Get Em High @ Plush ATX

Wanna hear some of the baddest DJs and listen to the dopest sets, then bring your a$$e$ down to Plush ATX Saturday, May 24th at 10:00 PM. On the tables we have Casey Cuts, Dee Huck, DJ Digg, DJ Jeska, and DJ DK. IAMDJDK Entertainment www.iamdjdk.com

DJ Record Pools

After my main music source, ThePirateBay, stop carrying Promo Only torrents I had to find another source for my music other than iTunes. For a out a year I used Rhapsody but they were short on clean edits and I got tired of producing my own remixes and editing tracks. So, I turned to a record pool for my music. 

I searched and searched and searched and most sites and forums will refer you to the same record pool sites, mainly DJCity.com. After reviewing all the sites I narrowed my search down to 4 and purchased memberships to 3 and was offered a trial period for another.   

The Record Pools I chose were; DJCity.com, TheMixTools.com, ZipDJ.com, and ClubKillers.com (they introduced themselves to me via Instagram.). 

Here is what I thought of the sites:

1.  DJCity.com - Great site! Easy to use and top downloads sorted and archived each month. They have tons of remixes and clean edits and a rating feature for each track downloaded. This is a pro and con to me. Pro because I can see what others are using, con because I have to give feedback on every download. The biggest con is they only keep tracks for about 6 months. So anything old that is still hot in the club will not be on this site. I do not recommend this for new DJs just starting to get their music together. This site is for someone who already has a great music database. Price $90 for 3 months. Great for all music genres. 

2.  TheMixTools.com - I think this is the worst one I chose out of the 4. You are limited to 60 songs per month for $19.95 and the clean and radio I downloaded 20 of them were dirty. Imagine if I had a track loaded entitled clean edit and it turned out to be the dirty version at a wedding.  I did t delete the tracks because you are only allowed to download each track once. Honestly, I have not one pro for this site, all cons. You could say price wise $19.95 is a pro but another $10 bucks you can get unlimited download elsewhere. My suggestion, stay away. 

3. ZipDJ.com - Take everything I said about DJCity.com and take to the 2nd power. Great user interface, unlimited downloads but its $50 a month. Way too much for me. I recommend this site for house and EDM DJs. You guys will love it. 

4.  ClubKillers.com - What can I say? I site that at 1st glance I only thought they sold DJ gear but after I registered and joined the music pool I am amazed. They remix after remix and edit on top of edits. I love the CK Cuts and Quick Hitters. Great for all genres and for a limited time it's $35 per month for unlimited downloads. I would pick this one over all of them. 

So there you have it. I will cancel my other subscriptions and keep Club Killers. I would like to thank ZipDj for the tour and for you House DJs who are looking at DJCity check out ZipDJ. They have trial offer of $35 per month. 

Pure: All White Boat Party

IAMDJDK ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS

PURE: ALL WHITE BOAT PARTY

16209 Dodd St, Leander, TX

MAY 25, 2103 - 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM

$35 for singles, $60 for couples

DJ DJ on the 1s and 2s
Spinning the best in Hip Hop, R&B, and Old School Jams

Get your tickets at http://iamdjdkent.eventbrite.com

Pure: All White Boat Party Weekend Offer

This WEEKEND ONLY! Pure All White Boat Party May 25th. Singles Tickets $35 each, Couples $30 each. Get your tickets at iamdjdkent.eventbrite.com

New DJ Setup: Out with Old, In with the New

For the past 6 - 8 months I have been back and forth on the internet searching for the latest and greatest DJ equipment for my new setup.  Since 2010 I have been using the Numark NS7FX but I am beyond tired of using it.  Plus it weights almost 70 lbs in a case so I didn't feel like carrying that thing in the DJ booth anymore so I sold just recently to a beginner DJ.  Don't get me wrong the NS7 is a great machine and for people who don't know how to DJ or never used vinyl to DJ, it's probably the best midi controller on the market for DJs.  But for me, I had to get to vinyl.  If you check out every club DJ they are pretty much using Technics 1200s.  They are the prototype for all turntables but in my opinion the new Stanton 150s blow them out.  Also you will see them using the always reliable Shure M44-7s as well.  In my opinion again, the new Ortofon S-120s are the best needs for digital djing software but M44s are the best on real vinyl.  After several months of reading reviews, renting equipment, and trips to Guitar Center I made up my mind about what I want and I decided to share it with you all.  Take a look and tell me what you think.

HP Smart Buy Business Backpack.

Has the same durability and functionality of any DJ bag and way cheaper.

