*No bullsh*t. No commercials. No drunk people bumping into the decks. Just some damn good music comin' atcha' - weekly - from a Brick City House. *

Well, well, well ... First off I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for blowing up the numbers for Brick City House.  Thanks to you our subscriber number's are over a 1000, with our download numbers coming in at a tight close - weekly - pushin' the boundries and makin' the PodOmatic server werk it!  With your help we've poured the foundation and are now lovingly building this house, brick by lovely brick.  I can only do so much, folks, that's why your support means so much to me.  These numbers directly reflect your support, love, and effort to share good music, and I truly Thank You!

Moving on to this week's guest Decknician, who just broke-it-down stoopid for us, I'd like you to help me welcome DJ John Simmons.  This man hugged us with the Deep, made our hips shimmy with Latin rhythms, got us jukin' with the Acid, spanked us with some Funk,and then brought it back full circle to the Deep House.  He also showed us what it means to color "outside the lines" of House music, how to make a dancefloor "werk it", and what it means to stay true to You.  The mix you are about to hear from him is a perfect example of why he's known around Chicago for keepin' it real with his music, and why can school in the realm of House Music 101.  Heh, there's a reason this man has kept his position locked in my "Top 5 All-Time Favorite DJ's" list for over 6 years now, and it makes me happy to be able to share his music with you here today.

As for my set, I brought you a bit of the old and new ... I'd like to point out one gem in particular, as it's the newest from the Revolutionary Music camp.  My RM label mate, DJ Goulet, has given us yet another funky and melodic piece that is sure to set the summer on fire called, "The Spins", and it's slated for an Aug. 2009 release.  B. Ford, Shifty Johnson, and myself will all be giving remixes to support this release;  however, in my opinion the original track is going to be the scorcher for my summer arsenal. 

Speaking of Scorcher's, this summer at the Brick City House is gearing up to be hot one indeed, that's chock-full of DJ's who'll be bringin' the HEAT!  Join us as we move the party outside so that we can bake in their rays and lap every single drop up that they have to offer.  DJ Fortune (Projekt, Milwaukee, WI) will be kickin' June off on the 10th, and you'll hear for yourself why this woman has held down one of the longest running residencies in and around Milwaukee.  For those of you planning to go to "Summerfest" you'll be able to catch her on the stage opening for D.C. - and this is NOT to be missed!  DJ Spettro (Spettro Music, Houston,TX) will also be stepping up to the decks on June 17th to deliver his style of music that's kept him locked into our radar's for over ten years.  With Releases on labels like Brick Rouge, Amenti Music, and Doubledown Recordings, it's no wonder he's remained this far in the game for so long.  As a special treat for June, we're going to be celebrating the "Classics" of R&B and Disco.  That's right, Friends and Fam, I'm going to be dropping a special set of the original music that House producers have been sampling for years, and will continue to do so for years to come.  The music we know today is the product of the music we were given growing up - no matter what style you were spoon-fed as a shorty.  
So bring out the sunglasses, get your Ipods, boomboxes, laptops, suntan oil, cocktails or coffee, grab your deckchairs, and then your spot on the deck - cause for once the Heat is comin' to you!

As always, Thank You for tuning for Brick City House.  Without you - the Listener and the Dancer - it just wouldn't be as much fun.  Till next week, Freak Freely, y'all!

Enjoy Music,
Sista Stroke

(p.s. please feel free to share this podcast with everyone!)

Playlist for Sista Stroke:
DJ Goulet - The Spins
Fred Everything Ft. Karl The Voice - For Your Pleasure
Unknown - Curious
Shawn Escoffery - Day's Like This
Fred Everything - Studio C
Fred Everything - Stay (LCG rmx)
Asad Rizvi ft. Samantha James - Pillow Talk
Toka Project - Stepping Out
DJ Le Roi Ft. Roland Clark - I Get Deep (DK Brown rmx)

*No bullsh*t. No commercials. No drunk people bumping into the decks. Just some damn good music comin' atcha' - weekly - from a Brick City House. *

Good Morning Friends and Family!  I truly hope this finds you happy, and ready to tackle your day ... shooot, I've even provided the music so that you may do just that .

