Author: Ian Fleming

According to New York City health officials, 16 ravers who attended the three-day Electric Zoo festival held over Labor Day weekend on Randalls Island have tested positive for COVID-19.

Eight people have been identified so far as “potentially contagious and could have exposed others.”

As a result, attendees, who were required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the festival’s first day to enter the festival, are being urged by the city to get tested right away.

“The Health Department is leading this investigation, but New Yorkers have a vital role to play,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi in a statement.

“Anyone who attended this festival should get tested immediately, regardless of whether or not they have been vaccinated. This is especially urgent if attendees are experiencing symptoms.”

Electric Zoo has yet to issue a public statement about the cluster.

Anyone looking to get tested, should visit nyc.gov/covidtest.

image via Facebook

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German glitch/dub producer and acclaimed mastering engineer Stefan Betke, who records under the Pole alias, will issue a two-track, 12-inch vinyl release titled “Tanzboden” via Mute on August 13.

Betke’s latest effort, which will also be available digitally, came out of loops created during the recording sessions for his 2020 album, Fading, for Mute. “I began working in my Berlin studio,” he explains, “doing research and listening to the single recording sessions of ‘Fading’ to remember what I did exactly and to find out what I think about the recording months after finishing it.”

Regarding the title of the upcoming release, he says, “Tanzboden is an old-fashioned word for a dance floor constructed during the harvest time, mostly outdoors, and ‘Rost’ is the German word for rust which is an interesting connection to Tanzboden. If the dance floor is not really used for a long time anymore it starts to rust, and as the screws and metal plates which are holding the wooden parts together disappear slowly over the years, so does the Tanzboden itself.”

The video for the first track titled “Rost” can be heard below.

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West Coast rapper Timothy J. Parker (a.k.a. The Gift of Gab) has passed away.

“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear brother, Timothy J. Parker a.k.a. The Gift of Gab,” announced the Quannum crew. “Tim peacefully departed this earth to be with our ancestors on Friday, June 18, 2021. He is survived by two brothers, one sister, many nieces and nephews, countless friends, and fans across the globe. We ask that the family’s privacy is respected as we mourn the tremendous loss of our dear brother.”

During his career, Parker earned a global reputation for his unique lyrical flow and masterful technique.

In 2014, Parker was diagnosed with kidney failure. He underwent dialysis three to four times a week even while on tour. In 2020, he underwent a kidney transplant and remained active throughout the pandemic.

“Our brother was an MCs’ MC who dedicated his life to his craft. One of the greatest to ever do it,” said his bandmate and lifelong friend Chief Xcel (a.k.a. Xavier Mosley). “He’s the most prolific person I’ve ever known. He was all about pushing the boundaries of his art form in the most authentic way possible. He truly believed in the healing power of music. He viewed himself as a vessel used by a higher power whose purpose was to give positive contributions to humanity through Rhyme.”

According to a statement, Gift of Gab left behind nearly 100 tracks for future Blackalicious releases. “Some of those were already slated for the next release, but more of Gab’s lyrical genius will be heard for years to come.”

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DJ/producer/Ed Banger boss Pedro Winter, who is better known by his Busy P musical alias, has dropped a clever pop-house jam called “Track of Time.” It is the Frenchman’s first release in four years. The track appears on an upcoming EP due in August featuring a trio of remixes from iconic house duo Masters at Work and others.

For the track, Winter tapped rising U.K. artist Haich Ber Na and Montreal-based Kaytranada protégé Shay Lia.

Winter, who will DJ Ed Banger’s July 3 label partyat Madam Loyal in Paris with Justice’s Gaspard Augé, Myd, Breakbot &  Irfane, and Bonito Boy, had this to say about “Track of Time”:

“Like Rakim used to say – “it’s been a long time!” – 4 long years since I released “Genie”. So many things happened, and of course the last few months probably accelerated the need to enjoy some studio time. Ed Wreck studio is back! First thing to come out of the basement is “Track of Time”; a way to express this feeling of being lost in time, in space… but most importantly it’s a summer song, thinking ahead, dreaming of dancing in clubs again”.

A music video about a 24-hour dance marathon directed by Baptiste Penetticobra dropped on Monday. Check it out below.

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