I was hesitant to use it but learned to stop worrying and love the social networking tool. I couldn’t disregard Twitter’s usefulness in helping me achieve my goals.
While trying to decide which direction I was going to take with upcoming The Suite Delight episodes, I browsed my Twitter account and noticed something. When I posted certain songs and artists I was playing during my radio show, some artists were retweeted for wherever reason. This gave me an idea.
The artists below are the most retweeted of any artists I’ve played on The Suite Delight this year. Tune in to Concordia University's radio station on Saturday, August 6 from 8-10pm EST for a playlist dedicated exclusively to them.
aKido
There’s nothing like home-grown talent doing well. aKido is on The Suite Delight Heavy Rotation list and I wrote in great detail about his Beggin' (aKido's When I Was King Remix). aKido will be performing at the MEG Festival later this month.Ancient Astronauts
Into Bass & Time was the last album I charted at #1 before my reign as Concordia University's radio station RPM Director ended. I gave them a big push and in turn they gave me a big push of visibility on Twitter. I’m thrilled they made this list.
Federico Aubele
Federico Aubele’s Amatoria was one of the first records I saw when I became RPM Director. The blend of Latin & electronic music caught my attention because of my interest in the classic Latin/Fania sounds and the electronic direction I was heading in. When I learned of this year’s Berlin 13 release, I added his music to The Suite Delight playlists to support his sounds.
The Beekeepers
I am the first DJ to have played The Beekeepers at Concordia University's radio station. When I found out someone retweeted that I had played one of their tracks on my show, I knew that I would have to keep a space on future The Suite Delight playlists for them.DJ Sun
In this internet era, the artists and fans are closer to each other than ever before. My now-legendary tweet about needing more DJ Sun music in my life managed to bring me just that. DJ Sun personally supplied me with a few tracks that I’ve used on The Suite Delight and for my live sets at Death of Vinyl. Thanks again for the tunes!DVAS
DVAS got to enjoy a great run on the Concordia University's radio station RPM Chart when their Society album was released in 2010. I’m looking forward to their next project and hope I don’t have to wait too long for it.
Eskmo
The abstract and experimental music of artists like Eskmo take some getting used to on my part. I’ll play one of my favourites of his for us to explore.Fujiya & Miyagi
I remember seeing their names on the Concordia University's radio station RPM charts long before I decided to be the music director. I knew nothing of their music but when their Ventriloquizzing album was released, I made up for the lost time.Grandtheft
One half of Team Canada DJs, Grandtheft as well is another local lad doing big things including finding himself on this list. I remember seeing Team Canada DJs open for Wyclef Jean during a back-to-school concert. When I learned he got signed to Plant Music, I gave his Let Me Out release all the support I could by making a spot for him on the Concordia University's radio station RPM Chart.The Kickdrums
I was the first to play The Kickdrums at Concordia University's radio station as well. I have an interest in indie rock bands now and they seem like the perfect blend of my hip hop past and present-day rock leanings.Los Empressarios
With their blend of Latin sounds and electronic music similar to Federico Aubele, how could I not show love to Los Empressarios? I saw their name related to Fort Knox Five and kept my ears and eyes open until they released Sabor Tropical. It too was one of my last albums to chart before my resignation as Concordia University's radio station RPM Director.Machine Drum
I’ve been meaning to play more Tiombe Lockhart on The Suite Delight. With Machine Drum being one of The Suite Delight’s most popular artists on Twitter, I’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone when I play the song they recorded together.Mad Decent
Mad Decent, among other labels, represents what the current electronic music scene is all about. Although the scene moves fast, it would be in the best interest of anyone interested in learning about the scene to keep an eye on what Mad Decent are doing. I followed my own advice and gave Diplo’s Blow Your Head compilation a hard enough push to make it #1 on the Concordia University's radio station RPM Chart.
Mark Ronson
When I was compiling this list, I was happy to know I’ll be able to play some of Ronson’s music. Admittedly, I’ve played Mark Ronson’s music the most at Concordia University's radio station and slowed down considerably since last fall’s Record Collection release. I kept Record Collection high up on the RPM Chart for most of its time in rotation at Concordia University's radio station.MC Zulu
The first time I ever saw or heard MC Zulu was when he performed in Montreal for Poirier’s No Ground Under release party. I would later see his name with David Last on the Musically Massive release. I was happy to know he appreciated my support of his Crowd Control debut from earlier this year.Nostalgia 77
I had the pleasure of meeting Nostalgia 77 last year at one of The Goods monthly parties. I told him I would support his music at Concordia University's radio station and I kept my word.
Robyn
Within the last week, Robyn’s Do You Know (What it Takes) [E-Smoove Bounce Mix Edit] remix was a topic of discussion with two people I know. I already liked Robyn’s original and Show Me Love songs from the late 90s but the Do You Know (What it Takes) remix is hot. I realize I’m stuck in a time warp where Robyn’s concerned because she’s older, bolder and her music is in the same electronic direction that I’m headed towards. For whatever reason, I cling to her pre-Britney Spears pop image and will have to get with the times. I believe her new song with Rye Rye should bring me up to speed.
