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.

Share:

Jersey Fresh Jam 2014: Official Flyers

If you've been in the Trenton area, we'll assume you've seen these. If not, check them out. And if you're simpin', you're slouchin'. Jersey Fresh Jam 2014 is THIS SATURDAY, 12 to 6. Food, music, and loads of live graf. Come out. I'll be there.

Share:

Black Collar Biz - "High Grade Artistry"

It feels like I've been hearing Black Collar Biz talk about High Grade Artistry for the last two years... and that's probably because this has been in the incubator for two years. I'd recently spoken with him about the #HGA trek, and our conversation ended up on Art All Night Trenton's Blogs All Night tumblr, which I've been maintaining. If you missed this weekend's Art All Night Trenton, you also missed the High Grade Artistry release party, with Collar and crew rocking to a massive audience on the outdoor stage Saturday night. Physical copies of this 19-track opus were on sale there, and today we have the full project available in digital format.

And it's a gem.

Collar fans should already be up on tracks like "Nike" and "Crazy Generation," as well as jawns like "Stay The Same" and "Broken Homes," which has been a part of his live shows and overall batch of material for a bit. High Grade Artistry, though? So many gems in here. Give it a listen down below, and if you like it, plunk down the $7 and you can own it.

Share:

Leon Rainbow: Politically Incorrect (May 2, 2014)

The one like Leon Rainbow's Politically Incorrect show kicks off tonight at Trenton Social (which is across the street from the Sun National Bank Center on South Broad). Here's a little insight on the show:

"The work in Politically Incorrect incorporates a style that had its genesis in a watercolor mixed media series Rainbow did in 2010 called Freestyle Fridays. In Freestyle Fridays he released a new freeform piece on his website each week for a year. These freeform pieces helped him to develop a style that incorporates complex patterns and designs with imagery and symbolism.

This style further evolved in murals Rainbow subsequently created, one in Trenton (on Clinton and Hudson Street), and another, sponsored by Miller Brewing, in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia (on Frankford Street). In Politically Incorrect, Rainbow is using the movement, style and color of his street work to influence his paintings on canvas, then working the canvases back into the street art. This back and forth cross-fertilization builds new styles and concepts with each piece. Politically Incorrect is an ongoing project."

There's an ill video shot at Miller Brewing that you can see after the jump, as well as a few pictures of what this will entail. Don't sleep, especially if you're into the Arts.

Share:

Black Collar Biz ft. BJ the Chicago Kid, MuzicGeek & Cash Gotti - "CrazyGeneration"

Remember when Black Friday 2 dropped and I was all "this is BCB at the crossroads?" Well, Black Collar Biz has shown his progression once again with his new single "CrazyGeneration," which even features BJ the Chicago Kid. Biz told me he's calling this "soul-hop," and you can feel that when you hit play. Something you can rock to, but some shit you need to think about... especially with how truly crazy our generation has been (and will continue to be if we don't switch-up). Plus, this only costs $1. Cop it.

Share:

Black Collar Biz - "Pick Up Ya Feet"

If you didn't make it to the Black Friday 2 release party in November, you don't own that disc. If you don't own that disc, you won't be ready for Black Collar Biz' High Grade Artistry. If you're not ready for High Grade Artistry, what are you really doing with your life? To attempt to get you back in order, I got back on mine and uploaded track #2 from the project, featuring BCB rocking over what should be a VERY familiar sample, coasting and roasting those who are... lackluster. Lots of gems thrown in here, and I'm hoping someone who might be wanting to make a change but don't know how can be invigorated by this one. If you're straggling? Pick ya feet up.

Share:

[video] Black Collar Biz ft. Big Ooh - "One Love"

Share:

[video] Black Collar Biz ft. Ebony MuzicGeek P. - "Can I Kick It"

The first official release form Biz' brilliant Black Friday 2.

Share:

Black Collar Biz - "Black Friday 2" Fundraiser / Release Party (11/29/2013)

In late 2011, RTD helped Black Collar Biz release Black Friday, the prelude to his intense Forever Black project. This year, on Black Friday, we're doing it again. Black Friday #2 will feature a grip of tracks from Biz, many of which I've not even heard before, and on Black Friday 2013 (November 29, 2013), there will be a tour fundraiser / release party that will feature live performances, the premiere of the "One Love" video, an art auction, body painting, a sneak peak at HGA, a photo booth, and more! #10 minimum contribution gets you in the door (and a copy of Black Friday); $15 gets you both mixtapes, and a $30 contribution gets you both mixtapes and an HGA t-shirt. This all goes down at 3 S. Broad Street in Trenton. You already know. Full details over on Facebook.

Share:

The Art of Wu (11/15/2013)

This goes down this Friday at Gallery 219. Proper tribute to the Wu. More details over on Facebook.

Share:

[video] Storm the Gates (10/06/2013)

And this is why SAGE is so necessary in the city of Trenton (and beyond).

Share:

Jersey Fresh Jam 2013 (8/10/2013): Official Flyer

Everything you need to know about the 2013 Jersey Fresh Jam is right here. The official Pre-Party/Vicious Styles Crew art show goes down at Gallery 219 in Trenton on August 9th. The Jam take splace at Terracycle in Trenton on August 10th from 12PM-6PM, with over 50 artists painting live, as well as a number of live performances from Black Collar Biz (with the Blackout Kings), Tone Liv, Molly Rhythm, Rich Quick, and plenty of others, with the official Jersey Fresh Jam Afterparty going down at Artworks in Trenton that night. There will be a food drive to benefit Mercer Street Friends, and it will be a dope-ass event all around. Hit up the Facebook event page to get more info and let the folks know you're coming out. I'll be in the house live-blogging because that's how I do. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

Share: