Neon Brown Radio Episode Three | A Dedication to J Dilla ft. Rev. Shines

Happy J Dilla Month Everyone!

To end the month of February with something special I recorded a dedication to one of the greatest music creators of all time, J Dilla. J Dilla created some of hip hop's most notable and memorable songs and has worked with some of the greatest people in the industry. Not to mention he inspired so many people including myself, to think outside of the box when it comes to this music thing and always create from your heart. His sound was impeccable. It had a raw, organic energy to it, which not many have mastered. Every February there are J Dilla celebrations through out the world, giving recognition to his musical prowess, so if you didn't know, now you know. Look it up and help celebrate one of the greatest musicians of all time. 

As well, I am happy to say I have the homie Rev. Shines (producer and DJ of Life Savas) featured throughout this episode, reminiscing and sharing some stories about J Dilla. Shines is a phenomenal DJ and producer and to my surprise was J Dilla's acquaintance. He shares how this came to be and plenty more. Very stoked to have Shines on the program. Thank you Ryan! In addition, I will be playing all of the records I have picked up over the years, mostly samples Dilla rocked but a couple of his own tunes as well. I didn't get to share as much as I would of wanted but there is always next year.  

On another note, in the last episode of NBR, I spoke on the racial injustice in our country and the businesses that flourish off of this sleaze-bag scheme, one being private prisons. I am happy to say that I have created a petition through moveon.org to put a stop to the privatization of prisons in Colorado. Colorado spends over $2 million of tax payer money on private prisons annually. Now I don't know about you but I would like to see my money go toward positive efforts in our state and help create a peaceful environment, instead of this stagnated, abysmal routine of keeping people down. 

I have attached some links that have more information on private prisons and with good reasons for getting rid of them. As well, I attached the move on petition. Please sign the petition and share it with as many people as you can. Lets get these suckers out of our state. No one should benefit off of others misery. Remember private prisons = for profit prisons. It's a business. 

Thank you to everyone who has been supporting NBR for the last three months, there is much more to come. I not only want to share music and childish humor with you, more so I believe these podcasts are a great platform to create change in our world and this petition is my first battle. I hope to see more of my peers taking the opportunity to make a difference in our communities and seising the chance to live a positive life. I have to constantly remind myself there are no rules to this.

Until next month, enjoy episode three. Many thanks and hugs to everyone spreading love and happiness every chance they get. Keep it moving and turn it up!

- Neon Brown

This Huffington Post article on private prisons gets right to the point. Read it here
This truth Out article tells at the story of bribed judges and a teenage girls worst nightmare. Read here
This Policy.Mic article details Colorado's $2 million taxpayer money submission to private prisons. Read it here

You can find the Putting A Stop to The Privatization Of Prisons In Colorado Petition Here

Track Listing

1. All Things Considered Theme song
2. Neon Brown Introduction
3. 10CC - The Worst Band In The World
4. Lee Fields - Problems
5. Lou Rawls - Season Of The Witch
6. Barney Kessel - The Look Of Love
7. Joe Pass - Giant Steps | Mountain - Long Red
8. Martha Reeves - Sweet Misery | Mountain - Long Red
9. Jay Dee - Fuck The Police
10. Bobby Caldwell - Open Your Eyes
11. Gentle Giant - Talybont
12. Rick Wakeman - Catherine Of Aragon
13. Larry Coryell - Herman Wright
14. Jan Hammer - Peaceful Sundown
15. Ahmad Jamal - Swahililand
16. Stan Gets - Saudade Vem Correndo | Howard Roberts - Dirty old Bossa Nova
17. Quincy Jones - Snow Creatures
18. Dick Hyman - Alfie | The Isley Brothers - Foot Steps In The Dark
19. The Undisputed Truth - Walk On By
20. Dionne Warwick - You're Gonna Need Me
21. Smokey robinson - A Legend In It's Own Time
22. The Supremes - The Wisdom Of Time
23. Jay Dilla - Doo Doo
24. Rev. Shines Story Part One
25. Mike Hankinson - Concerto In Minor
26. Caravan - A Very Smelly, Grubby Little Oik
27. Lauro Nyro - Once It Was Alright Now ( Farmer Joe )
28. Smokey Robinson - Much Better Off
29. Rev. Shines Story Part Two
30. King Crimson - Moonchild
31. The Singers Unlimited - Claire
32. The Weavers - Kisses Sweater Than Wine
33. Eddie Kendricks - My People
34. Africa - Light My Fire
35. Rick Wakeman - Montezuma's Revenge
36. J Dilla - Nothing Like This
37. Donald Byrd - Think Twice
38. The Moog Machine - Age Of Aquarius
39. Rev. Shines Story Part Three
40. The Roots - Dynamite! 

