This is the second installment in what is becoming a regular thing here at LocalCut. In the absence of much, err, music on this site, I thought it would be pretty rad if we asked local musicians and tastemakers to make us a mix—and thanks to the power of the internet (and my former high school classmate Justin Ouellette), the LocalCut Muxtape series was born. Just click on the link below to stream the second edition–which is not only totally fucking rad, but a lil’ bit different than what you normally get on this site. This week I asked Ryan Feigh—founder of Lucky Madison records, current and former member of Dykeritz, and avid hip-hop fan—to curate the Mux, and he went out and created a doozy. Thanks to Ryan for penning a novella and being the first person to name drop DJ Drama on these hallowed pages. Coming next week: Amy McCullough’s going-away Mux!

LISTEN (AND DANCE) WHILE YOU READ: LocalCut Muxtape - Ryan Feigh

Or (ingeniously), click on the first track below to get things poppin’:

DJ Drama & Saigon - “My Favorite Things”

I thought this would be a good leadoff track as the following songs are a few of MY favorite things. People who know me know that I’m obsessed with hip-hop, and Saigon is one of my favorite MCs right now. This is from the Welcome To Saigon mixtape he did with DJ Drama. Some may recognize DJ Drama as the guy who, along with his business partner DJ Cannon, was arrested on racketeering charges in January 2007 after a raid of the Atlanta offices of their Aphilliates Music Group. Authorities seized nearly 81,000 CDs and held them both in jail until they posted bail, however no charges have stuck since. Basically, the RIAA does not understand the mixtape culture.

I’m a huge fan of mixtapes in general, as it’s a way for hip-hop artists to get their music out to the streets in an “unofficial” manner, often free via download and/or on cheap CDs that bypass the traditional distribution of the music industry. This allows for a playfulness as well as a complete disregard for clearing samples and other nagging legalities that wouldn’t fly at a major label. I’m all for it though, and think that so-called indie-rock labels should and will follow their lead.

Freedom Fighters - “Bob Dylan’s 119th Dream”

Before I moved to Portland I lived in St. Paul, MN finishing my final 3 years of school at Hamline University–which was just a short walk away from a venue called the Turf Club. To this day it remains my favorite music venue in the Twin Cities, and I learned more at the Turf Club than I did at my “real” University.

I ended up eventually leaving Hamline one credit short of an official graduation as they wouldn’t transfer my History of Science class from UW-Madison and I didn’t want to stick around for a summer school Chemistry lab as my heart and mind was already in Portland. So lines like, “I’m on a train bound for glory/and Bob Dylan can’t live for me” and “I found out the fraud of University/And I found out the best things inside of me” were particularly poignant to my 25-year-old self and still resonate today.

I am also a HUGE Bob Dylan fan, so rather than get into a long-winded discussion about how underrated Steet Legal is, or bicker about lost B-sides, I thought this track would suffice by proxy.

Del Tha Funkee Homosapien - “Phoney Phranchise (Domino Remix)”

Summer 2001, I drove halfway across the country and finally landed in Portland. Up until that point my only real job history was working at record stores (Electric Fetus represent). But much to my dismay I found that no one in town would hire a recently transplanted Midwesterner such as myself. And in retrospect I don’t blame them. So, I spent a couple of months selling CDs and records I had accumulated in order to eat and have a place to sleep until I found a “real” job. In these transactions I would almost never take the “trade” option as I so desperately needed the cash.

But one afternoon I spotted this EP from Del at Jackpot on Hawthorne and, as it was an EP, the price was right. I still love this track, and I definitely prefer the Domino production to Del’s on the original. I understand why Del wants to be so hands on with creating the sounds that back his vocals up, but to me he’s like the opposite of how I feel about Kanye. I would be perfectly content if Mr. West stuck to production and making beats and never picked up a mike again in his life. The inverse applies to Del for me. Also he is my must see pick for MusicFest NW this summer.

Lastly, my favorite line is, “With my headphones slammin’/playin’/Iron Maiden/Sleeping in the lobby in the Days Inn.”

Wale - “The Artistic Integrity”

Another mixtape track from Wale’s recently dropped The Mixtape About Nothing. The whole mixtape is inspired by the show Seinfeld, and I find the whole thing brilliant. Whether discussing racism on “The Kramer” or the music industry post-Napster on “The Opening Title Sequence” (where he spits over the slap bass show intro), I find Wale to be intelligent, wordly, and refreshingly aware far beyond the average rapper.

Also this DC MC, like Jack Kerouac, went to college on a football scholarship only to eventually drop out in order to pursue his art full time.

Dolly, Dolly - “When You’re A Phantom”

Speaking of artistic integrity, this local cat has it in spades. This track was recorded under the moniker “Dolly, Dolly,” although he now has a more experimental persona called “The Pepper Clouds” which you can find on MySpace where he’s constantly adding new musical experiments.

When my first ever digital video camera arrived in my mailbox last summer I had some movies due back at Movie Madness that same afternoon. So I tested out the camera on my walk there and back, edited my favorite scenes together, slapped this song on as the soundtrack, and volia! My first ever YouTube clip was born.

Anyway, this guy is an amazing artist in every sense of the word. He also did an unbelievable rendition of “Dixieland” Elvis-style at the Lloyd Center Mall at that “studio” that used to be a couple spots down from Sears in winter ’06.

