Remembering one of hip hop's fallen
Posted August 8, 2009 1:06 pm (about 909 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua I was recently turned on to Abraham Borhóquez Sánchez of the Bolivian-based group Ukamau y Ké and spent hours listening to his music and reading about his career. Unfortunately, he passed away this past May. Yet I was so impressed that I felt the need to help promote his legacy. Read article
Interview with Bay Area DJ Mac G
Posted March 21, 2009 9:48 pm (about 1049 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Words from one of the Bay Area's ground-breaking hip hop legends. Mac takes time to share some insider stories, reflect on changes in the industry, and how he's stayed relevant for more than two decades. Read article
Interview with hip-hop artist Rico Pabon
Posted January 5, 2009 10:59 pm (about 1124 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua This past summer I spent a week as a guest of hip-hop artist Rico Pabon, a heavyweight in the Bay Area music scene, and his family in Puerto Rico, during which time I got to know him a little better as not just an MC, but a father, husband, and all around good guy. In full disclosure, I’ve known his wife Francis the past four years, but I had never actually sat down and had a full conversation with Rico until this trip. But through his work as the lead MC for groups O-Maya and Agua Libre, as well the co-owner of Sofrito, one of only a handful of Puerto Rican restaurants in the Bay, I was familiar with him outside of my friendship with his wife. I’ve been impressed with his body of work and one night we sat down and talked about life till the wee hours of the morning. Rico went way beyond music, talking about overcoming numerous obstacles in his life, community empowerment, and what it means to be a father and husband. There’s a lot here, but trust me, it’s well worth the read! Read article
Michigan's Mixtape King, DJ Graffiti, talks business and Blackness
Posted July 30, 2008 12:31 am (about 1284 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Michigan’s DJ Graffiti has his hand in so many pots that it’s hard to describe his contributions to the Michigan’s music scene in one interview. As a DJ, marketing and promotions guy, and a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Law School and Business School, he’s been able to successfully earn respect at both the corporate and street level. As a DJ, he’s shared the stage with numerous stars, put out several mix CDs, and performed in countless venues. As corporate America continues to strengthen its hold on hip hop, Graffiti, known in these circle as Martin Smith, has used his marketing ventures to ensure that the hip hop community maintains some control of this multi-billion dollar business. Over the years Graffiti and I have become good friends, so if you’re wondering about bias, yes, it’s here. Then again, like many other people whose work that I respect, we’ve become friends because we connect at a personal level. Incidentally, I kind blew him off when he first introduced himself to me in the late ‘90s when I was DJing a function at the University of Michigan’s Trotter House. It wasn’t personal, I was just burnt out on hip hop, DJing, and Michigan in general. However, we did stay in touch and from time to time we still share equipment or collaborate on other projects and often get into long discussions about life and music. This go around I was passing through Ann Arbor and was able to catch him while he was preparing for a gig that night at the Blind Pig. Read article
Mad Mike interview
Posted February 20, 2007 1:06 am (about 1810 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Interview with techno label head "Mad Mike" Banks. I didn't write this, but it's worth spreading the word. An amazing man to know who kicks plenty of knowldege in this interview! This interview is from the Feburary 10, 2007 edition of Germany's De:Bug magazine. Also, I had my high school students read this article and part of their assignment was to write letters to Mike. Read some of their letters here. Read article
Ghettotech
Posted March 13, 2006 12:45 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Back in 2003 I was approached by Submerge, a record distribution company in Detroit to write up some descriptions of music styles of Detroit for their website. As far as I know, that project was nixed and my main connect on this project moved to New York with his lady. However, I was able to salvage this draft. Read article
This or That
Posted March 13, 2006 12:44 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Is Hip Hop becoming conscious again? A feature article for the San Jose, CA-based Debug youth magazine. This article was also picked up by Pacific News Service and Davey D's website. Read article
Bumpin In My Ride
Posted March 13, 2006 12:43 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Five minute reviews of CDs getting love in my ride. This article was featured on BlackElectorate.com. Read article
The Sum and Its Parts
Posted March 13, 2006 12:42 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua A feature on Detroit turntablist crew, Combined Individuals. This article was featured in the March 10, 1999 edition of the Detroit Metro Times. Read article
Soul and Salsa
Posted March 13, 2006 12:41 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua DJs promote Detroit Latin sound: An interview with Francisco ????J Cisco????Espino and Jonathan ????J Chico????Noah-Navarro. Originally featured in the February 17, 2000 issue of Detroit City View newspaper. Read article
Detroit artists break, scratch, and dent stereotypes with free show
Posted March 13, 2006 12:40 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Detroit youth use hip hop to offset stereotypes. This article appeared in the June 2000 issue of Mi Gente. Read article
The Mindscapes EP
