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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There is a long history of ironic, white covers of popular hip-hop and R&B tracks — from Dynamite Hack singing “Boyz in the Hood” in golf sweaters and flip flops, to Little Boots’ recent melancholic cover of Kid Cudi’s “Day N Nite.” In general, these attempts range from the retarded to the horribly offensive — with the rare creative or interesting recreation emerging here and there.

The new Fool’s Gold-repped artist Telephoned has recently joined membership into this group and whether they are one of the rare, successful entries into the sub-genre, I will let you be the judge. One thing I can say for Telephoned is that its members are talented. The group is a collaboration between DJ/Producer Sammy Bananas and DJ/Singer Maggie Horn. Bananas has put out a number of solid dance tracks in the past two years, including a pretty wicked remix of Passion Pit’s “The Reeling.”

(mp3s after the jump)

The duo will appear this Wednesday at Harlot, for MW004 presented by Hacksaw Entertainment. There will be a hosted bar from 7-10 and entry is free as long as you RSVP here.

Friends of The Projects Shane King (Hacksaw Ent) and White Girl Lust (Solid Bump) will provide support. This should definitely be a quality hump day party.

Here’s a sample. Enjoy:

Telephoned – Turn My Swag On (feat. Teli of Ninjasonik)

Kid Sister – Daydreaming (Telephoned remix)

– White Mike

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A couple of things about ducks: 1) the males have giant, corkscrew-shaped penises and 2) they have an unfortunate penchant for gang-rape.

While I was in college, a few friends and I had just finished a delicious and affordable meal at a South Bay Chili’s when we witnessed one of the more disturbing spectacles of our young lives. A group of ducks were gathered near the edge of the parking lot and appeared to be reenacting a scene from “The Accused.” As we walked closer, we saw two ducks holding down the head of what we assumed was the female duck, while a third ravaged her from the rear. This continued for a few moments until the lucky duck (!) got off, withdrew and swaggered off down to the adjacent stream, followed by his accomplices.

At the time we were shocked, but apparently gang rape is as much a part of being a duck as flying through rainbows is part of being a unicorn. Also, female ducks have spiral vaginas with trap doors to mislead duck rapists. All of these things are true (except the part about the unicorn) and you can read all about it here.

(Here comes the segue… wait for it…)

Speaking of ducks, Dirty Bird’s Martin Brothers just released a track with the word duck in the title and hey! one of them is playing at Lights Down Low tomorrow night, 4/24, at Triple Crown.

Anyone that’s followed dance music in San Francisco knows Christian Martin, who most recently appeared among the buffalo at the latest of the fabled Dirtybird BBQ’s this past Sunday in Golden Gate Park.

Headlining alongside Martin is Vancouver’s Felix Cartal, who returns to LDL where once he made his San Francisco debut. Since then, Cartal has blown up as a producer and last month released his first full length album on Dim Mak under the (hopefully) prophetic title, “Popular Music.” I haven’t caught Cartal live, but according to my Projects counterpart DJ Nisus, Cartal put on one of the best performances that he saw last year when he appeared at Ruby Skye.

Providing support is LDL resident Sleazemore, as well as LXNDR (Bad Neighbors) and KONNECT (Trust). Advance tickets are $10 and available here.

Here’s a little sample. Enjoy:

The Martin Brothers – Duckface

Felix Cartal – Volcano (Felix Cartal remix)

– White Mike

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When most Americans think of Ottawa, they picture the historic cholera outbreak of 1832 or the precise urban planning of Frenchman Jacques Greber. However, in addition to being recognized for these fascinating details, Canada’s capitol city supports a pretty solid little house scene. At the center of this lies Disorganized (now Frenzy), a monthly party which for the past 7 years has brought Ottawa’s dance community together to party with some of the world’s top DJs.

Founders DJ Booth and Chameleonic, together known as Jokers of the Scene due to their early difficulties in earning respect from their Ottawan DJ peers, started Disorganized as a small loft party and it quickly grew into one of the city’s premier dance parties. They have since graduated from playing host to that party to touring the globe, signing with record label Fool’s Gold and releasing a handful of original singles, including the massive Baggy Bottom Boys. In addition, they have been commissioned to produce remixes for Passion Pit, Kid Cudi, Acid Girls, Thunderheist, Flosstradamus and Muscles, among others.

Next Friday (4/23), they join The Faint spin-off Depressed Buttons, LA’s Frankie Chan (iheartcomix) and San Francisco’s favorite DJ/Male Model Richie Panic (Blow Up) at 330 Ritch. Advance $13 tix are available here.

