"Would it be rude todedicate Jade Elektra's "R.I.F (Reading Is Fundamental)" to those who are not smart enough to figure out what to do when invited to a virtual wedding?"

Because most of my friends and family are back in the United States, John and I decided to create a virtual wedding event on facebook so they could feel like they were a part of our special day. We thought that everyone would have read the invitation and figured out that they were not actually attending a real wedding.

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We were wrong. It has really amazed me to see how many people have declined to attend the event and that they would actually write excuses for not attending in the comment box.

Really?!!

Recently, my alter-ego, Jade Elektra recorded a new bitch track called "R.I.F. (Reading Is Fundamental)". Now for my new friends in Canada, the phrase "Reading Is Fundamental" was a program back in the 70's that was designed to get elementary school kids to read more. A big bus would pull up to the school with free books for the entire school. Well, I decided to use it in the gay dictionary term for "reading" or insulting someone.

After spinning for “Vogue Night” at Gladaman’s Den last night, my fiancee and I were kinda lunchie. So, we decided to check out the new Hero Burger on Church Street. John thought that is was some kind of healthy burger place, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that not only did they serve great juicy burgers with amazing onion rings but some of my favorite retro tunes. “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield and “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar. And let’s face it.....at 2:30 AM in the village, there’s only a few choices for food. And why not have some great radio hits from the 70’s & 80’s as the soundtrack. It beats the hell out of hearing another Lady GaGa or Beyonce track when you just finished spinning them all night.

So, while I’m writing...I should probably review a couple of tracks for you.

“Somebody To Love” Justin Bieber (Island Records) First off I’d like to say that I was not familiar with this kid until I moved to Canada. Aparently he is this generation’s version of Shawn Casiddy. And yes, I am old enough to make that reference.And last weekend John and I watched him on SNL with Tina Fey. And then this week, I saw a whole discussion on facebook about some comment he made about not paying attention to girls who wear “uggs.

Lady Bunny was the person who posted it and of course it turned into a “I know he’s gay” bashing session. I can honestly say “I don’t get it”. Why are we even spending time on some child who hasn’t reached puberty yet? There’s nothing new about his voice. Rewind the years and his voice could be compared to Chris Brown, Hanson, Ralph Transvant, Donnie Osmond and even Michael Jackson. And because he’s just a kid, his lyrics are very high school in content. Since I’ve been DJ-ing here in Toronto, I’ve only had one request for him (Thank God) and it was his first single “Baby” with Ludacris. His latest single “Somebody To Love” is just as fluff as his first. No substance and nothing to write home about.

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“Not Myself Tonight” Christina Aguilera (RCA Records) Out of the “Brat Pack” from the turn of the century, Ms. Aguilera has proven to be a solid talent. She’s a great song writer and she definitely has a voice that will be around for a while. And I like that she can appeal to a young audience and still be relevant to a contempary adult audience as well. It’s probably because she has such a big voice and sings with such control and emotion that you can’t help but listen.

Her debut single from her forthcoming album, “Bionic” called “Not Myself Tonight” has a current production that I am sure with the right remixes can be taken in any direction. It will work as a House track or an Electro track. It has the appeal of a Lady GaGa track, but her pipes make you realize that she has more substance. I definitely like this one and can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.

Often when I am working at a bar or a club, I notice that there is always some young kid (ages from 18 to 25) who will run up to the booth and request the latest Reggae hit. I usually frown and then tell them that I don't like playing Reggae. Then I tell them that if they knew the politics and hatred that goes with that genre of music, they wouldn't be asking. They usually look as if I had three heads and a tail and then proceed to tell me that this is what the kids are listening to these days. Then I tell them that I had a friend who was murdered in Jamaica for being gay. These people would kill you for being who you are. You should not be supporting "Murder Music" if it's artists don't support your lifestyle and very being.

