JUST BUGGIN. PLAYLIST, LISTEN AGAIN & YOUTUBE LINKS FOR 26/8/09

MARK DEVLIN
JUST BUGGIN’ ON OXFORD’S FM107.9 (WWW.FM1079.COM)
PLAYLIST FOR WEDNESDAY 26TH AUGUST 2009


To watch the Youtube footage of Gillespie's freestyle session:

Part 1

Part 2


To listen again (ad-free!), just click on the following Download links:

PART 1:


PART 2:


PRYME Featuring RON BROWZ: I LOVE MY MONEY (REMIX)

RICK ROSS Featuring TWISTA: ALL I REALLY WANT

XL Featuring BUGSY: CODES

BLUEY ROBINSON: I KNOW (Ryan Leslie Remix)

JOLEON DAVENUE: UNIVERSAL LOVE

EMINEM: THE WARNING

STREET BEAT OF THE WEEK:
ILLA J Featuring DEBI NOVA: SOUNDS LIKE LOVE

DYNAS: IT'S MY TURN

OLD TO THE NEW:
AALIYAH: ROCK THE BOAT

TAWIAH: ARE YOU THAT SOMEONE

WILL VILL: MAN LISTEN

PROVERB THE POET: LIKE YOU

GILLESPIE: JUST BUGGIN' '08 FREESTYLE

GILLESPIE: KURT & COURTNEY

GILLESPIE: DEAR BRITAIN

GILLESPIE LIVE FREESTYLE

GUEST DJ MIX: TEDDY TOUCH (NORWAY) MICHAEL JACKSON MEMORIES MIX

SPEECH DEBELLE Featuring WILEY & INCREDUBOY: BETTER DAYS (Remix)

BRUTES: OUT ON THE ROAD

KINETIK: THE KINESIS THESIS

URBAN ANTHEMS WITH MARK DEVLIN, BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY ON FM107.9

On Bank Holiday Monday, Mark Devlin returns with another instalment of Urban Anthems on FM107.9. It's three hours of classic old-school throwbacks, spanning hip hop, R&B, new jack swing, reggae, garage and jungle, plus, half an hour of end-of-night Quiet Storm-style slow jams!

On the guest DJ mix, it's all about the 90s specialist, DJ Munro, going in with some classics from the golden era of hip hop soul. Listen from anywhere, 7-10pm GMT, (8-11pm CET/ 2-5pm EST/ 11am-2pm PST) on www.fm1079.com

JUST BUGGIN. PLAYLIST & LISTEN AGAIN LINKS FOR 19/8/09

MARK DEVLIN
JUST BUGGIN’ ON OXFORD’S FM107.9 (WWW.FM1079.COM)
PLAYLIST FOR WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST 2009


To listen again (ad-free!), just click on the following Download links:

PART 1:


PART 2:



BLUEY ROBINSON: I KNOW (Ryan Leslie Remix)

JOLEON DAVENUE: UNIVERSAL LOVE

FASHAWN: LIFE AS A SHORTY

CHICO DEBARGE Featuring TALIB KWELI: MATH

GINUWINE Featuring BUN B: TROUBLE

FUNKY DL: HIP HOP

STREET BEAT OF THE WEEK:
DYNAS: IT'S MY TURN

J-LIVE Featuring NAS: DESERT EAGLE MOUTH PIECES

NNEKA: HALFCAST

SPEECH DEBELLE Featuring WILEY & INCREDUBOY: BETTER DAYS (Remix)

OLD TO THE NEW:
EMINEM: ROCK BOTTOM

EMINEM: THE WARNING

WILL VILL: MAN LISTEN

PROVERB THE POET: LIKE YOU

LEF: STOP AND GO

KINETIK: THE KINESIS THESIS

BEYOND BELIEF: U DON'T KNOW ME

RAKIM: HOLY ARE YOU

GOOD BROTHER: I SEE U

YUNG JOC Featuring MASSPIKE MILES: WINNER

JODY BREEZE: OH MY GOD

SCRABULL: THE COMPOSITE

BRUTES: OUT ON THE ROAD

KINETIK: TRACK 5

BLAHZ: LOOK

SINGAPORE KANE Featuring BIG SHUG: MOLLYWOP

RAEKWON Featuring INSPEKTAH DECK, GHOSTFACE & METHOD MAN: HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS

