"The 86 Train" Mixed By DJ IMANI (Deep Latin House)

This mix is for all of you trainwrecking, buster ass DJs out there.  I had to make a new mix after going out last Saturday night. I just can't help but get fed up and frustrated at DJ's that simply can not mix to save their life! I can't count on my fingers (or toes) the amount of DJ's I've heard that just do not know how to beat match. It absolutely boggles my mind! I'm not merely talking about rookie DJs either, No No No, I'd give them the benefit of the doubt with a "Get Outta Jail Free" card. I'm talking about HEADLINERS!!!

Now in order to keep the peace I will not mention names, but if you saw me out on Saturday, you know exactly who I am talking about. I'm not trying to black list myself with other DJ's, so I'm not going to mention specifics, but there is a fat roster of DJ's that I've heard who always trainwreck. I'm also perplexed that these shitty ass DJ's are pulling in thousands of dollars a night.

These are unfortunately also some of my favorite producers, and promoters that are guilty as charged, and should refund my admission personally, like I had a receipt at WalMart. If I'm paying between $10 and $30, you better damn well be sure that I intend to hear top quality from those speakers.  When I hear bad mixing, it makes me cringe.  It's like nails on a chalk board to me. Once in a set is fine, but repeatedly?  That's inexcusable, especially at the rates they are charging.

I think the problem is that these so called "DJ's", are not really DJ's. They are only producers and promoters. They usually suck behind the decks, even though they have built a strong fan base. They blew up too fast, but never actually had DJ experience, or have never performed for a crowd.  Now they are getting booked for shows, and even though they are not ready, they don't want to turn down money.  Especially because they are probably not making money with all the piracy.

I swear to freakin Allah, Jehovah, and Lucifer, that I've even seen crowds of hundreds cheering them on, as if they are actually doing something.  Meanwhile they are just butchering the sound waves and my ear drums. I'd rather listen to a handful of marbles thrown into a garbage disposal. Their mixing sounds like 3 shoes in a Dryer. I just don't get It. The first thing you learn as a DJ is how to mix. Even if I'm at a wedding, I expect to hear the DJ mixing. If you merely Fade Up/Fade Down tracks, YOU ARE NOT A FUCKING DJ! There are rules to this game, and if you can't follow them, you might as well hang up your headphones.

I have only been spinning since 2004, but there are some 15 year veteran DJs, that are making mistakes that an amateur would make. Here are the four basic elements of a DJ: #1-Music Selection, #2-Learn To Mix, #3-Read The Crowd, #4-Promote Yourself.  One weak link in this chain, and all bets are off.

This is my call out mix to all the DJ's that consistently trainwreck! You all need to be 86'ed from every club until you can learn to mix.  I'm not talking about masking the problem with cheap tricks either. If you are constantly getting on the mic to hide the mix, or just constantly scratching in the next tune, like you have a rash, than you need some more training young Jedi.

1 - Candela - John Beltran
2 - Magia (Faze Action Horny Mix) - Banda Black Rio
3 - Pienso En Ti (I Think Of You) - Masters At Work Feat. Luis Salinas
4 - Carib's Leap (MKDVJC Twisted Main Mix) - Ian Friday
5 - Macumba Walele - BIBI
6 - Samba Consumo (CrisP mix) - Sumo
7 - Future Paradise - Yosaku
8 - Never Seen It Comin - Mudfoot Jones
9 - Theorema Del Faya - Anto Vitale (Ian Friday Tea Party Mix)
10 - Like A Sunshine, My Memory [EOL Mix] - PUSHIM
11 - Stargazer - KYOTO JAZZ MASSIVE

Download The Tracks Individually Here

"Weather Storm" - Mixed By Imani (Deep and Darker House and some Soul Brokenbeat)

Weather Storm was mixed on a rainy night. There was a really lonely feeling in the air cause it had been pouring all week. There was a travelling carnival in town, in this big open field, and every time I passed by it, it was barren. No one wants to be walking around in the mud, and slipping on the ride's steel walkways and stairs. Everyone was dreary eyed in the bar and seemed reserved. I've been suffering from some serious back pain myself, so I needed some heavy beats to get my mind off of this misery. Miami's WMC 2009 is only a couple of weeks away, so that should help. I wanted to get insanely dark with this one, but I figured it wouldn't work with the tiny crowd that was at this gig. 

