Chorizo Funk

I was an instant fan of Dam Funk when I first heard his music around 2008. Smooth, soulful, and musical but still as hard as triple o.g. status. Never forced, rushed, or contrived. Contemporary urban artists…. take note.

Harmonious, ambient, and spacey but still street. You see there’s an obvious lack of love in contemporary urban music, so when I hear Dam I know that he’s influenced by the old school because he stands out from anything you hear on mainstream radio. He’s from an era when music was music as Steve Harvey so eloquently put it in Kings of Comedy.

A time when musicianship and singing ability were requirements to becoming an artist, but being able to sing or play an instrument wasn’t enough to stand out. You had to have Soul… True Soul music has a message behind it. Pain, love, and beauty are a few examples that I hear in Dam’s music and other contemporaries in the modern funk sound.

You can tune into any radio station across the country that claims to be the home of hip hop and R&B and you won’t find music as soulful, hard, and honest as Dam Funk. He’s in his own lane….. straight coastin’.

It took over twenty years before Dam was given the platform to present his music to the world with the release of his debut album in 2009, Toeachizown, (Stone Throw Records) but the timing couldn’t have been better. He’s won over the world wide underground, released a critically acclaimed album, and gained the reputation as the leader of the Modern Funk movement….timing is everything when you love what you do.

Austin February 2nd, Dam Funk at the NEW Beauty Ballroom. Applied Pressure, myself, and a host of other local talent providing support as well. Gyeah! FB.

Also here’s the last interview that Dam Funk did with J-1 (RIP) and Computer Jay also know as Master Blazter.

Check this interview from Dam below. You might just learn something. The funk lives on.

One of the great things about the MLK holiday is that it coincides with the beginning of the New Year, which means that most of us are beaming with positivity, resolutions for improvement, and a refreshed outlook. I don’t think there is a more fitting American holiday, which embodies this spirit than Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

If you lookin for that feel good, this is where to be: FB || Fusicology

This Saturday I’ll be sharing the decks with the homie Nick Nack for a tribute to one of the most loved hip hop groups of all time: a tribe called quest. By now most die hards have seen the Beats, Rhymes, and Life documentary about the failed attempt to re-group, and I gotta say that I loved every minute of the film despite the lack of reconciliation amongst the group. Like most Stans fans, any new piece to the legacy of Tribe is relished.

I think it’s best to go out when you’re on top, and not make fabricated and coerced music for the sake of fans, labels, and money. Unmistakable chemistry, love, talent, and energy made their music legendary, without these ingredients it’s not Tribe.

So if you love tribe like we do, hit the link for the info: FB. Check this tumblr link for a live recording from Tribe in London back in ’95!

Much love to all that got down with us at the Body Rock year end close-out with a proper new jack swing tribute to the diddly diddly dee (Heavy D. RIP.) We’ll be kicking off another year at Body Rock with the livest party people in Austin. We’ll have special guest DJ Expo (Escapism/Root Down) from Los Angeles rocking the turntables with us. Stay tuned because we are doing an MLK tribute show January 15th & the Body Rock 2 year anniversary is Feb. 3rd!
Event links for January Body Rock with DJ Expo: FB | Fusicology

So 2011 is a wrap! It’s been a great year, but damn they just seem to go by faster & faster! I’m really excited about being part of the Beauty Ballroom opening party on NYE along with Grupo Fantasma & Maneja Beto. Emos East was the first venue that made East Riverside it’s home earlier this year, and now Beauty Bar will be opening a new 700 capacity venue on Riverside as well and I have the privilege to break in the DJ booth. Presale tix here. FB.

Here it is yall, one last chance to catch body rock before the year is over! First I want to thank everyone that was shaking their stankin’ asses at the Heavy D tribute last week! We will be having our 2 Year anniversary in February and ever since we have moved to first fridays at Loft 718, it seems like every month is better than the previous month. THANK YOU!

We definetly have an amazing show lined up for the all the real live party people in Austin. This Saturday December 10th, Body Rock will be at Lambert’s with special guest Henry + the Invisibles! This man is the real deal, and ya’ll know I don’t bullshit and give any/everybody the chorizo funk co-sign. This is true Funk Fam right here. I have seen Henry + the invisibles completely transform the energy of every venue I have seen them rock. So we are really excited to team up with Henry + the Invisibles and set the jam on FIRE!

Event links: FB || Fusicology
$8 at the door or get tix here.

Callin’ all New Jacks, Ruff Necks, and Honey Dips! For the December edition of Body Rock we’ll be celebrating the late, great, over-weight lover Heavy D! I have vivid memories of watching Yo MTV Raps and seeing Heavy D and all the shiny suites from the Now That We Found Love video. That summer was my first impression of hip-hop and I’ll never forget it. RIP Heavy D. A heavy dose of Heavy D & New Jack Swing so the party’s gonna be pumpin’! In addition we’ll also have DJ Mahealani playing some records to pay tribute.

Here’s a post from my body rock collaborator J-bro about Heavy D.

For RSVP check the links: FB || Fusicology
Check the last interview that Heavy D did before his untimely death.

Chorizo Chunks 11! Here’s part of my opening set for big brother Rich Medina! I was really excited when I got added to the line-up for many reasons, here’s a few.

Big Rich is a titan in the game, and it’s always a pleasure to chop it up since he’s definitely one of the most personable dj’s out here. He’s a natural story teller. The man has been a beast lately with all of the traveling and performing he’s been doing, so he had alot to share.

Also Lanai is a house club with a Pioneer 800 mixer and I haven’t had too many opportunities on the 800 mixer. There are only a few clubs that have it in Austin and most dj’s out here prefer Rane (at least the ones I usually collab with), but hands down the Pioneer 909 and 800 are my favorites. Since the show was at Lanai, a house club, it was a chance for me to play some different genres but still keep my funk in it. Most folks in Austin don’t associate me with disco & house music. Check the flavor! Big Shout to Strange Tribe & Soul of the Boot Entertainment for lining up the show!

Or direct dl here

Famalam,

Body Rock is back this coming Friday at Loft 718 (718 Congress) for our First Friday residency, and it’s guaranteed to be a sure-shot! I’m really excited to have Rudy Rexx on live percussion this month. Rudy has played percussion with numerous bands in the Austin area including Grammy Award winners, Grupo Fantasma. In addition to being a percussionist, he is also a world-renowed BBoy repping the Havikoro crew. Musically speaking we have alot in common since we both have strong roots in the BBoy world and Afro-Latin music. NOT TO BE MISSED! If you are in town for Fun Fun Fun Fest this is gonna be the livest dance party in Austin. Don’t Sleep. FB Link || Do512 || fusicology

Here’s a clip from the Bleedin’ the Block Video series that Rudy Rexx puts together. Texas BBoy Flavor! Catch him this Friday on the Congas with me and the crew. Body Rock! Dig in!