as a Locker I will be Locking all night to this <3

R&B , Soul And House

High Klassified - 3 Words (ft. Leven Kali)

Easy Listening 11 only Vinyl by André Stabo

Playlist

Patrice Rushen --- Forget Me Nots
Evelyn Knight --- Get Loose
Melba Moore --- Never Say Never
Toney Lee --- Love So Deep
B.T. (Brenda Taylor) --- You Can't Have Your Cake And Eat It Too (Instrumental Cake Mix)
Michael Henderson --- You Wouldn't Have To Work At All
Carl Carlton --- Private Property
Bel-Air --- Let's Do It
Passion --- Don't Stop My Love (Instrumental Mix)
Shawne Jackson --- Loveline
Sharon Brown --- I Specialize In Love
Arlana --- You Can't Keep Breaking My Heart
Family Brown --- I'm Gonna Getcha (Dub Mix)
The Blackbyrds --- What's On Your Mind
Crown Heights Affair --- Heavy Lovin'
Sho Nuff --- Hold On For Love

HEAVY LOVIN' [80s FUNK R&B MIXTAPE]

The Bad Times can't stop The Good Times

I made this mix for the Belgian Mind Warp radio show and decided to put it online together with accompanying liner notes for every song. The content of each track reflects the socio economic situation in the late 70’s, which was pretty gnarly. I always listen to the lyrics, I can’t help it, and if you do this too, you’ll have noticed that there’s quite a lot of dancefloor oriented songs about bad times, hard times, etc. In a way this music inscribes itself in the blues tradition although it is disco dance music. I personally love the contrast between sad content and music you just have to move to. 

1.	The Valentine Brothers – Money’s too tight to mention – Bridge records US en energy UK 1982. 
One of John and William "Billy" Valentine’s biggest hits.  Got to nr. 41 in the R&B charts in 1982. In the nineties it was succesfully covered by Simply Red.
Coincidentally Billy Valentine sung another song about money with the Young Holt Ultd in 1969. An excellent song that can be found on the album Soulful Strut. 

About the lyrics
The song tells the story of the average joe getting fired and as is the case for many americans, he has no buffer and once unemployment comes around the corner he and his family dive under the poverty limit. The rent is due, the kids all need brand new shoes…
Our man tries to catch a break and asks for help, First at the bank, then his brotherman and finally he turns to the almighty father.
Three times the answer is that the money’s too tight to mention.

