3rd Annual Return of the Boom Bap Arts & Music Festival 9/29 Providence, RI

AbstractTraxx · August 27

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Abstract Traxx, Volume Productions, Bostonbboy.com, ILL Magic Productions and Spread the Word Productions present

The 3rd Annual Return of the Boom Bap Arts and Music Festival

An annual indoor/outdoor festival showcasing & celebrating the elements & culture of the entire breakbeat / hip hop spectrum of music

MAIN ROOM

GrandWizzard Theodore

****The Inventor of the Scratch****(Bronx, NYC)

Theodore Livingston aka GrandWizzard Theodore is known worldwide for his role in the advancement of turntable manipulation having invented both the "scratch" and the "needle drop" techniques. Although Theodore is best known for creating the most essential technique in the Hip Hop DJ art form there is so much more to know about this legendary DJ.

Theodore learned to deejay from his older brother, Mean Gene, in the early 70's. GrandMaster Flash, who was in Mean Gene's crew, saw potential in young Theodore and had to sneak to teach Theodore different techniques and theories. In the summer of 1975, Theodore, at the age of 13, unintentionally invented the scratch. "I used to come home from school everyday and play records. This one particular day, my mother banged on the door yelling at me because the music was too loud. When she walked in, I still had my hand on the record that was playing and I kind of moved it back and forth. When she left, I was like 'Yo! That sounded kind of cool. I better experiment with that.'" His initiative to take this accident and recognize it as a means of making original music was pure creative innovation. "I always wanted to be different from other DJs. I kept perfecting my idea so that when I did it in front of an audience it would sound dope."

Theodore was a member of the L Brothers and the Fantastic Five. Fans might remember the legendary basketball match, from the cult classic movie "WildStyle," where Theodore, representing the Fantastic Five, squares off against DJ Charlie Chase of the Cold Crush Brothers. Theodore was also involved in making the soundtrack for WildStyle. Theodore and Flash were so skilled as DJs that other DJs had to team up to battle either of them solo (including Jazzy Jay and Afrika Islam). Theodore, like many of the DJs of the time, was also a b-boy.

The GrandWizzard continues to rock parties internationally, judge DJ battles and teach DJ master classes. He was inducted into the DMC Technics DJ Hall of Fame in 1998. Theodore has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from International Turntablist Federation (ITF) and is the 2001 recipient of The Source Magazine Pioneer Award. GrandWizzard served as an esteemed panelist at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's Hip Hop Conference in 1999 and when the exhibit traveled to the Brooklyn Museum of Art, in 2000, he taught a phenomenal DJ Master Class, with DJ Perseus. GrandWizzard Theodore is featured in the DJ documentary "Scratch" which premiered, early in 2002, at independent movie theaters throughout the nation. He also headlined a sold out 13 city US tour to promote the movie.

Invention of the Scratch listed as #10 out of 150 of The Source's "Greatest MC, Albums and Moments" "In the summer of 1975, a young Theodore Livingston discovers a fresh sound in his earphones while trying to drown out his mother's complaints about his loud music. As she exits his room, he continues to fiddle with this technique, tweaks it, and gives birth to the scratch."

-- The Source: 150 of the Greatest MC, Albums and Moments (March 2002)

"His accidental invention became the cornerstone of Hip-Hop, and over a quarter of a century later, it's still the most evolving aspect of the DJing society. All this because GrandWizzard Theodore decided to push the limits on a simple mistake, leading to the development of the turntable technique known as the "scratch" without which there would be no Hip-Hop music as we know it today."

-- Doc Rice for Rap Pages (June 2000)

The Original DJ Tony Tone

aka Tony Crush (of the Cold Crush Brothers) (Bronx, NYC)

DJ Venom (volumeproductions.com, Providence)

****Special Old School Hip Hop/Electro-Funk Set****

DJ Venom, real name David R. Schifino, has been playing the rave circuit since the early 90's, but he began his career as a part-time hip-hop radio disc jockey in 1989. In fact, it was a group of fellow DJs who coaxed him into his first techno/house event, which was so overwhelming he eventually left hip-hop behind.

Venom first purchased a pair of turntables and a mixer to lay down beats and scratches for all the aspiring MCs in his hometown of Providence. He then spent the next few years honing his skills, playing dozens of house parties and halls, mixing hip-hop, reggae, and house music. Meanwhile his addiction to vinyl worsened, causing milk crates to overflow with the likes of Boogie Down Productions, Ninjaman, and Todd Terry among others. Every dime made went towards the purchase of additional records and blank cassettes in order to produce more mix tapes.

