Big Daddy Kane

Big Daddy Kane came to Montreal, some twenty years after his last visit, on my birthday years ago.


The stars were in alignment on that late March night. Big Daddy Kane was supposed to have performed in Montreal the previous December but it didn’t happen.



When I arrived at the venue, I recognized people I knew in front of the venue. Most of the people there were in my age range and some probably saw him in 1989.
 

Big Daddy Kane took the stage to an extremely receptive crowd. His body language and dare I write, swagger, made me realize what I missed at James Lyng. I realized a hip hop legend was onstage in front of me. One of the greatest lyricists in hip hop was in Montreal on my birthday! I wasn’t there at James Lyng but I can at least say I saw Big Daddy Kane perform live.



All the classics like Raw, Ain’t No Half Steppin’, Set it Off, I Get The Job Done and Warm it up Kane were performed. The encore was the well appreciated verse from Just Rhymin’ With Biz.

I don’t have too much to complain about other than the show could and should maybe have been nearly 30 minutes longer for my sake. I enjoyed myself as did my friends and others in attendance.



Thank you Kane for the classic hip hop and memorable birthday present.

Thank you to the World Famous Beat Junkies for the mix of Big Daddy Kane classics.

Check it out below!

The Suite Delight new time slot is Tuesday morning 1-2am EST on www.ckut.ca & 90.3 FM.

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

Feel free to request songs and artists below in the comments section below as well as onTwitter, Facebook.

Visit the Mixcloud page to listen and the Podomatic site to download them and more.

http://suitedelight.podomatic.com

Below is a podcast to bring you up to speed.

Click here to download more.

The Suite Delight - 2014-07-01 by Dj Solespin on Mixcloud

The Suite Delight 2014-02-04 Playlist:

1.       Onyx - Throw Ya Gunz

2.       LL Cool J - Rock The Bells

3.       Ludacris - Southern Hospitality

4.       EPMD - Brothers From Brentwood, Long Island

5.       Anonymous Twist feat. Roc 'C' – Suckas Still Trying To Front

6.       Eternia & MoSS ft. Joell Ortiz - Its Funny

7.       DMX - Ruff Ryders' Anthem

8.       Big Daddy Kane - Get Down

9.       King Jus & Fresh Kils - Cold World

10.   Ghettosocks - I Invented Everything feat. Jabba the Cutt

11.   Relic - Loud Enuff Ft. Moka Only

12.   Hezekiah - Fired Up ft. Talib Kweli & Bahamadia

13.   Master Ace - Music Man (Mic Master Mix)

14.   Mos Def - Revelations

15.   Cee & Dr. MaD - Another Day ft. Notion & Nox

Divine Brown

I have been a big fan of Divine Brown since her debut CD was released.

Since then, I have played her music steadily on my show and caught her last Montreal concert at Cabaret Du Musee.

Divine Brown was backed by two singers, three dancers and a small band. There were a lot of people on both floors of the venue. I chose to stay on the ground floor near the bar for an easy exit at the end of the show. It was also ideal to objectively view the concert.

The initial crowd reaction to Old Skool Love was textbook. I was surprised that she performed it so early in the set. It was possibly the third or fourth song. I am not sure if this happens at all concerts now, but the majority of the crowd raised and pointed their cameras and phones to the stage and sang along. It was a touching moment. I did not expect to hear Old Skool Love so soon in the night. I wondered if she ever performed the reggae version for audiences as well.



Songs like Meet Me at the Roxy, Bebe and Twist My Hair were performed. Vocally, Divine Brown was in fine form. Her voice was powerful or sensitive when need be. I realized early enough that I was in the presence of one of Canada’s finest vocalists.

The concert ran longer than I expected or was prepared for. Clocking in at nearly over two hours, Divine Brown truly gave the audience their money’s worth. The finale was another surprise, but the seeds were planted throughout the show. The guitarist and rock music sound gave the impression that Divine Brown had either a rocker past or at least an interest.



Her performance of Journey’s Don't Stop Believing made me a believer. Seeing and hearing one of my favourite female urban music singers covering one of the most iconic arena rock songs of all times will be marked as one of my best concert experiences of that year.

Otis Redding

After leaving Jeff Mills’ last Mutek set at Metropolis and getting a bite to eat, I heard familiar sounds that soothed my soul and ears.

A car with up to 5 teens/young adults was blasting Rock Me Baby by Otis Redding.

I hadn’t heard that song in years and it got me to reminiscing about Big O.

