The Mighty Pope

Like the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, Donna Summer’s Bad Girls, and Kool & The Gang’s As One, The Mighty Pope’s album was one I remember seeing the most as a child.

I didn’t care much about the contents of the album at the time because I had not yet been aware or cared about popular music. 

I believe I browsed passed that Mighty Pope album many times while digging in the crates but again gave it little thought because I knew none of the songs.

George Strombolopolous had a Christmas special and The Mighty Pope was among the performing guests.  His backing band was The Sadies.  During the brief interview, The Mighty Pope spoke a little about his early days in Canada.

By the time I inherited the record collection containing that same Mighty Pope album, I was ready to use the contents of the album to its optimum use.  With tracks produced by Gino Soccio and backing vocals by members of Toulouse, I knew the album would come in handy on my radio show.

The Mighty Pope’s album represents some of the finest disco music the country has produced.  Sway is a personal favorite and I faintly remember hearing that song at parties when I was a child.  The Patti Smith cover of Because The Night is a surprise.  Lastly, the disco-driven cover of Iron Butterfly’s In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is also interesting.

The Jamaica To Toronto compilation has an early 1970s funk song called Mr. Fortune on it by The Hitch-Hikers featuring The Mighty Pope.  I practically bought the CD for that song alone.



I recently learned The Mighty Pope is a featured collaborator on the debut album of Sureshot Symphony Solution.  I look forward to hearing that song and possibly playing it on The Suite Delight show.

Black Moon

Who Got The Props is one of the most definitive early 90s East Coast hip hop tracks. It has set off or capped off a party in its day and will continue to do so for decades to come. However, there isn't much partying to be done on the rest of Enta Da Stage.

As I was walking home one night thinking about Black Moon, the darkness of the night clued me in on the album's vibe. 



Released in 1993, Enta Da Stage is not only one of New York's underground hip hop classics but possibly the pre-cursor to the Horrorcore phase endured from 1993-1994. Wu-Tang Clan's 36 Chambers may have been the most visible but Black Moon's Stage may have been set beforehand.

Nearly everything about the album is dark. The group name had no optimistic, Afrocentric inclinations of 1989-1991 hip hop. 

The sound quality of Enta Da Stage, and even Da Shinin' (1994-1995), was unlike any hip hop album as well. There was nothing crisp or shiny in its sound. The samples and production were so raw that the singles had to be remixed to be marketed as singles.

A few years ago, it was easier to scoop up classic, or soon-to-be classic, hip hop CDs in Montreal stores. The Black Moon debut is one of those CDs any self-respecting hip hop fan must have in their collection. I'm grateful to the Bootcamp Clik for the classics they recorded. One listen of Enta Da Stage and you will be too.

If you haven't already, please make yourself familiar with the link below for more of your favorite show and mine.

http://suitedelight.podomatic.com

Below is the 2013 CKUT Funding Drive podcast to bring you up to speed.  Click here to download it and more.

The Suite Delight - April 8 2014 Playlist:

1. Big L - Put It On feat. Kid Capri
2. Common - Resurrection
3. O.C. - Time's Up
4. Big Pun - Super Lyrical feat. Black Thought
5. 2Pac - Ambitionz of a Ridah
6. Jay-Z - This Can't Be Life feat. Scarface
7. Gang Starr - Just To Get A Rep
8. Nice & Smooth - Early To Rise
9. The Beatnuts - Off The Books
10. Cypress Hill - Hits From The Bong
11. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Mecca & The Soul Brother
12. Black Moon - I Got Cha Opin
13. Smif-N-Wessun - Bucktown
14. Nas - The World Is Yours (Remix)

Playlist:

1. Salt-N-Pepa – Get Up Everybody
2. DJ Kayslay – Untouchables feat. Prodigy & Raekwon
3. D-Shade - The World We're In 2(Simahlak Mix) feat. Buckshot And Blurum 13
4. Kanye West - Classic (DJ Premier Remix)featuring Nas, KRS-One and Rakim
5. EPMD – The Big Payback
6. Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics - A Day In The Life featuring Sadat X & Lord Jamar 
7. Masta Ace and Edo G - Good Music featuring Posdnuos & Light
8. The Beatnuts – Se A Cabo (Remix) featuring Method Man
9. Shad + Skratch Bastid – Homie featuring Cadence Weapon

DJ Format

This is an ideal time to write about DJ Format.

