CASSIEN COOL RULING
| KONKRETE JUNGLE, DIRECT DRIVE |
Cassien of legend a.k.a.Cool Ruler is muse / inspiration / Catalyst / father / foundation and original resident dj of Konkrete Jungle. Konkrete Jungle, beginning in 1994, has served as a foundation for NYCs jungle/dnb community for the last 14 1/2 years and is the longest running jungle drum and bass weekly world wide. In '97 Cassien temporarily vacated his Konkrete residents and partnered with DJ Seoul to become one half founder Catalyst/co-producer and resident dj for Direct Drive. Some of Cassien's former sound affiliations are Shaolin Fist along side selectors Dara, Delmar and King Panik (original KJ lineup) and most notable Survival Crew with protégé Human and Tuffist New York's premier classic jungle breaks and ragga crew. An everyday Jungle culture champion, Cassien is a king in the jungle. Cassien the bubblers choice noted for his dynamic masterful mix and blend “a mixologist” and an impeccable selection of classic and upfront jungle / ragga breaks and Hard step D&B is most sure to get call for the haul up pull up big forward from the dance floor. Cassien has shared billing with many premier Jungle drum and bass dj /producers the list includes Goldie / Bukem / dj ss / Nicky Black Market / Dexterous and rudeboy Keith / Trace / RAP/ Dom and Roland / Ldouble / Randall / Kenny Ken / dj Ron / JJ frost/ dillinja / Future Forces/ Lemon D / Brian G / John b / Ed Rush / optical / Bad Company / A-sides / Zinc / Krust / Roni Size / Shy fx / j majik / adam F / fabio / die n sUv / Groove Rider / mc foxy / foot loose / mc fats and local legends Dara / Soul Slinger and dj Odi. Record stores Cassien has worked: Throb records as jungle breaks buyer and sales '95 to '97, Breakbeat Science in sales '97 to '99, Final home, Liquid sky jungle breaks buyer and sales '99 to 2002. Cassien has toured extensively over the years stateside and abroad Germany, Canada, and nationwide. A full-page write up in Trace magazine titled "Will the Real Hero of NY Jungle Drum and Bass Please Stand Up". Cassien has played NYC's most infamous night clubs. He was one of the first Jungle dj's to play the Twilo sound system this was the 1st installment of Planet V events Brian Gee, Jumping Jack Frost, Roni Size and Krust. Lime light, the Tunnel, The Roxy, Save the Robots after hrs, Nells, Club speed, The Shelter, Wetlands , Coney Island Hi, Centrofly, Soundlab events, Brooklyn Anchorage and P.S.1 Summer Festival twice sharing billing with Mad Professor as well as drops on college radio. Born in Colorado Cassien has been selecting from the moment his parents allowed him to put a record on the home stereo in the late 70's began making mix tapes with a dual tape deck recorder and one turntable in the 80's his first disc jockey experience was for his high school radio station . Cassien moved to New York in 93 where he would establish himself as a cultural trend setter and would write a page for himself in the history book of New York dj and dance club culture.
ODI
| DIGITAL KONFUSION, METHODS NYC |
Urban Jungle's Hip Hop Helmsman, Carlos Castillo aka DJ Odi as he is known to the world, does not look like the type to have a group of beautiful women fawning over him. And yet, there are several that I have to get through to talk to him. People murmur “respect” as we walk outside. Their admiration is not underserved. Odi, is in great part responsible for the entire style of jungle music in NYC. “I can’t think of anything that makes me happier,” he says. “Every show makes me better.” Jungle or drum & bass is one of the evolutions of the 90s electronica wave, characterized by an emphasis on fast-paced breakbeat and prominent bassline. It was then, back in its formative years that Bronx-born, Harlem-raised Odi entered the scene and gave it his kind of direction. “I grew up around 125th street , the home of hip hop. So it was natural to be an aggressive DJ, putting in the hip hop elements. It’s what I know.” His break came around after high school, when running promotions for the famous NASA rave parties at club Shelter grew into a steady DJing slot. From there, Odi and some childhood friends who shared a lifestyle, culture and musical interest began pumping out electronic records with their own signature twist. “Jungle didn’t happen as a music until 96. Back then it was all just called breaks or techno was the common term,” Odi recalls. “Anything went back then. My friends and I got real lucky, being in the right place at the right time.” Fans would argue that it was not only the position but the skills that propelled Odi and his DJ crew, Digital Konfusion, into the underground limelight. Their way of mixing jungle beats with Hip Hop has grown into its own genre. “Jump up” has been the defining style of NYC and the east coast in general since 97, when the crew formed their own eponymous record label and began spinning at NYC’s most dedicated weekly jungle show: Konkrete Jungle. Odi rapidly became a fixture, while continuing to travel the country, one of the first few to enjoy such popularity. Eventually Odi caught the ears of Malik Shabazz, the international spokesman for the respected Hip Hop society Zulu Nation. Shortly, he initiated Odi in 03, making the Harlem native the first junglist to enter the organization. “I really respected the work that they did,” says Odi. “And I try not to talk or brag about it, but it’s a very big honor.” Odi and his record label remained prolific in the recent year, DJing constantly while putting out a mix CD and producing for multiple other artists. His clothing line, Methods NYC is putting out a line of urban fashion inspired by the Jungle subculture. The next step for Odi is his upcoming artist’s album and taking his music online for digital distribution. But most of all, he would just like to continue playing, unconstrained by genre. “They have names for all the different styles, but I like it better when it was just music,” says Odi, smiling. “When it comes down to it, no one really knows the difference.”
