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)

New Audio: Aural Space-Making

These are some of my first experiments with making music. I’m definitely drawn to the aural aesthetic of Afro Futurism, which (to me) is where Hip Hop and Octavia Butler (and Science Fiction more generally) come together to imagine new sounds and create alternate realities!

I’ve been listening to a LOT of jazz recently… primarily Max Roach & Abbey Lincoln, Ornette Coleman, Alice Coltrane, and Pharoah Sanders. I hope to drawn on them in the music i plan to make in the very near future. For now…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Familiar Episode 12: Danny Mekonnen of Debo Band

Danny Mekonnen is a co-founder and leader of Debo Band. In this interview he talks about his musical roots and journey, Debo Band’s music, and more!

You can check some of their sounds and press at the following links:

NPR Music’s Bob Boilen’s 243 Favorite Concerts of 2012 – Debo Band Ranked #3!!!
www.npr.org/blogs/bestmusic2012/2012/12/27/168153049/bob-boilens-243-favorite-concerts-of-2012

Interview on Philadelphia’s WXPN, with David Dye/World Cafe
www.npr.org/2012/10/10/162640984/debo-band-on-world-cafe

KEXP Bumbershoot Lounge – Live Video
blog.kexp.org/2012/10/11/live-video-debo-band-at-bumbershoot-music-lounge/

NPR – 50 Favorite Albums of 2012
www.npr.org/blogs/bestmusic2012/2012/12/05/166230912/npr-musics-50-favorite-albums-of-2012

NPR – Top Ten World Music Albums of 2012
www.npr.org/blogs/bestmusic2012/2012/12/22/167750238/top-10-world-music-albums-of-2012

WNYC Soundcheck CMJ Showcase – Live Video
soundcheck.wnyc.org/2012/oct/19/debo-band-cmj-greene-space/

YouTube Debo Band Album Stream
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO_yl54Wty4

Debo Band Spotify
open.spotify.com/artist/2PNJIaILxBrRzWUciB8r11

Long Live Afropop!: Oliver Mtukudzi & the Black Spirits

Happy Sunday, EVERYONE! As the new year gets going, i am excited to share some great events with you. One of them is a concert and dance party with the Zimbabwean pop star, Oliver Mtukudzi & The Black Spirits who will be whose Philadelphia debute is  January 12, 2013! I have the honor of playing this show alongside DJs Lil’Dave and Junior of the Eavesdrop Radio crew!

As i begin preparing for this event, i’m listening to and channeling the vibe of some of my favorite Tuku tracks (see below), as well as many other great Zimbabwean artists, including Thomas Mapfumo, Netsayi, Audius, and Joseph Garakara & Mbama Express! If you’re in Philly, you will definitely want to attend this event! For now, please enjoy a few selections.

– Much Love

 

 

Brotha Onaci’s Review of 2012

As 2012 comes to a close, i am re-thinking my goals and revising some plans. In order to help with that process, i reflected on this past year and realized that i had a pretty good year! Although i’m grateful for everything that i was able to achieve and experience (academically, health-wise, etc.), this post is focused on my musical aspirations, beginning with Sonic Diaspora.

Sonic Diaspora began as a party in Chicago in May 2011. Now it is a multi-city cultural force that We intend to make an institution in Chicago, DC, Philly, and elsewhere! Not only do We continue to host the Chicago and DC parties, but We now have a website, a radio program, and are helping sponsor artist performances, philanthropic & community building events, and more! We have big plans for 2013 that We can’t wait to share with you! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with our developments.

Doing my DJ Ed-O thing with Scratch Events!

Personally, i’ve been fortunate enough to get acquainted with the Philly music scene and to continue working with old friends. In the process, i’ve met some great people with whom i will be delivering the highest quality events you can imagine. Among them are DJ DuiJi 13, Juanderful and Gregzinho of Tropicalismo, Poet AF Black and Ra Nubi (Nu=Bein Tranzsynchon), WorldTown, Kate Bomz (My Africa Is), La Beautiful Mess (DC), Funk Sect, DJ Aura, R.i.C (Chicago) Tapedeck Tunn, DJ Niko, Punchuashen, DJ Champé, Reggae Surge, Supa Tang, and my fellow People’s DJs Collective member, DJ Vanessa Beck. If that wasn’t enough, i also DJ with Scratch Music Group, a company co-founded by the late Jam Master Jay. Scratch began as a DJ academy, but also dispatches DJs for weddings and corporate events. Because of these connections, i was able to DJ at several weddings and retail stores, including Ann Taylor at Rockefeller Center during Fashion’s Night Out. I joined forces with Mr. Femstar of WorldTown and Juanderful to co-host DJ Zhao at the Odunde Festival. Sonic Diaspora and Tropicalismo brought Sorie Kondi & Ibrahim, Chief Boima, and Explosión Negra to West Philly during our “After Africa” weekend. I spun at places like Walnut Room and Elena’s Soul in Philadelphia, Patty Boom Boom in DC, The Shrine in Chicago, and Bembe in Brooklyn. Further, i was able to donate my DJ services to ten charity causes, fundraisers, and community building events in DC, Philly, and New York. I am truly thankful for these opportunities. Taking the time to reflect on all of this causes me to realize how blessed i have been, and gives me a positive outlook on this coming year!

