If you think the title of this DVD sounds like a struggling foreigner's attempt to describe his trip to New York City during the formative years of a cultural revolution, you would be pretty much spot on in your assessment. Filmed in New York City in 1986, 'Big Fun in the Big Town' chronicles the emerging cultural movement called 'hip-hop', through the lens of an upstart Dutch filmmaker named Bram Van Splunteren. Armed with nothing more than a camera crew and vague understanding of the English language, Van Splunteren's fearless excursion into the world of American hip hop led him to the gritty landscapes of Harlem, South Bronx, and the Lower East Side during the peak years of the 1980s crack epidemic. As many would come to learn, this backdrop proved to be the incubator to what became a breeding ground for hip hop pioneers. Van Splunteren happened to be in the right place at the right time. Putting his own personal safety at risk, Van Splunteren's travelled to remote locations in neighborhoods where no foreigners or outsiders were normally allowed. There he managed to capture the essence of that time and place, while also managing to attain interviews and footage with rap heavyweights and emerging artists many now refer to as legends. The amazing scenes contained herein will blow the minds of any self respecting fan of rap music; a 17 year old LL Cool J greeting Van Splunteren from the door step of his grandmother's apartment (where he still lived), the Mystery Crew out of Chicago who happened to be trying to snag a meeting with Russell Simmons outside the small first offices of Def Jam on the same day Van Splunteren happened to be interviewing him, DMC freestyling to and unreleased beat on the cassette deck of his brand new and first Cadillac, a still skinny Biz Markie beatboxing for Roxanne Shante on stage – Van Splunteren managed to capture so many incredible moments in hip hop history and really encapsulated the era perfectly. Amazingly, the film that captured the New York rap scene during its most vital moments never received a proper debut in the city until almost 25 years after it premiered. That changed in 2002 when Dutch magazine Vara Gids named Big Fun as one of the top ten hip-hop films of all-time. The film was shown at the Maysles Film Institute in Harlem in 2010 with Van Splunteren in attendance along with a handful of hip hop luminaries. And now, Five Day Weekend has secured the rights to issue this documentary for the first time ever to American audiences in a physical format. Big Fun In The Big Town is a must own documentary for any true rap historian, and a window into a time and place many of us can now only learn about through study. Travel back to where it all began and relive the inspiring struggle of hip hop music all over again.

-Amazon editorial review – purchase here

Click here to view the embedded video.

Creative Connectivity with Roland Gear and the iPhone

The WNA1100-RL is a simple, compact wireless USB adapter for Roland Wireless Connect. Roland Wireless Connect is an innovative system that allows Roland electronic musical instruments to communicate fluidly with the iPhone. Consisting of a wireless USB adapter and two new iOS apps (Air Recorder and V-Drums® Friend Jam), Roland Wireless Connect makes it easy for Roland users to enjoy their instruments with the Apple iPhone.

 - Supports Air Recorder app and V-Drums Friend Jam for iPhone

 - Compatible with Roland’s JUNO-Di, JUNO-Gi, JUPITER-80, JUPITER-50, Lucina AX-09, BK-5/BK-5 OR. V-Drums Sound Modules (TD-30, TD-15, TD-11), and V-Accordion FR-1x (Piano type,       Button type)

Creative Connectivity with Roland Gear and the iPhone

Air Recorder

With the Air Recorder app, audio can be recorded from a Roland synthesizer, V-Accordion®, or V-Drums®* directly into the iPhone. Songs can be played from the iPhone and sent to the instrument, where users can jam along and record the result back in Air Recorder. You can export your recorded songs to other apps as well.

V-Drums Friend Jam for iPhone

V-Drums Friend Jam for iPhone is an iOS version of V-Drums Friend Jam, the popular social practice tool for drummers. While the Mac/Windows version of V-Drums Friend Jam requires a USB or MIDI connection from a V-Drums sound module to a computer, Roland Wireless Connect provides a direct, cable-free connection from the module to the iPhone. The app allows V-Drums users across the globe to interact with each other while improving their drumming skills with play-along audio songs and practice evaluation features.