RAEKWON Featuring GHOSTFACE & METHOD MAN: NEW WU

GURU: LOST AND FOUND

NOVEL Featuring JOELL ORTIZ & PAPOOSE: SO MUCH MORE

GRAND AGENT Featuring CAMP LO: MINIVAN

LISTEN AGAIN TO MD'S RADIO 1/ 1XTRA MIX WITH DJ TARGET

Here's a chance to catch the quickfire 17-minute mix that was broadcast on Radio 1's 1Xtra Mixtape Show this Saturday night/ Sunday morning. The show's normally hosted by Mista Jam. On this occasion, DJ Target was sitting in. Dancehall, bassline and funky all the way.

MARK DEVLIN MIX FOR DJ TARGET, RADIO 1/ 1XTRA, 16/8/09

MR VEGAS: HOTTIE
TONY MATTERHORN: TOUR GUIDE
VYBZ CARTEL & SPICE: ROMPING SHOP
BOST & BIM: JAMAICAN BOY
BAMBI: SNAP MI FINGERS
ERUP: CLICK MI FINGERS
DIAMOND: FIRE IN THE DANCE
BRICK & LACE: BAD TO DI BONE (BIRCH MIX)
RUSH THE DJ: HOW IT’S GONNA GO
K.I.G: HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES & TOES



The mix got me thinking about the one I did for Trevor Nelson's Radio 1 Show way back in early '98. Remember the feature called 'Midnight Marauders' that used to run?
One trip into the archives later, here's that mix. This one's very much on the cool, laid-back soulful tip.

MARK DEVLIN MIX FOR TREVOR NELSON, RADIO 1, 8/2/98

DAVINA: COME OVER TO MY PLACE
OC Featuring CHANGIN' FACES: CAN'T GO WRONG
ZHANE: CRUSH (JR Swinga Hip Hop Mix)
SWEETBACK Featuring BAHAMADIA: AU NATURAL (Roots After Midnight Mix)
CHANGIN' FACES: I GOT SOMEBODY ELSE (Accapella)/ LORD TARIQ & PETER GUNZ: DEJA VU (UPTOWN) (Instrumental)
NEXT: TOO CLOSE
CARLOS MORGAN: GIVE IT TO YOU

JUST BUGGIN. PLAYLIST & LISTEN AGAIN LINKS FOR 12/8/09

MARK DEVLIN
JUST BUGGIN’ ON OXFORD’S FM107.9 (WWW.FM1079.COM)
PLAYLIST FOR WEDNESDAY 12TH AUGUST 2009
DJ MIXES SPECIAL


To listen again (ad-free!), just click on the following Download links:


PART 1:
DJ KARL CROSS (IPSWICH) '07 MIX


PART 2:
MARK DEVLIN BEATMASTERS MIX: JUST BLAZE

MEMPHIS BLEEK Featuring JAY-Z: DEAR SUMMER
THE GAME Featuring NAS & MARSHA: WHY YOU HATE THE GAME
JAY-Z: PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (INTERLUDE)
JAY-Z: U DON'T KNOW
JAY-Z Featuring M.O.P: U DON'T KNOW
CAM'RON: OH BOY
FABOLOUS: BREATHE
BEANIE SIGEL: BEANIE (MACK B**CH)
KEITH MURRAY Featuring ERICK SERMON & REDMAN: YEAH, YEAH, YOU KNOW IT
ERICK SERMON: REACT
ALLEN ANTHONY: ALRIGHT
FREEWAY Featuring ALLEN ANTONY: ALRIGHT
STATE PROPERTY: ROC THE MIC
MEMPHIS BLEEK Featuring FREEWAY: JUST BLAZE, BLEEK & FREE
JOE BUDDEN: PUMP IT UP
JOE BUDDEN Featuring BUSTA RHYMES & REDMAN: FIRE (REMIX)
FREEWAY Featuring PEEDI CRACK: FLIPSIDE PT. 2
FREEWAY Featuring JAY-Z: WHAT WE DO
MEMPHIS BLEEK: EVERYTHING’S A GO
JAY-Z: SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT


