PRE-Registration for the Soulidify 10th Anniversary 2 on 2 anything goes (open style) battle is now closed!

If you would like to register please show up at 5pm to register as the battles will start promptly at 6pm.

Join us at Casa de Cultura for Soulidify’s 10 year anniversary celebration!

2-on-2 Open Style Battle: $400 cash prize.

Casa de Cultura
1901 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA

August 29 at 5:00pm – August 30 at 12:00am

DJs:
…Sivan “Party Rocka Supreme”: Hip-Hop, Soul, Funk, Latin
CoFlo & Steve Rigmaden: House, Afro, Broken-Beat

Judges:
jZon (FLO-ology)
Free (Soulshifters / Circle of Fire)
Erik Thorough (Soulshifters / Soul Control)

Soulidify was created out of a desire to bridge the gaps between the many styles of dance out there. It stemmed from the inspiration of going to Club Shelter at Hubbert St. in 1997-98. It was amazing how so many styles of dance were getting loose in the same circle with the most amazing energy. It was like a feeding frenzy of dancers feeding off of each other. African dancers, tap, bboys, house, ballet. So many people just plain and simply getting loose. It was a camaraderie that I was not used to in the bay at that time. Souldify was an attempt to try and bring that feeling to the bay….

July 17th

Celebrating Natalie and B’s birthday’s, ATM is hosting another backyard summer slammer. These folks know how to do it up in the summertime!! Come check out the best DJ line up in the bay, catch some rays, grill it up and boogie down.

House DJ Line up: Rahiem Jihad, Geo, J Funk, Frankie Jr., Nesto, Co Flo, DJ Swing, Brian Cabalic, Stephen Rigmaiden, William the Monq

Ol’ Skool Hip Hop /Reggae/ Funk Dj Line up:
Evin Kepic, Dj Mist, Kurious

2pm-late night // BYOB FREE!!
3051 Champion Street, Oakland

STRENGTH IN FLAVOR

BLU-RAY DVD RELEASE PARTY & CELEBRATION

Strength in Flavor is our temple of sweat and sound. We believe in an unending devotion to our art and are poised to devastate the floor before us. While our languages may differ our attitude is the same. We do not seek your approval; we have already earned it. We are the legends, the masters, the next generation.

Strength In Flavor is proud to announce the release of the first ever urban dance competition released on Blu-Ray DVD. We are excited to be able to give our continued support to the dance community by putting 50% of all the profits made by the sale of the DVD into the pockets of the top four crews from the battle held in November 2009. We invite you to come celebrate with us by blessing our cyphers or with your hands raised in the air.

Hosted By:
Naka B-Boy Edition
Flo-Ology
All the Way Live
Funkonometry &
The Renegade Rockers

Talent:
F.A.M.E. (Fresh Analog Music Experience)
Live Performance by Teeko, Max Kane, and Malaguti
Cecil (the People)
Dennis Infante (One Cypher)
B-Boy Wicket
Co FLO (FLO-ology)
DJ Nomadeeq (Flavor Group)

Special Guests:
Machine Gone Funk
Orb and Free
Double Trouble
Soul Shifters X

May 28, 2010
DNA Lounge – 375 11th St, SF CA
9pm-2am
18+

For $5 Reduced Guest List RSVP at: FLAVORGROUP.COM/SIF

IT’S CO FLO’s BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

COME OUT AND DANCE

As always thePeople hold it DOWN! – come out and celebrate my birthday as we dance the night away. It’s a guarenteed good time you best believe it! Hope to see you in the cypher…I want a good b-day battle damnit!

This Saturday:  YOU ARE THE ART!  thePeople (that means you too), are teaming up with the Yerba Buena Cener for the Arts to bring together a boat load of incredible djs, amazing sound, a huge dancefloor, sonic bliss in the music school room, world class live painting and video, an interactive portrait project from one of the Bay’s own super-talents, gourmet street food, artisan vendors, mind-blowing dance artists… Saturday April 3rd thePeople and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts present A YBCA Big Idea Night:   Under the Influence   (the influence of the underground)   hosted by heyLove* and Ms. Nabong featuring YOU as the embodiment of the thriving underground arts community move yourself to the sounds of special musical guest Daz-I-kue along side thePeople resident djs Cecil, Cali, and Be Brown in the Forum educate yourself and your dancing feet  in the Music School with legendary djs Dedan, Aybee, Wazir, and Rob Rhythm add yourself  to the HearthePeople portrait project lead by Bryon Malik of S|I|P Creative, longtime collaborator of thePeople* see yourself  in the live painting of the legendary Mear One lose yourself in the live dance videography of Yak Films open yourself with the sounds of live drums by Taji Malik find yourself in the beauty of the Bizarre featuring artisans Ital Pinay, MeeshMeesh Designs, African Removed Art, and Blank Tea, plus live painting by Ashley Arnold treat yourself to the tasty goodness of Caribbean inspired tacos, burritos and sandwiches by Get Jerked and the heavenly sweetness of Reuschelle’s Cheesecake by Victor Harris Yerba Buena Center for the Arts 701 Mission Street | San Francisco | map FREE with RSVP:  http://ybcafree.org/2010form/20100401_bigidea.php 9pm – 2am 18+

