Big Up Your Punanny Dancehall Hip Hop Mix

The other day, while getting my tires rotated, I headed over to a thrift shop and stumbled upon a dancehall collection. That, in addition to my recent addiction to browsing Ernie B's Reggae soundclips inspired me to put together a little dancehall/hip hop mix complete with horn blasts and gun shots.

You should also tune in to 9th Floor Radio this Friday from 3-5 where I'll be hosting my show "The Swap Meet".

I'll be in Mexico for the month of November, so this will probably be my last post for a bit. Anyone with Mexico City or Guadalajara connections please feel free to hook me up.

Big Up Your Punanny Dancehall Hip Hop Mix Mixed by K-Mac

Novelty Records Part Two: Pee Wee Herman

I've been threatening to do a post on the Pee Wee rap for a while now, and since I haven't gotten any comments on my gospel post I will now subject you to the wonderful world of the Pee Wee Rap. I believe it all started with Joeski Love's "Pee Wee's Dance" which clearly must have become popular because plenty of other people decided to make different records based on the same subject and beat.

MC Boob decided to take the Pee Wee Dance and add to it the Fila dance. Man, I miss those days when Fila's were the shit. I like how he decides to make a clear separation between his song and Joeski's by saying, "Get stupid, y'all", instead of "Get busy y'all." It's those small differences that count. I suppose MC Boob must have had some success with his Fila Dance record because he decided to do another one using the same beat, but flipping the lyrics into a dis about somebody's mother. The similarities between this one and Joeski's original aren't as clear, but trust me, this is made to mix right into Pee Wee's dance. Besides, he says "Get stupid, y'all," again.

My favorite version of the Pee Wee Dance is "The Pee Wee Rock" by Darrin Grant. Darrin separates himself from the rest of the Pee Wee records by stating "What's the deal y'all." Genius. Now, I'm just guessing, but I bet that Newcleus' "Jam on It" must have been pretty big at the time. In a stroke of merchandising genius, Darrin took the Pee Wee idea, mixed it with the chipmunk voice of "Jam on It" and gave us the beauty of "(Do The) Pee Wee Herman Rock (Space Voice Version)."


Pee Wee's Dance by Joeski Love

Do the Fila and the Pee Wee Dance by MC Boob

Yo Mutha by MC Boob

(Do The) Pee Wee Herman Rock (Space Voice Version) by Darrin Grant

Gospel Records

So, I suppose I'll spare y'all my four different versions of the Pee Wee dance until next week. This week I'd like to share with you some gospel records I found the other day at the flea market. Gospel seems to be a hard genre to dig for. Often the looks are completely deceiving. For instance, Andre Crouch sure looks funky, but funky he is not.

So, the other day I showed up to the flea market late in the afternoon not expecting much to be left. I had basically taken a look at all of the stalls that were still left and was on my way out when I noticed a stack of records on a table. As I flipped through I noticed they were gospel and almost stopped right there. But as I looked closer I noticed the members of the band listed their astrological signs. Astrological signs are clearly funky, so I looked a bit closer.
There were quite a few records, but most of them were beat (not in good shape)so I only ended up taking four. I'm sharing with you tracks from three of those four records. The fourth record has been deemed "not funky enough."

Of all the tracks I listened to the afternoon I returned from the flea market The Keynotes' "We Need Prayer" from the album "Wide River" hit me the hardest. It is just the sweetest soul that starts of with a groove that reminds me of Booker T. and the MGs and then turns into an Impressions song with the lead singer going into falsetto. Also from "Wide River" is "Heart of Mine" which completely blew my mind right from the start with its fuzzed out guitar. Fuzzed out guitar on a gospel record!

Along with the Gospel Keystones album I picked up three records from the Sensational Williams Brothers. A quick search on Amazon.com seems to confirm that these guys are still recording. From the album "Taking Gospel Higher" I'm sharing the track "I'm Waiting" and it's instrumental version. I love how the instrumental version basically becomes disco. From the Williams Brothers' "Spreading a Message" I'm sharing "Thank You Master" and "Jesus Understands It." Nice cowbell work on "Jesus Understands It." I wouldn't be surprised if the Williams Brothers were listening to a bunch of Graham Central Station at the time of this album.

And finally, I'll leave you with the track "I've Got a Home" from the Williams Brothers album "I've Got a Home". The brothers decided to add a horn section to this song which gives it a sort of P-funk flavor. I know there's a whole lot more gospel out there that is funkier than this, but I haven't come across it at the flea market yet. Actually, I do have a copy of Voices of East Harlem but it's not very pretty to look at especially when it's on the turntable and you can get a good look at it's warp.
We Need Prayer by The Gospel Keynotes from Wide River
Heart of Mine by The Gospel Keynotes from Wide River
I'm Waiting by The Sensational Williams Brothers from Taking Gospel Higher
I'm Waiting (instrumental) by The Sensational Williams Brothers from Taking Gospel Higher
Thank You Master by The Sensational Williams Brothers from Spreading a Message
Jesus Understands It by The Sensational Williams Brothers from Spreading a Message
I've Got a Home by The Sensational Williams Brothers from I've Got a Home