BACK OF THE BUS

I got some sobering news Friday. My friend. My friend, John Marks, died. Still in shock about it. We spent every Thursday together for about two years, and got to know each other as both professionals and men. Just a good dude. ALWAYS supported what I did, looked out, treated me like family...a good dude. I got to know his sound aesthetic well over the months, and this is my tribute to him. I hope he would approve. My condolences to his family. Travel light, keep dancing.

All roads do not arrive at the same destination. The paths we choose disperse us to the pulse of the wind, and usher in understanding like the under current of a seductively lethal tide. My roots tunnel deeply through the annals of my arrival, so here I am. Not too shabby.

This mix brings together some of my favorite pop and r&b from the 80's and 90's...the incubator that helped make this complex angle called Africa Hot. My 30 somethings will appreciate this in particular. Throw on some Diadoras, and have at it kids.

Understatement is an art. Subtle reminders of cracks in the road. Glimmers of sunlight peak from around corners, repel the darkness. Time ticks. Moments marry.

Returned from an extended hiatus with this little diddy. A mellow evolution of sound, enjoy.

Life requires release. Those moments we remember the most are the ones where the facade of what we project to the world is stripped of its cloaking abilities, and we are left exposed...sensitive nerves absorbing the fullness of that feeling.

The euphoria of falling. The rush of discovery. The echo of pain.

All provide road marks to the path we have traveled when we must retrace our steps. Each illuminates a corner yet seen. To release and receive them is oft time something we work against, but there is where the journey becomes lost.

This mix blends emotion with music...good for the morning and the midnight. Think you will enjoy.

P.s. happy birthday Tanya, Rachel & Rhonda

In the loaded gun called life, baby you've got to pull the trigger. Wrestle with the currents of unpredictability and ride the wave of the future like your life depends on it: because it does.

The sour bowel of loss laced with the ambrosia of a long desired kiss is what under girds funk music. The diametric attraction of the bass lines cry take you underneath the surface...deep inside where the funk lives. Recline and unwind.

Summer never really showed up. The ticket was too high. It sent the occasional text sayin wassup, but had better things to do.

This mix traces some of the roots of rock and then explore some interesting permutations since. Hard to categorize, the through line is my ever manic musical aptitude...so perfect for a night by the fireplace, or a good mushroom trip. Don't get lost in the sauce kids.

Summer is slipping away, and a gentle wind mixes with the dew of tomorrow forecasting winters encroachment. Music lightens the mood, and thus my mind went into review to explore how I might color the mood. Down tempo and jazzy, this show is a perfect compliment to a rainy day of cleaning or cooking. Light a candle (or green leafy thing) and have at it.

For those of you unable to make it out to the show, and who have an interest in what an Africa Hot show is like...hopefully this bootlegged recording will give you an idea. Shouts to The Fitz's for being my technical team. This is just a rough sample of more to come, but I hope ya like. Baby I'ma supernova, best move over.

We're loosing them everyday. Inspired by the passing of 1/3rd of the original Slum Village crew Baatin, this all Slum Village collage pays tribute to the legacy of beaters that have been coming out of Detroit since way back. Pack your neck brace, cuz between the Dilla tracks and SV's flow head nodding is guaranteed. Live it till the wheels fall off. R.I.P.

Back from hiatus, but I at least come baring gifts. Being 30 has already been a sun' bitch...yet I'm making it look damn good and sound even funkier. A mixed bag of nuts, so dig in and enjoy the ride.

Like every other DJ worth his salt, I was obligated to put together a medley of some of my favorite cuts from the King in remembrance of his incredible legacy. To forewarn, the ending is a bit abrupt due to a technical blip...but the vibe was so right so I had to posted it anyway. Hopefully this will help with your dealing...remember the good times.

Whats there to say? Mike done gone on home to glory. What is there to say? Travel light, we gonna remember you right.

I'm a child of many exposures, and sometimes people are surprised to find out that I was reared a band nerd who sat first chair for the trumpet in jazz band. This mix, fresh off the heals of a transformative trip, pulls from that well to showcase some of my musical roots and the music I continue to love. Not for everybody, but all my jazz heads should have a good time.

