Crumplstock 1-2-3 (2015-2016)

[Note: I just realized I haven't posted anything here for almost a year. With the corporate dinosaurs (especially UMG) recently flailing their tails again at mashups and unofficial remixes, destroying Soundcloud in the process and now attacking Hearthis, I decided it's wise to keep this blog updated in case my Hearthis account gets whacked too. So without further ado...] 

Like the original Crumplebury, Crumplstock 1, 2, and 3 were gigantic three-day weekend music festivals and internet events featuring international DJs playing a huge range of music (mashups and much more) in one-hour sets, mostly done live. Organized by mashup impresario and Crumplebangers-founder Pom Deter (who also manages his own in-house Crumple-themed clothing line), all of the Crumplstock shows were huge fun. Highly diverse sets by numerous DJs from around the world, many of whom I'm proud to call friends, great banter on the chat channels, and the all-around joyful vibe made these festivals massively rewarding. These were my sets...

Crumplstock 1 (April 24-26, 2015).

My set was on April 25, 2015, 10PM (UTC+1). It was basically a showcase of my own mashups from the previous years, but done live. I even dropped my two "Smells Like..." boots because a latecomer requested the Futurama one. I also included a J.J. Cale cover of ours at the end (by Empty O).

Live @ Crumplstock 2015 by DJ not-I on hearthis.at

Crumplstock 2 (September, 2015):

This live set of mine featured lots of demos of my (to date, still unreleased) mashups and songs by my bands (Empty O, Expedient Means, and with rapper, Chicorama). This was kind of a "sneak peak" at some things to come and I enjoyed putting more of our original stuff and covers out there. 

Live @ CrumplStock 2 - 2015 by DJ not-I on hearthis.at

Crumplstock 3 (January 22-24, 2016):

Another not-I mashup showcase presented on Jan. 22 at 11PM UTC, featuring tunes from my entire oeuvre. Doing it live, I was reacting to colleagues' and punters' feedback and attempted to keep it real to the best of my ability. It's very hip-hop-oriented at the beginning, but gradually turns into (methinks) an awesome electro-ethnic soundclash. 

Live @ Crumplstock 3: Friday Night by DJ not-I on hearthis.at

For Crumplstock 3, I did another set on Sunday, Jan. 24 (first show of the day at 1PM UTC). Like the Crumplbury aftershow this was just me as a DJ, playing a bunch of tunes I like, with only a few of my mashups, and giving proper respect to the recently-deceased artists, Alan Rickman, David Bowie, and Lemmy. But after having fallen asleep to the previous night's shows, my original live set turned out a bit hungover and dour. I recently expanded and improved it, with a nod to recently deceased greats, George Martin and Keith Emerson, but kept most of my original choices intact. 

Crumplstock 3: Sunday Brunch (Redux) by DJ not-I on hearthis.at

Much more stuff of mine up soon: new installments in the Collected Mashups series, new podcasts, and a master list with my complete works (featuring a torrent link!).

Cheers, enjoy, and keep on crumplebanging! 

In The Ghetto Tonight - Big Time Blogging - A Statement

[NEW UPDATE, Feb. 25, 2015: World Star Hip-Hip replied to my e-mail and have updated their blog post! See below.]

First of all, I would like to thank Ambrosia For Heads (AFH) for blogging the original video of an old blend/mashup of mine and giving my early work some shine, while including some link love!

I started following AFH on Facebook when this pre-Wu-Tang GZA/ODB improv showed up on my wall and have been following them ever since. In the meantime, I've become utterly convinced that AFH is a quality site - dedicated to real hip-hop, with intelligent and articulate commentary, respect for the history of the genre (back to the old school), and openness to new developments. If you like quality hip-hop, I have no reservations about recommending Ambrosia For Heads to you.

When I first saw this post on my personal Facebook feed, I couldn't believe it. I thought someone was ripping me off. But no...yes, this was/is my work. Before we go any further, let's watch and listen (Don't worry, there will be some download links at the end of this):


DJ not-I: In The Ghetto Tonight (Eric B. & Rakim vs. Phil Collins) from DJ not-I on Vimeo.

Here are the basic facts and some details about "In The Ghetto Tonight":

1. The audio blend/mashup was produced back in 2006 and is featured on Collected Mashups Vol. 1: Mashanthology.
2. I produced the video in 2012.
3. This mashup blends Eric B. & Rakim's "drumapella" with Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight" - both the latter's extended mix and the '88 remix.
4. All sources are vinyl, but the mix was constructed with an early version of Acid. I digitalized everything, then cut the Collins tracks into loops, arranging them to form a new backing track with additional editing to highlight certain lines of Rakim's lyrics.
5. This was produced for a Phil Collins Challenge on an earlier version of GYBO.
6. Based on the sources, I knew the vibe would be a throw-back to the late 80s/early 90s, and I very much intended it to be that way. To me, it's like taking a journey back to another place and time, or better yet, to a timeless place. "Mind keeps travellin'..."
7. I feel the interplay between Rakim's verses and Phil's refrains is lyrically perfect. Rakim is rapping about how we humans got to where we are (referencing Five Percent philosophy), but also about how he had gotten to the place he was at the time. "I can feel it coming in the air tonight; I've been waiting for this moment all my life" provides lyrical tension and anticipation of what's to come: "Since I made it this far, can't stop now..." While Collins' full lyrics might be about something else entirely, bear in mind that I used only his refrains, thus creating a new song to be judged on its own merits.
8. This was not an empty exercise. I didn't make this blend/mashup because I was expecting any fame or fortune. I made it because I wanted to hear it. If other people liked or like it, all the better! I felt very passionate about this at the time and still do.
9. I'm technically an "old man" and to me, Rakim was The MC who turned hip-hop/rapping from party-raps into social commentary, political message-making and a conscious art-form, inspiring KRS-One, Public Enemy, Nas, Tupac, and many others to speak truth to power.
10. This blend/mashup was only ever intended for true heads and conscious cats: "I come correct and I won't look back 'cause / It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at!"

