10 Years Strong: On The Road With Rich Medina (Sept 27-Oct. 4)

Image via Complex Original

WHERE: Fluid, Philly
WHEN: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 

To be clear, this was only my fifth personal visit to SuperDope, as I am usually working when DJ Phsh and company do their thing. But the other times I attended were nowhere near this well attended, despite the great music and solid promotional efforts. The thing that struck me most is how universally true it is that people who do not support an event will come out and herald the same event they've blown off long enough to force its closing, religiously. To most of us performing artists, support comes through gate fees, and the finances we make to maintain our businesses. Records cost money, equipment costs money and must be repaired, research costs money, and some of us have kids to feed and mortgages to maintain. These aren't my facts alone, and I know I speak for a myriad of artists who go through the same shit, but don't feel they have the right to say anything out loud. R.I.P. SuperDope, and here's to your next incarnation garnering more "support." Big up!

WHERE: Big City Records, NYC
WHEN: Thursday, September 29, 2011

Akalepse played this at LPR a few weeks back at Props on a Wednesday night and I almost jumped up and slapped the taste out his mouth. Copped doubles last week from Jared at Big City Records (520 East 12th St., NYC), one of the best record stores in the country. Real funky boogie joint. Limited press. Get yours fast. I got mine.

WHERE: My Studio
WHEN: Saturday, October 1, 2011

There's a lot to be said for "White Glove" service, where a company or service provider comes to you and personally delivers, sells and/or maintains a purchased product for you. This is my latest 7" bounty from my favorite record dealer. Dude works his ass off to find gems for guys like me all over the country. These piles come out to well over 1K worth of pure fire on 45RPM vinyl. So many bangers I never owned before. I trust my record shelves more than I trust the bank as an investment, and I feel sorry for those who gave up on records when the digital case became the norm…actually, I take that back…fuck 'em…more records for me, haha. Bless up all the record dealers and collectors worldwide still looking for the perfect beat. 

WHERE: Kung Fu Necktie
WHEN: Thursday, September 29, 2011

My man King Britt came through to show love at my Home Base party at Kung Fu Necktie last Thursday and dropped a few quarters in the Ms. Pac Man to see if he still got that mojo. Dude was on the machine for damn near 30 minutes! Shoulda took a shot of his score. He whooped her ass.

WHERE: Cubacan, Asbury Park, N.J.
WHEN: Friday, September 30, 2011

Happy 40th, Drew! You look good for an old man, son! One of my favorite cousins. His wife had my manager block off this day on the calendar two months in advance of his birthday just to ensure that I could be there. That's love right there, and I'm happy they thought enough of me to ensure my attendance. 

WHERE: The Counting Room, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
WHEN: Saturday, October 1, 2011 

One of the livest wedding receptions I've ever played records for. Every year I tell myself I'm getting out of the wedding game. Every year, someone I really care about gets married, and gets at me about providing the soundtrack for their special day…and when the business behind the request is solid, I just can't say no. Akalepse approached me about this gig a month prior and I was hesitant, until my man Jason called me personally and i came to realize that it was a long lost friend's wedding. Had to be there like Michael Jackson. Awesome night, in a very cool room in Williamsburg. Bless up Jason and Ruby on a fantastic wedding night, and here's to many years of wedded bliss.

WHERE: Penn Station, NYC
WHEN: Sunday, October 2, 2011

I don't know what was popping off, but these dudes were dead-ass serious. We watch TV shows and see the news telling us cop stories fabled, true, false, positive, and negative all day long. But watching police officers get ready to investigate something serious in real life is a whole other ball game. The black officer seemed to be the most authoritative, and was briefing the other officers on exactly how they were gonna run up on whoever they were about to run up on. Ten minutes after this shot, they were dragging a very angry and aggressive man across the waiting area and up into the street. Despite my honest skepticism about the piety of police work in NYC, I was damn sure glad these dudes were on top of their shit on this late night. Dude was about 15 feet from me the entire time they were plotting on him. For all I know dude could have been sizing me and my bags up and had his plans spoiled. Thanks to these five NYPD coffee and donut eaters! On his particular night, you were definitely good for far more than harassment and the smell of bacon.

WHERE: El Vez, Philly
WHEN: Monday, October 3, 2011

Just taking the bully pulpit to wish my beautiful lady a beautiful birthday month. Gathered up about 20 friends on the sneak to meet us at El Vez on 13th & Sansom in Philly for a nice Mexican style dinner to take Tracy back to Texas for the night.  Big love to everyone who made it out. She was surprised and ecstatic about it all, so know that your presence was fully appreciated by us both! Me love you long time, mommy! You getting really good at being 21, too!