Then in 1991, Michaelangelo came to Providence. It was the first rave in the area, and its impact on Venom's DJ career was huge. He had always loved house music, but the harder side of techno captured his attention, and instead of hip-hop, his next trip to the record store found him leaving with Jeff Mills, Praga Khan, and Prodigy.

Around the same time, Venom began working at the radio staion WXIN, 88.1 on the FM dial. Despite his lack of seniority, Venom's turntable talent earned him two radio shows: "Sounds of the Streets," a hip-hop/reggae show and "Utopia," a house and techno mix. He continued these shows for many years, promoting both scenes and cultures all the while gaining noteriety.

Over time, Venom focused his attention more on the rave scene, hooking up with fellow DJs Carnage and Jedi to start Force Productions. Together they began throwing illegal parties known as the Insomnia raves, as well as a club night, "Genesis." They also started a small publication entitled Force magazine. Venom's DJ style found a place with the hardcore breakbeat sounds of 2 Bad Mice, Acen, and SL2. In addition, he continued to play house at Club Babyhead, which became a local legend.

In 1994, Venom split from Force to start his own company, Volume Productions, quickly cementing itself in Providence's rave history. Their own magazine soon hit the masses, and Volume was quickly recognized as the biggest promotional crew from Rhode Island.

That year also marked Venom's first DJ competion. His set, consisting of scratching, body tricks, hip hop beats, and a blend of a brand new musical style called "jungle" earned him second place in the New England DJ Spin-off.

As both Volume Productions and Venom's popularity continued to grow, his mix tapes, whether happy hardcore, jungle or house, were selling off the shelves. Soon his name began appearing on tons of flyers, and the whole crew began a new weekly Tuesday night called "Energy" at the Living Room, which is still going on today with Venom as the resident DJ.

The DJ Battle circuit saw Venom take home awards in three more competions. In 1997, he took first place in the New England DJ Battle and placed second in both the 1998 and 1999 Winter Music Conference DJ Competions, losing only to DMC champ, Craze.

With over 80 underground mix tapes and CDs under his belt, Venom wanted to take thing a bit further with a licensed project. The Chicago-based Underground Construction label took notice of his coast-to-coast performances and liked the hard house sound of his recent CDs. They offered Venom a deal, which lead to a chain of succesful CD releases including Straight Bangin: 1&2 and House Blends 7&8, not to mention House Blends Classics.

Venom later pushed production to the forefront. Hard house releases on various labels as well as his own RetroTech label demonstrated his diversity and ability to produce new music with the oldschool breakbeat feel that first drew him to the rave scene.

Venom continues to play drum & bass under the guise of DJ Eddie Brock and his CD, I See Dead People was praised by many. His newest CD release, Raise the Volume is due out on Warlock records new techno offshoot Surge Recordings while his own productions are scheduled to be released on Vagabond records with five monthly releases starting in October. In addtition, his side project, record label Kerubim Entertainment, is a trip into the goth/industrial world.

If you think all that is enough to keep Venom busy, then you would be wrong. He also has two full-length CDs (one, a menacing mix of industrial and darkwave and the other, synthpop) coming out in January 2003 under the aliases The Archanjelz and Davee Jonz.

DL (ill magic, true crew, atari safari, MA)

****Hip Hop/Breaks DJ Set****

DL was born in the former Soviet Union. It was there that his experimentation with music would begin. At the age of seven, DL was given his first record player by his father. Since he lived above a record store, he was able to begin a collection of many different styles. Every week he would use his allowance to buy new tracks to experiment with. While experimenting in his "lab" one night, he discovered that if he turned his turntable off, and left the needle on the record, it would continue to play sounds. He loved trying out new things like this to better understand how his equipment worked. Sadly, when he moved to the United States, he was forced to leave his belongings behind.

While growing up, DL's choice of music was influenced by his father. Every night he would come home and play jazz, funk, soul, and R&B records These sounds stuck with DL through his life. When he came to America, he discovered the sounds of hip-hop. After a few months, DL purchased his first hip-hop cassette; The Fat Boys. That's where his love for that style of music began. In 1992 he saw Juice. The DMC battle in it inspired him, he had never before seen the art of turntablism or a DJ battle. It was something so fresh to him and he knew that he wanted to be as good as those dj's were. The only thing stopping him now was the money for the equipment.

In 1997 DL was finally able to buy his first Technics turntables and a mixer. He began buying hip-hop records and learning the skills of a dj. He soon started to play at house parties and local clubs. Prior to '99, DL had only surrounded himself with friends that exclusevely listened to hip-hop. However, that year, he discovered electronic dance music. DL moved to Florida where he met his close friend Jason, also a dj. Jason played DL a drum 'n bass record that included hip-hop samples. Once again, DL was amazed by what he heard and although it contained some elements of hip-hop, it was unlike anything he had ever heard before.

