John “Ecstasy” Fletcher of the ’80s group Whodini died today at the age of 56. Fletcher and Jalil Hutchins formed the Brooklyn-based Whodini in 1982 before Drew “Grandmaster Dee” Carter became their DJ. Thomas Dolby helped produced their debut single “Magic Wand” which was dedicated to DJ Magic Mike andContinue Reading
[youtube id=”5Y7Qy7VrWxk”] “King Holiday” was recorded and released in 1986 and it happened because Dexter King called Kurtis Blow to ask for him help raising money for the King Foundation. Blow wrote the song with Phil Barnes and Melle Mel. Together they were able to organize a diverse group ofContinue Reading
The electronic drums and ’80’s synthesizers of the pre-sampledelic Whodini are indelible rhythms that have survived and transcended hip-hop’s fickle and commercially affected body. Ecstasy, Jalil and Grandmaster Dee’s foundational work continues to breath e a funky pulse through hip-hop’s musical aspirations being referenced by people like Nas, MF Doom,Continue Reading
Golden Age hip-hop against the backdrop of Chene Park’s outdoor concert shell on the Detroit River ended the 2008 season with Whodini, Salt N Pepa and MC Hammer. Grandmaster Dee warmed the crowd up with a typical R&B hip-hop party mix while hunched over his Final Scratch DJ platform thatContinue Reading