I always knew Sitting on the Dock of the Bay was sung by Otis Redding but did not do any further research until the mid-late 90s. By that time, I started veering away from hip hop and listening to its source material. My late uncle had Otis Redding Story collection and on a whim, I recorded the songs onto audio cassettes and brought them home with me from New York.

I killed those tapes to the point that I decided to get some Otis Redding albums of my own.

Among them was Otis Blue, the album with Rock Me Baby. Otis albums are phenomenal but there is something about Otis Blue. There is not one weak cut on the album but only songs you can like more than others.

For convenience sake, I let go of Otis Blue for The Definitive Otis Redding compilation.


The Suite Delight new time slot is Tuesday morning 1-2am 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 are podcasts to bring you up to speed. Click here to download them

and more.




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

The Suite Delight - January 28 Playlist:

1. Chic - Good Times 
2. Michael Bloomfield - Killing Floor 
3. Otis Redding - The Huckle-Buck 
4. The Souljazz Orchestra - Kelen Ati Leen 
5. Twilight - Straight To My Heart 
6. Madlib - Stormy 
7. Poor Righteous Teachers - Rock Dis Funky Joint (On Fire Remix) 
8. Black Moon - How Many MCs (DJ Evil Dee Remix) 
9. DJ K.O. - Ladder of Success feat. Masta Ace, Wordsworth, K Hill & Phonte 
10. Dan-e-o - Margerine 
11. Zion I & The Grouch - Trains And Planes 
12. D-Sisive - Brian Wilson

DJ Spinna

DJ Spinna has had a special place in my heart and record collection for nearly a decade.

When I was branching out musically, learning about the more obscure rare grooves, DJ Spinna was instrumental in my education.  His name was attached to many a compilation like  The Wonder of Stevie that I consider to be blueprints to bangers. He even produced house music tracks.

I've been in awe of him, his knowledge and what I imagine is the vastness of his record collection. If the people distributing those CD collections trusted his taste, I would have to do the same. 

I believe the first DJ Spinna collection I heard was Funkrock - Rock Breaks & Guitars For Funky People, which has been been rather influential on me to this day.

Thanks to DJ Spinna and that CD, I’ve gotten rather familiar with acts like Buddy Miles, Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll & The Trinity, Colosseum and Zoo. It would take years but most of their albums would eventually enter my own collection for use on my Suite Delight radio show.

I got to catch a live set and meet DJ Spinna a couple of years ago.  I was lucky to have learned he was spinning at the Red Bull Space before heading for CMJ and to have found my CD copy of The Beat Suite to bring with me.

I was the first among my Concordia University's radio station troupe to spot DJ Spinna as he walked into the Red Bull Space. I gave him a little time to settle in before approaching him. I immediately told him about my respect for his work and how influential he's been on me. When I showed him the CD, he was pretty surprised. When he signed it, I was pretty surprised. The man who had a hand in shaping my musical being for the last decade was beside me, signing my CD. I wish I had snatched up the other ones I had of his before the trip. One is better than none in my case.

DJ Spinna announced he would be DJing with strictly 45 RPM vinyls during his set.  That was of course a treat for me. I was happy to hear the original samples to some of hip hop's classics.  I am more albums oriented because I could and should have more music to play for the money I pay.  Those that are very familiar with 7” singles tend to be those that have a strong grasp of albums in their collections and can afford to travel and spin light.

Catching a set and speaking to what I consider a musical mentor like DJ Spinna was among the highlights of that year. 

Prior to his 24 Hours of Vinyl DJ set, DJ Spinna last performed in Montreal at Salon Daome for Oasis Wednesdays.

Thank you to the organizers for helping make those nights and this post possible.

Joe South

I’ve heard them say if you seek, then you shall find.

One morning I went seeking Joe South music on YouTube to find out he died in September 2012 through the comments left on one of the site. A quick Google search confirmed the unfortunate information.

Ironically, that was the year I re-discovered his music.



I had always known he sang Walk A Mile in My Shoes and bought a greatest hits album from a Plateau record store that is no longer for that song alone.



The credits for Deep Purple’s Hush will state Joe South’s name as songwriter but I never heard his version until I bought that album.

I learned about the song Games People Play and played it a great deal. I even added it to one of my fill in playlists for The Goods.

I don’t know how or why I didn’t hear of his death months ago. Regardless, nothing happens before its time. I reached for his music this year. The news was going to reach me eventually. Now is as good a time as any to check out his music if you’re unfamiliar.



RIP Joe South.

