Afro Monk

This weeks Fire Friday Mix comes from EPCOT! Homie dropped a fresh new podcast for Frite Nite and felt like you all should check it out.  He is most well known for being the MC on the Tip-Hop album by Tipper. I had pleasure of getting to hang out with him earlier this year before WMC. He has some serious knowledge in the game and drops some of the freshest beats. Keep an eye on him not just as a MC anymore but DJ. This mix is so beautifully diverse that every tune dropped gives a chill beats vibe.

Big up to Epcot and the Frite Nite family. Frite Nite is making serious moves and other members NastyNasty, Salva, and B. Bravo are killing it all around on tour.

Download: Epcot – Frite Nite Podcast 4

Here is a video of clips taken by us during our WMC project. The video starts with Fisk rocking out and then short clip of Epcot cutting it up live. The video also has other special guest appearances =)

Afro Monk’s WMC Promo Mix Live on Glitch.fm by AfroMonk

November is more oriented for the Glitchy side of things.
Lots of female vocals to help get the mood started.
Let the glitchy bass take you and bring you back down.
Afro Monk’s – November Mixtape

This is a mixtape I put together for easy listening dubstep tracks.
More intended for people new to the dubstep and has tons of more girlie tracks. Toned down the bass more than usual.
Afro Monk’s Music for You – From Me

This is my first attempt to mix Glitch.
Eventually this is all I want to mix but need tons of practice.
I know I can do much better but wanted to record something.
Afro Monk’s October Glitch Mix

Here is probably the 4th mix I ever recorded…
Not happy with it but really dig these tracks.
Probably have some more mixes up in near future.
Afro Monk – August Mix

Here is a Drum N Bass Mix I did with some of my favorite classics.
This was the 2nd mix I ever did on the NS7.
Mixing needs work but for now it’s worth posting…
Afro Monk – June’s DnB Mix

(right click and Save Link As to download mix)

Winter Music Conference brings Miami to life. As an avid partier throughout the year I look forward to WMC every year, despite knowing that driving and parking will be a bitch.

Growing up and being raised in Miami, the Conference is one of the most prized weeks of the year. Most locals don’t even realize how large the WMC really is until they go out and remember that Ultra isn’t the only thing that is going on.

WMC isn’t only about the music; it’s about the energy. Hate to say it, but sometimes not every night out brings that driving force and inspiration. Every event in Miami rakes in a crowd; after all it seems that people like to be sleep deprived in this city. What makes WMC different is the energy of EVERYONE from all over the world coming together. There is so much excitement, dancing, and music to be shared.

You can go out every night of the year and pray to get one night to be like a typical WMC party. If you even get close, it’s an instant win. I take pride in being in front of every stage and dancing till it hurts. I always can gauge the night based on a simple look behind me and see if there are people moving. It’s all about the energy and crowd. Let yourself go in the sea of strangers and bouncing up and down with a drink in one hand and the other in the air.

Go out there this year and put your passion into the music and dance! DJs feed off of this and sometimes you’ll be surprised how many people in the crowd will join you after you started dancing. Who cares how you look or how off beat you feel. Let the music and energy take over. Just go out and have fun!

Make this experience worth every second as it makes it better for everyone.

It’s been awhile since I write a legit post and not just a mix. The new addition to the Afro Monk team, Pierre, is doing a great job. I’m thrilled to have him onboard and having him contribue so much.

WMC is right around the courner and looks like its going to be unforgettable as usual. I can’t believe how involved I am with this one event. The past month I’ve shared e-mails with some of the most respected producers/DJs in the glitch game in my eyes.

My show has almost been on for a month now. I started off strong but now we working out all the kinks. My close friend Munkz has been joining me and dropping some dubstep bombs. I feel like it’s a great combo of glitch/IDM/trip-hop with the last hour having Munkz bring the dirty bass.

Overall things are moving along. I’ll be meeting some of the glitch.fm crew in 2 weeks in DC. I’m flying up to DC for a gig HipGnosis got. Looking forward to meeting him and a few others that will be there.

I’m on a total travel mind set right now. I hope to visit NY and possibily even play at an event there. Also considering a trip to Oregon to visit some close friends from glitch.fm. My birthday is in the summer and most likely going to Vegas for Defcon and hope to somehow find myself on the bill to play out there. Another project I’ve been thinking of doing is throwing an event in Seattle. There is a group of glitch.fm guys up there as well. Let’s not forget Lost in Bass in Boston is always an option in the future.

It’s amazing the people I’ve met since joining the Glitch.fm team. I’ve become close with people all over the world and hope to visit them all in the near future, even the Delicious Crew in New Zealand.

