Zoo York Mixtape Volume 1 has reemerged recently via Vimeo, compliments of blogger T.R.O.Y. Serious Freestyle Sessions all around in this classic video that’s become somewhat of an ancient scroll in New York City Skate and Hip Hop culture.

Filmed in ’97, released in ’98. Although this video has been available online for some time, both streaming and for download, the downloadable version has until now, been incomplete.

“Any chance to ever see Mixtape released on DVD some day?”

“Zoo’s lawyers will never let it get re-released. It’s a licensing nightmare. We went out and got all the rappers and skaters and everyone to give us the okay to use them, but then our lawyers were like ‘what about the music everyone is rapping over?’. I mean, we don’t even know what half that stuff is.

Part of the reason why it’s so hard to find Mixtape I is that Zoo is protecting itself from lawsuits. Not that there’s any money to be made off that video. It had one VHS run over ten years ago!” ~ Eli Gesner (originally printed in Kingpin Magazine)

The New York liquid swordsman is invading Los Angeles tonight and we are in there like swimwear!

As the members of the Wu-Tang Clan enter their 40s, that old line about old(er) dogs and new tricks seems less and less relevant. Take GZA, who got his start rapping at Brooklyn block parties in the mid-’80s. The crucial Wu Clansman released a bona fide classic in 1995, Liquid Swords, and followed it up with a series of solid albums and guest spots that consistently qualified his title within the crew as “The Genius,” a lyricist whose every couplet displays a serious mastery of street smarts and poetic device — exactly the kind of thing that makes for great crossover appeal. GZA has been smart enough not to change up his winning style, but he’s also proved his savvy in reaching out to his more rock-oriented fans — hipsters, specifically — not only performing Liquid Swords from beginning to end at Pitchfork’s 2007 festival, but collaborating with garage punks Black Lips last year. But the Genius in Echo Park? That’s both a surprise and a New Year’s gift.

@ Echoplex
enter at 1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

9pm / $16 advance, $18 day of show / 18+

On the search for the latest and greatest ish’ to to hit the streets, I was recently introduced to a brand called Recover that makes some great skins for products like iPhones, iPads, and Macbooks. Based in Portland (Shwood and Recover seem to be killing this wood game, huh?), Recover skins are precision laser-cut from authentic wood veneers. Each skin is made with professional grade 3M adhesive backing for easy installation/removal. So rip that cheesy cheap vinyl sticker off your Macbook, frat boy, and grab one of these!

Thanks to the homie Baldo for the heads up on this goodness….

See ya there!

WALLPAPER:: Partway through recording his debut LP as Wallpaper. Eric Frederic lost his shit. The Oakland artist was neck-deep in a series of isolated studio all-nighters to put him in the mood, when the song “Doodoo Face” pushed him into the beyond. Boxed in by layers of percussive funk, dark synthesizer blurt and crushing bass, Frederic lost himself inside of Ricky Reed, the character he’d long ago conceived as Wallpaper’s front man. He gave in to Ricky’s rampant narcissism, love for party and supreme indifference, and as a result, discovered the guiding duality behind Doodoo Face, the album: There’s sadness inside all that celebration….a little madness too. But one needn’t know any of this to “get” Wallpaper. Is it satire? Sincerity? Something in between? Doodoo Face invites you to decide.

Pershing Square (532 South Olive St., Los Angeles CA 90013 )
FREE
Outdoor Show w/ Chain Gang of 1974
show starts at 8 pm,
Wallpaper. goes on at 9 pm

Oh yeah and the lineup, are you kidding me?!

Crookers, Calvin Harris, AC Slater, A-Trak, Boys Noize, Bloody Beetroots, Rusko, Jack Beats, and UNDERWORLD…

Holy Schnikes!!!!

More info coming soon….

Finally, The Electro Wars make their Los Angeles debut August 25th at the historic Vista Theater.

This highly anticipated EDM documentary from director Stephen Alex Vasquez explores the past, present, and future of electronic/dance music. The Electro Wars captures the perspective of the electro scene as told through the eyes and ears of the artists that are helping to define it. The film features unique footage right from the frontlines and includes in depth interviews with artists such as A-Trak, Moby, Justice, Boys Noize, Spank Rock, Diplo & Switch, Franki Chan, DJ Premier, Midnight Juggernauts and many more.