Reagonomics are mentioned in the song. The term refers to the Reagan administration’s economic policy which primarily favored the rich.
We're talking 'bout reaganomics, Oh lord down in the congress, They're passing all kinds of bills, From up there on capitol hill
Cutbacks!
2.	The Night People – Inflation - TSOB 1980
Inflation never shook the charts. The flipside of this 12 inch on TSOB had a little more success but personally I like Inflation much better.  
The night people consisted of Earl Young, Blanche Carter, and Darryl Grant. 
Now, Earl Young immediately rings a bell. He’s the founder of the well known group The Trammps, who rocked many a dancefloor with their hit Disco Inferno. He’s also recognized as the drummer who developed the classic four to the floor disco beat which defined the philly sound and the sound of disco in general. This story can be found all over the internet. The interview with mr. Young in the  BBE records documentary ‘get down with the philly sound’ is worth to check out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-xNs12ivN8 Thx BBE and DFP!
(BBE is one of my favorite labels. They’ve been churning out comp after comp, full of the finest in underground dancefloor classics. Truly a force to be reckoned with in the rehabilition of countless superb musicians and artists.) 
Blanche Carter was a vocalist and had a couple of minor hits which were picked up on the northern soul en disco scene. Also on TSOB she released Straight down to the bone in 1981.  
Lastly, Darryl Grant. He was a part of Fat Larry’s Band, another philly based disco-funk-soul band. One of their greatest hits was Act like you know in 1982. Of course the bassline from that song was taken from  Help is on the way by The Whatnauts, which was previously released in 1981. Later sampled by De La Soul in Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" in 1991.
About the lyrics: 
The subject of this boogie is the inflation of the dollar.  
Inlfation in the nation!
I guess it’s Earl Young rappin’ about inflation, taxes goin’ up and everybody find themselves between a rock and a hard place. 
Fie fi fo fi fo fo fum I need some money gotta get me some, greenbacks, money, dollar bills, gotta get some cash.
Everybody’s squeezing the dollar, trying to make it last! 
Inflation in the nation, the consumer’s going broke…
3.	Ernie Watts – Just Holdin’ on – Elektra 1980
Ernie Watts, an excellent saxophone  player primarily known on the jazz scene but also as Marvin Gaye’s saxophone player.  To pay the bills he jumped on the disco train and released this great underground disco boogie anthem. Just holdin’ on has a fantastic female vocal refrain. Who was the singer I asked myself. I think it was the female vocalist mentioned as ‘Charity’. Does anybody know anything about her?
About the lyrics 
The song’s about holding on even when the times get tough. You could interpret the lyrics as such in the context of the economic crisis but you could just as well interpret it as a song about the difficult profession that a musician has. 
We ain’t got no money no no no no, we ain’t got no money and we got bills to pay, it ain’t funny…
On to the next track, a semi-educational disco rap.
4.	Sharod ‘school’n – put your mind to the message’ funk groove Music publishing company 1980
Disco Rap, is one of my favorite genres but I guess I’m part of a really small group of people. It gets some credit, but it should get more. 
It’s no surprise to see that disco rap quickly became the vehicle for social commentary as the place where it originated was a true hell hole (do I need to mention the message?). But even before that, disco rap also became a means to reach out to the younger generations. There are several disco raps who try to bring a positive message to the youth. Producers, Mc’s, Musicians quickly saw that disco rap was the new thing the kids were raving about. These records are often overlooked and even within the genre this kind of records don’t get enough credit. I like to call it Square Rap, it’s not very cool at all and it’s probably one of the reasons these tracks are ignored. But I personally discovered over the years that a lot of these tunes are funky as hell! 
I chose this track by Sharod because it’s a funky jam and the rapper’s got flow. His name’s Ben ‘Sharod’ Jones. A couple years after school’n, his first release, he released ‘it’s the death’ on twin city records, a boogie rap about the damage caused by and danger of drug abuse. A rare and funky record. 
I’m wondering if the Ben Sharod Jones on these records is the same guy which is the Supervisory Special Agent at Drug Enforcement Administration in Sugarland Texas today? Maybe. 
About the lyrics
Ben Sharod Jones raps about the importance of good education, going to class and the opportunities you can create for yourself by doing so. The guy’s giving out free study advice and I love it.  If the rap’s too lame for ya, you can unleash the instrumental on the dancefloor, the great saxophone gets a little more room there. 
I’m listing up some of the greatest lyrics in this track:
A short list of 70’s basketball stars who, according to Sharod, wouldn’t have gotten very far without their education.
If doctor jay didn’t stay in school he may not have such pretty moves
If abdul jabbar didn’t study the books he may not have been able to make a sky hook
Sure Magic Johnson, he’s making the cash, but it didn’t come easy, he had tests to pass

Getting educated can also help you rap right: 
going to english, learning how to speak, put the words to the Music and rap into the beat

