Category Archives: Sidenote

THE STUYVESANTS – THE FINER THINGS (DOUBLE LP)

Monday: October 17, 2011 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote 7 Comments

After the unexpected success and positive feedback from our first release, “Brooklyn’s Finest” (released 6/1/10), we’re back with our sophomore effort, “THE FINER THINGS” (volumes 1 & 2). Sonically we’re taking you on a completely different journey, however, the distinctive vibe of The Stuyvesants is still very present in the music! We truly appreciate all of the support for our movement thus far, and hope that you will enjoy this soundscape. Download and/or listen to the two albums below.

The Stuyvesants / The Finer Things Vol.1

DOWNLOAD VOL.1 HERE FREE

Tracks /
1. I Care (More Than Words Can Say)
2. Ready
3. Girl, He Ain’t Me
4. Strollin’
5. Gut Check Soul
6. Spank Love
7. Good & Evil (Thoughts of the Mind)
8. Sound of the Stuy
9. Ewww (LaLaLa)
10. Church Chants (Tabernacle)
11. Interlude
12. Sunny 78 (with Sunny 78 Reprise)
13. Down Halsey Street
14. Tough Love (Because Love is Tough)
15. Midnight Moves
16. This Good
17. Thinking Back (Those Days from the Past)
18. Ragtop Cadillac Eldorado Brougham
19. Victory
20. Outro

The Stuyvesants / The Finer Things Vol.2

DOWNLOAD VOL.2 HERE FREE

Tracks /
1. Yearning (For Your Love)
2. Stoops, Parks & Rooftops
3. Uptown Bound
4. Crown Royal (In a Purple Velvet Bag)
5. Love, It’s Me
6. Y.E.S.
7. Interlude
8. The Second Time Around
9. Over (Now That She’s Leaving)
10. More Horns
11. High Stakes Hustle
12. Thorough Thread Thoroughbreds
13. Champagne (On Ice)
14. Vibe in the Stuy
15. Sounds of a Dream
16. Talking Hearts
17. Mama’s Spirit (Will Always Be With Us)
18. Summer is Gone
19. Walk it Off
20. Outro

Cover art designed and illustrated by The Stuyvesants.

STAY COOL NEW YORK

Friday: July 22, 2011 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote Leave a comment

It’s BLAZING HOT in New York City!!! Supposed to hit over 100 degrees today, so take your time and stay hydrated. STAY COOL NEW YORK…

Mobb Deep / Temperature’s Rising

NATUREL – MOMENTOUS

Tuesday: July 19, 2011 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Design, Sidenote, Video 1 Comment

My brother from another mother, Naturel, has finally released his long-awaited debut album…Momentous. As a first-hand witness to this mans growth as an artist, and as a designer, I am BEYOND PROUD of his accomplishment with this project! He covered all of the bases, from lyricism, to production, to the visual elements (all designed and illustrated by himself), and to the overall concept. It’s a different sound than what most would expect, but one that I believe you all will enjoy…so sit with it, scrutinize it, listen closely and enjoy the moment w/ the artist. Below are a few songs (7 of 13) from the LP that you can stream, but you can download the full album & artwork for FREE ~~~> DOWNLOAD


Naturel / BWI (Produced by Sonny C)


Naturel / Good Sh!t (Produced by The Stuyvesants)


Naturel / For Y’all (Produced by !llmind & Symbolic One)


Naturel / MCMB (Produced by !llmind & Russell Carter, Jr.)


Naturel / Clank (Produced by !llmind)


Naturel / Trippin’ (Produced by Omen & Audio BLK)


Naturel / Video Dater (Produced by Omen & Audio BLK)

AEON – BETA MAX

Monday: July 18, 2011 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote Leave a comment

I was building w/ the homie Aeon aka 12RND yesterday and we chopped it up about his latest production project…Beta Max. This dude put his ankles in it! The beats are great, the sonic story telling is great, and the cover art is great also. Projects like this are re-assuring, there are still people out here who care about making good music. Aeon has a great ear for what sounds good, and flips his samples in a clever way time after time, Beta Max is the proof, open your minds and ears and give it a listen below. You can download the full album HERE.

