DiggingTheGreats

NYE 2024 - Livestream Radio Announcement

Happy New Year!

The NYE Livestream was so much fun! Thanks to everyone who tuned in, commented, and hung out! If you missed the Livestream - the replay is still up! But even better than that, I've got an awesome announcement!

DTG Livestream Radio

Another feature on Patreon is the ability to host an exclusive RSS Feed for members. This means you can add a Patreon-only podcast to the podcast app you already use, even though it's a private feed.

Well, t...

New Years Eve with Digging The Greats!

Let's welcome 2024 right - with good music and good people - say what's up in the chat!  I'll be going live at 5pm PST - don't worry if you miss it - I'll put the replay up here on Patreon right after! 

(This is an unlisted YouTube link for this first stream, so please keep it to yourself)

2023 Was Crazy! Let's Review

Thank you for an incredible year, see you on the NYE Livestream - Right here on Patreon 🪩 

Making Of: The MF DOOM "Mm..Food" Video

My recent video breaking down MF DOOM's album "Mm..Food" is unlike any other video I've done. If you haven't seen it - definitely go watch that first!

But in this bonus Patreon-only video, I show you how I did it. We'll get into how I came up with the concept, my specific inspirations, the tools I used to make it, and I'll show you stuff you may not have noticed in the main video. 

If you're on the Producers tier, you can also download the Ableton session files I used for thi...

Figuring Out "What's Going On" - FULL EDIT

Today I'm breaking down Marvin Gaye's song and album "What's Going On" - the story behind it, the incredible bass work courtesy of James Jamerson, seeing how the songs on this album flow directly into each other, and how this album marks the end of an era in multiple ways.

Important note: the YouTube edit is 15 mins long, but this FULL version is TWICE as long at over 30 mins. 

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Stream the Listening Guide

SPOTIFY - 2023-12-22 16:00:11 +0000 UTC View Post

NYE Livestream Party!

Mark your calendars - the Digging The Greats New Years Eve Livestream Party is coming 👇

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31st - 5pm PST - Exclusively for Patreon Members

As a part of the DTG Patreon, I'm hosting exclusive DJ Livestreams every month - It's a fun time to play some music, some remixes, play some bass, and hang out with all of you in the chat - and I could not be more excited to host the first one on New Years Eve!

This livestream exclusively for members o...

Extended: Dissecting MF DOOM's "Mm..Food"

I tried breaking down "Mm..Food" by MF DOOM, but then things got weird. 

STREAMING LISTENING GUIDES

SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6M0hzcdYP3mNu7UURQugXq?si=fa3db4f37bd74434

APPLE - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/lis...

Free SmartPhone Wallpaper

I've got a fun bonus for you today - a Digging The Greats wallpaper for your smartphone!

Here's a direct link to download it:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fonb5fm68lni5tka6z829/DTG_Phone-Wallpaper.png?rlkey=sei62wmd2outf5loqj2cm1tw8&dl=0

I've got a big video coming Friday that I can't wait for you to see - and goi...

EXTENDED - The NEW Plan to Make “This Christmas Hit No. 1 feat. Lalah Hathaway

Last year I started a campaign to get “This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway to go number 1 on Billboard. I made a video breaking down the story of the song, brought on my friend Jonte Moore to help break down the chords, and announced our Christmas Heist. 

After doing some streaming math, I asked YOU to stream a Spotify playlist once through to help boost the numbers. The only catch? The playlist was was over 1200 tracks of JUST “This Christmas” by Donny Hatha...

Lalah Hathaway | 5X Grammy Winning Vocalist

Lalah Hathaway is an incredible vocalist - not only because she has an incredible voice, but because she’s a great musician. She’s released many solo albums, won 5 Grammys, and collaborate with everybody from Robert Glasper to Joe Sample, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J Blige, Anderson Paak, Marcus Miller - and so many more. She’s also famous for her ability to… sing chords. Oh, and as her last name suggests, the legendary Donny Hathaway is her father. 

In this conversation we get ...

Streaming Playlist: Digs, Vol. 1

As an added Patreon bonus, on all tiers, I'm excited to share Streaming Music Playlists every month. These could be themed around the time of year, an event, a genre, or just generally good music.

First up: Digs, Vol. 1. This is a mix of songs you know, songs you don't, and songs that you didn't know that you know. Important: I've put these in a specific order based on tempo and vibe, so DO NOT SHUFFLE

(I'll provide links to multiple streaming services for these playlists, but t...

Daft Punk X De La Soul Mashup

I opened the 300k Livestream with this mashup - combining the "Drumless Edition" of Daft Punk's "Give Life Back to Music" with Drums and Vocals from the "Native Tongues Decision" version of "Buddy" by De La Soul. And here it is for you, enjoy!

