Roots and Branches Podcast

Got a chance to take my first trip to New York this summer. I spent a lot of time looking for records with no specific bias to genre, just good music. But what I kept finding was foundation reggae and dancehall tunes. Here are a few favorites, 100% vinyl...

Half Pint-No Sound Like My Sound

Dennis Brown-Queen Majesty

Horace Andy-Skylarking

Dennis Brown-Johnny Too Bad

U Roy-Your Ace From Outer Space

Delroy Wilson-True Believer

Gregory Issacs-Mr. Brown

Rock Steady With Flo And Eddie-Pearl

Sly Dunbar-Mr. Music

Alton Ellis-Sinners Gonna Weep

Sugar Minott -Play On

Johnny Osbourne -Nightfall

Toyan-Spar With Me

Bad Brains-I & I Survive (Dub Version)

One side of a cassette tape, all vinyl, just like how I would do when I started djing (the photo above is of my first mixtape recorded in 2000). Celebrating 10 years doing something that has brought me endless joy...

Intro/Alchemist-Mega Interlude

J Dilla-Timeless (Inst.)

Slum Village-Fall In Love

Dwele-Too Fly

The Alkaholiks-All Night (Inst.)

Soul Shakers-Shakers (Inst.)

Camp Lo-Swing

Large Professor-Jus Wanna Chill

MF Doom-Vinca Rosea

Marvin Holmes & Justice-All Night Into Day

Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns-Four Play

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble=Sankofa

Summertime in Oakland, this is the Soundtrack In My Head...

Tracklist

Lee Fields & Sugarman & Co.-Stand Up

Alchemist-Shine (Inst.)

Statik Selecktah-Life Is Short (Inst.)

Lee Fields & The Expressions-Truth, Deception, & Lies (My World Remix) [feat. Aloe Blacc]

J.Cardim-Its Gonna Come Again

Brother Ali-Don't Look At Me Look Around

Don Cannon-Way of Life (Inst.)

Jay Dee-Get Down (Inst.)

Madlib-The Frontline (Liberation)

Zion I-Check It Out

Kev Brown -Say Sumthin

El Michels Affair-Incarcerated Scarfaces

Spec Boogie-Cornbread, Earl & Me

Mr. Chop-Straighten It Out

I have been wanting to put together a mix in celebration of my favorite holiday, Halloween, for years. Finally got around to it. Grown folks, let your inner child out to this mix by DJ BASTA.

Midnight Funk Tracklist

1. Serge Gainsbourg-Teleobjectivisme

2. Bo Hansson-Attic Thoughts

3. Giorgio Moroder-Midnight Express

4. J. Dilla-Sum Spooky

5. Mantronix-Get Stupid Fresh

6. I.M.P.- I'm Rollin'

7. Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde-Freshest Rhymes In The World

8. Latyrx-Lady Don't Tek No

9. Herbie Hancock-Ready or Not

10. Dam Funk-Burgundy City

11. DST ft. Jalaluddin Mansur Nuriddin-Mean Machine

12. Roger-In The Mix

13. The Professionals-The Godfather

14. Eugene Blacknell-Space Funk

15. Serge Gainsbourg–Discophoteque

16. Funkadelic-Doo Doo Chasers (Instrumental Version)

17. KidManSuperBoy-A Burglar Story

Mix from Roots and Branches Oakland State of Mind Block Party 7/19/08. Featuring music from K'ua Aloha, Bumpitythump, Gemz, Banger Bananas, Big Hurt, Rev. Phil Lewis aka Motorcycle Mike, and Gulliermo Galindo. Reocrded and mixed by DJ BASTA.

Soundscapes, conversations with neighbors and beats made by up-and-coming producers on 60th Street in Oakland, California. Recorded and mixed by DJ Basta. (This is an authentic representation of our street and is not presented in a clean version).

Interview with Phil Lewis aka Motorcycle Mike, the first to record a rap song in the Bay Area, with his song “Super Rat” in 1981. Lewis, an Oakland native discusses the history of “Super Rat”, how he sees rap music culture in 2008 and other current issues in Oakland. Mix and interview by Basta.