DJ Vadim has just embarked on a new tour with Chicago rapper and recording partner Pugs Atomz. Here’s a message via his MySpace page:

Yes that’s right, the T-E-R-R-O-R-IST is back with a brand new live album! ‘U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun’ hit the shops on BBE records back in May, with the first single ‘Hidden Treasure’ featuring Sabirajade out mid-April. Since then its been a full on tour throughout Europe and the USA, Not to mention some mouthwatering remixes for the likes of Fat Freddys drop, the nextmen, chali tuna, MIA, stevie wonder, kidkanevil….. Vadim’s been ‘assaulting his bodyclock’ to bring his new sounds to your backyard. So the bands had time to mellow like a fine wine, the knobs have been finely tweeked to get that bass optimally ripping and drums thwacking… and to celebrate he is going on tour to your city!!!!

DJ Vadim, a man who this year conquered cancer has dug deep, learned new skills and used his imagination to produce his best work yet. From deep in his basement studio he has distilled a fine selection of beats, utilising the skills we all know and love as well as exploring new musical territories, as ‘Hidden Treasure’ shows. A hold on to your seat, white-knuckle rollercoaster of a track that combines the rawness of Ska, jump-up party vibes, and spine tingling vocals, set against reggae-tinged, massive track ‘Soldier’ serves as solid proof that The Isolationist’s proficiency is nowhere near diminishing.

Now its time for the live show accompanied by his new partner in rime – pugs atoms (chicago’s finest) with whom he has a brand new group( ‘The Electric’ along with lil ste and sabira jade). SO expect a lot of new exclusives and upcoming craziness…..!!!

Here are the tour dates:

• 9/19: Spirit Bar, Nelson, BC (1)
• 9/20: Wild Buffalo, Bellingham, WA (1)
• 9/22: Nectar Lounge, Seattle, WA (1)
• 9/23: Holocene, Portland, OR (1)
• 9/26: Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville, CA (1) (2)
• 9/27: Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville, CA (1) (2)
• 9/29: Winston’s Beach Club, San Diego, CA (1)
• 10/01: Granada Theater, Dallas, TX (1) (3)
• 10/03: La Zona Rosa, Austin, TX (1) (3)
• 10/06: Jupiter Bar And Grill, Tuscaloosa, AL (1)
• 10/07: Exit/In, Nashville, TN (1)
• 10/08: The Valarium, Knoxville, TN (1)
• 10/09: 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA (1)
• 10/10: Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC (1)

(1) w/Pugs Atomz
(2) Earthdance Festival
(3) w/Bassnectar

DJ Vadim is heading back to the States on the strength of his recently released U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun. The 20-date tour threads through California, New York, and a few cities in between.

• 6/11: Hopmonk Tavern, Sebastopol, CA
• 6/12: Grand Starr Jazz Club, Los Angeles, CA
• 6/13: Winston’s, San Diego, CA
• 6/14: Continental Rooms, Fullerton, CA
• 6/17: Club Congress, Tucson, AZ
• 6/18: Blunt Club, Phoenix, AZ
• 6/19: Majestic Theatre, Madison, WI
• 6/20: The Cabooze, Minneapolis, MN
• 6/22: Darkroom, Chicago, IL
• 6/23: Fuel, Chicago, IL
• 6/26: Regency Center, San Francisco, CA
• 6/27: Trophy Bar, Brooklyn, NY
• 6/27: Shangri-la, Brooklyn, NY

6/19: w/DJ Rekha
6/26: Spectrum Festival

When we last heard from DJ Vadim, the Russo-British producer was struggling with eye cancer. Thankfully, he had a successful operation to remove the cancer, and then finished his latest album, U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun. The album drops via BBE Music on May 12. MP3s and a YouTube video for the first single, “Hidden Treasure,” are posted below.

Here’s a bio snippet:

Though producer/DJ’s these days are a dime-a-dozen, a veteran like Vadim is not the kind o’ cat to release 12 tracks of the latest in-vogue soul loop. In fact his new album, “U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun” is one of the sickest joints on the block, continuing – and embellishing – the producer’s inventive journey into the realm of sound. Anyone that knows anything about Vadim knows to expect the unexpected, and “UCLI” has surprises – and dopeness – in abundance.

Which is extra impressive considering the last year has not been Vadim’s happiest. “2008 has been the worst year of my life,” he reveals. “I went through the most gut-wrenching emotions due to family trauma and personal health. My father went partially blind after having three failed cataract operations. My mother nearly lost her house in the credit crunch and ended up having anxiety attacks. My wife had a bad illness and I went blind in my left eye. I was diagnosed with eye cancer in summer and had a very precarious operation to remove it. For the first time I had to dwell on the idea of death and not being invincible. I saved my eye, got rid of the cancer and since then I have gone on to complete a new album.”

Out of the negative comes the positive. And “U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun’ is all about mining the deepest parts of the psyche to find inspiration. It’s about how, even though we learn so much at school – courses in languages, computer studies, science, religion, sport – and live in a time of unprecedented technological prowess (phones, computers, ipods, music software), imagination is the one thing you must journey deep inside yourself to find.

