Superior Elevation (East Williamsburg, Brooklyn)

Once at 100 White St., Superior Elevation has found a new home at 616 Grand St., right across from one of my favorite bike shops in Brooklyn, King Cog. Hurricane Ida in 2021 destroyed many record collections held in basements.  A few of my friends were greatly devastated when they saw their valuables destroyed at the hands of mother nature. Some things that they may never see again. Some things that took a lifetime to attain. In the face of defeat, you seek a higher elevation, literally. 

I remember a few days after the hurricane seeing a post on social media showing the damage that Ida dealt to Superior Elevation. In the back of my mind, I thought it was inevitable. I remember a few weeks prior, dropping by to pick up a few reggae 45’s that I placed for local pick-up during the heart of the pandemic and seeing a few buckets out behind the cash register. I asked one of the staff members, are the buckets there because there was a leak? The staff member responded by saying, yes, there was a leak a week prior, and a few records were damaged, but the situation is being tended to.

Superior Elevation has always been one of those gems where you can find a rare hip-hop record from the 2000s (e.g., Q-tip Amplify in mint condition). But, I always thought they should be in a space where it was elevated and easily accessible. As the vinyl trend becomes more popularized, record stores are beginning to curate their spaces by grouping specific labels and capturing contemporary genres. 

Before, I would’ve never gone to Superior Elevation for House records. If I went to Superior Elevation in the past, I was going there for Hip-Hop, R&B, Funk, Soul, Reggae, and maybe some Disco. But now, things have changed; for the better. 

A year later, I took it upon myself after visiting Human Head to check out Superior Elevation’s new location only a few blocks away, and boy, was I surprised. Not only is the store a lot smaller, but perfectly curated. There is no longer the junk or the excess as before. They cut the fat and went straight for the heat. It was like a picker’s paradise. I started off looking at the usual Hip-Hop and R&B selections. I would’ve folded it with just a few 12-inch singles, some early 2000 hits, The Tical 2000 record, and that’s it. 

But as fate would have it, on my final lap around the shop, I spotted their Strictly Rhythm section and, right next to it, a few Theo Parish test pressings that were reasonably priced. I quickly placed back all the excess records I had before and honed in on the sound I had been craving. You know that moment when you trust the process and follow your gut. Yeah, that’s precisely what happened. 

I came across their Razor-N-Tape selections and went in. Already a massive fan of the Razor-N-Tape Label, I knew I had found a sweet spot. Every record was dated, and I saw that these were just put out. I quickly scooped up four records I didn’t have in my collection and that Theo Parrish test pressing. I was happy I was ecstatic.

Almost out the door, I saw a red, green, and black cover album entitled Boscoe. My eyes lit up. For only $20, I found a gem that is blacker than the ace of spades. A record that again my fam at Stay The Course Records put me on in 2012. Cheesing ear to ear, I may have had the best record experience at Superior Elevation ever. There were so many other records that I wanted to buy. But I had to refrain. I’ll be back again. Next time I may ride in on my bike and get it tuned up while at it at King Cog. Multi-tasking, or maybe just another excuse to dig for records.

Read The Door. Till Next Time.

Human Head (Bushwick, Brooklyn)

Human Head, founded in 2013 by Travis Klein as a second-hand record shop located at 168 Johnson St. in Brooklyn, NY has been my go to spot for Jazz, Reggae and Hip-Hop records for years. In my opinion, Human Head has one of the densest record offerings in Brooklyn other than The Thing, which, to be honest, is a place I get anxious just thinking about. My love for vinyl led me to Human Head seven years ago. Chicago-born DJ/Producer Sonny Daze asked me to roll with him to meet up with the incredible Shawn Dub at the previous 168 Johnson location to talk about putting together a soul-filled event at the Good Room. I remember this day like it was yesterday. 

It was after store hours, and Shawn was processing the new records that just came in. Sonny was super inspired to talk about this unique event and how it would be executed from the ground up. I was in conversation, but my body and four other senses were engaged in the record selections. I previously heard of Human Head and knew they had a crazy choice of Jazz and Hip-Hop, Shout out to the good brothers at Stay The Course Records. 