Of course, there are Reggae artists like Sean Paul, Lady Saw & Shaggy who do not make "Murder Music", but some of the heavy hitters like Elephant Man, Beenie Man, and Buju Banton have made records that condone hate and the murder of "batty boys" and "chi chi men" (both terms for homosexuals). Usaully, these are the artists who are being requested. Another thing...I also believe that many people tend to lump other Caribbean genre(s) like Soca and Calypso with "Murder Music" and that's not fair. There's probably some reading this right now who really doesn't know the difference. Well there is and you should do your homework.

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As far as my taste, I like some Reggae. Some of the tracks are infectious in their riddims. But I don't play many artists because of homophobic lyrics. This applies to all genre(s) of music for me. Artists like Eminem got dropped from my playlist years ago after he and Dr. Dre were quoted saying that "they don't care about those people" (meaning fags) in Rolling Stone. And although most DJ's wouldn't even address this subject matter because many play all kinds of Reggae, I just could not stand by and do nothing when there is so much hatred being promoted through music. I believe calling "Murder Music" what it is. Hearing a Hip Hop song that an artist says "faggot" is not pleasant, but hearing lyrics that say "kill faggots" is completely different. Both should not be there. But that's just like hearing "nigger" in Hip Hop. If you heard it in a country song you would be furious.

On April 14th, 2005, Donahue Jimmy Bulgin was murdered. His body had been mutilated and left in his yard. The killer then stole clothing and his car from his home. Jimmy had just celebrated his birthday three days before. Because homosexuality is outlawed in Jamaica, the police barely did anything to find who did this. Why? Because of "Murder Music"! Lyrics that reinforce the ignorance and hatred that has plagued our gay brothers and sisters in the Caribbean for centuries. And I am sure many decendents from Jamiaca are going to say that I am targeting a small poor country that is limited in resources and education. That religious beliefs are the main source of the homophobia in their homeland, but guess what....that is the excuse in every country. This is not an excuse of what happened to Jimmy.

And just as many would be up in arms if a Country Artists said "nigger" in his/her song, we as the the Gay Community should be standing up and doing something. Yes, I do not live in the Caribbean, but I do live in a Gay Community. And I would like to help and preserve my community. This is why I wrote the blog in the first place. To remind my community that this is what happens in places that do not accept homosexuality as a lifestyle. If you want to make a change in the world, you have to start where you are.

In 2001 I was interviewed for an Australian TV Documentary about homophobia on the dancefloor. I told them about a gay club in NYC called the "Warehouse" that had an Urban clientele in the Bronx that made an announcement that "they weren't going to play anymore faggot music on the main floor". By "faggot music" they meant House and the Vogue-ing Beats. The main floor was only going to be for Hip Hop and Reggae. To me, this is a major sign that our gay urban youth are exterminating our culture to emulate their straight counterparts. It's almost as though they are going back into the closet. Well, I am not going to let thyat happen on my watch.

"I Am" (The Remixes) Mary J. Blige (Geffen Records) The first time I heard this song, I was at a drag performance of Toronto's legendary Michelle Ross. I recognized Mary's voice and hoped that there were some remixes. Well, I got my wish. I found two remixes. Erek McQueen & Nick Harvey both gave the song a make-over. The one that got my attention was the Nick Harvey Private Club Mix. He gave it energy without making her sound like some sped up chipmunk with cheesy Hi-NRG production. ****

"Hard" (The Remixes) Rihanna (Def Jam / Universal Records) I have listened to Rihanna's album a few times and it still hasn't grabbed me. Of course the pay-ola machine that radio and MTV have become are playing this track and "Russian Roulette" like it's going out of style. But the version that they should be featuring is the Jody Den Broeder Club Mix. I also like the Chew Fu Club Fix and the Benja Styles Remix. All have given the track a better production. Be on the look out for her next single "Rude Boy". ****

"R.I.F. (Reading Is Fundamental)" (Vjuan Allure Remix) Jade Elektra (Unsigned) Normally I try not to review my alter-ego's tracks, but since I have been getting such positive feedback about it (along with e-mails asking for copies of it) I decided to toot my own horn. I originally got the idea when I was DJ-ing at the Monster in the West Village back in 2007.

