Hustle Emcee Takes Listeners On 'The Marvelous Pursuit of Peace'

The homey Hustle Emcee blessed me with a link to his ItsJustAhmad-mixed project, The Marvelous Pursuit of Peace a little while ago, and I've been sitting with it. Dude is really one of the cats you need to be listening to, especially if you're from The Town and need someone who speaks your language to properly knowledge you. He's one of the most humble cats I know, and one of the more wiser heads on the mic.

We actually got a glimpse of this via the "Major Keys" freestyle Hustle dropped in 2016, but who knew it'd turn into two of Trenton's titans locking horns in this mixtape? And for those of you who might need to listen to the individual freestyles on their own, Hustle dropped them in their own separate link. You're welcome.

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RTDMIX011: itsjustahmad

Image via Jimmy Giambrone

Back in October of 2016, we put the world onto why DJ itsjustahmad is Trenton's hardest-working DJ. Today, via the RTDMIX, we'll show you.

It's actually dope to see others recognize his talents; during this year's Art All Night - Trenton, I had a few people praise his skills one the 1s and 2s, especially when it comes to digging in the crates for sample sources and throwing them up against the tracks of today. He does a bit of that here, but this set features some supreme selection. We're talking everything from Trenton-based acts like Black Collar Biz, Agudos Clef, and Hustle Emcee thrown into a set alongside Run The Jewels, Oddisee, Joey Bada$$, Evidence, and many more.

If you like what you're hearing, and want to see him throw down live, come down to Trenton for the Jersey Fresh Jam on August 12, as itsjustahmad will be one of the many DJs doing the damn thing alongside a bunch of emcees and acts.

You can stream this mix below, and if you're so inclined, subscribe to the podcast.

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How DJ ItsJustAhmad Became One of Trenton's Hardest Working DJs

Image via Jimmy Giambrone

When it comes to the Art and Entertainment scene in the city of Trenton, NJ, there are a few constants: murals from Leon Rainbow, Will Kasso, and the SAGE Coalition. Good drinks (and better company) at watering holes like Trenton Social or the Mill Hill Saloon. Great art exhibits at Artworks. One thing you'll also notice is one person: Ahmad Shakir, a.k.a. DJ ItsJustAhmad, who is probably on the 1s and 2s, giving up the funk while educating the masses. You've probably seen one of his DJ master classes at Art All Night - Trenton, or caught him backing up acts like Old Sol or Agudos Clef, or just providing the sounds at the monthly Jersey Fresh hip-hop shows at the Mill Hill Basement, not to mention spinning at Trenton Social for the last five years. It's just inevitable; if there's music to be played, it's probably the 38-year-old Ahmad with his fingers on the decks and in the mix, or providing an extra batch of sonic oomph to some of the area's finer hip-hop acts. Sure, Trenton's only 7.648 square miles of land—everyone is going to meet each other at some point; but at some point, one has to wonder how Ahmad went from a selector in a pool of DJs to That Dude around #TheTown.

Here's his story, which surprisingly enough involved hating DJing initially.

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KC Slater & Shy The Duke ft. DJItsjustAhmad - "Kings"

With their Adderall RX LP due out on July 12, KC Slater & Shy The Duke attack a jazzy bassline to talk speak not only on the fuckery in the cities, but who's still a threat and why. It's all done with a '90s flavor that has me more open than some of these other jokers who are infatuated with that era.

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DJ ItsJustAhmad Dropped a New Mix of Kanye West Material

DJ ItsJustAhmad, aka one of Trenton, NJ's finest DJs, has dropped "a 47 minute mix of music (preformed, produced, inspired by and sampled by Kanye West)." Why? Who knows. Maybe it's the nice weather. Hit play and remember why we love Kanye.

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