”Shit we thought you guys were based in LA or London”… is the usual reply. But that’s cool, it’s not a well known fact. If you didn’t know the East is the new West then you need to take a trip over here.

Those in the know are looking to the East for inspiration cause we know how to continue to wave the flag of individuality, new youth culture, design and fashion. To kick off some future exposure we will be doing centered around the East in the coming months, let us introduce DJ AI-VA… a one man super mash-up man in the mix.

For DJ Ai-va, the number one priority is musicality. Drawing his influences from Soul, Funk, Rock, Reggae, HipHop, Breakbeats, Baltimore club, hyphy, etc DJ Ai-va extracts the essence of all these styles, blending and arranging them in a way that’s captivating and entertaining to his listeners.

After a few years’ practice at home, in 1991 DJ Ai-va started playing at school parties, small clubs and bars. In the early 90’s DJ Ai-va played only electromagnetic tapes (the most populat format in ex-Soviet Union), later he switched to CD and vinyl. In the late 90’s together with Ozols and Gustavo, he became one of the first and, very few hip hop party DJs in Latvia. At the same time, he began to organize events and, hip hop parties in various clubs in Riga – Pulkvedis, Jim Beam, 4 Love & $ and Ultra.

As a travelling party rocker, he has played in many countries including neighbouring Lithuania and Estonia, as well as USA (Chicago, NYC, California), Canada (Toronto), Sweden and Norway.

DJ Ai-va plays hip hop, r`n`b, funk, soul, breakbeats, baltimore, hyphy, etc…

He has released various mixtapes such as:
Mass DNM mixtape 2006,
Eastern Block 2003,
Beats of the year 2002 - 2005,
European Urban Hiphop 2004,
Converse Your Life 2006

LISTEN TO THE MIX ONLY ON FMCS

Find DJ Ai-va on web:
www.myspace.com/djaiva2
www.djaiva.lv

With influences rooted in punk and hip-hop, Flosstradamus has brought normally divided crowds together through their unique mixes of hip-hop, house, original remixes, and juke.

A monthly party soon followed (”Get Outta The Hood”) at Chicago’s Town Hall Pub, and within a year Flosstradamus turned a stagnant bar into the proverbial place-to-be, with lines stretching down the block as sweaty kids crowd surfed and got down inside.

National press soon took notice, including MTV, the Fader, and an URB cover story. Appearances followed at SXSW, CMJ, the Pitchfork Festival and Pop Montreal; parties for VICE, The Fader, Jane Magazine, DKNY,URB, and Puma; and performances with Clipse, Common and Rick Ross.

This year brings a full length Flosstradmus LP, a mixtape with up and coming rappers The Cool Kids, and a European tour with A-Track and Kid Sister.

LISTEN TO FLOSSTRADAMUS ON FMCS
SCION.COM
VICE MAGAZINE
FLOSSTRADAMUS MYSPACE

TRACK LIST:

1. FLOSSTRADAMUS - Intro / ZONGAMIN - Bongo Song (Mr. Flash Remix)
2. BLOC PARTY - The Prayer (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix)
3. PANTHERS - Long Time Coming
4. THE BLACK LIPS - Not A Problem
5. FAVOURITE SONS - Hang On, Girl
6. SEBASTIAN - H.A.L.
7. VICARIOUS BLISS - Theme from Vicarious Bliss (Justice Remix)
8. CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG - Set Yourself On Fire
9. DJ MEDHI FEATURING CHROMEO - I Am Somebody (Paris Version)
10. JUSTICE - Phantom
11. BOREDOMS - Jungle Taitei (Laughter Robot’s H*Mp Mix) Yann Tomita Remix
12. CHROMEO - Fancy Footwork
13. CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG - The Operation
14. 120 DAYS - Sleepwalking
15. BLOC PARTY - Sunday

Surely, it would sound something similar to LyriCatalyst’s Dystopian SonLight.

This entirely self-produced album is his first release ever and contains 44 minutes of intimacy, anger, vulnerability, and hope within 14 songs.

LISTEN TO LYRICATALYST IN THE FMCS MUSICPLAYER

Dystopian Sonlight will be available for purchase from July 1st. Purchase here

If you remember a while back we interviewed Strange Fruit Project here on FMCS. Since then they have gone from strength to strength musically, culminating with their critically acclaimed album “The Healing” in stores & available online through Amazon and I-tunes etc…

Watch out for the Strange Fruit Project over the coming months…They are set to blow up!

