A little video I threw together last night after a trip to The Thing, and a couple come-ups on 45s. It's real serious out here with these records.

My peoples Beat Detective and Dyno have put together a nice collection of  b-boy cuts for you to play in the park. Check it:

One of those moments on the "youtube jukebox" led me to some classic 90s-era instrumental beats, the late night shit I dubbed from my dude who put me on to cats like Krush, Shadow, and the Prunes...The joint above is crazy, just sick, dark, heavy production. Check the transition near the end.

Always thought this Luke Vibert was dope, especially once the piano loop comes in:

Just classic sample-driven hip-hop:

I need the ish on wax.

The Physics - "Three Piece" EP - Free Download

More great music from these dudes outta the Emerald City. Grab it now.

Monthly Mixtapes - May 2010 - "The World is Yours" (Download)

I wanted to do a politically-themed mixtape for May, and the idea was cemented when Arizona passed a horrific law legalizing racial profiling - among other things - a few weeks ago. I also wanted to try and include more obscure cuts, and branch out beyond just hip-hop. And - include more voices from women. I'm not sure if I totally achieved any of these goals, but hopefully it's an enjoyable tape. As a final note, I wanted to make sure the voice of Guru of Gangstarr, who passed last month, was included on the tape.

After it was done, I asked emcee, vocalist, conspirator and friend Not4Prophet from X-Vandals / Ricanstruction to write up some "guest" liner notes. Here are his notes, which include the songs on the tape as well as several more important cuts listed below.

(not4)prophet's liner notes (be-tween the notes).....

“The music, any art you create is about your life; it’s a reflection of your life. And so the history of black people in this country which is tied absolutely historically to Africa, and to the greatness of Africa, to the fall of Africa, to the slave trade, to slavery, all those thing. All those things are incorporated in your psyche and in your music and in your art” – Amiri Baraka

"our music has dominated this culture and the courage and unstoppable qualities of this indefinable, indescribable beat now begins a new to dominate politics, business and all that we endeavor to do. For we know that we are the beaters of drums and other things to which we can impart raw soul. We are the beaters, but we will never be beaten" – jim Ingram

Word is Guru of Gangstarr has passed. It's just not cool to watch more cats passing so young - dude was only 43. He had one of the most unique voices and flows ever, and created some of the most recognizable and classic hip-hop joints of the 90s with DJ Premier, as well as some dope things with his early Jazzmatazz volumes. RIP.

The above song is one of my all-time favorites, from my favorite Gangstarr album, "Hard to Earn," which is essential to any hip-hop head's collection.

DJ Center's new album, "Everything in Time," has been getting rave reviews all over the place - remaining highly popular on LA radio and scoring a "91" on Okayplayer.com. Next Friday, April 16th, Center puts it down at his NYC release party (info below - myself and several other djs are opening).

Center and I go way back, from digging records, eating pizza in the Village, and checkin classic shows in the late 90s. It's great to see him finally drop his long-awaited album - and watch people dig it. I thought I'd ask him a couple questions about the process and where he's at right now.

ian: i know you're a tea connessiur. what's your favorite and why? did you make a lot of tea in the lab while making the album?

dj center: Well, I do love a good cup of tea. Hands down the tea for me while making the LP was gun powder green tea. I’d mix some mint in with it for freshness. I’m not a coffee drinker. Something about the gun powder tea was giving me the necessary boost of energy I needed, without the nervousness that coffee can bring when drinking in large doses. Green tea is focus!

ian: if it was '96 and you were pressing a 12-inch off the album, what songs would be on it? what would the cover look like?