Had to take a break from the podcast this past month - there's so many more important things happening now that deserved, and continue to deserve, everyone's focus. As I come back to the records, I want to make clear a few things for all the listeners of this podcast and my mixes, if it wasn't clear before: BLACK LIVES MATTER - and have ALWAYS mattered - to me, and I am forever in debt to the role that Black people, and Black art, music, and culture have played in my life. As a white DJ playing majority Black music, I have never felt I could sit back and somehow separate music from the people, politics and issues contained within. In fact, my attraction to hip-hop music was much in part because of the political and social education I received from the Black people creating it.

And as a white person, I am a guest and a visitor in many places and spaces, and I will never know what it means to be Black or be able to understand the full power or meaning behind much of the music I play. That doesn't mean Black music and art hasn't had profound effects on who I am and my music and politics. The records that I collect and play have furthered my dedication to fighting white supremacy on all levels - individual to systematic - which includes being self-critical and hearing criticism from others in how I might perpetuate white supremacy in my own work or music. I FULLY support the ongoing efforts to ABOLISH POLICE AND PRISONS, as well as calls for REPARATIONS for Black people. If you are white and you listen to my podcasts, and you don't understand why I stand for these things, or have questions, I recommend checking out http://m4bl.org (Movement for Black Lives) for more information, and also feel free to reach out. I'd rather build on anti-racism and anti-white supremacy with folks who are open than immediately shun anyone. If you don't want to build and are white and just think the records I play are "cool" or "ethnic" or "raer" then, generally, fuck you. 

BLACK LIVES MATTER. This should be plainly evident, especially to us DJs and record nerds, but unfortunately that's not always true. 

This episode contains music from several records created by Black artists that had incredibly important impacts on who I am as a DJ and person.

TRACKLIST:
Ramsey Lewis - "Opus #5"
Charles Mingus - "Haitian Fight Song"
Alice Coltrane - "Stopover Bombay"
Curtis Mayfield - "I Plan to Stay a Believer"
Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles - "Spirit in the Dark (Live at Fillmore West)"
John Coltrane - "Trane's Slo Blues"
Eric B. and Rakim - "In the Ghetto (Drums-only Mix)"
Jungle Brothers - "Beeds on a String"
Blackalicious - "Lyric Fathom"
Digable Planets - "May 4th Movement"
Boogie Down Productions - "Ya Slippin"
A Tribe Called Quest - "Excursions"

June 26 2020

Pullin from the Stacks Episode 135 (Dedicated to Black Artists Who Inspire, Educate & Shaped Me)

When I'm not at the dayjob, I'm probably at a record store. Pullin from the Stacks podcast most Wednesdays, available here, Apple Pods (please subscribe!) and elsewhere.

I am a Hip Hop Purist, from Newark, NJ. I currently reside in Bavaria, Germany. I love all aspects of Hip Hop Culture, Breakdancing, Graf, and of course, music.  For the past 7 years, I have lived abroad, and have witnessed scope of the culture, I was told was just a phase, dominate World Culture. With that being said, alot is  commercialized and watered down, with the exception of Graf. 

Finding this site is tremendous for a true fan of Turntablism!!!!!!!!  

For my more recent works please check the other soundcloud profile or links on showbiza.com

Pullin from the Stacks Episode 135 (Dedicated to Black Artists Who Inspire, Educate & Shaped Me)

DJ Ian Head