Mixtape Monday: DJ Stef, LeFtO, Darien Birks, P.U.D.G.E. + More
The selectors and sound manipulators are back at the top of the heap this Mixtape Monday.
Beginning with an archival set from the Bay Area’s own DJ Stef, who passed away last week. Her jam packed two-part tribute to 1994 hip-hop starts things off. LeFtO is back with a primer on the latest new music. Darien Birks (of The Stuyvesants) drops the perfect score for the fall season with the arrival of October Twenty Seventeen, and P.U.D.G.E. pays tribute to Roy Ayers.
Ed Christof and Dewey Saunders keep things caffeinated for the folks on the clock this Monday, with Coffeewave Three. DJ Sherm aims to get bodies moving with A Little Bit of Boogie, and Dego & Kaidi are back in the habit with their masterful record A So We Gwarn for Theo Parrish’s Sound Signature imprint.
DJ Stef - Hip Hop ‘94 (Sides A + B)
The Bay Area and the DJ world at large lost a treasure in DJ Stef, who passed away late last week. Mike Manewitz mourns her with a generous digitization and upload of a classic hip-hop tape from her archives.
So like 15 years ago (~2002/3ish) I made a posting soulstrut.com, which at the time was the hip hop record nerd capital of the internet, asking if anyone needed any audio work done. I was graduating from Expression in Emeryville with an audio degree and needed some things for my portfolio/resume. Bay Area legend DJ Stef responded, who I knew from some of the Soulstrut club nights in SF. She mailed me a mixtape she had recorded (back then they were actual tapes) that she was trying to digitize. This week, Stef passed away suddenly. I never got to send it to her. I digitized it today and passed the cassette to Matt Sonzala who is leaving for the Bay tomorrow for Stef's wake. I was hesitant about putting this up on my account, since I don't want to take any credit for it, but after talking with Matt I believe this might help some folks who are missing her and hurting right now. This is a record of Stephanie Ornelas in her element, immersed in what she loved, creating something to share with people she loved. It's coming a little later than she maybe intended, but I'm entertaining the possibility that it's right on time for somebody.
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Marco Weibel x Mawkus - Darker Than Wax FM #91 ft. Khalil
Co-hosts Mawkus and Marco Weibel are joined by Khalil for the latest edition of DTW Radio from Darker Than Wax FM. The nearly 2-hour set for The Lot Radio is the 91st installment of the series and features joints from 30 & 70, Dr. Jonathan Greer & The Cathedral of Faith Choir, Rapsody x Anderson Paak, Oh No x Stacy Epps, Dego and more.
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Buscrates 16-Bit Ensemble - Liquid Beat Radio 10.06.17
XRAY.FM’s Liquid Beat Radio returns with guest selector Buscrates 16-Bit Ensemble on deck to mash up the mix with a handful of his original joints. Rocking alongside DJ Roane, Matt Nelkin and Sir Kez, Buscrates sits for a short interview before jumping into a great live set featuring beats and remixes of S.O.S. Band, Positive Flow and Blossom & HOT16.
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P.U.D.G.E. - ...Love From The Sun (Roy Ayers Tribute)
Queens representative P.U.D.G.E. pays tribute to legendary vibraphonist and soul jazz master Roy Ayers with a live tribute set entitled We Get Our Love From The Sun. Dropping almost an hour of heaters, P.U.D.G.E. throws Roy Ayers originals into the mix alongside classic hip-hop and r&b from sampling artists. A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Blackstar, X Clan and D’Angelo are just a few of the names included.
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DJ Sherm - A Little Bit of Boogie
Frankfurt’s own DJ Sherm makes a case for the existence of the funk with the 31-minute A Little Bit of Boogie mix. The 80s boogie funk clinic was recorded in one take and doubles as a party perfect all-vinyl set. The mix includes tracks from George Howard, Omni, Culture Club, Unique and more.
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DJ CNG - Still Vibin’ Setblock #7
Recovering from the recent loss of their SoundCloud account, GDS.FM’s Still Vibin series has made the executive decision to re-up a fire collection of sets to celebrate their grand reopening. Understandably, DJ CNG’s tough Afrobeats mix from May of this year gets a much deserved boost as they work to get back on their feet. Dig in and keep an ear out for more.
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LeFtO - Studio Bruxelle #715
LeFtO is back behind the controls at Studio Bruxelle for episode 715 of his ongoing series. This go-round he’s dropping new music from DJ Manny, Madlib, Ezra Collective, Levon Vincent, Daphni and Waajeed. Some goodies from the new Kelela record also make the cut.
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Ed Christof x Dewey Saunders - Coffeewave Three
Ed Christof and Dewey Saunders drop the latest installment of their caffeinated mix series with the arrival of Coffeewave Three.
Coffeewave Three is the third cup of coffee in the trilogy, maybe the waviest of all the mixes. From Brazilian cuts to sleazy soft rock, back to dub reggae and mellow loops, this set of waves has the perfect mood for the connoisseurs of the cup and riders of the morning wave. Ed started brewing a small playlist on Spotify and slowly added more and more songs until there was a small coffee tsunami in effect. As Dewey paddled out and caught the wave, the collages starting coming together as the sounds were surfed. Pastel gradients provided the chillest backgrounds, and the collage work bended into shape. Heavily influenced by the psychedelic patterning and sun soaked colors of surf culture, sensual muses along with Central American motifs come together to create a visual accompaniment to the caffeinated cassette tape. This is music for daydreaming, vibes to fly on the sunrise, and morning waves to wade in as you hit the brew.
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Darien Birks - October Twenty Seventeen
One half of celebrated Bucktown production duo, The Stuyvesants, Darien Birks drops a heaping helping of contemporary grooves with the arrival of his October Twenty Seventeen mix. The perfect complement to the fall weather, the set features tracks from Tuamie, Knxwledge, Erykah Badu, DJ Harrison, Ahwlee, PPP, Keifer and The Stuyvesants -- of course.
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Dego & Kaidi - A So We Gwarn
Dego (of 4Hero) and Kaidi Tatham are back together on wax as of the release of A So We Gwarn. The masterful 16-track boogie-funk and brokenbeat project is their latest for Theo Parrish’s Sound Signature label. Combining their lush trademark chords and sick rhythms with bright, nostalgic melody, they deliver a proper heater.
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Karas Lamb writes and digs for tunes you haven’t heard yet. She actually wants to listen to your mixtape. Follow her on Twitter @karaslamb or Instagram @blamblamkaraslam.