I met Taz Arnold while sharing the same London based management.  He came out to the D and shortly afterwards, I met him and Major in LA where we recorded “Concrete Nigga.”

We recorded in Michael Jackson’s studio where he had a 4 ft. high room over the recording booth for his monkey Bubbles to watch him record — No, Bubbles was not there and the room did not smell like monkey shit.

I got some help from the homie Selan on the boards.  Two step to this.

Jeedo

Oh my god, Oh my god, Oh my god. Whaaaaattt!!!  

Who the hell starts a song like that!?! Only Detroit’s best rap group in history.

Slum Village was a cornerstone of style for too many emcees to name. “The Hustle”, was one of the many tracks they displayed this effortless swag. DJ Dez was the DJ for Slum for many, many years.  Despite his recent fallout with the group, he was the perfect person to breakdown this classic bootleg.

Enjoy!

Jeedo

I was approached by Universal UK a few years back about doing an album for TV licensing.  They asked me to chop up and recompose library tracks from their archive – sounds like a dream, right?

This was an interlude track on a beat CD from the early 2000s. The track wasn’t finished, but the basic, raw elements were enough for me. I love this joint.

I dug deeply into my unseen video footage to bring you along as Q-Tip took me and Dilla to New York’s world famous The Sound Library in 1999. This was the trip where we picked up Fred Miller’s, “Sounds of Love – A to Zzzz.”

I have finally been reunited with this record thanks to DJ Akalepse. Get a copy and put it on ice. Thx to @nstybrd for additional filming.

Enjoy!

Jeedo

This week’s Bling47 Breaks takes us to Philly with the one and only  Rich Medina.  Rich is a master DJ and shit talker.  Some folks know him for his appearance on Smirnoffs Master of the Mix, but his loyal NYC following knows him from his nine-year stint at APT with DJ Akalepse, or as an ambassador for afrobeat at Jump and Funk. I couldn’t wait to connect with him in his Philly bungalow to record him doing what he does best.  He’s been crafting dance floors for over 20 years and still going strong.  Rich is easily one of the most intelligent dudes I’ve had the honor to call my friend and confidant.

I consider what he’s accomplished as a DJ on par with what Dilla has done as a producer.  Both held tightly to their point of view and made non-believers surcome to the gospel. Take notice.

Hot shit!

Jeedo

It’s a 3 minute piece about my favorite drum machine on the planet, the  Roland TR 808. We got interviews for 3 pioneers that helped bring it’s sound to the world. Arthur Baker (Producer of “Planet Rock”), Juan Atkins (The creator of Techno) and D Nice (The Human TR 808).

All Hail the Beat.

Jeedo

I think it’s safe to say that, “Runnin’” is top 5 of Dilla’s best known productions.  I’m sure most of us can recall that moment when we first heard it.I was having dinner with my girlfriend and it came on the TV show New York Undercover.  I dropped my sandwich to run and call to congratulate him.

This week we get a chance to hear DJ Amir’s story about this amazing track.

Enjoy!

Jeedo

The irony of one of my happiest finds last year just happened to be in the worst place.  Rent so high that all the real artists moved out, hipster heaven Williamburg, Brooklyn — The Burg.We were introduced by my homie JT Donaldson that I used to DJ with at the W Hotel in Union Square.  I met Tim K there and later met his darling partner in crime, Dede Reynolds.  Together they are DeDe.

One late night after several Cadillac margaritas inspired by Dam Funk, we stumbled back to their apartment where I heard their yet to be released project.  WHOA!  I asked to remix the single on the spot.  That was the genesis of a brewing relation that would turn into a group (more about that later).  In the meanwhile have a listen.

No need to rip the youtube.  Newsletter subscribers will get this in their box tomorrow.

Rejoice.

Jeedo

This episode takes us to “Do or Die” Bedstuy Brooklyn, NY with native DJ Spinna.  I spoke with him for several months to try to coordinate schedules for filming.  Finally, we made it happen on one of the coldest days in the history books.

We filmed in his “Thingamjig” studio where we talked about Dilla and his influence on NY producers.  Spinna opened the books, especially when he pulled out his MPC 3000 and showed me how he did his rendition of Dilla and Black Stars, “Little Brother.”  Only here at bling47 do you get this type of access.

Check it.

Jeedo