There are a few upbeat tracks to keep some variety to the mix, and a couple of old favorites. My goal was to make a mix that would be good for background on a rainy night, just relaxing, or a late night rendezvous. It wasn't exactly as I had intended, but that happens with live mixes, especially when people are coming up to the DJ Booth to chat, compliment, complain or whatever. You still are spinning for a crowd, and need to read their body language, and cater to their moods.  It tends to distract and alter the recording process, and in my case, sometimes it switches my mood.  The worst is when drunk asses keep coming up and bothering me with requests.  People who make stupid requests are worse than someone punching a surgeon in the arm as they are tediously giving laser eye surgery. Or someone who is on their cell phone during a moment of silence at a funeral. You've got to have nerves of a champion if that shit wouldn't get to you.

Anyhow, I love the song Weather Storm by Massive Attack, so that is where I got the title, even though that track is not on this mix.

1 - Astrology - Blaze
2 - Be With You (DHP Mix) - Carolyn Harding
3 - Japan - Neurotron
4 - Hiya Kaya (Rocco Deep Mix) - Kentphonik feat. Khensy
5 - Mirror Dance - Afefe Iku
6 - The Rite Place - Blakkat
7 - Illuminations - Ski Oakenfull
8 - The Oldest Story (Swag's New Story Vocal Mix) - P'Taah
9 - Paper Chase - Clara Hill Meets Vikter Duplaix
10 - Like Rain (Nomumbah Remix) - Tamara Wellons
11 - On My Heart (Dub) - Isoul8 Feat. Paul Randolph
12 - Drifting Away (Nacho Marco Remix) - Chubby Dubz
13 - Deep House Soul (Vas & Mr Jones Remix) - Vas Floyd

Download Individually Here

"Malt Liquor In Wine Glasses" Mixed By DJ IMANI (Trip Hop, Nu Jazz)

This is a live mix recorded in Oakland, and is full of Hip Hop and Jazz elements creating a classy vibe here in the concrete jungle. There are a few classic hip hop tracks covered by Jazz musicians, and a few Soul tracks covered by hip hop collectives. There are some huge, staple songs in the downtempo world on here.  Some of these are defining breakout tracks that shaped these artists and helped them blow up. Especially the St. Germain and Tosca Tracks. This mix was spun on a Friday night, so even though it's mellow, it still has a crunchy feel so I wouldn't put anyone to sleep.

1 - Runnin' - Visioneers
2 - All I Need - Roy Hargrove
3 - Push 'Em Up - Armand Van Helden
4 - Brooklyn 1, 2 - DJ Cam
5 - Damn - Nightmares On Wax
6 - Keeping The Motion - DJ Krush
7 - Electro Space Modulator - Ming & FS
8 - Music Use It - Lalomie Washburn
9 - The Global Village (Instrumental) - Nickodemus
10 - Rebirth - A Forest Mighty Black
11 - Suzuki - Tosca
12 - The Mirror Conspiracy - Thievery Corporation
13 - L.O.V.E. And You & I (Dr. Ghe Mix) - Jazzanova
14 - Electric Relaxation - Jeff Lorber
15 - Sure Thing - St Germain
16 - Afros In Ya - J Boogie's Dubtronic Science
17 - Etoh - The Avalanches
18 - But The World Moves On feat.D-MADNESS & Masato Nakamura - DJ Krush
19 - Ike's Mood (on 2) - Visioneers
20 - A Tribute to TROY - J. Rawls
21 - Hot Butter - Armand Van Helden
22 - Bring It On - Dual Control
23 - Jazz Potato - Mr. Scruff

Download The Tracks Individually Here

Concrete Rose-Mixed By DJ IMANI (Soul Remixes, Trip Hop)

How freakin beautiful is this pic?! Graffiti and a totally smokin hot girl???  Two of the greatest things in life!!! Its like taking a hot, deep dish pizza with all the freshest ingredients, and then sprinkling it with Diamonds. Or taking some Shrooms and then deep sea diving in the most tropical ocean. I don't know, that's all I can think of right now, hahaha.

This mix combines my love of Trip Hop with Soul.  Fresh beats with a ton of Remixes and Covers. There are some bad ass versions on here, and a rare Jamiroquai cut that is not on any album. I got the title from something Tupac said in an interview. He compared himself to a rose growing out of a crack in a concrete sidewalk. The rose is all beat up, barely surviving, bruised, stepped on, malnutritioned and withering. He said some people passing by say, "That rose is ugly and hopeless!" While others stop and admire the rose and say, "Holy Shit! That rose is surviving in concrete!"

