spicypimps

ABOUT VERB...

pimpin' fine beats since 1976.

"I came to wreck everything and ruin your life. God sent Me."

likes: eclectic music, indie films (recommendations here), interior design + architecture, art + photography

dislikes: smooth jazz and/or mainstream radio... the evil empire of media conglomerates who control mainstream radio, the RIAA, and greedy record labels execs.

need to reach Me?

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“Music is my sanctuary when life puts bad juju on me.”

Interview with VERB by Vaughan Williams

Music is the ubiquitous force that provides the soundtrack for our lives and has taken its place influencing cultures worldwide. Opportunities to explore and experience the dynamic evolution of music simply cannot be taken for granted. SpicyPimps Program Director Stacey A. Collins, aka VERB, understands this ideology wholeheartedly. Pimpin’ beats since 1966, VERB has never labeled herself a DJ but instead a sound provider, crate digga and eclectic music enthusiast.

First of all, what is SpicyPimps?

SpicyPimps is a Chicago-based independent Internet radio station dedicated to promoting the works of

emerging talent as well as the unheralded works of accomplished artists. From the obscure to modern masterpieces, I strive to make the contributions of music's legendary and rising artists more visible and accessible to those that crave music beyond the mainstream arena. My goal is to bring music enthusiasts the best organically-fused blends of rare groove, soul, jazz, hip-hop, funk, electronica, Latin flavaz, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, broken beats and other essential nourishment. I want it to serve as the eclectic music enthusiasts’ digest. My philosophy comes from Rick Holmes’ classic cut Remember to Remember. The chorus repeats “Pass the information, extend the knowledge.”

How did you get started in music?

It started with roots in jazz. My grandfather, Ken Blewett (pic) was the first Black manager in Chicago’s prestigious Balaban & Katz theater chain. He was the manager of the original Regal Theater that once stood on 47^th Street as an artistic pillar in the Bronzeville community. He brought in artists like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Pearl Bailey...

It was Daddy who introduced me to the beauty and power of music. Starting off by buying albums for me, I quickly became addicted. Back in tha day, Daddy and I would chill together and listen to Daddy O’Daylie as well as Sid McCoy and Yvonne Daniels on WVON. It wasn’t uncommon for musicians to stop by, call and send all types of correspondence to Daddy. In retrospect, I hate that I was too young to have appreciated their artistry to the extent that I do today.

When did you startbuying your own albums?

At the age of ten, I made my very first musical purchase with money I saved. It was 1976…the album was The Isley Brothers’ The Heat Is On. From that point on, when someone would ask me what I wanted for my birthday or Christmas, my reply was ALWAYS music related---albums, blank tapes and audio equipment. I can still even tell you which albums I received for which holidays and who gave them to me…AND I still own those very copies. Growing up, I never had any money cuz I was always buying music every chance I could. I even remember walking home from record stores cuz I had no money to get on the bus. And believe it or not, I went for a few years without a turntable at all but kept buying music. I could never save any money to buy a turntable cuz I kept buying records. [chuckles] My rationale was that whenever I finally bought a turntable, I would already have plenty more records to listen to. There was strategy in my dementia after all. Straight up, music is my crack. I eat it, drink it, sleep it, breathe it… It’s like that Gary Bartz track Music Is My Sanctuary that says, “Music is my sanctuary when life puts bad juju on me.” Yeah… (right pic, VERB @ Chicken Wings with JC)

So your collection must be outta this world...

In terms of quality, mos def. In terms of quantity…not as much as I’d like, but then any real music head will tell you there’s no such thing as enough music. [laughs] No really, about 100 or so albums were destroyed when pipes burst in a basement where I was storing them…another 200 were stolen and some I just simply got rid of cuz who really needs 5 copies of Freddie Hubbard's Red Clay or Act Like You Knowby Fat Larry's Band? Actually, I now have more CD’s than LP’s. But I won’t complain, I’ve been very blessed. My collection is envied cuz of what’s in it. I'm certainly not hurtin' in any way. It’s by no means skimpy in number, but you know the drill: the one with the most toys wins. [chuckles]

Besides record stores, where else do you buy records?

Thrift stores, alleys, garbage dumpsters, the net…just about anywhere. Back in the day, I even remember buying a couple of albums while I was in a liquor store. [chuckles] I trade extra copies with other DJ’s, inherit from people cleaning out basements and garages. One time I remember buying some from this hype one night when I was on my way up to Chicken Wings with Sadar (right pic). Hypes are a great source [laughs]…I know that’s not PC but hey, it’s word. A few years back, my friends Jamie and Stacey brought me a whole mailbag full of old albums they found abandoned in a grocery store parking lot. It doesn’t matter…if there are records, I’m there.

