Mixtape Monday: The Best Mixes…

Sometimes the best mixes come from selectors who aren’t necessarily interested in playing at all the biggest night clubs while doing some absurd pose waiting for all the camera phone to capture the moment.  In fact, i’ve learned time and time again that the best mixes offer a selection of music that i can’t get elsewhere. They typically aren’t accompanied by a gimmick. Instead, they filled with deep love and appreciation for the music. That’s what captures my attention and has me searching Soundcloud for countless hours each week. It’s the love!

With that said, i present the scholar, vinylphile, and music lover, Afrekete. Afrekete’s mix,  ”Tribute to Seeco Guaracha,” filled me with incomprehensible joy when i gave a listen. I could tell that she was happy to present the music in this mix. Her happiness made it nearly impossible for me to do anything else as i listened. You can check the mix out here:

After listening to this mix, be sure to give Afrekete a holler. Here’s a little about her to help you establish the connection. In her own words:

Afrekete wants to restore relevance to the music, artists and activists of yesterday, which is why her eclectic themed mixes combine the political, historical, playful and soulful. Based in a small Florida city, she keeps up with the world by record shopping, mix-making and occasionally playing out. A first generation African in the Americas, she’s an out queer butch. During the day she is a professor of Africana literature and visual culture. Her only hope for humanity is the preservation of Africanity and she works at it every damn day. Reach her at afrekete@hotmail.com to suggest music that should be on her radar—or to just say hello.

I hope that you enjoy the mix and communicating with Afrekete as i much as i do!!!

– Much Love

Gil Scott-Heaven: A Tribute

Happy Bearthday to Gil Scott-Heron (April 1, 1949). This short mix is comprised of three movements, each based on a song i’ve been listening to a LOT in recent weeks.

I hope that you enjoy this project and that it inspires you to (re)discover Gil Scott-Heron’s  collection (Pieces of a Man & Midnight Band: The First Minute of a New Day are my faves).

Movement 1: “Intro Peace”
Based on “Peace Go With You, Brother“ (1974)

Movement 2: “Be No Rain”
Based on “I Think I’ll Call It Morning” (1971)

Movement 3: “Troubles Away”
Based on “Lady Day & John Coltrane” (1971)

R.i.C Presents Breaking Hoolig@n$ Mixtape

My lil homie, R.i.C, is back! This time, he’s put together his debut mixtape with 23 tracks of hip hop for your listening pleasure. Breaking Hoolig@n$ is R.i.C’s attempt to combine his love for hip hop and social justice. Overall, i think that he successfully demonstrates that. His opening track, “Awake” details his struggle to be a “good” suburban kid while still “keeping it real” enough to gain acceptance from the brothers on the block.

His struggle to appeal to people interested in social justice and the streets is evident throughout the rest of Breaking Hoolig@n$. On the one hand, he critiques racism, vows to free the imprisoned, and promises to treat women with respect. On the other hand, he and his guests are still learning the subtleties of patriarchy, misogyny, homophobia, and many other forms of oppression that are deeply entrenched in American culture. For that reason, i would like to encourage R.i.C and his guests to think critically about the effect of rapping about taking someone else’s girl, referring to people and ideas as “gay” or “homo,” and freely using “nigga” and “bitch” throughout the album.  Also, i’m curious as to why it’s so important to people (especially those from the suburbs) to appeal to “the streets” (also read, “the block” or making it sound “hard”). I have already spoken with R.i.C about this, and am confident that he (much like me and many others who are dedicated to social justice) will continue to learn ways that he can continue to grow and better reflect the ideals that he believes will make the world better for everyone.

Overall, i LOVE this mixtape. In fact, i’ve listen to it just about every day since, R.i.C first sent it my way! During my first listen, i was simply trying to give each track a good listen so that i could provide R.i.C with some critical feedback. I listened to the album out of order and was greatly impressed with each track. Both the production and the message in each song let me know that R.i.C and his friends in Front Row Gang are some talented individuals. I have no doubt that he, Nicole Eboni, Hooligan, Cado, and the whole team will be a powerful force in hip hop culture in the very near future.

