Request Line # 6: Common- Go! (Honor Flow Productions Remix)

I have been sitting on this remix for a cool minute now. What better day to give it to the masses than a day dedicated to love... or lust... however you see it, haha! One of my favorite jams from one of my Top 5 favorite MCs.

I can write an essay and them some about my memories and influence from the album "BE," where you will find the original produced by Kanye. Ye' produced the entire album for the exception of two tracks, "Love Is..." and "It's Your World." Those were produced by the frequent Com Sense collaborator, the late, great J. Dilla.

And the music video tho? No lie, on some "Taxicab Confession"-ish, is how my brain somewhat operates.... keeping it 100 like Wilt Chamberlain *Shrugs* haha! Alright, before I get caught up, enough "foreplay."

"On the count of three, everybody run back to your fantasy."

All Instrumentation & Programming By DJ Chuck "thE oLd SouL" For Honor Flow Productions

Request Line # 5: Mayer Hawthorne- The Walk (Honor Flow Productions Remix)

Since the original gives the 1960s Doo-Wop, Brenton Wood (Who Mayer has been compared to a lot) vibe, I was going for the "1970s big band, old folks and families Cha-Cha'in on a Saturday at the family reunion" vibe. Think Earth, Wind, & Fire, Tower of Power, and WAR; complete with the live percussion and horns. I even channeled a little Stevie on this one using the clavichord.

"Now... get ta steppin'." (c) Martin Lawrence

All Instrumentation and Programming By DJ Chuck "thE oLd SouL" For Honor Flow Productions

Request Line # 4: Timbaland & Justin Timberlake- Carry Out (Honor Flow Productions Remix)

Since the original was much more synth/electronic driven, I decided to base the sound of this remix around the return single from Mr. Timberlake with Timbo on the boards. As I joked to my sister, this is the "Sunday's Best, Men's Wearhouse Remix" lol!

*ding* Order up...

All Instrumentation and Programming By DJ Chuck "thE oLd SouL" For Honor Flow Productions

Request Line # 3: Miguel- Adorn (Honor Flow Productions Remix)

Since the original has drawn many comparisons to the smooth 80s analog thump of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing, I thought I should keep it in that decade by channeling another master of the slow jam tape from that era (The Purple One) with a modern twist.

I am ecstatic for the shine Miguel has been getting as of late. Especially with his Grammy win and performance this past Sunday for an album (Kaleidoscope Dream) that is easily one of my favorite R&B albums in the last 10 years. He is one of those dudes out there right now that is incorporating fundamental elements of what we love about R&B and Soul music, while putting his own stamp on it to progress it into the future. This one is for the love in you...

All Instrumentation and Programming By DJ Chuck "thE oLd SouL" For Honor Flow Productions

Oh and if you haven't heard the 1st two entrees in the Request Line series, have at it below...

Moonwalking On Mountains

That breakbeat, those now famous ad-libs, I don't even think the band Mountain themselves would have guess that their 1969 live rendition of "Long Red" at Woodstock would become a staple in a totally different genre of music. It's up there with James Brown's "Funky Drummer," Skull Snaps' "It's A New Day," and Melvin Bliss' "Synthetic Substitution," as the most used break in Hip-Hop. Everybody... and I mean EVERYBODY has used it at some point. Pete Rock, DJ Premier J. Dilla, Kanye West, Madlib, 9th Wonder, Large Professor... list goes on and on.

Of course what can be said already that hasn't been said about Track 7 on Thriller. Human Nature is hands down one of my favorite records from the King of Pop. I don't know what is about those opening synths, but it gives me this feeling of flying, absolute elevation, like Jordan from the free throw line or NASA from the launch pad. Then, of course during the mid 90s, the song was re-introduced to another generation thanks to SWV ("Right Here") and Nasty Nas ("It Ain't Hard To Tell"). When these two are put together (See "It Ain't Hard To Tell" as mentioned above) it's a perfect marriage like Peanut Butter & Jelly, Burgers & French Fries, Chicken & Waffles... well you get the point. And once again, as I was getting use to use Maschine, I decided to re-flip these two classics.

Then, in the middle of a session about a month ago, I played the beat for the rest of the fellas, 3 hours later, you have what you are hearing now.

Since we didn't want to use it for a full song ("The Sample Police" would jack us for everything short of the clothes off our backs if we release this commercially, lol!), I still didn't want it to remain forever on my hard drive only for my ears to hear. So with the re-release of MJ's Bad today (its 25th anniversary), I thought why not? Captain Eo... we're ready for launch.

- DJ Chuck "thE oLd SouL"

DJ Chuck "thE oLd SouL"- Programming/Keyboards/Percussion
Kerwin Tsang- Bass
Brian "Trumpet Bling" Williams- Trumpet
James "J.D." Daniels- Drums