There were a group of kids who would show up and really appreciated finally hearing some musical selections that really represented the clientele. But knowing how the owner and management felt about people of color growing in numbers, I tried to warn them that their carrying on the dancefloor was attracting the wrong attention.

One of the group who unsuccessfully had previously tried to pick me up, seemed very agitated that I said anything about it. He then proceeded to taunt me and bad mouth me for the rest of my employment there. Not realizing that my warning was not only for them but also for my job. After my contract was not renewed with the owner and I was asked to leave after 6 months, this jerk laughed at me on my last night. I decided that I would have my revenge in a bitch track.

I thought of all the things I wanted to say to him and recorded them. But finding the right producer who could bring out the Cunty attitude that was needed would prove a tough job. Then finally, I told Vjuan Allure about my idea and he said he would give it a try. And boy did he put the punctuation on my sentiments. There are other remixes in the works and talks have begun to get it signed soon, but I have been servin' the kids with this little gem. ****

"For Your Entertainment" (The Remixes) Adam Lambert (19 / RCA Records) So, when everyone had a heart attack over his performance at the American Music Awards I was like - "What did they think he was gonna do?" They were all acting like they never figured out that he was gay or had a wild streak. I actually applauded him for playing the American Idol game well. He didn't need to win that competition. All he needed was to show up and let them hear his voice. Pure talent cannot be denied. It may get looked over sometimes, but they weren't going to silence him after wowing TV audiences for months. And of course his album is very Rock heavy, but that's nothing that Bimbo Jones, DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious couldn't take care of with some club mixes. The standout for me was the DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious Tribal Mix. Hot stuff! And I heard Adam really enjoyed himself over in the East Village with my Formika at The F-word party on February 12th. Let the good times roll, Mr. Lambert! ****

"Tik Tok" (The Remixes) Kesha (RCA Records) Okay....I play commercial crap all the time. I mean, you can't work in a gay bar without having to delve into some Madonna, Britney, Janet, Rihanna, Beyonce and the new Billboard saviour to Dance Music, Lady GaGa. But I hate to hear non-singing bitches spewing juvenile lyrics over bad productions. If this girl could sing like the late Brittany Murphy, it would be a different story. I mean, that girl actually had some chops on her and it's a shame that she didn't get to record more records. She could have given Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan a run for their money. But this girl is just sad on vocals. This song was totally made for the same teen-aged girls that went up for "Party In The U.S.A." by Miley Syrus. And as far as the remixes, Dave Edwards, Tom Nevilles, Veleno and L.U.K. really couldn't turn this track into something that I could stomach. But part of being a good DJ is playing what your audience wants, not playing for yourself. Finding a true balance is the real art form.

"Window Seat" Erykah Badu (Universal / Motown Records) Erykah has been one of my favorite R&B Neo-Soul vocalist since I discovered her live album back in the late 90's. And although I don't think she will ever top that album, I love to hear her new stuff. And the video to "Honey" will probably be in my top ten favorite videos of all time for its homage to all the 70's album covers. Her latest single is a smooth groove made for an after midnight radio show. She delivers her silky sweet vocals over a contemporary track that is sure to allow you to sit back and enjoy it. ****

It's finally Spring and I have relocated to Toronto. Why? Because I am getting married and it was time for me to start a new life for the new year. The past few years in New York City had been really rough ones for me. The scene had changed into a popularity clique. No longer were there experienced DJ's headlining at the clubs and bars. It was all the new kids who had no clue about mixing or programing. Watching legends like Troy Parrish being pushed aside for lip glossed, rhinestoned headphone wearing iPods just turned my stomach. So, after a few trips to Toronto, it was actually an easy decision to make.