I encourage you to stream and download this mixtape (which is mixed by yours truly by the way), share it with your friends via social media, and post comments on R.i.C’s Facebook page. You can also hit him up on Twitter with critical feedback. As a Chicago Freedom School alum and self-reflective individual, he is open to loving critique and encouragement.

Mixtape Monday: Fela Anikulapo Kuti

Folks who know me know that I’m a big fan of Fela Kuti (who isn’t?). I try to take any opportunity i can to share his music with people. And today, his 74th bearthday, is no different. This Mixtape Monday features  two great Fela Kuti mixes that should warm you up for the Fela Kuti b-day events taking place in DC and Philly this week.

The first mix is by producer Tek-Zilla, who i’ve featured here before.

Next is my “Rough Intro to Fela” mix:

- Much Love

DJ Underdog & Brotha Onaci Present: Serengeti Crossing Mixtape

I recently teamed up with DJ Underdog on a mixtape project called “Serengeti Crossing.” The mix features tracks from Liquideep, Janelle Monae, Osunlade, and remixes by DJ Underdog! The music is soulful, percussion heavy, spiritually uplifting, and dance worthy! This project foretells some of the awesome adventures We’re planning for the near future, so stay tuned!

 

Cover Design by Underdog

 

 

 

Mixtape Monday: Nu-Bein Vibrations

“Nu-Bein Vibrations” is a spirit-musical journey. It celebrates sounds that encourage us to reach outside of our current comfort zones to embrace that which is “new,” fresh, and positive. As we submit our minds to this process our body-intelligence will kick in and cause the re-awakening of musical taste buds that yearn only for that which is good for the entire self. It will challenge the self which floats within the comfortable boundaries set by those who profit from our acceptance of their dangerously low standards.

The delectable dance tunes in this short mix contribute to a process of raising one’s spiritual energy to the highest attainable level. It facilitates in the transformation from humans to Nu-Beins (or New Beings) who choose to vibrate only at frequencies that contribute positivity and beauty to this world we currently inhabit.

Enjoy this Journey. Embrace the evolution.

– Much Love

(click on the picture to listen)

Mixtape Monday: Fine-Tuned EQs For Ya Earbuds

Greetings of Peace! Welcome to another Monday. As you begin your week, please do it responsibly… with some great tunes! I’ve got two great mixes which will help you do exactly that (enjoy your week responsibly, that is).

First up is Okayafrica’s, “Africa In Your Earbuds #19: Alec Lomami [Mixed by Brotha Onaci]. BIG HUUUUUGE shout out to Alec Lomami for inviting me to help out with this. He selected the music and the order of appearance. I merely pasted the songs together in a way that made sense to me. Be sure to also peep this, and almost ALL, of the AIYE cover art by DJ Underdog. I had an opportunity to check him out last Thursday at Lunchbox Theory‘s monthly Afrobeat party. I’m going to make sure that you “Get Familiar” with that brother in the very near future!

For my Philly people (and everyone else): i’ve teamed up with Tropicalismo and True Diversity Productions to bring a great new event to Northern Liberties called, EQuatorial Funk! To prepare you for the bass-quake that will be rocking Spring Garden, We’ve put together a sample mix for your listening pleasure. You can check it out on Mixcloud!

(mix link: www.mixcloud.com/MUMSM/equatorial-funk-promo-mix/)

– Much Love

Mixtape Monday: Diasporic Movement

In May, Sonic Diaspora celebrates its one-year anniversary!!! In that year, We’ve laid a strong foundation for what We hope becomes a powerful force for uniting positive people around the music and struggles of African people throughout the world. Being rooted in social justice communities and ideals, We want to make sure that Sonic Diaspora maintains its relevance. If you don’t know the purpose behind Sonic Diaspora, you can view it here. [It's all about MOVEMENT... movement of peoples across geographic terrains; movement on the dance floor, and movement against oppression.] As you consider what’s written, please enjoy the most recent Sonic Diaspora mix. Then let us know what you think!

