Monthly Archives: February 2009

Buckwild.

Friday: February 27, 2009 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Video Leave a comment

Another great video from a legendary hip-hop producer…Buckwild (also known through his affiliation with the D.I.T.C. crew). Buckwild has a very official discography, a lot of your favorite tracks, he probably produced. And he’s BEEN doing this…

More info on Buckwild

Jesse West.

Friday: February 27, 2009 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Video 1 Comment

One of the most slept on hip-hop producers ever…but to me, he contributed a LOT to the game and definitely had dope tracks. For those who are not aware, I’m talking about Jesse West aka 3rd Eye. Interesting fact, he is partly responsible for the success of Biggie (Notorious B.I.G.). Jesse West recorded, mixed, and produced a lot of Biggie’s first demo material. He even appeared with Biggie on Supercat’s “Dolly My Baby” (Remix) back in the day, a track in which he himself produced. Enough of my rambling, pay respects to these hip-hop legends, do your research…find out about their contributions, get their music if you’re feeling it. This stuff should NOT go un-noticed.

Here is a more recent video of Jesse West, being himself, giving a quick lesson on chopping beats and sampling…

More info on Jesse West

Flipped v6.0

Thursday: February 12, 2009 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Flipped 3 Comments

flipped

The Message
Definitely one of the most unique samples that I’ve ever heard, simply because the producer used the most unpractical portion of the song to sample. This is creativity on another level. Truly supporting the theory that less is more.

Check it out…

Original:

Flipped :

James Yancey aka Jay Dee/J Dilla. R.I.P.

Wednesday: February 11, 2009 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote 2 Comments

DILLA

Sorry I’m a day late with this, but yesterday was CRAZY at the office.

This is a small ode to James Yancey aka Jay Dee/J Dilla. One of the greatest producers of all-time, PERIOD. He passed away February 10, 2006 due to complications with Lupus. My buddy Algorythm and I went to check out the annual DONUTS ARE FOREVER tribute show and Lupus Awareness fundraiser this past weekend (as we have done since ’06), and hearing all of Dilla’s music, seeing all of the fans, is a true blessing and a beautiful thing. Not just any music producer could get that kind of love and support…anyway, here are a few Dilla instrumentals to get you through the hump day, and celebrate Dilla’s life and his music.

Peace and enjoy…

Illasoul

Swagger

Sounds Like Love

All Good

DFTF

R.I.P. J Dilla…the music definitely lives on!

Sex, Love & Heartbreak: Volume 2

Monday: February 9, 2009 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Mix 5 Comments

Front Cover
Cover Art + Mixed by Darien Victor Birks of Flwrpt

The Message
Back with a new mix, just in time for Valentine’s Day…Sex, Love & Heartbreak Vol.2, which is the follow-up to last year’s Sex, Love & Heartbreak. I’ve switched it up a bit this go-round, the music is more up-beat and has an overall party vibe. Enjoy it!…

Check out the sound!

DOWNLOAD

OR

Listen Now:

Tracklisting:

Johnny “Guitar” Watson – Superman Lover
(Track 2 cannot be listed for legal reasons, sorry)
The Sylvers – Be My Love
Dionne Warwick – You’re Gonna Need Me
The Sylvers – Only One Can Win
The Main Ingredient – Work To Do
Weldon Irvine – I Love You
Ruby Andrews – Casanova
Wee – Teach Me How
Sylvia Striplin – You Can’t Turn Me Away
Don Blackman – Holding You, Loving You
Weather Report – Young And Fine
Feather – Goin’ Through Changes
Jon Lucien – Maiden Voyage
Herbie Hancock – Come Running To Me
O’Mar – Legend Of The Grandmaster Lover
Boz Scaggs – Lowdown
Eddie Kendricks – Date With The Rain
The Blackbyrds – April Showers
Heatwave – Star Of The Story
Sylvia – Sweet Stuff
Ramp – Daylight
The O’Jays – Darling Baby
Womack & Womack – Baby I’m Scared Of You
Donna McGhee – Make It Last Forever
L.V. Johnson – I Don’t Really Care

Also, be sure to check out my other mixes here.

Peace.

Supreme Jazz Masterpiece.

Monday: February 2, 2009 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Jazz 5 Comments

Artist: Wendell Harrison
Title: Dreams Of A Love Supreme
Year: 1980
Label: WenHa
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.5/5.0

Front

Review
Dreams Of A Love Supreme is one of my favorite jazz albums of all-time, and Wendell Harrison is a habitual envelope-pusher. Wendell Harrison is a multi-talented master jazz musician who played the tenor sax, and the jazz clarinet, amongst other instruments. One can’t help but love his music.

So this album might freak some people out, seeing as though it’s a jazz album released in 1980, we all know that 1980 wasn’t the year for many great jazz albums. Cast all preconceived notions aside for this one, because there’s nothing short of amazing material on this LP. The sound is definitely raw and innovative for it’s time, laid back in its overall essence, but manages to produce some grooves. One of the elements that gives this album a lot of character is the fact that it was recorded in an awful studio, AWFUL, sonically this record is patchwork. Wendell Harrison left Tribe records (after it disbanded around 1975) and started his own label, WenHa/Rebirth, this was one of the earliest releases on the label, so I’m assuming money was low…hence the low budget recording. But regardless of all that, the strength of the music still makes this one of the best jazz albums EVER made, point blank PERIOD. As you listen, pay close attention to the arrangements and the style of the instrumentation, you’ll soon fall in love with vibes of this music as well. Enjoy…

Check out the sound!

Take Time Out

Belle Isle

Pink Snowballs and Violet Skies

Design
As simple as this cover appears, I think it’s amazing. The deep black with the inner cyan square are a nice combination. I think the image is quite clear, there’s a picture of Wendell Harrison visualizing himself in his own dream, waiting…for a love supreme. It’s straight to the point. But it’s interesting how he interpreted what a dream should look like in a conscious state. The multiple images of the same shot overlaying one another was a nice solution, and makes the cover visually interesting.

—
Additional info on Wendell Harrison

%s1 / %s2