USB Wireless Connectivity

The hardware portion of Roland Wireless Connect is a simple, compact wireless USB adapter WNA1100-RL that plugs into the USB port on a Roland instrument. In order for the mobile device to communicate with compatible musical instruments, you need a wireless LAN access point with an Internet connection.

Compatible Instruments

The following instruments are compatible with the Roland Wireless Connect system (as of March 2012):

Synthesizers/Keyboards: JUNO-Di, JUNO-Gi, JUPITER-80, JUPITER-50, Lucina AX-09, and BK-5

V-Drums Sound Modules: TD-30, TD-15, and TD-11

V-Accordions: FR-1x and FR-1xb

mixed by Trackstar the DJ @djtrackstar 

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House Shoes is getting down for his right now. His debut album Let It Go is due June 19th, after spending a couple decades DJing, producing, and pressing releases for Detroit-area heavyweights. It's a debut album, but not by a new jack trying to make a name for himself. Featuring artists like Big Tone, Moe Dirdee, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Danny Brown, Oh No, MED, The Alchemist, Co$$, Roc Marciano & Chali Tuna, it's guaranteed to smash. 

He's also dropping a 500-press red vinyl EP The Time. The TIme includes tracks not included on the full-length Let It Go LP, laced with 2 instrumentals and tracks by Big Tone, Danny Brown and a Jovan 'J1' Coleman (Drummer for Dam-Funk / Mazter Blazter) tribute by Jimetta Rose  You can pre-order The Time now, it's due to ship May 22nd.

In anticipation of these releases, House Shoes compiled 2 podcasts of some of his works, with some heavyweight he has worked with from coast to coast drop a little science about the man himself. 

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ANOTHER sad day in Hip-Hop, and in music as a whole. Cancer is a motherfucker.

The Beastie Boy's Official Statement:

Adam Yauch | 1964-2012

It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam “MCA” Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Yauch taught himself to play bass in high school, forming a band for his 17th birthday party that would later become known the world over as Beastie Boys.

With fellow members Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Adrock” Horovitz, Beastie Boys would go on to sell over 40 million records, release four #1 albums–including the first hip hop album ever to top the Billboard 200, the band’s 1986 debut full length, Licensed To Ill–win three Grammys, and the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award. Last month Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Diamond and Horovitz reading an acceptance speech on behalf of Yauch, who was unable to attend.

In addition to his hand in creating such historic Beastie Boys albums as Paul’s Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty and more, Yauch was a founder of the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and activism regarding the injustices perpetrated on native Tibetans by Chinese occupational government and military forces. In 1996, Milarepa produced the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, which was attended by 100,000 people, making it the biggest benefit concert on U.S. soil since 1985's Live Aid. The Tibetan Freedom Concert series would continue to stage some of the most significant benefit shows in the world for nearly a decade following in New York City, Washington DC, Tokyo, Sydney, Amsterdam, Taipei and other cities.

In the wake of September 11, 2001, Milarepa organized New Yorkers Against Violence, a benefit headlined by Beastie Boys at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, with net proceeds disbursed to the New York Women’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) September 11th Fund for New Americans–each chosen for their efforts on behalf of 9/11 victims least likely to receive help from other sources.

Under the alias of Nathanial Hörnblowér, Yauch directed iconic Beastie Boys videos including “So Whatcha Want,” “Intergalactic,” “Body Movin” and “Ch-Check It Out.” Under his own name, Yauch directed last year’s Fight For Your Right Revisited, an extended video for “Make Some Noise” from Beastie Boys’ Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, starring Elijah Wood, Danny McBride and Seth Rogen as the 1986 Beastie Boys, making their way through a half hour of cameo-studded misadventures before squaring off against Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as Beastie Boys of the future.

Yauch’s passion and talent for filmmaking led to his founding of Oscilloscope Laboratories, which in 2008 released his directorial film debut, the basketball documentary Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot and has since become a major force in independent video distribution, amassing a catalogue of such acclaimed titles as Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy, Oren Moverman’s The Messenger, Banksy’s Exit Through The Gift Shop, Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze’s Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait Of Maurice Sendak, and many more.

