Words By Contraâ„¢
Atlanta is slowly building up to be one of my favorite cities, musically speaking. There’ve been excellent performances, historic events and just all together the stars seem to be determined to align and shine on the Motown of the South lately.
One would assume that all heads would bask in it. But a word of caution: never lean too strongly on what would otherwise be a sound, logical assumption.
Case in point, a fortnight ago I was avoiding a tornado. I found myself taking refuge in one of my favorite Friday nightspots, MJQ. It is unapologetically, and quite literally an underground club, and on Friday nights, a Hip-Hop head haven; especially this second Friday of the month when the phenomenal DJ Rasta Root and the indubitable DJ Fudge were wrecking the wheels and massaging our eardrums. I stood with my crew (shoutouts to the family) enjoying the music until there was a break and Rasta proceeded to announce the presence of a special guest amongst us.
Breaths were bated, silence prevailed.
Even I had to quit my “Man, just play the damn music” bicker and wait.
And then it happened; the moments that made and ruined my night, juxtaposed. Rasta’s voice was clear, energetic, loud and proud when he bellowed over the mic:
“The incredible….. Deee…Jayyyy…..Niiiinth….Wonderrrrrrrrr!”
In my mind, a mini Contraâ„¢ was doing backflips and headspins in celebration. And I really wanted to enjoy this but something killed it for me. A sound….what I believed to be….
Crickets chirping.
Nobody in the fucking club acknowledged the man duly. One or two hand claps, but nothing more. I was even mildly embarrassed at some of the posse I was with as they stood there like they didn’t just hear something amazing. I was tempted to start distributing two-finger mushes to every face that bore a blank look on it…but as soon as 9th threw on his first jam, I elected not to.
He completely ripped the set to pieces and set the pieces ablaze with unparalleled mastery of the vinyl and the crowd. Clearly he wasn’t fazed by what had just happened. When it was over, I figured people would resume their rightful positions back on 9th’s sac, but get this, they didn’t. In spite of this man spinning them hit after hit long after the lights went on, and in great spite of his already outstanding reputation, people single filed their way out into the post stormy weather as if they had urchin on fire outside the building.
I wished a tornado upon them.
I wished Zeus (whom I’ve always imagined to resemble Kool Herc in a toga with a laurel of weed leaves on his head) would toss one of his lightning bolt projectiles at these ingrates.
These are the same fools who come to the Q because other clubs feed them excremental music, and yet they can’t appreciate 9th fucking Wonder? Really? Word?
I put my anger to the side, my pride in my pocket, walked up to 9th and did what I never do: I dapped him and said:
“Great set, I’m a big fan.”
“Truly appreciated” was his mellow, humble and tired reply.
I wanted to throw in “As you can see on my t-shirt, I rolls with the Smoking Sectionâ„¢ and I’d like to get 15 minutes with you…pause.”
But I didn’t. For one night, I would just be a fan.
I began typing a shoutout list to all the DJ’s I fox with in ATL, but it got lengthy. You know yourselves; take a bow.
Show your Disk Jockeys love in ’08.
40_Cal-The_Yellow_Tape
8Ball_And_E.D.I.(of The Outlawz) – Doin_It_Big
Ryan Leslie – Just Right (2005)(Unreleased)
Wiley-Wearing_My_Rolex-(Promo_CD)-2008
Lil_Wyte_Presents-Cocaine_And_Kush
Brooklyn_Funk_Essentials-Watcha_Playin
TQ-Paradise
DJ Finesse & Trey Songz-The Ladies Choice Pt. 2
DJ Whiteowl-Drop That Pt. 4
Swishahouse-Blow One 2K8-(2 CD)
DJ Smallz-Florida Traffiking
DJ’s Drama, Envy & Tapemasters Inc.-Purple Codeine 16
DJ EMI-Remixes & Blends 11.5
DJ Hitz-Gameday 2K8-(4th Quarter)
DJ Hitz & Lil Wayne-It’s The Remix Baby
The Empire, The Cartel & Young Buck-Rumors
DJ Whiteowl-Dont Try This At Home 10
DJ Scope-RNB Overdrive 22
DJ Fur E & Burn It Down-Dr. Dre:Retox
Krayzie_Bone-Smoke_On_This
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I am the one.