Now, as the story continues, AFH's original post of Feb. 12 was re-blogged almost verbatim by the much more popular World Star Hip-Hop on Feb. 14. Because WSHH has so many more followers and readers, someone messaged me on one of my sites to say, "You're about to blow up!" Well, no, I haven't "blown up," because unlike AFH, WSHH didn't provide any links. While they credited "DJ not-I," they uploaded my video to their own player without linking to my original video, this blog, or any of my sites. [This has been rectified. See below.]

Again, here are the two posts for direct comparison:
Ambrosia For Heads vs. World Star Hip-Hop [now updated!]

In the interest of fairness, I've written to World Star Hip-Hop about this. I'll post another update if or when I receive a reply.
[I have received a positive reply, see below.]

While I've seen plenty of new visitors and downloads on my sites, most of the traffic has come from Ambrosia For Heads. World Star Hip-Hop followers can of course google "DJ not-I" or "In The Ghetto Tonight," but that's not the same thing. I understand we live in a "blog-eat-blog" world, but when it comes to blogging about hip-hop, a genre in which "biting" is frowned upon and "giving props" (i.e. proper respect or credit) is key, I might be forgiven for expecting a hyperlink, especially when the WSHH post has received almost 86,000 [now 89,500] views and 700 comments.

Don't get me wrong. Because I made the blend/mashup and video a long time ago, all of this comes as a wonderful surprise to me. I am truly grateful to Parfit of AFH for digging up the blend, writing a nice piece about, and showing mad love for it! And even though I'm a bit unhappy about the way Persist of WSHH did it, I'm still thankful for the exposure. [...and now some links! See below.]
 
My blends and mashups were always intended to be timeless, and although I've never (or hardly ever) made them to please anyone but myself, I've always been sincerely thankful for feedback of whatever kind and have been waiting a long time for some larger recognition. So, at the end of the day, it's all good.

Peace! Love, not-I

Bonus blogging (with links!):

Eric Woods
Calvin's Canadian Cave of Coolness
Street Knowledge  

[UPDATE: World Star Hip-Hop have replied to my e-mail, ending with "Thanks for writing in. [...] Keep up the good work," and added not just one, but two links to their original post. Communication is key! BIG THANKS to WSHH!]

And now for the downloads (song/album):

DJ not-I Full Feature on French Radio

[UPDATE 20.9.2018: New Mixcloud and download links!]

On Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, French bootleg/mashup legend and radio DJ, Sebwax, dedicated an entire episode of his live radio show ("P comme Pirate" on PFM 99.9 / Arras, France) exclusively to DJ not-I mashups from Collected Mashups Vol. 4: Sleeper and plugged them, the album, and various not-I websites like crazy.

Here is the show:
P comme Pirate par Sebwax - S08E17 - DJ not-I Special

Here is the show, re-uploaded to my Mixcloud. If you don't understand French, it doesn't matter, it's mostly (my) music anyway. And if you do, it's even more fun. Enjoy!

 
Sebwax has been doing his radio show, which highlights quality mashups and bootleg culture with expert insider commentary, as well as been producing his own beautiful mashups for almost more than ten years now, so it was a great honor to receive a full feature. You can check out several of his latest shows on Mixcloud.

Tracklist:
1.   Epic Wit Chu (Faith No More vs. Queens Of The Stone Age)
2.   Three Skies A Lady (The Commodores vs. Queens Of The Stone Age)
3.   He Got Scream (Michael & Janet Jackson ft. Treach vs. Public Enemy vs. Buffalo Springfield)
4.   Kool Shook C.R.E.A.M. (Mobb Deep vs. Wu-Tang Clan vs. Kool & The Gang)
5.   Aunt Jackie’s Sexy Pickup (Jason Fox vs. Justin Timberlake vs. Average White Band)
6.   Ready Or Not, Let Me Go (Fugees vs. Heaven 17)
7.   Ain't Got kNOw Home (Clarence “Frogman” Henry vs. Queens Of The Stone Age)
8.   100 Million Butterflies (Rap Version) (Muse vs. Birdman & Lil’ Wayne)
9.   Nanafushi Bulletproof (La Roux vs. Gloria Gaynor vs. KODO)
10. Spin Shout Right Round! (Tears For Fears vs. Dead Or Alive vs. Crookers vs. Michael Jackson)
11. Knockout On The New Frontier (Lily Allen vs. Donald Fagen)
12. MORE Cowbell! (The Sisters Of Mercy vs. NAPT)
 

DOWNLOAD
(alternate/better DL link in first comment below) 

Merci beaucoup!

Love, not-I.