Toronto is turning out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. Apparently all the work that I did in New York has made me a legend here. My "Relentlessly Cunty" CD series is considered to be the Bible of bitch tracks. And the recordings by my alter-ego, Jade Elektra are part of the Gay Culture here. I have been welcomed with open arms by most and have been asked to make appearances and guest spots for some of the top events. All of this in my first month.

Last August I wrote an editorial piece called "When Did Youth Become More Important Than Experience". In it I wrote about all of my problems with the scene in New York. At the end I wrote that I longed for a place where I could flex my DJ skills. A place where I could mix all formats and be appreciated for my creativity. Well, I think I found that place. I am home. Thank you, God.

In music news, I was sadden to hear about the passing of R&B legend, Teddy Pendergrass. It reminded me of how many artists contribute to the industry but never get the credit that they deserve. Artists like Millie Jackson, Phyllis Hyman, Patti Austin, Gwen Guthrie, Jeffrey Osborne, Tata Vega, Patrice Rushen, Andre Cymone, Mtume, James Ingram and countless others who have shaped music and have been forgotten. Not everyone gets to the status of Aretha Franklin, James Brown or Michael Jackson. But like each and every person who is born, we all have an important role in this world.
It's a new year and there's plenty to talk about. So, let's get started.

“Video Phone" (The Remixes) Beyonce featuring Lady GaGa (Sony/Columbia Records) Okay...I probably shouldn't mention this subject, but I have to say something about it. Ms. Taylor Swift....need I say more? I bet Kanye West, Beyonce & Lady GaGa are all so sorry that he opened his mouth that night at the MTV Awards. It amazes me how one thing effects another. I totally believe with the bad behavior of him and Serena Williams that week and the Republicans' all out war on President Obama, a huge backlash on Black America began. Everyone was running around making jokes about how Black People felt like they could show their ass because there was a black man in the white house. So, I believe that this cost Beyonce the Album of the Year Award at the Grammy's. Which would have left Ms. GaGa in the perfect position to get it, but with her stance on Gay Marriage- they weren't gonna give her that award either. Middle America is so angry that they are blaming everyone, even the Gays, for the troubles in America right now. So...the safe candidate was Taylor. Everyone felt so horrible for her that this rude asshole bum-rushed the stage during her acceptance speech. But enough about that. Let's talk about the remixes for "Video Phone". The funny thing is, most of the remixes say that Lady GaGa is on them, but if you listen to any of them you will notice that the Lady is no where to found except on the video version. Only the DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Club Mix and the Mike Rizzo Funk Generation Club Mix actually have the GaGa vocals.  My favorite version is the DJ Class Remix which features a rap by Pitbull. The song works as a B-more track. However, DJ Bonnis, Fabricio Lampa, Gareth Wyn, Digital Enemy, Doman & Gooding remixes are too much of the same. Mindless dull club mixes that don't re-imagine the song. Perhaps if there was a mix that had Beyonce, Lady GaGa & Pitbull all on it, I'd like it even more. **

“Telephone” (The Remixes) Lady GaGa featuring Beyonce (Streamline / Geffen Records) You know, when I heard that Ms. GaGa was releasing another album so quickly, I thought to myself- "She's milking this thing a bit too much." "Just Dance", "Pokerface" and "Paparazzi" did great on the charts, but by the time we got to November of last year, I was about GaGa-ed out. Then "Bad Romance" started in heavy rotation. I tried to dislike this track, but the hook was so infectious. And then I heard the Chew Fu Remix and it was all over for me. I was hooked.  However, that has not happened with "Telephone". DJ Dan, Billy Waters, Deejay Angel & Kaskade tried their hands at breathing some life into this song, but it just didn't blow my skirt up. However, the Crookers Remix works very well for a radio mixshow. And of course after seeing the music video, I got hooked on it. Makes me wish I was VJ-ing again.  ***