I went to Sol Fusion Friday night with my girl and DJ Jamad was killing it. Yet, In a crowded club, me and my girl were the only ones dancing. We have to show the great DJ’s more love.
Good read. That’s a bit surprising that 9th didn’t get any love.
I would have smacked the grill out of someones mouth…ungreatful hillbillies.
Sigh..you know 9th would be gettin’ mad respect if he came up to t.dot.
damn…..
don’t ya just hate hypocrites?
that’s fuckin sad…not that everyone should be bowing down and worshipping the ground dude walks on, but come on…even if 9th isn’t your thing, he’s a guest DJ, that you’ve heard of, that has impeccable credentials…a healthy round of applause is warranted, before and after the set, at the very least…the depressing part is that either the majority of these people haven’t heard of him, have fuckin horrible manners, or know who he is but don’t respect him enough to clap…i don’t know which: a)is worse; b)is a more detrimental statement about the current state of hip-hop music
Hate is strong in this culture’s blood…
When he and Questlove came to Duke a while ago, it was all love. But then again, he lives down the street from the school…
Damn I didn’t know 9th was nice on the turntables like that…Why the fcuk wasn’t he touring with LB then??
oh, and does anybody..ANYBODY have Jigga’s “Reach The Top?” preferably with no DJ, but at this point, I’ll take the J-Love version. This joint isn’t even in the Library Of A Legend comp. Only place I know it exists is J-Love’s Top Of The Game vol. 1 mixtape. If anybody has that tape, I’ll appreciate that as well.
@ Texas Toker: 9th was here on March 7th my dude!!! I couldn’t go though because I’d already coughed up enough dough for the RZA show instead. ROOTS IN CONCERT TONIGHT AT THE KOOL HAUS IN TORONTO!!! See y’all later!!!
ps
Yo Gotty, if I can get some decent pics I’ll email ‘em to you. What’s the TSS general email?
Flea – just hit me up john.gotty at gmail.com
How can you not show that man some love? Shit, I’m tryin see if I can take his Hip Hop History class when I go to NCCU in the Fall.
^ that class would probably the only ever class I’d ever be looking forward to go to every morning
I think I may travel just to see the Roots perform again.
i think 9th wonder or not, all dj’s need a certain amount of respect. Any
…incomplete ^
any performer who does their job needs at least a dap….a nod…something non-monetary….
that’s what happens when all these people who should STAY FANS start “doing it”. instead of being appreciative, half of the mofos are standing around looking like thet’re ready to battle instead of just showing some love.
sheeeeeeit. i feel this post heavily…
you know what it reminds me of? parties here in STL filled with folks who talk all day about “eff this radio bs”, “we need an alternative to the regular music on mtv 24-7″, “i wanna hear some good hip hop, not whats on tv”…but then once they hit the club and get 2 drinks in them they’re annoyin me asking for “lollipop” and “my dougie” and Flo-Rida…
like damnit you talk all day about how you’re “independent” “alternative” “underground” whatever but it turns out you’re just like everybody else…
THEY WEREN’T WHAT WE THOUGHT THEY WERE! if you don’t like Pharcyde and Little Brother and Common and M.O.P. that’s cool, just don’t pretend you do….
and yeah i’ma catch the Roots here in a few weeks…gonna be like my 12th time seein em, they never disappoint…anyone got an in to help me get a mixtape hosting from ? or Black Thought? 8)
Friday nights at MJQ will forever be the shit, however, I stopped going because the crowd changed for the worse. This post is an testament to that. They have seen a few DJ’s come through and dumb it down, but most of all the crowd on Friday has made MJQ damn near intolerable. Wednesday night has become my favorite night at the Q, but it makes for a horrible Thursday at the job.
Thats crazy. Second Fridays at Q be like that. I was on the flip side at the Drunken Unicorn watching Senor Kaos rip it. 9th turned it out the next night @ Utopia though. Do yourself a favor and check for his crew True School coming to a town near you!
Contra – I was in the building that night. I actually performed in the back room (Drunken Unicorn). You have to realize That nobody really cares about anybody in Atlanta. This is not really the type of place that cats make a Hoopla about 9th Wonder. Plus I had him Djing in the city Twice before you seen him at MJQ, so It wasn’t like its nothing new. But I feel what your saying though. You would think people would get more love here, but they dont!