by SCOTT C

Last week I opened my good ol’ Incubator mailbox and was shook to find e-mail from my childhood. Derek was a kid who had lived across the street from me when I was 11, and whose name I dropped in a story a couple of years ago about ski snobs versus tobogganing. Put it this way - I used to babysit this guy’s dog every summer when he and his family would go skiing in Europe, and I think I always sort of resented the ski elite ever since. Anyway, here’s this note from Derek saying a friend had told him about his full name being used in the article and that I should get back to him. Turns out he’s now working for CIBC World Markets after selling his own consulting firm to the big guys.

He doesn’t ski much anymore, and asked about my parents. Am I getting old?

Speaking of birthdays, if you’re one of those people who occasionally looks at Christian Pronovost and silently whispers to yourself, “Does this guy have a hyperbolic chamber in the back of Inbeat or what?” then you need to get down to Exit on Saturday, Dec. 21, for Chris P’s birthday celebration. This music lover has contributed much to Montreal’s club scene over many, many years, but you wouldn’t know it to look at him. Babyface’s birthday guests include Bougie Soliterre, Dr. Love, Eddie Lewis, Fernando “Loco” Baldeon, Fred Everything, Misayo, Pat Boogie and a few more. How does he stay so young, you ask? Music, simple and plain. Happy birthday, man.

What are you doing New Year’s Eve? I couldn’t tell you yet because I’m making it up as I go. Don’t think I’ll be in MTL though, and for the first time in a long time I’m not DJing on the big night. You might want to check out the Rialto on Dec. 31, what with Amon Tobin, Llorca, DJ Ram, Sixtoo and the legendary Steinski holding court in the big room. Been bumping into Ram here and there these days, and it sounds like he’s about to unleash one beast of a record on the world when he’s done. Don’t pass up the chance to see Steinski either, ’cause that shit does not happen everyday, if you know what I mean. Maybe I’ll just go tobogganing. :

Seven reasons it was a very good year:
1. Mitchell and Dewbury “Jazz Is Your Life” (Do Right!)
2. The Roots “Thought @ Work” (MCA)
3. Casa Forte “R.E.Q.” (DoRight!)
4. Deep Sensation “Harlem and 42nd Street” 7” (Deep Jazz)
5. Arcee “Stripes” 12” (ABB)
6. Brassmunk “El Dorado” (Virgin)
7. Quantic Soul Orchestra “Super 8” 7” (Tru-Thoughts)

I’ll see you when the dust clears… incubator@hiphopsite.com

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