Archive for the 'News' Category
Part of the weekend never dies…Part II…???
So Justice have decided to become clones of Soulwax again! I haven’t seen the Soulwax Docu yet! Need to purchase it. But either way they both look interesting! What arre your thoughts!
No commentsDeath to all Vinyl Worshippers now!
One of my boys, Justin, who is an avid forward thinker just sent me this fun blog post from across the pond published by The Guardian. It’s entitled, “Why records should face the vinyl curtain?” I am impartial to take sides on this debate but I do agree with one portion of the article where the author states that vinyl is, “…ife-cluttering, natural resource-wasting, soul-restraining, spirit-encumbering, planet-raping, petite-bourgeois stuff.” I have been saying for years that this is “Why the MP3 makes sense for a visual product.” Music is taken in through sound and unless you are watching the artist performing live, why do you need an item that takes up space.
Well check out the article and give me your thoughts!!!
VIVA LA VIDA DIGITAL!
No commentsTech Tuesdays, we want it, and we want it now!
Meet the most compact family of USB-MIDI controllers ever! Introducing the new Korg nanoSERIES USB powered slim-line controllers - so small you can put them on your workstation, in front of your laptop, on a recording console or anywhere else you need versatile control over your DAW, virtual instrument/effect or DJ software.
Three Flavors to Satisfy Your Creative Palette
Despite their small size, all three controllers go HUGE when it comes to functionality, yet their intuitive layouts provide extremely easy operation for any user. The nanoKEY features a great-feeling 25-key velocity-sensitive keyboard that’s ideal for song production. The keys can also be set to send MIDI control data, further expanding its power. The nanoPAD features 12 highly responsive trigger pads, also capable of sending both notes and MIDI control data, plus an X-Y pad with roll and flam functions giving you a unique interface for realistic drum programming. The nanoKONTROL offers nine faders, nine knobs and 18 switches plus a full transport section for expansive control; plus it features a note input mode to help you lay down your next big groove!
The Octave Shift function offers immediate access to the entire MIDI note range. Pitch and modulation buttons are also provided, giving your performances the kind of expression that you would expect from any controller regardless of its size.
With the “KORG KONTROL Editor” (downloadable free of charge from korg.com), you can customize the nanoKEY to match your control needs. It lets you select between three velocity curves or fixed velocity, set MIDI CC values, and even allows you to edit the assignments for the minimum and maximum values of the control change messages transmitted by the modulation buttons or in CC MODE.
nanoPAD’s X-Y pad offers ‘Roll’ and ‘Flam’ modes, to help you lay down ultra-realistic drum grooves. The X-Y pad will also send MIDI CC (Control Change), making it a go-to interface for any parameter within your software that requires full range MIDI control such as pitch, cutoff, volume and beyond.
With the “KORG KONTROL Editor” (downloadable free of charge from the Korg website) you can customize four scenes that address the pads and X-Y pad can be stored within nanoPAD to suit your control needs. That means you actually have access to 48 notes/chords, 60 MIDI controllers, or any combination of the two types of data at any given time. Also, select one of three velocity curves or a fixed velocity to tailor the nanoPAD to your touch.
The nanoKONTROL features a plethora of controllers to help you get the most control out of your software for the size and money. nanoKONTROL offers nine faders, nine knobs, 18 switches and a full transport section. For each of the four programmable scenes the nanoKONTROL offers, you can set the controllers any way you need them. That means that you can transmit a total of 168 different MIDI CC (Control Change) messages, as well as MIDI notes with the switches. The six transport buttons can each transmit either MIDI CC messages or MMC messages to control functions such as: start, stop, loop, or record on your DAW software.
Imagine taking full control of your software – transport, a full track’s worth of faders, pans and mutes - or how about precise dedicated control over the many parameters of software synths, samplers or virtual drum machines. It’s all possible with the nanoKONTROL.
To add to the nanoKONTROL’s flexibility, an attack and decay time can be specified for the eighteen switches. This allows you to smoothly feed controller messages into parameters such as wet/dry levels for an effect, a filter for a synth, or a volume fader for that perfect fade.
By using the “KORG KONTROL Editor” (downloadable free of charge from the Korg website) you can customize the nanoKONTROL to your fit your control needs. It offers full access to the entire control surface for each of the four available scenes.