The journey thru can be rigorous in its incline. The sun rises and descends with the unrelenting will of only a well endowed dominion, and the moon wains even the shine of the sun. At times, it gets difficult to remember the lines...to get the timing right.

But try to remember.

Remember those moments of love and laughter that has fattened you to protect against the winters. Recall the times the moon beat you to bed, and the sun was a smiling reminder of the story you must tell. Try to remember.

This mix is a release: a recollection. For the old soul, but not a boring one. Have fun.

The conversation with yourself is often the toughest one you can have; there is no lying to yourself. The swirl of thought wrestling with emotion can radiate a powerful glow of confusion until the tension is resolved, and thus we dance the dance.

Late evenings of contemplation require proper motivation, so this mix incorporates some reflective soul and hip hop jawns to solicit emotion and thought to the ring. Not meant to rock the party, rather to shake the foundation of detachment so make some tea, smoke somethin and shake that load off baby. Word.

I was bout due for a rock music tune up, so I gathered up my thoughts and distilled this lil diddy. Muddled in a lil electronica too. Not for the faint hearted, but ergonomically designed to fit an ambitious attitude. Bang.

Horizon does not know time: The steps you take always present a summit just beyond your gaze. Your movement does not deny the suns trajectory and imminent light, so to curse the dusk only invokes your own demise. Contemplations of the heart dripped upon the needle, and this fell out. Soul for the soul. Enjoy.

Forgiveness. I've been away. Not physically;perceptually. Sometimes one has to realign to stand firmly on their square, but here I have returned. Yesterday was a special day for me on multiple levels: it was my FAVORITE holiday 4:20 & and it was the birthday of one of the most important people in the development of my love for music Luther Vandross. It seemed only fitting I put something together that celebrates the unique beauty that is this day despite Chicago's dreary weather and my salty disposition. Dig in, and put one in the air. OOOOOO yeah.

The dawn is immortal. It invokes the fuel of excavated fears to power the seductive potential of the day. I've spent many a night relishing in the exhaustion of the evening thanx to some good house music, but the dawn always reminds of where you've been and where you have yet to go. House music can be a sanctuary-a temple of unbridled desire and expression.

This mix honors the many permutations has enjoyed over the years, and the universal connection it creates among those blessed enough to worship in the Church of House. Enjoy children.

Steady, the rollercoaster climbs. Momentum bundled in apprehension. The inertia beyond the precipice hovers like a taunt, begging you to prepare for the inevitable drop. The meaning is sustained in the atmosphere; time has its will.

Life can be a series of ledges. As we grow older, we learn how to break our falls. Scars become tattoos. Reminders of lessons learned.

This mix blends this emotion with music. Enjoy.

This has been perhaps (pardon my literary hijacking) the coldest winter every, but the weather has been slyly moving closer towards warmth. Conversely, the challenges on my path have not been thawing...I'm far from a victim, so the beat goes on. This is a precusor to my tenure on Extended Intermission, so my New Orleans folks dig in and let me know what you think. I'll be weathering the storm in the stead.

Ever expanding the reach of our travels, i was asked to put together a mix in honor of the re-launch of the new home for independent, intelligent thought www.WATERMELONANDMIMOSAS.blogspot.com by my good friend and co-publisher Charles Fitzpatrick.

This mix is meant to be a soundtrack for your reading, adding to the experience that is meant to be this blog for the authentically cynical and subversively optimistic. While I'm proud to be asked to prepare this musical companion to the site, I'd like to note that I will be contributing on the journalistic tip as well...so make sure you stay tuned for that. I suspect this collaboration will bear some interesting fruit. Enjoy the ride.

I've never been kean on Valentine's Day. Beyond the obvious commercialization, the idea that a relationship should hedge on one day in the coldest damn month of the year is ridiculous. I slightly allowed myself to fall into the trap of giving a damn, but I quickly exorcised that with this mix. For for my N.O. folks. Show love everyday.

