totally weird one. i was just testing some audio equipment out yesterday morning and randomly used a DJ Rashad track from my phone then like within half an hour a mate txts me on whatsapp "dj rashad is dead"
RIP
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 10:36 am
by Genevieve
This seems to have affected a lot of people. Kinda like underground dance music's Tupac died. This friend of mine who's usually pretty indifferent about this type of stuff messaged me at like 3 am, randomly, while I was offline, telling me how bothered he is by it. I can relate, it's been on my mind a lot as well.
RIP Rashad, I consider him to be among the most important producers of the past 10 years, his influence is completely saturated all over the more recent techniques of "bass-music" and "ghetto-tech", his sub-bass alone puts the vast majority of "dubstep" to shame, and looking at how the compositions in his poly-rhythmic beat patterns inspired the UK into a new movement and direction, when 140 was hijacked by america, the search was on and the interpretation of footwork and juke with it's shifting unpredictable dynamics led the scene to find new and interesting ways to keep the sounds and styles fresh and fascinating.
Saw him just months ago, awesome DJ, incredibly quick, tight mixes, all originals, he really knew how to jam every little sample and bit of closed hi-hat in between each track, he had taste in the classic appeal of 808 & 909 percussion but chose to utilize those drum machines in a completely unorthodox fashion. Exclusively listening to Rashad over the past couple days and noticed how on the decks his nonchalant method of experimentation would force the samples to intertwine together and weave new explorations in sonic dissonance. He kept the floor moving at all times, bouncing between bridges and breakdowns, it was as though he was mentally dancing footwork and keeping a freeform expression in selection and technique.
The 3 releases on Hyperdub over the past year and a 1/2 are incredible, Douple Cup as an LP is really the first of it's kind, I love RP Boo and Traxman is dope, but Rashad has a unique skill, he's not afraid to take opposing forces and cross breed them together and much of the album is rather experimental, it's incredibly well produced, but not over produced, it's ghetto, street, you can hear the DJ Funk in it. it's hard and fast, it demands to be moved to, still at it's core is that special hybrid between Hip-Hop and House, which is a euphoric mixture, it caters to everyone in a well rounded and challenging way.
Rollin and I.D.G.A.F. are totally sick as well! "Let It Go" is a remarkable track, he really made what at first glance appeared to be a tough as nails, bits of thuggish 160 BPM, 2.5 minute bangers, and accentuated the draw without watering anything down, I love most all of the tracks on both volumes of "Bangs and Works" I picked up both of them when I was in San Francisco a few years ago, and those comps are an outstanding statement of what can happen when technology is head locked by the streets. Planet Mu Records really did something wonderful by putting those guys on a platform where they sound could be heard world wide, the energy of footwork is so unique and hypnotic, it's hyper, yet screwed, half of the track is pitched down, while the other half is pitched up and the delirium generated makes for unexpected side effects.
The culture surrounding footwork, the dance, DJ/Mixing styles, the experimentation, and the overall energy. It's important, as it defends the principals that House music in it's various world wide cultural significance it represents. The "It'z Not Rite" ep is such an incredible stroke of genesis, that track alone is just so astonishing, it's polarities between the half-time and the double-time, how they balance each other, the passionate vocals shatter through the unexpected claps, snares, and rolls of the drums, the shape shifting beat pattern explores new possibilities and potentials, pushing boundaries in surprising rhythmic directions, and most importantly it sounds like absolutely nothing that has ever come before it.
DJ Rashad aka Rashad Hanif Harden, 34-years-old (born in Hammond, IN - October 9, 1979), the Calumet City, IL-based DJ and producer, passed away around 1:30 PM Saturday, April 26, 2014 on Chicago’s Lower West Side. He leaves behind a nine-year-old son, Chad and his parents, mother Gloria Harden, and father, Anthony Harden. The cause of his death has not yet been determined.
Rashad's father told the Chicago Sun Times on Saturday: "Since he was a kid, he’s been doing this. He knew what he wanted to do, and a lot of us don’t get a chance to make our dream come true.”
His manager, Wes Harden: "Rashad was a kind soul that left an indelible mark on the music world as the torchbearer of Footwork and Juke. Rest assured that all of those close to him will make sure that the legacy lives on for a great man whose life has been cut far too short."
