D-Styles Dedication

DJs Q-Bert (hat) and D-Styles (hoody)

DJ D-Styles is a huge influence on me.

D-Styles was born in the Philippines and raised in the Bay Area. He has been a member of both the Beat Junkie and Invisibl Skratch Piklz crews. He has gained large notoriety as a scratch DJ and has collaborated with the best scratch DJs in the world including A-Trak, Melo-D, and Q-Bert. After moving down to southern California, D-Styles has since been spinning live at Low End Theory at the Airliner Club in downtown Los Angeles. D-Styles joined Low End Theory's dub, grimy, bassline scene as an outlet for scratching creativity. According to D-Styles on DJs United, "The missing element of scratching is that people aren’t performing their songs live," says D-Styles. "And that’s where I want to take it."

I recently had the opportunity to speak to D-Styles as he was leaving the Airliner after a show. I said, "D-Styles, I'm DJ Blindside and you are a huge influence as my development as a DJ. You're scratching is dope. I currently spin at the Highlands in Hollywood." D-Styles says he was happy to be an inspiration, sorry he doesn't come out more often because he is now married with a family and mentioned my co-worker from the Top 40 room of the Highlands, DJ Turbulence. The chat with the world famous D-Styles was yet another motivational tool as I progress as a DJ.

Richard's Birthday celebration at Low End was a total success. Happy Birthday Richard and thank you to D-Styles!

Kid CuDi Un-Retirement

Since Kid CuDi announced his retirement on March 16, 2009 on his personal blog, today he has changed his mind and will continue his hip-hop career. Scott Mescudi a.k.a. Kid CuDi showed up late to his performance at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin and revealed the news to disgruntled fans. Luckily, the Kid threw down a freestyle and the show went on. It's official, the man on the moon is back!

Biggie's Last Party

Previously unreleased footage of Biggie's last party at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles has surfaced. Although there is no actual footage of the legend in the video, the likes of DJ Clue, Missy Elliot, and Diddy can be seen enjoying the festivities. Biggie was shot to death in his vehicle as he left a party honoring "Soul Train Award" recipients.

It amazes me that Notorious B.I.G. took his last breath in my own neighborhood, literally minutes from my own home.

R.I.P. Christopher Wallace

Drake & Bake Mixtape

Spring Break is finally here! It wouldn't be right if I didn't drop a new mix in time for vacation.

Drake is an actor, rapper, & singer hailing from Toronto. He is affiliated with Lil' Wayne's Young Money Entertainment and has his own independent record label called October's Own. Drake is a brand of hip-hop all his own, unafraid to show his musical diversity with a smooth vibe and on-point lyrics. Check out my new Drake & Bake mix HERE.

Re-inspired

Only one final stands in the way of spring break and it feels great. Fortunately, I was able to knock out two finals yesterday (7AM finals are brutal). It wouldn't be right if this DJ didn't multitask and scope new music while studying. The homie Christian put me up on a mixtape called So Far Gone by the Young Money representer Drake. Drake seems to flow with a type of serenity reminiscent of the best lyricists in the game. I've heard a few tracks from this kid, but with a good listen I'm sure you'll agree this artist is ready to erupt. Hopefully I'll have a Drake mixtape under my belt sooner than later.

Beatmaking 101

Scratch DJ Academy gathered DJ Premier, Evil Dee, DJ Shok & host Reg E Gaines to expose beatmaking in its rawest form. The video is a solid 24 minutes but if you're interested in beatmaking like I am, the information in this video is invaluable.

Topics covered in Beatmaking 101:

1. Interpretation (4:22)
2. Making a Beat (9:45)
3. Inspiration (17:09)

If you're pressed for time, I've broken down the video into sections corresponding with their times. Check it out and expand you're hip-hop knowledge; you won't be disappointed.

This Post is Amazing

This video is a cover of Kanye West's "Amazing" by The Dream & Christina Milian. It features MJ, Ali, & Serena Williams.

Another AMAZING tidbit of news:

The Highlands in Hollywood was just ranked #1 club in California by Nightclub&Bar Magazine! As a resident DJ at the Highlands for GoodLife L.A. Promotions, this is HUGE! If you haven't already, be sure to check out my calendar to hear me spin live.

DJ Blindside.com Official Release

DJ Blindside.com is finally 100% up and running. First and foremost, I'd like to thank The DJ Blindside website team, Will, Tom, Brendan, and Jazzy for assembling a site way beyond my expectations. Who knew my website would be a product of an English project (Thanks Prof. Regan!). The homepage of DJ Blindside will serve as my personal blog with everything from breaking hip-hop news to DJ Blindside music to any random thought that comes to mind! So feel free to peruse the whole website.

Need a daily dose of hip-hop? click HERE.

Enjoy!

The Jetsetters Mixtape is the stimulus to the hip-hop recession

DJ Benzi is definitely one of my biggest influences. Kills it yet again on a collab with DOPE Couture, creators of a DOPE Jetsons line. I've had this mixtape on rotation for the past 24 hours.

Q-Tip discussed the future of hip-hop in an interview with Eyeweekly.com:

"We're coming back to a different approach. It's not going to be De La Soul or Queen Latifah again, it'll be The Cool Kids and Kid Cudi."

The living legend knew what he was talking about..

Hip-hop is breaking out of a recession.

Download the Jetsetters Mixtape HERE.

DJing is the oxygen of Hip-Hop

As a 2005 alumnus of Scratch DJ Academy L.A., it's only right that my peers in N.Y. share the meaning of DJing.