I was looking for hip-hop samples, Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, etc., for my sample parties at Ode to Babel. Shawn Dub seeing that I was excited to uncover some gems from the dollar section, blessed me with the “Back to the World” Curtis Mayfield record (one that I still play consistently to this day). 

In the last seven years, with a multitude of visits, purchases from Human Head’s Discogs, and an address change during the pandemic, I pulled up to Human Head’s new 289 Meserole Location to “Search For Sound” with the incomparable Christina Holmes. The new location has way more space, and being the first one there, left me the freedom to explore the aisles at my own pace. Of course, I had to run through the reggae selections that they had to offer. Human Head’s Discogs account held me down with all my reggae and ska needs during the pandemic. Beautifully curated, I would later check out some of their disco and funk selections

The House selection would be where I would have the most fun, and as fate would have it, my good brother Shawn Dub would make an appearance starting his shift. Looking not even a day older, we would build and chop it up about the recent Brooklyn Smorgasorg Record Fair, life, and what new records I should get. I was at a point where I knew I had to make my selections. It wasn’t surprising that all the gems were located near Shawn’s desk. 

At one point, I had to decide between a Madlib Beat Konducta Record, A rare Raggamuffin record, and a few House Records Shawn Selected. Moments like this, I would buy everything but knowing that I had just purchased a few records on Discogs just a day before, I knew I had to chill, so I walked out with all the House Records and left the Madlib and Raggamuffin record for another day. 

I’m beginning to realize that every place where I would find hip hop, jazz, and funk records are catering to more House enthusiasts. It could be true, or maybe it was that fact that I would label House and turn a deaf ear to what it was in the past. But knowing what I know now and understanding the spiritual pull of its sound has led me to search for its various sounds relentlessly.

I’m slowly building a sound that encompasses it all. A sound that is very Brooklyn. A sound that is full and diverse. A sound that is rooted in the African Drum. Shout out to Human Head for helping me remain true to the mission. 

Upon leaving, I would say peace to Shawn and quickly dig through their dollar section where it all began for me. The selections in the dollar section are still hitting. It may be the best-kept secret in NYC. 

Records Before Rent has always been the motto. Lol. Until next time.

Academy Records (Lower East Side)

The Academy Rerecord Shop in the L.E.S. not to be mistaken with the larger Green Point location has been my go-to spot for years. It was the same day I went with Matteo from Stay The Course Records to check out A-1 to find out it was closed that I would find myself spending $150 on records for the first time at Academy. I knew immediately what Academy possessed; Gold. 

As a Jazz Junky during my earlier stages of digging, running to Academy for new sounds was like finding pieces of gold nuggets. I remember the feeling of wanting to spend every penny I earned in that place, but I had to refrain. The place is so well curated, and the staff is so helpful and knowledgable that you are pressured to buy something. Let me clarify, the staff isn’t pressuring you to buy but it’s rather an internal battle of need and want. A dilemma that I usually find myself in when deciding to buy anything. 

For example, the Academy tote bag in its own right is a silent flex. It was something I wanted and wouldn’t justify getting only if it was offered for free. I mean I spend so much on records already, that to pay an extra dollar on a bag, I would rather purchase another record; right? I at times see an individual walking through the streets with that tote bag and know they have great musical taste; hopefully. 

The price point at Academy Records signifies their quality, and I respect that. So it was only right that during my birthday week to take a trip to one of my favorite record shops and see what their House selection was hitting for. I never knew Academy for House but being on this continuous hunt for this new sound, I have been led to revisit my go-to’s for it and boy was I in for a treat. 

The house selection at Academy in the L.E.S. was hitting!  For the first time in a while, I dug for artists that I never heard of. I listened to records that I would’ve passed on, only because it was curated so well. I found countless hits from the record label Strictly Rhythm, a NYC house label founded in 1989 which created a lane for artists such as Reel 2 Real and Aly-Us. I also scored some records from the Money Cat Record label which, to be honest, gave me the extra funk I needed. 

