DJ Oonops Presents: Japanese Jazz Fusion Trio Nautilus & Fleur Earth's Beastie Boys "Root Down" Re-interpretation (Oonops Drops Vol. 1)

German-based DJ Oonops (AKA Patrick Decker) is a self-described "connoisseur of tight spider beats and juggler with different musical genres" who hosts a monthly Brooklyn Radio Mixcloud show and has compiled guest mixes for world-renown stations such as Laid Back Radio (LDBK) and Breakin' Bread. As DJ Oonops tells it, he first discovered Japanese Jazz Fusion/Soul-Funk trio Nautilus "a few years ago" by chance, upon diggin' up their first few 45 singles; amazed with their work, Decker soon "got in touch with [Nautilus] and dropped several tunes in [his] shows for Brooklyn Radio" including Oonops Drops - Straight from Japan II, Smoky Jazz Session 4, Black Gold of The Sun, WORLD TRIAL 2, and SMOKY JAZZ SESSIONS 5. "After that, I had the idea to bring them on German label Agogo Records for a wider audience and I compiled this compilation out of their first two albums. One day, I had the idea of the fusion of Jimmy Smith's "Root Down" combined with Beastie Boys' "Root Down," but in a different way," DJ Oonops recounted within a recent emailed exchange. I can still recall picking up a used copy of the Beastie Boys' 1995 Root Down EP CD at FYE in our local mall back in the early 2000's during my earliest discovery of Beasties' effortlessly genre-blending style. It showcased three remixes of "Root Down" by The Prunes, De La Soul DJ and producer Prince Paul, and Ill Communication producer and "third Beastie" Mario "C." Caldato Jr. alongside seven tracks were recorded "LIVE IN EUROPE, WINTER 1995."

"So, I asked Toshi [Toshiyuki Sasaki] from Nautilus because of his creative Jazz style and singer Fleur Earth, who I had in mind as the voice for this version to [fully] realize it for me. And yes, there will be another cool re-interpretation of a classic tune... I'll keep you updated," Oonopus continued. DJ Oonops-assembled "Root Down" revision reminds me of something to the effect of El Michels Affair's Wu-Tang Clan-flipping albums Enter: The 37th Chamber (2009) and Return to The 37th Chamber (2017) or even David Bowie re-envisioning The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions Featuring Seu Jorge (2005). Nautilus & Fleur Earth's "Root Down" Funk-tastic cover is currently available for pre-order on an "exclusive and strictly limited" baby blue 7-inch single from German-based Agogo Records ahead of its upcoming November 3rd release. "Root Down" is additionally expected to re-appear within DJ Oonops' upcoming Agogo Records compilation, Oonops Drops Vol. 1, which will likely be loosely modeled after his popular Brooklyn Radio and Mixcloud series. Shout out to Jamison Harvey AKA DJ Prestige over at Flea Market Funk for peeeping me to DJ Oonops & Nautilus feat. Fleur Earth's "Root Down" 45, as well as continually introducing me to dope sh*t that's exclusively available on vinyl!

"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...

[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...

Liberty Bell Cracked In 1/2: Ween - "Freedom of '76" (Gene Ween's Final Send-Off)

Chocolate & Cheese (1994) was one of the first albums I bought with my own money. I was in some sort of BMG Music Club , where you'd buy 5 CD's and then get 10 for "FREE." It was all sent through mail order and you picked the titles from some special booklet. I'm almost positive that Chocolate & Cheese's side boob-baring album cover was what initially drew me in... mind you, I was 12-15 and the zany Ween logo/middle finger CD graphic really didn't hurt either. Honestly, I forget how I really felt about it @ the time, but a few years later, my older cousin Josh told me that Ween were this BIG college "jam band." CKY did some sort pf 93.3 radio takeover to promote their new album and played "Freedom of '76" late that night on air. Needless to say, I re-visited Chocolate & Cheese @ about 20-something this go 'round and I fucking loved it! Ween were really weird, yet talented... almost too talented. I can vaguel...

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