Rane 62Z
Best Mixer on the market for Serato DJs.




10 Pair of Serato Vinyl
You can never have enough of these plus you can match your outfit or occasion.




Pioneer HDJ-2000-W Headphones
Best Headphones for DJs.  Better sound quality than Beats but not for the everyday listener.  Purely a professional grade set of headphones.




2 Odyssey Black Label Coffins




1 Odyssey Black Label Mixer Coffin




2 Ortofon CC S-120 Kits
Best Needles for Serato




Novation Dicers




Dr. Suzuki White Slipmats
Since I can't find white Serato Vinyl I will use clear over white slipmats.




Akai RPM3 Monitors
Something to place in front of me to help me mix.




White Odyssey LStandMWHT
The most versatile laptop stand on the market.  It has every feature a DJ needs and wants.




2 Stanton STR8.150 Turntables
The best turntables on the market with the highest torque.  Better than a 1200 and cheaper.

So there you have it.  Check out my gear and tell me what you think and tell what you use.

One Love,

IAMDJDK
www.iamdjdk.com

Pure: All White Boat Party Special

Pure: All White Boat Party May 25th #AustinTX #ATX #Austin #RoundRock #CedarPark get your tickets now at http://t.co/1upZnehFxZ. For the month of March ONLY, Buy 4 Tickets and get the 5th one FREE!

6 Ways To Transition Between DJ Sets

Courtesy of DJ Tech Tools.

Have you ever found yourself trying to switch between two DJs that are sharing the same USB mixer, sound card or DVS interface? It’s a common problem in live scenarios, and having a few handy tools up your sleeve can help make a hairy switch seamless. DJTT comes to the rescue with six of our own creative ways to swap laptops while keeping the music rolling.

Ideally, you should have access to a Pioneer CDJ-1000 and be ready to go with a few longish mix CDs with at least 10-20 minutes of continuous music. Unfortunately, things never seem to go smoothly, so it often pays to be prepared with a solid backup plan. This seems to be especially true with Serato DJs who often rely on the same Serato interface the club has connected. Traktor DJs can also benefit by sharing sound cards and preventing any mid-set cable confusion.

Sometimes promoters will just let the music end between DJs to allow the next guy to plug in his computer and cue up the first song. While this can acknowledge the change over and create a natural break in the night, we generally prefer to keep the energy moving.

BIG TIP: If you are playing before someone it is considered courteous to do one-  if not all – of the following: 

• Remove your headphones and walk away from the mixer at the beginning of your last song (dont stand and twiddle knobs, leaving the next poor guy with less than a minute to mix)
• Pick a final song that is as long as possible
• Bring down the energy a bit with the last tracks and create some space for the next DJ to bring it back up at their own pace.
• Don’t dramatically change the tempo suddenly or put on track that doesn’t fit the mood or genre of the night.

HERE ARE THE 6 TIPS PRESENTED IN THE VIDEO

1. The iPod/iPhone Third Deck 

Use an app like the Red Bull BPM DJ app, which has high-quality beatmatching features so you can mix into your iPhone and then let the other DJ remove their computer from the equation.

2. The Roll Loop 

Many mixers now have a “Roll” effect that grabs a small sample and repeats it like a short loop. Just set the length of the roll to the longest possible (usually 8 or more counts) and you can save a full loop of the playing song into memory on the mixer. One DJ TechTools reader suggested also setting the BPM of the effects at 1/2 the natural value. 61 instead of 122 for example, and then you can get a full 16 counts!

With a “Roll” saved on the mixer, the last DJ can unplug and the sound card is now free!

3. The Magic Scratch! 

We love the new Nexus “Noise” color effect. When combined with the crossfader and an echo, it produces a very believable scratch sound that comes from the mixer and requires no sound input. You can use the noise as a transitionary element to fill the gap between DJs for a dramatic and musical effect.

4. The Improv Echo Freeze

No mixers are equipped with the infamous echo freeze by default, but you can approximate it with some quick effects parameter tweeking.

• Set an echo on the down beat
• Kill the playing song
• Quickly lengthen the echo to its longest value – often 1/1

This should keep the echo rolling for at least 10-20 seconds, which can sometimes be long enough to swap computers.

5. Dual Sound Cards

Check out the mixer installed at the club. Chances are higher than ever these days that it might have a sound card installed that you can use. If you are lucky and there is a Rane Sixty Two or Sixty Eight, those mixers are actually equipped with two discrete sound cards, so both DJs can be plugged in at the same time. This makes switching over a breeze.

