Been prepping for being out of town for a week so I’ll admit I haven’t been doing too much online sneaker gawking (probably for the best!), but these caught my eye just now so I knight thee kicks of the week! Loving this old school flavor!
Popping up once again is the Nike Air Vortex, a silhouette that originally debuted in 1985 as part of the V-Series. Born a couple years before Tinker made the big move of letting the Nike Air bags show, this clean design still bears a look that is both aesthetically pleasing and bright. Check out additional images of this fresh mint/voltage cherry colorway below and grab your size today while supplies last.
Nike Air Vortex
Fresh Mint/Voltage Cherry-White
429773-300
2012
$141.41 USD
Being that my monthly hip hop party Vintage Monthly takes place this Saturday night I thought it fitting to pay tribute to one of the illest lyricists of modern times in my opinion. Today it’s been 12 years since Big Pun’s death, and I want to post some of my favorite moments from a career and life that was cut far too short.
Big Pun – Stretch and Bobbito freestyle 1995 (description courtesy of Complex Mag who listed this session as the #28 radio freestyle all-time)
Before Chris Rios was capitally punishing the industry, he was Joey Crack’s secret weapon—a rap assassin in training. Pun wasn’t crushing a lot at the time, but Joe still brought him up to Stretch & Bobbito’s show on WKCR FM—the birthplace of countless legendary freestyles by future rap icons—to flex his lyrical muscles.
With Joe cheerfully coaching him, Big Punisher dismantled the microphone, leaving it smoking with this quick yet effective freestyle. It was hard to argue that Pun was a beast after this display of next-level wordplay: “Still I will remain a pain inflictor/Giving you hell to bring to victors/Comin to getcha/Playin the game the same as Hitler.”
Big Pun + Fat Joe – Deep Cover ’98
This was a precursor to the debut album Capital Punishment. Basically a remake of the hit by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, this version had a decidedly NY feel to it, and had heads fiending for the full length LP.
Big Pun feat. Prodigy and Inspectah Deck – Tres Leches(prod. RZA)
One of the most anticipated collaborations from the debut LP Capital Punishment (and there were many), this joint featured a diverse group of NYC’s finest, with production by RZA, and did not disappoint. Not much more to say here..if you haven’t heard this one before stop sleepin!
Big Pun – You Ain’t A Killer
Another joint that came out before the Capital Punishment album that had heads thirsty for more. IMO one of his illest moments ever.
Big Pun – It’s So Hard feat. Donnell Jones
A guilty pleasure for me, this was the debut single from Pun’s 2nd album Yeeeah Baby. While I could list off every lyrical moment from the MC easily, this was a fun song, though from an album released posthumously. Shows his versatility as an artist.
Been a minute since the last random record pull so I literally went to the shelf and pulled this one out randomly. Ahh the Strictly Breaks series. Basically similar to the iconic Ultimate Breaks and Beats series, Strictly Breaks would tell you what song the sampled work was used in For example in this one I’ve pulled today, Volume 8, track 1 is Enoch Light – “Hi-Jack” which was sampled in the Beatnuts – “Watch Out Now”. Here are both songs for a comparison.
And so forth. While most beat heads have frowned upon bootlegs of rare breaks, growing up in Oklahoma where the record culture is to put it mildy “lacking”, this was a way for me to get these otherwise impossible to find joints. I played a couple of cuts on here, most notably Big John Hamilton – “Big Bad John” which I fancied as my own personal theme song (big bad Jon if you will) and would mix it into Big Daddy Kane “Warm It Up Kane”.
Overall Strictly Breaks I understand why the real hardcore diggers and heads hate these types of series but I have a bulk of it on wax and it’s definitely a history lesson for us underprivileged types.
If you really know me, then you know how much of a nerd I am for the Stretch and Bobbito show. The 90′s of course being my favorite period in hip hop, I’d heard about the show and eventually began trading for tapes of it from cats I met online from NY. Still have all of them, and break them out time to time (need to digitize!)
This audio is from Thursday night in San Francisco for a Red Bull Music Academy show/taping. Shout out to my Red Bull fam…really looking forward to this!
It’s a thin month for kicks basically as always in January. My dude Aaron posed me the question if I was gonna cop the Jordan Spizike “Bordeaux” when it drops next weekend and it was a flat no basically. First off I’m not the most baller sneakerhead. I get what I like regardless of hype or what others think. Most of my Jordans are the ones I used to want as a kid but could never afford. That being said, for $175 it’s an easy pass on this one.
Nothing too fancy this week, this Stefan Janoski Nike SB Zoom Mid “Sandalwood” is what caught my eye. With a very winter feel (even though we haven’t yet seen that in Tulsa yet), these go with anything. Simple, yet proper, and available now. Til next time kids.
Picture above is the special edition Z-Trip version of the new mixer from Rane. This special edition is called the 62Z. I’m speaking on the 62 again simply because I found a couple of ill videos from the NAMM show last weekend that I think heads will enjoy, all featuring the 62.
This first video features one of my favorite crews of all time the World Famous Beat Junkies. If you don’t know the history on these cats here’s a little lesson for you. Always been a top notch clique with what a lot of DJs are sadly lacking in this digital age…STYLE. They’re celebrating 20 years as a collective so my hats off to that longetivity. Here they are rocking on the 62 last weekend. Shout out to 12 Inch Skinz who did the turntable covers and does all of my stuff, holler at Jared.
2nd video is with Z-Trip rocking his new signature model…what more needs to be said. Really works out the new features of the mixer.
Lastly, a little session with recent DMC champ DJ Vajra. World class cuts.
Just a little something for your day. Leaning more and more towards needing one of these joints yesterday!
I’ll be opening up for the one and only DJ Serafin with other friends Sunday night 1/22 over at Red Ultra-Lounge on 18th + Boston. Serafin is an incredible remixer and producer with the world famous Crooklyn Clan. Don’t miss it!
Just a reminder today is National DJ Day officially! So make sure to show your appreciation to your favorite disc jockey, local or otherwise. I honestly never knew there was a day for this, but it’s a great opportunity for dance enthusiasts to celebrate those that work hard to keep you moving!
Here’s a cool article: http://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/disc-jockey-day/
Everyone knows a DJ; thousands claim that they are one (even if they only mix it up in their bedrooms); Disc Jockey Day is all about celebrating the hard working entertainers that have brought energy to dancefloors across the globe. Respect needs to be paid to Disc Jockeys of all levels from velvet suited wedding crooners to international superstars, if you’ve made people dance by playing back to back music, today is the day to hail your talents.
It all started with pioneers such as the late, and awesomely great, Jimmy Savile (now then, now then) and Dj Kool Herc along with many others. Jimmy Savile is worthy of being the Godfather of Disc Jockeys simply for claiming to be the first man to use two turntables and a microphone to play continuous music way back in 1947. Kool Herc pioneered the hip hop sound and introduced the style of isolating the instrumental section of a record and mixing the instrumental beats (the breaks) together.
Superstar djing was born out of the popularity of the Ibiza dance scene and now dance music and djs are global and the technology has moved way beyond two turntables and a microphone. It’s important to remember the definition of a Disc Jockey, a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience; therefore almost anyone can be a Dj so get out there and play some music!
Been prepping for being out of town for a week so I’ll admit I haven’t been doing too much online sneaker gawking (probably for the best!), but these caught my eye just now so I knight thee kicks of the week! Loving this old school flavor!
