I give this four and a half outta five cornbread squares
Aint Nothing Like Homecooking: A DJ Laylo Stew
Born in Puerto Rico to Dominican parents, DJ Laylo gives us nothing short of an obvoius hint as to the reason for the title of this 'you-had-to-at-least-have-been-
a-teenager-in-the-90's' musical soundtrack. Latino culture begins in the kitchen and ends up on the dancefloor, so there is always food and always music. And I mean real good food too, but I digress. Much like Laylo, 'Homecooking' is a more than pleasant surprise. The first voice heard is that of KRS-One, who later blasts through the mix with 'Black Cop'. How's that for starters? You are then serenaded to the tune of cool revolution sponsored by Raheem Devaughn and his thankfully unforced version of 'What's Goin On' with 'My Peoples'. They say both comedians and musicians should concern themselves with good timing and Homecooking has it's unbelievable beat drops and it's private jokes. My only complaint is that all of the songs are on one track and that's only because my finger dexterity is not that of the portable game console generation. So I can't rewind the songs like I'd want, but that doesn't take away from the CD's 'pricelessness'. I mean she got Da Artifacts and Chaka Khan on da joint y'all! DJ Laylo has definitely invited us into her kitchen as well as her living room and I, for one, am grateful. Brown Lady Power!
Eli Efi and DJ Laylo are a powerful hip hop duo that believes in the strength of music to deliver a message. Blending banging beats with sharp lyrics, Eli Efi & Laylo bring forth the best of Brazilian Hip Hop. Eli Efi is a hip hop legend from São Paulo, Brasil. In 1988, he founded the politically charged rap group DMN and went on to record five albums receiving praise from the hip hop community and music industry alike. The group was nominated for best video and best rap group at the MTV Brazil Video Music Awards, best rap song of the year at the Hutus Hip Hop Awards Festival, and won best music video at the São Paulo Shorts Film Festival. In 2004, he left DMN and now continues his musical career alongside DJ Laylo.
Representing the Bronx, DJ Laylo is a pleasant surprise in any music scene. Her unrelenting commitment to good music and rocking the crowd has earned her a reputation for being able to give any venue a house party vibe. Born in Puerto Rico to Dominican parents, her musical selection reflects her upbringing in New York City. DJ Laylo effortlessly blends Hip Hop, Soul, Salsa, House, Merengue, Reggae, and Afrobeat to the delight of partygoers everywhere. She is the co-founder and resident DJ at Liberation Lounge NYC.
Together, they bring hip hop back to a place where MCs rocked alongside DJs to move the crowd but with an international flavor with LF rhyming in Portuguese and Laylo always finding a way to blend some Samba or Salsa into the brew.
Their signature style and captivating stage presence has pleased the ears and souls of many. They have performed throughout the United States, Brasil, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile sharing the stage with the biggest names in international hip hop as well as U.S. based artists such as Styles P, Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Jean Grae, Jeru da Damaja, Immortal Technique, Ras Kass, Lord Finesse, CL Smooth, Welfare Poets, Hurricane G, David Banner, among many others.
DJ Laylo is also currently co-producing and directing Estilo Hip Hop, a documentary the chronicles the revolutionary inspired hip hop movements of Brasil, Chile, Cuba, and Mexico. Estilo Hip Hop was recently funded by ITVS and will air nationally on PBS in 2008.
Both Eli Efi and Laylo are firm believers in community action. Because of this, they are involved in numerous grassroots projects. Eli Efi is a member of ABEVIC, a neighborhood association that works with young people and adults to address community problems. Laylo is currently the director of The Reel X Project, which is a video training and personal development program for young women of color in the Bronx.
In addition to performances, Eli Efi and Laylo are available to lead workshops and speak on panels. Past workshop and panel topics include: Hip Hop & Social Justice, Afro-Brazilian Youth & Hip Hop, Women in Hip Hop, Hip hop in Latin America, DJ workshop for women, among many others.
Influences
crazy vast but let's go...DJ Cash Money, DJ Rob Swift, DJ KL Jay, DJ Reborn, Bobbito, DJ Lumumba, DJ Sabine, DJ Ajamu, Babu, Jazzy Jeff, Pete Rock, Minnie Riperton, Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige, Hector Lavoe, Fernandito Villalona, Nas, Rakim, Black Moon, Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Willie Colon, Sade, Bob Marley, Racionais MCs, Sabotagem, GOG, Sizzla, Capleton, Gwen McGrae, Earh Wind and Fire, KRS One, Slick Rick, Ray Barreto, Willie Colon, Luis Segura, Paniagua, Djavan, Leci Brando, Zeca Pagodinho, Jorge Ben, Clara Nunes...and to be continued
Dominicana raised in Harlem, The Heights, and the South Bronx where I currently very proudly reside...DJ Laylo is one of my aliases and represents one side of my mission on this earth...Wearing many hats...is my steez...I'm the daughter of an amazing Dominican woman who is straight up gangsta with hers and could teach many a thing or two about what it truly means to struggle, I'm the sister of some fly ass women who teach me lessons on the daily, I'm the partner/wife of one of the most talented and committed men that I have ever come in contact with...I'm a teacher, learner, filmmaker, DJ, who is constantly trying to do all that she can to see a better world where my people are healthy and truly happy....
Eli Efi & DJ Laylo
THE DJ
holds down the 1s and 2s alongside Brazilian rapper LF (EliEfi)...spreading the good word that the revolution is still alive while bringing back the days where MCs rocked alongside DJs to move the crowd...before the days of "play track number 2" or "nah, nah, yo you dropped the wrong track" in the middle of performances...
and on my down time try to heal the people with good music...tunes that feed the soul and that reflect the music that I love and raised me up...everything from old school Salsa to Hip Hop to Merengue to House to Soul to Funk...and if you mess around I might throw some Brazilian joints up in there too...proving that people can and will dance to something other than what's on MTV!
THE FILMMAKER
is currently co-directing a documentary called Estilo Hip Hop along with Vee Bravo...
Estilo Hip Hop is a journey through the lives of modern day freedom fighters that believe hip hop can change the world. Take a stroll through Brasil, Chile, Cuba, and Mexico and witness a revolution in the making. CHECK OUT MYSPACE.COM/ESTILOHIPHOP
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The Reel X Project in Action
THE LEARNER/TEACHER
is the founder of The Reel X Project which is a program for young sistas in the Bronx that combines political education and videomaking...simply trying to create a space where young women can reflect on their lives, their communities, the problems, and the possible solutions...and tell those stories through video.
Would like to personally invite you to this industry listening party for Chachi, a Cape Verdean-American hip hop artist. Kindly let me know if you would like to attend.
