Photo Credit: DJ Concept

This past June 20, the world lost one of its most talented and influential voices of all time when Albert Johnson, better known as Prodigy, lost his life-long fight with sickle-cell anemia. And as we all learn how to cope with such a huge loss, artists like DJ Concept are dealing with P’s passing the only way they know how: by providing art that pays tribute to the rapper’s incredible legacy.

For the Long Island, NY deejay/producer, this meant taking to his turntables and record collection to put together this brand-new mix, the fittingly titled RIP Prodigy. It’s a non-stop, 23-minute live mix that Concept recorded shortly after learning of the Queensbridge artist’s passing. It pays homage to the legendary emcee by showcasing many of the original samples that he rapped over, either as a solo artist or as one half of Mobb Deep.

“It’s my homage to Prodigy and his soundscape, which was very influential to my sound as a producer,” Concept explains. “Banging joints like ‘The Realest,’ ‘Keep It Thoro,’ ‘HNIC’… I remember thinking, ‘This is the sound I wish I could make.’”

RIP Prodigy kicks off with a chills-inducing a cappella recording of Prodigy rapping his opening bars of “Shook Ones Part II.” Then, you’re treated to more audio from P that pops up in between a slew of soul and funk originals that’ll leave you revisiting his and Mobb Deep’s catalogue all over again. Press play, and take a trip down memory lane of Bandana P’s infamous catalog, right here courtesy of RESPECT. #InfamousForever

DJ Concept  Online:
• Website: http://www.crisiscentercollective.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/concept1200
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/concept1200

Suggested Articles:
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The post #MusicMonday: DJ Concept – RIP Prodigy (A Live Mix of Dusty Infamous Originals) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

To say DJ Concept has been putting in work since the 2012 release of Flight Patterns would be an understatement. From collaborations with the likes of Rome Clientel and Planet Asia to a series of solo projects, the Long Island-repping producer/deejay has been grinding nonstop. And that hustle continues with Flight Patterns 2, a collection of sample-flipping slappers with a few choice features.

As Concept tells it, the creation of the second Flight Patterns occurred similarly to the first one, because (as he implies in the title) he created the project during a flight from JFK to PHX. The thing is, it almost didn’t even happen. “TSA made me miss my flight and made me late for my meeting so I was tight,” he recalls, adding that he was so pissed by the time he got to PHX that he didn’t listen to the music for months. When he did, though? “I was like, ‘Damn, these tracks are ill,’” he says, so he sequenced the album and hit up some guests.

Those guests include fellow Long Islander John Jigg$ on the aptly titled “So Effortless”; his Dirt Disciples partner-in-rhyme Rome Clientel and singer B. Marshall on standout “The Looking Glass”; and Boston stalwart REKS on the equally smooth and off-kilter “Peep The Essence.” The remainder of the project is completely instrumental, however, there are some snippets of speeches peppered throughout to help tie the whole album together.”

Beyond Concept’s sample flips and finely curated guest list, Flight Patterns 2 succeeds because of its sequencing and cohesion. You really get the feeling that he’s having fun here, which coincides with his own thoughts on his career at this point.

“I’m in a good place in life so it flows easy,” he says of making music now. “I don’t really care about what people think cause I know I make classics. That’s how I think about my creativity.” He then adds that all he wants to do is make music. Sure, there are some emcees he’d like to work with, “but I just hope I make tracks that people bump forever.” It’s safe to say he shouldn’t have a problem accomplishing that given the material on Flight Patterns 2, which is just as timeless as it is a complete blast to listen to.

Flight Patterns 2 is now available via Crisis Center Collective and will be available for download through iTunes and all major digital retailers. You may stream the project in its entirety below, courtesy of RESPECT.

Buy/Stream Links:
• iTunes: bit.ly/FlightPatterns2
• Amazon: bit.ly/AmazonFlightPatterns2
• Google Play: bit.ly/GooglePlayFP2
• Spotify: bit.ly/SpotifyFlightPatterns2
• Tidal: bit.ly/TidalFlightPatterns2

DJ Concept  Online:
• Website: http://www.crisiscentercollective.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/concept1200
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/concept1200

The post New Music: DJ Concept – Flight Patterns 2 (Album Stream) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

For the second single off his upcoming Flight Patterns 2 project, DJ Concept enlists Boston heavyweight REKS for “Peep The Essence.” It’s an equally buttery and off-kilter collaboration made for backyard BBQs and headphones-only listening alike.