We been following this for sometime now, looking forward to what was made of all that crazy electro road footage Vasquez compiled. Listening to the philosophies on electronic music from the mouths of artist’s that make it. What is Blog House? This should be fun and interesting, to say the least. I’m quite sure you’ll be hearing bangers the whole movie too! Indie documentaries rock, no boundaries. I think they’re about to awaken a sleeping giant, you heard it here first yo!

Q&A w/ Director Stephen Alex Vasquez
Doors open at 6:30PM, movie starts at 7:30PM

Via Media Contender

“The name Wolfgang is synonymous with greatness. Name your baby Wolfgang, and he may grow up to be one of the world’s leading chefs, or a member of a seminal band like Kraftwerk or Van Halen.”

See ya tonight cabrones!

VALERNA [930-11]
http://www.myspace.com/valerna

HARVARD BASS [11-1230]
http://www.myspace.com/harvardbass

WOLFGANG GARTNER [1230-2]
http://www.myspace.com/djwolfganggartner

Wolfgang Gartner :: Untertaker (Original)

Wolfgang Gartner :: The Grey Agenda (Original)

SKRILLEX [2-330]
http://www.myspace.com/skrillex

///BONES [330-?]
http://www.gottadancedirty.com/

Earlier in the week we let you know that Jay-Z was going to be rocking New York’s Radio City Music Hall. That all went down last night – and you know Kanye has to get some camera time during this busy week in NY. Kanye took it to a much smaller venue for an intimate performance at The Box with John Legend. Above he does the new track ‘Mama’s Boyfriend’ that samples a timeless Billy Joel track.

Yeezy later confirmed Pusha T’s signing to G.O.O.D. Music.

Via

DIESEL, MAD DECENT and JELLY are proud to announce the first official Los Angeles Mad Decent Block Party lineup… Expect to see performances this Saturday from Ninjasonik, Maulca, Gaslamp Killer, Bosco Delrey, Nosaj Thing, PO PO, Paul Devro, Total Freedom,Thee Mike B, Oro11, NGUZUNGUZU, Them Jeans!

Entrance is FREE and ALL AGES are welcome. Visit MADDECENTBLOCKPARTY.COM to RSVP and get updates on the party. We will see you Saturday LA!

MAD DECENT LA BLOCK PARTY
Saturday Aug. 13th
Premiere Events Center
613 Imperial St.

Our friend Jennifer managed to drop this our way while she was watching the Teen Choice Awards the other day. Long story short, thanks to DVR, she discovered a dancer during P Diddy’s performance forget her spanks. Ha…HAHAHA! Good look!

Last week we had the honor of bringing our salacious sound to the awesome people over at Yelp.com. They brought myself and fellow WolfDen artist Antidote in to lay it down at one of there private Yelp Elite parties. This particular their; Passport to Little Tokyo Elite Launch Party… I can sit here and say we killed it, but we’ll leave it to the Elite Yelpers (that seem to have opinions for everything) to let you know how we do it! Thank you so much to the people at Yelp, Hold Up Art Gallery, and all the other sponsors…. We had a blast yo!

It got nutty trying to get everyone in…

Ton of great people, great food, hot as all f*ck but I think that was just us, ha! (Bat wings for days!)

Dance, Dance, Dance…

This guuuy…..

The DJ was rocking the beats and the artwork was a mix of Spanish comics, cartoonish designs and some strange female/animal mixture that I just didn’t get, but was interesting none the less. – Javier J.

That was hot when Katie started to dance, I was scurred.  The music was cool when I actually was able to hear it and he even played Dee Lite!  Hell ya that’s bringing it back old school! – Erin V.

DJ La Muerte spinning the best of the best! – Dani S.

Que DJ spinning on the ones and twos….Ya all gonna make me loose my mind Up in Here, daaammmmnnn. It’s HOT IN HERE! Then the DJ spun right into Hold Up wait a minute can we get some AIR up in it. Summertime in the LA East….. – Ciara G.

The music was great. – Andrius A.

It was hot as balls! but free beer made it worth it. mmmm beeer
The art was cool. I saw boobies everywhere I went!!
The DJ was super cute too ;] – Beth R.

