As a DJ, over the years I’ve developed a few routines that I like to break out here and there to keep my sets interesting. Sometimes I do this thing where I’ll play the sample source and mix it into the song using the sample. I call it “Single City.” Other times I’ll loop a section of lyrics and mix that into another song with the same or similar lyrics. I call this “Swing City. How do we filter out the teases? We don’t let them in. This goes for the guys, too, because sometimes the guys are tapped out. But check your lease man, because you’re living in “Fuck City!”

One better-known DJ who has also discovered the wonders of “Single City” (aka a standard DJ routine) is NYC’s Neil Armstrong, founding member of the 5th Platoon DJ collective and Jay-Z’s tour DJ. Armstrong has also appeared on Letterman, Carson Daly (is that still a show?), at the NBA All-Star Game and the Olympic Games.

Additionally, he has been steadily churning out mixtapes for over a decade now, among them Originals, which takes the sample->sample source idea to new levels and DNA of The Blueprint, which serves as Armstrong’s personal tribute to his current MC (both are available for download after the jump).

ArtNowSF is bringing Neil Armstrong to Manor West this Thursday (4/29), along with DJs Lex (Souls of Mischief) and Beats Me (distortion 2 static). Advance tix are 10 bucks and you can buy them here.

Here are the mixtapes. Enjoy:

Neil Armstrong – DNA of the Blueprint

Tracklist
(artist Jay-Z for all)
1 DOA
2 No ID Speaksâ
3 Props to BIG Brother Jay-z – Kanye West
4 Hola Hovito
5 BluePrint 1 Return to the soul samples
6 The Rulers Back
7 Izzo
8 Heart of the City
9 Never Change
10 Young Forever
11 Empire State of Mind
12 What Where I’m From
13 Already Home
14 Reminder
15 People talking
16 Hate
17 Takeover/Run This Town
18 Renegade
19 Real As it Gets
20 All I Need
21 03 Bonnie And Clyde
22 Excuse Me Miss
23 So Ambitious
24 The Bounce
25 Excuse Me Miss Remix
26 Jigga that N*
27 Stop
28 What They Gonna Do Part 2
29 Ain’t No N*
30 Venus Vs Mars
31 Girls girls girls remix
32 On to the Next One
33 What We Talkin about
34 Every Day A Star is Born
35 Thank You

Neil Armstrong – Original (zip file)

Tracklist
1. Mtume, Rappin’ Duke – ‘If U Don’t Know Now You Know’
2. Jeff Lorber Fusion, Bahamadia – ‘Crush On You’
3. El Debarge – ‘One More Chance’
4. Lou Donaldson, The Roots – ‘Another Chance’
5. Isley Brothers – ‘Call Neil Big Poppa’
6. Isaac Hayes – ‘Warning’
7. The Delphonics – ‘Player Haters’
8. Slick Rick, Public Enemy, Busta Rhymes – ‘Zulu Nation War Chant’ (feat. Betty Wright / Mary Jane Girls)
9. Mark the 45 King, DJ Kool, Marva Whitney – ‘900 Number’
10. Aja – ‘Whose In The House’
11. Taste Or Honey – ‘Sad & Blue’
12. Dionne Warwick – ‘Mona Lisa Says Goodbye’
13. Gloria Gaynor, Herb Alpert – ‘Release Yo Delf’
14. Underdog There, Wu-Tang Clan – ‘Nuthin To F*ck Wit’
15. Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band – ‘Cherchez Le (Neil)’
16. De La Soul, Aja – ‘Eye Know’
17. De La Soul, Hall & Oates – ‘Say No Go’
18. Leaders Of the New School, Boz Scaggs – ‘Zone Coasting’
19. For The Bitties At Bobs Lounge, Joe Sample – ‘W5PS’
20. De La Soul, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson – ‘Breakdawn’
21. John Leguizamo, Al Green – ‘Lets Stay Together’
22. Shalamar – ‘For The Player In You’
23. Teddy Pendergrass, BUMS – ‘The Door Is Closed’
24. Rick James – ‘Mary Jane’
25. Gap Band – ‘She’s Outstanding’
26. Eric B. & Rakim, Marvin Gaye, Midnight Star – ‘Got Me Curious’
27. Eric B. & Rakim, Aaliyah, Cecil Homes, Helix C. – ‘It’s Been A Long Time’
28. Surface, Kool G Rap, Nas – ‘Happy’
29. AZ, Nas, Gap Band – ‘Life’s A Bitch’
30. Nas, Michael Jackson, Biz Markie – ‘It Ain’t Hard To Tell’
31. Biz Markie, Steve Miller Band – ‘Nobody Beats The Biz’
32. Big Daddy Kane, Heatwave – ‘Ain’t No Half Steppin’
33. Brand Nubian, Edie Brickell – ‘Slow It Down’
34. Queen, Vanilla Ice – ‘The Vanilla Cometh’
35. Labi Siffre, Eminem – ‘Slim Shady Reps’
36. Dr. Dre, Leon Haywood – ‘The Next Episode’
37. Isley Brothers, Ice Cube – ‘It’s A Good Day’
38. Herb Alpert, Blacksheep – ‘Flavor Of The Month’
39. Gang Starr, Public Enemy, Joe Simon – ‘U Know My Steez’
40. Maynard Furgeson, Showbiz & AG – ‘Next Level’
41. Grace Jones, LL Cool J – ‘Doin’ It Well’
42. ATCQ, Lou Reed – ‘Cause I Can Kick It’
43. Fugees, Roberta Flack – ‘Killing It Softly’
44. Heatwave, Nice & Smooth – ‘Mindblowing’
45. Partridge Family, Nice & Smooth – ‘Hip Hop Junkies’
46. Tracy Chapman, Nice & Smooth – ‘Sometimes I Rhyme Slow’
47. Souls Of Mischief, Bobby Cobham – ‘From Now Til Infinity’