Picking up girls, get educated yo!
you and your homie walking down the street, up pop two ladies you’d love to meet, one has the money the other has the car, you don’t have nothing, don’t get very far, talking to the ladies trying to pop yo game, how you gonna sound with nothing in yo brain? 
The girls say: 
We don’t want a man who’s going nowhere, get yourself together, show us that you care. 
Sharod: School’s the place to learn what you can, when you get finished you’re a better man. School’s the place to go and learn what you like, lady your diploma will be outtasight! 
I can’t continue without mentioning education wrap van community people released on delmar recordings. It’s not in the mix but you can find it on youtube. It’s another disco rap that has got truly great instrumental parts. The rap lacks a little punch and is kinda condescending but I love the Music, especially the piano towards the end. 
On with some more socially motivated disco rap!
5.	Nuri – let’s vote – Tryon Park/Tommy Boy  1980
Erik Nuri hails from Harlem NY. Today he’s known best as a music executive but he started out as a saxophone player. He had a local band called Erik Nuri and the cost of living. 
At the same time he was studying political science at Harvard University and he was working as an administrative assistant for the black caucus of Massachusetts.
In Erik Nuri the World of politics and Music came together and back in 1980 he got the idea to make a rap song about the importance of voting. He wanted to motivate Young and old and let them realize that each vote counts and it's important to be a conscious voter. According to him it’s the only way to make democracy work for you (he’s right you know, so unite!). The track was a small radiohit and it was catchy enough to stick with some people. NY politician Ray Green used it in his campaign and apparently it helped him mobilize some voters.
About the lyrics: 
This early rap, backed by a live band has got some great energy. There are some clever passages which are listed here below: 
Now this land is ruled by a democracy
That's supposed to include you and me
It provides a way to get your problems solved,
But first you've got to get involved.
Wanna talk to you about politics
And what it means to me and you, 
So we can realize that to better our daily lives
There's a simple thing each one of us can do...
Let's vote, let's vote
We've got to have somebody looking out for us.
Or else time and time and time again 
Your congressman won't be your friend.

There’s a great lyric aimed at the partygoers: 
Now come on come on you got to confess that for two hours you’ll wait in line just to get into a disco and boogie your behind, but on election day wadda ya say? Oh later my man, I just don’t have the time… 
You’re blind, from the reefer and the wine but the benefits of good politics can elevate your mind!

6.	Greg Henderson – Dreaming –  SAM-greyhound 1980
15 min 30 - 20 min 06
There’s some grade A boogie funk credited to Greg Henderson, but there’s not a lot of it. Most of it originally got released on rain records. Dreaming was also released op the SAM label and in the UK on Greyhound productions. These releases are less hard to find, and a lot cheaper to get than the one on rain records. The true heads will also know the excellent dancing to the beat by henderson & whitefield and masterforce with don’t fight the feeling. Henderson provided his special disco touch to both tracks. 
About the lyrics 
There’s an uplifting positive message shining through this lovely bass driven jam. It’s the positive thinking that will get you there basically.  
Dreaming, gotta keep believing. Dreaming come true for you. You can do what you want to, you can get what you need. You can be who you want to be it can happen if you just believe.  

