
Block Rockin' Beats by The Chemical Brothers
Explosive, relentless and utterly electrifying, the Chemical Brothers ' ' Block Rockin' Beats ' is a seismic event that redefined the landscape of electronic music . Released as the opening track of the Manchester duo Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands Dig Your Own Hole , this iconic anthem epitomises TCB's ability to fuse big beat aggression with hypnotic grooves. This ain't just 'club music'. From the moment the bassline drops, the track exerts a gravitational pull. The sampled, swaggering vocal – taken from Schoolly D's 'Gucci Again' – demands attention, setting the tone for what follows: pounding drum loops, distorted synths, and a visceral energy that is packed anarchy.
The track's layering is masterful – each beat lands like a punch, each sound twisting and colliding to build a crescendo of pure adrenaline. What makes it beautiful, though, is its precision within the chaos. This is finely honed craftsmanship.
TCB engineers movement, tension and euphoric release in equal measure, making 'Block Rockin' Beats' a DJ's secret weapon, and endorphin agent. Decades after its arrival, its pulse still beats like some dark, glowing core.
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Business Mayor
05-05-2025
- Business Mayor
Block Rockin' Beats by The Chemical Brothers
Explosive, relentless and utterly electrifying, the Chemical Brothers ' ' Block Rockin' Beats ' is a seismic event that redefined the landscape of electronic music . Released as the opening track of the Manchester duo Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands Dig Your Own Hole , this iconic anthem epitomises TCB's ability to fuse big beat aggression with hypnotic grooves. This ain't just 'club music'. From the moment the bassline drops, the track exerts a gravitational pull. The sampled, swaggering vocal – taken from Schoolly D's 'Gucci Again' – demands attention, setting the tone for what follows: pounding drum loops, distorted synths, and a visceral energy that is packed anarchy. The track's layering is masterful – each beat lands like a punch, each sound twisting and colliding to build a crescendo of pure adrenaline. What makes it beautiful, though, is its precision within the chaos. This is finely honed craftsmanship. TCB engineers movement, tension and euphoric release in equal measure, making 'Block Rockin' Beats' a DJ's secret weapon, and endorphin agent. Decades after its arrival, its pulse still beats like some dark, glowing core.


CBS News
18-03-2025
- CBS News
Schoolly D inducted into Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame
Philadelphia's music history is filled with legends, and one name that stands out is Schoolly D. Known as one of the forefathers of gangsta rap, Schoolly D put Philadelphia on the map in 1985 with his hit, "P.S.K. (What Does It Mean?)". Although the Bronx is widely recognized as the birthplace of hip-hop, Schoolly D carved out a lane for himself in the genre. His sound, distinct from the rapid-fire delivery of New York rap, helped shape the direction of hip-hop and influence future generations of artists. "New York rap was very fast. I slowed it down. I talked about 52nd and Parkside and what it was like for a teenager to grow up smoking, drinking, driving his car … going to parties on the south side," Schoolly D said. He was raised in West Philadelphia during the late 1960s and early 1970s. "It was very Black conscience," Schoolly D said. "I remember the fear of the Black Panthers coming. Cats were getting drafted to Vietnam." Despite the challenges of growing up in a tough environment, Schoolly D believes hip-hop brought a sense of hope and inspiration to his community. "When hip-hop came, it was incredible. It was magic," he said. "We were beautifully ignorant at the same time." Now, after decades of pioneering the genre, Schoolly D is being honored with an induction into the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame. Alan Rubens, chairman of the Philadelphia Music Alliance, spoke about the significance of the honor, saying, "His music has been sampled by so many artists around the world. So we thought it was time to give Schoolly D his star." This year's Walk of Fame induction class also includes Stephen Sondheim, Janis Ian, David Ludwig, David Dye, The Orlons, and Settlement Music School. Philadelphia Music Alliance will honor and celebrate Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata on behalf of the Philly Specials for their "Philly Special Christmas" albums, and Sir Bob Geldof in recognition of Live Aid's 40th anniversary . Since its inception in 1986, the Walk of Fame has recognized the city's diverse musical heritage with 140 bronze plaques along the Avenue of the Arts. Rubens emphasized the importance of celebrating the diversity of musical talent from Philadelphia, "It is classical, it is Broadway, it is soul, it is pop… rock… We want to bring to people's attention that Philly has so many wonderful legends and touched so many genres of music." "I'm really honored. Philadelphia, we changed the world," said Schoolly D.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
Mel Brown still provides the backbeat to Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Mel Brown quickly dismissed any mention of being a musical legend in Portland. 'No. No, no, no,' Brown, 80, told KOIN 6 News. 'I'm just one of the musicians that grew up around here and lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.' Inarguably, Mel Brown's drumming places him as one of the most influential musicians in the history of the Rose City. In fact, his portrait hangs on a wall at the . Honoring Portland's Godfather of Jazz, Mel Brown His talents took root in Portland's jazz heyday. Black railway workers and porters moved west in the early 20th Century and brought the blues and jazz from big cities back east. When World War II broke out, many people came to Portland from the South Despite the and ongoing struggles in Portland's still-largely segregated communities, a rich jazz scene in historically Black Albina flourished. Brown grew up not far from clubs that brought in top tier talent. 'We had a paper called the Oregon Journal, and I used to deliver the newspapers around town. So you're around the music up and down Williams Avenue and you'd hear the door open up and you'd hear the music coming out in a whole bit. And it was like, 'Oh, OK, I think I want to do this,'' Brown said. 'But the people who were actually performing inside, those people also lived in the neighborhood. And so they would hear me sometimes during the day trying to beat on something and they would say, 'Oh, little kid, come here, let's show you what this is about.' I was like 14 or 15 years old and they just started coming out and just trying to help me out to get with the music.' Already playing professional gigs by his senior year of high school in the early 1960s, Brown attended Portland State University on a music scholarship. 'I got a call to play a show. The drummer got sick, it was down at the Crystal Ballroom and it was a last minute thing, 'Come in, we need you quick.' And I go on to play not knowing the person I had to play behind,' he said, 'and that was Ike and Tina Turner.' A later gig in Vancouver, British Columbia playing with Tommy Chong paved the way for a contract in Motown. Where We Live: Portland's Mel Brown 'They had a TV special in LA, it was called 'TCB, Taking Care of Business'. It was The Temptations and The Supremes. And they called me to play the drums on that. And Barry Gordy said, 'I like the way he plays. I'm going to move him and put him with The Temptations. And that's how I got with The Temptations.' After literally touring the world, Mel Brown returned to Portland in the late 1970s. Since then he's been a fixture of the city's live local music scene, still playing weekly gigs. 'I'll always be doing that all my life because people don't realize it, music kind of keeps you together. I've been around the world about nine or 10 times, and I may not speak the language, but every other country I've gone to, if you play music and play well, you end up having friends who you stay in touch with,' he said. 'Music is everything, brings everybody together.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.