Diamonds In The Dust

Golden State Remix

2012-02-03T09:49:00.000-08:00

Hey all, I'm not dead just been hiding under a rock!

Here's a new Bay Area rap remix:

Iamsu! & bobby brackins - golden state (b.cause s-six version) by djbcause

Soul Boulders 2

2011-11-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

After a long wait, and a good dose of elbow grease,
we are proud to announce that Soul Boulders 2 is officially out today!

Matthew Africa & DJ B.Cause - Soul Boulders 2 Snippets by djbcause

To purchase the mix in digital mp3 format go here.

To purchase the mix in physical form, please send payment via Paypal to matthewafrica at hotmail dot com. The price including shipping is $10 in the U.S, $11 to Canada. and $14 to the rest of the world.

I was going to write something nice about the mix for the blog today. However, after reading Matthew's articulate summary I have decided to post it here and forgo my awkward attempt at an eloquent description of such matters. Thanks to all who have supported this project!

"For those who aren't familiar with Soul Boulders, here's the story.

Back in 2005, B.Cause posted a mind-blowing 10-minute mini-mix on the

SoulStrut message board. The songs were exquisite but hard to

pigeonhole-- soulful and funky, but not purely funk or soul, slow,

psychedelic, moody, maybe a little haunted. In other words, exactly my

sound.

I sent him a message urging him either to finish the mix or to let me

hop on and collaborate with him on turning his ten minutes into

something CD length. I grabbed a dozen or so of my favorite records,

figured out their sequence and recorded my half at B.Cause's house one

rainy afternoon. Once B.Cause fleshed out his half and massaged the

whole thing a bit, we released it in the spring of 2006. It was my

first commercial mix CD.

The response to Soul Boulders was amazing. The Fader, The Wire, Wax

Poetics and Hip Hop Connection said nice things about it. Friends and

peers raved, telling us we soundtracked their summer, that it was

their favorite mix, etc. In a couple cases, I even had people tell me

that the mix changed their lives. Although it sold pretty modestly--

we only pressed 1,000 copies and gave many of them away-- it's easily

the most beloved thing I've ever had a hand in. Over the years, people

have consistently and insistently pressed me and Josh to give them

more. So we did.

For me, Soul Boulders was hard to follow up because I wanted to make

something that people would appreciate in the same way. The landscape

has changed a lot since we made the first mix. Compilations, blogs and

message boards have made a lot of formerly obscure music easily

accessible and consequently everyone seems pretty blasé. Also, I more

or less stopped seriously buying records in about 2005 and worried

that I might not have a good enough set of records to construct

another set; I didn't want to just present some tracks that didn't

make the original mix. Although rarity was never really the point of

Soul Boulders-- creating something unique and special was-- the mix

did feature a lot of music that was unknown to even hardcore soul

listeners and that did help create some excitement around it.

Soul Boulders 2 features 40 meticulously mixed songs. Some are from

common records, many are from rare ones, but all are (to us)

extraordinary soul songs that embody a unique feeling. We labored

hard on the mix, cleaning up tracks, re-editing them to emphasize

parts we liked, obsessing over the sequencing and tiny details in the

transitions and generally polishing until we felt like we had made a

worthy sequel. I think we succeeded."

Heav D

2011-11-10T10:16:00.001-08:00

Rest In Peace

Soul 45: Brothers By Choice - Oh Darlin'

2011-10-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

Smooth 70s vibes here on this West Coast indie, ALA being a subsidiary of the well know Laff comedy label. Really can't be too mad at it, even if it is just a overt rip of the midtempo Delegation hit.

Brothers By Choice - Oh Darlin'

R&B Edit: Move On/Work On Me

2011-10-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

New R n B edit using a new J. Cole beat with an acapella from Ahmad's old project, 4th Avenue Jones.

4th avenue jones - move on (b.cause work on me edit) by djbcause

Rap 12": Misfitz Ov Stylz

2011-10-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

Classic hype a$$ cut from local outfit Misfitz Ov Stylz, off of their obscure '95 4 song EP on Size 12 Management. Big ups to DJ Lexx, one of the first DJ's to show me love in the bay when I was just starting to play records out.