Surprisingly, I had not blogged about DJ Format before now but have surely mentioned him within the last six years.

Similar to DJ Andy Smith's The Document, I would say DJ Format is partly responsible for rejuvenating my interest in hip hop music.

A purchase of A Right Earful (Volume 1) from a Plateau record store that was going out of business would be the origin. Most of the artists on the track listing were familiar to me, as were the songs, and I believed the CD would be a great listening experience in the same vein as The Document. 



I would later learn more about Abdominal and D-Sisive through their work with DJ Format. Both MCs feature heavily on Music for the Mature B-Boy & If You Can't Join 'Em... Beat 'Em. Their tracks together quickly made their way onto my show playlists.



At the rate I was going, I was well on my way to playing every DJ Format track I had on my show. My two-year, CMJ award-nominated and winning stint as RPM Director for the station forced me to stop blazing DJ Format beats and start exploring electronic music which was new to me at the time. Imagine my surprise when I learned who The Simonsound were! History was going to repeat itself.



The more things change, the more they stay the same. Rest assured that DJ Format tracks, unplayed from the two previous albums as well as from the new release, will find themselves on The Suite Delight playlists shortly.

Like Andy Smith and Gilles Peterson, DJ Format represents what I want to do and be as far as DJing is concerned. I may never make a beat but I will play DJ Format's music at any chance. I learned about him after his releases but the way I've been playing him on my show puts me right on time.

The Suite Delight new time slot is Tuesday morning 2-3am EST on www.ckut.ca & 90.3 FM.

If you haven't already, please make yourself familiar with the link below for more of your favorite show and mine.

Click here to download the podcast and more.

The Suite Delight - March 18 Playlist:

1.       aKido –  I'm Beggin' (aKido's When I was King Remix)

2.       Thievery Corporation - Until the Morning (Rewound By Thievery Corporation)

3.       Seed Organization – Bam Bam (Riddim) feat. Sister Nancy

4.       Elaquent  - Aurora feat. Esta

5.       DJ Format – Black Cloud (Nostalgia 77 Remix)

6.       Si*Sé  – Go (Second Sky & Thomas Blondet Remix)

7.       DJ Cosm – No Reason feat. Ghettosocks & Prince Po

8.       Prince Po – Bump Bump feat. Raekwon

9.       Redman – Time 4 Sum Aksion (Remix)

10.   Percee P – No Time For Jokes feat. Chali 2na

11.   DJ Muggs vs. GZA – General Principles

12.   DJ Muggs & Planet Asia – Thriple Threat feat. GZA & Chace Infinite

13.   DJ Vadim – Raise Your Glass

14.   D-Nice – Time To Flow feat. Naughty By Nature

The Suite Delight - March 11, 2014 Playlist:

1. The Roots - Proceed III feat. Bahamadia
2. Maestro - Stick To Your Vision
3. Classified - Quit While You're Ahead
4. Marco Polo - Back to Work feat. Artifacts
5. Moka Only - The Taste
6. DJ Format - The Place feat. Chali 2Na & Akil
7. Miles Jones - Coast to Coast feat. Kae Sun
8. Poor Righteous Teachers - Easy Star
9. Das Efx - Kaught In Da AK (Remix)
10. Zion I - We Got It
11. Dujeous - All M.C.'s
12. Substantial - That Damn Good
13. DL Incognito - The Masses

Fashawn

I found out Fashawn was born in 1988, one of hip hop's greatest years for musical output.

Aside from being very young, his talent is impressive.

I tripped when I heard Life as a Shawty for the first time and was hype for him to perform it live on Montreal soil.

All going well, Fashawn can indeed be a future bright light in hip hop. He had surprising stage presence and I was pleased with his set.