Click the Image of J Dilla to Listen to the Podcast

Click the Image of Rev. Shines to Listen to his music on Soundcloud.

Neon Brown Radio: Episode One Featuring Mr. Len

Beautiful people in Internet Land,

Before we kick it into hyper speed with the Holidays, I thought I'd send you all a gift. I am proud to present the first episode of Neon Brown Radio, a monthly podcast consisting of me playing music from my personal record collection, making fun of NPR (NPR you're not safe), and presenting stories from prominent figures in the music industry. 

I am super excited to have Mr. Len, formally of Company Flow and current member of the Dirty Disco squares featured on this first episode. Len has produced for many talented artists. As well, Len is a phenomenal DJ and knows how to rock a mic. Basically he's a jack of all trades. 

In 2001, Len released his first solo album titled Pity The Fool on Matador records. This record contains a roster of amazing artists, including some of my favorites, such as Breezly Brewin, Lord Sear, and Jean Grae. 

Taco Day, a song created by Mr. Len and Jean Grae for the album, captures the madness and behind mass shootings and presents a strong statement about our country and the disposition we take on such issues. 

Since mass shootings have become a regular occurrence in the U.S. I found it necessary to talk with Len and play Jean and his song, which hopefully creates a conversation throughout the country, whether it's internally to yourself or with friends and family. In addition, Len shares an amusing story about the music industry.

Mr. Len recently curated a 45 boxset for the Brunswick record label with fellow DJ Natasha Diggs, you can check it out here. Lots of great songs in the set, don't miss out record dorks. 

Happy holidays, stay safe, and take back a nog for your old pal Neon Brown.

Click the image below to check out the first episode of Neon Brown Radio

HOMEBOY SANDMAN ON LICE, HIS FREE EP, AND ROOTING FOR THE NUGGETS

Upon recovering from eating a disgusting amount of food over the Thanksgiving weekend, I chopped it up with Homeboy Sandman about Lice. That's right, his new free surprise EP accompanied by Aesop Rock that dropped a few minutes ago. Click the image below to peep the album and aticle. 

Red Bull House Of Art in Denver. Music. Art. Denver. Tirds.

Tonight I will be backing up the homie CRL CRRLL at the Red Bull House of Art, located at 1399 35th St, Denver, CO 80205. We go on at 8:30pm. Fast4ward will be doing his thing as well, should be a great night! Check out the Ultra 5280 article on the jam yah tirds. 

Mister Freedom album now streaming on Soundcloud

FL and I released our first endeavor as the duo Mister Freedom this past weekend. The process of creating this album and getting it out has been a long and tedious one but over all it has been well worth the effort. I wanted to break down the history of the album for you and give a little incite into what it’s all about.

I began creating Mister Freedom two years ago while I resided in Oakland CA. I had a concept in mind to create a montage album, where every song went into the next, focusing more so on the entirety of the album itself rather than individual songs. Therefore, the song structures are not your average hip-hop or pop song structures. This is mainly due to the strangulation of the music industry. Everything sounds the same these days and people are mainly into singles rather than albums.

I was listening to “We’re only in it for the Money” by Frank Zappa a lot at the time and was highly influenced by Zappa’s masterful thought process.

As well, since viewing the film many years ago I had been obsessed with “Mister Freedom” a film by the brilliant director William Klien. “Mr. Freedom is a pro-American Right superhero who fights for God and country by beating, robbing, raping, and killing anyone who looks like they might disagree with him. When he hears that France is in danger of falling to the Commies, Mr. Freedom heads overseas to set things right. When the welcome he receives isn't quite as warm as he expected, he gives up hope of steering the French away from the Reds and decides to salvage what he can by destroying the entire country”(Rocher,n.d.)

 I had wanted to create an album based off this film but take this concept into my world and mold it into something feasible for my generation. Thus, the Mister Freedom album was born. Taking freedom back from the political and social arenas, the big business of music where everything must conform to what sells, and the outline of modern day America would be the theme.