Spring’s officially here!
Today temperatures hit the mid 70’s, and tomorrow it’s goin to be nearly 80!!! OMG you know i’ve already got my toe nails done BUT my finger nails AREN’T matching! ANYWHO with the spring comes all these exciting releases, new projects, just a bunch of new things. Let me fill you in on the things I’ve learned these past few weeks.
*A-Trak has been workin hard with the Fools Gold Tour so to fill in Craze is DJing for Kanye West
*One of the hardest working DJs I know, DJ Neil Armstrong from the 5th Platoon is currently the official DJ for the Heart of the City Tour. YES that’s the Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige tour!!!
*DJ I-Dee has been hard at work on his album.
*DJ Fat Fingaz has getting those gigs here in NYC.
*DJ Complex released a mixcd called Touchy Feely which I should have a lil more info about in a week or so, but by the title alone you know it’s goin to be a baby makin mix.
*ILL INSANITY released their album Ground Xero and have been touring like crazy.
*The track “Terrorism” from Rob Swift’s last solo album War Games is going to be in Academy Award nominated director Morgan Spurlock’s second film “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden”. FYI the film that Spurlock was nominated for was “Super Size Me”.
*Roc Raida’s Gong Battle will kick off it’s East Coast heat on Wednesday May 14 at SOB’s!! Don’t worry I will be posting all about this in another week or two! West coast date TBA!
*NYC Tools of War Park Jams kick off June 5 with Turntablist Sessions in Queensbridge.
AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST… the biggest most awesome thing that could happen to the turntablist community happened just a few weeks ago!!!! DMC World announced their new DMC US events coordinator…..Christie Z-Pabon!!! YES Christie the woman in charge of DMC US when CRAZE brought the DMC WORLD TITLE HOME 3 years in a row. Make sure to hit up Christie if you can make a regional happen in your city… right now the cities confirmed are San Diego CA, Hartfort CT, Philly PA, New Orleans LA, Baltimore MD, Chicago IL, Portland OR… NYC is on July 23rd… US DMC FINAL is already set for August 30 in NYC!!! For any more info contact Christie Z-Pabon at toolsofwar@gmail.com
I promise next week will be a more exciting post… this was all info that I just HAD to share…. how excited are you about DMC!?!?!!!! ooo wait hold up I’m hella excited that the first Turntablist Session is the day AFTER MY BDAY with none other than 5th Platoon night… yes Neil Armstrong, Daddy Dog and Roli Rho all in one night =)
No commentsHow I spent my weekend! With DJ Craze of course!
Dj Craze’s Bass Sessions LA was this past weekend. all in all good times were had by all those who came. We did some good interviews which should be up soon. My favorite sets of the evening would have to be by Treasure Fingers and Klever! Klever arrived in LA at midnight and got to the venue at 12:45 and spun an insane set.
Thanks to Danny from United for inviting us out and good look on the extra lights and SUBS. That BASS was insane! Check out my home videoness above!
No commentsHow I spent my weekend! With Kanye of course!
Ok so I didn’t go to the Staples Center last night. Should have but I was too lazy to leave the house this weekend. But the above moment was the highlight of a beautifully peaceful weekend. The Grammy’s, in it’s 50th year, are always entertaining, not sure why there was so much classical representation. It was interesting to see Herbie Hancock win the Album of the Year Award. I hope he Rock’s It! Pun intended. Oh and Jerry Lee Lewis made me want to cry.
All in all though Kanye killed it, Daft Punk made the track a new original! What more can I say?!! Nothing!
No commentsChristmas is coming late!!!!
So I have just moved to a new pad, 1 mile from beautiful Main St. Huntington Beach, CA. Ok enough rubbing in, now onto the post. So I have no internet yet, have to wait till Thursday and I have been slacking on my posts and my reader. I came across this old post from the Billionaire Boys Club/Ice Cream blog. It’s the first hip-hop tour I have been excited about in a while, (Rock the Bells doesn’t count, it’s a festival).
Also I am sure many of you have heard it but N3RD are up to the futuristicness again with their new joint, Everyone Nose! Listen to it HERE if you haven’t yet!