Misfitz Ov Stylz - Where Fuck U At?

Zack is Back

2011-09-29T23:55:00.000-07:00

New and dope installment of one of my favorite mix series, "Weekday Warrior" by Four Color Zack. Yeah, dude is nice w/ his and plays all kind of joints. And the cuts and transitions are absolutely on point. I respect that. Check it ouuuut....

Weekday Warrior Pt. 3 (for Kicks Hawaii) by fourcolorzack

Brand New Blend: Mad/Quickie

2011-09-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

Here's a new in key blend, "quickie" not only is the instrumental used but also describes the creation of this edit. Fit so well it practically made itself....just re-arranged the beat, etc.

Ne-yo - mad (b.cause quickie blend) by djbcause

Slow Funk Edit: Attica Blues - Blueprint

2011-07-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

Acid jazz/trip hop throwback for the fun of it...

Attica blues - blueprint (b.cause shopped + crude mix) by djbcause

New Edit: All I Want Is You - Keep It Up

2011-07-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hey folks! Just finished this Miguel edit up, used a Milton Wright sample and added keys, created drum fills, etc. It's a summery night kind of vibe, hope you like.

Miguel - all i want is you (b.cause keep it up edit) by djbcause

Risk & Cooz Opening At 111 Minna July 7th

2011-07-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I will be DJing at 111 Minna for a really cool art show opening featuring West Coast graffiti legends RISK & COOZ. From what I've seen so far there will be some really amazing works, and there is no cover to get in. I'll be rocking tunes after 7PM. Hope to see you there!

More info on the artists: http://riskrock.com/

Teeko: Light Up The Darkness

2011-06-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

On July 1st, the talented good fellow and friend Teeko is about to unleash his brand new album, "Light Up The Darkness". It's a tightly woven web of floating, futuristic funk nestled within countless layers of dreamy synth, percussion, and ill sounds. If you cop now you get the digipak PLUS the 9 song vinyl EP when it ships. Recommended!

Grab/hear it here:

http://melloworange.bandcamp.com/album/light-up-the-darkness

New Blend: I Don't Deserve You

2011-05-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

Long time no see folks! Sorry for the hiatus....Here's a blend with the new Lloyd Banks hit, snuggling up to an old funky T.I./Jazze Pha slapp.

Lloyd banks feat jeremih - i don't deserve you (b.cause let's get away fix) by djbcause

Fourcolorzack: Live Dream Mix

2011-05-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

The friend Fourcolorzack from Seattle is a savage in the mix, and on the cut! One of my favorite DJs period...here's a fine example of why.

The-Dream 30 Mins Live (4.29.11) by fourcolorzack

Plus, I admire his persistence in showcasing the Dream, who is easily one of the best and most creative R&B artists out these days.

Philly Garage 45: Clock Wise

2011-05-03T11:55:00.000-07:00

Frantic, heavy instrumental sounds from this underground punk/garage rock group out of Philadelphia. I went through my storage space recently and was pleased to re-discover this 1980 obscurity. So much so that I thought I'd share!

Clock Wise

Playin' Kinda Ruff CD Back In Stock

2011-04-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

A quick heads up - I have some more copies of the Troutman Legacy mix. Give me a shout, only have about 25 left. $10 shipped anywhere your heart desires.

New Mixes From The Folks

2011-04-20T14:06:00.000-07:00

Been catching up with some things, listening to mixes etc - thought I'd round some of 'em up for a post here at DITD. To start things off, one from the homie for a homie - King Most kicks off a new mix series for Kicks Hawaii and Super Handsome Sound - shout out to Chris Kam aka DJ Delve. I should be submitting a mix to the series in the near future as well.