It was hotter than Satan’s ass in there but the sounds of DJ La Muerte spinning on the turntables and ice cold Kirins being passed around made it tolerable. – Craig R.

DJs La Muerte and Antidote kept the beats up throughout – keeping the atmosphere a PARTY!! – Lucy Y.

Thanks to the DJs for the awesome playlist that gave this event a party vibe! – Rain F

Of course it was HOT with all of the Yelpers crammed into a tiny space, yet somehow, we made it work.  A special shout-out to Project Photo Booth.  My friends love the bright yellow background.  Give it up for the DJs too!  - Trina D.

and the dj… you spin my head round right round baby. kudos to a great job! – Mimi C.

PHAT!

Letting the Yelpers know where we gonna be next week.

The comic art behind her was dark, crude, and hilarious spanish comics. Fucking priceless!

The Mexi-Pino (WolfDen) evil; La Muerte x Antidote

Thanks again to everyone involved, we had way too much fun to call it a gig!

Complete Photo Gallery here.

Paz.

- Muerte

I think this piece of machinery might require the DJ to actually learn to dance and step up his/or her stage presence. Time to walk the walk guys!

Emulator is a multitouch MIDI controller (for windows 7, oh ! yes NO IPAD),  software where you have all what you need on same screen and combine the power of multitouch, the useful standard mouse and the native interface of software to be controlled all in one nice and useful GUI, first version 1.0 include layout 100% compatible with Traktor Pro internal mode, future upgrades include Traktor Internal mode and new layouts for Deckadance, Virtual Dj, Ableton and more.This software runs under windows 7,   32bit/64bit;  and works on tablet PCs with 12.1 inch screen (1280×800).
I decided to do this because the big LCD multitouch screens available on the market aren’t really accurate and enough for pro usage; (optical sensors can) generate false touch, ghost touches, etc etc,  and you lose portability (on larger screens)

Via

CHANCHA VIA CIRCUITO
EL REMOLÓN
FAUNA
DJ ORO11
EL G

Support le Barracuda….

AUGUST 7th at JIMMY’S LOUNGE in HOLLYWOOD
ZZK RECORDS vs DANCE RIGHT vs TORMENTA TROPICAL

Resident “WolfDen” evil: La Muerte, KNYFEPRTY, and J-MAN are sharpening up for real kicks, good laughs and lashings of the old ultraviolence.”…

The Temper Trap :: Love Lost (Keljet Remix)

Please RSVP on our WHITE BUNNY DISCO :: Facebook Event Page…

“Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles”
This is a creative statement “Roses N Oranges” owner Carlos Molina stands by when delivering his rendition of L.A. living through his street fashion. You know Newestra loves us some good ol fashion hustling, and we take care of our own around here. Need and struggle are what excite and inspire us, so we always support our local artists and designers when they are handling at a legitimate level. Roses N Oranges are doing just that! Winning over the streets & hearts of Los Angeles through art and creativity rather than gangs and bullshit!

“I love Los Angeles, I think that the true culture of the city doesn’t really get appreciated. I want to change that. RNO takes the everyday work and determination of Los Angeles, and places that mentality in our designs. Anyone who understands the LA mentality will understand our brand. All of our resources are LA based, we produce our tees in a limited run to keep our designs as fresh as possible. Just like our people selling roses and oranges on the streets, it’s an everyday grind.” – Carlos Molina

Simple, slick, with each creative hitting close to home…

SOME PROMO VIDEO GOODNESS….

For more information about Roses n Oranges visit thier website.

Here are some party fotos compliments of our familia Matador y Toros…

FULL PHOTO GALLERY…

What the blood are you waiting for people, get your overworked selves out to White Bunny Disco Sundays and LesGitIt!!!

Electronic-rock innovators INFECTED MUSHROOM recently returned to Hollywood with their intense live show in support of their latest album, LEGEND OF THE BLACK SHAWARMA and the recently released the Killing Time Remix EP.

Infected Mushroom performs with a full band, including live drums, two guitars, keys and seven albums’ worth of material. Newestra had a chance to catch up with the band during their stop through Los Angeles last week. The show at the Henry Fonda Theatre was brilliant, never have we seen so much intensity from an electro band. Insane indeed!