FL and I were acquaintances on social media but did not know one another. One day had seen on Facebook that FL was in need of a DJ. Whenever I visited Denver I tried to book a DJ gig or two to make my vacation a working vacation. I messaged FL and told him when I would be in Denver and if he would like to meet up and get some gigs moving. Unfortunately this did not happen but FL sent me his first solo album “Limbo.” I listened and was thoroughly impressed. The man has style; finesse and can rap his ass off. In return I sent FL my solo album “Teenagers.” He enjoyed it, so I thought why don’t I send him this crazy Mister Freedom shit and see what his reaction is. I sent it, he responded, and Mister Freedom was in the works.

For the next eight months we would send each other versions of songs back and forth via email and talk on the phone about concepts and how we felt about what we were working on at the time.

After that eight-month period my girlfriend and I made the decision to move back to Denver in hopes of buying a house.  Once in Denver, FL and I got together every Wednesday to record, talk, and plot. The recording took another eight-months and then it was onto mixing and mastering. A few months later we had a finished product.

During the recoding sessions certain parts of the songs would come up and FL and I would converse on what to do. If it seemed that we needed someone’s input in the creation and development of the song we would reach out. Sometimes reaching out did not work too well, which led to better collaborations than first intended. Over all, the album formed into its completion in a very organic manner and I could not be happier.

Featured in the album in order is Deca on the song “Zenith.” An original member of the Life Crew here in Denver and currently living in NYC.,this man is such an amazing MC and writer, if you have not heard him please check him out, one of the best. Fast4ward laid down the masterful scratches on “Hello it’s me” giving the flavor most needed to take this tune to the next level. CRL CRRLL is featured on “Mister Freedom” presenting his calm, clean, astounding vocalizations over the chorus.  My brother from another cupboard Mark Clifford played vibraphone on “Suites For Smalls” adding that last layer of sweetness and Vast Aire of Cannibal Ox raps a verse on “In America Today.” I have to say, Vast Aire has been such a huge influence on my music making over the last decade and it is my belief that he is one of the best MC’s to ever bless a mic. I am honored to have such an amazing artist on the album.

As of now, Mister Freedom is streaming on Souncloud and will be available for digital purchase on September 22nd, 2015. Click the image below to check it out and be on the look out for our Indie Gogo campaign in the next few weeks. We’re looking to raise $5000.00 to release the album on vinyl, hire a PR firm, supply the production of CD’s and tapes, and produce merchandise, that’s right, t-shirts and stickers. If we receive $12.50 donations from four hundred individuals, we will meet our goal. Easy-peasy!

Thank you to everyone who has supported, contributed, and enjoyed the Mister Freedom album. There’s more to come and we look forward to sharing our music with you. 

Click the image below to check out the Mister Freedom album

Artwork by Chelsea Chorpenning Photography

Mister Freedom Release party and more!

What up good people of the internet world. I'm writing to keep you informed to as what's happenignwith the Mister Feedom project. As you may have seen or heard Mister Freedom released two singles in the past month, "Mister Freedom ft. CRL CRRLL" and "Suites for Smallsft. Mark Clifford." Both singles have received an immense amount of positive feeback, which FL and I are thankful for and don't worry, there's much more in store!

On August 22nd, we will be releasing our self titled album "Mister Freedom" and will be celebrating this feat by playing the totality of the album live for your pleasure at the Moon Room at Summit Music Hall. This is brought to you by Red Bull Sound Select and DJ Low Key and I promise, you will not want to miss this. We will be sharing the stage with our homie CRL CRRLL, who will be releasing his solo album the same day. As well, Fat Tony from Houston TX will be rocking with us and the main attraction, Towkio  of the Save Money Crew will be holding the floor. Come and say hello. 

The show begins at 8pm and is $3 with RSVP, which you can sign up for here. We're going to have a lot of surprisesin store for the show so please come and enjoy! See you August 22nd! RSVP or it will cost you fifteen duckets!

Just a heads up, we're gearing up to share our indiegogo campaign with you. We are going to release the album on vinyl, and need your help in doing so. We want you to get the most out of this album as you possibly can and feel in doing so we will need a PR firm to help get out the word. The Mister Freedom project is a very special project to FL and I and we cannot wait to share it in it's entirety! Thanks in adnvance for all of the help, we appreciate it!

Next week, we will be releasing a third single with a very special guest, stay tuned and look out for videos and promos later this month. 

If you haven't listened to the two new singles from the Mister Freedom Project please click the link here. 

