Flipping Coins and Spinning Wheels

This Thursday night I'll be back in Vegas spinning at the only place you need to be at on a Thursday night (or any other for that matter), Insert Coins!  This time I'll be sharing deck duties with Philly fam now residing in LA, DJ Excel.

DUG x Hot Peas & Butta

This Friday night I'll be in Seattle spinning records at one of my favorite parties with the DUG DJ's and  Supreme La Rock which actually happens to be the 3rd year in a row.  Lo-Fi is always the place to be when this party goes down, great people, strong drinks and a packed dance floor to the sounds of Deep Funk and Super Soul.  Strictly 45's although I might slip a few 12" classics somewhere in the mix but either way I'm ready to rock Seattle once again!

Cast of Sharp Swords

Part 2 of Funkmaster Flex's interview with The RZA on his upcoming film The Man With The Irons Fists.

2nd Sundae Anniversary

In 2 weeks I have the honor of DJing the 1st Anniversary of 2nd Sundae in Philly.  I'm sure your already aware of the many years that the Sundae party has been going on but last year they started 2nd Sundae which consisted of House and Bboy Battles + parties.

So if your in the area swing by to dance, drink and party with us, it's guaranteed to be a great time!

Total Rollcall

A grand night at Props with some of the best record and turntable names in the game.

Vintage Memorabilia

I wouldn't call myself a major sports fan although I have a few pieces of memorabilia from the 70's including signed an framed jersey's, original photography direct from Dr. J's personal photographers collection and other pieces.  But I might need to add a few more to the collection before I'm done since hearing about this new RareInk NBA arts prints series.  I'm only interested in classic pieces, none of this 90s-2000's stuff.

RareInk, official art partner of the NBA, recently launched a 100-piece collection featuring the top players, teams, and moments from the history of the Association. RareInk aims to provide fans for the first time with accessible, modern sports art for their homes and offices. The collection features original works from artists around the world including Dragon76, Alexis Marcou, Tes One, Kxx, Gabz and Mark Sgarbossa. Each piece is hand-numbered and available as limited edition fine art prints and stretched canvases with editions ranging from 100 to 250. NBA fans can help determine future art pieces by voting for players and moments in RareInk’s monthly art polls. Visit RareInk.com to view the entire collection.

Presentation is Everything

With any product that your are unleashing in the world presentation means everything.  That's what we've always strived for at Hot Peas & Butta and that's exactly what The RZA has done with his new project The Man With The Iron Fists.  So far he's has delivered excellent trailers, music from the soundtrack, variant posters and now this animated short for the prequel of his new film. 

The Boogie Down

It's not often that I get to DJ in my own city but when I do it's always with fellow DJ's that I have the utmost respect for and a crowd that really shows mad love.  Next month I'll be playing records with a guy who that I consider an encyclopedia of musical knowledge and owner of Milkcrate Cafe, Botany 500 and the homie Mister Mike who always seems to keep me in the loop of new music that I've never heard before at their party The Boogie Down.  The Boogie Down is a Funk, Soul, Disco, Boogie, Hip Hop party for the lovers of good music, good drinks and who don't mind cutting the rug at Ortlieb's Lounge.

Of course I'll be bring crates of 7's and 12's for your enjoyment as well as Hot Peas & Butta visuals for those that enjoy the full spectrum.  Hopefully I'll see your face in the place!

How Subcultures Begin

Typically when people speak of subcultures the first thing they talk about is Hip Hop, and why not?  Everyone claims to be Hip Hop these days and they all try to identify with what the "think" is Hip Hop.  But youth subcultures began way before Hip Hop, from the Teddy Boys to the Rockers to the Punks which is what you'll see in this mini documentary on British Subcultures by Fred Perry Japan and Don Letts.  I've always been fascinated by 60's culture in general but this takes it back starting with the 50's and gives you a first hand insight on the movements, from fashion to music with a great commentary from those who were there including the legendary Norman Jay.

Behind The Red Door Episode 4

Hot Peas & Butta is back with a new installment to the Behind The Red Door all 45 series.  This month I drop a few choice gems from Funk 45's to Modern Soul 45's, perfect for the Fall season.

Doomstravaganza

When it comes to tribute parties they all seem to run the same cliche course time after time but I've got to say that the homie DJ Ambush puts one helluva show together for Doomstravaganza party.  His Doom promo clips are even insane and creatively done, so if your in Philly on Nov. 8th then you need to be at The Arts Garage.  Shouts to Mars, you guys are wild!

DOOM PIZZA [DOOMSTRAVAGANZA 2012] from FIVE'S! on Vimeo.

Funkmaster Flex x RZA

Part 1 of 3 from an amazing discussion between Funk Master Flex and RZA of The Wu Tang Clan building on the origins of the Wu, the new Man With The Iron Fists film and more.

