Archive for the ‘Das Racist’ tag
Vegetables are for the weak, and barbecue is always a good decision. Iron Works BBQ is right around the corner from the Austin convention center, aka the center of the lanyard universe. The result is a line out the door, bands at every table, and a client list that includes every candidate or elected official to every come through Austin.
Most of the day was spent at Club 1808, which is in relatively deep East Austin, meaning well off the beaten SXSW path. The occasion was the showcase put on by Pianos, the Ludlow Street purveyor of fine sounds. A couple of highlights included New Moods (a precise and raucous four-piece fronted by Billy Jones of Other Passengers and Gang Gang Dance engineer Sean Maffucci), a short but sweet set from Chicago beatsmen The Hood Internet, and your boys Das Racist.
New Moods getting loooow.
The highlight of the day, however, was Tormenta Tropical, an ongoing San Francisco-based party that for the purposes of SXSW took a sojourn to Austin and pulled double duty as a full on showcase. Leading off the night was the Ghetto Bassquake soundsystem, featuring some of the most ruthless DJs of the bubbling cumbia, tropicalia, and otherwise limitless bass movements. GBQ chief Vamanos and Dutty Artz affiliates Uproot Andy and Chief Boima led things off, and as the dancefloor packed up and out, they were followed by bass-heavy sets from NYC’s Matt Shadetek, Austin’s DJ Orion, and the party-wreckers themselves, Germany’s Schlacthofbronx. From front to back, non-stop bass and quality selections.
Chief Boima and Old Money Massive
Shadetek gets it in.
Schlacthofbronx officially wrecks the floor.
And finally, the night wrapped up with a one-two combination of the Hybrid himself, Detroit’s Danny Brown, and new Shady Aftermath Records signees Slaughterhouse, the coast to coast supergroup featuring Crooked I, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Royce da 5’9″. Quite the contrast between one of hip hop’s fastest rising and hard-to-define stars, and a group that carries the torch for a hip hop that is nearly one generation removed.
Danny Brown, rocking the Bowie shirt.
Slaughterhouse do it to it.
Day one at South By Southwest is in the rearview mirror, and for this first-time attendee, I think it’s safe to say that it was a trial by fire. The sheer scale of the festival is astounding – I did the math late last night and can now proudly say I cracked the five mile mark of walking. Classy!
It was a crazy day of lines, but here are my highlights, as well as a selection of pictures from my absolutely high-quality camera. Enjoy!
The Fader Fort is its own center of gravity in the SXSW universe. The multi-hour line to get in, and the total production of the space is unmatched. To get a good sense of it, imagine a boiled down Sasquatch with more edge. That is to say, free beer, Statik Selektah and DJ Eleven providing between-band music, and a razor-edge selection of music. Twin Shadow won the day musically, combining delicate melodies with synth-driven quiet/loud rock. The only downer was a cancellation from certified Grown Ass Man Raphael Saadiq. Next time, Ray Ray.
Seattle’s Members Only crew put together an excellent funk and soul night with Austin staple DJ Chorizo Funk. Seattle’s DJ 100 Proof and Mr. Supreme, aka Supreme La Rock, flexed their significant crates, with the event serving as a de facto reunion for Seattle expats.
Yup. Heems and James Blake.
New York’s certified party-rockers and LxNxM homies Das Racist put a memorable capstone on the night by playing a show with Impose Magazine that featured the worst sound system, the nicest bar staff, and the most beer bottles per capita thrown thus far (note to showgoers: not cool).
And finally, the requisite afterparty, featuring Moby and Trouble and Bass boss Drop The Lime. Another note: when you walk into a warehouse and see a bald house DJ, there is an approximately 95% chance that it is Moby. There is no reason to question this.
Today’s all about checking out some specific folks, including the Vancouver/Brooklyn crew Old Money Massive, and San Antonio’s own Sonora and Mexicans With Guns. Where will we end the night? Nobody knows…
Hella more pictures right here after the jump.
That’s right, I’m talking to you. Actually, no, not correct. DUMMO is, in fact, the latest collaboration between Das Racist rapmaster Kool A.D., aka Victor Vazquez, and Oaklandish shaman/lover of the finer things/producer Ben Sinclair, aka Lil’ Ben. Just about a year ago the duo put out the Zoot Fantastic mixtape, and just like (annual) clockwork, they’re back again.
DUMMO is a re-exploration of the avant sound avenues of Zoot Fantastic, bouncing between psych, freeform, and synthed-out groove. As always, Vic/Kool A.D. rides the musical elements with the free associations and cultural references (both pop and otherwise) that fuel much of his work.
Get get get it in.
Who knew that Himanshu (Heems) Suri would ever refix a Katy Perry track? If you say, “I did,” you’re a motherfucking liar. Nevertheless, one of the funniest rappers from Queens has chopped, flipped, and rapped over Katy’s Perry’s omnipresent jam of 2010, “Teenage Dream.” Check it out below. And for more commentary from brother Hima, check out a piece that came out today from yours truly in the Metro Times of Detroit on Das Racist. The trio are cracking jokes the whole time.
Das Racist’s Heems x Katy Perry – Teenage Dream by Hypetrak
Read the rest of this entry »
Coming fresh off their hilariously smart NY Times Q & A, our homies Das Racist made a super special guest appearance on Anthony Bourdain’s Travel Channel Holiday Special last week. No, really. I’m serious. And, yes, shit is crazy… Heems and Victor pop out of an egg carton in Tony’s fridge and start rapping “Ek Shaneesh,” which, of course, has a reference to Mr. Bourdain in it (first verse, actually). Watch it like Youtube:
das racist gets the nytimes treatment for their CMJ appearance. by the way, they’re back in seattle again on 11/12 at chop suey. get tickets here.
The boys are back in town. In case you missed the madness last time around, official LxNxM homies Hidmo Entertainment are bringing Das Racist back around the way. On November 12th the gentlemen/scholars are taking over Chop Suey, meaning your evening plans are now settled.
It’s been a long-established fact that we here at Last Night’s Mixtape are big fans of the DR team, so that alone would be enough to have us there. To sweeten the deal, some of Seattle’s finest has been tagged to open up, including Kung Foo Grip and the extraordinary Helladope. Plus, rumor has it you may see a late-breaking out of town addition. We’re just saying…
Get your tickets soon, because the last time around it was a solid sell out, and you don’t want to be waiting out in the cold. Pa pow.
We talked about it enough beforehand, and the night itself was bananas, so why did it take us this long to get you some pictures of Das Racist, Mash Hall and Militant Child wrecking the house at the Comet last Friday? Who knows. The point is now here are some pictures for you, care of the homie Dave, and his compatriot Britney. More coming soon, plus video.
Photo: Brittney Bush Bollay
Photo: Brittney Bush Bollay
Photo: Dave Lichterman
Photo: Dave Lichterman
Photo: Dave Lichterman
Photo: Brittney Bush Bollay
Photo: Brittney Bush Bollay
das racist brings it tonight with mash hall and LxNxM’s resident DJs toast and tang (no word on ferris bueller–he’ll probably skip it). tickets are only $8, but you’ll need to get them when doors open at 9:00pm. be there!