– White Mike

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Years before I got into smoking weed, drinking malt liquor and doing drive-bys, The Chronic was released and I, like every other 12 year-old boy on my block, quickly put away the Cooleyhighharmony and jumped full force into G-Funk. It wasn’t that suburban white kids like me could really relate to the content, or that we held real animosity toward EZ or Tim Dog (or knew who Tim Dog was). Instead, it was Dre’s flawless production and the smooth, at-times angry lyrical flow of the Death Row camp that had me singing “bitches ain’t shit” as I rode my sweet GT bicycle home from school.

It’s been 18 years (do the math) and there finally seems to be real evidence that the often-talked-about, never-produced album “Detox” might actually see release this year. Scott Storch, who has apparently been doing some detoxing himself, earlier this month mentioned that the release of the album’s first single “Under Pressure,” which features Jay-Z, should happen sometime this summer.

With an album from Big Boi also set to drop in the summer months, this could be a good year for the aging stars of rap. In anticipation of these alleged releases, here are some olllllld throwback mixes from two of hip-hop’s best known DJs.

(mp3s after the jump)

The first, an impressive set in two parts (and on four decks) by the aforementioned Dre, circa 1987 — pre-Chronic, pre-Snoop, pre-NWA, pre-Dr. Pepper. The second comes from the always solid DJ Riz of Crooklyn Clan fame, recorded on Tim Westwood’s show on the BBC. And yes, he does mix Chris Isaac’s “Wicked Game” in there (aka the song that inspired the entire the XX album). I shouldn’t have to say that these are “all-vinyl” mixes, but hey! They are!

Oh, and here’s a bonus freestyle from a young Snoop Doggy Dogg on the Arsenio Hall show. Pretty sick:

Enjoy:

Dr. Dre – Old School Swap Meet pt. 1

Dr. Dre – Old School Swap Meet pt 2

DJ Riz – Tim Westwood Megamix (1994)

– White Mike

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Last week, I came across this mix by DJ Riz — co-founder of Crooklyn Clan and arguably one of the best hip-hop DJs alive. Now best known for his website, where DJs can buy the latest BEP song mashed up with “Love is Gone,” Riz is also kind of amazing behind the decks and apparently the favorite DJ of some of my favorite DJs.

In this short set, he quick mixes classic hip hop and soul. Enjoy:

DJ Riz – Live at Deko Classics Night

– White Mike

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Brooklyn Circus made a last minute announcement today regarding their regular hip hop & soul party at Yoshi’s (SF) Le Cirque and it doesn’t get much bigger. The party has been moved downstairs to the main performance venue and headlining will be none other than DJ Jazzy Jeff. Friend of The Projects King Most and the City’s favorite DJ under 5-feet Shred One will provide support. Tix are $22 and you can buy them here. I will definitely be making this one.

Here’s an olllld mix that Cosmo Baker posted up awhile back of a party that he did with Jeff and Rich Medina at Remedy (NYC). Black Thought and Common (Sense) trade freestyles for awhile, then the DJ does his thing.

Live at Remedy 1998 Pt 3

And for a preview of Thursday night, check this out. Bananas!

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Dj AM Live @ The House of Blues from jeffrey a townes on Vimeo.

– White Mike

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This weekend legendary hip hop turned house dj Stretch Armstrong pulls double duty, playing a pair of parties here in The City. First, Stretch headlines SF’s premier hipster rave Blow Up at The Rickshaw Stop, with support from regulars Richie Panic and Jeffrey Paradise. Saturday night, you can catch him playing 90′s pop hits at 111 Minna for their monthly party Club 1994.

Here’s an electro mix from a 2008 that was one of my favorites from that year (after the jump). Not for the faint of heart:

Stretch Armstrong – Live at Downtown Saturday Night 5-17-08

Bonus, a house remix for Yeezy:

Kanye West – Good Life (Stretch Armstrong remix)

Enjoy.

– White Mike

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Ol’ head DJ Excel of Philly’s Skratch Makaniks crew is one of those rare DJs that possesses both insane turntablist skills and the rare ability to rock any party. After regrettably missing Edan’s set last week at SOM’s Change the Beat party (which was apparently unbelievable), I’ve been rabidly devouring classic hip hop sets in an attempt to make up for my absence on Tuesday.

Fortunately, DJ Excel just posted this gem up last week and it is sick. I just wish it were longer.

DJ Excel – Freedom of Beats (The Classics)

As a bonus, here is a classic mix by Crooklyn Clan’s DJ Riz — possibly the best doing it today:

DJ Riz – In the Mix Side B (1994)

Enjoy.

– White Mike

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