ARD: Awesomely Righteous Dudes

Latest Episodes:

Major Taylor returns! and talks just as much as last time! Nov 11, 2019

Show notes

Our boy Ralph Darden aka Major Taylor is back for another fake-patois-filled episode of ARD. We talk about House of Vans, Ralph's residencies in Chicago and the complexities of spinning to a very diverse crowd. We sidebar into conversation topics that everyone hates, including dreams (and nightmares). We also talk about the pros and cons of using USB sticks vs good ole' serato, our listening habits as djs and then we put each other onto all kinds of new bangers!

Episode 18 with guest DJ EXCEL Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

This week we have DJ Excel! Now based in Los Angeles, Excel came back home to Philadelpha to sit with us and talk about the past, present, and future of DJing. Excel talks about his early days and his ascension into Philly's world of party rockin. He talks about his move to LA and the obstacles that needed to be overcome to make it in a new city. We also talk a lot of shit as usual!
From Excel's Bio:
Drawing upon the rich musical heritage of his Philadelphia upbringing and a cultivated influence from the numerous DJ pioneers that Philly birthed into the culture, it’s no surprise that the self taught DJ, who began his journey at age 11, has been a dance floor powerhouse in nightclubs around the world for 20 years.
Now based out of Los Angeles, Excel‘s rich stock has kept him in high demand amongst tastemakers and corporate clients like Nike, Google, Cisco, Youtube, HBO and Playboy, in addition to regular appearances spanning every nightlife market between the coasts, including residencies in Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Iowa City and Atlantic City. In his downtime, he produces with Baltimore’s DJ Impulse under the moniker ALFA PAARE. With 6 EP releases and numerous remixes for artists like, Dev, Yuna, Leon Bridges, & Silk City under their belt, they quickly have earned themselves regular placement in some of the most respected DJ sets around the Globe.
Now based out of Los Angeles, Excel‘s rich stock has kept him in high demand amongst tastemakers and corporate clients like Nike, Google, Cisco, Youtube, HBO and Playboy, in addition to regular appearances spanning every nightlife market between the coasts, including residencies in Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Iowa City and Atlantic City. In his downtime, he produces with Baltimore’s DJ Impulse under the moniker ALFA PAARE. With 6 EP releases and numerous remixes for artists like, Dev, Yuna, Leon Bridges, & Silk City under their belt, they quickly have earned themselves regular placement in some of the most respected DJ sets around the Globe.

ARD 015 - Corkage Fee Aug 24, 2019

Show notes

It's the dog days of Hot Girl Summer out here for what may very well be the final meeting of the ARD Record Pool this season! No guests today other than the dulcet tones of: Jeezy, Meek Mill, Usher, Burna Boy, Jeremih, Jorja Smith, Swae Lee, Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Ty Dolla $ign, Pop Smoke, Nicki Minaj, YBN Cordae, Anderson .Paak, Teejayx6, E-40, Rihanna, Quality Control, City Girls, Stefflon Don, Tory Lanez, Quavo, Tyga, Doja Cat, Paper Boy, Brenmar, Gangsign$, Yung Gordon, whoopwhoop, and Le Tigre.
Listen back to full-length ARDless versions of the songs we played here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/42NvYQU99sP48FSSOSXk43?si=suznZ40mRzyzc5DywqQBWg
Catch Lowbeezy in the backyard of Foto Club for an all-vinyl set at Summer Forever this Sunday, and drop a review + rating on iTunes if you're feeling the show! You can also follow us on all the socials: http://linktr.ee/ardpodcast

Episode 014 - Hooked On Frenetics with G-Buck Aug 12, 2019

Show notes

G-Buck joins the crew to talk about his come-up in Philly, finding dance music through basketball, springing from making beats on Playstation and DJing on Temple University's Frat Row, catching Diplo's ear, putting out music on Mad Decent, Insomniac, Owsla, and self-releasing music in 2019, crafting DJ sets for the festival crowd, prank DSJ on Sway, and what The Kids are into these days from Valentino Khan to Lil Texas. We listen through some current festival bangers, some choice picks from G-Buck's back catalog, and some exclusive previews of new tracks from his forthcoming EP.
Find G-Buck on Instagram http://instagram.com/gbuckstagram
Find ARD on FB, Twitter, Insta and any place fine podcasts are.. podcasted: http://linktr.ee/ardpodcast

Episode 012 - They Can't Stop Us All Jul 19, 2019

Show notes

It's another meeting of the ARD Record Pool as we crack open the virtual corrugated cardboard of this month's shipment. We're checking up on new music from French Montana, City Girls, Daphni, Dreamville, Kygo, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Lil Jon, Juicy J, Croatia Squad, Marshmello, Mustard, Black V Neck, FIGHT CLVB and more. Also discussed topics include the impending people's invasion of Area 51, Ed Sheeran's in hindsight unsurprisingly disappointing album, the state of DJ mixes in the playlist era and our first ever listener-submitted question.
You can follow ARD on social media, check http://linktr.ee/ardpodcast for all them links. And if you're into what we're doing, a great way to support is by leaving a rating and review over on iTunes!

