There is a few instances in your life when you walk somewhere and feel like you’ve been transplanted into another time or place. Saturday’s Wild Style reunion tour right in downtown Baltimore was like de ja vu for someone who grew up on 80′s culture where hip-hop purists of modern times are rejuvenated by pop-lockin bboy battles, crate digging vinyl cutting deejays scratching on tables attending to a crowd of graffiti writers and backpackers tagging up walls all around. This was the scene over the weekend at Load of Fun in the Arts District at the heart of Baltimore that played a startling contrast to modern day radio’s depiction of rap. If nothing else, its proving that the roots of the art form are still alive and supporters are die hards who will never let the pop culture of today forget its true heritage.

For those not in the know, Wild Style is the 1983 motion picture dubbed “the first hip-hop movie” and had a list of cameos from that era including legends such as: Fab Five Freddy, The Rock Steady Crew, Cold Crush Brothers, Grand Master Flash, Busy Bee and many more. The film directed by Charlie Ahearn became a cult classic over the years being co-signed by everyone from Nas to Cypress Hill.

While many people where getting ready for their Memorial Day break I had the pleasure of taking part in this incredible event over the weekend. Of all the shows I’ve been to in Baltimore this in my opinion had to be one of the best. Two minutes after walking in the door you feel like you’ve stepped into another World. Hand painted vintage boomboxes strummed the walls on display courtesy of Atlanta’s Mad Clout crew while DJ’s spun early breakdance and hip-hop classics. Vendors displayed artwork and Wild Style memorabilia including blown up photographs from the set of the movie. In the middle of the gallery was the Vintage Clothing Limited table showcasing all of our shirts and fitted hats and directly across from us was the main stage area.

In the main stage area the Wild Style movie played on a large projector screen as bboys battled looking like they just stepped out of the movie flexing their skills for the love of the art and culture. Walking through the main stage area to the back alley your hit with the smell of spray paint fumes and the incredible sight of hundreds of tags and murals sprawling across the alley walls spilling onto the streets in a decadence of colors and styles. Back packers and on lookers created a surreal atmosphere as everywhere you turned you seen someone with a black book in hand sketching or graffiti writers with their catalog of cans at toe getting up all around you. From the street level to writers on scaffolds and ladders, the artwork for fans of the culture such as myself was truly something to see! Right there in the midst of the crowd was even graffiti legends Cope 2 and Indie 184 creating a Wild Style dedication next to local Baltimore artists swapping cans and enjoying the experience.

Later in the day I had the privilege of meeting DJ legend and the “creator of the scratch” himself, Grand Wizard Theodore! He was digging the wears at our Vintage Limited table and even picked up one of our shirts! I also had the honor of seeing the master at work as he cut up the tables. “No Serato! Look at that!” Busy Bee chanted in the background as the Grand Wizard used his elbows to scratch a rock rift back and fourth of a classic 80′s breakbeat juggling the records in perfect sync with his decades of experience being evident to his DJ peers giving props from the crowd cheering.

Over the course of the night I met up with hundreds of people. I must have handed out well over 300 business cards to passers by and talked to everyone who walked up and gave us props for the quality in our line and the amazing artwork. To everyone who came out I can’t tell you enough how encouraging it is to hear your feedback on what we’re doing! Its enouraging and humbling! Much appreciated and much respect!

Also, big props to Garth from PEDX Baltimore who really took care of us and hooked us up with the best table in the gallery! Also shouts to Garth and PEDX for putting on this event in collaboration with Busy Bee and the rest of the Wild Style crew! The event was truly authentic as not only was Charlie Ahearn the director of the movie on hand but so many other respected cast members and contributors to the movie lending to the atmosphere.

All in all it was a great event and the Vintage Hip-hop experience is one where I feel the most at home!! I hope that Vintage Clothing Limited can be part of more events like this one in the future.

If you missed out. You missed out big!

