
Today is the 20th anniversary of Black Moon's incredible debut, Enta Da Stage. The Nervous Records-released album was an important album in a year full of very important albums. In the 4th quarter of 1993 (the period between September and the end of the year for you non-industry heads) releases from Wu-Tang Clan, Tribe Called Quest, Das Efx, De La Soul, Erick Sermon were released and hip hop's gangster rap-heavy landscape began to shift back to its gritty-East Coast roots. Enta Da Stage was one of those albums at the center of the gravitational pull back home. 

Brothers who Lyrically Act and Combine Kickin Music Out On Nations (Enta Da Stage 20th Anniversary)

"Un Regalo" by DJ Akalepse for Staple Sounds

Spring Breaks 2022 / 3

Mixmaster Mike The Explosive Box Cassette Side A And B

So like 15 years ago (~2002/3ish) I made a posting soulstrut.com, which at the time was the hip hop record nerd capital of the internet, asking if anyone needed any audio work done. I was graduating from Expression in Emeryville with an audio degree and needed some things for my portfolio/resume. Bay Area legend DJ Stef responded, who I knew from some of the Soulstrut club nights in SF. She mailed me a mixtape she had recorded (back then they were actual tapes) that she was trying to digitize (it was a much bigger pain in the ass back then). I was very stoked, both to hear what she had put together and to do something helpful with my newly-honed audio skills. I was getting ready to encode it and somehow, in the chaos of my household as a barely-functional 20-year-old with a newborn (now 14-year-old) living with my inlaws, lost it. Couldn't find it anywhere. I was mortified. I searched all over the house. For some reason, I never leveled with her about it. I think it was like a Schrodinger's Cat situation where if I didn't admit that I had lost it that it wasn't really lost. I kept my eyes peeled for years. It was a source of deep shame. Every time I moved, I expected it to turn up somewhere but it never would.

Recently (2017), I actually found the tape. It was in a random padded envelope that I didn't remember at all inside a box of my kids' old schoolwork. Inside were the cassette, liner notes with full tracklisting and a handwritten note: "Thanks Mike! - Stef". I assembled all the pieces needed and was planning to record the tape when I had some free time and send it off to her.

This week, Stef passed away suddenly. I never got to send it to her. I digitized it today and passed the cassette to Matt Sonzala who is leaving for the Bay tomorrow for Stef's wake. I was hesitant about putting this up on my account, since I don't want to take any credit for it, but after talking with Matt I believe this might help some folks who are missing her and hurting right now. This is a record of Stephanie Ornelas in her element, immersed in what she loved, creating something to share with people she loved. It's coming a little later than she maybe intended, but I'm entertaining the possibility that it's right on time for somebody.

Hip Hop 94 Mix

DJ Stef - Hip Hop '94 - Side A

Swigga once known as L-Swift has a story to tell. We do a deep dive live from the NorthEast Bronx in this revealing true narrative of how a young kid from St. Lucia in the Caribbean transplanted to New York City.  Certain heads will know his work closely from the lore of his group Natural Elements, one of the city's most talented yet mysteriously never getting their proper due or platform. For added reference please listen to Episode 33 of this show to hear our talk with Mr. Voodoo (Natural Elements). Shouts to Eddie Brock (also a collaborator with Swigga in their group Northeast Wildcats), whom allowed us to record this conversation at his crib. Enjoy! The intro song is entitled 'Check Da Style', produced by Charlemagne and released on Fortress Entertainment in 1995. 

Swigga: 
https://www.instagram.com/swiggarillo

Natural Elements latest: 
https://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1438034547

Ep. 98 - Swigga / L-Swift (Natural Elements)

Aquarius '08

Duey FM & Tripledouble's
AEIOU Warmups...the Iron Chef Mix

When visitors come to Philly, we try to give them a slice of life. 
Not just a taste of album covers and rotating wax, but the type of everyday culture that inspires our love for music. 
So on a whirlwind Spring afternoon, we trooped some out of town guests through 
crack-a-dawn fleas, street scapes, dusty shops, greasy Italian lunch counters and our home record sanctuaries. 
This mix showcases the random assortment of records that crossed our path during that sunny day in Philadelphia. 
Its also a small taste of the madness to come as ...
Duey FM, Master Sinh, and Tripledouble polish up AEIOU 2000. 

AEIOU Warmups ... the Iron Chef Mix

A hungover Massive Attack take over the Kiss FM studios for 2 hours in 1991.

Lockdown Uploads - Massive Attack takeover - Kiss FM Boxing Day 1991 DJ set - Part 1

Emission Hip Hop Syndrome du Lundi 18 Mai 2020 special People Under The Stairs

Ep. 98 - Swigga / L-Swift (Natural Elements)

The House List

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