Urban Exploring: Episode 2 - Harvey Hirsch
In this edition of Urban Exploring, IquanW's former employer Harvey Hirsch takes over the episode to show him and Guru his old neighborhood, Coney Island. The trio started the day by having breakfast at one of Harvey's favorite spots, The El Greco Diner in Sheepshead Bay and after chowing down on the Brooklyn Breakfast of Eggs, Locks and Onions, they took a short ride to Brighton Beach where Harvey grew up. Harvey then showed the two where he made his first dollar by hustling comic books, sandwiches and lemonade to the beach goers. The last stop was lunch at the Original Nathans for some good old fashion hot dogs!
Here’s why we decided to ask Harvey to be included in this month's adventure...
Harv has traveled the world, in the US ARMY in Vietnam as a helicopter Crew Chief in 1968 and as an international marketing expert. He started and managed one of the most innovative direct market firms in America, winning all sorts of prestigious awards for his strategic communications work and for his revolutionary patented marketing technology. In fact in 2006 Xerox named his firm #1 on the planet when they awarded him their First Place PIXI Award for Variable Marketing. IquanW and many other students worked as paid interns in his agency, (and learned secrets that enable us to get and keep jobs). Now he's a food video blogger, specializing and having fun with getting his videos placed on page one of organic Google searches. But most importantly, Harv said he would buy us a real Brooklyn breakfast. He’s just a fun guy and he knows things and that's why you hang with a foodie! Check out his YouTube channels... Food of the World and Free Range Chow Hound. That's it for this month's Urban Exploring, stay tuned for Episode 3.
One Donut 4 Dilla mixed by DJ Laytonic
For those of you who don't know, James Dewitt Yancey aka J Dilla aka Jay Dee was a legendary hip-hop music producer who mastered the art of sampling and helped influence a generation of music lovers and many musicians to come. Artists like Kanye West, Questlove, Pharrell Williams and Madlib wouldn't be the artists we know them as today if it wasn't for J Dilla. He is a producer's producer and has made underground hits for artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Erykah Badu, Common, The Roots, De La Soul, D'Angelo, Tha Pharcyde and many more.
Eight years ago in February 2006, he passed away due to complications of lupus and a rare blood disease that he had been struggling with his entire life. Before his passing he left the world with countless volumes of work, many of us already familiar with and others that have recently been discovered and waiting for future release.
I've been a fan of J Dilla since the early days of 1996 when I first heard De La Soul's "Stakes Is High." There was an energy and vibe behind the music that I couldn't put my finger on. It was full of life and excitement and it motivated me to find more music from this musical genius. What started as a liking became an obsession. I made it my goal to find any and all things Dilla and have helped carry the torch to keep his legacy alive by telling everyone about him and sharing his music.
February is best known as Black History Month, but in the hip-hop community since his passing, this month has also become known as Dilla Month. To help celebrate this man's legacy, I've put together a mix of some of my favorite Dilla beats from my personal collection. Good music. Strictly vinyl. Turn it up ! Enjoy below...