Yauch is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents Frances and Noel Yauch.

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PussPuss makes you want to wet your prints!

If you're girl is wearing any of these swimsuit designs this summer, you know you got it good. Made in the EU, they are handmade swimsuits with classic gear printed onto their Italian fabrics. Sounds plush & swanky & has classic gear on them, including the Technics SL-1210MK2 Turntable, Clavia Nord Modular Classic,  Korg KM 202 Mixer, APC 40 Controller, Atari Falcon 030 and the Roland TR-909. Push buttons, turn knobs, bang the drums, etc, etc, etc. 

Find their Etsy store here.

Facebook fanpage here.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

Renoise is a complete, expandable Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) with a refreshing twist. It lets you record, compose, edit, process and render production-quality audio using a tracker-based approach. It features a wide range of built-in audio processors, alongside support for all commonly used virtual instrument and effect plug-in formats.

In a tracker, the music runs from top to bottom in an easily understood grid known as a pattern. Several patterns arranged in a certain order make up a song. Editing in a pattern grid lends itself very well to a fast and immediate keyboard-based workflow. With Renoise you can produce loops, beats, chords and melodies efficiently step-by-step.

Whether you're an audio veteran or just starting out, Renoise is a fantastic addition to any bedroom or professional studio.

64 bit for PC & Mac:

Renoise runs on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. If you want to use Renoise on all of them, that's possible too! Your license covers all platforms, so there's no need to register a separate copy for each.

Plugin Support:

Plugins provide you with a vast array of effects and synths. With Renoise, all of that is within reach. Renoise supports VST, AU, LADSPA and DSSI.

Rewire Support:

Connect and synchronize Renoise with other ReWire-capable audio applications. Combine the best aspects of both trackers and sequencers!

Tracker Interface:

Quick. That pretty much sums it up. Once you get rolling with the keyboard shortcuts, there is no stopping you. And there are no annoying floating windows. Every widget stays where it belongs.

Sampler:

Edit and audition samples with the Sample Editor. Because really, why should you let yourself be distracted by switching back and forth to external editors?

Pattern Matrix:

The Pattern Matrix is a "bird's eye view" of the patterns and tracks in your song. Patterns and tracks are divided into blocks that can be moved, copied and pasted, enabling you to manage the flow of the music quickly and easily.

26+ Native FX:

With over 26 native effects included, Renoise has all the essentials you need to tackle any production: reverb, delay, filters, compressors, EQ, distortion, flanger, phaser and more. Use as many of them as you like

Automation:

Take advantage of graphical automation envelopes to automatically control parameters and give your productions more variety and depth.

Mixer:

Renoise's flexible answer to the traditional mixer. Also doubles as an interface for managing the DSP chains.

Render To Sample:

Quickly render clips of sequenced audio running through an effects chain to new instruments. Re-use them in new and interesting ways.

Plugin Grabber:

Turn synthesizer plugins into CPU-friendly multi-sample instruments with the Plugin Grabber. Then use the Instrument Editor to modify the behavior of the instruments.

Lua Scripting API:

Renoise contains an API (application programming interface) which enables you to customize and extend the application by writing scripts in the Lua programming language.

Keyboard Driven:

Renoise is designed with keyboard operation in mind. Almost everything can be controlled from the keyboard. The flexible keyboard mapping system lets you reassign everything, should you wish to create your own layout.

Meta Devices:

With meta devices like the Signal Follower, LFO, X/Y Pad, Meta Mixer and more, you can modulate or control other device parameters instead of manipulating audio. They can even be linked between different tracks, making for complex and powerful sound design possibilities.

Add-on Tools:

Take advantage of the large number of add-on tools contributed by the Renoise community. There are tools for everything from giving Renoise a step-sequencer interface to sample synthesis to algorithmic composition.

Track Grouping:

Grouping is not only an organisational feature for keeping your project tidy. It's also a handy routing mechanism for applying the same effects to a number of tracks. Groups and tracks can be given custom colors and be collapsed for better overview.

Flexible Routing:

The Send and Master tracks pave the way for more unique routing options. Whether you route a single channel or 50 channels to a Send track full of effects, your computer's CPU will hardly know the difference.

