Dj Fuze of Digital Underground does Willie Maze's Intro [video]

DjFuze of Digital Underground murders WillieMaze's Intro from Willie Maze on Vimeo.

At Dream Day 12 this year, I introduced Dj Fuze as "one of the most relevant OG dj's in the Bay, and one of the most relevant djs now" and not many can claim both. Yesterday, I was in the lab with the legendary (platinum recording artist) Dj Fuze of Digital Underground fame working on a mix for our Thursday night party *ULTRAwave* with SakeOne of (((Local1200))), he casually jumped in and murders my intro for me (thanks) and flexes his other skills in the process... Oh yeah mix will be out next week, free copies at *ULTRAwave* at Somar Thursday!





Dj Fuze
facebook.com/pages/DJ-FUZE/60896828538
twitter.com/djfuze_du

ULTRAwave
facebook.com/events/102056916592128/

Somar
facebook.com/pages/SomaR-Bar-Oakland/50164194518

WillieMaze
twitter.com/WillieMaze
facebook.com/williemaze

Sprinkle East New York (Remix)

Just a quick remix/blend I made while making a mix to bring in the first day of Summer. Classic Group Home track with Dj Premier production meets my favorite E-40 verse with his sister Suga T.  While stylistically different, the tones and Summer-y feel of the production and playerlistic stylings of 40 Water and his sister somehow work and tonally compliment one another, so much that I thought I'd share. Not a game changer, but I like it, if only for a smile.

Laughed for the entire 15 minutes of design time for the graphic. Stay tuned...

Sprinkle East NY (WillieMaze Refix) - E-40 feat. Suga T
   Sprinkle East NY (Dj WillieMaze Remix) by WillieMaze

New Willie Maze Logo(s)

I been kicking around some designs for a new Willie Maze logo… The DJ handle comes from my favorite and perhaps the best baseball player ever to do it, Willie Mays. I’ve been staring a the MUNI logo since i first rode the damn thing as a kid, baffled by the super summer of loveish logo, and once I figured it out, decided it was so appropriate for the city, and was reddish and later orange for the Giants.  I always wanted to flip it over, and with a few adjustments, you got a perdy good WM logo. *baang*  That's gonna be make a sick sticker for a record label.

 

Ambigrams! They're called f*cking ambigrams. The first two letters of my handle also have an ambigrambic quality, when stacked and create hella possiblities for design. Here's one...

Here's a tune in honor of my style idol, and the best to ever do it.

Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song)  - The Treniers

 

Dj Willie Maze - Sister Music (Music Er'Body Sister Like) cir. 2001

What up Fam... in 2001(pre-Serato) I recorded this mixtape (really a tape!) in honor of my sister Adeline, using records I figured she'd dig (thanks for  put'n me up on Tribe when we were kids!).  It's a trip looking back at old mixes... I can hear how fun this was to make.  It's got an ORIGINAL Goapele track we recorded in Dj Fuze/Namane's basement closet that was also my first time behind the boards mixing her vocals, also what we usta call "remixes" mixed live that are now 'mashups' or 'blends,' and a grip of dynamite soul and rappity rap that has stood the test of time. Yowza!

All told, it was a good project that never saw a whole lot of daylight. If you like it, please share it and spread love. Thanks!

 -Willie Maze

WillieMaze - "Sister Music" mix

Download it here.
Tracklist:
Erykah Badu - Bag Lady
Angie Stone - Keep Your feat. Guru (R.I.P.)
Pharoah Monch - The Light
Jill Scott - Love Rain (WilieMaze Re-Work)
N'dea Davenport - Sweet Misery
Talib Kweli - I'm On My Way
Musiq - Sunny (Just Friends)
Outkast - Ms. Jackson
Dj Quik - Well
Whitney Houston - Fine
De La Soul - All Good? feat. Chaka Kahn
Angie Stone Everyday (WillieMaze Remix)
Common - Funky For You
Raekwon - Ghetto
Goapele - Low Down (WillieMaze Exclusive)
Lenny Kravitz - I Belong To You
Zion I - Venus
Toshi Kubota - Nothing But Your Love
Wycleff Jean feat. Mary J. Blige - 911
Bilal - Soul Sister

ps. Wish I still had the tape jacket! If you got one, please holler.

also: GOAPELE has a show coming up in Oakland May 13tha & 14th @ The New Parish!  Don't miss it! Get tix here!