Money Cat Records,  founded in 2018 posses a raw flavorful sound provided by producers Malik Hendricks and Fine Touch. The Brooklyn-based label gave me goosebumps as it was the first time I was able to catch wind of their sound. 

I saw an Omar S record that I badly wanted to purchase but was content with leaving it for another day. Trust me, it was a tough decision leaving Omar S behind as well as a few other records that I am still itching to go back and get. One of those records comes straight from the DMV featuring a few produced tracks from my brother NativeSun. The Black Rave Culture crew from the DMV is a group that possesses such an energy that the moment the record starts you are thrown into a rhythmic trance of ratchet loops and sayings with added soulful melodies on top of a heavy sub.

On the way out, I was reminded of Academy’s vast Jazz selection and compilation selections. I quickly browsed threw my go-to selections of Polydor records, Blue Note classics, etc. I didn’t want to leave. I chopped it up with the staff at checkout, and we exchanged a few laughs. I told them it was my Birthday (thinking I would get a discount) but Nah, they told me to keep it pushing. I wasn’t mad because I respect the business.

Christina took two records from my pile and extended the Birthday love. If you know me you know that is the best gift given. I guess the staff saw what Christina did because just as I was walking out, one of the staff members gave me an academy tote to put my records in. It was a huge gesture because I know how sought-after those totes are. I felt knighted.

It was peace from the moment I walked in it was peace on the way out; the love is mutual. I shared a few of my record findings in detail with Christina. We walked a few blocks together and went our ways. 

Until the next time. 

A-1 Record Shop (Giving Up Food For Funk Series)

When visiting one of the most coveted record shops in NYC and for many the world, you have to make a day out of it, or an evening. I would normally do these kind of record excursions during my lunch break but when visiting A-1 records, you have to commit to the process of digging. A-1 Record Shop located at 439 E. 6th St. Ny, Ny is coined “the best record shop in the world” by many, has opened its doors for business since 1996 by the legendary record dealer Isaac Kosman who gave up his life as a flea market merchant to showcase and sell his 1960’s - 1990’s collection of records. Located in the Lower East Side, many legends have made their mark at A-1.

For me, the LES is foundation for everything Street Art (Skate, Clothing, Graffiti, Music and Film). Being from Brooklyn and going to school in the LES from Elementary School all the way to High School, I had the opportunity to see the counter culture become popularized. Being able to go to the Hamilton Fish Pool or play basket ball and summer youth programs in Henry St. Park to later hanging out by the “Blue Courts” to play basketball or hanging out in Smith Project’s community gym during or after school now looking back at it, was a blessing. The L.E.S. is a melting pot of culture and because of it has left me thinking without fewer boundaries. For a sneaker head also, the L.E.S. has always had gems (Alife, Bobbito’s Work Shop, Daves Quality Meats, Jimmy Jazz on Delancey etc.). For me, it wasn’t a surprise that years later my good friend Matteo of Stay The Course Records would take me on one of my first record excursion outside of Fat Beats to dig for some records.

9 years ago, I was new to record digging and had no idea of where to go for anything vinyl. But, I knew Matteo had the heat because he himself was a record dealer and collector who had an acute ear for sound (I mean he produced some of the best beats I’ve been blessed to write and sketch vocals over). His response to my request of looking for a legit record shop was “ah man that’s easy, A-1 since Day One”. We trekked all the way from Brooklyn one cold morning at 9am to be the first ones at the shop only to find out that day they were closed. I made it a mission after that simple miss in scheduling to always check out if A-1 was open when in the area. 

Over the years, I have made some great friends who worked and lent their time at A-1 (e.g. Dj Woof and Malik Abdul - Rahman). Over the years, I have grown to know where to find artists that I may have been naive to in my earlier stages, only to return more knowledgable, finding new and deeper cuts. I have come to realize that although I want to walk out with every record possible ; I can’t. I have had many days where the record playing from the back of the shop became the only record I ended up buying (they always play bangers from the sorting room). 

