind blowin' shit...couldn't even name it all.

9} All the MOS DEF shows, EVEN without the alcohol (he banned alcohol being sold when he was at club: but he made his point},the weirdest being the disappearance of that girl! they never let us live that one down.

10} Most of all, gotta give a heartfelt shout to the many other talents I had the honor to work with side-by-side in the trenches, we did that shit yall: SPACE TRAVELERS with DJ QUEST {BEOCTH}, FINGER BANGERS CREW, TRIPLE THREAT, CUE'S HIP HOP SHOP,THE COUP (WE LUV YOU PAM THE FUNKSTRESS AND YOUR BREAKBEAT TITTIE WAYS), ZION I, DJCRAZE, DJ ZEPH, DJ PAUSE, DJ MARZ, JURRASIC 5, J-BOOGIE, DOC FU, RAW B, KRS-ONE, GOODIE MOBB, DIGITAL UNDERGROUND, DJ FLARE, Q-BERT {THE PINO GOD}, MICHEAL BROWN, MARK HERLIHY, CHRIS BROWN,AL SIMMONS, ALL HIP HOP SLAM HEADS, "THE PHOTOGRAPHER" MY#1 MAN TIMI "SMOKE THAT SHIT" D... GOD DAM, DON'T GIVE A DAM BILLY JAM {MY GURU OF BEATS}.....SO MANY MORE, CAN'T GET EM ALL, BIG UP TO M.O.C. (Michael O'Connor) FOR MAK'IN IT POSSIBLE, ALL THE VENDORS {LUV], PROMOTERS, MANAGERS, BARSTAFF, SECURITY-DAVE T {THE BIG DOG} and LISA {THE BACK BONE} AND HER LOVELY DAUGHTERS and SISTERS, SOUND TECHS, GRUNTS and FOOT SOLDIERS. WE WERE PART OF A BAY AREA PHENOMENON...SORRY TO SEE IT END, BUT IT SERVED ITS PURPOSE. FOR ALL THE BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS, I'LL ALWAYS BE DOWN FOR THE JUSTICE LEAGUE, CUZ THERE'S NO

JUSTICE, JUST"US".

PEACE: ROCKY (wabokrock@peoplepc.com)