"...Master of None" Art Exhibition by WillieMaze aka Marty Aranaydo

What up Fam, I've been painting alot lately, and somehow talked my friends at Somar Bar where I spin Fridays into letting me show some new work. I was really inspired by the big walls and good lighting, and created a series of new, big works that will be exhibited at their space for the month of May. The show opens officially today, with a reception from 5pm-9pm. I'll post photos of the work soon!
Ugh, i hate writing Bios, but had to craft one for this show. Here it is, I'm presenting it in an effort to get accustomed to doing so... please forgive.

"Martin Aranaydo is a mixed media artist with a strong focus on painting.  A descendant of Native American and Philippino dissidents, his work navigates the universes he walks in.  He has made art in Oakland, San Francisco, and many American cities for a lifetime and has written graffiti for 20 years as a protégé of the late Mike “Dream” Francisco.  His work can be seen on Bay Area walls and in protests and direct actions across the US and Canada.  Martin Aranaydo lives and paints Oakland, and is soon moving to Hawaii to contribute to the freedom struggle of the Hawaiian people."

This show will consist of a series of paintings.

Layers of "Self Portrait" from Willie Maze on Vimeo.

Hope you can stop by and check 'em out! They'll be up thru the end of May.

"...Master of None" Art Exhibition by Martin WillieMaze Aranaydo
Somar Bar
1727 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, Ca!

Willie Maze - The Extra hOur (mix)

What up Fam, daylight savings is upon us, and I'll spare you any "fall back" wordplay.
Kasha told me I have an "extra hour" today, so I thought I'd share some music. The first song that came to mind was something I have only on vinyl, so i figured I'd keep it that way throughout. Selections are also pretty autobiographical, songs that made me want to DJ in one way or another. One Take Willie aka Willie Maze lightweight mixed it in a stream of conciousness... this is what it sounds like.

Willie Maze - The Extra hOur

Download it here.

TrackList:
1. Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane - Abide With Me
When I'm dead and in a box, I wanna hear this.

2. E-40 - Earl... That's Your Life
Earl is totally at home at this tempo. Styling super hard. "Yeah, Too $hort, bust adlibs on my shit... " Classic. Besides, how many rappers gonna tell you their gov't name?

3. Just Ice - Going Way Back

4. Aretha Franklin - Baby I Love You
My girl was listening whilst I was recording. (Aww...)

5. Planet Asia - Moonlight Melodic Rush
Audible hunger in this mans verses was amazing at this stage.

6. Mistah F.A.B. - If "IF" Was A Fifth
F.A.B. tells us about the future and makes some good points about the past too... and about Trina's ass.

7. Jr. Walker & The All-Stars - Cleo's Mood
This is my pops copy of this record, the pops and scratches tell you how well loved it was in our house.

8. Joseph Malik - Take It All In and Check It All Out
Bay Area Hip Hop Coalition record pool rando record. I instantly liked it, didn't go to the dollar bin at amoeba.

9. Goapele - Higher (Closer Amp Live Remix)
Amp Live's production brings a more than worthy tangent to Closer. King Britt made a dope Closer remix that I also felt coulda seen a lot more daylight.

10. Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Everyday People
Another one of my pops records, love this track cuz it sounds like they coulda been playing this song for hours and decided to start recording. The song fades in and out... so they just may have kept on playing it. I'd love to get my hands on the entire session...

11. Volume 10 - Pistol Grip Pump (UK Jazz Remix)
The original version is so classic, I rarely play it out anymore, but UK Jazz Mix? That goes too!

12. Dj Lengua - Pacheco's Cumbia Squares (Remix)
This track gets me everytime, this is what I like to call PsyCumbia. Mexican space funk also works. Dj Lengua says Unicornio Records has more projects coming soon, new Dj Lengua and a kid called Chicano Batman. Get familiar.

13. Jay Dee - Fuck The Police
Needed to play this since I got harassed earlier this week. Apparently "am I under arrest" sounds like "stand me next to the other brown men in a lineup while someone in a car looks us over" to a cop. Yeah, fuck 'em.

14. Grand Master Caz and Chris Stein - Wild Style Subway Rap 2
The talking in the background makes me laugh. I needed some good advice after the FTP moment.

15. Havana - Tangled
Matthew Africa bought this for me in the dollar bin at Amoeba, Nicolay production Havana sounds great over. Figured if it was that important... Matthew has his reasons.

16. Masta Ace Incorporated- The Phat Kat Ride (I.N.C. Ride Remix)
Sounds like this Sunday, sun's just breaking. Can't beat it for the Left Eye reference.