Artwork by People’s DJs member, Itzi Nallah

I, personally, would like to know what Y.O.U. think of the event, the mixes, and the developing social-political purpose. With whom should Sonic Diaspora build solidarity (other African & Diasporic music parties, artists, political struggles and organizations, African culture organizers, etc)? How can We make the social-political aspect more visible within the dance parties? Do you think the music (in the mixes and dance parties) is reflective of the larger purpose?

We greatly appreciate your input!

- Much Love

Sonic Whirlwind

Lovely People! I am pleased to inform you that i will be visiting Chicago for a few days. While i’m there, i be spinning some of the BEST dance music from all over the world some of the Windy City’s coolest venues! To prepare you for all of the fun, check out my latest mix, Sonic Diaspora Vol. 7, on Mixcloud. More details:

TROPICAL SOUNDCLASH at People Lounge (1560 N. Milwaukee)

Afro-Latin Tropical Bass

Every Wednesday @ People Lounge w/ SOUND CULTURE DJ’S & Friends

Special guest: 4/11 Brotha Onaci

People Lounge 1560 N. Milwaukee Ave.
9pm to 2am, no cover, drink specials, kitchen until 12am

Kitchen open LATE!

$3 Glasses of our Housemade Sangria…
Patio Opens at 5pm.Let’s take BACK the neighborhood!

Reggae/Dancehall, Cumbiaton, Salsa Dura, Latin House, Hip Hop en Español, Afrobeat/High Life and other tropical sounds.

SOUL POWERED at Beauty Bar Chicago (1444 W Chicago)

Taste Makers, DJ Tiff-NY, Jaytoo (thedjyomamaluv), and Brotha Onaci (People’s DJs Collective) will energize the dance floor on 4/12 at the Beauty Bar (1444 W. Chicago).

They promise a musical experience that will have you groovin’ to old school soul & funk classics and mashing up the dance floor under the influence of now school bangers. Be prepared to get re-acquainted with your natural movement as the music speaks to your body intelligence.

FREE Until 11:00PM $3 from 11:01 until…
Drink specials all night!
21+

 

 

SONIC DIASPORA at Coup d’Etat Lounge Friday, April 13

9pm doors, $5 cover, accessible space, 21+

Featuring:
// BROTHA ONACI (Philadelphia, PA)
[www.facebook.com/brotha.onaci]

With residents:
// DJ ITCH13

// AFROQBANO
// ITZI NALLAHVisuals by:
// GIROSCOPIO

Sonic Diaspora is a celebration of popular & underground dance styles of Africa & the Diaspora. Expect everything from Afrobeat, Afro-House & Global Bass to Reggae, Cumbia, Future Dancehall, Hiplife, Azonto, Kwaito, Kuduro, Coupe Dekale and other darling subgenres of the African underground, and arrive early!

Hosted by Tifflove & the Wolfpack in collaboration with Leftist Lounge (Art Exhibit), DookieBlaster (Photography), Roots of Life Designs (Jewelry & Fashion), and you!!

Sponsored by This Is Africa (Africa, Europe), Have Plenty Music (Namibia), Gozamos (Chi) & Peoples DJs Collective (Chi)

Sonic D MIXTAPE Vol 7 by Brotha Onaci to be released at the Party!

For more info & sounds: sonicdiasporachi@gmail.com or visit http://sonicdiaspora.blogspot.com/

Mixtape Monday: Reggae Ambassadors

Lion’s Den Radio is now streaming live on Caribbean94.com every Thursday from 10:00pm-12:00am EST! Lion’s Den host, DJ Champé, invited yours truly to spin periodically. You can check the video & mix (mistakes and all :p) from last Thursday HERE. It includes an interview with Jamaican actress and singer, Summer Angel, and much more goodness!

– Much Love