“Cheap computers and powerful software can’t make music for you,” states Vadim. “That comes from the imagination, from the will to fight for your life, to love and to struggle. These things can’t be learned in universities, but they can be discovered within ourselves. So many people live their lives without asking ‘why?’ or ‘if…? We just accept the rules, play the cards we’re dealt with. Being diagnosed with cancer gave me a reason to fight for my life. I wasn’t going to let the cancer overcome me – my body nor my passion, music. Even with tragedy knocking at the door I looked within myself to create something new. I felt kindness, love and appreciation from so many people around the world praying and sending positive energy. I didn’t accept the cards dealt to me and since recovering I feel healthier for it. I now know who my real friends are. I would never wish what I went through on anyone else, but I wouldn’t change it for the world because it made me is making me into a better me” …

On “U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun” Vadim hits every note and every colour, not just the black and white ones. Like all Vadim projects, the songs here are fresh, funky and fun. There are reggae rubs that could sit next to Desmond Decker; neo-soul and conscious-rap jams that recall Q Tip or Jill Scott; experimental gems akin to the work of Flying Lotus or J Dilla. Mostly though it’s the sound of music being embraced and loved, and of a re-inspired life being lived. If ATCQ hadn’t already used Beats, Rhymes & Life as an album title, it would be equally suitable here…

Here’s the track listing:

• 1. “Soldier” (feat. Big Red & 5Nizza)
• 2. “R3 Imaginashun”
• 3. “That Lite” (feat. Juice Lee & Rjay)
• 4. “Thrill Seeker” (feat. Sabira Jade)
• 5. “Beijos” (feat. Heidi Vogel)
• 6. “Saturday” (feat. Pugz Atomz)
• 7. “Strictly Rockers 215″
• 8. “Under Your Hat” (feat. Kathrin deBoer & Governor Tiggy)
• 9. “Game Tight”
• 10. “You Are Yours” (feat. Yarah Bravo)
• 11. “Maximum” (feat. La Methode)
• 12. “I Want To Shout Out” (feat. Sabira Jade)
• 13. “Always Lady” (feat. Pugs Atomz & Wes Restless)
• 14. “Pink Stilettos” (feat. Sunny)
• 15. “Thrill 103″
• 16. “Rock Dem Hot”
• 17. “Hidden Treasure” (feat. Sabira Jade & Kwasi Asante)
• 18. “Tu He Ma Ne Toddy”

“Hidden Treasure” (feat. Sabira Jade & Kwasi Asante)

“Soldier” (feat. Big Red & 5Nizza)

Here’s the video for “Hidden Treasure”:

DJ Vadim has posted an amazing essay about his ongoing bout with ocular melanoma (eye cancer). I don’t mean to get all McPalin, but it is truly a demonstration of the wonder of the Internet that Vadim could post such an essay and reach his fans immediately and unfiltered.

I’m not going to try and excerpt any of it here. Instead, I encourage everyone to visit his MySpace blog and read it for themselves.

For those who don’t know who DJ Vadim is, he’s one of the leading lights of the “downtempo” era of the mid-90s. His second album, 1996′s USSR Repertoire (The Theory of Verticality), is a classic. He’s continued to release excellent material since, including last year’s The Soundcatcher. Get familiar.

Allhiphop.com reports that Buckshot just suffered a series of seizures that led to his hospitalization:

According to Duck Down co-founder and CEO Dru Ha, the legendary MC was returning home from a European trip, when he suffered from multiple seizures.

“I got to see him today and he’s doing OK but obviously needs time to recover,” Dru Ha told AllHipHop.com in an emailed statement.

Meanwhile, Yarah Bravo writes on her MySpace blog that DJ Vadim has been diagnosed with cancer:

Vadim has been diagnosed with Cancer!!!
(If you would like to know more about it, please google it.
As i do not want to delve into it here.
The name is: Ocular Melanoma / choroidal melanoma and
it is a very rare type of cancer)

This has obviously been a shock for all of us.

Thankfully, it seems that neither man is in mortal danger. Nevertheless, my thoughts go out to them.

After a lengthy fall tour for last year’s impressive reggae/future soul/electronic/hip-hop hybrid The Soundcatcher, DJ Vadim will head back out on the road in February to complete some West Coast dates. This time, it will be a mix of full-on concerts and DJ gigs. Yarah Bravo, a.k.a. “Lil’ Miss B,” and Abstract Rude, who’s preparing for a run with Brother Ali, will join the Russo-British producer for a few gigs.

The itinerary is listed below.