Jib Kidder - “Mystikal S**t”

I think that, other than Bob Dylan and Dykeritz, I have more tracks by Jib Kidder than anyone else on my iTunes. This guy was somehow blessed to be born in the E*Rock mold. Meaning, not only is he an amazingly prolific musician, but he’s also super talented in countless other artistic endeavors—including graphic design, having an impeccable taste in all kinds of music (which he releases and mixes under the name DJ Kid Slizzard), and running his own southern rap/bounce related blog: www.twankleandglisten.blogspot.com. I first heard the track “Y’all Want That Drell” by him on the States Rights Bro Zone comp and have been an unabashed fan ever since.

The Watery Graves - “Marco Polo”

Maybe it’s because I listen to so much hip-hop, but often when I listen to other music I yearn for instrumental jams. And as far as Portland music goes I can think of no one who does it better than this Marriage Records crew, The Watery Graves of Portland.

I Played a Dykeritz show with these guys once at the old Acme (with At Dusk also if I remember correctly) and they blew me away. I was especially impressed as I was familiar with Davis Hooker from …..worms which he sings for, through my boy Sam Schauer/Humans/Modernstate who drums for them. And he totally mastered music that was on the complete opposite end of the spectrum I was used to associating him with. Anyway, I love this band, and I love Marriage Records.

Dear Nora & Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - “Hot Boyz”

Sweet sweet cover of the Missy Elliott hit that makes up the bottom piece of musical bread of the States Rights/Marriage sandwich. And I’m psyched how it’s obviously done with love sans irony. This is not at all like that bluegrass band doing “Gin & Juice” or Jay-Z doing Oasis because it’s supposed to be funny. You can hear the respect amidst the tape hiss.

I love how this track combines my love of hip-hop with esoteric lo-fi what what. And Owen Ashworth, aka CFTPA, totally KILLS his verse despite sounding so sluggish and laconic that he makes J Mascis sound like a hyper Zach De La Rocha in comparison.

Also, not sure who is on the vocals re: the Dear Nora crew, although my guess would be Katy Davidson. But one of the other founding members of that group, Marianna Ritchey, gets my vote for “Best Blogger Ever Even Though I’ve Never Met Her & If I Was A Major Publisher I Would Instantly Sign Her For A Book Deal” Award. (www.urbanhonking.com/regarding).

P.S. Both Katy and M. Ritchey have a new States Rights project entitled ‘Lloyd & Michael’ you should check as well.

DJ Green Lantern Presents Charles Hamilton - “No Escaping”

I love Nas and all, but this is the reason hip-hop isn’t dead yet. 20 year old kid from Harlem who teams up with DJ Green Lantern and makes a mixtape that “brings you a story all about how/hip-hop got twisted upside down.” And he rocks the piano at the end and showcases how he got accepted the Berklee College of Music, despite his decision not to attend. You can blame/thank Jimmy Lovine for that.

Starfucker - “Myke Ptyson”

I was hopng to use the Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff’s “I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson” for this slot, but due to some licensing snafus I ended up with this track instead.

Nah, seriously though, Starfucker is my favorite Portland band by far, and I can’t get enough of its new album. It’s not out officially yet, but come September it’s gonna blow up courtesy of Badman Recording Co. which I’ve loved forever. In fact my favorite St. Paul/Minneapolis musician, Mark Mallman, has dropped some stuff on that label too.

This is the song I listen to on my iPod with my headphones when I wake up kind of hungover and I’m on my way to work and I’m kind of hating life, but I want to get psyched about being alive and get into a positive mood. It does the trick every time.

P.S. the code to fight Mike Tyson on Nintendo’s Punch Out is: 007 373 5963

(Simon &) Garfunkel - “Heart In New York”

I remember when Starfucker’s MySpace had an image of Garfunkel as the profile pic, and it brought me back. When I was in high school I was a big theater/choir nerd. So big that I was in a four man a capella group called Madison Avenue. Top that wannabe music geeks! Chock Full Of Nuts indeed.

So yeah, I was by no means the most talented of the bunch. Case in point, the other three have gone on to solid careers as a music professor, a high school choral conductor, and a professional opera singer. Apparently they let my lack of musical talent slide due to my enthusiasm and stage presence. Which, thinking about it now, explains how I am still in a band to this day.

Anyway, while my peers were uncovering the latest Sebadoh 7 inches and Pavement imports I was shoo-be-dooing to Boyz II Men and the Nylons and rocking out to Simon and Garfunkel on my walkman.

I like this song the most because I too love New York. Almost as much as I like hearing Art’s voice minus Paul’s. Also, it’s a lot sweeter than James Iha’s.

Nomadic Noize - “Loungin@theaalto”

I used to have a radio show on the old PRA pre-FCC bust from Midnight-2am Monday nights/Tuesday mornings. And the DJ before me was this rad guy named Eli/aka Nomadic Noize. This is his music. Also I frequent the Aalto a lot. Perhaps more than is healthy to do so. Maybe I’ll see you there this summer….

Links:
Lucky Madison Records
Dykeritz
Marriage Records
States Rights Records
Mike Tyson’s Punch Out

Photo courtesy of Ryan Feigh