17. Otis Redding - Groove Me
Been listening to this song my whole life, just now hitting me that this song reminds me of the love of my life right now! Awesome!

18. The Roots - Long Time feat. Peedi Peedi & Bunny Sigler
This
19. Joan Jett - Crimson and Clover
The first minute or so of this cover goes, then it gets dated real fast...

20. Mic Geronimo - Masta I.C.
One of the first records I ever mixed on two turntables. Last I saw the Masta I.C. he was on MTV as a former rapper talking about his relationship with his lady... whatever, this is dope!

21. E-Rule - Listen Up
I saw this record, and thought about how I've seen it used as crate cred (Synopsis is the A side) but I think Listen Up is played not nearly enough. E sounds like he could rap forever. The song is waaaay long.

22. O.C. - Word Life (Les Nubianes remix)
Is it safe to start playing this again? Nah, I think not. It became hella cliche to the headwraps and Common hat dudes back in the day... still dope tho.

"Golden" (Mix)

Big up the Fams Dmadness and Dj Zita who are having me guest with the homie Dj Vna at Golden their monthly SF throwdown at Lazlo in the Mission. D asked me a for a mix to "give the people a taste" so here goes... I'm tryna give you that G-G-Golden feeling in less than 15 minutes... to do that, I took various flavors from Shuggie Otis to The Jacka, trew'm in a pot and mixed for about 14 minutes... In one take, it came out sounding like this:

Willie Maze - G-G-Golden


Tracklist:
1. Timbaland feat. Drake - Say Something
2. Goapele - Milk and Honey (Sake One Re-Fix)
3. Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information
4. Sylvia Striplin - You Can't Turn Me Away
5. Michael Jackson - I Can't Help It
6. Spank Pops - Beautiful Noise
7. Jacka - Glamourous Lifestyle

Download it here.
See yall the November 21st @ Lazlo in La Mission SFC!

Love Me Right Here

I don't believe in coincidence. There I was, listening to the Rich Harrison instrumental he did for Ur-sher, digging thru vinyl for a Jungle Brothers acapella when the 12" of Goapele's Love Me Right jumped up. Take my favorite G-rock jam (Love Me Right), add the acapella with Rich's production (Dat Girl Right There) get to choppin', mix it live on the tables, and Voilá! It's like Milk & Honey.

Goapele - Love Me Right Here (WillieMaze Remix)


Love Me Right is a dope song, off the Change It All Album. Get that if you aint got it.

Bobbito in OAKLAND!

First off, CONGRATULATIONS are in order. Saturday marks the offical opening of The New Parish Music Hall, which i am proud to say, is owned by good people I cut my teeth with and my muhfuckin' Fam! I couldn't be more proud, and feel hella honored to be asked to open for Bobbito Garcia, Mr. Cucumber Slice himself. Bobbito is a giant in the field, and to have him open Oakland's newest music temple sets one HELL of a tone. Raise it up!

My favorite city in the World is going through some huge thangs right now... around the corner, Gentrification has the Fox Oakland Theater for its rock and alternative music fix, and there is a clear need for music and culture that comes for and by the people of Oakland. From the soil where Sweet Jimmy's once reigned, the opening of The New Parish means our Oakland has a new home for live music and world class entertainment.

Dj Willie Maze opens for Bobbito this Saturday! Get tickets HERE.

If you're on this blog, you know who Bobbito is, but if not...

FUCK YEAH!... AGAIN! ATTACK o' the UNICORNS!

This graphic is disturbing and awe inspiring... FUCK YEAH! This week has all the makings of a MONSTER! To quote a brilliant man: "I wanna see you dance..." haha Lets go!

• THIRSTday the 26th I HELLA WANNA KICK IT @ Kitty's, the Taint!
  
• FRYday the 27th FUCK YEAH! @ 111 Minna, SF
• saTURDay the 28th CRAZY FROM THE HEAT with Matthew Africa!

I'm posting a few tracks I'm looking forward to slappin this week.... see yall out there!
Blaqstarr - Get Off (prod. by Diplo and Switch)


Kraak and Smaak - Squeeze Me


Estelle - No Substitute Love (Treasure Fingers Remix)

CUPCAKE'N for Valentines Day?!

That's right, fam... CUPCAKE'N. MATTHEW AFRICA is baking cupcakes for the Valentines Day jumpoff at Kitty's tonight. I hear he has been rippin' bumpers and grinders for days in preparation for our musical salute to Love and it's sexy friend LUST.... cupcakes are available until otherwise consumed. Oh yeah, if you're gonna slide thru, make sure you got my # so you can call or txt if there is a line... Early arrival is suggested! See ya'll tonight!