My folks over at SOSO Deep Recordings just dropped a new release “Phonograph’d Pheelings”. Currently available on afrodesiamp3.com.

This is sure fire deep house music heat! Gotta check it out – here is a little more info / promo drop for ya!

The dawn of the first Soso Deep release is soon upon us “Phonograph’d Pheelings”, Randy and I and the rest of the crew @ Soso Deep hope for a nice and smooth transition into the world of independent music making. This Ep consist of 3 songs or should i say 3 heaters… we hope you will enjoy, here’s the rundown….

- “hypnotic”

is a song that will hypnotize you to the fullest extent. With a very deep and afro minimal vibe, the synths meld with tribal percussion as the pulsating bass line compliments the bulgarian vocals all together in a beautifully composed track sure to set the dance floor afire…..

- “Roads Traveled (isolatoraffairmix)”

is a song that needs no introduction as a masssive synth solo takes you on a journey thru percussion rhythms and a tribal drum groove, reminiscent of a time wen improvisation was the standard. a sure fire song you can Twist those eq knobs too… (isolators watch out)…

and finally

- “My Soul Will”

Boast mad deep vibrations. This song will be the missing link for the three, the completion of the tri-force. Vocals from head honcho of Soso Deep Stephen Rigmaiden complete this tracks as the baritone pitch of chants stating”my soul will move you” add the perfect amount of mystery and groove. With a crescendo of synths, perc fills, and strings we reach the climax….. “ahhhhhhh” was that deep enough for you ?

Here is some early Feedback———————————————

Another Stephen Rigmaiden banger, play it loud! - Carlos Mena (Ocha/Yoruba)

“Mean and Moody! lovin it” – Ezel (Yoruba/Ocha)

i like this EP very much! The heads and hardcore dancers will be all over this one! Hypnotic is the one that rounds this out nicely. WIll be supporting 4 sho – Master Kev (MKTL/Underground Collective)

Phonograph’d Pheelings is Soso appealing! Soso Deep gives bright life to 3 very deep tacks. My personal favorite is Hypnotic – a hard polyrhythmic beat iced over with a soft and meditative like vox. The combination of the two gives me lots to play with in the dance cypher. - Co FLO (FLO-ology / Soulshifters/ HDI Finalist 2009)

Stephen Rigmaiden is one of the producers to look out for in 2010 this ep will be graced by myself and im sure many others the Deepnes at its purist. – Halo (City Deep Music)

diggin the vibes..very much has the south african vibe but of course your own sound as well..lovely soul! – Osunlade (Yoruba Records)

Your Feedback and comments are much appreciated and needed.

Reply to stoopiddue@yahoo.com

peace and blessings to all…..

Stephen Rigmaiden of Soso Deep

http://www.sosodeeprecords.blogspot.com/
http://www.stephenrigmaiden.podomatic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/sosodeepsoul
http://www.myspace.com/randeepsoul
http://www.myspace.com/ableflo
http://www.myspace.com/andrelondon
http://www.myspace.com/stephenrigmaiden

Follow on twitter:
@Soso_Rigmaiden

Its a new video to MindBodyFLO.com but an Old video on Youtube. Just moving over a video from 2005 into the MindBodyFLO archive. If nothing else its surely a beautiful track.

Our family in Texas had the opportunity to ask Brooklyn Terry from Elite Force a few questions. Peep game

RitualGP.com – Interview with Brooklyn Terry

Hello, and welcome to the Houston House Dance Scene. Would you be so kind as to please introduce yourself to our readers with a brief bio?
Whats up folks I’m Brooklyn Terry From the crew known as Elite Force. I have been dancing for as long as I can remember and I am not a house dancer I am a dancer.

Ritual Music was under the impression that you are currently residing in Japan. For the record, could you please set this story straight for our readers?
Yes I live in Tokyo, Japan and have been here for the past 3.5 years.