WHERE: My Studio
WHEN: Tuesday, October 4, 2011

My APC40, keyboards, controllers, and monitors are begging me to let them breathe for a few hours after a long 12 hour day meeting some remix deadlines. Stay tuned for my "Home" remix for Ben WIlliams on Concord Jazz and my "Freedom" remix for E Man & Doc Link, popping up on your digging radar real soon! I'll repost the details here once they are retail ready. The joints are mixed, and in the hands of their rightful owners now. Shouts to Mark Hines and King Britt for the fresh ears on the final mixes. My studio guardians. Salute, gents, and y'all stay tuned!

WHERE: Props, Le Poisson Rouge, NYC
WHEN: Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Last week, HBO brought the release party for How To Make It In America to Props. According to the venue, someone in the production staff demanded that Props be the party that hosts them. So, whoever you are, thanks for the compliment. Fucking fantastic. The place was blown out with our regulars, and more than a few new faces and TV folks last week. It's so dope when you see people who have no idea what to expect upon entry go crazy once the needle is to the groove. Me and Akalepse wore their asses out on the dancefloor last week. Great night, a successful release party for HBO, and another notch in our Props corporate media client resume. Here's to more of that!

October 7 (11 p.m.—4 a.m.)
JUMP N FUNK
Bardot
3456 N. Miami Ave.
Miami
21+
$10

The Miami installment of the 10-Year Anniversary Tour of Jump N Funk! The Original American Afrobeat Dance Party brings the sounds of Fela Kuti and the Global Afro soul sound back to Miami once again at Bardot, celebrating its second anniversary with music by this DJ and visuals by Mark Hines. Come celebrate 10 years of pioneering the Afrobeat and global soul sound in Miami on October 7 at Bardot!

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October 8 (9 p.m.—2 a.m.)
JUMP N FUNK w/The Marksmen (Change of venue)
The Front @ The Vanguard
6021 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles
21+
$10 (Doors at 9 p.m.)

The day after Miami, Mark and I fly to Los Angeles for our L.A. installment of the 10 Year Anniversary Tour of Jump N Funk! The Original American Afrobeat Dance Party brings the sounds of Fela Kuti and the Global Afro soul sound back to LA once again, with Footlong Development & Frolab, and of course music by yours truly and visuals by Mark Hines. Come celebrate 10 years of pioneering the Afrobeat and global soul sound in LA on October 8th at The New Gabah!

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October 14 (10 p.m.—4 a.m.)
JUMP N FUNK (House, Afro & Tropicalia Special)
The Cabanas @ The Maritime Hotel
Enter on 9th Ave. at 17th St.
NYC
21+
$10

Here, we are entering a new relationship and kicking it off with Jump N Funk presenting a different twist on our usual Afrobeat sound. On this night, it's all about that same old Jump N Funk feeling but with a house, Tropicalia and dance twist in the beautiful, open aired Cabanas at The Maritime Hotel. Come join us and watch Jump N Funk pay homage to Afro house, Tropicalia, and the soils dance spectrum at the Cabanas!

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October 15 (10pm—2am)
JUMP N FUNK/FELABRATION! 2011 w/DJ Kemit
595 North
595 North Avenue NW
Atlanta
21+
$15 with RSVP; $20 without RSVP
To purchase tickets and RSVP, go to: experiencespreadlove.com

Atlanta is one of my favorite cities to play. One of the main reasons that’s a fact is due to my long standing brotherhood with DJ Kemit. We've been celebrating Fela together since long before the latest Fela craze. This month, we celebrate Fela! On Broadway's Atlanta run (www.felaonbraodway.com), Jump N Funk's 10 Year Anniversary (www.jumpnfunk.com), Spreadlove's 4th annual Felabration (www.facebook.com/experiencespreadlove.com), and of course the born day of the one and only Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Jump N Funk has been right there with Spreadlove for practically their entire existence, and prior to that, Kemit and I have recorded "Minstrel Speak" (Diaspora) back in 2002, as well as "Music" and "Official" together on my first LP, Connecting The Dots (Kindred Spirits USA, 2005), played at Jump N Funk in NYC, and Miami together, as well as rocking an ocean of other parties around the country. Definitely one of the most underappreciated DJs in the United States, if not the world in my opinion. My man Mark Hines will be there to beat the video screens up like only he can as well. If you don't know, now you know…I am expecting fireworks. Love Afro Life!

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October 21 (9 p.m.—2 a.m.)
JUMP N FUNK
Lola
500 North 14th St.
St. Louis
21+
$10

St Louis and Midwest fam, come join us for our St. Louis installment of the 10-Year Anniversary Tour of Jump N Funk! The Original American Afrobeat Dance Party brings the sounds of Fela Kuti and the Global Afro soul sound to St. Louis for the very first time! Your selector for the evening will be none other than myself, with visuals by Mark Hines aka The Marksmen. Come celebrate 10 years of pioneering the Afrobeat and global soul sound in St. Louis on October 21 at Lola!