Tag Archive for Red Bull Music Academy

RBMA 2014 season kicks off on Wednesday, 1/15 & goes until 3/18! Apply now for a chance to go to the 2014 Red Bull Music Academy in Tokyo!!! Details on this “life-changing” opportunity below…

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Today’s the day.  January 15th, the first day you can apply for the 2014 Red Bull Music Academy in Tokyo.  I tell people it’s the closest thing to a real-world musical scholarship you can get.  Lectures by legends, collabs with some of the best talent in the world, shows at nights, access to multiple dream studios worth of equipment, in a foreign country, on Red Bull’s dime?  Yeah, that’s what I’d call a seriously great opportunity and like all scholarships and great opportunities, there’s an application process that’s a little more involved than just answering 5 minutes worth of questions.

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With that said, if you’re serious about the music you make, play, sing, rap, etc, take a minute to head over to RedBullMusicAcademy.com to get the 2014 RBMA application and more details on everything involved.  Over the last few years, artists like Aloe Blacc, Oddisee, Ta-Ku, Flying Lotus, Hudson Mohawk, Tokimonsta have applied, been accepted and have gone as far as to say “it changed my life”, amongst other rave reviews.  You can apply until March 18th, but take it from someone who’s applied before, the last thing you want to do is not get started until then (trust me, you want to check it out now).  Good luck!!!

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Check out Various Assets 2013, a compilation of music created at the 2013 Red Bull Music Academy in New York, featuring the likes of Dam-Funk, Thundercat, the 62 different artists from all over world who applied to the Academy and were accepted & more.  It’s a double CD worth of material that will give you a taste of all the varieties of that get involved at RBMA every year.

Below you can catch links to a dozen of my favorite in-depth lectures featured at RedBullMusicAcademy.com to give you a taste of how deep the learning goes, but make sure to check out the site for hundreds more and RedBullMusicAcademyRadio.com for thousands of podcasts, live shows, interviews & more.

.:?uestlove of the Roots:.

.:Bob Moog:.

.:Mark Ronson:.

.:Danny Krivit:.

.:Dennis Coffey:.

.:A-Trak:.

.:Chuck D:.

.:Just Blaze:.

.:The Mizell Brothers:.

.:Bob Power:.

.:Jay Electronica:.

.:Blu & Exile:.

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Also, stay tuned for What Difference Does It Make?, the 15th anniversary RBMA movie and For The Record: Conversations With People Who Have Shaped The Way We Listen To Music, the 400-page Red Bull Music Academy book; both of which are coming soon.  I’ll be posting a few different ways for you to get a copy of For The Record shortly, so stay tuned for details on that.

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fortherecord_page2For The Record

The Red Bull Music Academy is creating the future of music by bringing the vanguard of the industry together. In the book For the Record, the leaders shaping the current musical landscape offer their insights on today’s most relevant topics and how they will affect the evolution of music production.

For the Record includes conversations between luminaries such as Nile Rodgers and Martyn Ware—the forces behind some of the biggest tunes in disco and pop from the likes of Chic, Daft Punk, David Bowie, Madonna, The Human League, and Heaven 17—who compare notes on the best way to create chart-topping hits. Erykah Badu, one of neo-soul’s defining voices, shares career advice and psychedelic wisdom with up-and-coming New York rap duo The Underachievers. DJ Harvey and Ben UFO, two different generations of DJs, talk about the good old days, the present day, and the uncertain future of selecting records for a living. Jamaican visionary Lee “Scratch” Perry is paired with UK dub producer Adrian Sherwood. Those familiar with Perry’s unique worldview will not be disappointed by this surprising and funny conversation.

More About This Book

In a similar fashion, For the Record also explores the topics of live performance, instruments/interfaces, conceptualism, drumming, rhythm, and many more. Together with stunning visual design by Chris Rehberger’s Double Standards agency, the results make for one of the most insightful publications on the current state of music and the music industry.

About the Academy

The Red Bull Music Academy is a world-traveling series of music workshops and festivals—a platform for those who make a difference in today’s musical landscape. The Academy began back in 1998, and has been traversing the globe ever since, bringing together producers, vocalists, DJs, instrumentalists, and all-around musical mavericks to shape the future of music. It has already made stops in Berlin, Cape Town, São Paulo, Barcelona, London, Toronto, New York, and beyond. If you can imagine a place that’s equal parts science lab, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and Kraftwerk’s home studio, you’re halfway there.