So when it was time to revisit this space with my partner in crime Christina Holmes, I knew exactly what sound I was looking for. As of late, I have been staying true to my mission. I know A-1’s strong suit is Hip Hop, Funk, Soul, Jazz and a Splash of World and Disco. I  have come to the realization that all though I want buy that “Pretty Tony” Ghost Face record on the wall or that Maxwell “Embrya” record for the ladies, or maybe that Roy Ayers “You Send Me” record, I can’t because one, I gotta chill on the spending and number two I gotta chill on the spending and lastly, House has been calling my name.

The A-1 Record Shop over the years has attracted every producer to artist to collector you can think of and because of that, it can leave the place a little messy for the late in the day digging. What I would’ve imagined to take an hour, took longer ; much longer. 

After 2 hours of digging through various sections and pulling way more than the limited five, I rushed to the furthest listening station and began narrowing my selection to believe it or not, 5 records. After a few tough decisions, I was able to walk away with three great house records and two hip hop singles (Masta Ace and ODB for the win). 

I was surprised to find these records because three out of the five were nowhere where they were supposed to be. I found the House records in the reggae section and in the Hip-Hop section. 

The funny thing is, the House section didn’t have anything that peaked my interest (I almost walked out empty handed). Which goes to show you, that sometimes digging is better than purchasing on Discogs. My excursion ended with 5 minutes left until closing time. It was a beautiful summer night too. The lighting was perfect. I could hear the House records pulsating from my bag. I already mapped out how I would play each record for an upcoming set. Mission Accomplished. 

Rock and Soul DJ Equipment and Records (Giving Up Food for Funk Series)

It is such an honor to feature in my opinion, one of the best record shops in NYC. I won’t lie and say that I knew of this place for decades ; because I didn’t. Honestly, I only found out about Rock and Soul 7 months ago. If it wasn’t for Tre (My brother from another and Ode to Vinyl counterpart) returning from one of his vinyl excursions with a rare Kanye Yeezus LP on wax, I may have never known of Rock and Soul.

I would hassle Tre for the majority of the day, asking him how much or where can I obtain the Yeezy record. It wasn’t until the end of the day where he couldn’t bare another question that he let me in on the secret, “bro, they may have it at Rock and Soul”. Rock and Soul? “what and where is that?” his response was like any one who didn’t want to give away such a classic gem ; he told me to “Google it!”. Which I did and to my surprise Rock and Soul was only 15 minutes away from the shop (Todd Snyder Madison Square Park).

I called in advance to make sure they had a copy of the Yeezus album (which they happily put the last one on hold for me) and booked it (the New York way of saying to run really fast) with no time to spare. Located in the heart of NYC on 37th St., Rock and Soul has been serving records and equipment to NYC from since 1975. Legends have walked through the doors of Rock and Soul from all over the globe. But the legends that I’m referring to strictly are from New York, e.g. Kook Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Tony Touch, Dj Red Alert etc.

After claiming my Yeezus record, I went to the back which is always crowded with “new releases” as well as rare cuts and edits for the house heads. During my first trip, I would also grab Solange’s 2016 banger entitled “Seat at the Table”. I just purchased the “Spottieottiedopaliscious” from Discogs and picking up this Solange record only complimented a sound list I had in mind from previous.

Now to present day: After months of running back and forth during my lunch breaks quenching my fix for records over food. I was excited to share my experience with my Ode To Vinyl family. This was the exact day I received my Jason Kidd Flight 95’s in the mail and had more than enough reason to run in these super comfy nostalgic kicks to grab a few records with Christina Holmes. At this point, it would mark my 12th visit to Rock and Soul within this short span of 7 months. Already a self proclaimed vet of the space, I knew that in the front of the shop you can find new releases as well as in the back left side you will find brand new or repressed hip hop. By the listening station you can find all of your R and B classics and edits. But in the back where I live, I have my pickings of house, disco and alternative records (but you have to be fast because these records go quickly).