For the first minute or so, the track couldn’t be more tailor-made for summer weekends, thanks to Concept’s crazy-chill sample flip and REKS’ easygoing bars. When he spits, “Smooth as the tunes that’s in back of us/ Immaculate conception/ Sit back, because no tellin’ where the child destined,” you’ll feel inspired to both do better and get a refill of whatever iced beverage you happen to be enjoying.

That is, of course, until everything gets flipped on its head halfway through. That’s when Concept decides to start tinkering with the beat, which he kicks into high-gear with a footwork-like shuffle by switching up the drums & samples chops. It’s may seem like a fair amount to digest in a song that barely crosses the two-minute mark, but that’s what makes it so damn enjoyable and gratifying.

“Peep The Essence” is now available for stream below courtesy of RESPECT., and as an instant-grat download off the iTunes pre-order for Flight Patterns 2, which drops next Thursday (8/18), through all major digital retailers, via Crisis Center Collective.

Tracklist:
01. Demand Attention (Intro)
02. Been Away From Me
03. Indigo Soul
04. The Looking Glass (feat. Rome Clientel & B. Marshall)
05. Something Unique
06. Back Up In It Tho
07. So Effortless (feat. John Jigg$)
08. Here
09. Peep The Essence (feat. REKS)
10. Decisions
11. Cloud Life
12. Appreciate Every Day

Album Pre-Order Links:
• iTunes: bit.ly/FlightPatterns2
• Amazon: bit.ly/AmazonFlightPatterns2
• Google Play: bit.ly/GooglePlayFP2

Twitter: 
• DJ Concept: https://twitter.com/concept1200
• REKS: https://twitter.com/therealreks

The post New Music: DJ Concept (feat. REKS) – “Peep The Essence” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

To set it off, take a look at that album cover again. Who wouldn’t listen to this, or at least be curious? It’s gold. Now, allow Fresno’s [veteran emcee] Planet Asia and Long Island’s Dj Concept to take you on a half hour ride in their ’79 Cadillac Seville. The weather’s finally warmer. The cigarette is lit and the windows are down.

Seventy Nine is a concept record – one that should not scare the short attention spanned heads away. We assume you forgot this from high-school, as did we, but gold (Au) is the 79th element on the periodic table of elements. Pretty tight, huh? The tracks transition quite beautifully and stay true to it’s theme. And the LP features some top tier artists ranging from the late Sean Price to Blu. If you’re not convinced by this point that this album a good idea, you may need a doctor. This is hip-hop in it’s purest form in 2016. Science and soul – true artistry.

The question remains, however, what part of the country are you riding around with Planet Asia and Dj Concept? Are you in Fresno, “the best little city in the U.S.”? Are you breezing over the Verrazano Bridge? Well, this album illustrated their journey and that’s up to you to decide perhaps. Check out the stream here and enjoy yourself.

digital: iTunes | Amazon | Google Play | Spotify | Tidal

physical: Fat Beats | Underground Hip Hop | Coalmine Records

Seventy Nine Premiere Via HipHopDX

“International” ft. Marvelous Mag Via The Source

Flashback: Peanut Butter Wolf ft. Planet Asia & Madlib “Definition of Ill”

The post Planet Asia & DJ Concept’s New ‘Seventy Nine’ LP (Album Stream) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Young Baby Father is Peter Leo and DJ Concept‘s joint effort. Peter Leo drops some intense and sincere verses over soulful beats. DJ Concept produced the seven track project, providing the gritty canvas for the struggling young father. The EP features collaborations with Little Vic and Rich Rivera. If you give a listen to the EP’s intro, “No Reasons To Breathe” we guarantee you’ll continue. Every track weaves smoothly onto the next one. Give it a listen:

The post Premiere: Peter Leo & DJ Concept – Young Baby Father appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.