Dapper like Dan

Growing up in the mid 80s who didn't have a Dapper Dan or Dapper Dan inspired outfit?  Big in Harlem then trickled down to cities like Philly having a custom Gucci or MCM suit, jacket, sweatsuit was necessary to go with your official Gucci 84's or MCM sneakers.  This is a really great mini documentary on the legendary Dapper Dan from Harlem, it's really great to see that he has remained successful throughout all these years and has witnessed four decades of change throughout the city.

On another note, it's funny to hear some of these "Bboy / Hip Hop" kids today that are so Pro-Keds and diss companies like Gucci and Louis Vuitton because they can't afford it and associate those brands with people like Kanye West.  Wake up kids, we was rocking high end brands way before Kanye, that was Hip Hop for us, we stopped wearing Pro-Keds and Lee jeans along time before that.  So while your looking old skool and thinking that makes you official in actuality your not, your out dated, closed minded and cloning a time period that you weren't apart of and dissing something because you can't afford it, sorry but that's the truth.

Anyway, on to the show.

Crate Raiderz

The Byron Burger

I'm still burger questing all over the globe in search of the finest beef cows have to offer and this past weekend took me to London for the UK Bboy Championships at Brixton Academy.  I had an evening of down time so my man DJ Hooch took Crazy Legs and myself to an incredible spot called Byron Burger which he swears by.  I have to say that this is probably in my top 5 all time favorite burgers that I've tried.  I normally order my burgers medium well but the chef assures that he prepares them medium which will be perfect to my liking and I have to say he was 100% correct!  I've never had a good burger in London but this proved it actually exists, the quality of beef and texture was incredible, the bun was top notch and didn't fall apart and there was zero grease.  Add fries and a cold Byron Pale Ale (there signature beer) and it's a perfect combo.

Kodoja Kickstarter

Greetings Friends, Fam and Fans!

Over the last year Keith Foster, Rory Smith, and Lance Pilgrim, along with the help of  Hot Peas & Butta,  RecordBreakin.com and myself (Skeme Richards) have been working toward creating a new type of cinematic comic book experience. The Kodoja Project, a giant monster story that pays homage to the film genre of the 60s and 70s, has been the result of this fantastic year. We've successfully released the soundtrack on 45 and CD, as well as Issue 1 of the first 5 part series!

But we don't want to stop here, and we need your support to keep it going! Please visit our Kickstarter page, check out the video, and pledge! 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/730021567/kodoja-terror-mountain-showdown-comic

Hot Peas & Butta In Print

Day 1 at New York Comic Con seemed to be a really good one what I hear back from Elroy Jenkins and the rest of the gang working at the Hot Peas & Butta Booth.  We've rolled out a few new pieces for the people including issue #2 of the Kodoja comic with an exclusive cover only available for NYCC, exclusive prints and art from Rory Smith and the first in print Hot Peas & Butta comic book which I'm really excited about.

Other things on hand is a new 19 inch sculpt by Rory Smith of the Kodoja monster from the comic series, issue #1 of Kodoja, the Big Pimp Jones 45 / CD for Kodoja: Terror Mountain Showdown and more.  So stop by booth #3143 if your at comic con to check out the goods.

Django Updated

This new updated trailer for Quentin Tarantino's Django is making me even more excited to see the film.

Original Fake Astro Boy

A few months back I had the pleasure of visiting the Osamu Tezuka museum while in Osaka Japan which is the home of Anime to follow the history of some of my favorite childhood characters from Magma Taishi to Kimba.  So when I caught wind of this Original Fake Astro Boy by KAWS it instantly went on my must have list.

The release date is October 27th and I'm sure it will sell out the second it's released.

The Art of The Man With The Iron Fists

More so than anyone else who claims to be into these flicks, it's more than obvious that RZA knows Kung Fu.  But what might not be obvious to most people is that he understands the art that needs to go into the posters as well as a variety of variants.  Being in the circle with people like Tarantino who also understands how to visually produce great posters has really brought out the best in what the RZA is trying to accomplish.

Here's a look at a few of the 16 posters for Man With The Iron Fists have been designed but I'm not sure if these are available anywhere.

Instrumentally Gold

If you ask any DJ about the feeling they get when a slice of vinyl shows up at their door, most likely your going to hear the same response from us all.  It's like a kid at Christmas time ripping open the packaging to see what it is and who it's from and then getting even more excited while inspecting it's contents before dropping the needle down and taking it all in to the fullest.  Well that's how my day started when Mr. Postman delivered a double slice of gold from Mr. Smith, Slice of Spice Records and Lord Finesse.