This episode of B.C.H. was a delicious nasty one for me, y'all ... Our Guest Decknician, Shifty Johnson, took some time out from his busy schedule of "makin' feet hurt" to give us a special dose of sauciness - and I know you're gonna dig this!  This mix of his has inspired a new saying of "delicious nasty" for me, and I think it's more than appropriate to describe what he layed down for us.  He brought some gritty, techy, jackin', bassy smutty sounds that are all products of his evolution of House music; and the end product had peeps dancin' around their houses, dancin' in their chairs, and even a bit o' cubicle jukin' (thanks A$!).
Yes, Friends and Fam, I know you're going to feel this!

As for me, I started at a bit of a mid-tempo and just took it up from there.  I gave you some new tunes from a heavy-hitter like Paul Johnson, including some new one's from newjack producers like Jangatha, with "Dan HEAD".  It felt good to play - even if it was for 40min - and it felt even better to get the f*** down!! 

I'm going to keep this groove going to, because next we'll be welcoming DJ John Simmons to step up to the decks.  John is yet another friend of mine that's been keepin' it [very] real behind the decks for over 15yrs, and all I can say about this man is this: He's been on my "Top 5 DJ's Who Always Moves Me" list since 2002 - and I dont' see that changin' anytime soon.  John Simmons has been consistantly named a "Favorite" by other DJ's, and is one of Chicago's rarest and brightest gems!  And next week I'm giving you the chance to find out why.

As Always, Thank You for tuning in for Brick City House.  Without you - the dancer and the listener - it just wouldn't be as much fun.
Till next week, Freak Freely, y'all!!!

Enjoy Music,
Sista Stroke
(p.s. please feel free to share this podcast with Everyone!)
Playlist for Sista Stroke:
Fred Everything - Studio C
Paul Johnson - I Promise (Ciara)
Damian Bailey Ft. Riz - You Can Shake Me
Unknown - Downtown Brown
Johnny Fiasco - Groove On (Giano Light Vocal Edit)
Unknown - Got That
Lloyd Kenny - Pacino
Astro Pimp - Yea Funk
The Freaks - Telefunky (BHQ Low Maintainance)
and the Classic Of The Week is:
Dynasty - I Don't Wanna Be A Freak

Playlist for Shifty Johnson:
Oliver $ - Whatcha' Gonna Do?
TG - Mr. Dry
The Martin Brothers - Dum
Lee Moritmer - Cook It
Marc Houle - Bay of Figs
Kevin Saunderson - World of Deep (Jesse's Respect to Detroit Mix)
Green Velvet - It's Time To Jack
Oliver $ - Yeah No
Sebastian Leger - Snapshot
Wally Callerio - House Gangster Ft. Wally Callerio (Phil Weeks dub)
KINK - The Big Payback
Tom Flynn - Spaced Out
Johnny Fiasco - Conduction (Santiago and Bushido rmx)
Alexi Delano & Tony Rohr - Discoteca Butt

*No bullsh*t. No commercials. No drunk people bumping into the decks. Just some damn good music comin' atcha' - weekly - from a Brick City House. *

Good evening, Everyone!  I sincerely hope this finds you happy, and going strong on your Hump-Day!
This evening's show was, *sigh*, perfect.  DJ_S (Sexual Toast, S. Korea) graced us with a mix that was just, for lack of better words, stupid fresh!  From Disco and Funk, he glided quite easily into some House - of all kinds - and just laid it all out like a mamma lays out the clothes for her child on a school day.  He went from gritty to deep, from soulful to funky, and then back to the deepness that brought his entire mix full-circle.  He even added the "Classic of the Week" into his set, which was Donny Hathaway's "The Ghetto", and I really can't thank him enough!  Seriously, Friends and Fam, his mix was near close to perfect for me and I'm looking forward to the next time DJ_S decides to drop by the Brick City House show.

On my end, I opened with a snappy landlord ranting, and then just took off from there.  You'll get about 40min of me in this episode but, who cares!  I had fun playing for you, and giving you the best gift of all - music for your day.  Because you see, Friends and Family, I try to take into consideratiopn all of the time zones I'm hitting at 7pm GMT,and hope that at anytime in your day I'm givin' ya something to bounce to.  Whether it's in your office chair at your desk, over your morning coffee, funkin' for your lunch break, or something for your tea time, I try my best to make sure that you're feelin' where I'm coming from.  That goes for any of my guest DJ's as well ...

