Words by Cherisse Rivera. Photos by Jefry Andres

Audio Trip”, a music, cuisine, and lifestyle event, took place Tuesday, May 18th, at Lux Lounge in Washington, DC’s Mount Vernon Square neighborhood. Originally, I didn’t know what direction the evening would take, but I knew that it would definitely not be your average DC event, especially given the fact that attendees were able to RSVP and get free admission for what appeared to be a very packed lineup of performers, including well-known veteran DJ Rich Medina, DJs Jahsonic & Stylus of the Soul Controllers, Daz-I-Kue, 2-Tone Jones, Waajeed, Roddy Rod and DJ Spinna. Arranged by Lil SoSo Productions and sponsored by Smirnoff, thegenres varied on each floor: old school and new school hip/hop on the first floor, a lively Afrobeat set on the 2nd and House on the 3rd floor. I walked into the venue, and was handed what appeared to be an airline ticket, in keeping with the evenings concept, a trip or journey, and which listed the evening’s schedule.

audiotrip-be there (2010) from ralston smith on Vimeo.

The first floor was arranged in what appeared to be “zones”: there were multiple bars distributing free Smirnoff cocktails, a catering table with colorful, creatively arranged hors d’ oeuvres and hot sauces, a comfortable elevated seating area, and another area for djs and guests. The crowd was a rather motley crew which included everything from men and women of various races in t-shirts with hip-hop related slogans, to those in suits and ties, and African, Asian traditional garb. The night’s performances began with an acoustic guitar set hosted by Nikki Strong accompanied by vocalist Maimouna who sang a soulful ballad reminiscent of a Lauryn Hill. Then suddenly she changed it up and rhymed, showing her ability to master a rapid-fire delivery. This was something one definitely doesn’t see everyday at a plush, technology-laden, mainstream hip-hop venue in DC like Lux.

The evening later exploded into a frenzied dance party when the second and third floor was opened up and DJs unveiled a rhythmic Afrobeat set. Along with the music, artist Aniekan Udofia created a live painting that seemed to capture the intended and actual spirit of the evening, an ethnically ambiguous woman who appeared to be moving her body to a rhythmic beat. It was clear that by the end of the evening, “Audiotrip” sparked a new spirit of anticipation for what DC nightlife may hold for those who have been waiting for “something else”. After all, as the evening’s emcee put it “…everything that’s dope ain’t on the radio…”

Photos by Tashir Lee.

To some Res is one of the best singer songwriters in Modern R&B. To others, she’s not yet a household name. However, to a small group of fans in Washington, DC last week, Res was the center of the world.

Fans packed the Langston room of Busboys and Poets to hear an acoustic performance and a Q&A with DC’s DJ Stylus Inside the Artists’ Studio, modeled after actors’ show on Bravo, sold out quickly, and the finale in the series was one of the best yet.

The setting was an intimate stage: Res starts off timid and slightly nervous but instantly gains control of the crowd. She’s almost shocked when people know her songs. The setlist included a mix of tracks from her classic How I Do, and her latest, Black Girls Rock. Her latest, seem more personal and focused than her previous efforts: Res took the guitar to play a song, Let You Go on a left handed guitar. “I’m too cute to cry all day, ” the lyrics go, “I wish you weren’t such a fucking waste of time.”

To some Res is one of the best singer songwriters in Modern R&B. To others, she’s not yet a household name. However, to a small group of fans in Washington, DC last week, Res was the center of the world.

In several songs Res rails against the industry that never was comfortable with her. On the Idle Warship track “LA Famous,” she talks about her frustrations with the handling of her image and the lack of promotion for her album.

And that was the bulk of her post performance discussion. Why did she not get the play that other stars received?

Discovered by Hank Shocklee, Res was on a world-wind path to stardom. The favorite in backrooms of the record label, her album, How I Do was greenlit and funded. Unfortunately, being a multi-dimensional Black woman causes issues for the label. “I’m a buffet type of chick,” she says about her music. “They didn’t know what department it should be marketed to.”

The discussion was intimate and candid. In response to a question about Nas’ verse on the track “Ice King she says “I didn’t like what he did” to gasps in the audience  “but truthfully everything ain’t for me to like”. She then goes on to tell the story about how she nervously approached him at Baja Fresh in LA. Came to the first show in LA.

Her Second album was never released, and was mirred in label drama. Frustrated, Res asked to leave and never got another deal. But don’t fret–the past 8 years Res has been living life, traveling the world and living on the beach in LA. However, due to public demand, she decided to release her latest album, the free Black Girls Rock.

All in all, Inside the Artists’ Studio was a great way for fans to connect with their favorite artist on a more personal level. At the end of the night, Res and Stylus took questions from the audience. “I personally believe people are ready to see Black people do different shit,” she says in response to one question, and its true.A few questions and several marriage proposals later, I can say that everybody in the room that night was ready for some “different shit.” Are you?

DJ Stylus – Live at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar
Download Part 1 | Download Part 2

Where the party at? Those in the know are already hip to the fact that DC has some of the best DJ talent in the world, and The Mix is a new DJ series which profiles said talent in their native environment–the dance floor.

You might know DJ Stylus, aka The Vibe Conductor, from his affiliation with the Soul Controllers show on 88.1 WMUC, to his recent Michael Jackson tribute set which killed. Stylus is also a contributor to the Washington Post Going Out Gurus on top of his weekly DJ Gigs.