That's my life right there. I never thought I'd live to see 27. I had a hard upbringing, in poverty, with shitty education. Topped off with a distant family, and growing up in the armpit of deep East Oakland. Fuck all that though!  I grew up outta that shit and rose above.   It's hard to rise above when you are living in those conditions, and you will always bear scars, but having risen out of the muck has opened my eyes so much. I feel like I can appreciate more of the little things, and no problem is too big for me to handle.

This mix is an example of my transition from super hood life to just slightly less hood life (Haha, I'm still working my way up).  There is some heavy hitting Trip Hop and some amazing Old School remixes.

1 - It's Your Thing ('95 Extended Remix) - The Jackson 5
2 - Get the Third (Instrumental) - J-Live
3 - Last Tango In Paris (Herb Alpert Cover) - Gotan Project
4 - Shake It Loose - Mo´ Horizons
5 - Just a Little Lovin (GB Remix) - Carmen McCrae
6 - Jealous - Marcel
7 - DJ Kicks - Terranova
8 - The Werewolf Break - Ben Human
9 - Big Mouth (Nomadic Remix) - Whodini
10 - Don't Look Any Further (DJ U.F. Low Mix) - Dennis Edwards Feat. Seidah Garrett
11 - Bullet - Jamiroquai
12 - Day Dreamer - Josh One
13 - Lover Man (Jazzelicious Remix) - Sarah Vaughan
14 - I Want You (7 Samurai Remix) - Marvin Gaye
15 - If You Want Me To Stay (S.A.T.F.S. Cover) - Devin Lima
16 - Violin Madness - Da Damn Phreak Noize Phunk
17 - Hydroponic Jungle Throwdown - DJ Frane
18 - Tribute To King Tubby - Fatboy Slim
19 - Fresh Rhythm - Quantic
20 - 24 Carat Blag - Herbaliser
21 - Lapdance (Paul Oakenfold Remix) - N.E.R.D.
22 - Nevas\Da (Featuring Anik) - Ming & FS
23 - Reservoir Dogs - Armand Van Helden
24 - Black Widow - K-Scope

Download The Tracks Individually Here

"Darker The Beat, Sweeter The Groove" Mixed By DJ IMANI (Trip Hop, Future Soul, Remixes, Nu Jazz)

This mix is what I wanna hear at a lounge, or happy hour. Music for a hip, mellow crowd that could either get down, or merely engage in conversation. Maybe something you would hear at an art show, or in some restaurant. Some of the tracks are dark and full of grimey bass lines, and others are light hearted and easily digestible. I played this live, for a crowd that is used to hearing Hip Hop and Soul on a Friday night.  I had to stay within a certain bracket, or else I'd get booted. Didn't want to drift too far into the "weird shit", I sometimes get accused of playing.  It went over well because it still has elements of Hip Hop and Soul, but is clearly, nothing you would ever hear on the radio. There are some really good covers and remixes on here.

1 - Don't Speak - Leela James
2 - Everybody Loves The Sunshine - Roy Ayers Feat. Erykah Badu
3 - Summermadness - DJ Cam
4 - Mr. Holmes - Herbaliser
5 - Channel 1 Suite - Cinematic Orchestra
6 - Black Is The Color Of My True Love´s Hair (Jaffa Remix) - Nina Simone
7 - Ghetto Jam - Rick Braun
8 - All Spice - Metal Fingers(MF Doom)
9 - Paul's Pal - Paul Hunter
10 - This Masquerade (Nightmares On Wax Remix) - George Benson
11 - Bohemian Sunset - Jazzanova
12 - In All The Wrong Places (Inst) - Kero One
13 - Final Home (Vocal Version) Feat. Esthero - DJ Krush
14 - Los Dangerous - Haiku D'Etat
15 - Wanted U Down - Himuki
16 - Four Elements/Yes Yo Life/Just Be Good To Me - Nick Wiz/John Klemmer/Beats International
17 - Shrinkin' Yo Hed - The Amalgamation Of Soundz
18 - Distractions (DJ Spinna remix) - Zero 7
19 - Analyze - Sharpshooters
20 - Generally - Colossus
21 - No Use - Jazzanova Feat. Clara Hill
22 - The End - Llorca
23 - Spellbound - Rae & Christian

Download The Tracks Individually Here

"Jack Of All Trades Dealing In Debt" Mixed By DJ IMANI (Soul/Jazz/World Broken Beat)

The title is from the Temptations song "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", which is one of my favorite songs of all time. Jazzy Jeff did an amazing remix to it, which I put on this mix. Every September 3rd, it is a must that I play this song if I'm at a gig. I have heard dozens of remixes to the song, and none do it any justice. It's insanely hard to remake a timeless classic.  This mix is primarily Brokenbeat, but there are some House tunes too.

