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• Skratch Pistolz Drunk
in the Studio
• DJ Platurn Voted "Best Turntablist" in East
Bay Express
• Sacred Hoop Sets Up Rap Camp in Arizona
• Fight Dubya's Bullshit War with Music
• Punk Rock Politician: Jesse "Luscious" Townley
• Bay Area DJ Profile #022: DJ Illogic
HIP HOP SLAM NEWS ROUND UP
by Munkifunk
The unique guitar-meets-turntable crew the Skratch Pistolz
are busy in the studio recording their anticipated debut album
(Not Enough Fuckin' Revolutions Per Minute). Meanwhile
their remix of the Transplants' Romper Stomper will
be featured on this summer's Give Em The Boot 4 compilation…
Oakland's DJ Process DJProcess@sbcglobal.net
has just put out his refreshingly engaging new "original
mixtape" entitled Side Tracks in which he takes a
cool selection of his favorite tracks, only to flip em into some
dope remixes...Although technically a Christmas release, Mike
Relm's 38-track Holiday Special, has year-round appeal
with the exception of the occasional holiday interlude. Fans of
the Z-Trip school of party-rocking rock will especially
dig this CD. www.mikerelm.com
DJ Platurn of the Oakland Faders was recently voted
"Best Turntablist" in the East Bay Express which
wrote "He's mad technical, but he isn't the type of turntablist
better suited to bedroom applications than steamy clubs. In other
words, he can make ya dance and head-nod at the same time, and
he's especially deadly in four-turntable, two-DJ scratchfests."
The ever modest Platurn was pleasantly surprised: "Wow...I
don't even know how I got in there or who voted for me..."
Platurn and DJ Spair spin at Hot Funk Sundays at
Milk in San Francisco.
Luke Sick of Sacred Hoop reports in from Arizona:
"For anyone interested in what is up with Bay Area hardcore
underground legends Sacred Hoop: They have relocated to the hot
Arizona desert to record their long-awaited third CD release.
They are also running a "Rap Camp" (recent campers include:
DJ Quest, Eddie K. and Z-Man of timely Hiero fame).
Visit the Hoop's site: sacredhoopfan.com"
to find out how you can come out to camp and learn to rap and
do other things with their highly experienced camp counselors...or
email the camp director directly and he'll explain the weekly
fee and your brutal initiation: lukesick@hotmail
Anyone interested in buying or selling DJ Marz's first
release on Records To The Neck titled Get The Hater
(featuring Blag the Ripper from the legendary Dwarves)
with the already infamous George W. Bush/Scarface coke-desk
cover art, please contact Marz at talk2myagent@hotmail.com"
or holler at him on the street, or go to Revolver and TRC for
bulk orders (they also got it at Amoeba on Haight). Remember
the Hoop motto: "It's not our fault, have one for the road."
DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5 will perform two shows
on May 12th & 13th at Milk in San Francisco with special guests
Charlie 2na and J-Live. An additional free show
is scheduled for 6pm on May 13th at Amoeba on Haight St. Nu-Mark's
solo debut Hands On is out now on Sequence Records. Z-Trip
will team up with DJ P for "the only live performance
of Uneasy Listening at The Grand in San Francisco
on May 16th.
The Turntable + Faderboard Sessions continue at the Beat Lounge
in San Francisco with the Freelancers United. Shingo2
(Faderboard/ARP Odyssey), DJ A-1 (turntables), and G.
Rantala (Amiga 1200) performed another mind-bending set
of improvised freeform music at their regularly scheduled gig
in North Beach. Dawgisht Sr. who was in the crowd commented: "Some
of the sounds were really scary. It reminded me of The Exorcist."
DJ Qraft also threw down a cool mix of jazz flavored beats
which complimented the plush basement club perfectly. The next
show will be on May 23rd and features Albert "ill
sticks" Mathias of Live Human on drums. www.e22.com
SF MC Battle Round 4 will take place on May 29th at Club
6 in San Francisco. Ales One and Teeko from 4OneFunk
will provide the beats while Boac and TopR of
the Earthlings will emcee the event. sfmcbattle@hotmail.com
SF documentary film-maker Rebecca Gordon is currently
interviewing/filming (working title) What Does Democracy Sound
Like? So far she has interviewed a ton of folks including
Davey D, DJ Lorin, Jesse Luscious, Tomas, Tom
Ammiano, Chris Daly, and Hip Hop Slam's Billy Jam.
Wanna fight Dubya's bullshit war with music? Here's how...two
ways in fact: First off, you can send vinyl (especially anti-war
records) to ALF, the US Air Force DJ who reports
to the HipHopSlam.com NEWS and who is opposed to the war but is
stuck in the services (see last NEWS
#34 for his third report), who will happily play it (so long
as it is bumping). Mail vinyl for ALF to: ATTN: ALF, c/o Hip Hop
Slam PO BOX 5124, Berkeley, CA 94705.
