We are ECSTATIC to announce our latest release from the legendary Producer that is J. Rawls ( Beastie Boys, Mos Def & Talib Kweli, Aloe Blacc, Eric Roberson, Liquid Crystal Project and so much more ) !
From the moment we heard #Brazil and I Believe, we knew we had our next record!
Pre-Save I Believe on all digital platforms and grab a copy on limited edition 7″ Vinyl (while they last).
Out 9.16.22, worldwide!
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Back for the first time in 5 years and with a live remix to boot, the Afrobeat infused scorcher, Dem Say Ah returns, the 7-inch way!
Since it’s original version first dropped, the record has been a secret weapon to DJs like Bobbito Garcia, Nightmares on Wax, Mitsu the Beats and Gilles Peterson, among others!
Fast forward to 2019 and DJ Center returns with Akoya Afrobeat, recording the ‘Re-Rub’ mix straight to 2″ tape at Electric Garden Studios in Brooklyn, NY. The record was mixed by Grammy award winning engineer, Ben Kane ( D’angelo’s Black Messiah ).
Each drum heavy ’45 comes in a ‘one of a kind’ hand stamped sleeve. Grab one before they’re gone and see what dem say!
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Pre-order the new dance floor single from Sly5thAve + DJ Center, a cosmic soul version of Sade’s ‘Paradise’, re-imagined with a touch of samba flavor, featuring Rio de Janeiro‘s own, Thalma de Freitas!
This record is the beautiful collaborative effort between artists, including Indie 184, who painted the amazing cover you see.
We couldn’t be more excited for this record drop on November 9th! 200 Limited edition Pink vinyl 7″s are available (while they last) here !
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Completely honored to have my music featured in Bobbito Garcia’s autobiographical film, Rock Rubber 45s. Having grown up with Stretch & Bobbito’s 89 tec 9 Radio show as the soundtrack to my youth, Bob epitomizes everything fresh, forward thinking, self-hustled and undoubtedly, New York.
Catch my songs “Center’s Groove” and “Dem Say Ah”, among a slew of other incredible pieces of music (which were selected and supervised by Bobbito), in the film and support it on digital platforms because it’s an inspiring story that needs to be heard!
– DJ Center
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There’s a song that hasn’t left my DJ bag since it was given to me on a CD-R, 14 years ago. That song is the Femm Nameless’ version of See Line Woman (also known as See Line), given to me by my friend Toli Nameless.
Their version of Nina Simone’s classic has burned up my dance floor for years and I always thought it was a bit bittersweet because it was a tune that no one (other than a select few DJs) had access to. AND…it never had a life on vinyl!
So, with some careful planning, my sibling label Kooyman Records decided to press this dance floor monster onto a heavy weight 10″. Black or Red Vinyl? You choose. Living in a digital world? Then, have a listen to the joints at your prefered digital shop.
Revisiting the recording sessions with Toli, I learned that she wrote the b-side Talk Da Shit with Tom Brenneck of the Dapkings and penned Deaf Ears (Instrumental Dub) with Ernesto Abreau, formerly of Antibalas. The entire record was recorded in East Flatbush, Brooklyn by Sydney Mills of Steel Pulse. They truly captured some magic in these sessions and empowered more than a few female musicians along the way!
Still, more than just being incredible music, cut by an all Female band, this record is a time capsule into the Brooklyn Afrobeat scene, 14 years ago. A true piece of NYC history for your ears to now hear…
-DJ Center
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We’re happy to share a brand new DJ Center remix of Setenta, the Latin Soul group from Paris, out today! The original song appears on their latest album, Paris to Nueva-York, which features the legendary Joe Bataan.
For this dance floor version, Center created a feel-good, soulful house dub, collaborating with Nikhil P. Yerawadekar (of Antibalas/Akoya Afrobeat/Low Mentality) and percussionist, Kofi Hunter. The track is mixed by DJ Spinna (who also mixed Center’s Dem Say Ah release).
We think this tune may just make your summer soundtrack that much nicer. Listen below and cop direct from the artist at Bandcamp.
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Cover Art: Andres Jimenez (@sieteson)
In celebration of the great Dennis Emmanuel Brown’s 60th Birthday, DJ Center presents some of the tuffest tunes, versions and dubs from the Crown Prince of Reggae!
Cut purely from vinyl, enjoy some of Center’s favorite D.Brown selections, which most likely will be the first in annual tribute series to the legend. One mix simply can not cover the never ending niceness that the man output while he was with us.
Share this mix + spread love in these times!
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Brand new and good for you too!
Following the success of their Uptown Funk! vinyl debut, Sly5thAve and The ClubCasa Chamber Orchestra return with gorgeous brass versions of Kendrick Lamar and Major Lazer classics!
Sly’s version of Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe completely smashed the internet when it dropped, garnering thousands of plays and nods from the likes of Gilles Peterson of the BBC, amongst others. Now available for the first time, mastered and pressed onto thick, beautiful, collectors vinyl, with an unreleased studio version of Major Lazer’s Get Free.
Listen and purchase the limited edition vinyl or digital release from Kooyman Records here.
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DJ Center and Sly5thAve recently came together in the studio to bring home this dancefloor bomb featuring the ClubCasa Chamber Orchestra! Not new to giving popular songs new lives, Sly5thAve has created incredible orchestral arrangements of Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, J.Cole and Major Lazer numbers, to name a few.
This new version of Mark Ronson & Bruno Mar’s Uptown Funk is an Afro-Latin/Brazilian uptempo bullet aimed straight at any dancefloor worldwide! Don’t believe us, just watch!
Pre-order the limited edition 7″ color vinyl on Kooyman Records here.
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Here’s a bit of #TBT for you.
Back in 2011, DJ Center cut an exclusive mix for the W Hotels App for the iPhone. You can now revisit and download the previously unavailable mix on Center’s soundcloud page via the link below. We recently were bumpin’ the timeless mix and it sounds just as fresh as it did three years ago. Catch it!
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The music discovery service 22tracks recently approached DJ Center to curate a special takeover playlist for their London site.
Currently streaming, catch some of Center’s favorite grooves to help you ease out of the summer. Some serious speaker rattlin’ and body movin’ business here. Enjoy.
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Still getting settled from my recent run in California. Ended it on a HIGH note with a day time set in Oakland, alongside Rich Medina, Nina*Sol, Wonway, and DJ Platurn.
The vibe was outrageous!!!! Incase you weren’t in the Bay area July 4th weekend, I’ve uploaded my set for you here. Thank you Oakland, you were beautiful!
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