1 - Always [Lovetronic Vocal] - Lisa Shaw
2 - Fried Samba - Malena
3 - Maracatueira (Incognito Main Remix) - Sabrina Malheiros
4 - Make It Stop - Soulphonic Soundsystem
5 - Lady Luck [Bugz In The Attic Remix] - Victor Davies
6 - Tonight (King Britt's Sexy mix) - H Foundation
7 - Papa Was A Rolling Stone (Jazzy Jeff Remix) - The Temptations
8 - The Novel Sound - Llorca
9 - Peregrino - Zuco 103
10 - See Line Woman (Kerri Chandler Remix) - Songstress & Nina Simone
11 - Undoneson - Plaid
12 - Into The Blue [4Hero Extended Mix] - Shaun Escoffery
13 - My Vision (Dixon Edit) - Agora Rhythm
14 - Tides Featuring Bajka - Beanfield
15 - Sapporo - Blaze
16 - Deep Down - Jimpster
17 - Starstruck - Minus 8
18 - Reflection - Paul Hunter

Download The Tracks Individually Here

"Finger Lickin" Mixed By DJ IMANI (Soulful Broken Beat/Mellow Broken Beat)

Here is another live broken beat mix I spun in Oakland.  I wish there was more of a Broken Beat scene in the Bay Area. I love this music so much.  I swear I'm gonna be the last person alive that plays it.

1 - In My Bed (Bugz In The Attic Remix) - Amy Winehouse
2 - Snert - Audiomontage
3 - Home - Beanfield & Bajka
4 - The Ghetto [Atjazz Remix] - Bob Sinclair
5 - Aziza - Satin Souls
6 - Just A Lil' Lovin' (DJ Edit) - Jazzanova
7 - Lovely (Remix) - Soulstice
8 - Change Is What We Need (Progress) - Troubleman
9 - Be My Husband (Remix) - Nina Simone
10 - Do Your Dance (Dixless Main CD Mix) - Ras
11 - Haba Na Haba - Nappy G
12 - Unknown White Label
13 - Quiet Nights - Andy Caldwell Feat. Gina Rene

Download The Tracks Individually Here

"Building Bridges" & "Burning Bridges" Mixed By DJ IMANI (Latin/Brazilian House) and (Trip Hop, Instrumental Hip Hop, Acid Jazz, Electro)

I take the Bay Bridge to work every day from Oakland to San Francisco and I see the daily progress of the new bridge being built.  I think it parallels my dilemma as a DJ. I'll explain:

I started as a Trip Hop DJ, and I still love Trip Hop/Downtemp to death, but you can't really play Trip Hop in clubs, so I gotta start focusing on House music more. I feel like I need to speed it up a bit, tempo wise, if I am going to get more booking.  I need to play music people can dance to, or else I will be stuck doing happy hours and lounges forever.  I really like House music, and have listened to it for years, so I don't mind switching it up a bit, but I need to do some rebuilding right now, like the bridge.  I guess this two part mix symbolizes building towards my future as a DJ, and burning the past.  It also represents my Oakland roots branching out into SF.

I grew up in Oakland listening to hip hop, but it lacked something. I needed something a little more sophisticated. After I heard a few CD's by DJ Cam, DJ Krush, Kruder & Dorfmeister and Thievery Corporation, I knew I finally found what I was looking for. I realized I was more into the beats and rhythms in music, rather than merely the lyricism. Trip hop had a more refined melody, minus the abrasive lyrical content. I fell In love, hard.

Downtempo/Trip Hop Electronic music soon flooded my library like a Tidal Wave and eventually I started going to raves, so hearing House Music was inevitable. I was a bit of a late bloomer on the House scene though, only getting into in the late 90's.  I love Brokenbeat a bit more than just straight up House, but many consider Brokenbeat merely a sub-genre of Deep House, which is a sub-genre in itself.  I love Deep House too, so it's all good.  Brokenbeat isn't insanely big out here, so I'll probably be spinning mostly Deep House, with a splash of Brokenbeat.

