The Bag Messenger BlogBag Design and Urban Living

Sooooooo. What are you doing this weekend? Oh not much...just throwing a party with some friends. You know. Doing the thing. Oh it should be really good, actually, like insane. No really! We have a gang of leprecon's handing out sparklers, a bonafide old timey freak show (not the creepy racist kind), belly dancers that breath fire, and a bunch of good music to play. Oh and did I mention this month Kitchen Sink is on a Saturday? I guess I forgot that part. You should totally come, bring your friends, and some of those beads they use for mardi gras. See you there!

-THE BAG MESSENGER 

Bring your camera, get loose, and photograph the mayhem! Get the mini messenger bag here. Just keep it safe from those side show acts*

*The Tucker and Bloom Warranty although reasonable and just, does not cover fire breathing accidents.  

With all this warm weather, kids playing outside, and the CONSTANT Mr Softy Song playing OVER and Over, my mind is consumed with one thing and one thing alone, flu season. That’s right dear readers, it isn't over just because the snow melted away, and if how I feel this week is an indication of things to come all will soon be bed ridden watching court tv. Objection! I mean FEAR NOT! Although germs lurk literally all over everything you touch jumping like feeding lions at the chance to infect your helpless immune system with countless plagues, I have the cure. That’s right THE CURE. The one they don’t want you to know about. The cure developed over thousands of years by a group of folks wandering the deserts of Northern Africa. The flu is a hard road, but  you have to perceiver. You must eat…the Jewish Penicillin. Trust me, it helps! Plus your all skin and bones, you could use a hot meal, have you been taking your vitamins? (do it for your mother). Read on dear reader, the chosen soup lies ahead. 

-THE BAG MESSENGER!  

I owe my love of soup to the mother of one of my oldest friend. She was a great soupmaker and to this day I often think of her at the same time as her special soups. Her son gave her a call one day to get a recipe for Chicken Soup. My friend followed the recipe dutifully but when it was time to separate the liquid from the solids, poured the contents of his pot into a colander that was sitting in the sink, thus pouring the soup down the drain. So, my friends I would urge you to follow the recipe, but more than anything put a container under your colander.

- David

Ingredients

1 lbs chicken thigh (Kosher, but do what you like...we're not here to judge)

1lbs chicken wing (It's a small thing, this Kosher thing, but you would rather not?)

3 stalks celery

1 med sweet onion

1 carrot½ cup parsley

3 cloves garlic

1 large pot

2 quarts watersalt & pepper to taste

Process

1. Brown the chicken ( did you get the kosher chicken?) in the pot with a little olive oil on a low flame.

2. When chicken is browned add 2 quarts of water and bring to a boil.

3. Cut up and add all vegetables to boiling pot.

4. Boil for 1 hour and then turn it down to simmer.

5. Taste and salt to your judgment.

6. Let the pot cool and place in the refrigerator.

7. Skim the fat from the surface of the cooled soup.

8. Place a colander over another large bowl and pour the contents of the pot into the colander.

9. Use your hands to separate the meat from the bones ( make sure to wash your hands first bubbala, no one wants to taste your germs), as well as the vegetables.

10. I will leave it up to your own desire to save the meat etc. for your soup ( it is your soup, do what you like).

11. The bones are to be thrown out.

(hanoe hobn!) Enjoy!!

Making it happen has a always held high importance in society, and with the advent of the internet the show and dance has intensified exponentially. The do it yourself mentality has really swept into the music industry. With the influx of glittering myspace music pages, and gimmicky teen groups it is safe to say that genuine talent has become obscured. Some days it is almost hard to wallow through all the muck. It seems people spend more time getting "out there" then they do honing their craft. Perhaps its misplaced, but with the new music marketplace being what it is, you can't blame folks for chasing the buck. Few people are more dedicated to their craft then COOLOUT, a man put here for one reason, to make music. His attention to detail is precise and his work ethic is unshakable. Chances are as you read this, he is in the studio working on new stuff. Perhaps he is tracking vocals, or maybe he is re-scoring a silent film. One thing is sure, he won't stop, and we just did your music collection a serious favor.

