While walking into a party recently, a funky melodic instrumental eased its way past the speaker meshing. As I made my way over to the DJ booth, I bobbed my head and began chopping it up with Mr. DJ, watching him masterfully manipulate and extend the instrumental in the most commendable of fashions.

Suddenly, this inebriated girl stumbled up to us and yelled “Shootouts!”

Initially, I thought what I was racially predisposed to think, given the setting. She must have seen my confusion as she swiftly clarified: “Jadakiss & Sheek. ‘Shootouts’. That’s what you’re playing right?”

Right then, in response and on cue, Curtis Mayfield reclaimed ownership of his song, “Doo Doo Wop,” as he began to sing.

Curtis Mayfield

And sing this man could.

One of the most timeless tenors of recent times, Mr. Mayfield continued on doo-wopping as the pissy prissy missy waddled away, confused.

Curtis was unquestionably one of the most visionary musicians, period. His vision was not just a hollow half-flash shell, but fully loaded with talent and passion that was ignited with each guitar string strum.

From the very early in the 60′s, right in the thick of things, he gambled an otherwise definitely successful career by being more progressive and socially conscious with his music. He won, this gamble and, in doing so, he not only set ripples in society that are still felt today, but contributed in the creation of the dichotomy of conscious versus pop music. Curtis created a middle ground.

Much as he’s known for hits such as “Pusherman,” I think Curtis’ greatest successes were his carefully crafted albums. A feat that is rarely accomplished in music nowadays, Curt has made numerous CDs that I have rocked from beginning to end without wiping the boyish grin off my face. Not all were classics, granted. But those that were, were exceptionally exemplary oeuvres.

Case in point, in my unhumble opinion, the infinitely dope Short Eyes LP.

I’ve always found it endlessly entertaining and enjoyable.

But recently, its immortality was solidified by two of my favorite albums & songs from 2007: American Gangster‘s song by the same title and, of course, Spell My Name Right’s “Back Against The Wall”.

Masterfully mixed by Mr. Statik Selektah, the beat was demolished by Royce & Cormega. After the track acquired my iPod’s heavy rotation status, I began fiending Short Eyes.

So when I heard the Jiggaman tear up the Just Blaze beat on the song “American Gangster,” my smile knew no bounds.

An overjoyed Contraâ„¢ immediately began shuffling crates and shoeboxes of CD’s before reluctantly resigning to the realization that I no longer possessed Short Eyes. I felt empty as I was now unable to appreciate Curtis’ work the way I would’ve liked to.

But now, praises due to the Crew, I have my Curtis collection.

And so do you.

Enjoy.

R.I.P to Mr. Mayfield & strength to his family.

Curtis Shots

Curtis_Mayfield_&_The_Impressions-Ridin_High-1966

Curtis_Mayfield_&_The_Impressions-The_Anthology_1961-1977_Cd1-1992

Curtis_Mayfield_&_The_Impressions-The_Anthology_1961-1977_Cd2-1992

Curtis_Mayfield_&_The_Staple_Singers-Lets_Do_It_Again-1975

Curtis_Mayfield-Back_To_The_World-1973

Curtis_Mayfield-Curtis_In_Chicago-1973

Curtis_Mayfield-Curtis-1970

Curtis_Mayfield-Do_It_All_Night-1978

Curtis_Mayfield-Got_to_Find_a_Way-1974

Curtis_Mayfield-Heartbeat-1979

Curtis_Mayfield-Immortal_Curtis_Mayfield_Superfly_Guy_Cd1-2005

Curtis_Mayfield-Immortal_Curtis_Mayfield_Superfly_Guy_Cd2-2005

Curtis_Mayfield-Live_In_Europe-1988

Curtis_Mayfield-Live_In_NYC-1971

Curtis_Mayfield-Mayfield_Remixed_The_Curtis_Mayfield_Collection-2005

Curtis_Mayfield-New_World_Order-1996

Curtis_Mayfield-Roots-1971

Curtis_Mayfield-Short_Eyes_OST-1977

Curtis_Mayfield-Something_To_Believe_In-1980

Curtis_Mayfield-Superfly_Deluxe_25th_Anniversary_Edition_(CD1)-1997

Curtis_Mayfield-Superfly_Deluxe_25th_Anniversary_Edition_(CD2)-1997

Curtis_Mayfield-Sweet_Exorcist-1974

Curtis_Mayfield-The_Definitive_Soul_Collection-Remastered-2CD-2006

Curtis_Mayfield-The_Very_Best_Of_Curtis_Mayfield-1997

Curtis_Mayfield-Theres_No_Place_Like_America_Today-1975

Curtis_Mayfield-Tripping_Out-1994

Curtis Shots