During this visit, I was able to chop it up with the Rock and Soul and A-1 record store record curator and legend Mike. We spoke about a few new record drop dates that would be made available for their upcoming record day event. We also chopped it up about a few disco compilations. Mike has such an ear for music that I would play a record and almost immediately he would identify it ; almost a matter of factly. For example, I played a cut from the Sam Records Extended Play Vol.3 compilation on my phone and he almost immediately said oh yea “thats the one with that John Davis track Bourgie Bourgie”.

To Mike’s point, that track is a classic. I would play the mess out of that record but on this day I went with what I knew I would play heavily in this moment in time. For some reason, I picked up a hip hop classic from Quasimoto entitled “The Unseen” as well as two other House records. On my way to check-out, I chopped it up with the amazing women at the counter.

The staff at Rock and Soul is always elite with their understanding of music and to top it all off, their customer service is next level. Rock and Soul having one of the best selections at reasonable prices only makes the store shine. After purchasing my pack of records, I said bye to everyone and promised that in my next visit I would buy a record suitcase (which I did).

I would later return for some Ortofon needles and a few more records. As you can see. I love this place. Shout out to Tre for being a vet in the game and putting me on. If you are ever in the area or are on the hunt for new and hard to find re-releases, stop by one of the last few family great owned record shops in NYC located at 10 W. 37th St. NY, NY 10018.

Academy Records & CD’s (Giving Up Food For Funk Series)

Academy Record & CD’s, not to be confused with Academy Records on E.12th is located at 12 W.18th st. is a clutch record shop that has been serving the community since 1995 (1977 as a book shop). As of late, I have been incorporating more Disco and Salsa into my sets. I took the liberty on a rainy day to skip on lunch and run to Academy for search of some Disco heat.

Already scoring a House Record from Discogs earlier in the day, I tapped Christina who is always down to capture me on my excursions to roll with me for an hour to Academy. With no hesitation we booked it over to W. 18th st. in 12 minutes allowing me 48 minutes to find something worth wild. Record Labels like Sal Soul, SAM, Buddah, De-Lite and West-End all have the heat.

I mean yes of course you have RCA and Polydor but when digging I can almost blindly pick any record from SAM and West-End and know it will be straight fire!!! Trust me! There have been moments where I would pick a record for the night not knowing what It would sound like until the Ortofon hits the record when cuing. Luckily enough I was able to score my 2 records within the first two piles at Academy. Both records were from one of my favorite Disco Funk Bands, Skyy (The Self titled record and the Skyyport Record) under the Sal Soul record label.

“Here’s To You” on the Skyyport album is a straight banger! and “Lets Turn It Out” from the Self Titled Album is one of my favorite transitions into House (if you’ve been to any of my Georgia Room Sets in the past few month’s then you’ve heard this track sprinkled in during the first hour).

Feeling accomplished that It only took me 5 minutes to find my two records, I took the liberty to check out the back area for Reggae, Brazilian and or Afro High Life which this Academy location isn’t really known for. But, as any seasoned record enthusiast understands is that when checking out a veteran space like Academy, you never want to not look through your designated “Genres”.

Sometimes, when leaving the location without doing so you can almost guarantee yourself to miss out on a “gem'“. For many, a gem is something under the asking price but for me a gem is anything that you can’t find on streaming services. Youtube has been my go to as of late for reference as opposed to Itunes or Spotify for the simple fact that you can hear the different edits of a select song without compromise. This time I didn’t find anything else worth taking. I also just went crazy on Discogs so I had to pace myself and not blow the bank on records I won’t immediately play.

Academy is so beautifully curated and the customer service is so top-notch, sparking a conversation with the staff is inevitable. I definitely will be back in the next few days to check out their new arrivals. The last time I checked their Facebook page they had a Watch The Thrown vinyl set in great condition.

Another mission accomplished.