Eventually, DL discovered the sounds of breaks. He heard Jackal n Hyde and they became his main musical influence. He became instantly hooked on their style and he started going to record stores to buy breaks records. In 2000 he attended his first Winter Music Conference in Miami and the experience pushed him to become as involved in the electronic dance music scene as he possibly could. Shortly afterwords he returned to his home in New England. He became more involved in local EDM events while perfecting his mixing and turntablism skills.

On April 13, 2002 DL signed up for a dj battle at the (now legendary) club Asylum in Springfield, Massachusetts. He won first place and feels that it was the event that got "his foot in the door". DL found himself getting booked more often and continued to promote himself by handing out mixes and networking with promoters. Shortly after his win at the Asylum, DL went on to place first in two more dj battles.

DL has played at events headlined by many of EDM's biggest stars including Planet of the Drums, Ashley Casselle, Monk, DJ Keoki, Jackal & Hyde, Kenny Ken, John B, Andy C, Anabolic Frolic, Simply Jeff, Goldie, Shy FX, Total Science, DJ Rap, Afrika Bambaata, Donald Glaude, DJ Rectangle, The Sugarhill Gang, Spacemen, DJ Soulslinger, Faust & Shortee, Frankie Bones, DJ Craze, Colette, Miss Lisa, Reid Speed, Feelgood, DJ Icey, Sista Stroke, DJ Godfather, Nick Warren, Armand Van Helden, Bad Boy Bill, Freaky Flow, Electric Skychurch, Omar Santana, Jon Bishop, Ming & FS, and more.

DL continues to be the fastest rising breaks dj out of New England. He's played countless events as far as Florida and Colorado. He is notorious for his scratch-box breaks style and mixer tricks.

MC TNOC & MC Napalm (abstracttraxx.com, CT)

****Live Original Hip Hop****

Jerry Jer (Providence, RI)

DJ Unique (abstracttraxx.com, gruv records, remixx rockstarz, Bridgeport, CT)

****Latin Freestyle Set****

DJ Mo Niklz (abstracttraxx.com, Danbury, CT) ****Hip Hop/Turntablism Set****

BACK ROOM

DJ Ceazar (truecrew.com, digital domain, camouflage, NYC/MA) ****Old School Jungle /Jazzstep Set****

At the age of 10, Caezar moved to the States from the Dominican Republic. At 14, he spent his free time in the acid house underground rave scene in Upstate New York and New Jersey. He was constantly surrounded by acid house, techno, and early hardcore breakbeat. At an early age, Caezar began to listen to electro, rap, and new wave artists like: Herbie Hancock, Afrika Bambatta, Art of Noise and The Sugar Hill Gang, to name a few. His first experience of house music was in the summer of 1988 at a birthday party, he'd never felt like that listening to music before. The combination of drums, balearic beat, bass, saxophones, and proper vocals changed him with tracks like: Washing Machine (Mr Fingers), I'll House You (Jungle Brothers), French Kiss (Lil' Louis), Big Fun/Good Life (Inner City), etc. In 1989, Caezar’s friend brought him out to an acid house rave party and introduced him to the scene that was going to be his home for the next 17 years of his life. Caezar began to buy hardcore break beat and jungle records and soon he would slowly start to emerge as one of the up-and-coming stars of the New York City rave/club scene.

He first started spinning at age of 15 at friends crib in New Jersey City.

Learning off a stereo and an acid house record, Caezar took the first step

of creating his blend of beats and basslines in 1991 at house parties. The

pounding of the breakbeat and the rumbling of the bass hit him when label’s like Strictly Underground, Reinforced, Rugged Vinyl, Breakdown, Moving Shadow, Jumpin ‘n’ Pumpin, Surburban Bass, were pushing the hardcore breakbeat U.K. rave style and at the same time, NASA parties and Soulslinger and Liquid Sky were taking over the scene in New York City. In 1992, his cousin introduced him into the club scene in NYC. In the club scene clubbing was about picking and choosing on peoples clothes rather than their attitudes. So, he started going to early breakbeat and jungle parties (NASA & Biology), always looking for something new to put his energy into. In 1994, Caezar earned a resident spot at the Wave in Staten Island. Between the years of 1996-1998 he also held a resident spot @ the legendary club Vinyl NYC playing jungle.