Photo’s from the event are up on our Facebook page if you’d like to check them out go, HERE

-Shaun

If your like me you live most of your daily life digitally sifting through files looking for new ways to sort the crap you amass on your desktop. How about that beat you made 2 years ago but you want the original sample you recorded off that rare record that is nowhere to be found? You know you have that Pro Tools session around here somewhere!? Or how about that backup of your mp3 collection which only exists on your iPod that’s about 3 years old and about to die any day? Tell ya what, I can’t think of a cooler way to backup my stuff than on one of these gems I came across today (thanks to DG).

If the Akai MPC 2000 XL Flashdrive isn’t your thing there’s also the EMU SP1200 version available. I think I might just have to stick this next to my cassette tape replica tape dispenser (seen here). Apparently I tend to collect these random finds nowadays.

-Shaun

We’ve been friends with Wordsmith for a little over 3 years now. First meeting and seeing him perform at our launch concert in May 2007 I knew right away that big things were in store for this Baltimore native MC. His background in performing arts was a quick draw while seeing him act out his songs like plays on stage, all while never missing a beat on the mic and dropping lyrics that solidify his moniker. Fast forward to March 2010 and this long awaited debut album hit stores, radio, internet and videos like an LA wildfire.

Wordsmith presents 20 tracks for your listening pleasure. What he calls his “movie on wax” as each song plays out a story and the album a 3 chapter chronicle which does everything from paying homage to the pioneers of hip-hop’s past to rocking the blocks and clubs in today’s market and sound.

Make  sure you pick-up a copy of “Vintage Experience” today and enjoy it all Summer! You can grab a copy online at both iTunes and Amazon and preview the tracks as well. Also, be sure to check the album cover designed by Shaun B. (of Vintage Limited) and a few of our shirts make a cameo on the cover art as well playing into the “Vintage” theme of the album concept.

Vintage Clothing Limited is the Official Clothing Sponsor of the “Smoking Needles Tour 2010″ featuring Phife Dawg (of Tribe Called Quest), Chip Fu (of Fu-Schnickens), and DJ Rasta Root! The crew will be traveling all over the map beginning with Copenhagen on March 12th and wrapping up the tour in Brussels on March 27th. We will be checking in with the three as their travels take them to all over Europe for a unique blend of classic hip-hop that’s sure to make an exciting showcase! If you have a chance to catch one of the show’s you can expect to see a Vintage Limited t-shirt being represented on stage as well as a banner, stickers, and other materials like flyers lining the venues at this month long Europe tour!

Also, be sure to pick-up your official Phife, Chip Fu, Dj Rasta Root tour shirts designed by Eric Nine and Vintage Clothing Limited! (currently available in Europe only during the tour). Soon to be available in the US @ our online store!

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Beat producers have hailed the Akai MPC as the holy grail of legitimate production for more than a decade. Not to discredit my mpc fanatics but the Akai is basically a mini-computer in-itself triggering samples loaded onto pads recording midi patterns for playback. Having said that its no surprise software engineers have tried to duplicate the Akai’s owner loyalty and user experience for years. Some have had success in the digital production age while other more “purist” producers are quick to discredit a software created beat’s legitimacy.

Here enters a much anticipated player in the game by way of Native Instruments Maschine. A one-part software editing/sequencing suite and one-part hardware interface much like the mpc. While the verdict is still out on the legitimacy of software engineered beats because it allows anyone with the money to purchase the software and a gang of downloaded drum kits from the internet to call themselves a producer… There is no shortcuts when it comes to real talent. I once heard a well known producer say that many people like to talk about the tools they use to make their beats but no matter what tool is used its the talents of the producer and their ability to master whatever is at their disposal to craft masterpieces that truly makes you note worthy. I like that!

For more info on Native Instruments Maschine, visit their website here.

This is an open call to all beat producers! The Vintage BeatLab podcast presented by DJ Bonezelli and Vintage Clothing Limited would like to invite you to send in your beat submissions for consideration on future beat mix podcast episodes!

What is the BeatLab Podcast?

Think of it like a 30 minute beat tape released every 2 weeks in podcast form so fans can subscribe through itunes and have it automatically downloaded when a new mix drops. Its all underground beats with no lyrics so you can throw this on and do some work or chill or set a mood without any lyrics or artist distraction. It’s all about the beats!

Our podcast DJ (DJ Bonezelli) travels the World collecting beats from producers both know, unknown, commercial and underground and his beat collection is incredible. You might hear a Madlib beat then a Dilla joint followed by The ARe, then Alchemist, then Black Milk, M-Phazes, YOU and so on…

What do I send in and how?

Producers can submit beats through email attachments or links in an email to: beatlab@vintagelimited.com – The stipulations are that the music need to be in mp3 format at least 192 kbps (or higher!) but no more than 512 kbps to keep file sizes manageable on our end. No more than 5 beat submissions per email and all beats need to be fully ID3 tagged (which you can do in itunes) with artist name, album name (if applicable), and beat name. If a beat is from an artists album other than you (the producer) then the name should be as followed “song name (instrumental) – artists name – prod. by producers name”. This should help us to keep stuff organized.

Also if you have press sheets, album release information, etc. Please feel free to send us that as well. Please note that not all beat submissions will make it on the rotation and will be up to the podcast dj to make all final playlist decisions. We definitely appreciate your interest and send in those beats!

Check out the Vintage BeatLab Podcast now, right here on our site. You should also subscribe on iTunes now here.

Thanks and Best Regards!

Baltimore clothing boutique PEDX (who we’ve been promoting in the past couple months both in our newsletters and here on the blog) in February had planned to teamed up with us here at Vintage Limited and sponsor their weekly hip-hop show called Always Dope. Originally the event was scheduled for February 2 but due to a record breaking blizzard that pretty much paralyzed Maryland that event was postponed.

Last night at the swanky club in the Mt. Vernon district called Red Maple, set against a cold and rainy Tuesday evening backdrop, the rescheduled event took place. As planned we were in the building full force, and regardless of the less than the capacity crowd we had expected (due to a number of factors) those who came certainly got their entertainment fix for the evening. Around 11:45 Wordsmith hit the floor, mic in hand, and crowd raring to hear some heat. Word definitely did not disappoint. He left it all on the floor as he walked away, sweat from his face and exhausted after an energetic performance as if appearing before a prime time tv audience. Even know there was no Leno in attendance a video crew was capturing the set. I had my camera in hand as well and took plenty of photo’s to document the night. Below are a few but for the full effect you need to head on over to our Facebook fan page and check out the photo gallery here.

A big shout out to Garth the owner of PEDX for his hospitality and for the opportunity. I’m sure this won’t be the last event we’ll do together and I definitely look forward to more in the future. Also, a big thank you to all the blog readers, and people who receive our newsletters and support us with your purchases. I got the chance to talk with a few of our local supporters last night and its always inspiring to hear that you like what we’re doing and rep us hard! Thanks for the compliments coming first hand and face to face. Much respect!

Part of a four chapter series, Wordsmith, an MC, discusses Chapter I of his upcoming album “Vintage Experience”.  The album will be available for purchase on March 30, 2010.

Learn more about Wordsmith and Vintage Experience by logging onto his website www.wordsmithmusic.com

This video Interview was produced by Olawale Ogbonlowo for 4sight Pictures. Shaun B. of Vintage Limited designed the album cover  seen in this video. Also you can download the latest mixtape by Wordsmith by going here now to get you ready for March 30th!

I’m not late on this one because yes I know its been out for a minute. I just keep finding myself looking for the video online every few months since first seeing it and being utterly amazed. The creative genius who thought this up needs to be applauded. Wow. Not too often you see a hip-hop video with this much creativity and uniqueness. It beats rapping into a camera from different angles any day. Check it out.

It’s not too often a clothing line will shout out a competitor but a few weeks ago I came across this exceptionally well done video for a line I had never heard of named Defam Nation (obvious play on the word defamation). The video struck a chord with me because I keep finding myself coming back to it for the shear volume of art and message they having going on at several subconscious levels. I must say it was very well done. Take a look.