I finished “DJ Screw: a Life in Slow Revolution” by Lance Scott Walker
and I don’t know what’s more moving, that DJ Screw pushed through so much through sheer passion and vision or the community that surrounded and collaborated with him. His nurturing spirit, wisdom, and compassion for others and inner depth shine through anecdotes from his family and peers. I am so glad I read this book - not only because DJ Screw has been my favorite producer for over a decade but also because it proves that miracles happen…they just take courage and heart.
Now as for the music, well, it never gets old. I feel sadness, joy, anger, relief at once, overlaid with a kind of unflinching camaraderie and calm at anything life can throw me from within or without. This guy devoted years and years of his life, working from his bedroom studio, to fine tune his ear and relay what he heard, without any expectation of becoming a hot shot or poster boy or clout magnet. He did everything with diligence and passion, and it continues to show and set his work apart, reminding me of the level that art should reach.
https://m.soundcloud.com/dj-screw-mixtapes/ballin-in-the-mix (A classic)
Mar 30, 2024
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not a doc but a biography told through interviews with those closest to him.
if you’ve ever heard “slowed + reverb” you’re hearing the legacy of DJ Screw. this book provides a fascinating look into the underground rap and DJ scene in 80s/90s Houston where Screw and others came up. a crazy story of how one man’s obsession with sound spurred a whole culture and left marks on the scene even 20 years after his passing
May 7, 2024
a great look into the development of the chopped and screwed genre in 1990s Houston told through interviews of those who lived in the moment. if you like slowed + reverb check out where the genre came from and the man who made it
Nov 13, 2024
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I love to create a long ass list of mixes to listen to on YouTube (and pray that an angel has put the tracklist in the comments)
One thing I have noticed in the comments of DJ mixes, is people's pure amazement that a DJ has mixed a wide range of genres together.
I picked up DJ'ing two years ago and with that, a keen interest in the history of genres and where they originated. To be fr, the majority of music we listen to today was created by black people who were innovative against all odds. I truly believe that rhythm is intrinsic to that creative process and the reason why a lot of these genres blend so well is because of common drum patterns and melodies.
For example, I went to a salsa night and felt moved by the drum patterns of the songs being played, as they were reminiscent of the music I grew up on (Highlife, Ghana). This can be traced back to the slave trade, where Africans were enslaved and transported from Africa across to the Caribbean, taking those rhythms with them and creating new sounds that established this tangible sonic connection.
So when we witness DJ's mix Jersey Club, with Reggaeton, to Baltimore Club to Grime, to Jungle, Baile funk and back again... that's lightwork! Black people pioneered all these genres, infusing those intrinsic rhythms and unknowingly creating a formula that makes all these musical genres blend so perfectly.
So the next time you listen to a multi-genre DJ set (I'd recommend Zack Fox's Boiler Room to start) just know you are getting schooled in BLACK HISTORY!
Sep 17, 2024
Top Recs from @rachellerodinoff
because she is my baby!!!!
she knows what I’m thinking at all times and we have telepathic conversations 24/7.
I have had her for 9-10 years and the level of bonding and cuteness is at an all time record high. Our favorite shared activities include eating berries, cuddling, reading, and watching stuff together.
When I first got her with my rapper XXL-fit ex she hid in the bathroom and refused to come out. As soon as he left she came out and wanted to play. Weird girls in our circle Only!! Rabbits are my ❤️
Apr 6, 2024
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"The Secret Garden" (1993). I watched it on a plane (my emotional sanctuary/hell) and the nature and sincerity and sweet misanthropic kids made me cry.
Feb 21, 2024