DJ Preservation Re-emerges from Self-imposed Sabbatical & Celebrates The Chinese New Year with "East Winds Calling" (MonDieu Music)

"Three key steps to leading a rewarding and enriched life: (1) wake up, (2) be awesome, (3) LISTEN TO PRESERVATION," as charismatically explained by Yasiin Bey FKA Mos Def himself. Preservation is, in fact, a native New York DJ and producer, as well as a photographer and cinematographer, who actively records and releases music and was formerly known as Dj Jun. Preservation used to run and operate New Jersey-based Cloud City Studios and currently runs his own label imprint, Mon Dieu Music, which prides itself on "presenting a variety of cross-genre projects." Preservation has been part of a variety of groups and crews, over the years, including Dr. Yen Lo with Brownsville emcee Ka, Sonic Sum with Rob Sonic, Fred Ones & Eric M.O. and T.M.E. PRO with Fred Ones & Omar Agurto. As many of you may already well now, Mos Def is my all-time favorite emcee and for many years (maybe, even still?) Preservation functioned as Mos' in-house/touring DJ and submitted some of my personal favorite beats for inclusion on True Magic (2006) and his "last" proper release as Mos Def, The Ecstatic (2009) prior to his name change to Yasiin Bey and supposed "retirement" from both music and film.

Nearly six years ago, Preservation unleashed his full-album remix of The Ecstatic, fittingly titled The REcstatic, which, I believe, was Yasiin Bey's first proper release under his then-new nom de plum; there's a phenomenal REcstatic track-by-track breakdown + LP stream, penned by Preservation himself, over at okayplayer, which I would strongly suggest perusing through, if you haven't already. Preservation's lengthy list of production credits and past collaborators, also, includes Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, GZA, Raekwon & U-God, Aesop Rock, Sean Price, Jean Grae, Chris Dave & The Drumhedz, K'NAAN, Roc Marciano, KRS-One, Ed O.G. Lord Jamar, and Mach Hommy. Preservation's Bandcamp page boasts a wide array of self-released projects including his 2013 debut "solo" compilation, OLD NUMBERS with many of the aforementioned collaborators, his 2013 instrumental Barry White tribute, SePtember 1200, last year's February 4th EP with Mach Hommy, and most recently, "East Winds Calling." The latter is a nearly 9-minute Instrumental Hip-Hop medley that Preservation produced solely in Hong Kong with an array of sampled multi-layered breaks lifted from local Chinese records.

DJ Preservation's Bandcamp page describes "East Winds Calling" as "a colorful kaleidoscope of East & West. Enter the sounds of Hong Kong with "East Winds Calling." ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE CHARITABLE WORK OF MOTHER'S CHOICE HONG KONG." It appears as though "East Winds Calling" was released to coincide with The Chinese New Year, as Mon Dieu Music's Facebook page posted the proclamation, "Kung Hei Fat Choi!!" I was able to deduce, with a little investigative journalism (read: Google) that "Kung Hei Fat Choi" is, in fact, a blessing commonly exchanged on the first day of The Chinese Lunar New Year, according to Urban Dictionary. I personally spoke with Preservation late last year and through an exchange of emails back-and-forth, it appears as though "East Winds Calling" is just the tip of the iceberg of what's promised to be a full-fledged return to form after a self-imposed period of sabbatical. From what I can gather, it appears as though "East Winds Calling" is merely the first installment in what's poised to be an ongoing series channeling the traditional sounds of Hong Kong infused with Western Hip-Hop. DJ Preservation's "East Winds Calling" is currently available to stream or download from Mon Dieu Music's Bandcamp page with 100% of proceeds raised going directly to Mother's Choice Hong Kong.

[W]reckless, Topless American Youth: Lana del Rey - "Born 2 Die" (Britney Spears Birthday 30)

Lana del Rey [Lizzy Grant] effectively became 2011's "It Girl" with the release of her phenomenal debut single, "Video Games" (Stranger) . Like many struggling singer-songwriters, Grant has been signed, dropped, and significantly changed her public image since bursting onto the scene (2009). With that said, it can be assumed that Lana del Rey has collected just as many "haters" as she has avid supporters. To be perfectly honest, the only other artist I can think of that made this much commotion... garnered so much wide-spread buzz/hate and critical acclaim -- right out of the gates -- with just one track is Britney Spears . And maybe in this post- Mike musical era, that's the true synthesis of Pop Culture: Britney Lynn Spears . After months of repeated teasing and speculation, Lana del Rey 's major label debut, Born 2 Die will [finally] be released this coming Jan. 30-31, 2012. Pitchfork reports that it will feature "Off to The Ra

"Let Me Shine for You:" Lindsay Lohan for Playboy (Winter 2011-12 Leak)

Lindsay Lohan essentially embodies exactly "What NOT to Do In Hollywood :" Fame, fortune, success... sex, drugs & Rock "N" Roll . Within a fairly short period of time, Lohan somehow managed to obtain a plentiful helping of POWER @ a very young age. This gradual rise-downfall was captured on film; Between 1998-2010, she portrayed a wide array of roles across the silver screen in movies including: Mean Girls, Bobby , Herbie Fully Loaded , Georgia Rule, Machete , and Freaky Friday . Between rapid-paced film shoots, Lindsay Lohan also found time to record 2 Pop Rock albums for Casablanca , Speak (2004) and A Litter More Personal-Raw (2005). Needless to say, Lindsay Lohan has gotten roped up in a lot of troubles and woes with the law over the last 3-5 years... a vicious cycle of drugs, arrest, court, rehab, "daddy issues," jail time [Repeat]. That's the pure basics of it - But Google that shit for additional info, if necessary. Towards the end of

All-around Breakdown: Sean Martin Discusses Debut Instrumental EP Introducing The Magician As No More Magic (Residual Effects)

Sean Martin is a multi-versed musician, producer, and tattooer hailing from Connecticut. As a guitarist, song-writer, and/or producer he has worked with a variety of well-known artists including Hatebreed, Cold Cave, Wear Your Wounds, Umbra Vitae, Twitching Tongues, Cage, Kid Cudi, House of Blow, Head Automatica, XO Skeletons, Jet Fueled Horses, Handsome Boy Modeling School, and more. His versatility and flexibility within music allows him to blur the lines in-between the confines of Hardcore, Electronic, Metal, and Hip-Hop. Martin is, also, a skilled tattooer at Brass City Tattoo located in Oakville, Connecticut promoting the traditional approach to the craft. Founded by Martin himself between 2020-22, No More Magic combines ominous melodies with downtempo beats to create a dizzying dream-like atmosphere. Paying homage to the golden era of Hip-Hop while forging ahead down its own dark road. For fans of Portishead, Massive Attack, and DJ Shadow. No More Magic's Introducing The

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