HUMAN?
| AREA LXW, THEJUNGLEPRESERVE.ORG, FUN&MENTAL |
Dissolving boundaries through music, dance & life expression. Thats the mission. Iterate quality, resonate with love & inspire movement. Thats the function. Although primarily known for his Jungle/Drum & Bass excursions, Human’s main skill is versatility, the ability to adapt to any situation yet still deliver a trademark sound. Whether it be Jungle, Dubstep, Hiphop, Reggae or any sort of breakbeat & bass driven style, you know its Human on the decks with mic in hand. With exclusives, up-front brand new selections & dug up rarities & classics, it’s a guaranteed special vibe in any dance Human rocks. A fixture in the NYC underground party scenes, Human is host & resident DJ/MC at Konkrete Jungle NYC, the worlds longest running Jungle/Drum & Bass weekly. Human has played at virtually every Jungle weekly ever in NYC (Camouflage, Direct Drive, Plan B, Testpress, Physics etc.), countless monthlies & one-offs, and has headlined & rocked numerous spots in Toronto, Montreal, Miami, Boston, Washington DC & everywhere in between. Most recently, Human has taken on the role of DJ & hype man for Queens MC Bisc1, and they have performed many times, including at NYC hotspots such as Knitting Factory, Studio B, Southpaw, Mercury Lounge & Bowery Poetry Club, as well as across the country and festivals such as South By Southwest in Austin Texas, A3C in Atlanta, and Scribble Jam in Cincinatti.
ENKRYPTION PROJEKT
| KONKRETE JUNGLE |
Enkryption Projekt is a brooklyn based dubstep crew. Its sights are set on global domination, with its goal being to make the world buy bigger speakers, and drink whiskey straight out the bottle. EP is headed by long time Konkrete Jungle resident Alias, but also brings in the talents of MC's Trac, Stada, Legion, and Konkrete veteran dj and soundsystem scientist , Mykey the Junglist @ Large. They are the ill bass dropping, party rockin, breakbeat renegades. The clubs with the biggest subwoofers are usually where you can find them on any given night. These men have specialized in slinging the heaviest of dubstep beats. With every member of the crew racking 10 years or more in the in the NYC Dj/Mc circuit, they have evolved into a force with the ability to destroy, and re-assemble a dancefloor as they see fit.
TRIGON
| OUTSIDE THE CUBE, DEFINITION OF STYLE |
Trigon is known for killin’ dance floors everywhere with his intense, quick mixing delivery style of B-boy Jungle/Drum’n’Bass. This selector is most definitely a staple to New York City's stomping grounds by way of Miami, FL. His musical influences of Funk, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Reggae & Miami Bass reflect on his diverse and solid track selection on the decks. Rinsing cutting-edge music from various producers including himself, Trigon rocks shit heavy every time. Recently he has been in the studio focusing on production and collaborating with some of the freshest upcoming stateside talent. Trigon also co-hosts NYC's premier weekly internet drum'n'bass radio show Outside the Cube with DJ Eshin on Bassjunkees Radio. Forthcoming release on Liondub International and new label "Profound Audio" launching 2009, this man is definitely one to watch for.
For Reduced Admission, get on the list here! $5
RSVP: rsvp@itsfuntobemental.com
noice one
