The use of Auto-tune is a controversial subject. Some music purist believe there is not place for it. Some use it purely for the vocal effect while still others use it because without it they would sound horrible. One thing to note is that for Auto-tune to work correctly you do have to be able to carry a tune to a certain degree, you just don’t have to be perfect.

I recently put out a mix tape. I wanted to include a “diss” of a fellow DJ but I wanted to do it in a creative way. I ended up recording a song using Auto-tune, singing a “parody” of Snoop Dog’s “Sensual Seduction” track. I figured if he could sound good with Auto-tune, me a former Jackson 5 could have been should be able pull it off as well! Check out the final results below. I think I just may have Snoop beat! Well … maybe

Download audio file (Mass_Innovation_short.mp3)

I’ve been to the Lincoln Memorial several times — often playing tour guide to those visiting DC — but never really stopped long enough to think of all the history that has taken place on it’s steps.  Yesterday, we were watching the free pre-inauguration show, which took place on the same very same steps.  

Some of the biggest names in politics and entertainment were sharing the steps that King did 46 years before.  It definitely brings another perspective to the monument and the man it remembers.

Today, Soledad O’Brien interviewed a few people who were in town for the inauguration who were also in town August 28th, 1963 to hear Dr. King speak.  Some say, King was the Moses and Obama is Joshua generation.  Continuing with the bible reference, some have even said from the death of King to the election of Obama represented 40 years of walking in the wilderness and it now is time to see the promise land.  I’m not sure if I’m ready to go *that* for with it, but one thing is for sure, I will be in DC tomorrow to share in the experience of history.

A couple years ago, I made a “tribute” mix to MLK … it’s actually more a commentary on freedom.  It’s a bit long (about 10 minutes), but check it out when you get the chance.

Download audio file (DJ%20Mass%20Defect%20-%20Be%20Free.mp3)

My idea is to mix a song from every continent besides Antartica because no one is trying to make music there!  I haven’t decided if I want to keep the genre strictly to hip hop or if I any music genere from the that part of the world qualifies.  I think I would get a much more interesting sound if the genre restriction isn’t there, but if I just focused on hip-hop I think it would showcase the similarities and differences in the genre around the world.

If I wasn’t so tired and didn’t have to work tomorrow I techincally could make the mix tonight.  I currently have music from every continent (besides Antartica) in my iTunes playlist but much of it isn’t hip hop.  In the end, I think the point of the whole mix will be that, music could be hot even if it’s in another that there are more German bands than Rammstein.  In fact, some Germans do hip hop too!

Anyway, this is actually the last DMC battle that I did. Sadly, the art form is lessening in popularity. I started in 2004, and the DC DMC ‘04 battle was a complete different vibe. The venue was Nation (which no longer exists, the Nats Stadium took over that whole area of DC) and there were A LOT more people there. There were a few local b-boy (break dancers for those not in the know) that came out to the battle to settle some beef. From the Asian kid with the purple mo-hawk to the white kid from the suburbs who could pop & lock better than Usher … I kid you not, it was like a scene straight out of Beat Street. It’s a shame those days essentially over.

Later in the weekend, the same girl told us a story on how she said something to a group of people that made it sound like she said black people were disabled so of course there couldn’t have been a more suitable name for this mix. Tim DeFoggi makes is rapping debut on this mix and of course I had to throw some Raffi in as well. Oh and Beavis and Butthead makes a cameo appearance on this mix as well.

Download audio file (DJ%20Mass%20Defect%20-%20Disabled%20and%20Black%20Toast%20Intolerant.mp3)

Fast forward a year later, it’s MLK’s birthday weekend and I had nothing going on. It being his birthday, I decided to listen to the “I Have a Dream” speech on vinyl. Then I started listening to the other tracks and got inspired to finally see my original “tribute mix” idea through.

I really put some thought into the song selection. Some people felt that my decision to include Rage Against The Machine in this mix didn’t fix. Although it definitely isn’t sonically ideal, I felt like the song represented one aspect and feeling of the idea of freedom which I felt fit well with the concept I was trying to go for.

Download audio file (DJ%20Mass%20Defect%20-%20Be%20Free.mp3)

Download audio file (ambient%20funk.mp3)

Download audio file (flatulence%20funk.mp3)

Download audio file (Aja%20Demo%20Beat.mp3)

Yeah, well it didn’t turn out that well but I worked with what I had at the time! I was also using some open source drum machine and a Prince Paul sample which no doubt was from something he sampled!

Download audio file (Bass%20Beat-Final1.mp3)