Last Friday, Stylus played H Street DC’s newest hotspot, Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar, and he breaks down the set like this:

Have you been to Little Miss Whiskey’s on H St yet? It is quite awesome and I think it’s about to be the next hot spot. I played there on Friday and had one of the best nights in the booth that I’ve had in a minute. Great mixed crowd and only one stupid request all night. Folks danced up until the final second and I didn’t play any corny records. I planned to play a lot of rock, current electro stuff and pop, but I was actually able to go pretty deep on ‘em and get soulful. Some Brazilian hotties even came in at the end and I obliged their request to take it to Bahia. Totally unexpected.

I was not in the building that night, due to other commitments, however we are all graced with 2 hours of Stylus’ 4 hour set which includes the likes of Little Dragon, David Bowie, Ryan Leslie, Prince, Bugz In Da Attic, and more. Check the tracklist, this is one of the most diverse sets to drop anywhere in the city or the country for that matter.

You can check DJ Stylus every Monday at Marvin or at The Vibe Conductor Blog.

Tracklist:

Part 1 (Download Part 1)

Tigercity – Other Girls
Little Dragon – Constant Surprises
Sergio Mendes – Yes, Yes Y’All feat. Black Thought, will.i.am & Chali2na
King Britt presents Sylk 130 – All The Way Live feat. Capitol A
Blackalicious – Make You Feel That Way (DJ Eurok Kenyatta Mix)
Ohmega Watts – Platypus Strut
Alice Russell – Somebody’s Gonna Love You feat. Quantic
N.E.R.D – You Know What
Chromeo – Opening Up (Ce Soir On Danse)
Dayton – The Sound Of Music
J Boogie’s Dubtronic Science – Inferno feat. Lunar Heights
Speedy Consuela – Sukka Suited
Estelle – Star
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
Tortured Soul – Enjoy It Now
PPP – Dirty Secrets
Digital Underground – Kiss You Back
X-Clan – Funkin’ Lesson
Wale – Good Girls
Ryan Leslie – You’re Not My Girl
Restless Soul – Turn Me Out feat. Shea Soul & Motet
Skillz – (For Real) He Don’t Own Me
Ty – Sweating For Your Salary
Robin Thicke – Magic (Mark Ronson remix) feat. Wale & Mary J. Blige
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Opolopo remix)
Q-Tip – Manwomanboogie feat. Amanda Diva
Cameo – Rigor Mortis
Rare Essence – Body Moves
Chuck Brown vs. Jackson 5 – Chucky Baby/ABC (Illo Rework)
Jamie Foxx – I Don’t Need It feat. Timbaland
I Don’t Need It (Album) feat. Timbaland
Cheri Dennis – Portrait of Love feat. Yung Joc
Prince – 17 Days
Shannon – Let The Music Play
George Kranz – Dinn Daa Daa (dub)
Sygaire – Deux Mille Deux
Amy Winehouse – In My Bed [Bugz in the Attic Vocal Mix)
Anane – Let Me Love You (Masters At Work Mix)
Mr. V – Put Your Drink Down
Omar – It’s So

Part 2 ( Download Part 2)

The Roots – The Seed (Live On BBC Radio One’s Worldwide)
Bloodfire – Funky President (Yes We Can!)
War – Galaxy
Fela Kuti – Shakara
DJ Gregory – Block Party
Nathan Adams & Zepherin Saint – Circles
Enya vs. Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Foremost Boadicea)
Huey Lewis And The News – It’s All Right
The J.B.’s – Funky Good Time
Outkast – Morris Brown
Sleepy Brown feat. Big Boi – Margarita
Outkast feat. Sleepy Brown – The Way You Move
Che Grand – Sex Shooter remix feat. Apollonia
Status IV – You Ain’t Really Down (Acapella)
Prince – Raspberry Beret
Bill Withers – Who Is He (Henrik Schwarz Edit)
Wham! – Everything She Wants
The Jacksons – Blame It On The Boogie (live in Amsterdam)
The Jacksons – Blame It On The Boogie
Michael Jackson – I Can’t Help It (Tangoterje mix)
Stevie Wonder – Another Star
Louie Vega Featuring Raúl Midón – Cerca De Mi
Bah Samba – Tired Little One (Yoruba Soul Vocal)
Michael Jackson – P.Y.T.
Bugz In The Attic – Booty La La
Janelle Monae – Lettin’ Go
Jazzanova – Look What You’re Doin’ To Me feat. Phonte
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam – I Wonder If I Take You Home
Junior – Mama Used To Say
Hall & Oates – Say No Go
Doobie Brothers – What A Fool Believes
Aretha Franklin – What A Fool Believes
D’Angelo – Spanish Joint
Jussara Silveira – Adalgisa
Bah Samba – Don’t Let Them Get You Down

DJ Stylus, one of DC’s most prolific DJ/rapper/producers recently went to London, and while in the UK, hooked up with one of my favorite artists of all time Ty (seriously, y’all should check him if you don’t know) to drop a new broken beat song. The video is a behind the scene version of what went down during the studio session with Ty and his Uprock crew, the result of which should be dropping soon.

Glad to see more people in DC making worldwide moves.

And if you don’t know about Ty, check this video for some perspective:

Ty – Closer

Ty featuring Roots Manuva – So You Want More (refix) One of the beats of all time IMO

(pictures credit Sexy Fitsum)

DJ Stylus and DJ Meistro at Napoleon Part 1
(audio and playlist)

DJ Stylus and DJ Meistro at Napoleon Part 2 (audio and playlist)

This mix is old (by blog standards), but I’m just getting around to listening to it.  Stylus and Meistro drop a dope, and dare I say “grown and sexy” mix of R&B, disco, and underground hip-hop, with tracks from Bebel Gilberto , Common, Alice Russell, and Aloe Blacc amoung others. And what’s this about Daz-i-Kue’s (of UK’s Bugz in da Attic) wife being in the building??? That’s rather random.

myspace.com/djmeistro
myspace.com/thevibeconductor