Kode9 from Hyperdub: "I was honored to release music from Rashad on Hyperdub. I've only known him for around 3 years, but he had become a good friend and one of my biggest musical influences. He was one of the funniest, most positive people I've ever met and a true innovator. Everyone at the label is devastated by his passing and wish to send our sincere condolences to all his friends and family in Chicago, the Teklife crew and anyone anywhere who was graced by his presence and uplifted by his music. I'll never forget singing duet with him in a karaoke bar in Tokyo"
DJ Rashad was a quintessential figurehead in the evolution from Ghetto House to Chicago Juke to Footwork and one of the artists to have to consistently pushed the evolution of the Footwork genre forward. He was born in Hammond, IN and moved to the deep south suburb of Calumet City, IL soon after. Rashad started out as a dancer (around the time he was in seventh grade) cutting his teeth with some of the most respected dance groups including HouseOMatics, The Phyrm, and Wolf Pac. He quickly thereafter took up DJing with some of his first public gigs around 1992 at spots like his sixth grade high school club Jubilation. He met his longtime ally, DJ Spinn, during homeroom class at Thornwood High School in 1996. They quickly began producing tracks at each others' houses. During this era, they DJ'd parties with the likes of RP Boo, DJ Clent, Gant-Man and others.. His first release to make it to vinyl was the track "Child Abuse" on Dance Mania (mislabeled as DJ Thadz) in 1998. Following the release of his single 'Itz Not Rite' (Planet Mu) and his inclusion on the 'Bangs and Works' album (Planet Mu) circa late 2010 he was constantly in demand around the world and spent the majority of his time on the road touring the world as a DJ, more often than not in tandem in with his closest, lifelong friend, DJ Spinn. He was involved in many Footwork cliques - including Beatdown House (founded by DJ Clent), the Ghettoteknitianz (with DJ Spinn) and Teklife. As a producer his crowning achievement was the October 2013 release of his album 'Double Cup' on Hyperdub Records featuring collaborations with DJ Spinn, Taso, DJ Phil, Manny, Earl and Addison Groove. His last performance as a DJ was at Vinyl Club in Denver, CO on April 24, 2014. A new EP 'We On 1' is slated for release today Monday April 28th via a new Houston-based label called Southern Belle. His collaborations "Acid Life" with Gant-Man and "Bombaklot" with DJ Earl and DJ Taye are featured on the forthcoming Hyperdub 10th anniversary celebration album Hyperdub 10.1 which will be released May 20th. His music will live on eternally.
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 12:52 pm
by murky21
i thought that was really nice from Soiree. good statement from Hyperdub too there
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 12:54 pm
by mIrReN
will always be my fav.
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 1:37 pm
by faultier
i found parts of the hyperdub statement a bit insensitive
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 1:44 pm
by Lye_Form
dfaultuzr wrote:i found parts of the hyperdub statement a bit insensitive
what parts?
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 1:50 pm
by Riddles
dfaultuzr wrote:i found parts of the hyperdub statement a bit insensitive
the official release has to be pretty detached, it's a professional statement that is from the label. Kode9 is really cut up about it, but this is the company's statement, not his own.
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:25 pm
by faultier
Lye Form wrote:what parts?
"As a producer his crowning achievement was the October 2013 release of his album 'Double Cup' on Hyperdub Record" sounded a bit like "he's been releasing since 1998, but really wasn't anything until the album released on Hyperdub"
"featured on the forthcoming Hyperdub 10th anniversary celebration album Hyperdub 10.1 which will be released May 20th." kinda reads like "and what better time than someone passing away to promote some of our forthcoming releases"
i'm probably reading too much into it tbh, but in comparison, here's the statement planet mu released in their newsletter:
"All of us at Planet Mu were deeply saddened to hear the terrible news over the weekend that DJ Rashad has passed away. Rashad had been instrumental in the creation and evolution of Chicago Juke and tirelessly toured to promote the music he loved. The Footwork scene would not be where it is now without his presence. He was a pleasure to work with and we are very thankful to have had the honour of releasing some of his music. We've lost one of the best producers of our day. Our thoughts go out to all his family, friends and everyone who is feeling his loss as much as we are."
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:28 pm
by dickman69
i didnt like the promotion for hyperdub 10 but his last album was his crowning achievement
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:35 pm
by Lye_Form
Well i think mentioning he has a release coming is normal when an artist dies, it always happens when actors die too as their posthumous films are usually a big deal.
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:36 pm
by faultier
i'm not saying the statement is false in itself, it is a great album and probably his best work, just thought it was a bit inappropriate thats all (hence why i also posted planet mu's statement for comparison, note how they don't play the "we helped making him so famous" card when they are just as much, if not more, instrumental in the juke/footwork scene blowing out of chicago)
and just because hollywood does the same doesn't make it right
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:42 pm
by skimpi
they arent saying they made him famous, they are pointing out that they are blessed that they got to release an album from him, which imo and alot of others is his best work.
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:02 pm
by nowaysj
I feel you dfault, but whatevers.
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:50 pm
by bennyfroobs
wub wrote:Never knew so many people on my Facebook/Twitter feeds were "just getting into footwork", then this happens.
What a crazy coincidence.
i dont find that hard to believe at all tbh
~~~~~~edito
soz shouldnt have revived that discussion (just think that he was gonna be playing UK summore and double cup didnt come out that long ago so people might still just be catching on, i know i personally havent liked footwork for all that long at all)
really nice statement from hyperdub. i still feel so wounded about rashad i cant even begin to imagine how his friends and family feels
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:56 pm
by bennyfroobs
(and s/o soiree, excellent post bredda)
Re: R.I.P. Rashad
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 7:18 pm
by Soiree
i'm resisting the temptation to player hate someone right now, but I know Rashad was the fucking Quincy Jones, or the King Tubby, or the Mannie Fresh, or most fittingly DJ Screw of Juke/Footwork, but there are a few big names (with the exception of 2 Chainz) who I would've liked to seen fire off a tweet, or throw up a facebook post or photo or something, write a poem? IDK, a tweet is 140 characters, maybe another photo of a girl in booty shorts twerking upside down is more important.
maybe Rashad is one of the best and all the producers know it and don't wanna pour up a shot and admit defeat.
I want to be the guy that writes the cover story for The Wire! "RIP DJ RASHAD" ...to die and live the Teklife
...letting go of the footwork king
...double cup to the Chi
...rollin down juke's lonely highway
