Explorations in 99¢

All right, World. Wherever you're tuning in from. Brooklyn, I see you. Manhattan, hello. Chicago are you out there? LA? Monterrey, Nuevo León? I want to take you on a tour of my local 99¢ store. Now, on paper this may not seem like a lot of fun, but what about when we add the magic of YouTube & User-Generated Content?




This is a pretty big spot. Deep enough to hear 3 to 4 different boomboxes as you peruse their countless aisles of valuable stuffs. Now, what I do is head straight to the back. That's where the CUMBIA vs REGGAETON vs MERENGUE sound-clashes usually go down. It's here where America meets China, Mexico meets Colombia, and I meet my local hookup for MP3 CD Bootlegs. (Hi RIAA)

You'll recognize this track as the first one you heard in the above video:

CUMBIA DE LOS BORRACHITOS by Damn Zun™ - BK.NYC

Thought to myself when I woke up today, "What is Obama up to?" Then, "What am I up to?" (shout to @capitalkev for the inspiration). What if Obama and I were in our morning meeting? Well, we'd talk about how Damn Zun warned of the unrest in Tunisia. We'd talk about Libya and why our American pop stars were performing for, dare I say, "Turrrrrists", just a few weeks ago.

But we'd also touch on some lighter issues, like how I wanted to share this track with a bunch of people for free because I thought this would help it live forever! And I'd ask him if he knew who made it or when it was made or how drunk they actually were?

And before I left, I'd get him or maybe the new Press Secretary (@presssec) to sign off on my newest logo using the Official USA Govt Bald Eagle


(10 min Photoshop sesh courtesy of Ian McG-Unit)

Now to end OUR meeting (that's you & I, Barack had to peace), one last video from the back aisle. Some heavy tunes being thrown down. Check out Abuelita gettin it in with her little finger dance at the end.


(Towel placement for XXXtra Bass)

YUCAWORK

Much like the hot sauces pictured
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(@elyuacateco)
Chicago / Ghetto House / Booty / Juke / Footwork are all closely related, yet divisively different. Collectively, Damn Zun feels that Music is Music and Hot Sauce is Hot Sauce. Or at least it should be, right? Allow me to explain..

I went to the grocery store the other day, on a mission to find apple sauce. Now by definition, or title, apple sauce is not much more than manzanas y agua RIGHT?
WRONG! I had to pay $0.75 more to get good ol American apple sauce. If you want synthetic sauce, well, it's there too. If you want real Juke, Real Chi Town, here it is, Dj Clent from the Wild Hundreds (complete w/baby DJ cryin in the backround)


"...it's like outer-space music" - DJ Clent

For posts with no mention of hot, or apple sauce, please explore the much deeper lessons and further dichotomies (in Juke, not sauce), with Dave Quam (video jacked)

So off the apples, and onto the music. 2010 was an interesting year. Baile Funk (Funk Carioca) continued to backslide into our collective (un)consciousness. Baltimore Club seemed boring. Electro was laughable and Dubstep was being played at college frat houses across the USA.
But wait, what's this? BBC Radio 1 likes Moombahton? African Kuduro being played by a Gringo in LA, and Colombian Cumbia embraced by young club DJ's in every major city..what's happening, ITZ NOT RITE



The South Side of Chicago, in 2010, became one of the most recent ghettos to receive worldwide exposure. Where did it start? Not sure, I didn't research at all. But I do remember Planet Mu being the first label I can recall to release an official collection of Chicago footwork music. Bangs & Works Vol.1 gathered tracks from some of Chicago's most respected producers (DJ Nate, DJ Rashad, Traxman, et al.)

Highlights for me included the above, as well as:



full transparency (source material):



&

DJ Lil Rome & DJ Yung Tellem - Kill Da Circle Play by Damn Zun™ - BK,NY

Now, if you still don't believe in the Internet and Social Revolutions (#TUNISIA #JAN25 #EGYPT), I'd like to present exhibit Z:

Freaktion EP(minimix)-soon on Generation Bass by Sabbo

Brand new release from Sabbo, put out digitally by the fam Generation Bass, Freaktion is Middle Eastern Juke. Tel Aviv crossing paths with Chicago.

AND IT WORKS. DJ Sabbo deconstructs tracks, layers them to the sky, and then turns them to dust with filthy 808 work. Well done, sir.

