Former Subterraneanz rapper and host "LCJ" and True Justice, bring their unique vision of "DJ battles" to the Elbo Room, 647 Valencia in San Francisco, on February 22nd, for "Just Scratch 2". This remarkable format pits DJ and rappers against each other with one proviso: You must rap and scratch with John Coltrane! You heard me, any Coltrane LP, instrumental of your choice, but it must be Coltrane.I must say, I've never seen anything like this, and it's a novel concept. In the 1990's William Burroughs blended jazz recordings of Miles, Weather Report, and others with his spoken word, and saxophonist Branford Marsalis used the works of Maya Angelou and others over his music with "Buckshot LaFonque", but nothing like this. Judges for this elimination battle will be famed bay Area icon Kevvy Kev of the Drum/ KZSU, Gelo- Jus'Scratch Champion, Pone-Canned Beats Transplants, and Deeandroied-Skratchpad.
The event is being sponsored by Ultrasounz, Bside Records, Norcal DJ MPA, and Skates On Haight. The rules for the event are pretty simple: Participants/Battler must be 18 years or older, to "spectate", you must be 21 and over.
Mandatory Record: Any John Coltrane (Jazz LP), Instrumental your choice but you must scratch w/ John Coltrane (Jazz Vinyl). Eliminations (1) 1 minute round, Top 4 picked to go to the semi final. Semi Final (2) 1 minute rounds, Top 2 picked to advance.
Final: Question and Answer session, Anything goes so just practice. They will have the crowd pick the instrumental to use and they will have bargain bin jazz records to choose from to scratch, pick a sound and go for yours (4 rounds, 20 seconds a piece). "$100 Cash Guaranteed prize and Goodies From Our Sponsors..."
For battle entry, sponsorship or info: Please contact FMS Worldwide at 707-427-3118, or email fadermasters2@sbcglobal.net. Leave your name, nickname, email and telephone number (cel or res). Also please send a pic of yourself scratchin' (.jpeg or .psd) format. Good luck!
The Subterraneanz Return?!
Well no, not exactly. The members of Subterraneanz have gone their separate ways since their demise a few years back, LCJ is hosting "Just Scratch 2", and "Live Hip Hop", Thursday nights at Berkeley's Ivy Room. Their spinmaster supreme, "Hyp", singer "Gypsy Luv", and "Louis Da Saint", formed the trio "Triple Ave.", keyboardist and Subz co-founder "Nyambezi" continues his exciting solo career, and the incredibly talented bassist Mike Shea somehow finds a way to still perform with all of them. As for the inimitable "Tranque", he has apparently re-surfaced in Brooklyn, New York's Hip-Hop scene.
All of these forces are scheduled to collide, (minus Tranque), at the Ivy Room, March 9th. This will NOT be a Subterraneanz reunion in the strict sense of word; each act will be performing separately, however one can only imagine there will be some "sitting in" that night. We'll keep you posted, but I'm told a certain Drummstick player may also join in the fun!