7.	Le Cop – Law, order & Peace, K. Shavonne records 1979
I don’t know anything about the Group or the label. The record is rare and there's funky shit to be found on both sides of the 12 inch. The track was written and arranged by Mel Doby & VJ Smith and produced by Bob Johnson (production is kinda weak imho). If anybody knows more, please do share.  
About the lyrics: 
The song is a plea for more law and order in society. We gotta have a little law and order, we’ve got to live in peace.  Basically they want more boys in blue on the streets.
8.	Eddie Cheba looking good – tree line records
Eddie Cheba was a NY disco DJ and rapper who was really on top in the seventies. He teamed up with DJ Hollywood and together they stood at the cradle of what became Hip Hop. He was an absolute legend on the mic and had the call and response technique locked down (Who makes it sweeter? Cheba cheba!). He never grew out of the disco rap scene though. He moved to Paris in 1980 where he was living the life primarily as a DJ. By the time he got back in NY the scene had changed dramatically and he found it wasn’t his thing. I can relate to that because, frankly I love the sweet, funky disco sound much more than the cheap, crack driven, electro sound that was developed in 80's rap. Personally I don’t like it and yes I know it’s a matter of personal preference. I just have real difficulty understanding how def jam records got so big with that rock sound. I don’t care for run dmc or the beastie boys. Frankly, they really lack some flow when I compare it to some MC’s I like. 
Anyhow, there’s an interview with Eddie Cheba that you can read here: http://hiphop101a.blogspot.be/2007/09/cheeba-cheeba-yall.html
About the lyrics: 
The track’s called looking good and it opens with a funny, funky rap about the hard economic times: Wall street’s crying, the dollars dying, if taxes keep on going up you won’t be able to shake yo butt. The clothes on your back will stay on the rack, and all the things that you usually do you’ll just have to cut back….
The track is beautifully arranged and I love the soulful break where Cheba sings. I also love to spin the instrumental from time to time.
9.	Loose jointz shoot the pump – Zoo york records/Island records 1981
I’m closing this mix with what may be my favorite record from the era. Not just the sound but the whole scene where it originated from, the graphics of the sleeve, everything is just so fresh and beautiful. I have a deep love and respect for this record and there’s so much history to it.
The story of J. Walter Negro and the Loose Jointz is a sad and mysterious one. It was dug up on the blog tofuhut by John Seroff (thank you!) and by blogger undercover black man. In these articles saxophone player Pablo Calogero, Alan Leeds and others, tell a big part of the story  and you can read all about it here: 
http://tofuhut.blogspot.be/2005/03/l-to-r-futura-2000-on-cowbelllenard.html
http://undercoverblackman.blogspot.be/2007/01/rare-groove-shoot-pump.html
http://www.futureproducers.com/forums/music-genres/rap-hip-hop-r-b/shoot-pump-j-walter-negro-104578/
J. Walter Negro was the moniker of Marc André (ALI) Edmunds. A talented young New Yorker who was part of the early graffiti movement and the sunshine rebels/bandshell/parkie movement that originated in and around NY’s central park. This is the same scene of dog town east, the early skateboarding counterpart of the west coast dog town. There’s a guy trying to get the story of the sunshine rebels out there and he's working on a documentary. It seems very interesting to me and I hope he gets it together. You can have a peek here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUbmzrAiCl8
Anyway, Edmunds and Calogero were taggers together with legends Zephyr, Dondi en Futura 2000. Both of them also went to the same school as J.M. Basquiat. Needless to say these guys were part of a vibrant, young and creative community that eventually would impact the world. Frankly it’s crazy to think that a Belgian guy like me, and countless others all over the world grew up doing and loving the things they started back then. Without the internet and the unselfish efforts of diggers and bloggers (let’s call them Freestyle historians) I would never know where this all came from. 
The label it was released on first is called Zoo York records (it was also released on Island records) and actually the term Zoo York was an invention of Marc Edmunds. It will sound familiar in skateboarders’ ears and the zoo york skateboard company actually borrowed the name from Edmunds, so they say. On their website it is stated that they tracked down Edmunds in 1994 and got permission to use the term as a company name. I do have questions about that because I thought Edmunds died prior to 1994. I’m probably wrong.
The track I’m raving about is an awesome upbeat latin flavoured funk track. Typical seventies NY sounding and it’s got one of the coolest raps from the seventies to go with that. 

About the lyrics: 
It’s summer in the city and it’s hot out there! Two young cats want to shoot the pump, which is basically opening up the fire hydrant with a monkey wrench. Putting an empty can without bottom or top on the waterjet enables one to point the jet, be it a passing convertible or a young busty momma dressed in a top and hot pants. This was and is a favorite pastime in the sundrenched streets of US cities.
These two cats are having a lot of fun until the cops show up and practically immediately gun down one of the two rascals. They thought he had a gun in his hand, but of course it turns out to be the monkey wrench. The cops can’t get out of there fast enough. To know the rest of the story, you’ll have to listen to the track ;-)
What happens in this song kind of reflects the lawlessness of the ghetto and the shoot first, ask questions later policy of urban law enforcement. 
I wish Marc Edmunds and the Loose Jointz would’ve have gotten more recognition in their day. And I would love to hear the other stuff they made. Apparently the band recorded a whole album that never got released. On youtube you can find one more track ‘ron e raygun’, it is not as funky and catchy as shoot the pump, but it has the same edge and socially conscious content. 
Big Up ALI, big up Loose Jointz, thank you for making this record, know that it is cherished to this day.
One last little piece of knowledge, famous disco and house DJ Joey Negro derived his  DJ name from J. W. Negro. 
Peace out, 
Dism