Grand Analog

If I knew little about The Herbaliser before I caught their live performance at Montreal's Le National, I knew even less about Grand Analog.

Grand Analog was the opening act for the people in attendance. The group took the stage with an eclectic set of hip hop, rock and reggae music. 

Grand Analog did a great job. I feel they were a perfect fit considering how The Herbaliser's music incorporates many genres as well. That night made me a Grand Analog fan.

Where hip hop is concerned, most of the artists that interest me would be considered hip hip hybrids like K-os, K'Naan and Grand Analog. That says a lot about my musical tastes & direction and the state of hip hop. I've been looking for more than hip hop for years and respect hip hop artists that do more than the stereotypical and traditional sounding hip hop.

I love the eclectic nature of Grand Analog. No song is similar. I was shocked to learn Grand Analog had released Metropolis is Burning. I had only learned of the band when I was at The Herbaliser show. I met 2 members of Grand Analog at my home away from home Death of Vinyl record store just before their last Montreal performance.

I have been looking forward to the release of their third full-length album.  My wait is just about over.  Word of new music has made the rounds and below is proof positive. Check out one of the latest tracks featuring Saukrates. 

Grand Analog returned to Montreal at Divan Orange on November 22, 2013 for M For Montreal.  

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 podcast to bring you up to speed.  Click here to download it and more.

The Suite Delight - March 4, 2013 Playlist:

1. Kokolo - Soul Power (Lack Of Afro Remix)
2. Kelis - Trick Me
3. Nickodemus – 2 Sips & Magic (Second Sky & Thomas Blondet Remix)
4. The Souljazz Orchestra - Celestial Blues
5. Fabolous - So Into You feat Tamia
6. DJ Honda - When You Hot, You Hot feat. No I.D. & Dug Infinite
7. Fashawn - LIfe As a Shorty
8. Oh No - Beware feat. Cali Agents
9. Brand Nubian - Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down (Remix) Featuring Diamond D
10. Souls of Mischief - Good Feeling
11. De La Soul - Afro Connections At A Hi 5
12. Moka Only & Chief - Crickets
13. Grand Analog - Take It Slow (Spaces & Places)

The Suite Delight - 2013-11-12 Playlist:

The Suite Delight - 2013-11-12 by Dj Solespin on Mixcloud

1. Ghettosocks - U Ain't This featuring D-Sisive, Rich Kidd, & Muneshine
2. Eternia & MoSS - At Last featuring Termanology & Reef the Lost Cauze
3. Anonymous Twist - Sweet 16 featuring Planet Asia
4. Grand Analog - Electric City featuring Shad
5. Marco Polo - Hood Tales feat. Kool G Rap & DV Alias Khrist
6. Theo3 – Ari Gold
7. The Extremities - Morning After feat Apollo & Wordsworth
8. SepTo - Really Living feat. Dan-e-o, Grimace Love, Wio-K
9. The Narcicyst - Falling Down
10. CeasRock - 10.5
11. Jeff Spec - Stop feat. NaRai
12. Miles Jones - Never Too Late
13. Friday – AmiR
14. Mickey Boston - Science

Mark Ronson

I am possibly still the biggest Mark Ronson fan in Montreal, Quebec and maybe Canada.



I admire his production, his albums and his own radio show has been influential on me this year. His playlists were practically musical treasure maps to me.

As a DJ, producer and radio show host, Mark Ronson has had a great deal of influence on me.



The vinyls for Here Comes The Fuzz & Version are among the most I've ever paid for in my life.

With the amount of times his name appeared on my own show's playlists, it was only a matter of time until a tribute show was done in honor of Mark Ronson.



Mark Ronson's Version started me on a quest of learning more about the British Indie rock scene. Names like The Charlatans, The Jam & Kasabian were new to me until I discovered Ronson was covering classics that most current Indie rock fans have known or should know.

I would have loved to be have been at the Mark Ronson talent showcase during the CMJ Music Marathon featuring Wale, Rhymefest, Daniel Merriweather and Rumble Strips. I read about how well they performed that night. 



As I have stated numerous times before, Mark Ronson’s radio show was highly influential on me and my own Suite Delight radio show. My weekends basically started with his show. I would do whatever I could to be home to listen.



Aside from the shopping and record crate digging, the night I met Mark Ronson was the highlight of my CMJ 2011 trip. The only downside was that the photo of Ronson and I turned out so poorly. I was pissed off about that for quite some time. The only thing that calmed me down was my repeatedly telling myself I have the experience to remember as opposed to not.

