Many a DJ have searched for a good way to store their vinyl.  I myself have used many methods, including the classic milkcrates.  I then bought one of those metal racks with the wire shelves that you can get at Home Depot; that worked pretty well, but was really an eyesore.  In the end it was actually my wife who found the best storage solution for my records.

The Expedit bookcase from Ikea.  It’s totes perf.  The cubbies are about 13 inches tall and you can fit thousands of records on one of these things.

Here’s mine:

It’s a great price, too.  Just $149 for the big one and it look like a nice piece of modern furniture.  They also have a 1/2 version for just $79.99 which, when laid on it’s side, is the perfect height to put your turntables on top and your records underneath.

Another DJ storage problem I had to solve was what the hell to do with my speakers.  I’ve got 2 big ‘ol Peavey 12 inchers that sit on top of speaker tripods.  I run my turntables through those speakers, but they’re really too big to have out in my living room.  So, I decided to use the speakers as the stand for my turntable coffin like this:

They’re the perfect height.  It’s definitely not acoustically ideal to have the sound blasting out at my shins, but I really don’t play my tunrntables loud in the apartment anyway.  This way, my whole DJ setup only takes up about 10 square feet of floor space.  I’ve got my amp sitting vertically between the speakers and my tabletop cd player sitting on top of that.  I  keep my turntable “X” stand and my speaker stands down in the garage in the storage bin and take them out when I need them for a party.

And that’s how I store my gear.

Tags: music dj turntables records vinyl hip hop

Whoever it was that said not to put all your eggs in one basket, Jigga was listening. First it was the Jersey Nets, now the hip-hop living-legend has invested, through the company he is part owner in: Scion, LLC (not the car subsidiary of Toyota, dumbass), in the clothing brand Artful Dodger. That’s bananas. Who would have thunk it?

A reported $15 million was payed to Scott Langton, founder of Artful Dodger, who will stay on with the company. I THINK it’s the same Scott Langton that designs the upper end line “Scott Langton,” but I’m not sure. And apparently, googling “Scott Langton” does not provide the answer. Did I say Scott Langton in this paragraph enough? Scott Langton.

I’ve never been a fan of Artful Dodger. In fact, I’d be embarrassed to wear it. The stuff is way elaborate; all-over prints, gold foil, embroidery, different color fabrics, etc. It’s pretty damned flashy. But that’s just me and I’m not the one who just got paid 15 million! An, I admit, it’s a good name.  So, I say mad props to Scott Langton on the payday and nice work making it happen for yourself. I will be there one day very soon. You just watch!

With the American Gangster soundtrack (anyone listened to it? how is it?) released just a couple days ago and the acquisition of a thriving clothing line today, it would seem that J-Hova is definitely having a solid week.

Btw… Jay-Z is NOT wearing a sombrero in the picture above.

Tags: Artful Dodger Jay-Z hip hop streetwear fashion tee shirt music

When Chamillionaire dropped a couple years ago or whatever with Ridin’ Dirty, i thought he might be the whackest MC to come our way in a long time. That song was so annoying and they played the hell out of it. His voice, the lyrics, the beat, everything about it was a terrible song.

Howeva!… Hip Hop Police is DOPE! Now, I know this song is old already, but it really hasn’t gotten much air play in LA and I think I only heard it once.

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The first 11 seconds before the beat drops is whack, then he comes in sounding like 50 Cent with the “go go go go go.” But after that, it’s the bomb. It’s got the kind of beat that makes me think of commercial hip hop from like, 2001. It sounds like Gza’s “Breaker, Breaker.” Almost like a wannabe Premier beat. Straight 4-4, bob-your-head rap.

The rhyming is on point, too. It actually sounds a lot like The Lifesavas song “Hellohihey,” where he’s having a conversation with his own ego. Also a really good track. Check it out if you’ve never heard it.

And on top of all that it’s got a verse from Slick Rick who seriously blesses any track he spits on. Remember Street Talkin’ with Big Boi? Hotness.

I now know what all the Chamillionaire hype was about. I guess the record execs at Universal that signed him might know a little something about skills on the mic.

www.wearchildren.com

Tags: music hip hop chamillionaire slick rick streetwear

E. Spleece, a popular Detroit based downtempo and hip-hop DJ, rockin the oh-so-popular fist tee:

GET YOURS NOW DAMMIT!!

This image from a Detroit nightlife mag.

SWEET.

Tags: e. spleece streetwear hip hop downtempo tee shirt fashion dj detroitj