Episode 011 - "I'm in Love with the Kokokomo" with DJ Major Taylor Jul 12, 2019

Show notes

In this episode we talk with long time friend of the show, DJ Major Taylor aka Ralph Darden (November Electric, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists), who was a key component in Philadelphia’s genre-bending DJ style that rose to prominence in the mid 2000s. We talk about Ralph’s 90s punk and indie roots, his transition to DJing and throwing parties, and how he has become one of the most sought-after wedding DJs around. We also theorize on the future of music and night life and tell lots of stories!
Check DJ Major Taylor here:
https://djmajortaylor.tumblr.com/
https://www.mixcloud.com/DjMajorTaylor/
https://www.facebook.com/DJ-Major-Taylor-69379112256/
You can also catch Ralph on tour playing in Ted Leo and the Pharmacists:
http://tedleo.com/tour
Hit up Ralph's comany November Electric for your wedding, corporate event and scoring needs:
https://www.novemberelectric.com/
Follow ARD on social media and subscribe via your favorite podcast app:
http://linktr.ee/ardpodcast

Episode 010 - Hot Girl Summer with DJ Diamond Kuts Jul 01, 2019

Show notes

On this go-round gang is joined by Philadelphia's Club Queen, DJ Diamond Kuts! Topics include producing and DJing for Nicki Minaj, the Diamond Kuts origin story, some of Diamond's signature techniques and style on the decks/mic/production, the current state of club/party music, DJing for Patti LaBelle and President Obama, girl rap crushing 2019, putting on large-scale events, producing in the car, DJing in the green sleeve era plus a bunch more DJ shop talk and commentary on current music and culture.
Catch DJ Diamond Kuts on Power 99, at Wawa's July 4th Party on the Parkway (3:30-4:30PM on the Freedom Stage) and follow her on social media:
https://twitter.com/djdiamondkuts
https://www.facebook.com/djdiamondkutsmusic
https://www.instagram.com/djdiamondkuts
https://soundcloud.com/djdiamondkuts
You can now also follow ARD on social media and on Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts! Find all the links here:
http://linktr.ee/ardpodcast

Episode 009 - DJ Khaled feat. Boondock Saints and Laura Branigan Jun 25, 2019

Show notes

It's another meeting of the ARD Record Pool, where the gang listens to new music from Appyday, Sim Santana, Duke Deuce, DJ Khaled, Lil Nas X, Craig Xen, Future, Nicki Minaj, Trina, Trouble, City Girls, Blanco Brown, Ambjaay, Tory Lanez, Migos, Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson, Camila Cabello, and Zack Fox. Also discussed are the DJ Khaled approach to album-making and if Son of Asahd is maybe not the flop it originally appeared to be, this week's takes on the Lil Nas X saga in light of his new EP, and how Ed Sheeran's upcoming album looks like an attempt to out-Khaled Khaled.
Want to hear any of these songs (minus a couple not on Spotify) without us blabbing over them? Check the companion playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4jOP3nG8P6vNVinjDrdKxd?si=GuHbAjYET666wqrz98Qa-w
You can also now follow ARD on Twitter (@ardpodcast), Instagram (@ard_podcast), and Facebook (search ARD Podcast or go to facebook.com/ardpocast). Ard!

Episode 008 - Mars Attacks! Jun 14, 2019

Show notes

The gang discuss the cross-generational, time-bending influence of a little known but vastly influential creator named Peter Gene Hernandez, sometimes also referred to as Bruno Mars. Other topics include Raptors fans cheering an injury, Philly's history of excelsior sports behavior, DJ Khaled's lawuit against Billboard and the turmoil in 2019 chart metrics, and what the charts looked like fifteen years ago this week.
Listen to the Mars Attacks! playlist on Spotify and add your contributions: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/09lhAg83kXR6fVA5Xihybz?si=LgkuK3bAQ22SO3QPyVDOKw
Catch Mike/Low Budget DJing at Voyeur from Wednesday through Saturday: https://voyeurnightclub.com
Catch Joe/Dirty South Joe DJing at So Far Gone at the Fillmore: http://www.thefillmorephilly.com/EventDetail?tmeventid=020056BF95464F53&offerid=105236
and catch Michael/Flufftronix DJing at Tiki on Saturday: https://www.tikiphilly.com/

Episode 007 - Cosmo Baker pt. 2 Jun 12, 2019

Show notes

In the stirring conclusion of our conversation with Cosmo Baker, we cover: Cosmo's favorite current band and their mysterious personnel, Inflo and his Charles Stepney-influenced sound, our varied opinions on cell phone requests both plain and fancy, the new Kid Sister song and how it would fit nicely in Scrubs, XXXtentacioni, Mike's love for Scrubs, the latest in Old Town Road news, updates and traffic, Iggor for the kids vs. Iggor for the old head, filtering the constant flood of new music through curators, the impact of how music spreads today vs. how it used to, the iTunes panic and Michael's forecast of Apple's slow death in the non-mobile market, the USA's dwindling cultural capital and how it's maybe not a bad thing.
Check Cosmo's new Mixcloud Select channel (it's like Patreon for DJs, and Cosmo's using all of the subscription funds to fund the artists he's featuring): https://www.mixcloud.com/cosmobaker/select/

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