Being an old school member yourself, would you mind telling us a little bit about the history of the legendary ‘Elite Force’ crew and its members?
Mmm well I don’t really consider myself old school, but E.F. is the crew known for putting hip hop dance on the map. Stretch is the founder and the crew started on the set of Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time” video set. Stretch, Link, and Loose Joint are the original members. They had been friends and danced together long b4 that video but the name Elite started on the set of that set.

Who or what would you say was your main inspiration and influence in regards to your house dancing?
The music plain and simple.

There is more! You’ll have to go to RitualGP.com to read the full article

I havn’t done this in a while! Track of the week “Juju” by Black Coffee feat. Zakes Bantwini. AllI have to say is this track is FIYA! DAMN, super duper uber hotness right here. Last night I was practicing some steps @ Studio 50 FLO and I must have put this song on repeat for at least 7 or 8 cycles (no joke).

I for sure recommend picking up this track and adding it to your collection. As a bonus a it has a dope music video!

If ya don’t know Black Coffee, I don’t know where you have been. He is one of the hottest producers out of South Africa (among many). Here is a bit more info for ya!

“Curiously, South Africa, as the Spanish island Ibiza or England’s ‘90s Manchester scene around club the Hacienda or Michigan’s Detroit scene, presents one of the few places in the world where genuine house music has taken root. One of its leading proponents is the reserved, studiously academic Black Coffee, whose inventive, imaginative and a boldly educated re-interpretation of classic South African music is radically at odds with the many flash-in-the-pan hit-chasers that populate the dance music genre.

Black Coffee, who is one-part member of the unfashionable urban soul trio Shana, is one of the few Club DJs in the country who genuinely understands the precise function of a music deejay: he does not simply re-mix songs; he re-interprets their previously unimagined musical possibilities and therefore quietly reclaims the composition as his own. When he debuted with his interpretation of Hugh Masekela’s rambunctious jazz hit Stimela (2005 original South African release; 2008 UK release), subsequently to be the lead single off the self-titled 12-track debut album, by re-featuring the old musician to guest vocal anew Black Coffee simply demonstrated how it was possible to re-work the South African canon music vault into club music, acceptable to both the youth and the adults, a feat not easily achievable in the instant festive hit-obsessed market that is South Africa: it requires a decidedly original-inclined, singular mind such as that of Black Coffee to be able to pursue an original music trajectory.

Durban-born Nkosinathi Maphumulo has been on the music scene for over a decade but only got his break a few years ago. Nkosinathi, otherwise known as Black Coffee, is popular for his smash hit remixes, most of which have dominated the airwaves in the past couple of years. He studied music in Durban because he felt that as a producer, he had to deepen his overall musical knowledge, develop his listening skills and advance his knowledge of music theory. When asked who helped him achieve his goals, he said “I have Massive Respect for Christos and Oskido for taking me around and giving me slots on their gigs”. 2003 saw Black Coffee starting to put his first project together.

He revealed that his first album was created using very basic music-making software. “I don’t know how to explain the production stages of my album because all I did was put down the basic ideas that I had, I didn’t use any MIDI controllers everything was played with a Computer Mouse. He added that the use of live instruments in a song is also very important, giving a track that final magic touch and bringing it to life. Black Coffee is proof that if you have real skill when it comes to producing, it won’t take much for you to achieve your goals. After all he’s managed to penetrate the music industry with only a desktop computer, some music-making software and a lot of passion. His first big break was when his song “Happiness” was featured on the DJs at Work album. In 2006 he enjoyed international exposure when his song ‘Music’ got signed in New York and was released by Keith Thompson on the album, ‘Worlds Collide’. He was chosen as one of two South African participants in the Red Bull Music Academy in 2003(www.redbullmusicacademy.com) which jump-started him into the South African DJ scene. He released Two EP’s with London’s Label Kronologik (www.kronologik.com), which was out on Vinyl in the UK Records Shops and was also played in some Radio Stations Abroad. He then released two tracks with Real Tone Records in Paris featuring the Record ”Even Though” now this introduce him to the World as this Record was released in Globally and on Established House Music Websites. In January 2009 he released a Single ”Turn Me On” with a German Label “GOGO Music”, with Remixes by Ralf Gum, this Single became Number One on www.traxsource.com for Two Weeks. Black Coffee started a Label in South Africa www.soulisticmusic.com with Artist Like “Tumelo” who’s featured on Franck Roger’s Free Fall and “Culoe de Song” (who’s taking the World by Storm) signed on this Label. He has featured since at various clubs locally and Internationally like Taboo(SA),Cafe de Flore(Swaziland),Djoon(Paris), Scala(London)Ambassador(Lyon), Café Mugambo (Swaziland’s New Year’s Eve Parties)2008&2009 Miami Winter Festival,2008 & 2009 Ultra Music Festival(Miami),Sutra (Cape Town),In Namibia, Botswana, Barcelona, Lesotho, Cannes, Stratford, Birmingham and recently New York to mention a few. However, Black Coffee’s talent has taken him over the lines into the scene making him a DJ and a producer that has put together two Albums. The 1st CD was released end of September 2005 and since then it has been rocking the SA dance floors and the World. He scooped a SAMA Award for best dance album. He is currently nominated for the 2009 SAMA for Record of the Year.”

