Supplier of over…’and enter long drug and kidnapping spiel’… No sorry, I can’t continue with this. Let’s face it; Colombia has got a lot of bad press in its day, well even to this day. Anything I’ve managed to read about Colombia (albeit not a mammoth amount) that is written through a ‘gringos’ perspective usually seems to end up painting a negative picture. I mean they do report on the beauty of Colombia, but usually the problems of the nation always seem to cloud any positive words which have been said in article. I’m not saying that these problems don’t exist, but having been so wildly reported I thought it’d be interesting to represent my view from what I saw from spending a little time in Colombia.

…READ MORE HERE…

Recommended by a friend as a programme similar to Entourage, I instantly thought… not another TV show to plow through.

But with only 8 half hour episodes, I thought this could kill off a rather lethargic Saturday morning. After watching it sprawled out on my sofa in my hockey jersey and boxers I felt somewhat good as the last episode played out. The show is fun and simple, which focuses more on the leanings of the fashion/hipster scene, but the ideas are there for any industry.

The industry of any kind, be it film, music, fashion, books, becoming the best at x/y/z…  well, it’s always going to be over saturated and there is someone always out there who will better than you. Basically  ’just don’t bother.’ Why anyone makes it, be it if they are good or just mediocre is a combination of stubbornness and ignoring the potentiality of failure. Per-fecking-sistence .

You can either continue being unhappy and frustrated if you really believe that what you’re doing is not fulling you, or you can give it a try and look back and go “well that went well” in either a sarcastic or actual response. You can just do neither and just say “it’s only a phase” and get on with your life happily.

However, what’s stark from this program, which you can get the Entourage feeling about it, is all about about having a good group of people (or just a person) who believe in you, who may support you unconditionally, who may tell you that it’s shit and will tell you when you’re being a shit.

The problem with trying to get your art out there is dealing with your own demons. It might seem easier to endure a constant self-burdening and it might seem more attractive to totally smash yourself up. Or sometimes you have to get it out there and face the criticism. If you believe in it (pass the cheddar bredda), then be ready to spread it (oh sssssnnnnnnapppppppp) and just deal…with…it. Experience of getting it out there may make you a better artist in the long run.

Long story short… if you fancy a little warm kick up the arse, then watch this.

Mine was on Friday the 6th November on a National Express Coach (and again on the Saturday morning on the way back) to Norwich.

The moment came when I put on the mixtape “He’s the King, I’m the DJ” referring to a Michael Jackson mix done by Dj Jazzy Jeff. It’s not the first time Jazzy Jeff has made me cry, the first time was how awfully bad but good he was in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, his amazing production on Summertime mashing up Kool and the Gang with a nice little transform on top over fun time lyrics by Will Smith, his echo scratch during a Philly Jam session mixtape I had with Will Smith on top sounding horrific and finally seeing him when he first started his Serrato set in Fabric when he dropped Know the Ledge by Eric B and Rakim.

Anywho, a man who makes another man cry that much, one may be asking various questions about this and that. But who cares, the man is a dapper don (to bring back a bit of mid 90s London slang). The aim of this mixtape is to bring a selection of tracks not usually dropped, more soulful and carefully blended. MJ’s cover of Ain’t no Sunshine is just epic and that almost brought a tear of emotional joy out. Even his double mash up of Pete Rock and 2-4-6-8 teased the notion of a tear out. But it was when he did an epic mix up between Human Nature and SWV – Right Here (Original and Human Nature Mix). So much was going on, that I almost threw up, but instead a slight tear through the side of my eye, carefully trying to style it out whilst on a surprisingly empty National Express coach was my prerogative.

To put things straight, I’m not one of those MJ fan’s who kept on going about his death, infact I was there cracking up at the jokes which came out. I did love his music though and this mixtape really shows how many amazing tracks he had over his career, with varying style not just in music but in voice due to his changing age and subsequent voice breaking.

Anyway, enough of me talking about this.

http://www.djjazzyjeff.com/blog/Download-HES-THE-KING-IM-THE-DJ-today

The this is where it all started series will be coming soon going through particular tracks which make Hentucky tick. And hey, if that doesn’t interest you just turn the track up and get involved in a serious booty shake session.

Nuyorican Soul – I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun
The Charmels – As Long As I’ve Got You – LP Version
Nina Simone – Here Comes The Sun
Nas – It Ain’t Hard To Tell – Explicit Album Version
Marlena Shaw – California Soul
Crowded House – Don’t Dream It’s Over
Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Everybody Loves The Sunshine
Radiohead – Trans-Atlantic Drawl
The Smiths – Well I Wonder
Doves – Ship Of Fools
The Replacements – Unsatisfied
SWV – Right Here – Human Nature Radio Mix
Snoop Doggy Dogg – Nuthin’ But A G’Thang
J Dilla – Love feat. Pharoahe Monch
The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition – Original Version
Joy Division – Atmosphere
Jesus And Mary Chain – Sometimes Always
Elton John – Sacrifice

Open in Spotify