[audio:http://bbcicecream.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/01-everyone-nose-1.mp3]
N.E.R.D.- Everyone Nose
Super Tuesday!
There’s toooooooo much going on in this city that never sleeps… FASHION WEEK, Primaries, and The Giants! This New Yorker is still on her Giants high… it might be super gloomy weather here in the Big Apple but The Champs made their way through the Canyon of Heroes and to City Hall today!!! Props to the NY GIANTS 2008 SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS!!!
Anywho I just quickly wanted to pop in and remind y’all to GO OUT AND VOTE! I may not be one to get super political but I do know that we have something that some people die for… the right to vote.
On a very sad note a Texas DJ from the Clever Monkeys Crew passed away over the weekend while heading home from a gig. R.I.P. DJ Frantic (5-1-76 to 2-2-08). I might not have known him personally but it’s always sad to lose someone in the DJ community. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, please keep them in your thoughts.
I am also really sad that after a miscarriage which has to be one of the most difficult things a woman has to go through the man who got the girl pregnant left her. Yes I’m talking about Lily Allen and Ed Simons of the Chemical Brothers. I might not know all their business but I find this super sad because she lost their baby.
When I figure out how to post videos I will be posting some of my favorite routines. Anyone have any suggestions???
No commentsSpread love, that’s the Brooklyn way….
OK OK I’m NOT FROM BROOKLYN but I couldn’t think of a better title for this entry. FYI I’m from the birthplace of Hip Hop… the South Bronx… SOUTH SOUTH BRONX!! I’ll stop now I’m gettin carried away, but DON’T FRONT YOU KNO I GOTCHU OPEN!! Ok that was really the last one… they were just flowing out of me like word vomit. Moving along.
SOOOOO, I’m sitting here listening to my favorite DJ Neil Armstrong mixCD Sweeet reading through emails and I said to myself “CRAP Marilyn go write that blog about the Sales!” After going through drama trying to log in, damn you wordpress, I AM HERE! You know why I will rock your socks today because not only do I have some awesome goodies to tell you about, I HAVE A CONTEST to tell you about, a contest like no other!!
To commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the 5th Platoon’s existence they’ve teamed up with a few people to bring you the following:
THE 5th PLATOON x ADIDAS B-Ball Equipment Sample Giveaway
PICK UP the 10 year anniversary Tee for a chance to win 1 of only 5ive LTD Ed Sample pairs of the BBALL EQUIP kicks & 1 pair of the Final Version in your size!!
RAFFLE WINNER ANNOUNCED APRIL 4th 2008
$30, orange or white designed by the good people at UNDR-CRWN and sizes Medim to 3XL!
For more info and to pick yours up go HERE. Make sure to hold on to that TAG it’s your raffle number!!!
Next item on my list is here just in time for Valentine’s day! Whether it’s for that lovely lady in your life or just a treat for yourself these next two items are PERFECT FOR ANY MUSIC LOVER. Make sure to put that order in by FEBRUARY 7th the latest so that you can get it in time!!
To pick up yours click here
You cannot go wrong with these sets. When the Sweeet series set was released a few years back you know i brought mine with the quickness AND it came with a tee and an awesome cereal box designed especially for the set by UNDR-CRWN ! I love these mixCDs so much that i own two copies of them each. Each is unique, tells a story through music and the song selection is full of classics, remixes and mashups that will have you cheesing it for days. WarmFuzzy is from the ALL OUT KING series in which Neil proves his AOK status in puttin together yet another mixCD to make babies to!! The last track… classic!!!
I’ll be back to hit you off with a few 5th Platoon videos i found around the way AND to let you know about an amazing tour that’s going down in a few SELECT US cities. Will one of those cities be yours?!?!?!?! OOoOOO MAN!
January is gone… like me….
No commentsThe Pacemaker, not just for old people anymore
While we are not the first to tell you about this crazy new all in one dj mixer and internal player. We thought we needed to give those who missed this little devil a sneak peak at what the future might be.
The player is handheld, has up to 120 GB hard drive, supports mp3, wav, flac, aac, ogg, flac and will be perfect for house heads. For more info check out the companies site, www.pacemaker.net, they ship out sometime in Feb of 08.
No comments