Shigeto
Eskmo, Daedelus, Flying Lotus, Teebs & Shigeto make music that I’m not used and I’m trying to get accustomed to it. If you’re unfamiliar with the names I just wrote, the Shigeto track I’ll play will be a great introduction to the music of this unconventional genre of electronic music.
Wrongtom
I never heard of Wrongtom until I saw him paired with Roots Manuva on their album from last year. To me, if Roots Manuva partnered with him, Wrongtom must be doing something right. I’m curious to hear and know more about him.
The Suite Delight’s Most Retweeted Hip Hop Artists
My hip hop roots are too deep for me to ignore. I have and know too much about hip hop music, especially golden-era hip hop, to turn my back on it. However, I still keep an eye and ear out for good hip hop if ever it presents itself or can be found.
A good number of the hip hop artists that were retweeted came as a surprise to me. Some were personal favourites that seemed to have a following and some were new to me with a following just the same.
The hip hop artists below are the most retweeted of any I’ve played on The Suite Delight for the better part of 2011.
Tune in on Saturday, August 6 from 8-10pm EST where their music will be in showcase.
Brother Ali
It took his show at Montreal’s for me Les Foufounes Electriques to recognize why people talk about Brother Ali the way they do. I learned about him late but I’ll be right on time the minute I hear he has new material.
Brown Bag Allstars
I like hip hop clans, posses, crews and cliques. There’s strength in numbers thing going on when a group of artists unite and create music. Like Wu-Tang, Juice Crew, NWA & the Posse, any cruddy clique assembled like Brown Bag Allstars gets my attention. Most of the group members have solo material and tons of tracks together.
DJ Honda
I kick myself for letting the first 2 DJ Honda CDs slip through my fingers. I should have bought them both from the store they were at a while back but fronted. My search for either the vinyl or CDs continues. On The Mic is one of my favourite posse cuts of all time. I was amazed to see all the MCs he worked with on his albums. I’ll do what I can to make sure The Suite Delight listeners learn or remember how hot those albums are by playing him any chance I get.
Donwill
I learned about Tanya Morgan pretty late and didn’t latch on to them like I could have or some of my friends did. That was why when I discovered Donwill had released a solo project, I did what I could to make it reach my radio station’s RPM Chart while I was its director. It was my way of making up for lost Tanya time.
D-Sisive
My reward for blogging about D-Sisive and his Montreal show this past April was a copy of his Vaudeville CD. D-Sisive has been pretty busy releasing music over the last few years. The reward for his hard work was being long listed for the 2011 Polaris Prize.
D-Shade
I grew up watching and hearing Shades of Culture perform in Montreal. Little did I know they would still influence me to this day. I aim to be as skilled as DJ Storm on the turntables. I aim for my radio show to be as revered as Orion’s Off the Hook. I would want to be as skilled on the microphone as D-Shade, if I were to rhyme.
El Da Sensei
I wrote a great deal about Artifacts a while back. I respect the post-Artifacts work El Da Sensai has done over the last few years. I’m happy to add him to this list.
Eternia
I like Eternia so much that she is one of the few recording artists I would make room for every week on The Suite Delight radio show. I’ve made do with whatever music of hers I could find. I was relieved to learn she teamed with MoSS and finally released new material. When I add that vinyl or CD to my collection, I will utter the title of her 2011 Polaris Prize long list nominated album.
Ghettosocks
I remember while hosting The Suite Delight a few months ago, I reached for the Ghettosocks CD played a track from it and my guest co-host at the time asked me what it was I was playing. That is the magic of Ghettosocks. It explains why the album did so well on the hip hop charts at the time of its release. I’m looking forward to new music from him but will get familiar with what I have until then.
Kool G. Rap
The greatest and most legendary rapper on this list is Kool G. Rap. I simply can’t wait to play his music on an upcoming episode of The Suite Delight. I still have no word as to whether he is a VH1 Hip Hop Honouree but he gets the royal treatment on my show all the time.
Roots Manuva
I did what I could to push the Roots Manuva Meets Wrongtom album high up on my radio station’s RPM Chart and succeeded. I will be equally successful in playing their music on The Suite Delight shortly.
MED
Stones Throw is one of my favorite record labels and I have a lot of respect for their artists. Break it Down is the song I killed the most from the B-Ball Zombie War CD.
Malicious
Malicious is one of my favourite Montreal MCs. He made it on The Suite Delight’s Heavy Rotation list not too long ago. I briefly retired his music but Malicious will be returning to my upcoming playlists in the near future.
The Narcycist
The Narcycist is nice. I learned that when he opened for the Brother Ali show and when I met him at a McGill seminar on hip hop’s role in the school curriculum. He was kind enough to record IDs for my station, radio show and a few colleagues’ radio shows.
Pacewon
For someone that doesn’t listen to hip hop like he used to in the past, Pacewon is one of my favourite MCs. I wrote about Pacewon not too long ago and gave him a small tribute on The Suite Delight.
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