PART 3:
DJ MUNRO: THE AFTER-PARTY 90s THROWBACK MIX

'2001', THE MD MIXTAPE VOLUME 6. DOWNLOAD AND ABSORB

MARK DEVLIN: 2001. THE MIXTAPE, VOLUME 6

It's easy to forget, but ten years ago, anticipation of the upcoming millennium was everywhere. It all felt so BIG! The year 2000! There was a lot of paranoia, too. Remember 'The Millennium Bug' and the fear that global computers would crash and planes would start falling out of the sky?

The spirit of it all was captured on '2001', my mixtape that appeared at the very start of 2000, (the title partly inspired by Dr. Dre's '2001: The Chronic' album that had just appeared, and partly because I used to consider myself a year ahead of my time!) I'm still quite proud of the tape's doom-laden introductory sequence I put together, and the preliminary Nas track ties in very neatly with the theme.

Freestyles come from Oxford's Kid Fury and Brooklyn's Mr. Demo, recorded live in New York. Side two features some slamming ragga riddim juggling, and some nostalgic hip hop throwbacks. Main Source! Special Ed! Channel Live!

Download and enjoy.


Side one:

2001 INTRO
NAS: NEW WORLD
LYNDEN DAVID HALL: FORGIVE ME
KELIS: CAUGHT OUT THERE
RUFF RYDERS: WE IN HERE (Instrumental)
DR DRE Featuring EMINEM & KURUPT: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
MR. DEMO/ KID FURY: NEW YORK FREESTYLE 1
MARY J BLIGE: CONFRONTATION
KELIS: GAME SHOW
CHANTAY SAVAGE: I WILL SURVIVE
ISLEY BROTHERS: BETWEEN THE SHEETS
NOTORIOUS B.I.G: BIG POPPA
VICIOUS: NIKA
SWV: RIGHT HERE
NAS: IT AIN'T HARD TO TELL
MONICA: DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL (Remix)
KENNY DOPE: GET ON DOWN
DR. DRE Featuring ED GRIFFIN: ED-UCATION
SCORZAYZEE FREESTYLE
SKITZ & GUESTS: TWILIGHT OF THE GODS


Side two:

KID FURY FREESTYLE
EN VOGUE: HOLD ON
JADE: DON'T WALK AWAY
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST: ELECTRIC RELAXATION
WRECKX N EFFECT: WRECK SHOP
HORACE BROWN: THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE
HORACE BROWN: THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE (Instrumental)
WAYNE WONDER: JOYRIDE
WAYNE WONDER: BASHMENT GIRL
TANYA STEPHENS: YUH NU READY FI DIS YET
LADY SAW: SYCAMORE TREE
LADY SAW: GET A STRAW
BARRINGTON LEVY Featuring BOUNTY KILLER: LIVING DANGEROUSLY
MD. DEMO/ KID FURY: NEW YORK FREESTYLE 2
MAIN SOURCE: FAKIN' THE FUNK
NICE N SMOOTH: HIP HOP JUNKIES
SPECIAL ED: I GOT IT MADE
DOUBLE X POSSE: NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT
CHANNEL LIVE: MAD IZM
NAUGHTY BY NATURE: HIP HOP HOORAY
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST: AWARD TOUR (Instrumental)
HEAVY D & THE BOYZ: DON'T CURSE

