Russia-born and New York hip hop-inspired, DJ Vadim has performed pretty much everywhere with pretty much everyone including coolies like DJ Krush, The Roots, The Pharcyde and Public Enemy. Bumping up the local hip hop scene, Vadim shares his stage with his wife, rhythm vixen Yarah Bravo, a sultry half Brazilian, half Swedish talent whose lyrics and beats are made to move you.

Hip hop and electro have gone hand in hand before but rarely in Hong Kong by a guy who has spun in front of 60,000 people, is multi-talented (producer, painter, writer and promoter) and is compared to DJ Shadow and DJ Krush.

The show also includes Ghost Style from 24 Herbs and starts at 21:00 till midnight at Grappa’s Cellar.

Advance tickets can be found at White Noise and Grappas and are $280 plus 1 drink and Door tickets are $320 which also includes a drink.

-AL

Nujabes, real name Jun Seba was killed in a fatal car accident on February 26th. He was 36 years old.

RIP Nujabes.

-L

Common talked exclusively to the boombox where he reminisced avidly upon Dilla’s passion for music and his impact on the industry.

“J Dilla was somebody I had never seen take music and do what he did to it. He made sounds that would be anything from the rawest of hip-hop to something like sounds flowing against Radiohead, and he would play some of the instruments.”

“I never seen a producer sit there and have so much revere for music and so much respect for it. I’ve seen everybody from Pharrell to Kanye, to Questlove … and I’m like, ‘Man, that’s my favorite producer.’ I think music would be in a different place if he was here. He provided so much inspiration.”

Recently, this past Wednesday, Black Thought, ?uestlove, Just Blaze, Q Tip, Juju (The Beatnuts), DJ Green Lantern and Buckwild all appeared as guests on Tony Touch’s radio show ‘Toca Tuesdays’ as part of a J Dilla and Big Pun tribute. They played some of the classic Dilla tracks in between recalling their encounters with both artists. Joining on live calls were Busta Rhymes and N.O.R.E. You can download the Black Thought freestyles as well as the show at the links below.

Black Thought – J Dilla Tribute Freestyles (Parts 1-3)

Toca Tuesdays J Dilla & Big Pun Tribute Show [Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4] (via NahRight)

Over the last four years, The Doctor’s Orders have celebrated the life of J-Dilla with tribute events entitled ‘J-Dilla Changed My Life’. This year they have collaborated with King Apparel to bring you an exclusive limited edition J-Dilla tee.

J-Dilla not only impacted hip hop a great deal, but he also did wonders for American music in general.  Dilla, a native to Detroit, Michigan, often worked in the background as a ghostwriter of sorts, influencing the industry and leaving his signature here and there – he was a member of Slum Village until 2002 and has worked with some of the finest hip hop has to offer, including Madlib, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde. He passed away four years ago from lupus, 3 days after his birthday. He will be remembered as one of the most influential and greatest hip hop producers ever.

- Raving Lunatik

If you’re not too up on the late, great J Dilla and the Stones Throw Records label check it out here and then head out tonight to see DJ Taku “yaman” Hirayama, DJ F-Jay, DJ Jumbo aka Kiyo, DJ Yao and YUI “BDP” Tanaka pay tribute to the hip hop legend. It starts at 11.30pm and is $100 (which, thankfully, includes one drink).

Facebook event page

The announcement came from owner and producer El-P earlier this week where he stated that this is not a definite shut down and although the hiatus has come into effect, the official homepage and back catalogue will be available, as well as all forthcoming releases for 2010.

With artists such as El- P, Aseop Rock, RJD2, Murs, Mr. Lif and Cannibal Ox among others, Def Jux’s impact on hip hop has been hugely significant. Outside of mainstream territory, the label was successful in underground rap, introducing fresh sounds and beats and pushing music boundaries in all different directions.

Whilst El-P has stepped down as artistic director the future is not all dark and grim. With future compilations, a 10th anniversary album, remixes  and “some other goodies” in the works, it’s possible Def Jux will make a comeback and with the way artists have claimed to ‘retire’ or go on ‘hiatus’ (Jay-Z, Eminem, Blink 182 to name but a few), here’s hoping Def Jux will follow in these footsteps.

To read El-P’s official statement and to find out more about about the label and artists, click here

-The Raving Lunatik