The Holiday and its History:Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "the fifth of May") commemorates the Mexican army's improbable victory over French occupying forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Though no longer a national holiday in Mexico ("Grito de Dolores," Mexico's Independence Day of September 16 is much more important), Mexican public school children still get Cinco de Mayo off, and it's a public holiday in the Mexican states of Puebla and Veracruz. The day has gained much more significance, popularity, and recognition in the United States (especially in the Southwest), and has spread to certain cities in Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, France, and anywhere else there are substantial Mexican minorities or appreciation for Mexican culture. Cinco de Mayo is even celebrated in Tokyo!
Celebrations outside Mexico were started in 1862 by Mexican miners in Columbia, California when they first heard the news of General Ignacio Zaragoza Sequín's victory over the French and spontaneously responded by firing rifles in the air, launching fireworks, singing patriotic songs, and making impromptu speeches. The holiday first gained real steam in the U.S. during the 1940s and the rise of the Chicano Movement, again mostly in California. While Cinco de Mayo celebrations had spread to cities in other states during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, they first became nationally popular when beer companies and other marketers (correctly) sensed there was money to be made and began to promote the day across the country. Since then, Cinco de Mayo has expanded around the world and become not just a celebration of Mexican ethnicity, culture, and pride, but for many people an excuse to party - something akin to St. Patrick's Day. However, as journalist Kenn Rodriguez noted last year, we should never forget its origins: "Cinco de Mayo may have started as a purely Mexican celebration, but it is much more than that. It’s an American celebration, for all the people of the Western Hemisphere. It’s a day when the people themselves rose up against the tyranny of a foreign invader and fought for their freedom and, against overwhelming odds, won. Because of that, Cinco de Mayo should be an inspiring day for everyone who values freedom and justice. So when you raise your Corona to celebrate on May 5, don’t forget to send a salute to the underdogs — and freedom."
For detailed information about Cinco de Mayo and the history of Mexican America, watch this:
And if you have even the slightest interest in military history, please watch this: Sources & links: Wikipedia News Bulletin: Cinco de Mayo Should be Celebrated for the Right Reasons International Business Times: The Mexican Battle that Became an American Fiesta The Mashup and Video: As a Mexican-American born in California, I have always appreciated Cinco de Mayo, though not always consciously. I dimly remember enjoying a few Californian parades and parties when I was a small child, but in 1977, my family moved to Washington State where the holiday was virtually non-existent and I was one of the few brown kids around. Yet Washington (or at least King County) has always been a relatively open-minded place, and despite occasional "beaner" jokes, I felt free to assert my Mexican heritage, though I had forgotten about Cinco de Mayo. Some years ago (in 2009), I decided to remedy this lapse with a special Cinco de Mayo mashup, one I played for the first time at Bootie Munich. Though the show was on a Friday or Saturday, in 2009 Cinco de Mayo fell on a Tuesday, as it does this year, which made me keen to now finally produce a video. The reason is Ween's line featured at the end of the mashup: "Cinco de Mayo's on Tuesday." Here's the audio mashup (featured on Collected Mashups Vol. 4: Sleeper), which blends the music of War, Free, Deee-Lite, Beyoncé, Pitbull, and Ween:
Now for the video: As Warqueen was kind enough to point out on Twitter and as Wardrums commented on Youtube, the history of War (the band) has been complicated, with most of the original members losing a federal lawsuit to use the name, and now touring under the moniker The Lowrider Band(here's their website, facebook & twitter). I was unaware of this and even beforehand couldn't discover any original video of War performing "Cinco de Mayo," though in the meantime I've found this later performance by the original vocalist, Howard Scott with Reign. The War footage I featured in the video is only of original keyboardist, Lonnie Jordan, officially using the name after the lawsuit with a non-original band. It's all good! Enjoy! ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
Happy Holidays! Here is a gift. Challenger II features all of the mashups I made in 2011, most of them for various challenges, plus three bonus tracks. Many of them have never been "officially" released. Now they are here. Here they are. Enjoy!
1. Galvanize The Truth (The Chemical Brothers vs. Najat Aatabou) 2. Rebel Rhythm Circle (Arabian Radio) (Zeb vs. Azeem vs. Rakim vs. Public Enemy vs. M-1) 3. Smells Like Bee Gees (The Bee Gees vs. Nirvana) 4. Downtown (New York/Tokyo/Vienna) (Petula Clark vs. Alicia Keys vs. Yellow Magic Orchestra) 5. Interruptor Principal de Cricuito (Don Omar, Fat Joe, N.O.R.E. & LDA vs. Mark Ronson & The Business Intl) 6. Sympathy For Sexy (The Rolling Stones vs. Right Said Fred) 7. Phone Me Till You're Blue (Lady Gaga vs. Alan Hawkshaw) 8. Killing Chaos (Edo B & The Melody Maker vs. Yellow Magic Orchestra vs. My Bloody Valentine) 9. Take It As It Bangs (Mark Ronson & The Business Intl vs. Concord Dawn) 10. Where Eagles Have Been Lost (Redux) 11. Smells Like Bee Gees (Original Rough Mix) 12. (Ready For) Love In Kashmir (Original Mix)
Complete list of sources in mp3 tags.