Fashawn's lyrics are insightful and heartfelt.

The Tragically Hip

Had I not been enraptured by hip hop culture like I am, I probably would have been a bigger fan of The Tragically Hip.



As much as pop/rock was many times an afterthought for me musically during my teens and twenties, The Tragically Hip seemed to infiltrate and reach me.

Poets is still my favorite song by the group. New Orleans Is Sinking comes in a close second. 

I’ve never heard an album of theirs in its entirety but recognize the distinct vocals of lead singer.  

I would be very surprised to learn they haven’t been compared to R.E.M. or haven’t been called Canada’s R.E.M. in all of these years. 

The band members are 2005 Canadian Music Hall of Fame Inductees and could be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

RIP Gord Downie

DJ Mark The 45 King

Most people of my generation are familiar with DJ Mark The 45 King from his classic track The 900 Number. I remember dancing to the song
at high school dances in the late 1980s. I never knew what he looked like until much later in my life.
The amazing thing about the golden era of hip hop is thratr some details could escape you if you werent astute.

Black Dynamite

I’ve wanted to see Black Dynamite from the first time I had heard of the film. I finally did so

Time restraints and other life circumstances prevented me from attempting to rent the film.

My schedule cleared up and I headed to my favorite place to rent movies.

The film is a hilarious parody of Blaxploitation films of the early 1970s. Michael Jai White plays the protagonist perfectly. I never thought I would see him in a comedic role and was pleasantly surprised.

The movie and soundtrack kicks ass so don't wait for that to happen to yours.

Fat Joe - Jealous One's Envy (1995)

In my eyes and ears, a slamming album is a slamming album. Fat Joe's Jealous One's Envy is a slamming album.

Upon my first listen of Jealous One's Envy, whatever I picked up on from The Shit Is Real (DJ Premier Remix) hit me over and over again for nearly an hour. His flow was smoother on this album's cuts. The production choices were on point. The guest appearances including Raekwon, KRS-One and future legend Big Punisher were faultless. I wish Raekwon could have rhymed on Respect Mine rather than just give flavor to the hook.

Once I realized how slamming Jealous One's Envy is, my attention went toward his sophomore album as the ultimate Fat Joe representation in my music collection. I was thrilled and relieved that day I scratched it off my want list.

Jealous One's Envy stands as proof of when an MC/group steps up their game to bring themselves, their fans and hip hop to a higher plane. I didn't see such a quality album like Jealous One's Envy coming from Fat Joe but I'm all the more happy it arrived.

Dorothy Moore ‎– Misty Blue (1976)

It took me a while to realize who Dorothy Moore was when I saw her announced as a Pop Montreal 2013 act. 

The name seemed very familiar but I just couldn't place where, when and why I know it was so.

I remembered she is the soul sister singer of the 1970s that I’ve seen as covering Joe Simon’s Misty Blue on 7” singles while shopping for sounds.  

Say that seven times fast.

Whodini

On the day I decided to eventually write about Whodini, Freaks Come Out At Night was playing as I opened RadioIO Classic Hip Hop on my phone.

Thanks to this age of technology and social media, I was able to wish Ecstacy a happy birthday.

Whodini was one of the first few hip hop acts I learned of after Run-DMC, The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa and The Fat Boys when I entered high school. 

Be Yourself featuring saucy soul legend Millie Jackson became my favorite of Whodini’s songs. 

After the last couple years of listening to more electronic music, my favorite Whodini song is now Magic’s Wand.The 1980s new wave/electronic sounds were the most advanced, futuristic sounds I had ever heard and liked. Today, any song with synthesizers reminiscent of songs I remember hearing from childhood can win me over.Thomas Dolby of She Blinded Me With Science fame produced Magic’s Wand. I remember catching a little flack from a friend of mine for waving the Wand rather than another of the group’s other classics. Wand may not be Whodini’s funkiest single but there is something simply magical whenever I hear the song and its breakdown.

Whether it becomes your favorite of Whodini’s music will remain to be seen and heard.Regardless, songs like Five Minutes of Funk, One Love and Escape can possibly cast their own magical spells or two on you.