Tune in next week as we welcome another great DJ to step up to the decks.  Warning: It's about to get straight nasty next week, people, because the one and only Shifty Johnson will be in the house!  Shifty is not only a label mate of mine on Revolutionary Music, but he's also one of my very dearest and closest friends.  I have nothing but faith that you're going to feel his nastiness, and know deep in my heart that you'll want to release your inner freak - with a quick-like too!!  Small note: I came up with my Freak Freels concept when I was hanging out with this DJ, and when we went on our UK tour we took the dirty, drity freak with us!  Heh, I hope you love his music as much as I do.

As Always, Thank You for tuning in once again for Brick City House.  Without you - the dancer and the listener - it just wouldn't be as much fun.
Till next week, Freak Freely, y'all!!!

Enjoy Music,
Sista Stroke

(p.s. please feel free to share this podcast with everyone!)

Playlist for Sista Stroke:
2 Please You - Freaks
Unknown - Balance
Lookin' 4 Teddy - DJ Freestyle & John Glover
Unknown
Boombox - Calibur
Nacho Brass - Lucus Keizer
Downtown Brown - Unknown
Pacino - Lloyd Kenny
Up To The Sky - Derrick Carter

Playlist for DJ_S, "Exit Stage Right":
The Last Poets - Mean Machine (Splices Automatic Edit)
Alphonse Mouzon - Mouzon Moves On (Early Gazebo Edit)
Charly Brown - The Twilight Zone
Lawnchair Generals - The Truth (DJ Sneak's Filthy Dub)
Blakkat - Job Satisfaction (Duriez's Plastic Remix)
All Good Funk Alliance - Party Over Here! (orig. mix)
King Kooba - San Salvador
Afronaught Ft. Alison David - Dreams Come True
FASE - Because I Can
Jason Hodges - Sample This
DJ Sneak - Shiet (Sneak's Sticky Icky Og Mix)
Zed Bias ft. Randolph - Mighty Dub
Myungho Choi - Try Me (orig. Mix)
Bob Sinclair - The Ghetto
Donny Hathaway - The Ghetto (live version)

*No bullsh*t. No commercials. No drunk people bumping into the decks. Just some damn good music comin' atcha' - weekly - from a Brick City House. *

Hi Everyone!

As always, I hope this finds you happy and enjoying the wonders of Hump Day!!  Life in the Lo is going well, and I hope life is just as well where you are.

This show felt good .... I was in a super great mood, the sun was still shining outside, had my man at my side, and my brother sitting on the couch watchin' the Chelsea match on his mac.  Having my brother, Simon, here for a visit has put a lighter bounce in my step because, let's face it, when you're living in another country having some familia close by doesn't hurt.  Especially when it's your own bro ... 

We spent the day walking around my hood; I took him through the village center, on through the open-market vendors with the day's fresh produce, and then through the famous Walthamstow market where I picked-up a shiny new Puma jacket.  It was a nice stroll through beause, no matter how many times i've been there, I always see something new.  Always!  And I think tonight's show is a reflection of my day, my past week, with a touch of what's to come in the rest of this week.  Either way, I'm excited about what the weekend holds and am ready to face it head-on.  

Are you? :-)

Tune in next week for our special guest DJ, DJ_S (Dan Springer) brings us his flava' all the way from Seoul, South Korea!  Being a fellow decknician from Chicago, I've had the pleasure of knowing Dan for about 8yrs. now, and have played alongside this man at some of the best clubs around the Chi.  He never fails to bring the funk, and delivers this all with such a smoothness that you'll have no choice but to enjoy and bask in it.  Let's see how they bring the funk in Seoul, yea ...  I'm looking forward to the, S!!

As Always, thank you for tuning in once again for Brick City House ... Without you - the listener and the dancer - it just wouldn't be as much fun. 

Till next week, everyone!

Freak Freely, y'all!

Enjoy Music,

Sista Stroke

(p.s. please feel free to share this podcast with everyone!)

