Brooklyn music writer and editor Timmhotep Aku talks to artists about the influence the Long Island rappers had locally and outside of New York City.
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023.Timmhotep Aku is a music writer, editor and producer from Brooklyn. After the death of De La Soul’s David Jolicoeur – known as Trugoy the Dove, Plug 2 and Dave – just as the group’s catalog was about to be available to stream, we asked Aku to talk to artists about the influence the Long Island rappers had locally and outside of New York City.
In this era, when TVs had wire antennae and broadcast channels were split into UHF and VHF, I found myself religiously turning the UHF dial to Channel 31 to tune into a show called “Video Music Box” after school every day. The show, now the subject of a Showtime documentary, was the brainchild of two Black men: video directors “Uncle” Ralph McDaniels and Lionel “The Vid Kid” Martin.
News of David Jude Jolicoeur’s death at age 54 broke on Feb. 12, Super Bowl Sunday, breaking the hearts of family, friends and fans who were eager to see De La Soul finally get their just due in the digital music era. After years of fighting to gain control of their master recordings and a long process of properly clearing the samples therein,“David Jude Jolicoeur performs at The Ritz on July 16, 2009 in Manchester, England.
For the record crate-digging Ahwlee, a Dave solo track from their album “Stakes Is High” has the distinction of being the first piece of vinyl he owned as a 14-year-old aspiring producer. “The first record I ever bought, period, was ‘Itsoweezee,’ he said. “I was on a YMCA trip, I was in a program, and that’s where I first learned how to make beats on the computer and shit, and we went to San Francisco to [the] Amoeba [record store].
Though De La were contemporaries and fans of hardcore rap artists like NWA, they never imitated them. Instead, they chose to stay true to their own individuality and artistic impulses, and modeled nonconformity as a virtue. “They did a good job in presenting what masculinity is,” Quelle said. “[It’s] not some standard Rambo thing; the masculinity lies in the confidence in which you walk and standing on your morals, and being a part of your community.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Brooklyn is Africa’ exhibit on view at Brooklyn Borough Hall - New York Amsterdam NewsThe personally selected, awe-inspiring collection of Brooklyn’s African art enthusiast Eric Edwards is now on view at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
Read more »
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Review: Long Live This DynastyComingSoon's Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty review delves into why this action game excels and what makes its combat so satisfying.
Read more »
NYPD officers speak out after ushering kids to safety during U-Haul rampage in BrooklynThe NYPD officers who cleared dozens of elementary students from the path of a U-Haul truck were honored on Sunday by the NY Rangers.
Read more »
Doomsday Comes to Brownstone Brooklyn in Kashana Cauley’s Eerie, Slyly Funny Debut Novel“The Survivalists” is out now from Soft Skull Press.
Read more »
New design concepts released for Brooklyn Queens Expressway CentralThe New York City Department of Transportation released these three new design concepts for BQE Central.
Read more »