6. Double-Sided Control Vinyl 

It always surprises me that many DVS DJs don’t realize there is double-sided control vinyl with an analogue song on one side and control vinyl on the other. This is the way I see most well-prepared Serato Scratch Live DJs switch between computers: by relying on good old fashioned analogue signals!  Stokyo stocks a wide range of Serato pressings with music on one side.

Here are some handy links to some of the gear mentioned in the video:

• Rane Sixty-Two mixer review (dual USB port mixer in the video)
• Pioneer DJM-900 mixer review (white noise scratch)
• Red Bull BPM Pro DJ app (iPhone app in the video)
• Donut Shop vinyl (J. Dilla / Serato timecode vinyl)

Pure: All White Boat Party Tickets, Buy 4 Get 1 Free

For March ONLY!!!!
Buy 4 Boat Party Tickets and get the 5th FREE!!!
Go to http://iamdjdkent.eventbrite.com, purchase 4 tickets and the 5th will be emailed to you.

One Luv,

IAMDJDK
www.iamdjdk.com

First Friday ATX

First Friday ATX Presents Aries Suite with Guest DJ; DJ Hella Yella, April 5th

Also don't forget
Pure: All White Boat Party
May 25th
#AustinTX #ATX #Austin get your tickets now at http://t.co/1upZnehFxZ… http://t.co/dNvRoppqSX

First Friday ATX

First Friday ATX and DoUwannaParty.com Presents... "Seduction" Friday, March 1st at TheUpper Decks 301 Barton Springs Road Austin TX!!!Donte GoDj Dontizl Shepard will be in the MIX!!!!— with Ray Medearis, Andre Artis and Donte GoDj Dontizl Shepard.

The SpareFoot Party

Free Entry with RSVP on Do512!
The SpareFoot Party is an unofficial Interactive party and live hip-hop/DJ showcase hosted bySpareFoot, the online marketplace for self-storage. We’re an Austin tech startup success story with a team that takes partying seriously. Sounds range from throwback hip-hop to electronic to dancehall/reggae and beyond. Think dance party with a side of networking.

Our event is free and open to the public, 21+. We’re kicking off Interactive on Friday, March 8 from 8p to 2a. It’s at The North Door, 5th and Brushy St. Details at SpareFoot.com/party.

Talent lineup:
K.Flay (San Francisco) — Live performance + DJ set
Jayceeoh (LA/NYC)
DJ Expo (LA)
Applied Pressure (ATX)
Table Manners Crew (ATX)

Details at SpareFoot.com/party
#SpareFoot

Gucci Mane "Trap God 2"

Mr. So Icy aka Gucci Mane dropped a new music tape that was sure to be a classic.  I was totally wrong.  Instead of making a mixtape he should have trashed all of these tracks.  Out 23 tracks I could not find one I could just vibe to.  I'm really not feeling this mix tape.  Maybe I need to give it another chance.  As a fan of Gucci, yes I will continue to listen to it.  Maybe it's one of those EPs were you need to listen to more than just the beat but listen to what's in it.  But from listening to these tracks so far, the lyrical content is absent.  Gucci is not known for bars but the way he ties his flow together makes him unique but I must say, I believe this effort is trash and even if I listen to it 2 or 10 more times I will not be feeling this mix tape.  Maybe I'm wrong but I do believe I'm right and others will agree.  Let me know what you think.  Below is a link to the mix tape.

http://www.datpiff.com/Gucci-Mane-Trap-God-2-mixtape.453652.html

One,

IAMDJDK
www.iamdjdk.com

The Great Turntable Debate

Are Stanton 150s are better than Technic 1200s?

Yes! Yes! Yes! Stanton 150s are better than Technic 1200s (any model).  Both decks are heavy but the ST150s are built like tanks.  The ST150s weight almost 50 lbs were the 1200s weight in around 38 - 40 lbs.  I used to own a pair of 1200s but the cost to maintain them got pretty expensive so I sold them.  The way the tonearm is built on the 1200s, one good bump will through the tonearm calibration off.  There is no fixing it, just buying a new for $150.  The ST150 tonearm is built much different and can definitely take more abuse than the 1200s.  

The ST150 motor torque is a lil higher than the Technics but both are elite but the speed holds truer when applying pressure on the ST150s.  ST150s looks like Technics too with some extra features minus the 0 click on the pitch control. The feet on the Stantons are spring loaded making for better vibration stability.  Again the main difference is the tonearm and the motor torque.  Higher motor torque = truer speed with pressure and the straight tonearm on the STR8.150s = less skipping.  Most DJs argue the straight tonearm ruins records faster but turning the counterweight backwards does the same thing so WTF cares.

