Kickstarting my day off with Maripol’s documentary “Keith Haring - The Message”. His art was at the center of everything I love about New York in the 80s. When Uptown came Downtown, and Punk met Hip-Hop. I actually got a chance to meet Maripol (film producer, fashion designer and stylist) at the Frank151 offices years ago. She’s quite a human.
Big cheesy crumblins out to my folks Friends We Love for hipping me to this.
A recap of The 2013 @Gumball3000 rally totaling over an hour.
Gumball 3000 is attended by the likes of anyone from Daryl Hannah, Kate Moss, Adrian Brody and Billy Zane, to Dennis Rodman, Jason Priestly, Tony Hawk, Estevan Oriol, Bun B, Idris Elba, Tim Westwood, Eve etc. Sprinkle in some Arab oil tycoons and princes, and you have yourself a one-of-a-kind real life Canonball Run, with WAY MORE MONEY. The actress/rapper Eve is actually engaged to Maxamillion Cooper, who founded The Gumball. Got enough dough plop down in a remote location and take it for a several-week spin? You too can be a part of the Gumball 3000. Well, you can at least watch the video here I guess.
All-time jimmy-jam: Aretha Franklin - I say a little prayer
There is a film in the works about HR from Bad Brains. His voice has no match, and his story is unreal. Small Axe films is making the film, but they are underfunded. There’s only a week left, and they need $10,000 plus to make it happen. The Kickstarter for this project is here.
Lego is creating robotic toys. Makes me think about what video games will look like in the future. No more TV screen?
Artist William Betts uses CCTV and surveillance camera images to create art. The Creators Project’s feature on William conjures up thoughts of information, privacy, data, art, our current reality, and how they’re all connected.
This is really good, you won’t be disappointed. Be sure to watch full-screen!
Time-Lapse | Earth
A view of our planet using video taken by from astronauts aboard the International Space Station
Bruce W. Berry Jr. took astronaut clips and then color graded, denoised, deflickered, slowed down and stabilized them. He then complied them and converted the result into 1080 HD at 24 frames/sec.
A trove of LA DJ history via @TheCutOnLine and their interview with LA legend @MrChocFan4 - The more time I spend in LA, the more interested I become in it’s DJ history, because it’s just as important as New York’s. It’s great to have gotten out to LA to really connect with folks that built the DJ game here. The way they approach everything is inspirational, because they respect each other, and they support one another. NY, take notes…
Two seconds of some guys day for four months straight. It’s intriguing for some reason.
Genesis - Land Of Confusion. This just popped into my head. One of the more classic videos, period.
For some reason, I could not stop watching this. Steve Aoki feat. Rob Roy - Ooh
The Forger - My Son The DJ - Nasty video/music cut-n-paste project. Ben Stokes & Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto) are gods. Tino Breaks records and videos are stuff of legend.
Congrats to my mane Charlie Ahearn on 30 years of Wild Style. I was on his radio show in ‘05. http://artonair.org/show/dj-synapse
Charlie’s MOMA (Museum Of Modern Art/WPS1) radio show titled Yes Yes Y’all ran for a while, and had other guests like Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, Ricky Powell, RamEllZee, Busy Bee, Blade, Hank Shocklee, Fabel and more. Tons of archives here.
My feature was pretty embarrassing, and the equipment was bobo, but it’s a very interesting look into how I view music, and DJing. He approached it by trying to do an “anatomy of the mix”, and talking to me about what was going on in all these cut-and-paste records I was playing. He stopped my set every 10 minutes to talk about what was going on. As I listen back now though, we REALLY got into it about scratching, mixing and music on the internet, which was really just starting to build momentum at that moment.
I know it may seem egotistical that I’m using the birthday of Wild Style to put forth something that’s featuring me, but it actually makes perfect sense as Charlie is someone (of many) from the “Old School”/the people that founded the culture that has supported me throughout the years. Charlie Ahearn, Jazzy Jay, Futura, Lee and Doze Green always greet me with a smile and embrace. They always want to talk, and know what I’m doing. I was always floored by that, and I know I am blessed.
Younger cats that come up need to take cues from these older folks. Happy Birthday to Wild Style, a milestone in culture and cinema.
Also, I actually don’t think I ever put this up here before either. It’s an interesting piece of my history.
The Pixies “Silver”
DJ Synapse has been a constant figure in the NYC music lexicon for the past 14 years. He uses his fluency of multiple musical genres (pop, dancefloor jazz, hip-hop, funk and reggae to rock, dubstep and electro) to put forth his Cut & Paste style, garnering him the respect of the DJ culture's founders, as well as the new guard. As a purveyor of "Verge Culture", Synapse uses the turntables as a platform to musically expand minds. DEFINITION: syn·apse [sin-aps, si-naps] : the place where thought happens.
He has provided music and inspiration for clients like Leo Burnette, Frank151 Magazine, Hotel Chantelle, Red Bull, STK Steakhouse, Jive/Sony Records, Ad Week, Beautiful/Decay Magazine The Box NYC, Elemental Magazine, Palm Pictures, Royal Caribbean, Samson Audio, Mass Appeal Magazine, Canal Room, Santos Party House, Le Poisson Rouge, Hanky Panky intimate apparel, Shine Nightclub (Vancouver), Adidas, LRG, Karmaloop, Miller High Life, Red Bull, C3 Agency, Mountain Dew and more.
He's played alongside:
KOOL HERC, CLINTON SPARKS, RED ALERT, VIKTER DUPLAIX, PETE ROCK, DE LA SOUL, PRINCE PAUL, MOS DEF, DJ PREMIER, ROB SWIFT, QUESTLOVE, JAZZY JAY, DISCO D, STRETCH ARMSTRONG, URSULA 1000, LORD SEAR, J PERIOD, AARON LACRATE, NEIL ARMSTRONG, EVIL DEE, SCOTTIE B & BOBBITO and more.
In addition to his musical journey, Synapse has also worked in branding, marketing, publishing and journalism for the past 10 years. Working with Beautiful/Decay art and lifestyle Magazine, he created multi-media events that were used to brand the company, as well as writing articles for the publication. Following that, he spent four years as the brand manager at Frank151 Media Group, a magazine, website, apparel brand and growing world-wide icon. There he wore various hats, including writer/blogger, distribution, marketing, promotions and international network builder.
DJ Synapse is a professional DJ of over 15 years, and makes culture happen while he moves the crowd. He has provided the soundtrack for everything from private events, bars, clubs, hotels, loft and house parties, as well as corporate events.
His musical selection is completely focused on the needs of his client. From rock, funk, r&b, hip-hop, edm, reggae, soul, electro and oldies, this DJ holds the values of the DJs that started DJ culture. He can do it all. Just name the sound!
ORIGINALS
(brother) TONE (@_TONE) . The Loft . Hoboken, NJ . 2013
QBert and Shortkut it the mix last night at The Mid.