READ THE FMCS INTERVIEW WITH STRANGE FRUIT PROJECT

STRANGE FRUIT MYSPACE

OM RECORDS.COM

This is a unique UK/USA collaboration project that combines intelligent lyrics, free thinking, poetic verse and skilled studio productions, to result in an incredibly fresh, poignant and positive album.

The album’s title ‘Beautiful Mindz’ is a message to the listeners that we are capable of much more than we think, and the project itself reflects that it’s not difficult to put together a unique album of music with people from other parts of the planet. From their initial acquaintance to the albums completion, the whole experience was natural and organic as all great partnerships are.

Dudley Perkins is best known for his releases on US label Stones Throw Records, where he lends his unique voice to many of Madlib’s productions. Highlights from his releases include the single ‘Flowers’ and album ‘Expressions (2012 A.U.)’, plus the album ‘Illmindmuzik’ as Declaime on Good Vibe Recordings.

Georgia Anne Muldrow is also associated with Stones Throw, and is their only female signing. Noticed early on by fellow LA hip hop trendsetters Sa Ra, as well as Detroit’s Platinum Pied Pipers, the buzz created saw her sound reach the airwaves of Worldwide with Gilles Peterson on the BBC, and to Peanut Butter Wolf, who signed her to a two-album deal on Stones Throw, where she recently released ‘Olesi: Fragments Of An Earth’.

Originally known for his accolades in the DJ championship world, where he took home the title of UK DMC Team Champions in 2003 with his crew the Trusicians, 2tall has been making a name for himself as a producer over the past few years. ‘Beautiful Mindz’ is the first ever project from these three combined talents.

Beautiful Mindz is Available Worldwide June 12th 2007 (Eclectic Breaks/Amalgam)

ECLECTIC BREAKS
DJ2TALL MYSPACE

LISTEN TO THE PROMO MIX HERE!

Think LeClub circa 1987 dancing to Paula Abdul and sucking on a cherry coke, mixed with Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, (R.I.P) knocking out a ditty on a synth while holed up in Warsaw luxe pad! And that’s err JUSTICE-ISH!

Formed a few years back by two young graphic designers Xavier de Rosnay & Gaspard Auge, JUSTICE is now a house hold name….especially in our house! The missus even loves them now they just dropped an essential mix with a tune from Dirty Dancing in there.

Signed to the Big ballz record label ED BANGER, The boys have their debut album out as of this Monday just gone. Go buy it you silly thing!

JUSTICE WEBSITE
EDBANGER RECORDS

With that said, Fish & Crown has no rich uncle backin’ da biz. They put lots of stuff up for free and also offer even more through i-Tunes and other digital and real-world spots.

If you recognize something in them, support them coppin’ an album, a track, a video or the like!

For a tasty treat we have a special mix from Fish and Crown for all our lovely readers listening pleasure!

FISHANDCROWN WEBSITE

LISTEN TO THE FISH AND CROWN MIX

Rapper Gerald Walker who recently was interviewed by FMCS is currently working on his debut mix-album for One Step At A Time Music Recordings, entitled “What is a Gerald Walker??”

It boasts production from Hip-Hop’s hottest producers including Low Budget member Kev Brown (DJ Jazzy Jeff, Oddisee, Raheem Devaughn), Symbolyc One (Strange Fruit Project, Rah Digga, Kenn Starr, Havana, Ghostface) in addition, Rashid Hadee (Common, Little Brother) and many more.

“What Is a Gerald Walker??” will also feature guest appearances from Median of the Justus League, Pugslee Atomz, Rashid Hadee, Kenn Starr as well as other noteworthy artists TBA.

One Step At A Time Music Recordings, INC will release Rapper Gerald Walker’s debut mix-album EP, “What Is a Gerald Walker??” in the second quarter of 2008.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE DEAL FROM ALL AT FMCS!

OSATMUSIC.COM
OSATMUSIC MYSPACE

“There are a lot of people out there that are great emcee’s and/or beat-makers who don’t know how to use the tools that they possess to make a good record.

I’ve tried to find a median between to bring the music to people in a way that is pleasing and aesthetically sound.”

READ THE INTERVIEW HERE…

LISTEN TO S.L.O.T-A IN THE MUSIC PLAYER

Talented music producer Trey from Kaiser Sounds/GLEE Club talks to FMCS about what’s going down right now in VA.

READ THE INTERVIEW HERE…