Playlist for May 6, 2009:

Days Like This - Shaun Escoffrey

Time To Get - Groove Federation

Pillow Talk - Asad Rizvi

What I Mean (Mood II SwingRmx) - Modjo

Love Prototype (Sista Stroke rmx) - Outkast

2 Please U - Freaks

Puff Puff Back (Sista Stroke rmx) - Erykah Badu

Unknown

Sucka' - Bonz & HDF

Downtown Brown - Unknown

U Don't Know (ft. Natlie Brown) - Giom

Alien Situation - Neighbour

Stand Up - Brown Andrew/Oragami

God Made Me Funky (SmokinGroove rmx) - Mike Dunn

Pacino - Lloyd Kenny

Vision of the Future (DEB dub) - Gene Farris

Keed - Giano

Stay (LCG mx) - Fred Everything

Other Wonders - Joel Brittain

Yea Funk - Astro Pimp

All Over My Face (2008 edit) - DJ Sneak

Success - Krikor

Freak the Disco Nights - Sista Stroke

Things We Used To Do - David Elkabas

The Other Woman - Unknown

Dinner Rolls - Clay Watkins

Chicago - Sound Republic

Switching Channels (Mark Farina mx) - The Freaks

Candlelight

Naughty - Unknown

Classic of the Week:

Stomp - The Brothers Johnson

*No bullsh*t. No commercials. No drunk people bumping into the decks. Just some damn good music comin' atcha' - weekly - from a Brick City House. *

Good Morning, Friends and Fam ... and how goes it in your world?  I hope this finds you in high spirits and happy.  Period. 
Last night's show was so out of control, that I don't even know where to start.  As you know, my special guest was the London duo, Hiz n' Herz, and this show was mos def all about givin' them their time to shine!  Hiz (aka Tyrone Goodlife) and Herz (aka Chanel Cochrane) not only served up the freshness, but delivered it with the sort of spanking that was much needed here at the Brick City House.  Seriously, folks, what you're about to hear in this podcast is a proper beat-down that only Hiz n' Herz can come with.  And I know you'll enjoy what they've offered up to you.

For my set, in the first 45min., I started you off with a sensual, warm track that has become of my top-ten fav's .. and then it just went from there.  To be fair, I was more excited about hearing Hiz n' Herz, and really just wanted to give them their time to do their damn thang! 
 
There was loads of fun and the bricks were definiately shakin' last night here, Friends and Fam.  All I can say is, Thank goodness we have neighbours that don't mind if we beat it into the wee hours of the morning!

Thank you for tuning in once again for Brick City House ... Without you - the listener and the dancer - it just wouldn't be as much fun.  Till next week, everyone!
Freak Freely, y'all!

Enjoy Music,
Sista Stroke

(p.s. please feel free to share this podcast with everyone!)

Playlist for 29 April 2009:
Sweet Sound - Groove Armada
We Like to Funk - Virtual Funk
Alien Situation - Neighbour
Fancy Footwork - Joel Brittain
Jacuba - Ritchie Kidd
Disco Gangster - Astro Pimp
House Gangster - Wally Callerio
Check It Out - Audio Jacker
Music Sounds Better With You (Dimitri From Paris rmx) - Stardust

"No bullsh*t. No commercials. No drunk people bumping into the decks. Just some damn good music comin' atcha' - weekly - from a Brick City House"

While I was on my journey through the galaxy of relentless beats, blips, basslines, and funky guitar licks, I found myself diggin' in the back of the record bag and the back of the cd case lookin' for those tracks. Those classic tracks that you have with you just in case you really want to take it there. In the end it went like this: I got dirty, I got sweet, I got mad funky, and I even went a little deep. I pulled out some classic's, some remixed classic's, a bit of the new stuff, pulled a couple choice tunes of '08, and then I went ahead and gave y'all a touch from the era that kicked off so much of the music we have today. I also broke a couple new tracks, for those of you that were asking. I opened tonight's show with 6th Sense Records newest artist,Jangatha, latest track called, "Renae". Sandwich Chris just killed me with his remix, and I was on it from point one. Keep up the great work, guys, I'm feelin' what you're puttin' forth. Another track that I was really feelin' was Camouflage's "Stranger Room" remix. This was a promo that I was passed minutes before my show started -I ain't even playin' on that, folks - and loved it so much I asked if I could break it on my show and give support to my boy. It's a hot track, bro, and you know to keep that ish comin' at me!!! As for the rest of the stuff I gave you this evening, Friends and Fam, it was just as juicy ... From Sneak and D.C., to Joel Brittain and Tommy Largo. Shooot, I got so hyped I even threw a couple of mine into the mix, heh. And then there's the close-out ... the infamous Classic of the Week. 