KING MOST x KICKS HAWAII by kingmost

DL link: http://www.kickshawaii.com/new/sounds/

Also while we're at it here's Delve's new mix, lot of good jams on this and the Aaliyah blend at the top is so smoooth:

Get Right Warmup Mix

Benny B from NYC with some fresh Nu-Funk and Disco flavors:

April Fools Mix - Live at a Bar by thatdjbennyb

Some killer summer vibed out heaters from the man/beast DJ Day!

DJ Day - Way Out of Living by DJDay

Recently I was laced with a really tight CD only mix from 2 good friends and dope DJs Cutso and Mamabear called "Getting To Know You" - here's the snippet mix to get a sip of the juice:

"Getting To Know You" Teaser

You can pick 'em up at True and Amoeba in SF, or just holler at them.

Speaking of Mamabear - I have yet to post here the promo mix for our new party, "Side 2 Side". Every third Thursday at the Double Dutch, we throw down west coast feels goods, 80s funk jams and other sideways joints...peep the dope flyer art by the ever imaginative Freddie Anzures:

Side 2 Side Props Radio Edition

Bonus jam: the DITD compadre DJ Theory kinda murked it with this Snoop moombahton re-vamp:

Wiz & Snoop - That Good (Theory's Moombahstoned Remix) by DJ THEORY

Listening Lounge "REMIXED" - this Friday At Minna!

2011-04-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

Numark + F.A.M.E. + Platurn & J-Boogie Tonight!

2011-03-26T13:33:00.000-07:00

Advance tix going fast at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/162100

Black Mercedes/R.I.P. Nate Dogg

2011-03-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

Been such a crazy week in the world. Much of my thoughts have been with the overwhelming tragedy in Japan. Had not really wrapped my mind around this 'till last night...it was pretty emotional running many of the late, great Nate Dogg's timeless melodies at our party. His passing is truly the end of an era, in a way. I was thinking not long ago, that record companies stopped making rap promo 12"s roughly around the same time that N.D. stopped lacing hooks we grew to love. Rest In Peace. May the g-funk live on...

Dj quik feat. nate dogg - black mercedes (b.cause duke of dukes rework) by djbcause

New Blend: Last Night/Humming Burd Heartbeat

2011-03-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

Was messing around with the new K. Perry instrumental the other day, and came up with this blendelton.

Last Night (hummin' burd heart beat blend)

Fams Jams

2011-02-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

Bunch of new good stuff floating through by some of my talented friends and folks, thought I'd share a few tunes.

First off, grab that Pendletons joint on 45 right now - there's only 200 and it's fresh! Groove Merchant has them, as does Turntablelab.

Next mention is the homies Vin Sol And Charles McCloud with a nice bassey minimal house rework of a Sade classic. Free download - sweet!

Couldn't Love You More - Vin Sol & Charles McCloud by Vin Sol

Vin Roc and Mike Baker's new song is pretty damn fly. Go to Vin's site for more infoz, and to DL and/or buy.

This an old one, but I really meant to post it up here long ago so why not now. Lunice beats, Jealous Guys raps. Still dope. Big ups and courtesy of Southern Hospitality.

Bonus beats: peep the dude DJ Vajra's tight Fugees blend with the "all i want is you" beat:

Ready Or Not (DJ Vajra Remix) by DJ Vajra

Blend: Try Again/Lovin' You No More

2011-01-31T15:46:00.000-08:00

Here's a new r&b blend, just for fun. I'm a sucker for a piano beat.

Aaliyah - try again (b.cause loving you no more blend) by djbcause

Tonight: 4OneFunktion 4 Year Anniversary Party!

2011-01-22T16:26:00.000-08:00

Elbo Room, Tonight!

New Remix: Bottom's Up

2011-01-18T11:28:00.000-08:00

New remix using an MPC beat, which I am trying to do much more of this year. I stuttered up the Dynamic Superiors sample with some 808s, sparce keys, and lots of snare fills. The DIY acapellas isn't too bad but you can hear some slight artifacts if you listen carefully, my apologies for not having something better to work with.

Trey songz feat nikki minaj - bottoms up (b.cause remix) by djbcause