(If you're in the Producers tier, make sure and check the breakdown video where I walk through the process of making this mashup)

300k Livestream Mix

Note: on this stream I had a technical issue at the beginning, and ended up running the mic directly through my DJ Mixer. That worked fine for the stream, but that means I wasn't able to separate the commentary mic from the main mix, so it's just one mix.

I'll have it figured out for the next stream which... is coming to Patreon later this month! More on that soon!

300k YouTube Subscriber Party

This was so much fun! Thanks for everyone who tuned in! Attached is a setlist, and you can also download the audio mix from the link below. Note: on this stream I had a technical issue at the beginning, and ended up running the mic directly through my DJ Mixer. That worked fine for the stream, but that means I wasn't able to separate the commentary mic from the main mix, so it's just one mix. 

I'll have it figured out for the next stream which... is coming to Patreon later this mon...

EXTENDED CUT - Why Did 90s Nickelodeon Music Slap SO HARD?!

The music of Nickelodeon in the 90s was SO GOOD - I had to get some answers.   

Thanks to Heath Seifert and Kevin Kopelow! Go check out Good Burger 2 on Paramount Plus!

EXTENDED CUT - The SECRET to Bill Withers’ “Lightning in a Bottle” Groove

Stream the Spotify Listening Guide: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2bk3EGxkwOODeGJEcIPiWh?si=28146c15d270496a

SOURCES  https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/artbound/in-the-pocket-with-james-gadson-an-essential-mixtape

Bob Power (A Tribe Called Quest, Erykah Badu & SO Many More)

Bob Power is a legendary Engineer and Mixer who's known for his work with A Tribe Called Quest on ground breaking albums like "The Low End Theory" and "Midnight Marauders", having also worked with more artists than I can name (De La Soul, Jungle Bros, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, The Roots, Meshell Ndegeocello, and so many more).  

In our conversation Bob tells me about his work on these albums, how he got his start in music, and we even get into some mix tips.   

Porti...

EXTENDED CUT - A Tribe Called Quest’s Hip Hop MASTERCLASS

Today I'm breaing down "Midnight Marauders" by A Tribe Called Quest - recreating some of the legendary beats from the original samples, talking with mixer and engineer Bob Power on the creation of this album, and seeing 4 distinct ways that this album is monumental for hip hop and music history in general. We hope that you will find this video precise, bass heavy, and just right.      

Thanks again to Bob Power - check out more from him at 2023-11-30 06:02:58 +0000 UTC View Post

Music History, STARTING with "This is How We Do It"

Let's trace the sample, the interpolation, the inspiration, the reaction to, the cover, the footsteps followed, and back again through multiple evolving genres, through music history, beginning with Montell Jordan's classic hit "This is How We Do It"  

Stream the Spotify Listening Guide of every song in this video: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0UbhcbzJiiCzpqwyKlEGm...

Madvillainy’s Secret Ingredient: INDIFFERENCE

How is it that an MC who "doesn't listen to hip hop" and a producer who was BORED with hip hop ended up making one of the best hip hop albums of all time?   

RIP to the Supervillain

Stream the Spotify Listening Guide: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7cyL5sisoD7a4852YWGQh2?si=7e0d4f7647ab4029

SOURCES  
The Spin article: 2023-11-30 05:50:41 +0000 UTC View Post

The D'Angelo Song That's 100% REAL

D'Angelo's "Really Love" is one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded, so I decided to dissect every aspect of it to find out why. The main reason? It's all REAL  

Stream the Spotify Listening Guide: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1waucIewo4HWpCxc1sYIXO?si=94480a1341534036

SOURCES  
Interview with Gina Figueroa: 2023-11-30 05:45:25 +0000 UTC View Post

Kanye’s UNEXPECTED Sophomore Album Changed My Life

Stream the Spotify Listening Guide: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6E3dtlDwB54msDHhhPG3t7?si=5f81d9882a6c4477

SOURCES
Just Blaze Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_xJyWN9bDs&t=2s  
MTV Documentary: 2023-11-30 05:39:14 +0000 UTC View Post

What this Deep Cut MJ song is ACTUALLY About

Spotify Listening Guide: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/61zhBwOkSd59CeEnPjXXqq?si=4365436b00224618

SOURCES  
Full Documentary that the Stevie Clip is From: https://youtu.be/d3AYYEziwqw?t=4409  
Stevie's KOST Performance: 2023-11-30 05:29:25 +0000 UTC View Post

Afrika Baby Bam - Jungle Brothers, The Native Tongues

Afrika Baby Bam, or as he’s also known, Bam - is a member of the Jungle Brothers - an incredibly influential hip hop group who were part of the Native Tongues Collective. I've talked about the Native Tongues in multiple Digging The Greats videos - but today I’m excited to bring you my recent conversation with Bam himself.   

We get into the formation of the Jungle Brothers, the Native Tongues, stories like recording the classic song “Buddy”, making the classic Hip Hou...