DJ ALF of Hip Hop Slam
This Way or That Way
20-Track CD
Only $4.99 (plus S&H)
$2.85 (USA) / $6.45 (Int't)
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[
FEATURED ITEM ]
DJ ALF of Hip Hop Slam
This Way or That Way
CD
(HHS-101)
This Way or That Way is the killer new debut album from Hip-Hop Slam's
own DJ ALF featuring collaborations with the likes of Dawgisht, DJ Skizo,
Jimmy The Penguin, and DJ Sniper. Buy the CD here for the discounted price
of only $4.99 and support turntablism 2009 style. Meantime read more info
on the amazing 20 track CD here:
For the past decade DJ ALF has remained below the radar, quietly honing
his turntablist & production skills. But now, the summer of 2009, with the
release of his powerful debut This Way or That Way, the Baltimore, MD
area artist unveils the fruits of his tireless dedication to the art of
turntable. This 20-track hip-hop collection, whose underlying theme is
statement on the music industry and the tough choices that artists are
faced with, features not just ALF but some equally talented guest DJs too.
DJ Skizo and DJ 2p (Italy's Alien Army), Jimmy Penguin (Ireland's Vince
Mack Mahon), Holland's DJ Sniper, and Bay Area to DC DJ Dust-One, as well
as Oakland producer Dawgisht all contribute to individual album tracks.
This Way or That Way also features the emcees Dunn-D, Nations, and
Skahlah.
It was during his six years as a member of the US Air Force that ALF
perfected his scratching skills. "After working 12 - 13 hour shifts at
times I used to practice for at least 4 hours," he recalled of his time
stationed in Okinawa, Japan. A case of insomnia during that period only
helped by allowing even more time for him to perfect his skills. In fact
practicing hip-hop scratch music often acted as a form of therapy for the
Avionics Technician who worked on F-15's. "A lot of my other buddies who
were fellow DJ's in the service, drank their pressures away. Some people
were on the brink of suicide. I scratched my pressures away," said ALF.
Having played the clarinet from the 4th grade to the 12th grade, ALF
gained a basic music theory that would later serve him as a turntable
artist. "Since I used to play in a marching band, concert band, and
orchestra, I must say that alone has helped me easily figure what fits in
terms of doing freestyle turntable orchestration with others," he said.
Like many DJs hearing Herbie Hancock's "Rockit" for the first time, a
young ALF was tempted him to try out a little amateur scratching on his
mom's non motor-driven home turntable. But it wouldn't be until 1999 when
ALF would become a fully fledged DJ. That happened as he was helping his
longtime buddy DJ Ronnie Darko in making his first Mix CD. "I've been
hooked ever since," he laughs.
During his 3 years stationed in Okinawa, Japan, where he would also DJ out
in clubs, ALF frequently found himself under pressure in balancing his
DJing and his Air Force career which often clocked at a grueling 80 hour
work week. "There were times when my plans to DJ at my weekly spot were
cancelled because the squadron would tell me the day before that I had
weekend duty. Sometimes I lost money because of it. So from there, I had
to make sacrifices if I wanted to become a turntablist."
Not surprisingly inspiration for This Way or That Way is drawn from
ALF's first hand experiences including some bottled emotions from his
years in the US Air Force when he could not openly say how he really felt
about his Commander in Chief (George W. Bush) and his reasons to get into
the Iraq war. On the up side ALF's military training and structured
lifestyle left him with a sharp focus and excellent organizational skills.
"It made me become aware that you have to triple check everything in terms
of making a song."
For the recording process DJ ALF used vinyl for all the scratch parts on
the album ("I have no need for Serato.") and worked off of
a Vestax Controller 1 turntable, Vestax PDX 2000 turntable,
Vestax PMC-08, and PMC-05 Pro III mixer, as well as Propellerhead's Reason
program, and Pro Tools LE. "In some form or another I see the songs on the
album parallel to what the artist may see or hear in their surroundings,"
said ALF. "They may tend to ask themselves if they want to approach the
subject this way or that way."
TRACKING
01) "This Way" feat. Billy Jam
02) "Funk 141 Controller"
03) "You Know"
04) "Here They Come"
05) "Put The Needle On The Record"
06) "Lab Insomnia"
07) "Sculpted Music" feat. Skizo and DJ 2P of Alien Army
08) "Judging The Maker" feat. Skahlah
09) "Streptomisen"
10) "TVT"
11) "2015 or 1960"
12) "The Deployment II"
13) "One More Drink" feat. Dunn-D
14) "Let's See Now"
15) "Hedspace Meditation" feat. Dawgisht
16) "Nebula" feat. DJ Sniper
17) "Say Yeah" feat. Dust-One
18) "What If" feat. Nations
19) "That Way"
20) "The Galway Formula"
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DJs of Mass Destruction
WAR II (the turd hunt continues…)
14-Track CD
Only $8.98 (plus S&H)
$2.85 (USA) / $6.45 (Int't)
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DJs of Mass Destruction
WAR II (the turd hunt continues…)
CD
(HHS-100)
WAR II (the turd hunt continues…)
is the sequel to the controversial, critically acclaimed 2003
Hip Hop Slam release WAR (if it feels good, do it!)
whose numerous accolades included making it into Robert Christgau's
"honorable mention" list in the Village Voice.
The latest hip-hop anti-war/pro-peace collection is again produced
by the DJs of Mass Destruction (Billy
Jam, Dawgisht, DJ ALF,
DJ Pone, & DnZ) with repeat
cameos from Public Enemy, Shing02,
and Steinski as well as first time contributions
from the likes of emcees Little Larry and Will
Villainova, DJ/producers Backyard Bangers,
and UK hip-hop wordsmith Braintax. What helps
make WAR II's message resound so strongly is the fact that several
of its contributors are or have been members of the US Armed Forces
including ALF, Dunn-D, and OkiZoo.
TRACKING
01) DJs of MASS DESTRUCTION / “The Turd
Hunt Continues...”
02) SENECA + SHING02 / “WarTimes”
03) DJs of MASS DESTRUCTION / “Shut Up
& Listen”
04) DUNN-D / “Wake Up”
05) STEINSKI / “Number 3 on FLT 11: a dirge”
06) WILL VILLAINOVA / “Same Year, Different
Number”
07) BRAINTAX / “Exit Plans”
08) PUBLIC ENEMY / “He Got Game / Fuck
The War: Live in London (DJ Pone remix)”
09) ALF-a-DAWG / ”Don't Worry? (Katrina
Blues)”
10) LITTLE LARRY / “Peace On Earth Rap”
11) OKIZOO / ”Soldiers Letters”
12) DJs of MASS DESTRUCTION / “Addicted
To Oil”
13) DJ ALF / “The Deployment”
14) BACKYARD BANGERS / ”The Road of Good
Intentions”
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