D'ANGELO AND THE VANGUARD PUT ON THE PERFECT SHOW

Better late than never, here's a piece I wrote for Westword on the Denver D'Angelo show

Chelsea Chorpenning

The Meticulous Magic of Tame Impala's Live Show

A little something I wrote up on Tame Impala's live playings. Enjoy!

Chelsea Chorpenning

Throw Back Thursday | The Unseen Hand

Here's a little gem "The Unseen Hand" 

the homie Mickey Theis and I created a few years back. Mick's about to release a new album"Range Songs.' Enjoy!

First Friday Funk

Tonight, March 6th 2015 at the Bohemian Biergarten in boulder I will be doing an all vinyl, all funk set.  

The Moment I Feared

A little piece I wrote for the Westword about a visit FL and I had to South Broadway. Enjoy!

Red Bull Sound Select | Chicago Show Tonight

Chicago family and friends, FL and I will be performing tonight December 18th at Concord Music Hall in Chicago. I believe we go on at 9pm. We will be sharing the stage with Saba as well as Tree. Come through and say what up.  

Mesa Creepin'

It's been a while since I've posted anything on the cloud so I thought I'd upload a little banger before FL and I bring out this "Mister Freedom" album. This is strictly for lyricists, this is not for the club. It doesn't make you want to get turnt up, but it makes you feel like a cold body just turnt up in the river and now you're in silver bracelets.

Click the image below to here the sweet sounds of Mesa Creepin'

Scratch 510

Over the spring and summer I had the opportunity to help develop a DJ camp with my friends who to say the least, are some of the East Bays finest DJ's. The camp "Scratch 510" was led by DJ's, DJ Lady Fingaz and Max Kane (who have deep roots in the East Bay music scene and have helped mold the sound of Oakland and San Francisco). The camp was a one week intensive focussed on turntablism, music production and the history of the DJ. Scratch 510 was held at Studio Grand which is dear to my heart and is my favorite nonprofit space for music showcases and art in Oakland.

Scratch 510 was developed through Chapter 510, here is some information about them via their website:

Chapter 510 was founded by a group of Oakland residents who, inspired by 826 Valencia, wanted to create Oakland's own literacy project focused on supporting teachers and developing creative and expository writing skills for students. We share a vision for Oakland as a place where our youth and their perspectives are visible and our teachers are honored and supported. 

I want to give a big shout and thank you to Janet Heller (Chapter 510) for having me on the team, Max Gibson (Wine & Bowties) for getting me involved, Jamie Keller (Studio Grand) for sharing Studio Grand's space with us, and Marc Stretch (Foreign Legion) for his insightful input and help. 

Click on the image below to check out a video of the camp which hosts music produced by the campers. If you're in the Oakland area and are looking to connect with the community Chapter 510 and Studio Grand are the places to be and if you're looking for some good shows to go to check out Max Kane every first friday at Lukas Tap Room (Oakland), DJ Lady Fingaz at Funlab (Sebastopol) 08/16 at 9pm, and Foreign Legion at the Elbo Room (San Francisco) 08/13 at 9pm.

Made In U.S.A. Review

The day was a fierce bright grey which seemed to envelop everything in its sight, blinding the common man of the beauty that lay in the land. The type of Brooklyn winter day that could change the attitudes of every native New Yorker from a happy “Hey fuck you” to a GhostBuster Two, ancient sorcerer baby thief. I stepped out of my six hundred square foot steam heated box for my weekly hunt at the 5th Ave Record Shop in hopes of finding what we record fiends refer to as a “Jewel.” This record shop is hit or miss. I usually spent my day rummaging through the entire shop until I found something I could go home with. I had been strictly looking for 45’s at the time since the LP’s were not in the greatest condition (and overpriced), but for those past couple months the store had been completely dry. 

The shop is operated and owned by an older fellow by the name of Tony who seems to have perfected time travel for he is a seem-less product of 1962. He is a small, brute, Italian man with white hair, thin wire glasses, and a seemingly infinite amount of short-sleeved button-up shirts tucked into pastel colored slacks. His musical taste is a narrow range spanning from 60’s rock to doo wop, which is good to know if you’re looking for something he doesn’t hold dear to his heart like The Sylvers 45’s on Pride, you will more than likely get it for a low price. Upon inspection the shop is so cramped it appears to be falling in on itself and gives off an odd smell of wet cardboard and stale farts. On any given day you can go in and find a couple of semi- homeless looking characters from the neighborhood loitering about the shop, chatting up inside jokes. 