Aaliyah, “Are You That Somebody” [Brotha O's Grimey Bass Remix]

Finally, i have taken the time to begin learning the fundamentals of music production. I’ve been passionate about music ever since i can remember, and i developed the desire to make songs when i was in elementary school. I am now (finally) dedicating some time and resources to making that happen! In 2013, i plan to devote more time to producing music that reflects the ideals i live by. In other words, it will be positive and uplifting, the sound quality to be superb (eventually — i’m still learning how to master my tracks, which is no simple task), and i hope to  successfully combine the various sounds that i appreciate from all over the world as i attempt to create something unique and beautiful. Keep a close eye on my Soundcloud, Facebook, and Instagram pages for updates on these aspects of my journey.

Happy New Year! I hope that 2013 brings blessings in abundance to you and yours!

The Beginning of A New Musical Adventure!

Ever since i was a child, i wanted to make music. I dabbled with the violin, attempted to learn drums (that dream was crushed by a narrow-minded teacher… no, i’m still not over it), swore up and down that i would create my own singing group, and tried to teach myself myself to play my favorite songs on my sister’s piano. In high school, i raised the funds to get my first DJ kit with hopes DJing and producing music for a hip hop group. Fast forward several years, and i’m FINALLY beginning to learn the fundamentals of music production!

“…Thinking” on Soundcloud

At the moment, i’m learning the ins and outs of Ableton, but am also somewhat in love with Maschine (which, i could use with Ableton if i choose). Regardless, i am beginning to understand how powerful music production is with regard to my DJing. Mainly, i am much more concerned with audio quality and believe that i am listening to each track differently than i used to (especially as i struggle to get the “perfect” sound out of my creations). Hopefully, learning production will make my DJing noticeably better.

As an educator, i am also flirting new ideas and approaches to pedagogy! Long a believer that one’s classroom experience should be taken back to the community, i think that creative projects using music, video, blogs, etc. are a great way for students to share their knowledge and critical analyses with their peers and communities. Besides,  how exciting would it be to enter your history class, see a keyboard and Maschine sitting there, and be assigned an audio (or another creative) project as part of the course grade?!?

With that said, my musical dreams have shifted just a little (i’m still hoping to one day tour the world with my fantasy band… which doesn’t have to be hip hop only), and i am embracing the possibilities of permanently wedding my passions for music, education, and community building into one single career!

As i work to bring that to fruition, please enjoy this track that i posted to Soundcloud. It’s the very first song i made using Ableton, so i hope that my future projects clearly demonstrate constant improvement in my skill and creativity!

- Much Love

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

Felabration Time!!!

October 15 marks the birth of Fela Anikulapo Kuti. I’m DJing two events that will celebrate the musical legacy of the innovator of Afrobeat. The first is Sonic Diaspora at Patty Boom Boom in Washington, DC (1359 U St, NW)! I’ll be playing dope dance music from all over the African World and will dedicate some set time to Fela, other Afrobeat legends, and music that was inspired by Afrobeat. If you’re in DC, you won’t want to miss this. If you’re on Facebook, check the Sonic Diaspora and Brotha Onaci pages for details.

Back in Philly the next day, We’ll be doing Felabration at Walnut Room with Funk Sect Records! I’m happy to be holding down the decks alongside DJ Vanessa Beck, Punchuashen, and DJ Nikko. There will also be several great live performances! Check the event page for more details.

What is A Turntable Liberationist?

I’ve been asked on many occasions: “Brotha O, what do you mean you refer to yourself as a ‘Turntable Liberationist’?” The answer to this question is both easy and difficult. The easy answer is that i am a turntablist (one who uses turntables as an instrument) with a liberation-oriented agenda. This is where the answer become a lil more difficult. It requires that We break down the word liberation.

“Liberation,” according to several dictionaries, has something to do with doing away with oppression. I attempt to make this somewhat vague idea tangible in several ways. The first is through my music selection. As a self-styled turntable liberationist, i am careful to play music that i believe affirms people’s humanity and does not assault or insult them on the dance floor.  Therefore, you’re likely to hear me play music that celebrates life and living in ways that do not cause harm to others. In other words, it’s veeeery rare that you’ll hear tracks that refer to people in disrespectful ways because of their race, class, gender(s), sexual preference(s), etc. I would like to claim that i never play tracks that are oppressive, but sometimes i miss or misunderstand lyrics (esp. when some songs are in languages that i don’t understand). I do try my best to avoid such songs.

Part of being a turntable liberationist also include education. I am an educator and attempt to expose myself and others to a variety of ideas and cultures. That requires me to play music you probably don’t hear 50 times each day against your will. Here are two fantastic songs that you may hear in my mixes and feel deep in your soul at a party:

Exhibit A [click here for an explanation of the song's meaning]

Exhibit B

- 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!

 

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