 The Jazz Record Center (Giving Up Food For Funk Series)

“Giving up food for funk” is a phrase taken from one of my favorite J.B.’s 45 singles. One of the many mantras that I live by as a record enthusiast. If you are a fan of James Brown like I am, mantras like these are a dime a dozen. A few of my personal favorites are “You can have Watergate but give me some bucks and I’ll be straight” or “Like a Dull Knife you just ain’t cutting, talking loud and ain’t saying nothing” captures a moment in time where slang had an uplifting factor to it. Sometimes I feel like taking a trip to a time before my time during the late 60’s and early 70’s and be a fly on the wall. On days like this where my mind wonders, where a taste for some food would be practical I would yearn for the feeling of picking up a record that holds a rift from a song that I can’t shake or a new sound that I have yet to discover.

The hunt for the sound will occur where only an hour break would be allotted (If you work retail then you know) where searching for sound plus eating a meal would definitely exceed an hour. On this day it was either eating Milu or finding some familiar and or unfamiliar jazz records.

Working in the Flat Iron District in NYC for over the past few months, I have been given more reason to dig in person. There are at least 6 record shops within walking distance from the Todd Snyder shop, so I chose one for the mood of the day. Accompanied by my good friend and photographer Christina Holmes, I mapped out my lunch break and marched to the Jazz Record Center located at 236 W. 26th st. Suite #804 with an hour to spare.

There is something about the earlier record shops in comparison to the newer shops that give a more holistic approach to its service. The duplicity of mediums being showcased in each isle. For example most of the new record shops usually just offer merchandise, DJ equipment and vinyl as opposed to the veteran shops that display selections of CDs, Equipment, VHS, Cassettes and Books that are all for sale. There is no preference of one over the other but when you stumble across a shop that still holds on to these mediums for sale it is something to note. Also, I never really search for anything other than vinyl and books but please due note that the additional selections tell a story. It brings you into the full experience as to what kind of shop the Record Shop you are entering. Jazz Record Center has been in business for over 30 years and it shows that it has major stake in the game.

The Jazz Record Center has a wide selection of rare and reissued Blue Note records as well as a huge selection of Gospel records that left me running through the isles flipping through records in haste due to my restriction in time. Running through the first Isle, I struck gold with the Bobbi Humphrey record entitled Fancy Dancer. Immediately I would begin to hear the conga drum and repeated piano melody from the song entitled “Uno Esta”.

I would later flip through the Gospel section to find that I needed to play these records out in its entirety. Gospel Records are rare gems because of the power and fervor from the orator (pastor or singer). Also because none of these records were really pressed on a major label but were instead independently pressed. For a producer or DJ, these vocal cuts and organ sounds add that Afrikana connection that is inexplainable and yet relatable to most. Looking up at the clock, I saw that I had already spent 20 minutes too many and I needed to get back ; I was really pushing it. But just like that, as I was just about to leave I noticed an album cover that I recognized all too well. It was the Clifford Jordan “Soul Fountain” record track with my favorite track 3 “H.N.I.C.” cut that Pete Rock used in the “Death Becomes You” record for C.L Smooth featuring YG’z.

With a few minutes to spare, I was able to ask the owner Fred Cohen to play a Gospel Compilation record I stumbled across for me which was straight fire! I didn’t grab the record because I only had a few dollars to spare for this day’s excursion. While checking out at the cash register, Fred and I ended up talking about the famous people who walked through the doors of his beautifully curated space.

He recanted that one time Roy Hargrove pulled up and did some record digging at the space a-while-back, along with a few other jazz legends during store hours. It was a sponsored event I believe that Christian Mcbride put together. He expressed how the interaction with the legends and the record collectors was so genuine and so laid back and non pretentious that 2+ hours would pass and Roy Hargrove & Co. was still digging through the isles for records. A jazz legend enamored by Jazz Records. “Mo Better Blues” is all I can say. Stories like these are why record shops like the Jazz Record Center continue to get my patronage.

After my quick fix and building session with Fred, I felt full. No need for food, I got wax.