The Bad Times Can't Stop The Good Times

Old School R&B Soul Funky Groove # 2

01 - Lisa Stanfiel featuring Barry White - All Around the World
02 - Kenny Thomas  - Best Of You
03 - Klymaxx - Good Love
04 - Queen Latifah - Fly Girl
05 - Color Me Bad - I Wanna Sex You Up
06 - Snap! - Ooops Up
07 - Snap - Colour of Love
08 - Innocence - Natural Thing
09 - J.T. AND THE BIG FAMILY - Moments In Soul  
10 - C+C MUSIC FACTORY - DO YOU WANNA GET FUNKY
11 - 45 KING - THE 900 NUMBER
12 - Kid N Play - Gittin' Funky (UK Remix)
13 - Monie Love - It's A Shame (My Sister)
14 - Y.B.U. - Soul Magic
15 - Mantronix - Got To Have Your Love
16 - Joyce Sims - Lifetime Love
17 - Joyce Sims - (You Are My) All And Al
18 - Redhead Kingpin & The FBI - Do the Right Thing
19 - Rocky V soundtrack - Keep It up
20 - Snap vs. Motivo -  The Power of Bhangra
21 - Paul Hardcastle & The Deff Boyz ft Tony Mac - Swing
22 - B.G. The Prince of Rap - The Power Of Rhythm
23 - B.G. The Prince of Rap - This Beat is HOt
24 - C+C Music Factory - Keep It Comin'
25 - C+C. MUSIC FACTORY - EVERYBODY DANCE,NOW
26 - C & C Music Factory - Here We Go Let's Rock & Roll

Old School 80's/90s R&B Soul Funky Groove Vol 2

THIS IS FOR THE OLD SCHOOL...STRAIGHT R&B JOINTS FROM THE 80s...Enjoy it yall

DJ Romie Rome- 80s Old School R&B Mix Vol. 1 aka BBQ Grill Music, Vol.1

Lovers

Girl Like Me

First volume of my disco rap & boogie series. Rare gems and classics from the late 70's and Reagan era. Rap, a cornerstone of hip hop culture exploded like never before in 70's NYC. It was the ghetto youth that started the movement and the rest is history, musical history! So enjoy this introduction to the wonderful world of disco rap, where they rap like hell and make it sound like heaven!

The Bad Times Can't Stop The Good Times: Disco Rap vol. 1

Pick up the whole 10-track record at 
https://keatscollective.bandcamp.com/album/double-life

SOLITERRE
https://soundcloud.com/soliterre
https://www.facebook.com/soliterreyvr
https://twitter.com/soliterreyvr

AKA WAZONEK (less funky)
www.facebook.com/wazonekmusic
www.instagram.com/wazonekmusic
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wazonekmusic@gmail.com

Soliterre - Coming Back To Life  [NEST HQ Premiere]

Good Look For You

"At Night" from upcoming album "Summer Touch" Drops next week

Artwork by Shiho So

At Night

I WANNA KNOW

868 - I WANNA KNOW

Hello My name is Smooth Lock it is nice to meet you, hope you luv me!
I like making music and listening to music. I love Vaporwave, Future 
 Funk,Funk,Soul R&B,Old School Hip Hop and SynthFunk and Trap and Phonk . Hope you enjoy what I repost and upload! I also love dancing, so I like making and finding music I can dance to and others dance to.So ya thats all.

HEAVY LOVIN' [80s FUNK R&B MIXTAPE]

Boogie Business

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