Multi-Channel I/O:

Full support for multiple hardware channels going both in and out in real-time.

MIDI:

Connect Renoise to hardware synths or plug-in instruments, to send and receive notes and controller changes. Sync Renoise in either master or slave mode.

OSC:

OSC (Open Sound Control) is an open protocol for controlling and interfacing audio applications programmatically. Trigger Renoise functions easily by configuring it as a server and sending it OSC commands, or turn Renoise into an OSC client by using scripting.

JACK:

JACK is the leading audio interconnection technology on Linux and is fully supported by Renoise.

PDC:

Plugins and external inputs have varying amounts of latency, making your tracks sound untight if not properly dealt with. With Renoise's Automatic Plugin Delay Compensation technology, all virtual instruments and effects in your productions will be synced automatically.

Multi-Core Support:

Unleash your computer's full potential. Renoise takes advantage of all the cores in your system to boost performance, allowing you to add more and heavier effects and instruments than before.

Spectrum Analyzer:

The built-in, highly customizable spectrum analyzer helps you pinpoint problematic areas in your final mix. Use it to compare the frequency content of different tracks or view the entire master output in the frequency domain.

Changes in Version 2.8

Pattern Matrix Additions:

Workflow has been the keyword for most of the 2.8 development cycle. Thanks to the revamped Pattern Matrix and sequencer, it's now easier than ever to arrange your songs. By aliasing individual pattern slots, you can lay out complete tracks in no time. The new sections feature allows you to add structure and overview, while the streamlined sequencer helps to keep your project nice and tidy.

     - Alias individual pattern slots in the matrix, i.e. treat them like clips
     - Edit one slot and have changes propagate to all other aliases
     - Quickly clone or alias slots by dragging their edges
     - Use section headers to group parts of the song together

Track Grouping & Collapsing:

Another big workflow improvement is track grouping, which allows you to group related tracks together, and have each group share common effect chains. It's now also possible to collapse tracks and groups, which can do wonders for the overview of large projects.

     - Group tracks into logical units, collapse them for better overview
     - Flexible routing of group tracks
     - Collapsed tracks use minimal space, while still providing a quick overview
     - Pattern effects in groups will affect all member tracks simultaneously
     - Automatically collapse all tracks except the one you are focussing on
     - Color code tracks with adjustable background colors

Sample Editor:

The Sample Editor has also got its fair share of workflow improvements.

     - Left & right channels can be edited separately
     - Zoom level & current selection are remembered per sample
     - Significantly faster sample loading
     - Destructively render slices to individual samples
     - Improved keyboard and mouse selection handling
     - Improved marker and waveform display visibility
     - New and improved processing tools (mute selection, insert silence, invert phase, swap stereo channels and cross-fading loop creator)

Pattern Effects:

     - Pattern effects in the master or group tracks will affect all member tracks
     - Up to 34 DSP devices can be addressed via pattern commands 1xyy-Yxyy
     - New pattern effects: Tremolo, Auto Pan, Set Envelope Position
     - Logical mnemonics for pattern effects from A to Z instead of cryptic numbers

As well as many other Performance & Workflow  improvements.

See the Renoise site for details.

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Pick-Up Basketball, New York City

Description:

700+ Playgrounds; 500,000+ Players; 8,000,000 Stories . . .

DOIN' IT IN THE PARK: PICK-UP BASKETBALL, NYC is an independent documentary directed by Bobbito Garcia and Kevin Couliau. The film explores the definition, history, culture, and social impact of New York’s outdoor summer b-ball scene, the worldwide “Mecca” of the sport.

In New York City, pick-up basketball is not just a sport. It is a way of life. There are 700+ outdoor courts, and an estimated 500,000 players, the most loyal of which approach the game as a religion, and the playground as their church.

"You can play high school or college for four years. You can play Pro for a decade. You can play pick-up … for life."

DOIN' IT IN THE PARK: PICK-UP BASKETBALL, NYC lovingly uncovers this movement through the voices of playground legends, NBA athletes, and most importantly the common ballplayer who all day looks forward to calling "next" game at their local schoolyard.