What the Press Have Said About the Academy

“The annual Red Bull Music Academy electronic music symposium lets its students hone their talents, access studio equipment, and learn from the best in the business.”  The Guardian

“For music fans, it is a cornucopia.”  The New York Times

“Inspiration Overload”  The Wall Street Journal

For the Record Conversations

João Barbosa x Kalaf Ângelo x Mulatu Astatke
Bernard Purdie x Jaki Liebezeit
Martyn Ware x Nile Rodgers
Kerri Chandler x Patrick Adams
Gareth Jones x Metro Area
Carsten Nicolai x Olaf Bender x Uwe Schmidt
Benny Ill x Moritz von Oswald
Lee “Scratch” Perry x Adrian Sherwood
Matias Aguayo x Sly & Robbie
DJ Harvey x Ben UFO
Cosey Fanni Tutti x Nik Void
Modeselektor x Mykki Blanco
Erykah Badu x The Underachievers
Just Blaze x Paul Riser
Robert Henke x Tom Oberheim

Many thanks to Red Bull Music Academy for the shout in their new book, For The Record! It’s an honor!!! P.S. RBMA 2014 in Tokyo coming soon…

Big up the homie Scuba for sending me this pic and letting me know my name was mentioned in the incredible new RBMA For The Record book (as “Justin Green”, my government)!  Red Bull Music Academy is one of the best forces in the modern music scene and it’s been an honor to work with them over the years, so seeing something like this is just the icing on the cake.

Anyway, you should probably check it out.  Okayplayer called it their #1 must buy Black Friday item a few weeks back and said this, “1. For The Record coffee table book from Red Bull Music Academy: You are already familiar, perhaps, with Red Bull Music Academy’s steez. They have now translated that steez into a deluxe coffee table book: “a collection of conversations between 36 of music’’s true masterminds.” That list happens to include a who’s who of music-creators we are actively obsessed with here at OKP, including (but not limited to Erykah Badu, Nile Rodgers, Metro Area, Lee “‘Scratch”’ Perry, Just Blaze, Buraka Som Sistema, Sly & Robbie, Paul Riser (of Motown)…& more!  For The Record went on sale Monday in the U.S. for $39.95 in certain specialty bookstores, music shops and in the Gestalten online shop.”

P.S.  RBMA 2014 is right around the corner, head over to RedBullMusicAcademy.com to get more info on the 2014 Academy in Tokyo, Japan!

Incredible Stretch & Bobbito RBMA Lecture…Check Bobbito giving me a thumbs up at the end!!! LOL…

That’s me asking the great question (thumbs up worthy, according to Bobbito; yeah I’m on my fanboy shit…LOL) right at the end of a Red Bull Music Academy couch session with NY legends/radio icons Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia in San Francisco earlier this year (that’s me at 1:31:50 to be exact, my government is Justin).  More importantly, the in-depth interview with Chairman Mao goes way deep into history of their show, which was named the best hip hop radio show of all-time in the Source (back when the Source mattered) and is a must see for any hip hop head.

Wednesday, 2/22 -> Red Bull Music Academy presents The Solution’s 6th Annual J Dilla Celebration at Beta Nightclub w/DJ Spinna, Waajeed, Phat Kat, members of Big Wheel, DJ Low Key, Sounds Supreme, Lazy Eyez & more…

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WEDNESDAY, 2/22 -> We’ve been working on this for a while now and we’re jumping up and down with excitement to announce all the details of The Solution’s 6th annual celebration of the life and music of James Yancey aka J Dilla aka Jay Dee aka one of the greatest hip hop producers of all-time (if not the greatest).  We’ve teamed up with the infamous Red Bull Music Academy and Beta Nightclub (1909 Blake St) to bring out some top notch heavy hitters to celebrate in grand fashion, check out the lineup:

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New York’s DJ Spinna is legendary producer/DJ who’s worked with everyone from Eminem to Mos Def to his group The Jigmastas, was tapped to remix songs by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Mary J Blige, George Michael, De La Soul, Das EFX & MC Eiht before making himself into a force to be reckoned with on the house music scene (his Shawn Escoffery’s “Days Like This” remix is a house classic).  Listen to his J Dilla tribute above, download the ridiculous “Dillagence” version with Phonte here (which you might have heard at The Solution before) and check out The Recall, his self-made best of production mixtape, here.

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Detroit’s Waajeed was a frequent Dilla collaborator, is one half of PPP/Platinum Pied Pipers and the founder of Bling47.com (if you’re a Dilla fan, you really need to check the site ASAP), a some time Slum Village DJ and producer, executive producer behind Dwele’s debut Rize, and has worked with everyone from Roy Ayers to Onra to Jazmine Sullivan.  Check out these fresh Waajeed mixtapes from the homies DJ Mensa & DJ Topspin to get a little more familiar with his work.

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Phat Kat aka Ronnie Cash aka @RonnieEuro aka 1/2 of First Down (J Dilla was the other half) is a Detroit legend, having put out records with Jay Dee before Slum Village, being featured on Fantastic Volume 1 and Welcome to Detroit, having some of Dilla fans favorite joints like “Nobody Care About Us”, “Cold Steel” (w/Elzhi, the video above) & “Game Over” and being known as one of the fiercest rappers to come from the D.

Two of our favorite musicians in town, Dameion Hines & Q-Knox of Big Wheel, will be backing Phat Kat and providing their own homage to the music of Dilla.

DJ Low Key (DAF4), Sounds Supreme & Lazy Eyez aka The Solution DJs will get the night started and hold down things like we’ve done every year since our first Dilla tribute in February 2007 (our first Dilla tribute was actually the third Solution ever).

Beta’s insanely sophisticated Funktion One sound system is going to be as important to the night as anything.  We’ll be blasting Dilla’s music on one of the best sound systems in the entire world, don’t miss an unprecedented chance to hear it sounding better than ever before.