N :: Let’s kick this off by introducing yourselves, you’ve seem to have grown over the years…

IM :: Well, I’m Amit (Duvdev) and my partner’s name is Erez (Eisen)… well I don’t know if we have grown over the years, but my hair has become shorter and his hair has gotten longer…

Q :: For those readers new to Infected Mushroom; What’s the wittiest way you can describe your band & sound in 1-3 words?

IM :: Absolute pandemonium…

Q :: I read that you were classically trained musicians as children. From classical to crazy electronic dance hard-rock madness, how did this transformation come about?

IM :: Well, music is music – you hear the complex structures and melodies in our tracks. We have both been into rock & punk for longer than we have been performing electronic music, so from classical training – bands – production – performance, time flew by, and before we knew it here we are!

Infected Mushroom :: Symphonatic

Q :: What sparked the transformation from the original 2 to incorporating a full out electro dance rock band over the years?

IM ::We’ve always loved DJing, but I have the attention span of Homer Simpson so after almost ten years in a DJ booth we decided to try to incorporate new elements to our set. It started out with a guitarist (famed Israeli guitarist, Erez Netz) and then eventually we decided to also add a drummer (Rogerio Jardim). Now we also have another guitarist (Thomas Cunningham) who has been with us already for about five years – he does North & South America… all of us are like a bunch of brothers on the road… We do play just DJ sets too sometimes, which is just me and Erez, but for the most part we are playing live sets….

Q :: Who were your biggest music influences growing up, and how did they influence your sound or direction when creating the band and transforming the sounds?

IM :: Depeche Mode was a big one – and you can hear the similarities, we are like a heavier version. (laughs)

Q :: What is the most challenging aspect of creating your music, throughout its evolution. What’s the thought process? Life experiences, or creative writing/ stroytelling?

IM :: There isn’t really a thought process, we sit down and try to think of music that will make people dance. Writing lyrics can be tough, but that’s why I have my tour manager – to correct my grammar ha ha! You mention some words & phrases that ring a bell. Life experiences: “Pink Nightmares” is a new track we are playing now, which was influenced by a dream of one of Eisen’s daughters; Also in the experiences category – sometimes we sample sounds on the road, such as jumping on a hallow stage in a big room to capture its sound qualities. And as far as storytelling – I am captain storyteller. Maybe from my Goa days, I don’t know, but yes I have a twisted mind…I guess it’s how I thought of the legend behind the Legend of the Black Shawarma. So in that sense, sure, our process is influenced by experiences and storytelling…

Q :: Does the intensity of your music play a factor in the naming process of your tracks? I’m seeing a trend in the most intense songs have the most creative names. What goes into naming IM tracks and albums?

IM :: It’s random. “I am the Supervisor” is named after an experience we had in a taxi cab. I already told you what “Pink Nightmares” is named after. “Poquito Mas” is named after our favorite Mexican food place here in Los Angeles. We all know what “Converting Vegetarians” is about…Funny story, actually, we wanted to have our last album full of tracks named after our favorite foods but we ended up tainting it with tracks like “Can’t Stop” and “Project 100”, ha!

Q :: What is the most challenging aspect of creating your music?

IM ::Finding the time… with families and traveling it’s difficult.

Q :: Our readers are very music, tech, and gadget savvy… What sort of arsenal set up do you guys have in the studio? Programs, effects, acoustic or pure electronic sound in the drum set-up, etc.?

IM ::Cubase 5 – we work on PC, we write all the drum and guitar parts on the computer actually – I know, it’s crazy awesome!

Q :: What is your current favorite piece of machinery to use throughout the IM sound?

IM :: Erez made a special Infected synth – it is unique to our sound.

Q :: How has it been collaborating Infected Mushroom with the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Jonathan Davis, Perry Farrell?

IM :: It was an amazing experience because these are all people we have looked up to for a very long time. They have paved the way for some great music, so to be able to work with them was fantastic. We are happy to have had the chance to bring them in to our studio.

Infected Mushroom :: Smashing the Opponent ft. Jonathan Davis (TiMo MaaS Remix)

Q ::  Outside of home soil, where are your favorite places to play? Is there a specific region that you guys have a huge following,  a place you least expected?