Besides your grandfather, who were your mentors and friends that you spit music knowledge with?

My brother Lee [Collins of Soul In The Hole, left] was a serious teacher. I spent many a Saturday night at (University of Chicago’s) WHPK in the Disco Madness slot hanging out with Lee, co-host/DJ Bop Barnes, DJ and producer-extraordinaire Anthony "Ant" Nicholson and fellow music enthusiast Dexter Grays.

After being at the Muzik Box so much and knowing everybody from the owner, Bob Williams, to the staff to most of the clubhedz, my homey Avery got me a job there working security at the door with him. It was then that I got to know the music god, Ron Hardy... and I do mean god. It was Ron that taught me how to not only hear music but see it as well. This is where I start to get more dangerous. [laughs] Andre Hatchett also played a MAJOR role in my musical eclecticism, but I don’t even think he knows it. [chuckles] Ron and Dre were never scared to play good music. They didn’t concern themselves with 4-4 beat-only joints like most DJ’s. If a song was good, it got played no matter the genre. It wasn’t about what’s house and what’s not, it was about quality music with movement and orchestration. They dared to be different, realizing their own style and polishing their craft instead of following a script. (right pic -- Ronnie, Robert & Steak Daddy)

What’s your resume like in relation to music?

Well, I’ve never formally studied music composition or anything like that. In terms of history, I’ve learned from Daddy, mentors and friends. My music buddies all know one thing that a lot of wannabes have trouble with and that is that there is no one person that knows everything, so we learn from and share with one another. The best part of working with collectives is that there’s more knowledge available. Like I piggy-backed earlier, “Pass the information, extend the knowledge.” I’ve also taught myself a tremendous amount by simply reading liner notes and seeking out lesser-known artists. I’m not one of those people intimidated by the clerks that work in indie record stores. Yeah, they can be snobby when it comes to music. I used to be one of them. But the knowledge you gain is tremendous. And once they know how serious you are about music, they wanna share everything they know with you cuz they know you’ll appreciate it. But back to your original question, I’ve worked at Dr. Wax Records, worked at Virgin for about a week [chuckles], had a party promotion group back in the day called Move of Life. It was Lee, Ant, Andre and I; we hosted parties at the Muzik Box, Carol’s Speakeasy and The Flamingo. I’ve served as a consultant for two record store owners wanting to know what they should be putting in their stores. Nothing formal and stuffy but at the risk of sounding arrogant, I’m pretty damn knowledgeable. And now, I have SpicyPimps, which I’m most proud of especially since I have had so many obstacles putting it together. (pic, Andre Hatchett on left and Richie Rich on right)

What obstacles?

Well when I first came up with the idea for a full service site, I already had a Yahoo! group called SpicyPimps. Membership wasn’t huge by any means but I had loyal forum participants. We discussed and debated all genres of music but I wanted to be able to play all this good stuff that we were talking about. So I took ideas from members and decided to put together a full-service website. Then Dubya was elected and my corporate job was phased out. OK, no money…now what? So I kept on trying to put pieces together and even picked up a business partner in hopes of easing the financial burden. He jumped ship for unknown reasons and I ended up with yet another business partner. Things were going along okay for a minute but then I had a stroke in March 2003, which had me out of commission for a month. By this time, I’m really broke and unable to work. Social security paid squat and now my second business partner disappears. So by this time, I’ve gone from really broke to being totally S.O.L. Fortunately I’ve been blessed with the ability to think outside of the box and take a grand scheme and downsize it into manageable parts. And finally here it is, pimpishness in effect.

SpicyPimps is a tight name. Where did it come from?

Thanks so much. I wish I could take full credit for it but I can’t. I got the name from Anthony Nicholson (pic). He and I have been friends for a long time -- back, back, back in tha day friends. Years ago, Ant and I would make each other tapes cuz we both vibed the same musically. Well one day, he gave me this tape titled Kool Shit for Spicy Pimps. This was typical of Ant cuz if you know him, you know he’s got an offbeat, dry sense of humor. So one day I was having lunch with my hardcore househead friend DJ Ron C, also an original SpicyPimps member. This was before the actual site existed; this was when I was just gonna start small as a Yahoo group. He was asking me just what kind of music I was gonna focus on and I spit out a few genres and finished my statement with‘ya know, just some kool shit for spicy pimps.’ He almost choked on his sandwich laughing at the ridiculousness of whateva a spicy pimp was. Then he said, “That’s it right there. Name the group SpicyPimps. It sounds ridiculous but dope as hell at the same time.” So Ant’s vibe was my inspiration for basically everything.