The Funky Technician Instrumentals are out and I've been blessed with receiving this gem, signed by Lord Finesse himself.  There's no one else in the game right now that has been striving to put out this much music to us DJ's, the people who really appreciate it as well as the insane collectors in the world that search far and wide just to add another piece to their collections.  I have to give Richard mad props for putting so much time and effort into what he's doing, the quality, execution and delivery is untouched by anyone, I'm sure that I speak for all of us DJs / Collectors when I say that we look forward to many more and wish  you much success.

The Power of Music

I left my house Friday morning at 8:00am on route to the airport heading for Houston, it was a morning just like any other except for one thing, a good vibe was in the air.  Because of rush hour traffic I decided not to take the express way but rather drive through the city and it's neighborhoods so that I wouldn't catch the usual morning pissed off attitude.  While riding through West Philly there was a middle aged gentlemen in front of me with his radio rather loud (enough so that I didn't need to use mine) playing James Brown's Cold Sweat which I was rather surprised to hear but happy to hear.  While stopped at a light I looked over to my left and saw a kid on his steps waiting for a school bus and when he heard the music he began to dance (which was a shock as well) but happy to see him feeling the JB spirit.  Sitting on the porch was an older gentlemen possibly his grandfather who also almost simultaneously started bobbing his head and singing at the same time which I don't think anyone else was paying attention to but me.

Two blocks down as cars were backed up at a stop sign there was a lady cutting her hedges and as the car in front of me pulls up (still playing James Brown) the lady stops, turns around and starts to do the shimmy and shake then proceeds to sing and continue cutting her hedges.  I really don't think anyone one else even saw or understood what I had just witnessed and it reconfirms that (good) music is powerful, especially the music of James Brown.  Here you have an early morning scenario, 5 different people all who felt the same spirit to sing and dance,  I really wish I could've caught the guy driving and told him that even though he was unaware of what he had done, he brought happiness to several people unintentionally. 

This is one of my favorite photos from a Hot Peas & Butta party, this young lady was really in a zone as the music played.  The DJ has a responsibility to play good music for people to dance to and if your not doing this you should not be calling yourself a DJ.

Bond Covered

I've always been a fan of and bought issues of GQ Magazine probably since the late 80's, but I've been more a fan of British GQ so much better.  Yes the quality of print is better, yes the articles are much better and yes there is typically more content going on but for first look alone, the covers are always much better.  But when it comes to the James Bond series I've been hooked on these films since first being introduced to them in the 70's by my uncle who got me hooked on classic film at an early age.

Looks like this upcoming issue will be released right on time as I'm heading to London next week so I'll be sure to grab one strictly for collectors status.  British GQ will honor the Bond series by giving each of it's lead gents their on covers.

We all know Connery is still the #1 Bond of all time.

Hot Peas & Butta x NYCC 2012

New York Comic Con is right around the corner (October 11th-14th) and once again the Hot Peas & Butta Artist Collective booth will have amazing merchandise for sale.  Artist Rory Smith has produced another Comic Con exclusive poster for 2012 and will be available for for sale.  In addition we will also have works by artist The Elroy Jenkins (who does all of the design and imagery for the Hot Peas & Butta parties, flyers etc.), the Big Pimp Jones 45 and CD Album of Kodoja: Terror Mountain Showdown and also a new Comic Con exclusive issue #2 Variant.

NYCC will also mark the launch of the Kodoja Kick Starter Campaign.

Last Night Changed It All

Today the Postman showed up at the door with a stack of goodies that I've been waiting for and some that I wasn't expecting, everything from records to magazines and other things in between (including bills).  One of the things that I was really excited to open was a package from the good people at Liquid Beat Records who kindly sent me their promo only 12" of "Last Night Changed It All" EP which includes cover and re-imagine versions of the classic Esther Williams song of the same.  The first done by The Love Loungers who took extra thought in recreating this classic with heavy emphasis on rhythm and percussion with an updated soul and funk feel, break included of course.

The remainder of the EP takes the song into new territory with leading vocals by Allison Malone and production duties handled by Roane Namuh, Dundiggy and Matt Nelkin which finds it's way more into a Hip Hop / R&B version, Nu-Disco and even a slow House & Dub version, a perfect fit in and out of any genre that you might be working in at that moment.  I've got to give it up to Liquid Beat for this one, it will definitely be making it's way into my crates for upcoming gigs.

Liquidbeatrecords.com for more info

Making of the Eames Lounge Chair

I've always been a fan of great art and design, I guess you can say that gene was down to me from my mother who was very artistic herself and was also a professional interior decorator and designer.  It seems that as alot of my friends get older (me usually being the eldest) they really start getting into great pieces of art and furniture for their homes.  While in Europe I visited a friends home who had some beautiful  pieces and it just so happened that the topic of Eames chairs came up which alot of people are really into this company, especially the vintage pieces.

The original Eames chair was created by Charles and Ray Eames over 65 years ago.

Here's a video of the Making of the Eames Lounge Chair.