"This man does footwork better than most producers in Chicago!" - DJ Rashad

Dónde Están Mis Snoweros

Ok, so I've been working on the set of something for someone, 12+ hr day type trabajo. Multi-national type corporate love from Bushwick, BK all the way to UES/MIDTOWN/ALL MY RICH GENTE! Not making excuses, just framing my post and mindset for you. It's cold, freezing most days, literally, and I'm frequently slipping into dreams of far away places ( el sol, la playa, un tro de baina...)

So, I've been sitting on some tracks for a few weeks now. Then I came across a few videos, and then read @eddiestats' post over at FADER which ended up being the final inspiration for todays output. (Thanks! Great Ghetto Palms mix today, check it)

But before you do, or after, come back quickly for these blood diamonds/oil reserves below:



Now, within the first 10 seconds I know you're cursing me. What is this? Stadium Rock Tribal? A horrible Crunk/Grime/Rave mashup!? But just wait it out. If it will change your mind, know this - my girl came into DZ HQ while I was researching/watching this video, and was a LITTLE MAD. 'Gata, I didn't shoot or edit the video OK?'

These girls in Texas are loving DJ Tetris en la IGUANA DISCOTEQUE, I can't be held accountable for that.

Up next, DJ Otto from the Colectivo 3Ball Monterrey, and Yuyuman Style on the vocals. Yes, as seen on Damn Zun last year, I am once again calling for TRIBAL SUPERGROUPS to be formed. These songs become a whole notha beast when you add the hype man/woman, free download below:



DZ XCLSV DL (3ballMTY check yr email!!)

^^ This is the one que rompe todo en NY recently..Great response from the people. Power to the people. I'm a lobbyist for 3ball interests here in Brooklyn. @WhiteHouse, can we work on an Ambassador of Sound position for me? Weekly podcasts from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW anyone?

In closing, I'd like to share a rolita for your mamita. Safe and bubbly, DJ Lugo Mix with his rendition of El Alacrán:

New World Order

"YA'LL KNOW, I REPRESENT THE PR"

Nah, actually Jim I thought you were black! Who knew? I'm thinking, yea of course Omega's in the studio tellin Jim Jones, 'say dimelo'. Turns out Jones' pops is Boricua. Either way, this track is kinda hard. I mean, it's no Bangladesh beat, and my man @robertosantos says it's 'soft like tissue' but you be the judge:

Jim Jones Ft Omega El Fuerte We Represent (Dj-Joel) by Damn Zun™ - BK,NY

Now we wait for Omega to get his Visa, move to the States, and take over the hiphop game. He's got the voice, and he's learning so quickly to talk shit en Ingles! Watch out Waka, Weezy, and every other knuckle-head making MILLIONS rapping about mostly NOTHING!

I might regret co-signing this one within 24 hrs of the release, but man it's been bumping on repeat. Now for the streets of Brooklyn to sign off..

VCKLXZ

I listened to MIA's newest album one time in 2010. I was crossing the country with the ZZK familia & it had just leaked. One listen and I felt like I'd just been stabbed, center of my back.

"Maya, No. What are you doing?''

We had been together for so long. 2003 was it? Before blogs. When record stores were still open. Labels were still trusted. Kinda..
This was just when people started to go crazy. Diplo was still Diplodocus and 1/2 off the duo Hollertronix, crafting house party anthems via Black Rob X Salt N' Peppa X Tainted Love. Your Ma' had never heard of mashups.

MIA was a nobody. Who was this chick singing gibberish about Galangalangin and Purple Haze and Sunshowers? Well, arguably, she turns into one of the first young artists to come up in a truly revolutionary fashion. Here was a brown girl chattering about guerilla warfare, putting out dance 12" on XL, and leaking tangible mixtapes and MP3's creating real BUZZ.

Yes, that's the MIA I remember. It seems like her New Year's Resolution is a takeover. Overthrow the current regime (Perry, Gaga, Keri, et. al):

VICKI LEEKX -- VICKI LEEKX MIXTAPE by ViCKILEEKX

Stream it above, download it here.

What is ViCKi LEEKX? What isn't it. It's freedom. It's social commentary via social networking. It's pseudo consumerist revolution. It's club music. It's 30 minutes of futuristic euphoria. It's hyperbolic blogging.