-THE BAG MESSENGER

The Bag Messenger: How did you first get involved with music?

COOLOUT: I was that nerdy kid that hated playing outside, especially during the summer. I'd rather stay under the air conditioning and read. My mom played a lot of music around the house. Combine a healthy obsession of technology and art...that pretty much describes my life. There's a whole world that exists in my head when I'm alone.

The Bag Messenger: What did the young Coolout listen to?

COOLOUT: I remember my mom playing Motown, Earth, Wind, and Fire, War, CTI jazz stuff, and Disco. I would always dance around the house. Equally important was what she DIDN'T play. She didn't play a lot heavy funk like P-Funk or Rick James around the house. She kept the music real light. Also we were Presbyterian and the music at church was really solemn and dry...unlike a some of the more hyper, sanctified denominations. Of course I was into Micheal Jackson, but only up to about half of Thriller...after that it was pretty much straight up hip-hop for me. That was my rebellious music. The first record I bought with my own money was Kurtis Blow's “Eight Million Stories” on 45. That was only because they were sold out of RUN-D.M.C. In high school I was pretty active in the local hip-hop scene, making beats for various neighborhood rappers, but I also would crash college parties and got really into house music because I love to dance.

The Bag Messenger: How has your taste changed throughout the years?

COOLOUT: My taste hasn't really changed at all. It has only expanded. I've had to discover a lot of music on my own and find things that speak to me. Of course like most hip-hop producer cats I'm completely into jazz, funk, and soul, but I also love classical, experimental electronic music, and some rock. DJing different types clubs and events has made me research and appreciate stuff like Latin, Indian, and Caribbean or whatever.

The Bag Messenger: When did you first get involved with making beats? How did working with Count Bass D come about?

COOLOUT: When I was in 8^th grade my next door neighbor was a local music producer. He put a real Roland TR-808 in my lap and let me program it. From that point I was really obsessed with drum machines, samplers, and synthesizers. Once I started working my little teenage jobs, instead of spending a lot of money on clothes and things to look fly, I bought music equipment, computers, and records. I gained a reputation for beats and met Count through a couple degrees of separation. We started working together. I produced some demos that led to his first deal with Sony and worked on his first record in the early to mid 90's.

The Bag Messenger: What other kinds of projects have you produced?

COOLOUT: After working with various local rappers over the years, in 2002 I became fed up enough to concentrate on developing myself as a artist and started working on solo projects. I'm a one-man movement now. I've self-released at least 6 albums, most are available for free at my website: www.cooloutmusic.com Overall, 2009 was a pretty good year for me. I put out The Long Goodbye which was named Best Hip-Hop Album of 2009 by Nashville Scene. Also I produced, co-wrote, and engineered a Latin-flavored lounge album by Mia Calderon. In addition to various chops and beats, I released a bunch of remixes of the Stones Throw Records catalog.

The Bag Messenger: I know you have been DJing for some time. When did this become your job?

COOLOUT: In the late 90's I started DJing as a second job to buy more music gear. It came pretty easy because I was already chopping samples and matching tempos. With my flexibility and ear for music it quickly took over into being my full-time day job. I've played in well over 50 different clubs and venues.

The Bag Messenger: How has it affected your life?

COOLOUT: Spending every weekend night surrounded by drunks can cause you to sleep in the daytime and rarely enjoy being around people. I have a whole Bruce Wayne/Batman thing going on.

The Bag Messenger: What is one piece of advice you wish you had received going into this as a career?

COOLOUT: Work harder than everyone and don't be afraid to be your quirky, weird self. Take what people say with a grain of salt, because everyone has their own motivations, agendas, and point-of-view. There are no hard and fast rules.

