January 21, 2008
Funky Books, Funky Education, Hip Hop
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Yes Yes Y’All - The Experience Music Project Oral History of Hip-Hop’s First Decade is a compilation of first-hand accounts that chronicle the early development of hip hop. Pulling quotes from over a hundred rappers, DJs, producers, dancers and artists, this book pulls together a variety of perspectives to create a layered musical narrative that’s impossible to put down.
The collection of takes contained in this book is based on the “Hip-Hop Nation” exhibit at Seattle’s Experience Music Project. Anyone who wants to learn about how hip hop grew from an underground party scene in New York to a worldwide music phenomenon should pick this book up.
Amazon.com has Yes Yes Y’All - The Experience Music Project Oral History of Hip-Hop’s First Decade for under 20 bucks.
Once you start reading the stories compiled by Jim Fricke and Charlie Ahearn and told by Russell Simmons, Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and others, you’ll be hooked. It’s a quick, fascinating read that shouldn’t be missed.
December 25, 2007
Funky Books, Funky Education, Funky Videos, Welcome to the Disco
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Holiday cheers to all. We’re nearing the end of our Disco December month, and it’s time to throw down a music history post to explain how disco gave birth to house music.
Here it goes…
So a gay guy and a black dude walk into a warehouse….just kidding! Well, actually that’s not too far off. Here’s the short version.
Larry Levan started spinning disco records together at those crazy Paradise Garage parties in New York.
Soon after Disco Demolition Night (when white kids killed disco at a White Sox game), Chicago started developing a new, electronic, drum-machine happy sound.
Frankie Kunckles brought his gay-friendly crate of thumping disco tracks to Chicago and the kids got into it. Stuff like “Let No Man Put Asunder” from First Choice (off the Salsoul disco label) rocked the Warehouse in 1983.
Soulful, bangin’ disco tracks collided with wtf-sounding beats from Jesse Saunders, Farley Jackmaster Funk and a bunch of other DJs, remixers and record producer types in Chicago.
All the kids wanted to buy the records that were playing at the Warehouse in Chicago, and after some abbreviating –- the house music label was born.
In Detroit, Juan Atkins (/Cybotron), Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson originated a techno touch alongside the Chicago house music sound.
Look — there’s a video on it – Pump Up the Volume - a documentary that outlines the history of house music’s muddied origins. From swinging disco tracks to squelching experimental knob-turning to the base kick of techno’s first producers, this three-part video has it all. Special thanks to the fine people at ToTheDisco.com for pointing this vid out.
Pump Up The Volume - History of House Music - Part 1
Part 1 starts with Larry Levan and the Paradise Garage and goes through the early house music scene in Chicago.
Pump Up The Volume - History of House Music - Part 2
In Part 2, you can learn about how Brits got hold of the stuff and used their Northern Soul infrastructure and connections in Ibiza to club the music out to the Euro masses. Detroit’s take on house also gets attention.
Pump Up The Volume - History of House Music - Part 3
Part 3 takes you through some of the more recent house music scenes, you know — all that splinter faction definition label stuff. Anything Goldie says is hilarious, and Armand Van Helden seems like a pretty chill dude.
Sure, these Google vides don’t offer the best presentation. And yeah, some of the music you’ll hear is a bit wack, but this documentary from 2001 is a bridge that connects the house music of today to the disco classics of yesteryear.
If you want to learn more about this documentary, check out the “Pump Up the Volume” companion book at Amazon.com.
November 20, 2007
Funky Books, Funky Education
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Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey
by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton
It’s time to further your funky music education. If you’ve ever wondered how turntables evolved into an instrument, check out Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton.
This punchy, well-organized book educates readers with light-hearted tales about parties, mixing, the art of the DJ and the development of various music genres from Northern Soul to Hip Hop. As advertised, it’s a full-on history book, but its the type of history that tempts curious investigation. You’ll flip through decades of DJ developments as you power through chapters on Disco, Dub and Chicago House music. The crisp storytelling will satisfy your appetite for music education, but you’ll still be hungry for more. Read the rest…