Please welcome a new member to the Afro Monk Blog, Pierre! He’s a veteran blogger for ThatHype.com. He resides from Sweden and has tons of release info for all readers.

I’m happy to have someone else onboard not to mention representing another country. This site is starting to become something I’m really proud of.

I’ve been hard at work with organizing a party for WMC and glad to know someone else will be posting and not solely just me.

If anyone is interested in adding photos from any events that go on please let me know. I have no problem allocaing space for you to upload all the photos.

Alright lately I’ve been hard at work trying to organize an event for this years WMC. All my free time goes to trying to get everything ready for this. Now that I have become a Glitch.fm DJ and now just waiting to have everything ready to go on air. I’ve been practicing and trying out new things.

Unfortunately my cue hasn’t been working. It will be sorted out but it hasn’t stopped me from recording stuff. Yeah its a bit dodgy but practice makes perfect. Not to mention if get use to mixing without cue and know my tracks that well, then wow I’ll be amazed.

I put together a Crunkkkk mix that was going to showcase to people what I’ve been up too lately. It’s not the usual dubstep stuff I play in my car or around house. This is straight hip hop + electronic beats. That’s the true definition of Crunk, well according to Wikipedia =P

Last night I recorded a straight Glitch set because I realized ehhh too much of Crunk doesn’t seem to work that well now that I went back and listen to it and other mixes. That made me realize well lets go back to the glitch stuff but more glitch hop instead of hardcore crunk.

I don’t really believe in tracklist for my own sets. I put so much time into going out and finding tunes that I feel you should have to really want it to find it. There is nothing like finding a track from a mix you enjoyed and getting the single. That’s why I release most my mixes in 128bit or 96bit. I like to play the whole track out most of the time and don’t need rips of just singles.

Hope you can dig some of this stuff. Feel free to let me know how you feel. Be nice… total newb over here and only been using Ableton and APC for about a month. Not to mention lots of these tracks weren’t even prepped.

All those who are wondering when my radio show is… It’s going to be every Monday 11pm-1am EST. I’ll be sure to remind you to tune in ;P

Afro Monk’s 45min Glitch Set

Afro Monk’s Crunkkkk Mixxx

Dubstep is gaining some groups all over the world. I am fortunate enough to be in a solid location for Dubstep. Miami has become a common place for electronic DJs from all over the world to visit since the Winter Music Conference (WMC) is held here.

For the past couple of years we’ve had the pleasure to see someone of the greatest and pioneers in Dubstep visit us. We have to thank all the promoters and investors because we’ve become quite spoiled.

With the success of these events more parties have been able to happen. At the current time there is a chance you can hit up a solid party with the underground sounds of Drum & Bass and Dubstep every week. If you live in Miami or just a visitor be sure to check out any of these events.

Get Low at Vagabond
This is the big party everyone waits for. It always has a promising line up.  Never have gone to one of these events and not had a great time. Not to mention Vagabond sports a sick Funktion One sound system and never disappoints.

Upcoming artist: Borgore, Joker with Nomad, & Noah D (maybe?)

Arcade at White Room (Saturday’s)
This is a brand new night that has big promises all over it. My major concern is the setup for some of these big DJs. I have yet to go to an event there where there was no issue with sound or technical difficulties. I’m sure they’ll have it in control with all these big names passing through.

Upcoming artist: Bassnectar, Klever, Drop the Lime, & Rusko

Dubbed Out at Hulas (Thursday’s)
This has more of an underground feel from even stepping into the venue. Construction isn’t done but they’ve agreed to keep the party going on. Tons of old sounds of Drum & Bass with some Dubstep and Reggae

Stank Love at Jazid (Last Saturday of Month)
I’ve gone to a couple of these and got to love the feel of this event. It’s at Jazid which is a great venue for these parties. Upstairs the bass is pumping and just enough room to dance around. Even features live artist at times.

Takeover at Maracas (second Saturday of month)
I’ve yet to check this event out but from what I’ve heard its a smasher. Can’t go wrong mixing Tacos and Bass. You’ll be sure to find some dubstep in the wide variety of sounds going on there with the Digital Felon crew.

Digital:Insight at Fat Cats (ever first Monday of month)
This is another event I have yet to show up for. I have been to Fat Cats and it’s a chill bar. Have great memories of the last time I went out to Fat Cats. One of best nights of the year =)

Drum and Dub at The Living Room (Wednesday’s)
I’ve yet to go to this location ever. The line up is always solid with some of the favorite local Dubstep DJs. This is another event I need to make some time for during the week.