Produced by DJ not-I @ Mexikotrax, 2011. Compiled with additonal production in 2014. For promotional use only!
In addition to the mashup "singles" I released in 2008 (available here), I produced two special projects as mini-albums: The Shinobi EP and The Enso Pop EP. The former featured seven mashups utilizing instrumentals by artists signed to one of my favorite labels (Ninja Tune), while the latter demonstrated my ability to make (more-or-less) straight "pop mashups" whenever I felt like doing so. Despite having divergent intentions, I believe both EPs share a common thread or signature (in the music, not just the artwork) that makes you say, "These are DJ not-I mashups."
This is one of the reasons I've compiled both EPs as a single download in volumes 3b and 3c of the Collected Mashup Series. Enjoy! Love, DJ not-I.
DOWNLOAD (96 MB, both EPs, 12 tracks, 320 kbps mp3s) (alternative/better DL link in "comments")
Tracklists:
The Shinobi EP (Seven Ninja Tune Boots)
1. Get Your Hello On (The Doors vs. David Bowie vs. Amon Tobin) 2. 10th Together (The Beatles vs. Clifford Gilberto) 3. Random Nyash (Lady Sovereign vs. Antibalas) 4. Whatcha Waiting For, Get A Move On (Gwen Stefani vs. Mr. Scruff) 5. Auto Temp Crash Test (Sean Paul vs. Hexstatic) 6. Timber Freq (Dead Prez vs. Coldcut & Hexstatic) 7. Jude's Drunken Trumpet (The Beatles vs. Kid Koala)
DOWNLOAD (96 MB, both EPs, 12 tracks, 320 kbps mp3s) (alternative/better DL link in "comments")
The Enso Pop EP
1. M.I.A.'s Lips Ain't Sealed (M.I.A. vs. Hilary & Haylie Duff) 2. Back To Karma (Alicia Keys vs. Amy Winehouse/Mark Ronson) 3. Rihanna's Troubled Moths & Bees (Rihanna vs. Chris T-T vs. Shampoo) 4. Gangsta's Foundations (Kate Nash vs. Coolio/Doug Rasheed) 5. No One's Lockdown (Kanye West vs. Alicia Keys)
DOWNLOAD (96 MB, both EPs, 12 tracks, 320 kbps mp3s) (alternative/better DL link in "comments")
This collection consists of single versions of all the mashups featured on not-i-podcast-02: la edición latinaas well as a few Latin-themed bonus tracks. It is the last installment in Collected Mashups Vol. 2 (those made in 2007). In accordance with the title and theme, much of the lyrical content is in Spanish, yet these juxtapositions are quite eclectic and roughly half of them mix English-language lyrics with Latin-flavored instrumentals - many of them include both languages. Hence, you don't have to speak Spanish to enjoy this album. In fact, I don't know much Spanish myself, but the highly melodic character of the Latina/Latino vocals featured here (including the reggaeton "rapping") suggested several fascinating combinations, which along with many of the tracks on Vol. 2a, marked my final departure from strictly hip-hop blends into truly melodic mashup territory.
In this collection you will hear top reggaeton artists like Tego Calderón or Voltio sing-song-rapping over jazz and dub reggae as well as Latin singers such as Don Omar, Notch, or Orquídea Negra of L.D.A. soaring over Jean-Michel Jarre and The Police. You will also hear underground rappers J3hst (UK) or The Perceptionists (US) spitting poison over slick-and-smooth-as-silk reggaeton instrumentals as well as Tweet waxing R&B-style over Santana and soul queen Jill Scott testifying over the Latin-heavy drums of Swizz Beatz. There is also a bit of The Simpsons en Español.
Variety is key here, yet regardless of genre, language or style, all of these mashups have a decidedly Latin flavor and, perhaps because of it, all of them are quite danceable. ¡Pásalo bien! Love, DJ not-I. DOWNLOAD (better/faster link in "comments")
.zip file, 92 MB 14 tracks, high-quality mp3s package includes artwork and liner notes
Tracklist:
1. Mexican Radio (Remix of Wall Of Voodoo feat. Latin Hip-Hop Allstars and not-I) 2. Golden Ride (Beginner's Mind) (Jill Scott vs. Swizz Beatz vs. Thich Nhat Hanh) 3. Puerto Rico 67/07 (Frankie Cutlass, Lumidee, Voltio, Joell Ortiz vs. The Young-Holt Trio) 4. Eyez Like The Wind (DJ Vadim & Deuce Eclipse vs. Skream) 5. Chevere Takeoff (Voltio & Notch vs. RJD2/Jean-Michel Jarre) 6. El Flow Inside My Head (Peligro & L.D.A. vs. The Police) 7. Chevere Phlegm (Jeh5t vs. Voltio/Tainy/Mas Flow) 8. Chico Keep That Fire Burning (Petey Pablo vs. Pitbull vs. The Last Eighth vs. The Killergroove Formula) 9. Call Me La Puesta (Que No, Dicky Ranking & Don Abusivo vs. Tweet vs. Santana) 10. Check It Easy (Fugees vs. Beyonce vs. White Lion vs. Voltio & Slim Thug) 11. Dame Una Carrere (The Perceptionists vs. Latin Hip-Hop y Mas) 12. El Robot Telefonico (Robot Boy vs. Wisin Y Yandel & Hector Bambino) 13. Chillin' Love Dub (Tego Calderón & Don Omar vs. Sly & Robbie) 14. Manchester Couch Potato (Visionaries vs. DJ Vadim)
Full list of sources in mp3 tags. Mashed, mixed and produced by DJ not-I @ Mexikotrax, 2007 For promotional use only.