Co-directors Bobbito Garcia and Kevin Couliau visited 180 courts throughout NYC's five boroughs to create their debut documentary. They traveled to a majority of the locations by bicycle, carrying camera equipment and a basketball in their backpacks. The film's title refers as much to the subject matter as it does to the method of filmmaking, providing an unprecedented perspective on urban America's most popular, and accessible, free recreation.

Main film characters: Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Kenny Smith, "Pee Wee" Kirkland, "Fly" Williams, God Shammgod, Tim "Headache" Gittens, Corey "Homicide" Williams, Kenny Anderson, Jack Ryan, Richard "Crazy Legs" Colon, Niki Avery, Milani Malik, and the Park Pick-Up Players of NYC.

DIRECTOR BIOS:

Native New Yorker Bobbito García is the co-founder of Bounce Magazine and critically acclaimed author of Where’d You Get Those? NYC’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987 (Testify Books). In recent years, “Kool Bob Love” has done sideline reporting for the NY Knicks on MSG-TV, voiced NBA 2K video games, and has hosted ESPN2’s "It’s the Shoes" series. Currently, he is the play-by-play announcer for the Boost Mobile Elite 24 Game on ESPNU, the Red Bull King of the Rock Championship on CBS Sports, and the Converse Band of Ballers tournament on MTV2. 

Frenchman Kevin Couliau is widely recognized as the most prolific outdoor basketball photographer of the last decade. His images have appeared in Reverse Magazine (France), Bounce Magazine (US), and Fadeaway Magazine (UK). As a videographer, his work has been seen in the Australian documentary The Mystery of Flying Kicks and Brand Jordan’s annual Quai 54 Tournament DVDs. In 2010, he directed a music/streetball video titled “Heart & Soul Of New York City,” which has accumulated 500,000+ views online and counting.

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A Film & Video project in Torino, Italy by Paolo Campana 

A trip into the grooves, Vinylmania is a 75 minute feature length documentary about an object that has never lost its soul: the vinyl record. An epic love story, the film is filled with fascinating characters and internationally recognized artists including PHILIPPE COHEN SOLAL (Gotan Project), WINSTON SMITH (Dead Kennedys, Green Day record sleeve artist), PETER SAVILLE (Joy Division, New Order record sleeve artist) and DJ KENTARO (2002 DMC World DJ Champion).  

Devotion, ecstasy, infatuation, agony – all feelings that the director of the film, Paolo Campana, has experienced from childhood and shares with like-minded record collectors, Djs, musicians and artists (the said vinylmaniacs) in the documentary. Set in 11 different cities and 7 countries worldwide, the director sets out on a global road trip to find out what role vinyl records play in the 21st century.

Find out more about the 100% Kickstarter funded project here: Vinylmania

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I just returned from an extended weekend trip back to PA for a family wedding. Since I don't make it back too often, I had to get in all the cheesesteaks (and other local specialties), microbrews and even a couple record stores. 

Milkcrate Cafe was really dope, as it sells records and serves foods. I had taken a red-eye flight, landed, and went straight there. I ordered a breakfast burrito (off the chain) & by the time it was ready to eat, I had a couple records in hand. At 8:30am. Pretty f'n fresh. Their Jazz selection wasn't the largest, but surprisingly I hadn't seen about 75% of them before. 

Did the South Street thing as well before heading into the South Central gut of the state for a couple days. I actually wasn't looking forward to that as much, but it turned into a nice break from the mayhem of LA. I also got to pillage from my last 6 crates at my mother's place & picked up a bunch of 90's Hip-Hop jams to bring home. It's always good to see family as well, so everything turned out lovely. 

Milkcrate Cafe (Homepage) - 400 E Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125 (Google map)
Repo Records (Homepage) - 538 South Street, Philadelphia PA (Google map)

Victory Brewing Company (Homepage) - 420 Acorn Lane Downingtown, PA 19335 (Google map)

Jim's Steaks (Homepage) - 400 South Street Philadelphia PA 19147 (Google map)

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