The Morpheus Soul Show...
is getting bigger & better from where I'm sitting, reflecting on what was great and what was not so good, mainly great. Musically brilliant. I had the pleasure of meeting some extremely talented people, some of who showed love and appeared live in the studio {some on more than one occasion}.
As a record collector, DJ, selector for over 20 years, it's not just a hobby, it is actually my life which I'm very passionate about, and when I invite musicians & artists on the show, I am a fan 100%. Back in 2009 we kept raving on about an emcee from Queens, New York who goes by the name of Homeboy Sandman and when he appeared as our first live guest in January 2011, it was like meeting Stevie Wonder or Michael Jackson for the first time, I was literally a bag of nerves. The boysand is just a regular guy, a nice dude but I was in awe of his wordplay, flow etc. That's how I am and that's how it was. Congratulations to Homeboy on being signed to Stones Throw Records & big shout to Alice in Wonderland. What a way to kick-start the year!
If you understand what I'm about, then you know that Morpheus Soul is not soul music, it's music with soul, whether it be Hip-Hop, Broken-Beat, Jazz, Funk, Rare Groove or House, even though people that know me will tell you that I'm a Hip-Hop Junkie, I'm maturing nicely into a music junkie...Period!
Our second guest back in January was the brilliant UK songstress Miss Baby Sol, who came through in fine style with big hair and an even bigger voice, one to look out for in 2012.
Before I continue to February, I wouldn't be able to if it wasn't for a fantastic team & the support of some of our loyal listeners who kept the good ship Morpheus flowing smoothly, so here goes...Firstly, everyone at playvybz.com for all of their hard work & effort, especially Sandra Smart & Andrea P.Vybz.
Missy Ash for her superb work on the Morpheus Soul wordpress & Morpheus-Soul StreeTeam pages alongside The Temporary Residents very own celebrity photographer Star67 aka Georgia Djiabouras who managed to capture some great shots once again last year. Facebook & Twitter family, where would we be without you, so many too mention but thank you all from the bottom of my heart. While I'm on the thank-you tip, I can't forget my two friends and co-hosts The Soulful Solly Brown & Ten Mill...2012...Let's Do This!
Time to reflect once again and back in February we showcased a month of special guests starting with a ROCKSOULFUNKSTRESS from New York called Shelley Nicole Jefferson alongside a very talented musician who goes by the name of Jeff Joseph Jeudy and a super dope young British female emcee who will be mentioned more than once in this blog and who is trying to break Pugs Atomz record for most appearances on the show, I'm talking about Miss Nkechi da Lyricl aka Lyric L! One week later we welcomed the wonderful voice of Miss Kadija Kamara who released her Brand New EP 'Changes' featuring the brilliant single 'Talking To Myself' and we rounded off the month with good friends of the show DJ Vadim & Pugs Atomz aka two thirds of super group 'The Electric' who came through in fine style to promote their first official long player 'Life Is Moving'.
Morpheus Soul also played host for a charity fund-raiser in February called 'Heart & Soul' raising money for a number of Heart Charity's. The event included Live performances from good friends of the show Shelley Nicole, Jeff Jeudy & Fae Simon too name a few.
Wow, that's only as far as February, I don't want to miss anything out but I need to before this becomes one big novel of a blog! So let me jump to April when the lovely Miss Alison Grant blessed us with her presence & beautiful voice but unfortunately our pod-cast was corrupted by the powers that be and I was truly gutted. We'll get it right in 2012 Alison ;).
It's now May, and in our six year history have never had a guest host until Saturday the 7th when the lovely Rah Kim Frizzle of soulBEAUTIFUL inc. joined me in the studio on microphone duties and also gave away a couple of tickets to our listeners to see Black Milk LIVE in concert! The First Lady of Morpheus Soul, Miss FLOetic Lara was also back in the studio in May alongside an incredible emcee, recording artist & producer know as LeeN of NLT Productions!
A Hip-Hop legend appeared Live in the studio alongside a UK soul star on May 24th and I couldn't of been happier. Ski Beatz & Terri Walker...WOW! If you don't know, then you're listening to the wrong show, check my flow, YO! The special guests continued to cruise on the good ship Morpheus in May and we were honoured to play host to one of UK's Hip-Hop Elite. Tha 4orce was with us and what a great show it was!