And if you made it this far, rest assured, the mix features production from ex-BFF Diplo, Blaqstarr, Switch, Rusko, Munchi, + more. 18 tracks with some WikiLeaks edits here and there! It's a seriously strong effort, on par with her first records I'd say. Thank you Maya. Pls contact Damn Zun for guerilla marketing efforts re: your woldwide and WWW takeover.

And since I can't contain myself, check out this super edit/remix/completely new track, from Pearson Sound (AKA Ramadanman), based on vocals from MIA's track It Takes A Muscle:



Amazing production from Pearson Sound. We can only hope for their combined efforts officially in 2011.

To the exciting year ahead of us!

DZ v 2.0 pr0nt0

Deep Sea Explorations

Argentina's FRIKSTAILERS have come & gone NY. Maybe you missed em. Or maybe you were out in BK with us when they came through and tripped us out with sounds from their Bicho De Luz EP. Either way, no te preocupes, here's a quick little psychedelic number for ya, shot at that very show for their 1st North American tour:

FRIKSTAILERS (live @ COCO 66) from Joey Angerone on Vimeo.

(shot & edited by JoeyAngerone)

Oye, I know what you're thinking out there right now.

"But Damn Zun, that's old news! You want me to impress my DJ friends and local chickenheads with an exclusive video thats months old!? It's almost 2011, I want to hear what's gonna be hot next year!"

Yes, yes, what was I thinking. Well, I was inspired by this brand new one from Rafa & Lisandro, a remix of Bart B More's Make Some Noise, so here. GO! DOWNLOAD IT!
Bart B More - Make Some Noise (Frikstailers Remix) by FRIKSTAILERS

The Frikstailer's, in the short time I've known about them & relatively little material I've heard, have constantly impressed. Everyone talks about the global mushmash happening and how music has no borders because of Al Gore - well, the Frikstailer's LIVE IT. SH*T JUST GOT REAL, SON!
This one is a creeper. You're first drawn in by the heavy cumbia framework. Then the dembow works its way in there. Wait, who's this guy yellin about makin noise!? The anticipation builds, and then deflates to a dubbed out, underwater fever dream before coming around 360 & DROP! It's bastard cumbia, blacksheep reggaeton. I know you want to call it moombahton ; ) we're close. I'm gonna call it, "Yo, I just listened to this track 20 times in a row". How's that for a new genre? You can add "step" at the end or "future" in there somewhere too. Look at me, I'm a music journalist!

#MamboLeaks

All right - Sorry if you've been back and forth a few times to find no updates recently. My seasonal depression has started to kick in, as has a bitter taste in my mouth. #wikileaks, what?

No, but honestly Damn Zun is not a political force or movement. We are unbiased, fair, and answer to no higher calling but great music. But mixed somewhere in the leaks was a track Munchi did - his take on mambo urbano:
Munchi - Damu Mambo / Mambo Chipi EP by Munchi

..and like THAT it was gone! Snatched out of the net by CIA & FBI special agents. I may have a copy. Watch for #munchileaks..

No, but seriously the track was "eh". No disrespect, it was just too agressive/dissonant for my likings. And who am I? No one. I don't have a iPhone commercial - yet. But when I saw Diplo a few weeks back he opened up his NYC corporate event set with about 4 straight Munchi tracks, so BOOM. And check out this brand new remix snippet from a beautiful Lido Pimienta original. It's a great, smooth, downtempo, cumbia digital number:

Lido Pimienta - Humano (Munchi Is Feeling Quite Zen At The Moment Bootleg Rmx) by Munchi

Now, this track below leaked officially via Dutty Artz and their New York Tropical release just last month:

La Ola Criminal - Sin Gas NEW YORK TROPICAL by LA OLA CRIMINAL

which I highlighted, along with this new remix from Spain's MENEO over @generationbass as part of a new feature I'm going to be starting over there so check out that link.

Dover - Dannayá (Meneo Remix) by MENEO

And for what Paul Devro and the MD intern (man I'm name dropping today), think about mambo and what's movin in the DR right now, check out their roundup: Dominican Bundle
Either way, I'm pushing for more Mambo in 2011, whether it's the real deal from DR or experimental 808 club sh*t from San Juan, Spain, or Brooklyn. Now back to reading secret documents, I mean, shredding my own classified things