IM :: Brazil, Mexico, the U.S. and the UK have all been really good to us… Our first time to Quito, Ecuador was absolute madness – didn’t expect that.

Q :: Can you guys walk down the streets of Israel anymore undetected?

IM :: Not really, unless I’m hanging in Gaza… (laughs)

Q :: What would you say is your favorite track to play live? And why?

IM ::It depends on where I am. In Mexico people go crazy for “Becoming Insane” due to the Spanish lyrics by Gil from Kinky, so that would be my favorite in a place like that…It changes from location to location…

Q :: Any final words about your music, shout outs to your fans, wisdom you can bestow on us young aspiring artists who read interviews like these for inspiration and encouragement to keep on battling?

IM ::Thank you for the support over the years, as for aspiring artists – work hard and don’t give up. -Infected Mushroom

We like to thank Randy Seidman, Duvdev, and the rest of the members of Infected Mushroom for ridiculous night @ The Music Box, and great interview!

Antibalas Afrobeat Orquestra have been bringing the music and message of the late-great, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, to world wide audiences for more than a decade now. Formed in Brooklyn, New York, more than 10 years ago, Antibalas (Spanish for ‘bulletproof’) consists of an eclectic mix of musicians from all types of ethnic backgrounds. In their earlier years, Antibalas pretty much stuck to the afrobeat sound of Fela Kuti. In the last five years, their music has become increasingly diverse, branching out into Latin-soul, and a more Afro-Caribbean sound. This is surely due to the bands ever evolving line-up, which fans in LA can surely attest to. Sadly, Antibalas has some aversion toward Los Angeles, and so they’ve only played about five shows out here in the last ten years. This may be due to their high demand to play shows across Europe, where FELA himself was always a huge success. Antibalas have also been busy “playing” Fela’s band on Broadway, for the musical “FELA,” dedicated to the great Nigerian’s Herculean epic- journey of a life. Finally though, last week, Antibalas made their way out to the left coast, where they seem to fit in so well. Seeing the band members mingling among the crowd on the smoking patio before their set made one wonder why they aren’t out here more often.

Antibalas Ft. Mayra Vega :: Che Che Cole

Antibalas hit the stage last Thursday night, and opened up their set with what is certainly a new sound. Antibalas have always employed a large number of musicians – two guitar players, electric bass, keyboards, drums, alto sax, trumpet, trombone – but their presentation on this night was introduced by their conguero – a percussionist who held down three conga drums, and a variety of cowbells and shakers the entire night. Antibalas has definitely embraced the Cuban/Puerto Rican folk song style, and somehow managed to merge it with their signature, electro/Nigerian funk sound. The Brooklyn based group continually apologized all night, “Sorry Los Angeles, we know, it’s been waaay too long.” Once again, the band displayed new members on bass, drums, percussion and horns, with only about four of the original 13 (or so) members remaining in the group. Still, Antibalas has maintained their crisp sound, and raced through signature songs like “Indictment,” and “Che Che Mokosa.” A highlight of any and every Antibalas show is when they do a Fela cover. It’s the closest thing you’ll ever get to actually seeing a live ‘Africa 70’ show. The Bulletproof Band closed the night with a groovy track featuring some outstanding work on the flute – once again, merging the jazz style with the classic afrobeat sound – their songs sound super jammy – but anyone who listens extra close knows these songs are expertly crafted – which is why the band stops on a dime, bringing the show to a close, and evoking a huge uproar of appreciation and adulation from the crowd. Let’s just hope Antibalas finds a way to come back out here more often, to bless the scene with their killer sound.

Fotos&Video via El Dom & Rollo/Grady, Words via Felix Facundo Segundo…

Erol Alkan, co-headliner for the HARD SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL August 7th, has prepared an exclusive LIVE full length mix for HARD. The HARD Summer Music Festival will span 12 hours on two massive stages Saturday AUGUST 7th 2010 at the LOS ANGELES HISTORIC STATE PARK.

If this doesn’t get you ready and hungry for some HARD electro, I guess you’re in the wrong business…

Erol Alkan www hardfest com HARD SUMMER Live Mix by HARD hardfest.com

BUY YO TICKETS MANG!!!

i like to make graff.

i like to take fotos.

cochino.

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