This is a mix that comes at a very quixotic time in my life. The quest for my holy grail is approaching the transitional climax, and thus the requisite pitfalls and perils have entered into the picture. The closer one gets, the more imminent the challenges. But progress comes at a cost, and one always must be aware of the price of the ticket.

All throwback cuts and dedicated to the memory of the late Robert Nestar Marley, I tap into an innner dialogue I've been having for sometime. I'm learning when in doubt, sometimes its best to just keep moving. Hope you enjoy the ride.

After a long week of the grind, and an exhaustive but good Foreign Exchange show, destiny called and I put music to muse. Me and the band recorded the last 3 songs of my EP Wednesday, and I'm feelin pretty damn good about it. Bout a month to go before it's ready for the public...yay. The grind continues though, and the bus keeps rollin. Destiny calls.

After an extended decompression from being in a car for roughly 48 hours, I have returned children. Me and the crew hit the road to the Sundance Film Festival, and shit was dope. Lots of stories, good networking, two sold out screenings, crossed-looks from conflicted Morons...quite a time. This mix was inspired by the odd mix of radio music we were subjected during our time as road-warriors. Heavy on the hip-hop. Shouts out to Wendell B. Harris jr....you funny.

I and my gang of lovely ladies will be hitting the road in the morning heading to Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival. Needless to say, I'm psyched. We're going in support of the film Chameleon Street (ya betta ask somebody), so my mojo was working in preparation for the sojourn. I'll be back in the Chi next week, but in the meantime this should tide you over. See yall on the other side

More often than not, we don't give ourselves permission to fail. But failure is where wisdom is derived. Our imperfections help to craft the memories we will laugh about later. Embracing the illusion of security frees you to be present in the moment...and there is where peace is derived.
Time travellin...enjoy the music.

This week is a starting point. A precipice. A reminder to get to work. This mix mirrors movement, so plug in and get off.

2009 is in the building, and I'm ready to rumble. It promises to be an unexpected and incredible year, and I'm ready to see some seeds begin to grow. What will your legacy be? This inaugural mix for the new year taps into the Sunday vain, and soothes while it irrigates. Enjoy the music...gonna be a good one.

So 2008 has come and gone...i'm lookin at my 30th year on this piece, and 29 has been a hairy bitch. But great things await...great things. So in honor of everyones struggles, perserverance, and spirit of revolution, I raise this musical glass. Featuring some of my personal faves and some new exclusives, this is a perfect compliment to an evening with those you love celebrating this next rotation. Cheers.

BACK OF THE BUS has truly hit the road...for all my folks in New Orleans, you can now check out the BACK OF THE BUS every Saturday at the Redstar Gallerie from 7pm-10pm for NOYO Designs Presents: Pass It On hosted by G Perspective and Bobby Phonse jr. Get all the details at noyodesigns.com. This is installment 2, but the masses may enjoy...so out-of-towners transport.

After a rejuvinating weekend of hibernation, I got back in the lab and put together some music to prep for the busy week of work ahead. When I'm grindin, I like some nice ambient music...so this one is meant to be a subtle soundtrack backdropping the conversation and drive within. Put it on, and get 'er done. Word.

My guy Ayo has a new website...www.NOYOdesigns.com. Check it out. I put this mix together in honor of New Orleans...ya heard.

For the first time in a while, I didn't have to work this week. That's not to suggest I didn't have work to do, I just wouldn't have been getting paid for it...thus inspiration was fleeting. Ole Man Winter's bitch ass has been wrappin on my window pain as well, so I had to get in the lab to try get my levels right. And thus this baby was born...enjoy.

Given that I'm a '79 baby, it seemed only fitting I put together an all hip-hop mix for the masses to express my pride in being of that generation. I tap into some goodies to get the job done...so for all those 28 and up enjoy the memories and for all the younginz study up. The bar was raised a long time ago...lets keep rising. Listen, smoke sumthin, nod ya head and holla at me. Word.