Another way to fight the war with music is to send CDs/DVDs
to a buddy of Jesse Luscious who will in turn pass them onto a
library in Kuwait for the troops stationed in Iraq. Especially
welcome is "alternative" political content. Mail to:
Operation New Release, Dal Basi, Audio Product Specialist,
c/o: Product Mgmt. #528, MTS Inc. / Tower
Records, 2500 Del Monte St., W. Sacramento CA. 95691
PUNK ROCK POLITICIAN: JESSE "LUSCIOUS"
TOWNLEY
by Munkifunk
Jesse Townley has lots of positive energy. He's a deejay
on KALX. He works at Alternative Tentacles. He sings
for local punk rock band The Frisk. And he's running for
Berkeley City Council District 5. But this is not the punk
rocker's first entry into the world of city government. In the
past, he's negotiated a city contract upwards of $600,000, and
currently he sits on the Disaster Council, the City Commission
involved with Disaster Planning. Townley also served as Executive
Director and Board Member of Easy Does It; a non-profit
organization that provides specialized emergency services to people
with severe physical disabilities in the city of Berkeley. Being
involved with the different interactions in this city over the
years, I came to the conclusion that I can either sit around and
be pissed off about it or take action," said Townley
"I'll be the only serious working-class family candidate,
the youngest, freshest face in the race." While Townley's
background is strongly immersed in the local counterculture scene,
he is quick to point out his commitment and determination to actually
winning the race: "I'm running a real campaign, not a symbolic
one," said Townley. "I'll be trying to get the various
endorsements that are necessary." But don't let that fool
you into thinking that the punk rock candidate will be content
to run a dry and dull campaign: "It's a combination of aboveground
tactics and underground tactics."
In fact, his experiences at creative collectives such as punk
rock mecca 924 Gilman St. could prove to be one of his
strongest assets. "They taught me how to negotiate and not
give up," said Townley. "You can either stay in
the bar or show up in the morning. People that show up have a
say in things." Townley doesn't even need to look beyond
his present job at Alternative Tentacles for political inspiration.
His boss Jello Biafra, former frontman
for the legendary Dead Kennedys, made his own mark in politics
when he ran for mayor of San Francisco in 1979 finishing fourth
out of ten candidates, helping to force a run-off. "He's
been very supportive," said Townley of
Biafra. "Outspoken, influential, fearless--that's the spirit
of punk rock. He's the embodiment of that." The decision
to run for political office is simply a continuation and evolution
of Townley's punk rock ideals. "It's a natural choice to
make," he said. "You don't have to be a politician to
have your voice heard." townleyforcouncil.org
Bay Area DJ Profile #022: Illogic
DJ Name: ILLOGIC
Hometown: SIOUX CITY, IA
Trademark saying or philosophy toward your music/life: DUES
PAID, TIME TO GET PAID
How you would describe yourself as a DJ? These days I don't
spin much at all since I am more of a producer. But I am a former
battle DJ who made the transistion to producer.
Discography: featured on Q-BERT DVD, DIY 2. Debut solo
album coming this summer.
DJ battle history: I've done a few midwest and west coast
DMC's. I came up thru Zebra Records in San Francisco and went
to a few regional finals for Guitar Center. High point of my battle
career was the Kool Mixx Battles, opening for the Roots, the X-ecutioners,
and Souls of Mischief. Won the Kool Mixx SF Region in 2002.
First record you ever bought: RUN DMC's first album
Most influential records in your life:
TUFF CREW - BACK TO WRECK SHOP, LL COOL J - RADIO, LOW PROFILE
- WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER, FAT BOYS - FAT BOYS, RUN DMC - RUN DMC,
MC EIGHT - WE COME STRAPPED, CMW - IT'S A COMPTON THANG, NWA -
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, CRIPS & BLOODS - BANGIN' ON WAX.
When did you first DJ? 1988
What made you want to be a DJ? THE PLACE I WAS GROWING
UP DIDN'T HAVE ANY DJ'S, SO I DECIDED TO START SCRATCHING. I STARTED
OFF SCRATCHING NOT MIXING. JAM MASTER JAY WAS MY FIRST INFLUENCE.
Do you think you will always be a DJ? I WILL
ALWAYS BE A DJ...FROM THE SECOND I TOUCHED A RECORD AND MY COUSIN
SOLD ME A MIXER FOR 30 BUCKS, I'VE BEEN IN LOVE.
What is your most memorable performance of your DJ career?
PROBABLY THE NIGHT THAT I WON THE SF KOOL MIXX BATTLE IN 2002.
THE COMPETITION WAS VERY HARD AND IT FELT GOOD TO REPRESENT THE
BAY AREA / OAKLAND IN CHICAGO.
Do you ever play CDs at gigs? No.
In your opinion, who is the best DJ of all time? THE BEST
DJ OF ALL TIME AT THIS POINT IS DJ Q-BERT, THERE ARE A LOT OF
FOLKS WHO CAN CUT REAL SICK, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
IN HIS LIFETIME YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY I CHOSE HIM (EVOLUTION).
Shout outs: H.O.P., JIMMIE JAM, ALES ONE, TEEKO, NICK
PAPER, Q-BERT, RICCI RUCKER, FLARE, D-STYLES, BILLY JAM, MR. B,
DJ ABILITIES AND ALL THE OG'S IN OAKTOWN USA BOOTCH!
Best website to find out more about you: COMING SOON!!!
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