Raphael Saadiq - I Love Her
Here's one of my favorite jammys by one of my favorite artists... he too is from the best city on the planet. Tells it like I see it... goin' out to Sneaky Squirrel.


Make sure you grab Cosmo Baker's Valentines Roll mix! 2.5 hours of the sound of Love!

Big up to Trackademicks for putting me up on the best CUPCAKIN' video EVER!

I HELLA WANNA KICK IT! (Thrusdays)

LADIEeeeeS & GENTLEMENnnnn, (no boys, no girls) Thursday, we begin an epic journey that can truly enrich your weekday nightlife... NVR OVR proudly presents... "I HELLA WANNA KICK IT!" It goes down at er'y ThirstDay at KITTY'S in Emeryville (aka. the "taint" cuz it tain't Oakland and it tain't Berkeley) where I, DJ Willie Maze will be rocking Renaissance Raps, Throwback Thumpers, and Electronic Elements for yall to kick it to...

As for the name, I had a little contest on facebook and decided to go with my own cadence on this one.. but here are some honorable mention jawns:

• "Gettin Laid(off)"
• "Thirsty"
• "NVR UNDR"
• "STANK" or "RAP MUSK"
• "ERY THURRSDAY"

Who knows... maybe I'll just keep renaming it until something sticks. "I HELLA WANNA KICK IT" has a nice ring to it and it's in the 4 word(mo'r less) tradition of CRAZY FROM THE HEAT which me and Matthew Africa rock on Saturdays. Big up to my man Dougie for puttin me on!

oh yeah, there's never a cover at KITTY'S!
LETS GO! SEE YOU THURSDAY!

Dam(n)s!

Ya boy Willie Maze has been working with Native Tribes on the Klamath River in Northern California to remove 4 dams. The story made the FRONT PAGE of the SF Chronicle today when the company announced an agreement in principle to remove the dams. It's a huge step forward in removing the dams, which has huge spiritual, environmental and economic impact for the all people on the Klamath, which is one of this country's last great salmon rivers. In addition to being a DJ, I've been the director of the Indigenous People's Power Project that works with Indigenous communites across the U.S. and Canada to use direct action strategy and tactics to stick it to The Man (in this case, Warren Buffett). I been collaborating on creative nonviolent direct action with them since early this year in a campaign that goes back hella far. Looking forward to turning up the heat and pushing those shits over! This is one hell of a birthday surprise!

The fam Chook Chook (KARUK) is a young and powerful leader in this fight. He called the "richest" man in the world a S.O.B. in his native language in front of 30,000 + shareholders in Omaha this year at Berkshire Hathaway's AGM. I asked him for a musical selection for this post he offered "Solid As A Rock" by Sizzla.

Try this on too... Unstoppable - Santo Gold

p.s. FUCK PROP. 8!!!! (Watch the video) REPEAL! REPEAL! REPEAL!

NVR OVR... WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Willie Maze here... supwiddit?  

I found music stashed away in a the rat infested storage room in my families crib in Jingle Town USA.  Cardboard treasure chests made sure this kid was reared on the blues, soul music, jazz, moms rock records on uncle bob's realistic stereo... apparently my family liked to throw down.  My first gig was playing records at a house party for sips of beer and drags of tobacco... sometimes pocket change... hell yeah!

The Meaning of the Name.... Gang Starr

The kid really hit his stride when he got passed a "rap" tape from his patna Theo at school.  It was a radio program of an early hip hop show his pops recorded in new york.  It was black with a piece of masking tape on it that said RAP in all caps.  I wore that shit out.  On my way home I always stopped to throw rocks at bottles and shit.  After hearing that tape all shit looked different.  The paintings on the wall was now graffiti, there really was broken glass everywhere, and someone talked about my life in song... IT WAS ON!  Baseball was my first love, hip hop would be my life... 

Hip Hop you the love of my life... - The Roots

... BUT Mo Money Mo Problems the man said.  The billion dollar industry it has become, the internet taking it global, leaders, biters, and saviors coming and going and the ever present tyranny of popular taste has mutated and at the same time changed pop culture forever.  My mode is the same, my thirst for the freshness is stronger than ever, but i can't seem to satisfy myself with the shit that's out now.  Evolve or die. 

"Hip Hop Don't Stop".... "Our Work Is Never Over."   Get it?  

So here it is... my evolution.