For people not raised on hip-hop, the history of this influential style of music can be confusing. Pioneers include Kool Herc, the first person to throw a party centered around a DJ, Grand Wizard Theodore, the man that invented scratching, the Sugar Hill Gang, the first group to record a hip-hop single, and Afrika Bambaataa, a former gang member who taught his disciples that hip-hop could help them get away from the violence of the inner city.
What is now called old school evolved into the Golden Era of hip-hop, which started when Run DMC finally got its videos shown on MTV in the mid-1980s and ended when gangsta rap lost popularity in the mid-1990s. In between, the world was introduced to the fight-the-power attitude of Public Enemy, the charm of LL Cool J, the hippy-ness of De La Soul, the lyrical mastery of Eric B and Rakim, the left-field rhymes of Tribe Called Quest, as well as the rawness of NWA and the crude booty raps of 2 Live Crew and Too $hort.
Bewildered? Have no fear because hip-hop class takes place tonight at Luxy’s Da Real Skool party, with one of Japan’s top DJs as teacher.
Photo courtesy of Deckstream
Deckstream’s resume includes working with deceased Japanese producer Nujabes and Japan’s most popular MC, M-Flo, as well as US hip-hop heavyweights Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Lupe Fiasco.
He’ll be supported by three DJs. Vicar is Taiwan’s king of digging; he refuses to even learn how to use Serato Scratch Live, the computer program that most DJs use nowadays. Instead, he keeps it real by playing vinyl. Chicano (光頭) is known as the godfather of Taiwanese hip-hop. And last but not least, Noodles has been a Luxy resident from day one and is the only female DJ to make the DMC world championship finals.
‧ Dssent and GrooveWar present 2011 Da Real Skool featuring Deckstream (with Vicar, Chicano, Noodles, GorDon and Young Souljaz), tonight from 10pm to 4am at Luxy, 5F, 201, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段201號5樓). Call (02) 2772-1000 or 0955-904-600 for reservations (English service available). On the Net: www.luxy-taipei.com. Admission: Tickets are NT$500 in advance, available from the venue, or NT$700 at the door. All tickets come with one drink
The sound of today’s hip-hop is more influenced by electro house music than by funk. The Jump Smokers, a Chicago-based crew that has been making dance floors rattle with their official electro remixes of superstars like Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Pitbull and Rihanna, is playing tomorrow night at the grand opening of Myst, Taipei’s newest nightclub. Located on the top floor of the recently renovated former New York New York building, now renamed ATT 4 Fun, in Xinyi District (信義), and boasting a clear view of Taipei 101, Myst could join the top tier of clubs in Taipei. Only time will tell if it has staying power or fizzles out like many have done before.
‧ The Jump Smokers perform tomorrow from 10pm to 4am at Myst, 9F, 12, Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路12號9F). Call (02) 7737-9997 for reservations. English service available by sending an e-mail to jh@club-myst.com. Free with invitation before midnight. After midnight, admission is NT$700, which includes a drink
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