• 2/01: Poleng Lounge, San Francisco, CA
• 2/02: Jambalaya, Arcata, CA
• 2/05: Casbah, San Diego, CA
• 2/07: Air Conditioned Lounge, Venice, CA
• 2/08: The Hut, Tucson, AZ
• 2/09: Zenbu Lounge, Squaw Valley, CA
• 2/10: Tonic Lounge, Reno, NV
• 2/13: Bar None, Vancouver, BC
• 2/14: Little Temple, Los Angeles, CA
• 2/15: Darkroom, Chicago, IL
• 2/19: Continental Rooms, Fullerton, CA
• 2/20: The Airliner, Los Angeles, CA

2/01-2/05, 2/08-2/10, 2/14: w/Yarah Bravo
2/08-2/10, 2/14: w/Abstract Rude
2/08: Gem & Jam

www.djvadim.com
www.myspace.com/djvadim

Photo by Hilary Sol Allen.

This fall, UK producer DJ Vadim will head across the U.S. on tour in support of his latest album The Soundcatcher. Accompanying him will be Yarah Bravo, the rapper/vocalist who collaborated with him on his One Self project; and L.A. rap veteran Abstract Rude. The trio plan to course through the nation’s bohemian cafes and small nightclubs, and are looking for people to help spread the word.

“If you are familiar with One Self. Then you are probably familiar with mine and my crew’s work ethics,” wrote Vadim in a MySpace message. “We are looking to create a Street Team in all the cities we are hitting. We need people who can help us distribute flyers and posters to record stores, clothes stores, coffee shops, colleges … hit up local radio, campus radio, promote at local shows etc … and spread the word! If you got a website, or run a blog etc … feel free to post it on there as well. We’ll make online flyers too.”

So consider this modest post a contribution towards the effort. If you want to help, contact the Russian through his MySpace page. In the meantime, check out the tour dates below.

• 9/26: Highline Ballroom, New York, NY
• 9/27: Soundlab, Buffalo, NY
• 9/28: TBA, Chicago, IL
• 9/29: The Social, Milwakee, WS
• 10/03: Hume Lounge, Nelson, BC
• 10/05: Lucky Bar, Victoria, tk
• 10/06: Richards on Richards, Vancouver, BC
• 10/11: Nectar Lounge, Seattle, WA
• 10/12: John Henrys, Eugene, OR
• 10/13: Fez Ballroom, Portland, OR
• 10/14: Domino Room, Bend, OR
• 10/16: The Wayside, Shasta, CA
• 10/17: Green Room, Reno, NV
• 10/19: Mighty, San Francisco, CA
• 10/20: Kava Lounge, San Diego, CA
• 10/21: Knitting Factory, Los Angeles, CA
• 10/23: Continental Room, Orange County, CA
• 10/24: Solar Culture, Tuscon, AZ
• 10/25: Blunt Club, Meza, AZ
• 10/26: Grab Bar, Houston, TX
• 10/27: Flamingo Cantina, Austin, TX
• 10/28: Granada Theatre, Dallas, TX
• 10/30: Spanish Room, Baton Rouge, LA
• 11/01: Beta Bar, Tallahassee, FL
• 11/02: Apache Cafe, Atlanta, GA
• 11/03: TBA, Charlotte, NC
• 11/04: Alley Cats, Richmond, VA

www.djvadim.com
www.myspace.com/djvadim

It’s been a long journey for DJ Vadim. The Russian-born, UK-bred producer first came to attention over a decade ago, thanks to mind-bending joints like “Abstract Hallucinating Gases.” His second album, 1996′s U.S.S.R. Repertoire (The Theory of Verticality), is one of the best albums from the downtempo/post-Shadow period, taking deconstructionist turntablist techniques to absurdly minimalist conclusions. The years since have seen him evolve into a proponent of less-rigorous quietude; “Your Revolution,” his controversial 1999 collabo with Sarah Jones, was a particular high point.

For most of that time, when not releasing new product on his now-defunct imprint Jazz Fudge, Vadim was rocking with Ninja Tune. With The Sound Catcher, however, Vadim is switching over to UK future soul imprint BBE. It makes sense: his last joint as a member of the group One Self (with Yarah Bravo and Blurum 13), Children of Possibility, seemed out of place amidst Ninja Tune’s harder electronic sounds. Considering Vadim’s new soulful direction, BBE is a natural fit.

So why should xenophobic Yanks care about this? Well, in a press release Vadim promises that The Sound Catcher is “by far my most concise, precise and best work to date,” one that brings his restless experimentation to fruition. And everybody likes good music, right? The Sound Catcher is slated for April 16 in the UK, with a U.S. release shortly thereafter (if not on the same day).

Guests announced for the album include Abstract Rude (“Soundcatchers”), Skinnyman (“Ballistic Affairs”), Kathrin DeBoer (“Black is the Night”), Zion-I, Killa Kela and Jamalski (remember him from Boogie Down Productions?). And, unlike his last solo disc, the vocal-heavy The Art of Listening, this will also include the Vadim instrumentals that hip-hop DJs love. The first single is “Like the Wind” featuring Bay Area rapper Deuce Eclipse b/w “Boom Sumting” featuring Demolition Man.

www.djvadim.com
www.myspace.com/djayvadim