As June was guest free I'll hop straight to July, when we welcomed even more special guests into the playvybz studio and first up was Hackney, East London's very own emcee/producer extraordinaire Funky DL to the playvybz studios! It's also the month that gave birth to yours truly and I always like to celebrate my born-day with something a little special, so I invited some of my favourite Morpheus Soul ladies to come through for a LIVE B-Day Jam but unfortunately once again our pod-cast was corrupted. We did on this occasion happen to have video footage and I'd like to thank The First Lady of Morpheus Soul 'FLOetic Lara', Miss Lyric L & the lovely Ego-Ella May for making it a memorable occasion. GOOD TIMES!
August has arrived and the beautiful Sarah Fonteyne was in the studio promoting her first long player 'Debut' and in September, super-talented producer Daz-I-Kue dropped an exclusive mix live in the studio, plus we also had a visit from London based jazz singer Miss Heidi Vogel promoting her brand new album "Lágrimas de um pássaro" (Tears of a Bird). Dope!
We kicked off the first day of October and welcomed West London Rapper, Lyricist, Singer/Songwriter, Rap/Spoken word Facilitator & Mentor Miss Lyric L, not her first appearance on the show in 2011 but the first show that was tailor made especially for her! I was very honoured to be asked to DJ at her 'Amazed' album launch party down at my favourite live venue spot 'Jazz Re:Freshed' @Mau Mau's in Portobello Road, West London. Thank You Nkechi, Adam 'Rockers' Moses, Uprock, Bunny Bread & all the guys for giving me the opportunity. BIG UP!
October was also the first time in Morpheus Soul history that we went live two days on the spin, kicking off with a Friday Night Special and what a night it was. We rolled out the red carpet for two time Grammy nominated artist & the king of slow to mid-tempo jams, Mister Nice Guy himself, the incredible Mr Eric Roberson was LIVE in the playvybz studio talking music & life as well as dropping an exclusive freestyle jam alongside windy city soul-smith DMo Macklin! BIG SHOUT to Rah Kim Frizzle & Colin Emmanuel! Then on Saturday we invited back close friends and family of The Morpheus Soul Show including The Godfather of Morpheus Soul with he's sixth appearance in six years and always showing us love when ever he's in town...Mr. Pugs Atomz was live once again in Brixton, alongside UK funkateer, Phat Boy and Mr Dirty Fyah himself...Greg Blackman who both concluded our celebrations with another fantastic LIVE freestyle session! The guests never ended there in October because on the 22nd, world renowned, award winning, British vocalist considered by many to be one of the most influential female vocalists of our generation, Miss Julie Dexter came through in fine style. What a month!
November 5th was no ordinary Bonfire affair for the Morpheus Soul family, as we were proud to announce that our first special guest of the month was the super talented Colonel Red!!! I also got to drop an all vinyl set at Got Soul Sunday's in Shoreditch thanks to 'Hey Essay'...BIG UP! Back to the studio an the guests kept coming and on the 12th we welcomed the amazing voice of Miss Cecilia Stalin which was off the chain and on November 19th; Your favourite artists, favourite radio show was extremely happy to roll out the red carpet once again and welcome London based duo Native Sun aka Sarina Leah-Wildsuga & Mohammed Yahya LIVE to The Morpheus Soul Show.
Onto December, we were honoured to welcome back Super Heavyweight Producer & Musician Tall Black Guy live for his second visit to The Morpheus Soul Show, keeping it a regular annual family affair! Shout out to Chaka B and I'm looking forward to seeing you guys, same time next year ;)
I'm not sure if regular listeners and fans of the show have noticed anything missing from my Morpheus Blog Up 2011 so far but there is a little something I held back until the end, a secret ingredient that makes the show that extra bit special, referred to as a beast or a monster on the mic, one of my best friends, who seems to have lost count of how many people have asked him "when is the album coming out?" {A very good question, by the way}, a free-styler, singer, producer, emcee, beat-boxer, musician with impeccable skills and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. The one & only 'LYRICKAL'. Thank You. I salute you!
Wine Gums Anyone?
Here's to 2012 and Thank You One & All.
Stay Blessed
Peace & Love
DJ Johnny Rebel