In conclusion, the iconic Technics are still a good buy for 2 reasons, they are no longer in production and they set the standard for turntables.  But with the new Stanton ST.150s, you will see more DJs make the switch due to cost mostly.  I assure you, when they purchase them they will be very surprised and satisfied. 

T.I. SHOPPING FOR A NEW DEAL

Rapper T.I. "TIP" Harris is looking for  a new deal reportedly worth $75 million dollars. Damn!

T.I., Atlanta based artist, is at the near end of his 10 year deal with Atlantic records.  T.I.'s new proposed deal could include three albums and T.I.'s elite Grand Hustle artist.  Also with the deal will be corporate endorsements deals, and a 360-style percentage of his publishing, touring, merchandising, and licensing.  Grand Hustle holds such artist as B.o.B. and Killer Mike.

T.I. has reportedly met with heavy hitters Dr. Dre & Interscope Records and Jay-Z & Roc Nation.  Sony and Universal also have offered the trap music artist 50 million each.

In my opinion, TIP should sign with Jay and Roc Nation. Why? Because like I told you in my first blog, Jay is my favorite artist, lol.  On the real, T.I.'s best choice musically and business wise is to sign with Jay.  Jay could introduce TIP to a new audience.  You know those Frank Sinatra types.  With Jay's help, T.I.'s gun charges will be water under the bridge.  Just look what he has done for Rihanna and Kanye.  Even though the two of them are fucking up but they stay in the press on that media takeout bullshit.  I know TIP don't want that look but Jay can get a Nigga in Paris, literally.  And just for the record, the last artist Dre has signed are in the freezer.  Eve and Busta were there and didn't put out as much as a mix tape.  50 is the hottest artist over there and his music career is in the freezer as well.  He is getting money from other ventures.  Plus T.I., Grand Hustle, and Trap Musik is not a good fit at Interscope. Just a preview of what T.I. can accomplish with Jay, listen to "Swagga Like Us" and "Niggas In Paris Remix."  Even though Jay and Yay already laid their vocals, T.I. killed that shit and when I DJ that is the version of the joint I play.  So now you know how I feel, leave comments and chime in.  I respect everyone's opinion and will be glad to hear.

One,

IAMDJDK

www.iamdjdk.com

A$AP Rocky, 'Long.Live.A$AP': Track-By-Track Review

Wzup World?

With al of the hypes surrounding A$AP Rocky I had to get the album.  Although I don't like any of his singles besides F*ckin Problems, I just had to see why the world is hyping this guy up.   We all know he Rocky is a Harlem cat that is highly influenced by Houston's screwed up style.  Even though his flow sounds nothing like that of a Slim Thug, Z-Ro, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, Lil Flip, etc., I can hear the influence from the deep slow vocal speed he gives on each track.

Now let's jump into the album.

7. F--kin' Problems feat. Drake, Kendrick Lamar & 2 Chainz

Stupid fun to the fullest: the 40-produced Top 40 hit still crackles with a particularly engaging Drake verse and one of the most boneheaded hooks in recent memory. Turn this up and forget your f--kin' problems.  This will be the only Top 40 hit on the album in my opinion.  With Drake on the album this will get him some major attention from the ladies but they will not buy the album only this single off iTunes.

8. Wild For The Night feat. Skrillex 

The moment at which Skrillex's bleary-eyed laser blasts arrive on "Wild For the Night" is one of the strangest in an album full of unexpected pairings. Points given for such a crazily ambitious concept. 

9. 1 Train feat. Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson & Big K.R.I.T. 

In an era of hip-hop where a new "Triumph" is nearly impossible to locate, "1 Train" presents a highly successful summit of the genre's rising stars. All seven MCs are on point, but Yelawolf and Danny Brown make for the most devastating one-two punch. 

10. Fashion Killa

The strongest run on the album starts with Rocky nodding to style icons in his storytelling and smartly getting out of the way of the hazily chopped vocal sample that serves as a beat. Massive replay value. 

11. Phoenix 

Rocky's lyricism rises up on an angry manifesto that wrestles with wealth, respect and suicide. Even if some of the momentum is lost as the track winds down, the MC is finally shedding some light on himself. 