JUST BUGGIN. PLAYLIST & LISTEN AGAIN LINKS FOR 5/8/09

MARK DEVLIN
JUST BUGGIN’ ON OXFORD’S FM107.9 (WWW.FM1079.COM)
PLAYLIST FOR WEDNESDAY 5TH AUGUST 2009


To listen again (ad-free!), just click on the following Download links:

PART 1:


PART 2:


JAMIE FOXX Featuring DRAKE, THE DREAM & KANYE WEST: DIGITAL GIRL

EMINEM: THE WARNING

LEF: STOP AND GO

GOOD BROTHER: I SEE U

FASHAWN: LIFE AS A SHORTY

JODY BREEZE: OH MY GOD

BRUTES: OUT ON THE ROAD

STREET BEAT OF THE WEEK:
BLAHZ: LOOK

NNEKA: HALFCAST

RAKIM: HOLY ARE YOU

OLD TO THE NEW:
RAEKWON: GLACIERS OF ICE

RAEKWON Featuring INSPEKTAH DECK, GHOSTFACE & METHOD MAN: HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS

SCRABULL: THE COMPOSITE

GURU: LOST AND FOUND

J-LIVE Featuring NAS: DESERT EAGLE MOUTH PIECES

DJ MIX: MD BUGGED OUT THROWBACK MIX (24 MINS MAX)

KINETIK: THE KINESIS THESIS

STYLAH: HARD WAY

RAEKWON Featuring GHOSTFACE & METHOD MAN: NEW WU

TRIFE: RESPECTFULLY

NOVEL Featuring JOELL ORTIZ & PAPOOSE: SO MUCH MORE

GRAND AGENT Featuring CAMP LO: MINIVAN

RICK ROSS Featuring MASSPIKE MILES: CIGAR MUSIC

THAD REID: PAYDAY

MORE CLASSIC RADIO TAPE RIPS - HISTORY ON YOUR DESKTOP

It's about that time to get busy with some more 80s/ 90s classic radio revivals, freshly exhumed from the archives. One for all the younger cats with an interest in the nostalgic past, just as much as the old-school heads who remember all this good stuff from first time round. (Have to big up Bobby Dazzler for some of these, as they were originally his postings before I jacked 'em. Credit where it's due.)

Here's what we've got for you this time:


Mike Allen, Capital Radio, Xmas 1985
More from the velvet-voiced original hip hop dude on Capital Radio, repping with his weekly UK Fresh, and later syndicated National Fresh shows, (which ran from 1984-87). Although he sounded more than a little like Alan Freeman, Mike Allen got mad respect and ran things in the 80s, trust.

Mike Allen, Capital Radio, 17/10/86 P1

Mike Allen, Capital Radio, 17/10/86 P2

Mike Allen, Capital Radio, 17/10/86 P3

Robbie Vincent, Radio 1, April 1987
Although Greg Edwards on Capital got equal props from Londoners, Robbie's show was heard nationwide on Radio One, and was any soul/ funk/ fusion fan's show of choice. This one, from Spring '87, is in FM, rather than the flat-quality medium wave of the last post. Great tunes here, from the likes of RJ's Latest Arrival, (with a topical reference to Ronald Reagan in the lyrics!,) Patrice Rushen, Nona Hendryx, and a snatch of Shirley Murdock's divine 'As We Lay' - TUNE! Robbie also pays a reluctant nod to the growing US house music scene with a play for Kenny Jammin' Jason and Fast Eddie Smith's 'Can U Dance'. Multiple namechecks for the Easter Livewire Soul Weekender at Prestatyn.

Westwood, Capital Rap Show, 5/2/88
The earliest recording of the Capital Rap Show I've been able to find - February 1988. (The show only started in October '87) Anyone got one from even earlier?

Westwood, Capital Rap Show, 26/8/89 P1
More from Westwood's incredible, epic, dramatic Capital Rap Show, a very far cry from his shouty, self-pardodying caricature of today.

