Recently in Culture Category

(Source: James from DSE Grand) - With that being said, I would like to announce the formation of an upcoming concept called, The Re: Dilla Project.? For those who know about the store, one of the first designs I made was inspired by the late Hip-Hop legend James "J Dillla" Yancey.? With the design, I was determined for people to visually see the contribution Dilla has made to the music world in his short time, so after coming up with some ideas, talking with one of my associates, and listening to Dilla's The Shining, I designed a silhouette of Dilla's profile made up with his production credits spanning from 1993 to beyond, and ended it with the words "Nuff Said" cause after looking at the work Dilla contributed in that period, theres nothing more you can say.? The shirt has ended up being an underground hit, including finding fans outside of Michigan and the United Sates.? So it was only right that I did something to improve what I started, which leads to The Re: Dilla Project.

The Re: Dilla Project consists of an revamped edition to the original "Nuff Said" design that includes the face of Dilla within the production credits.? The design will not only be available on a limited-run of silk screen printed tees, there will also be limited edition photo prints of the design, including one which will be signed by different artists who have worked with Dilla over the years including: Slum Village, Common, The Roots, Q-Tip, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes and many more.? This print will be auctioned off with all the proceeds going towards the Maureen Yancey Medical Fund, which will help towards the medical bills for the mother of J Dilla, who at this time, suffers from Lupus, the same disease that caused Dilla's passing.

The limited-run Re:Dill (Nuff Said) tee will be available September 30th, 2008 only at DSE @ Grand located at 202 E. Grand River off Broadway in Downtown Detroit, as well as online at www.dsedetroit.com.? Only 40 tees will be printed, and does promise to sell quick, so don't sleep on this one.? Once they're sold out, it wont be printed again!!

The limited edition photo print of the J Dilla "Nuff Said" design will also be available September 30th 2008, at DSE @ Grand and online.? Only 25 prints (not including the one being auctioned) will be made on 16X20 matte photo paper.? This will be a must have for any collector whether it be music or art.? As for the one print which will be set aside for auctioning, you can check on the progress of the collection of signatures by going to the DSE blog at dseatgrand.blogspot.com as well as updates on when the auction will take place.

Part of the proceeds from both the silk screen tee and photo print will go towards the?Maureen Yancey Medical Fund.

DSE @ Grand
202 E. Grand River
Detroit, Mi 48226
(313) 963-0533

Business Hours:
Mon-Thur: 10am-6pm
Fri-Sat: 10am-8pm
Sun: Closed

LINKS: DSE @ GRAND SITE | DSE ONLINE STORE

The Colgate Foundation is giving away a "fun center" to one children's hospital in the country. You can help to make Detroit Children's Hospital the one they choose, by going to the link below and voting for Detroit. As of now we are in the lead. Vote everyday, it ends February 29th.

LINK: Help Detroit Children's Hospital Win A Fun Center

photo credit: Vanessa Miller

During the early hours of February 6th, the Forest Arms Apartments caught fire, leaving many homeless and unfortunately taking the life of one individual. Forest Arms was the residency for many Wayne State University students along with the Amsterdam Cafe and People's Records.

Relief funds have already been set up for the residents of Forest Arms. For us in the music community, People's Records was one of the main stores that all us music loves, music producers, and all around vinyl junkies shopped at so we need to band together and help out. People's Records owner Brad Hales will be holding a benefit for his store during his monthly Original Funk Night on Friday February 29th, now held at The Woodbridge Gallery on 1761 W. Forest (at Rosa Parks). Right now, People's Records is continuing business as usual at 5835 Third St. Email peoplesrecordsdetroit@gmail.com. Look for an addition People's Records benefit party mid-March brought to you courtesy of House Shoes and Rensoul.com. Stay tuned for details.

It's a sad day for the Detroit music community as master record cutter, mastering engineer and record producer at Sound Enterprises (formerly National Sound Corporation) Ron Murphy passed away from a heart attack.

Via Discogs.com:

"Ron Murphy is probably one of the most instrumental figures in the history Detroit electronic music. All you have to do is take a good look in your record collection and look for the little NSC logo on the runout groove on the inside of the record. Ron has shaped the sound of Detroit Techno more than just about anybody. There were allot of records back in the beginning that were brought in by people that knew next to nothing about production or mixing down properly and Ron has saved the sound of those records and many of them have went down in history as some of the finest examples of techno ever made. Ron has been one of the biggest opponents of overcompression in the industry as people have rushed to bring techno music into the rediculous loudness war that the rest of the record industry is engaged in currently. His mastering is both dynamic and warm and has been praised for it's definition in the low end. A kick drum on an NSC mastered record is a beautiful thing to behold. He's a real living legend in this industry yet he remains humble and is still one of the most interesting figures in this industry that i have ever talked to. A true classic character."

Metro Times recently published The 100 Greatest Detroit Songs Ever in their November 21st issue spanning all genres of music that have a profound impact on our legeacy. Metro Times is a free a weekly publication reporting on the arts, music, culture and political views.

LINK: Metro Times 100 Greatest Detroit Songs Ever!

The interview with Vanessa Miller, founder of The Ruins Of Detroit Project, that we reported on a few days ago has been posted on NPR's site. Enjoy.

RUINS OF DETROIT NPR INTERVIEW | RUINS MYSPACE

On Saturday, May 19th, Michigan Public Radio (MPR) will feature a segment on their Weekend Edition and Weekend America shows about The Ruins Of Detroit Project headed by Vanessa Miller. The segment, covered by Jen Guerra, includes an interview with Ms. Miller as they walk through one of her favorite abandoned buildings in Detroit.

Weekend Edition airs at 8am-9:30am EST and Weekend America airs at 2pm-2:30pm EST both on Saturday on 91.7 FM in Detroit/Ann Arbor. Afterwards, it will be posted on the MPR website at www.michiganradio.org.

The Ruins Of Detroit Project, existing in some form for 6+ years, is dedicated to the documention behind the abandonment of buildings and structures within the city of Detroit. For more information about the project and how you can support, please visit their MySpace page below.

THE RUINS OF DETROIT PROJECT MYSPACE

It looks like a time to rejoice as in an age when many of the good venues for our urban music community in Detroit have shut down one of the best will see its resurrection later this year. The sushi bar Oslo has been bought out by a hip hop DJ from Detroit known as DJ Bet along with his wife Katalia Lemos and mother-in-law. It will take some time to get Oslo re-opened but they will still keep it a sushi bar along with an additional Asian cuisine. More details on its reopening to come