Thread by @questlove

A thread response part preface warning to people who come to my gigs without pre conceived expectations on what I should or shouldn't play. this is gonna be a long one.

https://twitter.com/redsyoungstars/status/1017595875240169472

I never try to indulge in individual clapbacks cause I HATE lynchmob social media occurrences when someone with a couple of hundred/thousand followers feels the need critisize my work. and then my defenders speak on my behalf. but I am petty and rarely like to explain myself

This response could be perceived as cocky or arrogant or egotistical. And prolly pretentious But for me its truth. hey I am a music snob so its part "can't tell me nuthin" but its mostly "teach me more music, then I will teach them more music"

99 percent of the time I believe the customer is always right. Also me?: 99 percent of the time I believe that the customer don’t know that much and should leave the driving to the experts.

Im recapping my entire set tonight that was complained about

initial postsaid I played
"no rap"
That’s a lie. I did play “rap” as you call it.
now if you were there for the entire 3 hour duration and took notice
You will also notice that I played like 12 genre's of music.

I played 70’s Funk (song 1 “Superman Lover” by Johnny Guitar Watson a well known break sampled by RAPPERS *gasp*??!?!?!)
I played 80’s afrobeat (song 4 “Beast Of No Nation” by Fela, a rebel figure who used music to stave off government oppression, kinda sorta what rap USED to do)

I played 70’s Rawk (“Godzillia” “Back In Black” “I Can Hear You Calling”—3 classic rock joints that “rap” sampled heavily were songs 8/9/10)

I needed a song in C minor under 100bpms so I chose Prince’s Sign O’ The Times as my 20th song…..Prince is a king.

Perhaps the poster were upset I played The Who/Gary Wright/David Bowie (21/22/23)——-3 acts that dabbled in some funky ish if you do some digging (all 3 songs played tonight were also sampled by the “rap” that's held near and dear

by the time I got to song 26 I took it to DC and played some Go Go (why? Eh….why not? show yall how we gets down in the DMV—audience was going bonkers btw…..poster mighta been complaining too much to even be open to the idea of what I was putting down by this point)

By 44th song I took it to Harlem World, circa 73 with Bill Withers. Since James Gadson was his drummer and was sampled in at LEAST 90 joints (I do my homework, based on that tweet I can assume poster did homework as well no?) subjectwise tho (religious oppression and poverty)

Bill Withers could very much well be the “rap” jones you didn’t know you needed. same message and funky rhythms? a stretch? eh I tried.

Song 47 was Bt Express’ “Do It (Til You’re Satisfied) a well loved drum break amongst the “rap” music guys the poster digs.

Ah ah ah but then song 48 and 49 were well know sampled gems by Ohio Players and Roy Ayers! (Keeping in with the spirit)

song 51 tho: Its 2018 so it would behoove me to play SOMETHING from this past decade no? I chose Drake because you just can’t loose ANY party that Drake’s music is playin. And since he dabbles in Bounce and Dancehall I used him as an excuse to do a mini dancehall set from 52-59

Classic joints (Chaka Demus/Cutty Ranks) Future Classics like (Kali Uchis)

The next 6 songs were “rap” songs from this past year (again its 2018 know who is in the audience) so NERD/Nicki/Migos/and Drake!!!!!

Then I mixed it up retro millennial stuff like Aaliyah (68) and Stro Elliot (69) Snoop (71)

With more rap sample history time (Leon Ware/Enoch Light/Jeff Lober)

My 76th song I chose a senegalese band from 1970 whose music is funky beyond words

I played MORE sample/hip hop history stuff with 2 Cock(er) & Kanye Charles

Jay Z made his first appearance as song 82 w Punjabi MC—not because girls love shaking their ass to it, but because my next 5 songs were in e flat. Speaking of which.

If you hate Stevie Wonder (83-87) you are the anti christ.

So far we did Funk/Afrobeat/Hard Rock/Dancehall/Go Go/ and Trap. Thinking I should introduce MORE genres to the meal im cooking I threw some jazz in there courtesy of Brother Jack Mcduff and Art Blakey——why? Cause no one else would dare think of such a move

Well look a here, more rap! Digable (90) Black Sheep (95) A Tribe Called Quest (96) Pete Rock & CL Smooth (97) Anderson Paak (98) Snoop again (99)!!!