What are some of your proudest moments in relation to music?

Dr. Wax…two occasions. The first was when this older gentleman came in to the store and told me he wanted something based in jazz but it had to be fresh and exciting, not the same ole stuff. I turned him on to Chris Bowden’s Time Capsule. He called me at the store later that day and raved about how much he loved it. That made me feel good cuz that’s where my roots are, in jazz. The second occasion was when this cat came in looking for hip hop. Like the older cat, he wanted something that everyday people couldn’t wrap their minds around, something with a unique sound. I had just the thing for him: Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus. The next day, he came in with it bangin’ in his headphones. He loved it and even when I run into him today, he still asks what I’ve got in rotation. Those moments made me proudest cuz I was able to provide real headz with something they would enjoy for years to come. I hope that listeners feel that way about what I’m trying to do here with SpicyPimps. The respect of my music peers is the only approval I look for. One of the things I love so much about good music is that it never ends. It just continues…it evolves. It never gets old, it just becomes classic.

How did you become fam with DJ Sadar Bahar?

At a party actually. Lee and I went in support of Andre and it just so happened that Frankie Knuckles was spinnin’ also. Well, bored shytless listening to Frankie and cracking jokes on how lame he had become, we met Sadar (left pic, next to DJ Gold D). We instantly bonded…we enjoyed the same music, we enjoyed eclecticism in music and had the same sarcastic sense of humor. Sadar and I would sometimes talk on the phone literally, all night ‘til daybreak, playing music for one another. We’re true family in every sense of the word -- disagreements and all, it’s always love. Sadar was Johnny-on-the-spot when I had my stroke. I love that dude…my word is bond to Allah. [laughing, saying that there’s an inside joke to that last statement]

Which other DJ’s have you pow-wowed with?

Brothers Bop and Rahfik Barnes…two cats that know real music. Again, not afraid to push the envelope…real live dusty-fingered crate diggaz indeed. We have schooled one another on so much music that it’s pathetic. Just like with Sadar, I can plan to call one of them for a hot second just to holla and it will turn into a 3-hour music session. We’re addicts, we need help. David Danku who owns the African Hedonist here in Chicago is another cat that I vibe with regularly. David’s musical knowledge is off the chain. Dude is well-versed in many genres and has taught me about African musicians as well. I don’t know how his store stays open. He’s too deep for most of the people that live in that area. He’s not a commercial music kinda guy; he definitely seeks music that’s outside of the mainstream. David’s a gangsta though [laughing] so be careful when you go in there. He’s gonna learn your tastes, take every penny you got and even have you thanking him for it. That’s my homey indeed.

Some of my other friends/music associates are Kemal Moore, who I actually met in my Muzik Box years through my boy Jahmal Anderson. Then there’s Lonnie Bishop (pic, on far right end), another old-skool party head. Lonnie is an aficionado of Brazilian music. If I gotta question about something Brazilian, I go to him FIRST, period. And if by chance he doesn’t know, he WILL find out. DJ Gold D is another of my homies. I’ve known Gold "D" since we were both shorties; she lived next door to me. I remember her telling me that back in tha day, some of the other kids in the neighborhood thought I was kinda odd cuz I had my own style and kept to myself. [chuckles] Duane Powell (pic, far left) is another person I regard highly in music. I first met Duane at The Reactor in uhhhh...the year escapes me. Talk about knowledgeable? Dude is just ignorant on the music tip. Richard Graves is also a very, very good friend of mine. We met when we both worked for UPS. Rich knows music better than most. Rich has actually studied music composition and understands the importance of progression, structure and arrangement unlike a lot of DJ’s that just know how to blend songs. Rich is a scary dude though…if you could only hear a snippet of our conversations. He’s either gonna take over the universe or go mad. Maybe both. [laughs] Oh yeah, Harry A! Can’t leave him out. Harry was responsible for getting me a job at Dr. Wax. By that time, I was so musically-dangerous, that it was just stupid. Harry’s another cat that believes in sharing knowledge and spreading the good word.

Anything you wanna pass on to others?

I pass on my message 24/7 on SpicyPimps. Nuff said.

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