12. Suddenly 

Make no mistake, the 2:28 mark of "Suddenly" -- where the beat comes in and Rocky essentially blacks out over it -- is the best moment of "LongLiveA$AP," but the rest of "Suddenly" soars due to richly revealing lines like "We had cookouts and dirt bikes, and dice games, and fist fights, and fish fries, and shootouts, like one Sig with two rounds." 

13. Jodye 

A bruising bit of boom-bap that would sound at home on a Tyler, The Creator album, "Jodye" allows A$AP to slam his syllables together and sneer without abandon. The track is one of the young MC's most breathtaking battles yet. 

14. Ghetto Symphony feat. Gunplay & A$AP Ferg 

"Dinner date for 1K, shopping date for 2K, bougie-ass bitch made me wait to fuck for two days," Rocky seethes, proving that romance is indeed alive and well. After serving as an exclamation point on Kendrick Lamar's "Cartoons & Cereal," Gunplay once again showcases an unhinged vibrancy. FYI to you other rappers, keep Gunplay off your records.

15. Angels 

The second straight song on the album to sample an Imogen Heap track, "Angels" is a distillation of the album's strengths: vocal distortion, a forward-thinking beat and Rocky's chameleonic ability to sound at home over it. 

16. I Come Apart feat. Florence Welch 

Pairing Florence Welch's big-hearted sincerity with Rocky's cool exterior may seem like an odd decision, but "I Come Apart" doesn't try to overextend itself and establishes a common ground between the artists. Don't be surprised to hear this on pop radio soon.

In conclusion,  I can only give this album 3/5.  A$AP and the producers chosen on the album do not vibe good.  Even some of the collaborations I just don't understand.  Why would you put Gunplay on your album?  This is just one of those weird albums that people will by because Hot 97 and BET is overhyping this kid.  I congratulate him for getting his shot but once you get that shot do more with with it.  I understand you have to do what you like musically but sometimes you need to think outside the box and ask others in your corner to give you an honest opinion about your track selections.  He will go gold but this album will not reach platinum status.  Once the buzz get out that this album is subpar the hype will be over.  Just look at last year. Nas put out a classic album and only sold 80,000 units.  2 Chainz put out an album full of club bangers and went platinum.  With exception of Kendrick, club bangers sale.  And I will end this blog here, take notes A$AP.  If your next project sounds like this one, you will find yourself on an independent label again.

One,

IAMDJDK

www.iamdjdk.com

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NEW VENTURES

Wzup World?

I AM DJ DK here bringing you a new blog on music news and reviews.  NO, this blog is not about gossip or any other celeb bullish*t.  This blog is strictly about new music, music reviews, artist reviews, dj equipment news, software reviews, and much much more.  IDGAF what Chris Brown and Rihanna do off stage.  I am here to listen to their music whether I like it, love it, or hate it.

Now, a little about me. I AM DJ DK, I can't stress that enough.  I am first and foremost a music lover, secondly I'm a dj.  I have a mass music collection and a great ear for music.  I can appreciate any genre of music and get something out of it.  My main love is R&B, Hip Hop, and Soul.  With the era we are in now R&B is becoming a lost art and I appreciate the artist like, Trey Songz, Miguel, & Frank Ocean for keeping R&B original.  I do like what Chris Brown does for the club, but in my car he gets no play unless it's "No B.S." on my iPod.  I'm a fan of Hip Hop minus the skinny jeans.  Aside from Lil Wayne the artist that rock skinny jeans I really don't feel, but I'm like 10 - 12 years older than those cats too.  If I wasn't from Louisiana and didn't listen to Wayne in my youth I would probably pass on his music too.  My favorite Hip Hop artist hands down is Jay-Z "Best Rapper Alive."  Why? Been listening since "Reasonable Doubt."  Most of you say Pac and Biggie but Biggie only dropped 2 albums and Pac I wasn't feeling the albums just his singles.  Soul music I love it all.  70s Soul and Southern Soul.  What is southern soul you ask?  TK Soul, Johnnie Taylor, Mel Waiters, Marvin Sease, Wilson Meadows, etc.  This is Southern Soul music.  That strange music you listen to on Sunday after church that talks about all of you things you have went through and going through in your love life while drinking bootleg beer from the club.  Now what you know about that?  See you have to be in and from the south to have a deep love for Soul music.  Yeah you got Motown but they didn't talk about those back street love affairs like ZZ Hill and JT talked about.

So there yo go.  You know how I feel about music and you see a lil of my passion for it.  I'm currently rebuilding my website, www.iamdjdk.com, and it will be up soon.  Keep looking out for my latest post and music reviews.

Much Love,

IAMDJDK
www.iamdjdk.com