We Plug to Y.O.U... The Stuyvesants.

Before we go into the music, I surmise this is where I introduce myself. Well, I'm Jo. Or doJo. If the name sounds familiar (although I won't be offended if it doesn't), it's because of this. Ayo asked me to contribute, and I had a great time doing it. Hopefully I can do it again sometime [wink wink, nudge nudge]. A couple of months & BBM conversations later, here I am. My musical tastes range from that good old Jackson 5 to the musical styling & impeccable adlibs Gucci Mane has graced us with (in small doses, of course). I’m enamored with Colbie Callait almost as much as I love Ray Charles, and the musical productions of Nicolay and the whole Foreign Exchange Music imprint will forever leave me breathless. I don’t claim to know more than I do in terms of music, and I will admit that I don’t give everything a chance. But from what I like, and what my last fm page tells me, I’m willing to give almost everything a chance. But enough about me; let’s get to the music.

I love Brooklyn. I’ve always called it my second home. There was a time where I was adamant that I’d live there for the rest of my life. Although that notion has come and gone, one thing that remains is that my love for the city is still there. My favorite time to go is during the summer. There’s so much energy and so much going on, you really can’t sit still. So when this project popped up in my Twitter timeline while I was at work, I took a chance on it and was blown away. What I’m plugging to you is 25 tracks of soulful, crate-digging, utterly amazing production in the form of The Stuyvesants’ “Brooklyn’s Finest.”

No one can describe who they are and what they do better than that person, so I’ll let them handle the formalities:

"The Stuyvesants” is a collaborative effort between music producer Allan Cole (Algorythm), and record collector Darien Victor Birks (Flwrpt). Both reside in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY. The two wanted to work together on a project where they could incorporate several of their talents, related to music and design. They wanted to do this under a moniker that would pay homage to the ’70s. The collaboration allowed them to do four major things, design, beat dig, produce amazing music, and simply have fun.

Through this project, they hoped to not only pay homage to the 70s but also take the listener on a journey through Bed-Stuy in that era. I can truly say that they achieved this goal and then some. I've been playing it non-stop since June 1, and each time I find something new to love.

I have to admit, I’m not into jazz, but there is something to be said about this particular track, "A Liquid Love (A Sophisticated Meeting Place)". I was in a band for 6 years, so of course, the first thing that drew my attention were the horns. They’re soft, but not too soft; they charge but they’re not overbearing.

That song, "There's So Many", is my favorite on the project. The first time I heard it, I was immediately taken to my aunt’s apartment in Brooklyn (in my mind, of course). This song is a perfect example of block party, everything is all-good and everyone is having a great time kind of music. The tambourine gets me all the time and I just start doing a soul clap each and every time. There’s just enough funk and soul and it balances perfectly. Go on ahead and do the bus stop to it – I won’t judge.



"Sunrise in the Stuy” is a whimsical and enchanting song. The loop of the horns and how they come in at what seem to be odd counts is a highlight for me. This song, to me, is the space in-between when a dream ends and when you wake up. I can definitely see myself in bed when this song comes on, and the climax at 1:31-34 is the morning stretch. Or maybe it’s the moment I open my eyes.

More notable songs that I encourage you to check are “W.O.M.A.N., ”a sultry track that encourages a slow dance; “Seldom Seen,” which has a vocal chop and a breakdown fit for a king, and “Green Ave. Anthem” which is just as fanciful as “Sunrise in the Stuy.” “Hustlers” is a gritty, grimy attack that still maintains the soul that is prevalent throughout the entire album. The drums are hard hitting and the chop of the hook is flawless.

The Stuyvesants’ album is, in my opinion, perfect for any occasion.

Their goal was to pay homage to the 70s, and I think they achieved that goal and more. Any listener can tell that Algorythm and Flwprt took their time to perfectly craft this album, and it is prevalent from track 1 to 25. Each song is crafted so that either they are short enough to always make you want more, or long enough that you still want more, thus hitting the repeat button. There is a song for everyone on this project, and a song for any occasion. I recommend anyone to give this a try, because there is no room for disappointment on this project.

Download: The Stuyvesants – Brooklyn’s Finest

Until the Next Time,

Dojo