Westwood, Capital Rap Show, 26/8/89 P2

Westwood/ DJ Jazzy Jeff, Capital Rap Show, 1989
An early guest appearance from every DJ's favourite DJ.

Dave Pearce, GLR, 1989
http://www.sendspace.com/file/7tyj8x
It's hard to believe now, but before he turned into the middle aged beer-gutted cheesy trancemeister so beloved of I-Beefer chavs that he is now, Dave Pearce was actually a credible hip-hop DJ, with a respected show on BBC Radio London - or Greater London Radio as it was known in 1989. Here's a showing from that era.

Pete Tong, Capital Radio, 22/12/90 P1
http://www.sendspace.com/file/1wqhen
1990 was a fascinating year for UK music, sitting midway between the acid house explosion, and the homegrown rave and underground house scenes that were just poised to happen. The result was a glut of hybrid records sitting somewhere between hip hop and dance tempos, a lot with reggae bassline influences. Here's the first of two 1990 year-end round-ups from Pete Tong, who presented his much listened-to Soul Session, (later just The Session,) on Capital from '87 to '90. The reception quality dips in a couple of places, but it's wonder enough I was able to record a London-only station at all in the depths of West Oxfordshire! This turned out to be Tong's penultimate show for the station. Two weeks later he'd present the very first Essential Selection on Radio 1. We've got the audio from that next time round.

Pete Tong, Capital Radio, 22/12/90 P2

Max & Dave, Kiss FM, 19/3/91 P1
These two made up the Hardrock Soul Movement, a 1980s UK hip hop crew, and put out a number of underground joints before taking on a weekly show on Kiss FM. At this time, Londoners chose between DJ 279 on Choice, Westwood on Capital, or Max & Dave on Kiss for their regular flava fix.

Max & Dave, Kiss FM, 19/3/91 P2

Funkmaster Flex, Hot 97 New York, 16/4/93
Flex ruled the New York airwaves in the early to mid-90s with his nightly shows on Hot 97. Here's a Friday Night Flavas mixshow instalment from a random date in '93, which serves as a great example of the criminally good hip-hop that was still being turned out in that year.

Mark Tonderai, Radio 1 1993, P1
Who was the first urban/ hip hop DJ on Radio 1? If you discount Robbie Vincent, Jeff Young and Pete Tong, who only used to play the occasional rap record, then it was the long-forgotten Mark Tonderai. He used to rock late-night Fridays and Saturdays zoo radio-style, featuring a strong line in comedy skits, (remember the old man called Deuteronomy?,) and interactive DJ mixes. He was neatly dethroned by Westwood within a few weeks of his arrival and, as far as I know, left radio altogether for TV and film. Here's a couple of random shows from circa 1993. More to follow next time.

Mark Tonderai, Radio 1 1993, P2

Graham Gold, The Promised Land, Fox FM, 15/10/93 P1
Nothing urban here. One for the house heads instead. This is the show that I tech-opped all through 1993, broadcast live on Fox FM from The Park End Club in Oxford. At the time, transmitting live from a club was still quite a revolutionary idea. Some great quirky, funky house music from the time, if that's your bag.

Graham Gold, The Promised Land, Fox FM, 15/10/93 P2

Lashes Degree Ragga Mix, Galaxy 101, Jul 98
http://www.sendspace.com/file/r1qcv8
A sample from the latter days of my Swing Shift show on Galaxy 101. Bristol DJ Lashes Degree used to drop a wicked ragga selection, (as reggae dancehall was known back in the day.) Here he is with a classic Summer '98 set, getting ready for that weekend's St. Paul's Carnival.

THE BEATMASTERS MIX: QUINCY JONES

A new volume in the Beatmasters series is long overdue, and it was always in mind to take it way back with Quincy Jones. With The Dude now at 76 years of age, I was kinda keen to get this one out while he was still alive; as you may have noticed, black music icons have a habit of passing away unexpectedly!