Here is Disc 1-Building Bridges (Deep Tribal/Latin House)

"Building Bridges" Part 1 of a 2 Part "Bay Bridge" Series
Mixed By DJ Imani

Download Building Bridges Tracks Individually Here

1 - Emballa (Louie Vega featuring Jaffa "Album Mix") - Cirque Du Soleil
2 - Bossa Note - Dalminjo
3 - Da Lagrima - Rose Max
4 - Kana - Raw Artistic Soul Feat. Laygwan Sharkie
5 - River Song (Grant Nelson Mix) - Bebel Gilberto
6 - Sol Y Mas (Main Mix) - 4 Siders
7 - Outro Lugar - Salomé De Bahia
8 - Baya Baya - Safri Duo
9 - Meu Coraçao - Hacienda
10 - Le Champagne - Trentemøller
11 - Amora Todo Gas - Peret and Manuel Malou and Nilo
12 - After Hours (Ibadan Mix) - Restless Soul
13 - Musica (NNY Funked Up Mix) - S.O.M. Featuring Barbara Mendes
14 - Air Batucada - Thievery Corporation
15 - Un Dia Mas - Chichi Peralta

Here is Disc 2 of the "Bay Bridge Series" the Trip Hop mix. It is full of dark beats, and samples.

This is the most effort I have ever put into a studio mix.  It is a complete representation of who I am as a person. I spent countless nights narrowing down my favorite tunes, and searching for the right samples to incorporate. For almost 2 months, all I did was work on making this mix perfect. As if I was putting a best friend to rest forever. I use CDJs to mix, so I made DJ friendly custom edits, remastered certain tracks to have fuller volume, looped a couple of my favorite breakdowns (etc.) I put every ounce of my heart and soul into this one and it still did not come out exactly like I had hoped. It's still an awesome mix, but I wanted it to be absolutely perfect.  It has only a couple flaws, but I guess it makes sense if this mix is supposed to represent who I am, since none of us are perfect.

If you think too hard in music, you can screw it up.  You just gotta feel it.

Anyhow, this is ME. This mix right here. These are tracks that got me into DJ'ing and describe my brain (if music has the ability to do so). I wanted to make a mix that could express my personality.

1 - Rise Up - Mark Rae
2 - The Ben Identity - Ben Human
3 - Roots - Amit
4 - Interlude - DJ Cam
5 - Taiyou Ga Arukagiri/Polegnala E Pschenitza - Monkey-Ken & DJ Seto Feat.Hazaed & Daddy Shadow / Orchestra & Choir Of Bulgarian Radio
6 - You Can't Stop The Reign (Instrumental) - Shaquille O'Neal
7 - Catch A Rude Awakening - Rae & Christian
8 - Sleep - Dan The Automator
9 - Rue The Whirl - Boards Of Canada
10 - La La Feat Dj Dez (Instrumental)/The Way We Were/Try To Remember (Imani's Mashup) - Slum Village/Gladys Knight & The Pips
11 - Fallout - Hive
12 - The Next Mile [instrumental] - All Natural
13 - Foundation (Instrumental) - Xzibit
14 - Day 3 - Alex Kid
15 - What They Do (Instrumental) - The Roots
16 - Dreaming Of You (Imani's Vocal Edit) - The Blackbyrds
17 - Moments In Bass - DJ Laz
18 - Coffee Talk (Trip Hop Version) - Jazzanova
19 - Time Tunnel - Megashira
20 - Fat Ass Joint - Cujo
21 - Theme From A Dream (Imani's Breakdown Loop) - Desmond Williams
22 - Duel With A So(u)l - A Forest Mighty Black
23 - Someone's Second Kiss - Rjd2
24 - Rhyme War - Eliot Lipp
25 - Koinonea - Bluetech
26 - Emptiness - Benji
27 - Destination Earth (1999) - Newcleus
28 - Gel Lab - Plaid
29 - Piano Playa Hata - Wagon Christ
30 - I'll See You In A Place With Lights (Feat. DJ Imani on the Cuts) - John Tejada
31 - World Famous (Imani Custom) - Malcolm McLaren

Samples Taken From: Gladys Knight, GZA, Grandmaster Flash, Zion I, Gil Scott Heron, Boogie Down Productions (KRS One), Dead Prez, Erykah Badu, Hive, Mr. Oizo, Blood Hound Gang, Raekwon, Herbalizer, Troubleman, Ming & FS and "A Children's Introduction to Rhythm"

Download Burning Bridges Tracks Individually Here