Chillin' with DJ Houseshoes at Fat Beats LA

Sorry for taking so long, but Blogger was acting up, plus I just started this thing last week. Give me a break.

For the record, before I begin, I think Detroit is making the best Hip Hop music in America and has been for a few years now. I say that as a boy proud to be from the South who grew up on all types of Hip Hop, especially that New York sh-t. On a major-label level, however, the gold medal goes to Chicago.

On Saturday I stopped by Fat Beats (a legendary Hip Hop spot in case you didn't know) to chop it up with the king of Detroit (now living in L.A.), DJ Houseshoes. I've been cool with Houseshoes for a little while now, and I think his skill as a DJ and producer along with his taste for song selection will one day lead him to be an international superstar, a definite tastemaker.

Another thing I like about Shoes is that he is a super-humble, regular dude, and you'd never think he was a beat-making protege of the late, great James Yancey aka J Dilla, aka Jay-Dee, aka Pay Jay, aka arguably the best drum programmer in history, aka a guy many people consider the father of Neo Soul and one of the best to ever do it.

When I met with Shoes we talked about a few things like the Brazilian Jazz/Funk show he was going to attend shortly, the fact that he's due to be a father next March and chili cheese dogs, yeah chili cheese dogs. He had a picture on his phone of two hot dogs drowning in chili and cheese that obviously left an impression on him. He was showing the dogs off like they were his kids, perhaps practicing for next March. It's the simple things that matter. In his words, "It looks like death, but it's the best sh-t you'll ever eat." I won't pretend like I don't like hot dogs, chili or cheese. Once their powers combine, I can't resist. It's the simple things that matter.

Another thing we talked about was publishing. This was the main reason I met with him. I've been working on getting him to meet with someone in publishing, nothing incredible; there is just one particular person I want to hook him up with. If you're an artist or a songwriter/producer, publishing is something you definitely need to educate yourself on, STAT! When it comes to hard-hitting, Hip Hop beats, Houseshoes is one of the best I have ever heard, literally. He's one of those cats I definitely want to see shine, because his potential is limitless. That, coupled with the fact that he's such a people person, makes me root for him even more.

After listening to some beats and part of a set by Black Milk (Youtube link, since the Myspace wasn't working at the time) I took a few pictures of Shoes and wandered around the store and snapped a few pictures of the shop. Fat Beats is wet dream for any real Hip Hop fan. For the short amount of time I was in there I fell in love with the genre all over again and forgot how messed up it is right now on some levels.

If you want some good music in your life (and I know you do) you can check out Shoes' podcast right here.