Motor City madness

by SCOTT C

Big show this Saturday, June 2, when the sounds of real Detroit hip hop make a stop in Montreal. Longtime MC and J Dilla collaborator Phat Kat finally dropped his full-length LP Carte Blanche, and decided to round up some of his fellow heat-makers and head out on the road. You’ll be happy to know that Slum Village, DJ Dez and DJ Design will be joining Phat Kat this Saturday night at Saints Showbar, with the younger brother of J Dilla, Illa J, curiously absent from the mix. It’s okay, though. I’m still not clear on what Illa J is about, but after reading his bio, it seems that he rededicated his life to making music after his brother passed on. Those are some big shoes to fill, not to mention the legions of dedicated J Dilla production stepchildren that are already good at what they do. I think trying to follow in Dilla’s footsteps is gonna be an uphill climb, but more power to him. They are blood relatives, after all.

Back in 1999, when me and Paul 107 made the drive to Toronto to have our minds blown by Slum Village at their first Canadian appearance, we were a little vexed that Jay Dee hadn’t made the trip, but how else would we have been introduced to the portly but rugged Phat Kat, and the young microphone whip named Elzhi, who would later join the group? Nice to see these guys still carrying the torch in 2007. Of course, the hometown gang is also slated to give their support, with performances from Rugged Intellect, D-Shade, Frenchi Blanco and DJ Manzo.

HeadzUp frontman DJ Miles Moore has dropped a fresh project on newly formed HeadzUp Records, and is now being distributed digitally by www.dancetracksdigital.com and www.bluetracks.ca. The Magnificent Desolation EP is a mash of samples and atmospheric moods inspired by guys like DJ Krush, DJ Shadow and K&D. Check it out.

Looks like the big WeFunk 10th-anniversary party is set to go down on June 16 at Jello Bar. Should be one serious party as Montreal’s reigning kings of funk and soul celebrate continued success on and off the air. Stay tuned for the long list of guests who will be joining DJ Static and Professor Groove. Mark it down!

Seven reasons I want to be a Dickee-Dee:
1. D’Angelo “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” (EMI)
2. Basement Soul I Lose Myself in You (CDR)
3. New Sector Movements Download This (Virgin)
4. Elizabeth Shepherd “Start to Move”
Natural Self Mix (Do Right)
5. Gary Marks “We Free” (Kindred Spirits)
6. Big Herm “LAPD” (Ubiquity)
7. Specifics II (CDR)

You were mean first fathead@videotron.ca