Latin Music USA

The Latin Music USA documentary is one of the most informative I've seen in a long time.

The 4-part documentary gives the history of Latin jazz, rock and pop music in America.

I had no idea popular music owed so much to Afro-Latin rhythms. It is unbelievable to think that some of the most innovative and ground-breaking music from The Rolling Stones & Beatles owe something to the deep roots and influences of Latin music.

The second part, dealing with Salsa music, was of particular interest to me. I have had a remote interest in Salsa music but had not done any research to better educate myself. I learned more about the Fania All-Stars that I had only known of by name.



Days before I watched the documentary, I visited the Fania website which was graciously giving away a Hector Lavoe download. I did not hear the download but heard enough from the documentary to know I really like Hector Lavoe. He was a fantastic singer and the song below caught my ear.



I’m torn between loving Boogaloo and Salsa most but I believe my heart and feet are centered in Salsa.

I'm thankful to PBS, Latino Public Broadcasting & Jimmy Smits for the documentary.  I finally got the lessons in Latin music I had been yearning for.

Koncept

There couldn’t have been a better time for Koncept to supply me with tracks.

Brown Bag Allstars will always have a home on The Suite Delight.



Koncept last performed at Montreal's Divan Orange a few years ago.


The city can use another visit from him and the other Brown Bag Allstars members.

The Suite Delight new time slot is Tuesday morning 2-3am EST on www.ckut.ca & 90.3 FM.

If you haven't already, please make yourself familiar with the link below for more of your favorite show and mine.

Below is a playlist of a podcast to bring you up to speed. Click here to download it and more.

The Suite Delight - February 25, 2014 (2) Playlist:

1. Nas - It Ain't Hard To Tell (Large Professor Remix)
2. Diverse - Uprock
3. Jay Dee - Pause feat. Frank-N-Dank
4. Strong Arm Steady - Questions
5. Souls of Mischief - That's When Ya Lost (Remix)
6. Soul Khan - Knuckle Puck featuring Koncept, 8thW1 & Homeboy Sandman
7. Quasimoto - Rappcats, Pt. 3
8. Supastition - Yada Yada
9. Murs & 9th Wonder - Murs Day
10. Mobb Deep - Win or Lose
11. Wale - Um'Ricka feat. K'Naan
12. K-Solo - Letterman (Pete Rock Remix)
13. The Extremities - Cold Cheese
14. D-Sisive x Tone Mason – Maybe I Will feat. DJ Grouch

The Suite Delight February 18, 2014 Playlist:

1. The Incredible Bongo Band - Let There Be Drums
2. The Incredible Bongo Band - Bongo Rock
3. Aretha Franklin - Chain of Fools
4. Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway - Back Together Again
5. The Souljazz Orchestra - Rejoice Pt. 2
6. Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
7. Otis Redding - These Arms of Mine
8. Asheru & Blue Black of The Unspoken Heard - B-Boy
9. Roc C - Don't Stop feat. Oh No & Pox Dog
10. De La Soul - Potholes In My Lawn
11. Superlover Cee & Casanova Rud - Do The James
12. Master Ace - Go Where I Will Send Thee
13. Koncept – Aspirations feat. Soul Khan
14. Abdominal - T.Ode feat. Notes to Self

Rocket Robin Hood

I haven’t seen or thought of Rocket Robin Hood since I was about 5 or 6 years old. My gentle reminder was presented to me during a casual browse through Archambault one day. I couldn’t believe the cartoon series I used to watch as a boy was in my hands as a man.

The nostalgia of watching the show washed over me and my immediate memory was of Friar Tuck taking one bite of each food item in front of him and tossing it behind his back.



I saw the DVDs at Future Shop but the price was just as out of this world as Rocket Robin Hood's adventures. One of my favorite downtown depots had the second season for a very reasonable price and I couldn't leave it behind.



While preparing this post, I just discovered Rocket Robin Hood was a Canadian cartoon from the mid-1960s. It gives me a warm feeling inside knowing that this program was not only made for us but by us as well.