Before we parted ways, I asked when the fourth Ronson album will be ready.  I believe his answer was that he was working on it.  You can believe that I am looking forward to enjoying that album when the time arrives.

I was very happy to learn he was featured in the Crate Diggers documentary series. Check it out below.

Nice & Smooth - Ain't A Damn Thing Changed (1991)

Like most people of my generation, Nice & Smooth were introduced to us through Big Daddy Kane's classic second album. 

From there, we learned the duo would release classic material of their own. 

The first two Nice & Smooth albums are classics. I can’t state with definite certainty which of the two I prefer. I remember buying the debut album as a teen. Yet, the second half of Ain't a Damn Thing Changed is especially crazy.



Let this be my moment to thank Nice & Smooth for the years of more & more hits.

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

The Suite Delight new time slot is Tuesday morning 1-2am EST on www.ckut.ca & 90.3 FM.
Below are some archived podcasts to bring you up to speed.  

Click here to download more podcasts.

http://suitedelight.podomatic.com



DJ Solespin - The Goods (July 2014) Playlist:

1. Damian Marley – Welcome to Jamrock
2. Koushik – Be With
3. Washed Out – Feel It All Around
4. The System – Don’t Disturb This Groove
5. Loose Ends – Hanging On A String
6. Erykah Badu – Bag Lady
7. Feist – Mushaboom (K-os Mix)
8. D’Angelo – Feel Like Makin’ Love
9. Mark De Clive Lowe – Restless
10. Marley Marl – Hummin’ feat. Roy Ayers
11. Charles Bradley – Heart of Gold
12. DJ Spinna – Surely
13. The Pharcyde – Drop
14. Masta Ace Incorporated – The I.N.C. Ride
15. Busta Rhymes – Turn It Up
16. De La Soul – Plug Tunin’
17. Nice & Smooth – No Delayin’
18. MC Tee & Lord Tasheem – Gangster Nine
19. Gang Starr – Code of the Streets
20. Pete Rock – Back on the Block featuring C.L. Smooth
21. Souls of Mischief – Make Your Mind Up (Rock On Mix)
22. Biz Markie – Nobody Beats The Biz
23. Digable Planets – 9th Wonder (Blackitolism)
24. Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew – Everybody Loves A Star
25. MF Doom – Dead Bent

The Suite Delight - 2014-07-08 by Dj Solespin on Mixcloud

The Suite Delight - 2014-04-08 by Dj Solespin on Mixcloud

 

The Suite Delight - 2013 CKUT Funding Drive Podcast by Dj Solespin on Mixcloud

Lyrics Born

Just as I’m not too big on the more experimental of electronic music, I had my share of trouble with the Definitive Jux and Quannum style of hip hop of the late 90s & earl;y 2000s.
 

It would take me nearly a decade to warm up to the DJ Shadow, Cannibal Ox and Latryx sounds.  Lyrics Born, by association and quality of his hip hop, suffered the same fate as the aforementioned artists and labels.

Diverse’s One A.M. is an album I was happy to have discovered and have yet to find on vinyl/CD on my music purchasing path.  Lyrics Born makes an appearance on Explosive and it is the first time I got to really be introduced to him as an MC. 

To my surprise, Lyrics Born recorded I Changed My Mind.  The song is what I still consider to be my favorite of his discography.  I didn’t expect or imagine the MC would sing or be on the track with a funk group. 

Good fortune graced me with a ticket to the Lyrics Born Montreal International Jazz Festival performance at the SAT.  

When I arrived at the venue, I was slightly surprised to see what appeared to be a set list prominently on display at the ticket booth.  It is rare for me to see a set list for a concert.  I almost thought it was an accident or negligence on someone’s part for that proverbial cat to be out of the bag.  What struck me about the set list was the number of James Brown song titles listed.  All would be revealed to me by the time Lyrics Born took the SAT stage.

Lyrics Born’s recent collaborations with funk bands like The Bamboos along with the set list made everything clear that the crowd was truly in for a funky good time.  The passionate renditions of the Godfather of Soul’s discography were a welcome surprise that night. 

What was also surprising was that the performance Lyrics Born and musicians gave to the small SAT crowd was tantamount to one he could have given if he performed for a Metropolis-sized audience. 

Lyrics Born and company gave Montreal nothing less than 100% on stage and rocked the house that night.  It was no surprise they returned for an encore.  It is no surprise I am looking forward to another Lyrics Born show regardless of the venue.