Do you listen to FLO Radio (I hope so). For those of you who do, I have been getting hit up with request to play certain songs etc.. In general House DJs don’t take request while actually playing – good thing I’m not a DJ (at all) haha.

I would like to open up FLO Radio to everyone that tunes in and ask you to send in some songs that you would like to hear. Please make sure to send me title, artist and mix you would like to hear. This is because I can’t figure out what song your requesting if you say something like, “you know that one song where the girl is singing – i love you, da da da, la la” – you know what i mean right?

If you have an entire list of songs you would like to hear throw them at me and I’ll make an entirely selected mix by you. There are alot of dancers out there that know alot of good music and they select the fire! Im giving you the opportunity right now to let me put together what you would like to hear.

If your with it – go ahead and email me using the link below.

Co.FLO@MindBodyFLO.com

Our boy Stephen Rigmaiden (one of my personal favorite producer’s and Dj’s) was interviewed as an elite selection of producers on Traxsource.com. I’ve been partying and dancing with Stephen for the better part of 7 years now and I can honestly say the man has got raw natural talent. Stephen has always been a music lover and spent plenty of hours in club cyphers and even in the studio (dance studio) workin shit out. The connection that he has always shared with the house music cultural has been a complete one (Dance, Production, DJ, Clubbing). He has the DNA to become the next big thing – he already has given us countless hours of dope cyphers in the Bay whether its his trax being played or his presence behind the decks. Truly a dope and talented guy to keep an eye out for.

Ok, here is the interview from Traxsource.

1. Tell us your age , where are you from, and how long you have been making trax?
28 and im from The SanFrancisco Bay Area , and/or California. I have been producing for about 5 years now. .

2. What labels and productions / remixes are you most proud of?
I am very blessed to have worked with such great labels such as City Deep, Ocha Records, Earthrumental Records, Connected Music & Abicah Soul Project (wasup Stax!). But I would have to say I am especially proud of My remix I did for Centric Music, “Rise Up” ft Danill Wright the powerful voice that brought you “church lady”. i am especially proud of that one because from the get it was set in my mind that, that was how the song was going to sound. I heard the lyrics on John Crocketts mix and I instantly fell in love with the lyrics( which I feel is the best way to get a great remix.) and from then it was only a matter of time before it was done. Another would have to be “Black Sun” (Chez #48) because its a great song & also because of the personal stuff that went into writing that song. This is a very personal & dear song to me, I thank Neil for giving me the opportunity to express myself thru his label.

3. Describe your sound, your inspiration, and your vision for house music
a) I guess to identify myself with one certain sound i couldn’t really do it. I’d rather like to be known as a versatile producer who loves all facets of house music, and can translate that mood in all sub-genres( i,e; deep, tech, soulful, etc.) my inspiration is my children , the next generation dj’s/producers , and the fans of music in general. Music is a beautiful entity, & my vision is to share and inspire people thru music and dance.

4. Do you write, program, engineer yourself or do you prefer to collaborate with others?
I actually like to do a little bit of both, i feel being well rounded is the best service you can do for yourself and music.

5. Any advice for the aspiring bedroom producers out there?
I cannot stress how much producers should know how to use their equipment. take pride in your work and study your craft. read about synthesis, drum programming, chord progressions, patching/ wirirng , if you are using logic read the manual. If its about music you should be interested. Be a sponge and never stop learning new techniques. And also find your confidence an go for it……trust your instincts. if you think you got what it takes no one is going to give it to you, you have to want it and take the necessary action to make it happen for yourself…….

http://myspace.com/sosodeepsoul | http://myspace.com/stephenrigmaiden | http://stephenrigmaiden.podOmatic.com/