Aeon / Da’ Waylay

Aeon / Skyscrapers/Flippin’

Aeon / Body Snatchers

Aeon / Ruby Red

Aeon / Heavyweights

R.I.P. FONCE MIZELL

Monday: July 11, 2011 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote 1 Comment

This is a VERY sad post. Musician/Producer/Composer/Songwriter Alphonso “Fonce” Mizell has passed away at the age of 68. Fonce is 1/2 of the legendary production duo “The Mizell Brothers”. These guys are my idols, they never released any bad production work in my opinion…they were QUALITY over QUANTITY.

Fonce wrote and produced hit records for Motown, Blue Note, Fantasy, and for his own label Sky High Productions amongst many others. Making hits was like drinking water for this guy…he just had the ear and the knack for great music.

There’s nothing left to say, except that his music will live on FOREVER in our hearts and minds. God bless his family, friends, and fans.

Below are a few selected tracks that Fonce Mizell took part in…wether production or writing. Enjoy…

Bobbi Humphrey / The Trip

Jackson 5 / I Want You Back

Donald Byrd / You and Music

Elaine Brown / Child in the World

LIQUID LOVE: EL ESPOLÓN TEQUILA

Thursday: July 7, 2011 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote 1 Comment

First I want to send a BIG THANKS to the good folks at El Espolòn Tequila and the Thomas Collective for sending me complimentary bottles of their product!

As a designer/art director, I was first intrigued by the packaging, the illustrations, and the typography…all of which were created by the highly reputable Landor Associates. The composition on the label is well balanced with clean, simple and bold type accompanied by highly detailed illustrations that are inspired by 19th century Dia de los Muertos-style imagery. I also really like the wooden tops, and the subtle jagged-edge detail that’s used on the bottles label, as well as a design element for the brand.

The tequila itself is also for the win, they’re both smooth and have great distinctive flavors! You can check it out for yourself on their website: tequilaespolon.com

I’ve taken the liberty of sharing (one of our smooth bangers!) “Liquid Love” as a sonic reference to the taste! Enjoy…

The Stuyvesants / Liquid Love (A Sophisticated Meeting Place)

STOOPS, PARKS & ROOFTOPS (INSTRUMENTAL)

Tuesday: June 28, 2011 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote Leave a comment

For those of you who just want to vibe out with the instrumental to “Stoops, Parks & Rooftops”, here you go…Enjoy!

The Stuyvesants / Stoops Parks & Rooftops (Instrumental)

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STOOPS PARKS & ROOFTOPS

Tuesday: June 21, 2011 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote 3 Comments

Today is the first day of summer and to get things started off right (despite the clouds hanging over BK right now), we put together a Single that captures the feeling of a summer afternoon in Brooklyn with some help from Naturel — the third member of The Stuyvesants. BK Summers are always incredible from the BBQs, the diverse and progressive individuals & the fish fry’s to the rooftop parties & random beach excursions. So take a listen as we vibed it out for you all…Enjoy!

The Stuyvesants / “Stoops Parks & Rooftops”

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DID YOU KNOW?

Thursday: March 17, 2011 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote 5 Comments

SWV’s hit song from 1996 “Use Your Heart” is a staple in my R&B collection. It’s one of the top-notch records in the history of the genre in my opinion. However, an interesting fact about this particular song is that it was produced by Chad Hugo and Pharrell WIlliams (The Neptunes)…in the early days of their production. You can hear their sound in the music, in terms of the way that they played the chords, and how they laid down the bridge, but they were on a different sonic plane in 1996 (they were dope back then, they’re dope now). “Use Your Heart”, along with countless other records from other artists stamp Viginia producers as the owners of that “golden age” of R&B sound…think back, Timbaland was a far better R&B producer than a hip-hop producer (Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Playa,etc). On that note, have a listen…

SWV / Use Your Heart

CHRISTOPHER WALLACE R.I.P.

Wednesday: March 9, 2011 Posted: Darien Victor Birks Category: Sidenote Leave a comment
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