For those of you that keep up with my blog's you've been hearing my Classics and reading my memories associated with the chosen for the last 4 years ... and now I'm taking the memories all the way live. Starting tonight my weekly [newly titled] editions of "Sista's, Classic of the Week" will be the close-out for the Brick City House show's. For all of you who prefer to get the full-memory, no worries, you'll continue to get the full version on my blog's @ sistastroke.com or myspace/sistastroke

Tune in next week for our special "Good-bye" show that we're throwing for a DJ who's become a staple on the London scene. Tyrone Goodlife, aka "Hiz" (of the London-based duo, "Hiz n' Herz"), is heading back to his homeland of South Africa, leaving us here with a gap that I know I'm going to miss. For those of you in London, you've watched these two as they've cut their own path and left their mark on the scene in this last year; and I'm sure there's more to come from these two in the future sound of music. To help ease this gap that we're being left with, I've asked Hiz n' Herz to come in and give us a proper spanking before his departure. Can't wait for this one, y'all!!

As always, I'd like to thank you for tuning in once again for Brick City House. Without you - the listener and the dancer - it just wouldn't be as much fun. Till next week, Freak Freely, y'all!!!!

Enjoy Music,

Sista

(p.s. please feel free to share this podcast with everyone! <3 )

Playlist for April 22, 2009

Renae (Sandwich Chris rmx) - Jangatha - 6th Sense Rec.)
Alright - Kirby
A Teen Sensation - Bibz
Reason or Passion - Bibbulakis
Yea Funk - Disco Gangster
Alien Situation - Neighbour
Naughty - Unknown
Tan Bonita - Manuel Sahagun
Puff Puff Back (boot) - Sista Stroke
Fancy Footwork - Joel Brittain
Stay (Doza LawnChair Generals West Dub) - Fred Everything Feat. Tim Fuller
I Like The Sounds - Studio 45 presents Le Pamp Playhouse
Do Your Dance - Tommy Largo
Telefunky (BHQ low maintainance rmx) - Freaks
Groove On (Giano light mix) - Johnny Fiasco
You Can't Hide From Your Bud (SmokinGroove's flip-it Rmx) - DJ Sneak
What You Say (Derrick Carter) - Marko Militano
All Over My Face ('08) - DJ Sneak
Golden Life (boot) - Sista Stroke
Shades of Dank - Plus Two
Cash Cow - Monkey Bars
Playin' - Arco
This Bud's 4 U - SmokinGroove
Room full of Strangers (DJ Camouflage's Stranger Rooms Rmx) - Promo 

Back before cd's were the DJ's choice of weapon ... back before we had Final Scratch (or anything near similar) ... back .. before all that sh*t, we had vinyl.  And if you had this track here, on vinyl, sheeeeeeeeeeet, you just became your crew's most powerful weapon in a b-boy/b-girl break competition's.  I tried for years to find this on vinyl ... and never succeeded.  The one guy I knew who did have it was, Marcus (some of you may know him as "Fresh Out Da' Box"), who was this sic DJ we'd all met from Brighton.  Man, when he pulled this out at a show we, everyone in Rebel Crew, was completely blown away ...  It was a shiny black, 10in. number, and in the most pristine shape I've ever seen a used piece of vinyl in - ever!

Years later, I still pull this out when I need a reminder of who I am, where I come from, and what I represent ... music.  ALL  kinds of music.  Yes, I know it's not "house" ... but remember, Fam and friends, I came from a space in time when r&b, breaks, and hip-hop were just startin' to really jump off!  There was no "house" music yet, there was only disco and r&b offered up from the likes of Heatwave, Chic, First Choice, Salsoul Orchestra, Loleatta Holloway, Geraldine Hunt, Manfriday, The Brothers Johnson, and D Train just to name a few.  All of which you can now hear sampled in sooooo many tunes across the board, that it's hard to even try to keep count. 

So for all you B-Boys and B-Girls ... I salute you for keepin' the comp's going, for B.O.T.Y., and for stayin close to my floor whenever I come out to play.  For everyone else reading this, heh, it doesnt' matter if you don't break, write, mc, or even dj ..what matter's is that you take into account where it all came from.  No matter what kind of music it is.

Enjoy Music.