This day I came in on a disco kick. I entered and said hello to Tony. In his thick bristly Brooklyn accent he acknowledged my presence with a stuttering, “Ah hey hey hello!” completing the phrase in song form moving up in frequency and note on the end hello. As I went through the first bin of LP's, the album Made In U.S.A. caught my eye. The cover is on that classic coke induced disco look. It has the seven members posing on a drawing of the United States, wearing red polyester suits with the lead Madam Jann Harrison holding the floor. I noticed that this LP was on the De-Lite label (Kool & The Gang's label). I placed the record on the dilapidated Numark portable turntable, which balanced on a stack of records in such an precarious way that one could only take it as artistic. I dropped the needle in the first groove, giving myself to the hypnotic sounds of science. Within a few seconds I knew I had found a keeper. Without listening to the rest of the album I paid Tony and went on my way through a sea of screaming teenagers doused in bright colored clothing, chanting and waiving their hands toward a blanket of grey sky, as if the soft amorphous being had them under some sort of spell. As I passed Fifteenth Street, a homeless man sprawled on the ground keeping warm under an afghan rug yelled out in a drunken slur, “spare some change young blood!” “awright, awright, a vinyl man!, awww-right. Made in U.S. Of A, ohhh! Hey you wanna see some-in crazy?” He stumbled onto his feet swaying back and forth resembling some sort of distorted youth christian rock concert goer entranced by the sweet pop melodies of God. He pulled four teeth out of his frayed front jacket pocket, “These are the teeth of Daryl Gibbs. I won them in a poker game, I won these motherfuckers! Awright.” He then popped the four canines into his mouth like baby aspirin and swallowed. This was my cue to leave. 

 Made In USA (Made In Unity, Strength, Ambition) formed in 1975 and had a very short run in the music industry. Freida Nerangis and Britt Britton, produced the album and picked the band line up with the help of Brooklyn native and alto sax player, Darryl Gibbs. The other members, also from Brooklyn, were Jann Harrison (vocalist), Willie Slaughter (bass), Herbert Aikens (tenor sax), Kevin Hood (keyboards), Charles Morais (guitar), Ruben Faison (alto sax), and Greg Henderson (trumpet). Harrison, a statuesque beauty had sung with The Exciters. The horn section consisted of the players from Crown Heights Affair. As stated on discogs.com, “Their first and only LP Melodies hit the public in 1977. It was a true indicator of the groups' skills, and contained no overdubs, or extra musicians because it was important to the band to be able to duplicate their recordings live.” Nerangis and Britton composed most of the songs including the title track Melodies. The single sold well in New York and Florida but had a stagnant period when De-Lite experienced distribution problems. Then their follow up Shake Your Body failed to move up the charts. It became harder for the band to get gigs in NYC and soon the members disbanded. 

This album is disco at its best. The compositions are seamless with electrifying horn riffs and bounce-tastic bass. A lot of the tunes have beautiful synth lines accompanied by a drummer that is consistently in the pocket. Side A is much better than Side B. However, on side B the song, Shake your Body is a banger. The song starts with the kick and hi-hat preparing you for the groove. Jann Harrison comes in with the help of the band singing “move your body, move your body, move it from side to side.” This song is synth driven with sexual moans and creamy horn lines. It is mind blowing to me that a band with this much talent had so much trouble getting their name out. If you happen to cross paths with this record you should pick it up, you won’t be disappointed, and if you’re in Brooklyn and happen to run into the proud owner of Daryl Gibbs teeth remember, poker is a card game involving strategy, homelessness is a title full of adventure and smelliness, teeth are for aardvarks and vinyl is forever in the hearts of audio wizards whom understand the world’s history through the use of sound waves.

Made in U.S.A - Shake Your Body

Sentimental Bathelopes

Please join me for a very special evening full of libations and music on Thursday May 29th from 6-10 pm at The Layover Music Bar & Lounge (1517 Franklin St Oakland) no cover. Wear your best dressings, I'll bring the salad.

Please join me for a very special evening full of libations and music on Thursday May 29th from 6-10 pm at The Layover Music Bar & Lounge (1517 Franklin St Oakland) no cover. Wear your best dressings, I'll bring the salad.

Coco Butter

Coco Butter is a weekly residency at Cold Crush in Denver CO run by the good folks at Welcome to the D.O.P.E. Game. - See more at: http://iamneonbrown.com/site.php?id=/blog/page/4#sthash.L1qKsVom.dpuf