This is Guerrilla film making at its finest…
I met the group Gato Preto for the first time at a party at hit-making producer The Bumps’ London flat. Prior to that I sent them a verse for this song, but we had only pretty much corresponded on Facebook. The day after Bumps’ party we did the best we could to meet at the Notting Hill Carnival to shoot scenes for this video (with the crowd)… It almost didn’t happen.
After 3 hours of trying to link up… what we were able to get was me lip synching a verse, right when everyone was leaving, in the fading sunlight, while the police were telling us that we had to clear the street. There was also the frustrated resident of Notting Hill who threw everyone’s personal belongings into a mound of garbage. (If you’ve ever been you’d know…) Anyway, I have to thank Lidia Winestone and Domenik Broich for their patience, stellar camera work and editing.
Gato Preto is comprised of producer Lee Bass, and Gata Mysteriosa. She is one of the most charismatic onstage personas I have seen in quite some time.. We performed together later that night at Bumps’ monthly “Club Popozuda” DJ night, and she is brilliant. The rate at which this duo turns out work is quite impressive. They have also done several European dates in a short period of time.
My impression, given Lee Bass’ sense of urgency (and finesse) with which he enlists producers and vocalists for these projects, is that if an opportunity to do something great comes along they will be in a prime position to seize it. Get the above EP as a Free Download by visiting the Gato Preto BandCamp page and get acquainted early. I have a great feeling about them.
Hello 2012!! )
I am very thankful for another year lived well, and I would like to show you some of the highlights.
#10 Burning Man
I always say my faith in humanity is renewed when I go there. There is always something to be said for beautiful naked ladies giving hugs and saying they love you, but it is deeper than that. It is a gathering in the desert devoted to the PARTY… and although attendees seem to push their OWN limits they remain very respectful of everyone else’s.
#09 Timeless With Liquid Stranger
I am hoping that one day people will start reading lyrics. This is a song that I feel speaks to what I am about. I know the dance music market is fickle, I know promises don’t mean a thing… yet I endure. When they’re done right, the vibes and the words are timeless. Liquid Stranger – Timeless feat Mc Zulu by interchill
#8 Club Popozuda In London
This is a party in the same area that gave rise to Dubstep’s top producers, but it’s devoted to Brazilian music Club Popozuda is becoming a global brand run by The Bumps, Joao Brazil and James Hurrell.. Just watch the video to see why it made the top ten.
#7 The FreakEasy..! Our Chicago Party Collective With DJ Radiohiro
Radiohiro and his Heathen delegation is comprised of all colors, races, religions, walks of life… and YES sexual orientations; and there are NO PROBLEMS. This is a Chicago party collective that has run close to a decade without major drama. It’s also the only party where many genres of music are accepted. Freakeasy started in a loft (Radiohiro’s house), and the authorities required that we move it to a proper venue because of how it grew. This is why I wrote the song “Outlaw Speakerbox”.
#6 National Public Radio – 8:48 With Alison Cuddy
I have been listening to Alison Cuddy for quite a while… I have been listening to WBEZ for even longer. That’s why the opportunity to actually GO on the show really made me happy, and I was in Switzerland when I read the message, still all geeked..lol Anyway BIG thanks to Searchl1te, who went to DJ for me on very short notice. http://www.wbez.org/episode-segments/2011-04-08/dj-series-mc-zulu-controls-crowd-behind-mic-84916
#5 BadMan Bounce with FSTZ
Something about people in Kansas City… They do their THING and forget the rest of the world. The results are usually stunning, and leave you wondering how the HELL they did it. Tech9ne and Mac Lethal are two such examples. Well FSTZ is another. Dubstep did not just ‘happen’ in the USA like some think. It was due in part to independent DJ / Promoters pushing the sound. FSTZ’s “Kablammo” parties were THE Midwest launching pad for every Dubstep act that came from the UK during the late 2000′s. He’s not too shoddy of a producer either. He created a hybrid of Dubstep/Dance and named it “BadMan Bounce”… after the guy who he got to do the vocals for it. (who?? BadMan Zulu, Dammit) FSTZ is a BadMan as well. Bigup.