(mp3s after the jump)

Here is one of JOTS’s latest remixes, an extended take on Boy 8-Bit’s weirdohouse joint “Wolfen.” Also included: their latest promo mix, which was released last month.

Enjoy:

Boy 8-Bit – Wolfen (Jokers of the Scene remix)

Jokers of the Scene – Bombs Over Belleville mix

Tracklist
1. Jokers of the Scene – Joking Victim
2. B.D.I. – City & Industry
3. Daniel Meteo – In The Mood (Abe Duque Remix)
4. Crash Course In Science – Flying Turns (Terence Fixmer Remix)
5. Tiga – Sex O’Clock (Playgroup Remix)
6. Aberrant – Kirkbride’s Dungeon
7. Stephan Bodzin – Mustang
8. Jori Hulkonnen – Boying in the Smokeroom
9. Fairmont – Mobula
10. Geiger – Bambam
11. Boy 8-Bit – The Keep
12. Mathew Jonson – Ghosts in the Al
13. 2AM/FM – The Path
14. LFO – Freeze
15. Extrawelt – Fernweh
16. The Black Dog – Witches Ov

– White Mike

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Everyone loves a good mystery, especially when that mystery is solved by a talking dog and a group of meddling kids. So in 2008 when some quality dance tracks (including the massive “Mars”) began appearing around the innertron produced by the then-unknown producer Fake Blood, there was active speculation in the dancenerd community as to the producer’s identity and whether it was just an alias for an already established artist. Turns out it was, as Fake Blood was until then better known as Theo Keating aka DJ Touche aka one half of the indie-electro band The Black Ghosts.

(mp3sss after the jump…)

Since that mystery has been solved (and without any canine help), Fake Blood has become arguably one of the best house producers on the planet. Friday night he makes his San Francisco debut at Mezzanine with fellow Brit Boy 8-Bit, another of the UK’s biggest producers. The Projects member Nisus opens along with Blasthaus resident Sleazemore. Tickets are $15 and available at Blasthaus

I guarantee that this will be one of the best dance shows of the year. See you there!

Boy 8-Bit

Florence & the Machine – Drumming Song (Boy 8-Bit remix)

Boy 8-Bit – Wolfen (Original mix)

Fake Blood

Fake Blood – I Think I Like It

Fake Blood – Mars (Boy 8 Bit remix)

Fake Blood – BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix (3-14-2009) (2 hours)

Enjoy.

– White Mike

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One of my favorites, French disco edit master Pilooski a month ago released a 12″ vinyl only single whose A-side was a house remake of Nora Dean’s “Angie La-La.” It’s titled simply “AAA” and it is a 9 minute early a.m. house epic. It wouldn’t hurt to be high for this one.

Enjoy:

Pilooski – AAA

Bonus:

Nina Simone – Take Care of Business (Pilooski edit)

– 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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German production duo Patrick Bodmer & Philipp Jung, together known by the curiously effeminate label M.A.N.D.Y., gained fame in 2005 with their club hit “Body Language,” a collaboration with Booka Shade, with whom they also partnered in launching the Get Physical record label.

Tomorrow night M.A.N.D.Y. visits SF, headlining a show at Paradise Lounge. Opening will be Nikola Baytala, John Wander and Kuze. Advance tix are $12 and available over at Blasthaus.

(mp3s after the jump…)

Here are a couple of M.A.N.D.Y-related tunes, the first is a house blend of “O Superman” with Gui Boratto’s “Beautiful Life,” put together by Matt Nordstrom of Nadastrom — perfect for the end of the night. Second, is DJ Deekline and Red Polo’s “One in the Front” which flips “Body Language” with some tasteful vocals by DJ Assault.

Enjoy:

M.A.N.D.Y. vs Booka Shade – Superman’s Life (Matt Nordstrom edit)

DJ Deekline & Red Polo feat DJ Assault – One in the Front

– White Mike

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Dutch DJ/Producer Afrojack has been on fire for the past year, steadily churning out bangers including cross-over hits produced for Major Lazer and Pitbull. Yesterday, he dropped this throwback acid house number, which is vaguely reminiscent of The Chemical Brothers during their raver hey-day. You can buy this and other Afrojack tracks here.

Enjoy:

Afrojack – Pacha on Acid

Bonus:

Will Bailey & Mikey Hook – Turn Out the Intro (Afrojack remix)

– White Mike

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So, then she said, “What’s your favorite position?” and I was like, “the fetal position.” And then we made out.

Anyway, kind of a late pass on this one but I recently came across this EP by UK DJ Solo and it is pretty dope. UK Funky with shades of last year’s smash “Trompeta.” You can buy it here.

Solo – Minimood (Round Table Knights remix)

Solo – Rawmania

Enjoy.

– White Mike

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