DOWNLOAD (better/faster link in "comments") .zip file, 92 MB, 14 tracks, high-quality mp3s, artwork and liner notes Playlist:
My second podcast ever, produced in 2007, "la edición latina" pays respects to my (grand-)mother's and my roots with an eclectic blend of
Latin American and Latin-influenced music including hip-hop, reggaeton, Chicano rock, and muchos
mash-ups* made especially for the show.
Bursting with spicy flavors from Mesoamerica and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean (especially from California, Mexico and Puerto Rico), and seasoned with ingredients from as far afield as New York and London, this sonic fiesta has satisfied diverse musical taste buds over the years and become one of my most popular podcast episodes.
This special edition has been re-rendered into highest-quality VBR mp3s from the original
wave file and been cut into individual tracks so you can skip
to and replay your favorite tracks. Choose a streaming and/or download option below.
The Sōhei Album Sampler - "Hip-Hop Mash Attack." Full of vigor, hip-hop sensibilities, and "fighting spirit" and produced almost entirely from vinyl sources, this was my first attempt at a proper album, which turned out as an EP-length "album sampler." Started in late 2006 and released in January 2007, these songs actually preceded those of Collected Mashups Vol. 2a. I am still quite proud of them. The sampler includes the internet hits: "Fergie Must Go," "Pass The Chunfly," and "Stranglehold Friday".
Originally, I had planned to release an entire CD-length work called The Sōhei Album. Many of the songs I had intended to include were gradually released as singles, though several unreleased tracks in various states of completion still remain on my old hard drive . The Collected Mashups series will eventually feature them as well, perhaps as the last volume.
I offer this long-unavailable EP as Vol. 2b in the series. I hope you enjoy it!
DOWNLOAD (alternative/better download link in "comments")
Tracklist:
1. I Gotcha Sûrement (Lupe Fiasco vs. Ez3kiel) 2. Abacab Warzone (Pete Rock feat. Dead Prez vs. Genesis) 3. Dhol's What I'm After (Lords of the Underground vs. Asian Dub Foundation) 4. Stranglehold Friday (Cool Calm Pete vs. Chops feat. Raekwon vs. Ted Nugent vs. Sage Francis) 5. Pass The Chunfly (People Under The Stairs vs. Voltio/Nesty) 6. Fergie Must Go (El-P vs. Fergie/Polow the Don vs. The A'z) 7. Tika Tok Krunk (Ak'sent vs. Skibadee/Crissy Criss) 8. Cry Hope (Nas vs. Obie Trice/Sicknotes vs. KRS-One) DOWNLOAD (alternative/better download link in "comments")
The Holiday and its History: Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "the fifth of May") commemorates the Mexican army's improbable victory over French occupying forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Though no longer a national holiday in Mexico ("Grito de Dolores," Mexico's Independence Day of September 16 is much more important), Mexican public school children still get Cinco de Mayo off, and it's a public holiday in the Mexican states of Puebla and Veracruz. The day has gained much more significance, popularity, and recognition in the United States (especially in the Southwest), and has spread to certain cities in Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, France, and anywhere else there are substantial Mexican minorities or appreciation for Mexican culture. Cinco de Mayo is even celebrated in Tokyo!
Celebrations outside Mexico were started in 1862 by Mexican miners in Columbia, California when they first heard the news of General Ignacio Zaragoza Sequín's victory over the French and spontaneously responded by firing rifles in the air, launching fireworks, singing patriotic songs, and making impromptu speeches. The holiday first gained real steam in the U.S. during the 1940s and the rise of the Chicano Movement, again mostly in California. While Cinco de Mayo celebrations had spread to cities in other states during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, they first became nationally popular when beer companies and other marketers (correctly) sensed there was money to be made and began to promote the day across the country. Since then, Cinco de Mayo has expanded around the world and become not just a celebration of Mexican ethnicity, culture, and pride, but for many people an excuse to party - something akin to St. Patrick's Day. However, as journalist Kenn Rodriguez noted last year, we should never forget its origins:
