The Spinzone

For the DJ's Spinning Vinyl, Beat Diggers, Hip Hop Culture, Vinyl (Record) Junkies, Fashion & Lifestyle.

Friday, December 19, 2008

DJ House Shoes: The King James Version

By The Funkadelic Relic

"Sick" and "ill" are words that immediately come to mind when I took the time to listen to House Shoes Presents: King James Version. Big shout out to House Shoes for blessing me with the advance press version. I will definitely have him and his family and the entire 313 Hip Hop Community in my prayers wishing them nothing but peace and prosperity for the holidays and beyond.

Shoes, (now located in Los Angeles, CA) co-drafted the blueprint for the sound you now hear coming out of Detroit inspired by the late great James Yancey also known as J. Dilla. Slum Village, Proof, Guilty Simpson, Phat Kat, Black Milk, FattFather and anyone familiar with St. Andrew's Hall or Maurice Malone's Hip Hop Shop can tell you about the importance of his contribution to Hip Hop since the early 90's.

The new album is a tribute to House Shoes' friend and fellow beat digger J. Dilla and all of the tracks were taken from original vinyl. When I listened to the breaks and sounds that were used on the album which was mixed and arranged by House Shoes and recorded by LA's Rhettmatic of the Legendary Beat Junkies I could envision this album as a soundtrack to a day of diggin' in the crates with Shoes and Jay Dee and what they would do during that day. Dig in the crates, find breaks and chop beats and make original fresh music.

The music is what drives House Shoes. Not the music industry. The industry is something he really doesn't want to be a part of and who can blame him? Most hardcore Hip Hop Head are of the opinion that the music industry sucks and always has. Radio, retail and mainstream media really don't know what Hip Hop Culture is all about and they certainly don't respect it.

Make sure that if you really want to experience what Detroit Hip Hop is all about and if you are already a fan of Shoes you're going to be right there when this joint drops on Christmas Day with your debit card in hand in front of your PC, laptop or whatever to get it in your iPod as soon as it is available. I couldn't think of a better holiday gift for any true fan.

Do you want to hear a sample?