Posted March 13, 2006 12:39 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Review of Michigan hip-hop artist PMC that was featured in the Detroit Metro Times. Read article
Review of 3rd Kind's "Klose Enkounters Uv Da Third Kind"
Posted March 13, 2006 12:38 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Review of Detroit hip-hop group that was featured in the Detroit Metro Times. Read article
D-12: The Mix CD
Posted March 13, 2006 12:38 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Review of 2003 mix CD by Detroit hip-hop group, D-12. Read article
Keep it Rolling
Posted March 13, 2006 12:37 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua A brief article on Detroit hip-hop group Da Ruckus. This article was featured in the October 7, 1998 edition of the Detroit Metro Times in the "In One Ear" column. Read article
Keep Rising to the Top
Posted March 13, 2006 12:36 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Quick tidbits of movements in Detroit's hip hop scene back in 1999. This article was featured in the January 6, 1999 edition of the Detroit Metro Times. Read article
Slaying the Dragon
Posted March 13, 2006 12:35 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Metro Detroit Asian-American youth find identity in hip-hop culture (Jan. 22, 1999). This story was voted Metro Times' "Best Story" in the 1999 Best of Detroit Awards. Metro Times is is a Detroit-based weekly alternative paper with a circulation of 110,000. Read article
Starry Knights
Posted March 13, 2006 12:34 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Feature on Detroit hip-hop group, Binary Star. This article was featured in the March 10, 1999 edition of The Detroit Metro Times. Read article
Expressive Locations
Posted March 13, 2006 12:33 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua A sampling of Detroit spots boasting hip-hop regularity. this article was featured in the June 2, 1999 edition of The Detroit Metro Times. Read article
Record Setting Goals
Posted March 13, 2006 12:32 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua "Pools open the eyes of DJs and make hits on the dance floor." Featured in the October 27, 1999 edition of the Detroit Metro Times. Read article
People's Movement
Posted March 13, 2006 12:31 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Review of DJ Defiant mix CD Read article
Could You Love Me For Me?
Posted March 13, 2006 12:31 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua An interview with reggae superstar Buju Banton (November 1997) Read article
Show and Prove
Posted March 13, 2006 12:30 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Review of New Rising Sun Entertainment's hip-hop showcase. (July 5, 1999) Read article
Submerge on the Move
Posted March 13, 2006 12:29 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua "Criminals, dope fiends and assorted misfits" construct expanded facility for Detroit's premier house and techno distributor." ( URB, May 2001) Read article
Bling Free 2 Mix CD
Posted March 13, 2006 12:28 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Review of DJ Graffiti's "Bling Free 2" mix CD. Read article
Even in Darkness
Posted March 13, 2006 12:27 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua A profile on Detroit's DJ Flaco, aka DJ Slim, aka Officer Rivera of the Detroit Police Department (April 2002) Read article
Smooth Mixer
Posted March 13, 2006 12:27 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua One of Detroit's most innovative DJs, Duane Bradley, is remembered. (City View, Oct. 21, 1999) Read article
Damn, It Was a Good Day
Posted March 13, 2006 12:24 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Cold chillin' at the NAACP's Hip Hop Summit and Latin Night at the Parabox in Detroit. (Sample article for Urban Box Office, Nov. 15, 1999) Read article
Sonic Ambassador
Posted March 13, 2006 12:23 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Australian electro/bass label Southern Outpost founder Patrick HAF talks about the ties between Detroit and Sydney.(Cyclic Defrost, October 2002) Read article
Sonic Ambassador II
Posted March 13, 2006 12:22 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Southern Outpost co-founder Phil Chan kicks it via e-mail with Detroit????s Domingo Yu about his Sydney-based electro label. (October, 2002) Read article
Club Viva, St. Louis, MO
Posted March 13, 2006 12:18 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Everybody and they mama is starting up a Latin night in the 'Lou. Check out one of the originals.(Urban Latino, March 2002) Read article
Roots and Culture
Posted March 13, 2006 12:17 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua An interview with the incomparable DJ Tony Touch ( Mi Gente May 2001) Read article
Christmas Cheer
Posted March 13, 2006 12:15 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Latino hip-hop artists drop a gang of music in time for the holidays (December 2001) Read article
Behind the Mask
Posted March 13, 2006 12:14 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua While the name might not be familiar to most, Detroit-based producer ????he Shadow People,????has quite an extensive track record ?????if you know where to look. Recording under multiple aliases, this camera shy pretty boy has been putting out electro and ghetto tech records for the past six years and is no new jack to the game. (October, 2002) Read article
Etched in Black
Posted March 13, 2006 12:10 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Review of album album by Detroit hip hop group. (City View, Oct. 1999) Read article
Da Product EP
Posted March 13, 2006 12:09 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Review of release by Detroit hip hop artist EP: Da Energy Provider. (URB, May 2000) Read article
Hip Hop Don't Stop
Posted March 13, 2006 12:08 pm (about 2153 days ago)
By Daniel D. Zarazua Summit combines music, culture and issues. (City View, Nov. 11, 1999 Read article
