Playlist Retreat 2015 - DJ Jazzy Jeff brings the brightest minds together to preserve the future of Hip Hop

I get into this debate with my partner here at Upperhands all the time.

"Why can't artists get together and make music more often?

What else do these guys have to do?

They're artists... so make art".

Well here is why.

And I don't mind it at all.

Imagine being able to assemble some of the most amazing artists and minds of a given genre of art 

into one place where their talents and intellect could crash into each other like the Big Bang theory?

Well DJ Jazzy Jeff imagined this happening and decided to bring it to his backyard... 

and living room...and basement.... and kitchen.

Along with the DJ company Serato, DJ Jazzy Jeff acted as if he were the 

Professor Xavier of Hip Hop DJ's and producers

and assembled the illest crew of artists you could ever want to be in one room together.

DJ Spinna, Tall Black Guy Productions,  Z Trip, DJ Scratch, Shortkut, Rich Medina, DJ Day, 

Young Guru, Lord Finesse, Four Color Zack, Stro Elliot, DJ Numark, Daniel Crawford, Scratch Bastid, DJ Cash Money, Sonny James and more 

Without further ado...

DJ Jazzy Jeff and Serato present :

Playlist Retreat 2015

The entire Playlist Retreat 2015 crew

Dj Jazzy Jeff, Rich Medina 

Z Trip 

DJ Spinna, Lord Finesse 

DJ Spinna

Z Trip and Taku

Diggin

DJ Jazzy Jeff 

DJ Numark

That's some Grammy award winnin floppy right there!!

Questlove in da house!

This is early in the morning at the #PlaylistRetreat sharing & receiving scratching knowledge with @skratchbastid @djday @djjazzyjeff @hedspin & @djspinna. I was explaining to my DJ Brothers that back in the day we never named scratches. I never knew what a "Flare" was but as I watched @skratchbastid teaching @djspinna how to flare I was like damn! I've been doing that scratch to "Pump Me Up" since the mid 1980's & never knew that was a Flare!! So I was showing them in this video with both hands & @skratchbastid confirmed that it was a Flare. I learned the scratch language that morning. Later on @djday taught me a different CRAZY scratch pattern that I have to master. Knowledge is power. As @djjazzyjeff told me, "We've been Masters for Decades, now it's time for us to become Students again". He's absolutely right

A video posted by Turntable Whisperer (@djscratch) on Aug 8, 2015 at 7:37am PDT

MY... AAA... DIDAS! @djcashmoney12 was one of the first DJs I ever saw do doubles routines and still keep the party live. I started DJing in the 'turntablist' era, and seeing him rock a crowd of 1500 in France in 2002 changed the way I approached incorporating scratching and juggling into my shows. #PlaylistRetreat

A video posted by @skratchbastid on Aug 8, 2015 at 1:23pm PDT

Another fly on the wall moment brought to you by @djjazzyjeff (AKA Jeffesor X) and the #PlaylistRetreat

A video posted by Z-Trip (@z_trip) on Aug 8, 2015 at 2:58pm PDT

#Repost @djjazzyjeff with @repostapp. ・・・ #Repost @djday with @repostapp. ・・・ @djspinna and @djscratch = unfadeable on the 45s #PlaylistRetreat

A video posted by Yusuke Nagashima (@yusuke_nagashima) on Aug 10, 2015 at 1:27am PDT

I watched this young man go from a kid striving to conquer his peers in DJ battles to Mastering his craft. @shortkut #PlaylistRetreat #Beast #ISP BeatJunkies

A video posted by Turntable Whisperer (@djscratch) on Aug 9, 2015 at 8:11am PDT

@djday does not mess around on the cut #PlaylistRetreat #cmon #scratch #pioneerdj #realdjsbreakrecords #makeitfunky #djscratch #djspinna #shortkut #djjazzyjeff #breaks #freshmode

A video posted by Alvaro Zamora (@deejayesub) on Aug 8, 2015 at 12:37pm PDT

The god @djcashmoney12 flipping #DeadPrez into #Reggae at the @PlaylistRetreat. #DJ #PlaylistRetreat #Turntablist

A video posted by DJ Zimmie (@djzimmie) on Aug 8, 2015 at 12:20pm PDT

Vibes #PlayListRetreat [repost 📹 @djjazzyjeff ]

A video posted by THUGLI (@thuglimusic) on Aug 7, 2015 at 4:20pm PDT

DUD = Drunk Uncle Dance #playlistretreat

A video posted by Tall Black Guy (@tallblackguyproductions) on Aug 7, 2015 at 11:38am PDT

@DjJazzyJeff rocking that @dhon82 remix at 45 to Life... #DJMS9 #PioneerDJMS9 #Pioneer #Serato #PlaylistRetreat #DJLonnieB #TheLBX

A video posted by DJ Lonnie B (@djlonnieb) on Aug 6, 2015 at 4:02pm PDT

@skratchbastid & @mrsonnyjames gettin' busy on the new Pioneer DJM S9 mixer. You crazy for this one, Jeff *Hov voice*! @djjazzyjeff @playlistretreat #playlistretreat

A video posted by MATTHEW LAW (@matthewlawofficial) on Aug 6, 2015 at 7:21am PDT

Special Thanks to : Parents just not understanding Hip Hop.

UPPERHANDS 19 - The Underground Hip Hop Files

This month Upperhands brings you something for the backpackers.
A new Underground Hip Hop mix for the true heads out there.

Enjoy.

Madlib - The Beats - Exclusive Stones Throw Release

In honor of the release of Stones Throw's Feature Documentary "Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton", 

Stones Throw is giving the goods to the Hip Hop community with this 

special Madlib produced Soundtrack serving as the score to the documentary. 

Here are some of the details you need to know about the release :

The vinyl release is Madlib's first ever 10 inch release

Each record comes with a removable sleeve and dual sided cover art

There are 3 different vinyl versions and one Cassette version 

10 Track instrumental album.

Click Here 

To see our post about the Stones Throw : Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton Documentary 

Click Here 

To purchase the MP3, Vinyl or Cassette version of 

Madlib - The Beats

Cassette Version

Special Thanks to : Epic InkTattoos of Springfield - Stones Throw, Oregon, Bill Maher, Ketih Olbermann, Skate Or Die Mentality, People who wait outside Apple Stores waiting for the new iPhone to come out, Roger Goodell, Listening to phone calls on speaker phone, Bambu, G - Shock watches, Voyages in Mexico, Sunsets and Lebron James' receding hairline. 

New Underground Beats - Skyzoo and Torae "Aura" Prod. by DJ Premier

I know the summer is ending soon, but this beat will

make you throw that suit back on and get yo ass to the beach.

Classic DJ Premier style beat on this track...

Plus 

Some ill Charlie Murphy / Dave Chappelle samples in there.

Enjoy Mi Amigos!!