Throughout the years, he has shared the decks with Soulslinger, Dom &

Roland, Aphrodite, Goldie, Ray Keith, Dazee. DJ Rap, Lenny Dee, Beau, Inx, Reality, Dieselboy, Christian Bruna , Odi, 9x, Kech, Clear, Dylan, Nico,Trace, Wally, Timestretch, Gil-t, Static, Bill Reily, Q Project, Total

Science, Poe, just to name a few.

By 1997, he became one of the newest members of the Digital Domain Crew. Which allowed him to play for the first time in front of 4,000 people at the infamous “Abracadabra” Rave in the Asbury Park Convention Hall, NJ. Which was produced by Alan Sax and Lady Life. He was also headlining with Super MC TC Islam (Zulu nation, Pioneer of the NYC Hip Step MC style), which was the first American East Coast MC. By the year 2000 he had joined True Productions and became one of the dj's extraordinare of New England.

MDMA (operation breakbeat, CT)

MDMA started DJing back in 1986, when he was only 13 years old. Considered to be one of the pioneers of drum n' bass in New England, he first started rocking DnB at parties in 1995. Constantly devastating dancefloors all over the Northeast for the next several years, he quickly became known for his energetic performances and true passion for the music. After a 3 year hiatus, this 21 year veteran of vinyl is back to do what he does best.....rock parties.

Skrilla (illmagic.com, coe park, skys the limit, CT)

The founder of ill magic has been spinning records since the late 90s. Skrilla specializes in turntablism and dnb, but is a lover of all types of music. He also plays sets of house, funky breaks, hip-hop, uk hardcore, uk garage, and trance. He has played at venues all across the country as well as occasionally returning to his northern home.

Steppo

(volumeproductions.com, abstracttraxx.com, atari safari, RI DnB, Providence, RI)

****Dubstep Set****

Steppo has been playing drum n'bass for almost 10 years, smashing dancefloors all over the east coast from Maine to Florida, opening for the likes of Pendulum, Ed Rush and Optical, Adam F, Planet of the Drums and more. He's constantly taking his game to the next level with recent ventures with spinning and producing dubstep along with running his monthly ri-dnb night at Energy.

DJ Btz (of Sneaker and the Dryer)

(abstracttraxx.com, headspinn, boston breaks, floorburnerz, MA)

Lunchbox (volumeproductions, 1Luv, Providence, RI)

DJ Bookum (enfekt productions, nocturnalvybz.net, NH)

Whether playing anywhere from a warehouse to a house party Bookum feels right at home on the decks. Playing all over New England throughout the last 7 years has given Bookum the experience to seamlessly incorporate a variety of styles into his sets. He'll be serving up some party stompin floor rockin funky breaks for this year's Boom Bap so look for all sorts of big basslines and signature hip hop acapella drops.

Plex (abstracttraxx.com)

****Special Old School Funk/ Breaks Set****

ALSO FEATURING:

B-BOY BATTLE WITH $500 CASH PRIZE FOR 1ST PLACE WINNER! DJ LEGACY ON THE 1'S AND 2'S

JUDGES: BAM (OF THE NEW YORK CITY BREAKERS)

KAMIKAZE, AND ABSTRACT

please contact Andrew: skrilla@illmagic.com for info

TURNTABLIST COMPETITION -$500 CASH PRIZE!

please contact Tony: DeMs@BostonBBoy.com for info

AND....

THE OUTSIDE PARKING LOT OF THE LIVING ROOM WILL BE BLOCKED OFF AND GRAFFITI ARTISTS WILL BE PERMITTED TO

PAINT WITHIN THESE BOUNDARIES ON CANVAS, PLYWOOD, OR SOME OTHER SURFACE YOU PROVIDE.ARTISTS PLEASE BRING ALL YOUR OWN SUPPLIES! MAKE SURE TO BRING CANVAS/WOOD, PAINT, MASKS, TIPS, ETC. THERE MAY BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF SUPPLIES AVAILABLE TO USE, BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE.

@ The Living Room

25 Rathborne Street

Providence, RI 02906

THIS IS AN ALL AGES EVENT

21 + w/ proper ID to drink.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2007 : 2PM-2AM

$15 IN ADVANCE BY PURCHASING TICKETS AT

WWW.GROOVETICKETS.COM

$20 @ THE DOOR

****OFFICIAL AFTERHOURS (18+) TO FOLLOW AT 2AM THERAPY, 7 DIKE ST. PROVIDENCE- WWW.CLUBTHERAPYRI.COM

FOR MORE INFO OR TO SIGN UP FOR OUR MAILING LISTS:

WWW.ABSTRACTTRAXX.COM