The Biography Channel

I have written several artist Bios for Illect Recordings. During the next month I will share them with you and include a link to hear some of their music. The first one is Dert:

Dert may just be the most accomplished producer you've never heard of. The L.A. native first credits came in 1998, when he provided the bulk of the beats on LPG's sophomore album 360(Solar Music Group). Since then Dert has built up a catalog larger than JC Penney! As the in-house producer for Tunnelrats Music, D. Baker provided the sound on the vast majority of the crew's tracks for nearly a decade! During his tenure as TR's soul provider, Dert was able to collaborate with many of LA's finest emcees such as LMNO, 2Mex, Ahmad, and Mikah 9 to name a few.
Mr. Baker showed his fans a different side in 2004, releasing Fledgling on Illectronica. Like the Octavia E. Butler novel by the same name, the beat tape would turn out to be much more than one might expect. The all instrumental album was an eclectic mix of afro rhythm, synthy soul, and raw hip-hop. Of course this was just a glimpse into the genius to come from Dert's fingertips.
In 2006 Dert released the hounds on the underground! First he introduced the world to Derty Gonzales when he released Sometimes I Rhyme Slow, a remixtape featuring popular songs by Common, Kanye West, and many others. The twist was that all the beats were crafted by sampling Jose Gonzales' all acoustic work Veneer. The result was a beautifully arranged album that even earned the cosign of Jose himself! Next up was KRS-One's Life produced entirely by Dert and TunnelRat founder Dax Reynosa. Dert's music brought out the best in KRS, making Life one of The Blastmaster's greatest albums. Then showing off his versatility once more, Dert rounded off the year with the Footsoldiers' hardrocking debut LP Live This.
With all the critical acclaim that came in result of his tireless 2006, Dert Floyd still found time to treat fans to Westside Of The Moon as a free download in 2007. And when West Indian Girl was looking for a remix to "What Are You Afraid Of", Dert answered the call, and the answer received many plays on public and college radio. Even in this so-called downtime the man cooked up classics.
After laying low for a few months, the Dertiest of them all has blessed us with another beat tape. Picking up right where Fledgling left off, The Short List is another personal record filled with mellow headnodders, perfect to "just cool out and listen to". In acknowledgement of his many muses, Dert dedicates this album "to all the pretty girls, not the ugly ones." The music follows suit, blending soft synths and echoing drums to create easy listening for even the pickiest of music lovers.

Preview some of Dert's music:

http://www.illect.com/index3.htm

Saint Nicholas

It's Christmas time in the city, and in the sticks, and the world over, and I love it! The music, the decorations, the sweets, I love it all. While breaking out the good ol' pre-lit Christmas tree on Black Friday, I began to think of all the winter wonderfully strange traditions we participate in this time of year. I eventually turned my mind's eye to Santa Claus...Santi Claus...Saint Nich-o-las...Saint Nicholas. Yeah, that's the ticket! Though there is very little we can be sure of concerning the real-life Saint Nick, we do know that he was made Bishop of Myra(modern day Turkey) and that he became well known for his generosity and love for children. It has been written that he suffered for his faith under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Beyond that, things get a bit sketchy. Saint Nicholas' legend includes several miracles, and he became the favorite of all saints. There are innumerable churches named for the Fourth Century bishop, and he is one of the most popular subjects among Christian artists.

I'm not Catholic, and so I'm not real big on "celebrating the saints" per se(St. Nicholas Day is Dec. 6th), BUT I think that Saint Nicholas may need to be the exception. It isn't that this believer is any greater than another, but what this "Saint" has come to represent. By all accounts Nicholas became the embodiment of what our Lord's brother James may have called true religion.

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultlessis this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Jolly old St. Nick was famous for giving gifts anonymously TO THOSE IN NEED. May we all use this holiday season as another excuse to give generously TO THOSE IN NEED.

Here are some places where you can give:

http://www.gfa.org/gift

http://www.persecution.com/

http://www.worldvisiongifts.org/

For more info on St. Nicholas:

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/

Come out and see me!

JustMe on the Radiooooo!

If you're in the Lexington area on Friday between 4 and 6 pm, make sure you tune into 88.1 FM. I will be doing an interview as well as playing some tracks (maybe even some from the new album!). You may be able to peep it online as well. Check it out at http://www.wrfl.fm/

Cats Watch and Learn

Today a small group of students from the University of Kentucky were invited to attend a seminar covering a new sport called "basketball". A group of instructors from The University of North Carolina schooled the young Kentuckians on the finer points of this new-fangled game. The curriculum was well thought out and thorough in its presentation. When the Kentucky students were asked to show what they had learned, they struggled mightily, bobbling the ball and missing the goal with regularity. The chaperon from UK was not as interested in how to play the game, as he was in finding out if the UNC instructors knew anyone who would mind playing the game in the bluegrass state. All-in-all, one can only hope that this exciting new sport catches on in Lexington.

Here We Go Again!

My sincere apologies to both of the people that actually read this blog. I really have no excuse why I have been so lazy. I guess I have felt like I didn't have much to say, but I'm back!

The title of this entry applies three-fold:

1. Here we go again! I plan on keeping this bad boy updated on a much more regular basis. I have several new projects in the works and that should give me lots to talk about.

2. Here we go again! I have just received the masters for my second full-length solo release. Stay tuned in to the blog to hear a lot more about the process of making the album, and the progress that I have made as an artist that desires to glorify God with his gifts.

3. Here we go again! Last year I attended one of the most embarrassing losses in the history of Kentucky Basketball. The Gardner-Webb fiasco was supposed to be a fluke! Then we (yes, I consider the fans to be an integral part of The Wildcats) lost to San Diego! But that was last year, right? Apparently not! Billy G's crew displayed a dizzying lack of b-ball prowess in their loss to VMI!?! Looking more like a high school freshman team than a college basketball powerhouse, The Cats convinced us all that we may be in for another long season.

Happy Birthday Pops!

There is a beautifully dark and musty little shop in Lexington, KY called Pop's Resale. It is filled with video games, vinyl, and everything vintage. Like many other purveyors of "previously loved records", the walls are lined with Herb Alpert's most famous album cover. The employees know entirely too much about everything having to do with popular media, past and present, and are willing to wax...well, wax for hours on end! I love everything about the place, and it all reminds me of my father.

My dad, known affectionately to his grandson as Pops (a name I gave him as a teenager), is an avid music collector. Of course he passed this expensive hobby down to me, which is why I frequent fine establishments such as Pop's. Like my friend Tyler aka The Vinyl Vulture, my dad is able to pass the time showing off rare tunes that he has collected, another habit I have been found guilty of. I won't go as far as to say that the smell of the place reminds me of my dad, but the first time I ever laid eyes on a whipped cream covered girl was my father's own personal copy of the Tijuana Brass classic.

The reason for this compilation of comparisons is to make one more. Like he music that fills the bins at Pop's, my pops has always been there for me, sympathizing with my plight, and sharing words of wisdom.

Thanks dad! Happy birthday!