Given the way that Triple Stage has treated their vinyl records in the past, it's no surprise they've gotten involved in a different medium. During their four-plus years in Taiwan, the hip hop duo has made a name for itself by breaking LPs into increasingly smaller pieces to see just how small a piece the group's turntablist could scratch on. Now they're starting a self-styled "international interactive cyber turntablist hip hop CD magazine" called 650 and, with it, hoping to raise the bar for the local hip hop scene.
The monthly zine is the brainchild of Triple Stage turntablist, Daniel Jackson (aka DJDJ), who serves as a kind of electronic editor, having created the CD's interactive elements. He's also provided much of its content, along with fellow Triple Stager, Marcus Maurice (aka MC Liquid) and a host of others.
Pop the disk in your PC, double click and a computer-generated stage fills your monitor, with microphone, turntables, a record box and white board. Clicking on the record box opens up a list of album reviews for the month; the microphone holds song lyrics and poetry; the white board will display computer-generated art and photos. Coolest of all, clicking on the turntables opens up a three-part video tutorial on how to be a DJ, hosted by DJDJ. You can even practice on the interactive turntables by clicking on the disks, crossfader and volume controls.
"Imagine that you're in a gallery, but you can select the music you want to hear," Jackson said. "Because we're a CD, we can incorporate art, music and words in one place. ? Right now we're trying to expand. Any words of advice that people have, I'm going to try and make those things happen."
The goal, Jackson explains, is to get other musicians, artists and writers involved. And so they're inviting all interested partiers to a do tomorrow night at The Living Room. NT$350 buys your way in the door, where you'll receive a copy of 650. Triple Stage will perform and the zine will be presented on a big screen. The Living Room is located on the third floor of 8 Nanjing E Rd, Sec 5, Taipei (
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