—I for the record don’t think poster lying about my selection, but I don’t think poster wasn't too forthcoming with the truth neither—my guess? (poster showed up mad late in the middle of a musical Jenga puzzle I was putting down and —well—— see my point?

I went 90s RNB for my 100th joint {Soul For Real/Beyonce/TLC/Salt n Pepa) —the audience REALLY approved this move

My first REAL monkey wrench was a Tom Jones record I KNEW WOULD WORK cause we ALL WATCH Fresh Prince Of Bel Air.

The Gawd himself Dilla found his way into this set at song 106 (Get This Money)
Dilla also covered my 106th song (Men w’o Hats safety dance) but does that make me elitist that I know that fact and the general public don’t but I play it anyway cause Dilla is god?

A Bruno/MJ mashup seemed like an effective idea at the time so I went with it and it killed.

Disco with the Bee Gees Mixed with Big then mixed with Herb Alpert THEN mixed with Pharrell then mixed with Wayne Wonder & Sean Paul then doubled back with Eddie Kendricks & Fat Larry’s Band (they made the first “rap” btw), Eddie Kendricks to AWB

In 13 songs I covered 45 years of music and 6 genres of music effortlessly.

Effortlessly enough to make you complain about it so I guess I suck.

I'm not done, I got about 150 more songs you complained about but im not making my band wait for me outta my #Pettiness

TO BE CONTINUED FOOH

im missing The O'jay's & Chris Dave to finish this thread. again. the purpose aint "clapping back" but I never once explained my method of spinning to those that book me or head scratch why am I playing Bay City Rollers

but I feel like people SHOULD be informed on who they book and who they support. trust me I can name a thousand unsatisfied customers. I once ruined Drizzy's NYE in NYC because I didn't budge from my planned set.

im not proud of this fact (shameless plug -----time get the audio version of #CreativeQuest and relive my --now-- 2nd WORST dj gig ever in it's 12 min glory---so the original poster is hardly NOT the first unsatisfied customer BUT

as long as you tell the truth im fine with it. I can see confusion if you come in smack dap in the middle of something w/o context. so the lesson here? best to catch my set from the get go to marvel music's unraveling. now where was I?

oh yes!----By song 141 more samples in the mix from Barry White, I selected a Bowie song (London’s own Loose End’s covered) (song 143) and then I did second line brass music from New Orleans: 147-151 we will have no slandering of New Orleans Brass music in my class.

song 152 was Sly
song 153 was Terrence Trent D’arby because while some of the world is ignorant and dumb and disposable (not talking the poster but in general)….I remember the greats.

Hard Funk- for 155-161 (usual: James Brown/Kool And The Gang/Instant Funk/Brentford All Start) cause why not?

162 however another monkey wrench——but is it? Inxs’s “Need You Tonight” is funky AF im sorry

163 I chose Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” remix because it flips in a great way

164 “Give My Your Love” by Sylvia Stiplin, produced by Roy Ayers. Chicago approves of this selection—I wouldn’t argue with the city of Chicago.

MONKEY WRENCH ALERT song 165 was Britney Spears “Slave 4 U” cause I have NO FEAR (and its Neptunes)——and I get to show the non knowing Prince’s original “Nasty Girl” for song 166.....and women who were teens in 2001 love it?

Which makes Aretha’s “Respect” (167) all the more powerful coming after THOSE two (no shaming in sexually forward songs like it's a sin)—and since I went there might as well include the mightiest innovator James Hendrix since it's the same chords (Crosstown Traffic was song 168)

I didn’t have to play the faux disco “Lovefool” but after seeing the Destiny’s Child clip of them karaoking it——eh why not, it's funny and it allows me to perfectly segue into Talking Heads (a Jay Z talking heads sample at that!!!!!!)——I doubt you reading all this but fuck it.

For 172-175 I made sense of Pharrell/Daft Punk/Led Zepplin/ and Cameo.

Who but me would attempt that stunt?

I played more Mj and Jb, Blondie, Patrice Rushen, De La Soul & Funkadelic

By song 200 I did like 8 Neptunes productions

Revealed how Rza listens to Stevie Wonder

And by my final 229th song ended with Jay Dilla.

—so all I wanna ask you is

do you have any grey poupon?

ok that's enough I have to run onstage. I'm just saying just because "im in a rap group" don't mean I can't play other genres.