This is one for the connoisseurs. Anyone whose idea of black music is Flo Rida and Soulja Boy won't find what they're looking for here. On the other hand, if you appreciate and respect the heritage and foundations of soulful black music, this one's for you.

The mix doesn't claim to be fully comprehensive. For that, I'd have to have included the 50s and 60s numbers Q produced for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and Lesley Gore. Here, things pick up at the point of 'Off The Wall', the start of Quincy's defining disco sound, and those glorious layered vocal harmonies that, more than anything else, let you know you're listening to a Q joint.

Inevitably, the mix is chock full of Michael Jackson tunes, (and we're probably all getting just a little tired of hearing them now,) but these are interspersed with Quincy's own artist tracks, a healthy dose of bits from his genre-defying classic 'Back On The Block' album, and a handful of tracks produced for other artists.

It's a lot. We salute a true musical genius.


There are two versions to download - a disk space-saving 128kbps for quick download, or a version for the full 320kbps experience!

Quincy Jones Beatmasters Mix 128kbps

Quincy Jones Beatmasters Mix 320kbps



QUINCY JONES Featuring QUINCY D III: BACK ON THE BLOCK
QUINCY JONES Featuring BARRY WHITE: THE SECRET GARDEN
QUINCY JONES Featuring TEVIN CAMPBELL: TOMORROW (A BETTER YOU, A BETTER ME)
U.S.A FOR AFRICA Featuring STEVIE WONDER & BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: WE ARE THE WORLD
MICHAEL JACKSON & PAUL McCARTNEY: THE GIRL IS MINE
DONNA SUMMER: STATE OF INDEPENDENCE
MICHAEL JACKSON: HUMAN NATURE
MICHAEL JACKSON: LIBERIAN GIRL
QUINCY JONES Featuring RAY CHARLES & CHAKA KHAN: I'LL BE GOOD TO YOU
MICHAEL JACKSON: ANOTHER PART OF ME
MICHAEL JACKSON: THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL
QUINCY JONES Featuring COOLIO & YO YO: STOMP '95
QUINCY JONES Featuring HEAVY D & THE BOYZ & BRANDY: ROCK WITH YOU '95
MICHAEL JACKSON: BAD
MICHAEL JACKSON: I CAN'T HELP IT
JAMES INGRAM & MICHAEL McDONALD: YA MO B THERE
MICHAEL JACKSON: BILLIE JEAN
MICHAEL JACKSON: ROCK WITH YOU
MICHAEL JACKSON Featuring VINCENT PRICE (!): THRILLER
QUINCY JONES Featuring PATTI AUSTIN: RAZZAMATAZZ
MICHAEL JACKSON: DON'T STOP TIL YOU GET ENOUGH
MICHAEL JACKSON: OFF THE WALL
BROTHERS JOHNSON: STOMP
MICHAEL JACKSON: WANNA BE STARTING SOMETHING
MICHAEL JACKSON: SMOOTH CRIMINAL
QUINCY JONES: AI NO CORRIDA
MICHAEL JACKSON: WORKING DAY & NIGHT
MICHAEL JACKSON: P.Y.T
GEORGE BENSON: GIVE ME THE NIGHT
QUINCY JONES: BIRDLAND
QUINCY JONES Featuring ICE T & TEVIN CAMPBELL: BACK ON THE BLOCK

MD'S DIARY, JULY '09

Every so often, a gig opportunity comes along that seems to make all the many regular drudge jobs worthwhile. The latest occurred over the first weekend in July as I headed out to play the Ministry Of Sound venue on Egypt's Red Sea coast.

There are two Ministry Egypt venues - in Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. Both are franchises of the famous London brand, but, confusingly, are separately owned, despite sharing the same website. My gig was in Hurghada. My favourite holiday so far has been the Nile Cruise and Pyramids tour I took in 1996, and this marked my first time in Egypt since. Easyjet recently opened up routes to both Hurghada and Sharm out of Gatwick. True to Summertime form, my flight was delayed by two hours. The further five in Easyjet's regular no-frills fleet was far from comfortable.