My first rock compilation got such positive feedback, I decided to offer up a second sampling. I apologize in advance for the last song skipping, but the devil is busy these days so what can I say. Hopefully this is a fitting sequel...rock on.

In life, you have to be like water...go with the flow. Music should mirror life.

Chicago is a city of extremes. It equips you to deal with the expansion summers heat provides to the spirit of the masses, and the crippling contraction of winters oppresive arrival. I've grown up among it all my life, and wish I could say that I've been conditioned to it. But the shackles of the cold have invaded my apartment, and thus I needed some inspiration with my disposition. Drama ensued from there. Enjoy.

I've learned over the years that a job aint nothin but work, and motivating to get out the door some weekdays is truly laborious. On my way to my last day at job that I loved but didn't get paid enough to do...I made this mix. It set me up for a bountiful day, so hopefully that energy transfers over the fiber-optics. Put it on in the early hours, and power up for the battle.

Security is fiction. I've been reminded of that fact somewhat redundantly as of late, but the cool thing about getting older is you also acquire patience...even if only by measure. The universe will push back and test your resolve...see how bad you really want it. So this mix is dedicated to those who are working to master the moment along with the method...to live amongst their dreams. Keep dancin children.

This past week of politics and bullshit has left me exhausted, but I made some time to put together this sunday edition of BACK OF THE BUS because I think you need it just as much as I did. Heavy on the ambient sound, this is a great mix to turn up loud, smoke sumthin and clean your house to. Thats my personal therapy, but hey maybe you like to walk around the house in some draws and fireman's boots...whatever floats your boat, I got yo back. Enjoy.

America has made history and elected my down-the-street neighbor Barack Obama the 44th president of the USA. I along with my fellow Chicagoans had a front row seat for the big day, and the energy has been very palpable. And while I have my opinions about whats in store in these coming months, I'm trying to vibrate high right now and hope that change truly gains traction in the wake of this incredible event. Thus, we have this mix. Plenty of soul and hip-hop to make you feel good as the winter of our history approachs along the horizon.

Tomorrow will be one of the most historic days in American history...the same country that once considered African-Americans 3/5 human being will elect one who's blood crossed the ocean on slave ships to be it's president. Monumental if nothing else...and since any movement worth it's salt has had a soundtrack, I put together this ya dig as we put on our walking shoes and head to the polls. I've got plenty of opinions on politics, but for now I think I'll let the music speak for me.

Over the past few years of doing BACK OF THE BUS, I've cultivated a reputation for presenting some of the more exclusive soul music offerings out there...and of that I am proud. However, I'm a '79 baby who grew up being one of 3 Black people at private schools...so I know aboutz my rock too. This is my tribute to all my fellow headbangers with afros, reppin for this music we created. Everybody can enjoy tho...if I get enough positive feedback, I'll put together another rock joint. Trust, there is plenty in the reserves.

I had the chance to rock out with my homegirl Tina M. Howell(www.myspace.com/theuntamedpoet) and Room 11 (www.myspace.com/roomoneone)this past weekend, and the show was the shit. A drunk bitch even caught a bad case of Rock Fever...it was great. I woke up the following morning still buzzed up from the energy the night before, so I figured I'd put this mix together to mellow me out. Break out the comfortable clothes and put one in the air to this one...you'll likey.

As a Cancer, I'm keenly aware of the perils and pleasures Love can present. As the leaves color the horizon with seductive death, one can begin to assess how far we've traveled on the path to companionship...and thus this mix was born. This is music for love makin, love lamenting and love aspiration. Dim the lites, strike a candle and don't disturb the groove...I hope it's as good for you as it was for me.

Summer has been a viscous lover, full of revelry and disdain. As the hawk hastens Summers departure, I put together this mix to warm your cockles. It starts off sedated, but builds to a warm conclusion so grab some spiked lemonade and kiss the sun.

Thursday October 2nd marked the end of my time @ Swank Society, but not the end of the Back of the Bus. This is my first official mix since departing on my own path...dig in and enjoy.