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Download/Order Love Injection Issue 25 "The Shelter Issue" here:
https://www.mostexcellentunlimited.com/collections/frontpage/products/love-injection-fanzine-25-various-formats
Son of jazz legend Johnny “Hammond’ Smith and singer Sonja Brown, BEAST621 aka “The Mad Monk of Mixing” was raised in the Bronx and exposed to all music genres from a very young age. As a teenager in the ‘80s, he patronized the Bronx Community Centers, the block and house parties, and the park jams where Hip Hop pioneers like Grand Master flash and the Furious 5, Kool Herc and the Herculoids, and Grand Wizard Theodore were making names for themselves.
He saved up his earnings from a summer job at Pony Sports to purchase DJ equipment, built his own speakers, and started collecting music from there on, initially focusing on drum breaks. He went by the name of “Grand Master Cool C”. As Hip Hop started to evolve, so did he. Hearing for the first time Larry Levan play on the Richard Long sound system at the Paradise Garage changed his perspective. Full songs were played, not just the break. From there on, his scratches and cuts grew into disco style blends. Lexxx “the listening experience” became his new musical nom de plume and his creative mixes were blends of music, sounds, and movie clips.
Simultaneously, he was working security at NY clubs and afterhours. After hearing his maestro Timmy Regisford play one night, the Shelter became his home. The name “BEAST” stuck to him as he freely unleashed his love for the music. Often the first one at the club and the last to leave, he became a staple at Shelter. He’d sometimes worked the lights with Lil’ Ray and Ben Johnson. The name BEAST621 combines his strongest positive influences in life: The Shelter and his daughter’s birthday. His motto: “Find yourself before you can let yourself go!”
He has played parties alongside soulful house legends such as DJ Disciple, Spinna, Jellybean Benitez, Tyrone Francis, Adam Rios, Kim Lightfoot, Kalim Shabbazz, and many more.
- Redness ‘Kim’ Hayes
Tracklist:
Sinnamon, “I Need You Now (Acapella)”
Pat Metheny, “Are You Going With Me?”
Carl Bean, “I Was Born This Way (Boyd Jarvis & Timmy Regisford Remix)
Michael Watford, “Holdin’ On (Original Shelter Mix)”
Robert Owens, “I’ll Be Your Friend”
Lisa Stansfield, “People Hold On”
River Ocean feat. India, “Love & Happiness (Yamaya Y Ochún) (Congra Drums)”
Carl Craig, “Sandstorm”
Kimara Lovelace, “When Can Our Love Begin (Timmy Regisford Shelter Anthem)”
Ame, “Rej”
Donnie, “Rocketship (Quentin Harris Shelter Mix)”
Jose Feliciano, “Sunny (Shelter Vocal)”
DJ Camacho, “Renegade”
Peven Everett, “Burning Hot (Timmy Regisford & Adam Rios Remix)”
Femi Kuti, “Traitors Of Africa”
Big Moses feat. Kenny Bobien, “Brighter Days”
Ken, “Heaven (Shelter Real Vocal)”
Arnold Jarvis, “Masterpiece”
Quentin Harris, “Let’s Be Young”
Grand High Priest, “Mary Don't Weep”
Cafe Soul All Stars, “Urban Jungle (Ian Friday Tea Party Vocal)”
Peven Everett, “Stuck”
Timmy Regisford feat. Lynn Lockamy, “At The Club (Timmy Regisford & Adam Rios Remix)”
Fingers Inc., “Distant Planet”
Roy Davis Jr. feat. Peven Everett, “Gabriel”
Jill Scott & Leela James, “Crown Royale”
Peven Everett, “I Can’t Believe I Loved Her”
Tiger Wilson & Timmy Regisford, “Cravin”
Inner Life, “Aint No Mountain High Enough”
- Genre
- House