The temperature in the UK had been off the scale, and it was an even more baking 35c in Hurghada even at 9pm, as MOS marketing manager Owen picked me up. He proceeded to show me the group's empire. As well as the Ministry-branded Papas Beach Club, (site of my Saturday gig,) they also have a slick Hed Kandi-branded beach/ pool club in a further franchise move, and own a handful of other bars and eateries around the Marina area. This lot have Hurghada on lockdown.

Sharm is highly popular with Brit tourists, whereas Hurghada is dominated more by Russian and German visitors. Both locations are popular for deep sea diving and snorkelling. Like Dubai, Hurghada was little more than a fishing village a couple of decades ago, but is now sprawling. The cheap cost of living makes it an understandbly appealing holiday destination.

There was little doubt that the Smoove party, (reviving the long-defunct London club night of the same name) was going to be awesome. It didn't disappoint. Despite sweltering temperatures the crowd kept jumping as I tore it down from 1.30 to 4am. The night served as a humbling reminder of how privileged we travelling DJs truly are to be doing what we do. Midway through my set a Dutch Human Beatbox artist by the name of Marcel, (Holland's answer to Marcel,) jumped up to perform a five-minute cameo. I've posted some footage of it on my Youtube page, and there's pics from the rest of the trip in all the usual places.

I was offered the opportunity to go quad biking over sand dunes in the desert on Sunday, but with the temperature at egg-frying levels, I wimped out and declined like a lightweight. Instead I spent the day at a barbecue/ pool party at the beachside residence of one of the bosses. Sure beats mowing the lawn. Easyjet only operate their route on certain days, Monday night being my earliest opportunity to return home.

The rest of the month consisted of routine gigs at the regular spots. Among other activities, Black Sheep Magazine now features daily news updates, with stories in the last month ranging from Ne-Yo's breakdown on-stage to Reverend Run's son being busted on marijuana charges. Be sure to check out www.blacksheepmag.com, and follow us on Twitter to get all the update alerts - www.twitter.com/blacksheepmag

On the radio, Oxford hip-hop hero Chima Anya made another live appearance on 'Just Buggin' on Wednesday 8th. As well as showcasing his new sounds and catching a few jokes, we also ran a sequence consisting of records that have used Michael Jackson samples in their beats from over the years. It was a classic show that's still available to listen to on the following links:

PART 1:

PART 2:

Mix-wise, as well as uploading 1999's 'Da Niceness', the latest archive instalment in my mixtape series, I took advantage of a couple of days whilst Parveen and Zaina were away to plough into the latest instalment in my (occasionally!) ongoing Beatmasters Mix series. This one is all about the musical genius of Quincy Jones, and is long overdue. As ever, the unearthing of the original vinyl records was the thing that took the most time, but I feel the eventual result more than justifies the efforts. You can download and listen using the following link:

For the disk space-saving 128kbps version:

And for the full 320kbps experience:

The first Black Sheep AGM took place on Friday 24th. In reality it was a bunch of us gathering in a Hampstead Road watering hole to exchange cynical jokes, bitter gripes, and the occasional BSM-related suggestion. Earlier in the day I'd passed through Charlotte Street Blues, the capital's new dedicated blues venue where the likes of John Mayall and John Lee Hooker Jr perform nightly. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of the blues, but if that's what floats your boat, CSB is definitely the joint. Management kindly provided me with a complimentary meal and drinks. They do a mean mint julep.

Something which I've long advocated is the occasional 'F*ck It Day. A F*ck It Day occurs when the daily drudge and stress starts to get you down, and you really feel like saying 'f*ck it', pushing all the bullsh*t to one side and enjoying some well-deserved time out. Parveen and myself extended this to a F*ck It Day Double Bill on Thursday 30th, taking off with Zaina for a hotel break in he Forest of Dean area, exploring the England/ Wales border. Everyone should have a F*ck It Day a few times a year.

... and that was July.