18+ /// Doors at 9 /// $10 cover with half going to music-related charities /// BetaNightclub.com for more on the club and pre-sale tickets /// #TheSolution5 /// Special shouts to Detour on the flyer design, all the heads who’ve come out to any of our Dilla celebrations, Stones Throw for help with past events, our previous Dilla celebration guests Slum Village and Tanya Morgan and Red Bull Music Academy for helping make it happen this time around (check out the video below if you’re not familiar).

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*Before we get started on 2/22, producers, musicians, singers, songwriters, engineers, DJs, instrumentalists, arrangers, sound experimentalists, etc are invited to come check out the Red Bull Music Academy Lecture Series w/DJ Spinna, Waajeed & Phat Kat earlier in the evening. If you’re interested in applying to the 2012 Red Bull Music Academy in NYC (which you can do from now until 4/2), you should definitely try and come out for more information and the experience of hearing what our renowned guests have to say about music, life & Dilla. RSVP required on the FB event page or justin[at]redbullmusicacademy{dot}com for entry and details.

P.S. In case you’re not familiar with J Dilla, you’re about to be blessed by a ton of incredible music (plus you probably are familiar with some of his work and don’t realize it, if you’re into acts like Common, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Slum Village, The Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest & De La Soul).  Check out these links from StonesThrow.com for more on your favorite producer’s favorite producer, word to the likes of Questlove & Pharrell:

J Dilla passed away on the morning of February 10th, 2006 at the age of 32. He had suffered for over three years with an incurable blood disease, and had also been diagnosed with lupus. He left behind a body of work which will be loved and rediscovered for years to come.

Our admiration for this artist, and our brief time working with him, is too much to cover in this small space, but we have a wealth of biographical and discography info, photos, interview and published features in the links below.

J DILLA LINKS
J Dilla – Complete Discography
J Dilla – Official Biography

KEY WORKS
J Dilla – Donuts Album
J Dilla – Ruff Draft Album
Jaylib – Champion Sound Album

KEY NEWS FEATURES & TRIBUTES
J Dilla Cover Story Real Detroit Weekly, 2006
Jay Dee 1974-2006 Urb, 2006
Jay Dee’s Last Days Detroit Free Press, Feb. 2006
Jaylib Live in 2004 Audio & Photos
J Dilla & Madlib at Rock the Bells Photos
B+ Remembers Dilla & Madlib in Brazil
Associated Press: J Dilla Obit
New York Times: J Dilla Obit
Behind the Beat: Photos: Inside J Dilla’s studio, 2005
The Battle for J Dilla’s Legacy Vibe, 2009
Reorganized J Dilla Estate Announced 2010

RBMA season returns!!! Apply for the Red Bull Music Academy Tokyo between now & April 4th…Details below…

UPDATE: The Red Bull Music Academy 2011 will not be held in Tokyo. The new location to be announced April 11. Also, application deadline extended to 4/26.

In their own words, “The Red Bull Music Academy brings talented souls from around the globe together to make music and swap wisdom.  For the past 12 years, the Red Bull Music Academy has been traveling the world, to give music makers of all stripes a whopping dose of creative inspiration: two weeks of recording sessions, workshops, lectures by musical luminaries, and unforgettable late night jams. This year, the destination is Tokyo, and all producers, vocalists, DJs, and instrumentalists are invited to apply. The only necessary requirement? Drive.”

With that philosophy, the Red Bull Music Academy has accumulated an unprecedented wealth of music knowledge, fostered a long list of unexpected collaborations and built a storied history of lecturers and participants.  Over the last four years I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in the Red Bull Music Academy as Colorado’s sole representative.  With that said, I’ll be running an info session for locals interested in the program with a very special guest or two in March, throwing an On The Floor event that’ll end up on RedBullMusicAcademyRadio.com and, most importantly, answering any questions you might have about the program itself and helping local musicians/DJs/vocalists/producers/etc complete everything for their applications.

So whether you’re in Colorado or not, feel free to hit me up with any questions about the program at questions[at]djlowkey[dot]com and I’ll be happy to help clarify how things work.  You can also find more info at facebook.com/RedBullMusicAcademy, at twitter.com/RBMA & the downloadable info booklet below.  Then from there, download the application form, grab a snack and give yourself a big chunk of time to get started filling it out (think of it as a musical scholarship application; because like all things especially worthwhile, it’s going to take some effort).

Last but not least, here’s links to a dozen of my favorite in-depth lectures featured at RedBullMusicAcademy.com to give you a taste of how deep the learning goes, check out the site for hundreds more and RedBullMusicAcademyRadio.com for thousands of podcasts, live shows, interviews & more.

.:?uestlove of the Roots:.

.:Bob Moog:.

.:Mark Ronson:.

.:Danny Krivit:.

.:Dennis Coffey:.

.:A-Trak:.

.:Chuck D:.

.:Just Blaze:.

.:The Mizell Brothers:.

.:Bob Power:.

.:Jay Electronica:.

.:Blu & Exile:.