Matrixxman Takes Us on a Trip to "Chocolate City"

We all have very distinct memories from our childhood. More often than not, they're of music that gets embedded within us. For Matrixxman, that musical tapestry began with "Chocolate City"; Washington DC. Having worked with rapper Le1f as part of production outfit 5kinandbone5, released the cracking Angry Frogz EP on Unknown To The Unknown, and with his Amulet EP due out on Spectral Sound in June, we hit up Matrixxman to tell us about music he holds dear - and he honed in on a classic moment in DC radio history.

I was raised in the northern most part of Arlington, Virginia, a minute away from DC, and I spent a couple of years living in the District itself during my childhood. I didn't appreciate how cool it was at the time, but during the early 90's, you would hear traditional rap and R&B radio stations make brief segues into territories you would never have heard on urban and black stations in other states. These songs are not particularly rare, but they played pivotal roles in my musical development. Usually, you'd hear them on a Friday or Saturday night during peak hours on WPGC or WKYS. When I was old enough to venture into clubs, I finally heard them for myself - as they were intended to be heard.

After significant scouring on the internet, I've encountered little if any information about what I remember being definitive of "Chocolate City" classics back in the day. While DC is well known for its Go-Go music culture primarily, the songs below are anything but that. I hold these tracks dear to me, as they take me back to a very specific time and place in life.

Bell & James - 'Livin' it Up (Friday Night)' (A&M, 1978)

When Friday made its way around in the week, you would hear this song a couple of times on air throughout the day. Usually once in the morning on the talk shows, and then again later in the evening. It always felt good. You knew the weekend was nigh, and this song was a harbinger. As a youngin', I didn't grasp how lucky I was to be hearing disco like this rinsed on the regular. It provided a much needed respite from the constant assault of rap on air.

Frankie Beverly & Maze - 'Before I Let Go' (Capitol, 1981)

Another certified, OG, DC banger. DJ's broadcasting live would mute out sections of the chorus, and you could hear crowds in clubs singing along to the a cappella. If you play this joint at a proper hood BBQ, or family reunion, you'll get some uncles and aunts dancing guaranteed. White people get shook off of this kind of soul music typically because they don't understand it at first, and may try to dismiss it as corny. That's their loss. This type of song fits exquisitely next to something like Alicia Myers - 'I Want To Thank You'.

Aly Us - 'Follow Me' (Natural, 1992)

This was a universal DC anthem. Everyone and their mom knows this song, but the fact that it was getting caned on radio stations that were not particularly geared towards dance music was always intriguing to me. This might have been one of the first soulful, vocal house joints I was exposed to. I wouldn't be surprised if this still gets played now and again on the stations in DC.

Heatwave - 'Boogie Nights' (GTO, 1977)

A classic disco number. Not terribly crazy about it personally, but I'm including it because it would usually be thrown in the same brief disco medley containing Frankie Beverly & Maze. It's still kinda cool to think it was getting played on a non-oldies station at the time.

Cajmere - 'The Percolator' (Cajual, 1992)

Okay, so we all know that this track has had a profound impact on dance music, and helped launch Curtis Jones' career, but the fact remains: this was getting rinsed hard on rap stations? That's fucking wild to me.

I lived in NYC and San Francisco for five years at a time, but I never once heard 'Percolator' on the radio in either city. I'm fairly certain it still gets shine to this day in the metro area of DC. When I first heard it as a kid, I was always perturbed by the siren synth and minimal, "suction cup"-style percussion noises. It took me ages to realise how genius the tune actually is. Looking back, I was fortunate to be bombarded with it relentlessly as a child.

Frank Ski - 'There Some Whores In This House' (Deco, 1993)

Baltimore's influence naturally played a big role back in the day due to physical proximity with DC, and this track was evidence of the synergy between the two. This would get banged out around the same time someone was playing 'Percolator' or 'Doo Doo Brown'. While this tune isn't so much of an inspiration to me creatively, I do appreciate Frank Ski's succinct, vibrant message.

Vanity Six - 'Nasty Girl' (Warner Bros, 1982)

This. Shit. Goes. Fucking. Hard.

I never tire of this baby. Anyone who has grown up in the DC area knows very well that this was a staple in any club or prime-time radio DJ slot.  Produced and written by Prince, it's some of his finest work. The synths and minimal drum work are lethal on the dance floor and the lyrics are raunchy as hell too, despite the fact it's got zero cursing. This tune drives women crazy. We all know if you can get the ladies turnt up, a good party is not far behind.

Cheryl Lynn - 'Got To Be Real' (Columbia, 1978)

I mean, what is there not to like about this joint?

Art of Noise - 'Moments In Love' (ZTT, 1985)

Interestingly enough, this tune plays an integral part in Chocolate City's radio history. This track has been played for as long as I can remember, and still gets mad love to this day on urban stations like WPGC. It is a marker of sorts - a buoy if you will - that gets deployed as the radio programming transitions from the more strident daytime urban soundscape, into the realm of late night, sultry slow jams.

It also gets played daily around midnight, without fail. Anyone who has spent time in the hood will understand the significance of this enchanting, downtempo number. Who would have ever guessed that an early 80's, avant-garde, synth-centric pop group would have coined an anthem for Washington DC R&B stations?

Matrixxman - Amulet EP is out June 9th on Spectral Sounds.

Check 'Venetian Mask' from the EP, and follow him on Twitter here: @MATRiXMANN