Red Apples 45 Co-founder & Producer Ray West Assembles Ray West & The Soul Misfits Cassette All-around Breakdown (Fat Beats Records)

Hip-Hop super-producer and Red Apples 45 co-founder, along with A.G. of Diggin' In The Crates (D.I.T.C.) Ray West (@RedApples45) recently formed a free-spirited, one-off project—cleverly dubbed "Ray West & The Soul Misfits"—with A.G. of D.I.T.C. AKA Andre The Giant, Dave Dar, L-Fudge, Nelson Dialect, Moonshine, Phil Moffa, John Robinson, and Jay Rivera. Ray West & The Soul Misfits' initial collaborative sessions were held at Butchasound Studio during "a born day gathering" for West's 40th birthday and later, curated, further detailed, and finalized at Red Apples 45's home studio in The Bronx. "We had the MPC3000, John Robinson's SP-404, Phil Moffas's illustrious set-up of vintage drum machines (TR-808/909,) and his various synths," Ray West told The Witzard, via email. "My good bro, Jay Rivera AKA Jay Sidious, came with his vintage guitars. We all just [collaborated on] production and concepts..." West charismatically continued. Mr. West was gracious enough to provide The Witzard with a comprehensive track-by-track breakdown of Ray West & The Soul Misfits for our recurring column, All-around Breakdown. Ray West & The Soul Misfits' self-titled full-length debut is currently available in both limited edition blue-tinted cassette and digital album formats with artwork by @Sek3 on Red Apples 45, as distributed by Fat Beats.

01. "Soul Misfits" (Prelude)

"This was the first track we made together during the studio session. We were using the MPC3000. It was a "dirty" sample that Phil Moffa had on the sampler when we arrived... the groove is what made Dave Dar come up with The Soul Misfits hook. He originally laid it down as, like, a reference track... but it was full [of] feeling, so it stayed. Jay Rivera played guitars on top. It's real raw and spontaneous."

02. "How Much" ft. Moonshine, Dave Dar, Sean Santiago & John Robinson

"This track was also, created all together the same night. We used John Robinson's SP-404 and the MPC3000. Myself, John, and Phil Moffa all played different parts to the beat. All the emcees wrote their verses and [laid] them down on-the-spot."

03. "What Happen" ft. A.G. & Dave Dar

"This track was made previous to the LP concept. I used the MPC60. I had a session in my home studio with A.G. & Dave Dar. They wrote [it] together and [laid] it down together."

04. "Tribal Live" (Instrumental)

"This was an instrumental when I was working on the tracklist and finalizing the project. I used an MPC Live. This was made to give the project some Tribal-type of feel; since we were a large group collaborating, I wanted to capture that Tribal feel."

05. "Get You Some Protection" ft. Dave Dar

"This is a Dave Dar solo. We did this in the home studio. MPC2000XL - plus, some live Moog Synth overlays. I played a lot of live hand percussion on this: shakers, tambourine, and hi-hat [cymbals]."

06. "Fort Apache" (Instrumental)

"Same as the other instrumental, "Tribal Live;" this was made on the MPC Live for this project."

07. "Everything Is Bright" ft. A.G.

"Every Red Apples project needs the signature A.G. song - this is that! MPC3000. Me & A. in the studio doing what we do, free-spirited. I feel, it's a side of A.G. that the Red Apples umbrella opens for him; a more free-spirited side (at times) - I love this song!"

08. "Beyond The 10th" ft. Nelson Dialect & Dave Dar

"This is another track similar to "Get You Some Protection." MPC2000XL, live Moog, and a bunch of live percussion. Nelson Dialect really made the concept for this: "Beyond The 10th." It was a play-on-words. They say, we only use 10% of our brains. We are "beyond the 10th." We plan on more "Beyond The 10th"-type of music."

09. "In The Pocket" ft. Moonshine & Nelson Dialect

"This was made on the same night as the first two tracks, same studio session. MPC3000 and Jay Rivera's guitar. Moonshine & [Nelson] Dialect wrote together and laid it down. I did the cuts later in my home studio."

10. "Hold It Down" ft. L-Fudge & Nelson Dilaect

"My bro, L-Fudge! I feel so blessed for all of Fudge's contributions to Red Apples, over the years. He is such a talent. I had this track for a while and Fudge gave the green light to release. So pleased to have Nelson Dialect on this with him. It was a great closer!"

"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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