#4 No Freedom with J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science and Afrolicious
J Boogie invited me to do his radio show in 2006, when I was REALLY REALLY underground. I guess he was that forward thinking, even back then… or maybe just considerate. Either way I did not forget and when he asked me to guest on his album I jumped at the chance. So I got this Afrobeat sounding track from Afrilocious, and had to research The Man himself… FELA. That was a musical journey in its own right which has opened my eyes to things far beyond Dancehall, Reggae and Pop influences. I have to thank J-Boog for that. I noticed tho, that the distribution is limited in the USA (as of this writing). Maybe it has to do with the message. No Freedom f. Afrolicious And MC ZULU by mczulu
#3 Higher Velocity with BIONIK for PUMA Fass / Usain Bolt Commercial
Was this song written specifically for PUMA?… I’ll never tell, but anyone who has worked with me knows I am no longer in the business of selling songs outright. Anyway Bionik has done all this work with artists like Sting, R Kelly, John Martin, Aceyalona, Far East Movement, etc. Every so often he comes thru with a great opportunity for yours truly. It usually requires me to stop what I’m doing and come up with something on the spot. So this song was written in about 10 hrs, then verses were cut out to make space for Aceyalone. There is also a version with Jah Orah. ..Soundgun Crew Bizzness…!
#2 Pitchfork Festival With Chrissy Murderbot / Impromptu Appearance Of My Youngest Kid
Here I was, minding my own business, screaming to a crowd of people and wondering if they understood anything. All of a sudden this kid comes up… Actually I don’t like going for the “cuteness factor”. Working kids into the act when they don’t belong there is kinda cheap..lol but I had my two youngest involved, throwing Murderbot’s crazy azz party favors to the crowd (so I wouldn’t have to do it.) When the 9 yr old was done, he started telling me.. only problem.. I’m workin’ here!….. Actually, this made my summer. I’d love to do a thousand more shows like this.
#1 Millenium Park Performance With DJ Radiohiro & My Daughter On Stage
The big difference between this and the previous entry is that my daughter was performing in a professional capacity. She has studied classical Indian dance for years (Under Hema Rajagopalan). Radiohiro mentioned how he would love to have someone dance during our sets, so I gave that suggestion. Chicago’s Millenium park crowds are dispersed and random, sitting on the grass, walking around the bean sculpture and not at all intimidating. Perfect place for a 13 yr old to make a professional, solo debut. It was a dream come true for me…
Great, kid. Now go be a doctor, lawyer or engineer dammit )
2011 was a great year for music. I am hoping that in 2012 I can reach out to more of you and we can make even bigger things happen together.
The world of music suffered a double whammy this week. While the news is abuzz about the death of Nate Dogg, Reggae star Smiley Culture would also be lost to us. Smiley did not spend as much time on the music scene as most did, but his work was just as meaningful. His “Cockney Translation” related terms between Jamaican Patois and the slang of East-End Londoners at a time JUST BEFORE the two forms of expression began to blend. Linguistic academics around the world have pointed to this song as one of the main catalysts.
After his turn as a full time musician Smiley diversified his business interests greatly. I remember seeing his Facebook profile in the list of a mutual friend, and thinking “what the hell”. I reached out to Smiley Culture. A lot of my friends I grew up with would be thrilled. He was very personable answering his fans… when he had time. He was, after all heavily vested in a number of diamond mines around the world.
On the 16th of March Smiley Culture died during a police raid of his London apartment. Circumstances surrounding the incident are suspicious to say the least. He was allegedly killed by a self-inflicted knife wound to the heart. His family is launching a full inquiry and details will undoubtedly reveal themselves over time.
Culture was the perfect name for the singer who would go on to have such a tremendous impact on the English language. Simply by paying tribute to the disparate sides of his upbringing, Smiley elevated himself to the permanent role of Culture Ambassador. He sparked a wave of pride for Black British people, and then for ALL Brits who loved Reggae music.
From my understanding of it, Popozuda is actually a Brazilian (or Portugese) term for when the lovely ladies wind their waistline……… so naturally I was all
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