The Bag Messenger: Can you let us know what you've been working on? What can we expect from you in the coming year?

COOLOUT: Now that I've moved up to Philly and I'm in my zone, 2010 is off to a good start. In February I put out a remix album for The Long Goodbye. I have another solo project I'm finishing up and a instrumental project that's almost done. It's a soundtrack to a silent film. I've also been making a bunch of house/indie dance stuff that I'm going to start putting out this year. Mia has one of our songs on a compilation album and I did a house mix for that. I'm also writing stuff specifically for her next album. Count Bass and I just started sending beats and vocals back and forth...plus I'm shopping 30-40 beats. On the DJing side of things I'm busy every weekend spinning at whatever random bar, bowling alley, retail store, nightclub, boat, restaurant, or cabin that wants me to pay me. I'm probably forgetting something big but that's pretty much it.

Need to get from here to the studio with your stuff? Get the North To South Messenger bag here. 

DJ YNOT  sent us a link to the latest installment in his Lazy Afternoon series. Filled with "laid back rap, soul, funk, and even a rock break or two." it fits the Monday grind like a glove. Click the cover, and get your week started. On that note I'm gonna go to Ritas Water Ice, and send some sneakers to Europe.   

-THE BAG MESSENGER

If “Fly, Fly The Route, Shoot”
Super Beagle “Dust Out a Sound Boy”
The Impressions “Finally Got Myself Together”
O.C. “Burn Me Slow”
Wet Willie “Beggers Song”
People Under the Stairs “Carried Away”
Aloe Blacc “Find Your Way”
Lee Fields “Ladies”
Prince Fatty “Shimmy Shimmy ya”
Count Bass D “Down Easy”
Y Society “Of and On”
Bk-One Feat Black Thought “Philly Boy”
Large Professor “LP”
Natural Yougurt Band “Space Echo”
DJ Day “Four Hills”
Kenny Dope “Get on Down”
Shafiq Husayn “Dust n Kisses”
Maxmillion Dunbar “Bare Feet”
The Chakachas “Jungle Fever”
Eightball & MJG “Candy”
Bits and Pieces “Don’t Stop the Music”
DJ Spinna feat Senor Kaos “Call Me Senor”
Jazz Liberators feat J Sands “When the Clock Ticks”
Chin Chin “Go There With You”
Rappin’ 4-Tay “Playaz Club”
Jimmy Mcgriff “The Bird”
East of Underground “Smiling Faces”
Coke “Na Na
Eli Escobar “Heavenly Break”
Tom Scott (Just Edit) “Today”
Main Ingredient (J.re-Edit) “Magic Shoes”
Turtles “I’m Chief Kamanawanalea”
Maceo & The Macks “Cross the Tracks”
Ripple “Funky Song”
Kool and The Gang “Jungle Jazz”
Lee Parsons “Music Turns Me On”
Harvey Mandel “Baby Batter”
David Axel Rod “Jahil”
Pookah “Things Don’t Matter”
The Elephant “Do What Ya Love”
Antibalas ‘Che Che Cole”
Fat Back Band “Is This the Future”
Jackie Moore “Time”
Bobbi Humpfrey “San Francisco Lights”
Trackademicks Feat Moxmore “Topsidin”
Earth Wind & Fire “Brazilian Rhyme”
James Pants “I Choose You”
Central Line (Larry leven 12 Mix) “Walking Into Sunshine”
Organized Confusion (Bill K Mix) “Walk Into th Sun”
Phenomenal Hand Clap Band feat Lady Tigra “15 to 20”
Mike 2600 “Now Here’s a Funky Beat”
Final Edition “I can do it”
Bag Raiders vs Sammy Bannas “Fun Punch”
Goody! Goody! “Leggo a Dis One”
Heart Warmer (Flufftronix edit) “Love Song”
Empire of The Sun “Walking on a Dream”
Dillinger “Plantation Heights”

DJ YNOT with the black North To South Messenger bag. Get it here.