15 March 27 - april 2, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | Music | MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | Still the DJ DJ Jazzy Jeff returns to Miami Music Week for a Glitterbox disco set. BY KEARRA WEITING E lectronic music makers and lovers from all over the world will soon make the annual pilgrimage to Mi- ami at the end of the month for Mi- ami Music Week. Venues and collectives are announcing shows left and right, anointing attendees with a flurry of excitement as they plan their exhaustive itineraries. One of the most iconic parties is Glitter- box, well-known for the poolside classic house and disco vibes it brings during MMW. As part of the DJ Mag Pool Parties series at the Sagamore, a bevy of legends have been as- signed closing duties on Sunday, March 30. One of those legends is DJ Jazzy Jeff, who revolutionized turntablism and played a piv- otal role in shaping the then-burgeoning genre of hip-hop. While this isn’t his first MMW appear- ance, it’s been a while since Jeff graced South Florida with his presence. He forged a rela- tionship with the Magic City in the late Nine- ties when the Winter Music Conference stood supreme. Reminiscing about his rela- tionship with Miami, he divulges that he was primarily intrigued by music makers gather- ing in one location to establish community through their parties and music. It’s challeng- ing to accomplish that goal when you’re con- stantly in the studio or on tour. “You get inspired by seeing so many of these other people,” he says. “That would fill my gas tank up and allow me to play all over the world for a year and get to the point of. I can’t wait to go to Miami again to see my friends play.” This year’s return came after a phone call from an old friend who used to attend WMC with Jeff, who told him about the throwback event at the Sagamore. The disco-oriented fo- cus of his upcoming set compliments Glitter- box’s ethos and allows him to play to his central focus: the crowd. “I am not the most important factor when it comes down to it — the people are,” he ex- plains, adding that the crowd helps him de- termine what to play next. “My job isn’t to show everybody how good I am. My job is to make people have a good time.” The senti- ment is refreshing in an era where taking photos of the DJ or being seen behind the booth often takes precedence over the music. Serving the interests of the crowd while honoring the event bolsters the sense of com- munity cultivated during Miami Music Week. Jeff thrives on the symbiotic relationship cre- ated with the crowd before him. He knows what’s coming before they do and uses that knowledge to help everyone loosen up, no matter their mood. “I believe people feel your energy. By the time we get here, and I play this record, and I look up, and you’ve got your hands in the air — that’s it,” he says. Beyond MMW, Jazzy Jeff is embracing a phase of unrestrained creativity. The pan- demic provided ample opportunity to re- home his focus. He used that time to distance himself from the constraints of an industry that often prioritizes profit over artistry. “I am no longer in the music industry; I just make music,” he adds. Last year marked the return of the Playlist Retreat, an event hosted by Jazzy Jeff where musicians, DJs, produc- ers, and more network to produce music on their own terms. He’s also cultivated a robust, multifaceted platform where he livestreams, spinning vinyl for the Mag Mob VIP commu- nity and anyone else who wants to watch. The renewed sense of focus allowed Jeff to produce more music in the past year than ever before. His son, Cory Townes, has become a prominent collaborator. The promotional as- pect for their latest upcoming project utilizes “shorts,” videos no more than a minute and a half long, and paired with a visual component. “People’s attention spans are so short. We wanted to give them a record that could po- tentially be a trailer for a song.” The approach attempts to bridge the chasm between artists and audiences in an era of fleeting focus. Peo- ple can sample something new between busy moments and embrace the longer format when they have time. Jeff isn’t done innovating yet. He is dedi- cated to bridging the gap between past and present, as well as artist and audience. He is standing on the cusp of a new era, and those who attend Glitterbox’s closing party will bear witness to it. He’s happy to play music with friends like Detroit legend Moodymann and Rich Medina, and these performances are already shaping up to be a highlight of Mi- ami Music Week. Glitterbox. With DJ Jazzy Jeff, Moody- mann, DJ Holographic, Natasha Diggs, and others. 1 to 11 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at the Sagamore, 1671 Collins Ave., Miami; saga- morepoolparty.com. Tickets cost $75 to $200 via eventbrite.com. [email protected] ▼ Music Don’t miss DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Miami Music Week set at the Sagamore on March 30. Photo by Chad Jenkins “I CAN’T WAIT TO GO TO MIAMI AGAIN TO SEE MY FRIENDS PLAY.” Show Em How It’s Done South Florida native Tape B is set to deliver a bass-heavy MMW set. BY OSVALDO ESPINO B ass music, which encompasses many sub- genres like future bass, dubstep, drum ‘n’ bass, and UK garage, is having a bit of a resurgence. Tape B can certainly attest to that. Known for his iconic tagline “Yo Tape B, show ‘em how it’s done!” the South Florida native has been making waves in the scene thanks to head- banging remixes and collaborations with John Summit, Subtronics, and Juicy J. He has become synonymous with the rising appreciation for bass-heavy music and melding with hip-hop. His latest mixtape, CarTunes Vol. 4, released in January, has been getting devoured by his fans, amassing over 600,000 listens on Sound- Cloud alone. “The main goal is always to have fun with it, but I also strive to outdo myself every time,” Tape B tells New Times. “I want to feel like I’m improving, and if I can’t improve, then at least I want to keep the same level of quality. There’s always room to grow. “With this mix specifically, I was extremely nervous because I felt like CarTunes Vol. 3 was the best work I’d ever done,” he adds. “Coming into this one, my expectations were really high, and it was honestly nerve-wracking. For about two months, I didn’t even want to release it be- cause I didn’t think it was good enough. I kept second-guessing myself. But now that it’s out, I feel really good about how it turned out and how it all came together.” A fan of hip-hop since his early youth, Tape B (real name Kemal Berk Alkanat) has learned to combine the two worlds, which in return has helped him gain traction from fans of both genres. Among his fans was hip-hop legend Juicy J, who collaborated with the producer on “Trippy Land.” It was a dream partnership for Tape B, with acts like the Underachievers, Wiz Khalifa, and Flatbush Zombies on his wish list. One collaboration that will sadly never hap- pen is with his favorite artist, Mac Miller. “GO:OD AM is my favorite album by him. I still listen to it a couple of times a week; it’s some- thing I never get tired of. I also loved his early SoundCloud era in high school, with mixtapes featuring Schoolboy Q, Vince Staples, and his work as Larry Fisherman. Tracks like ‘New Faces V2’ with Earl Sweatshirt were some of my favor- ites from that time.” Growing up in Boca Raton, Tape was aware of the SoundCloud rap movement that emerged in South Florida in the 2010s, as well as the music from radio staples like Lil Wayne, Akon, and T Pain. He dove into electronic music in high school after a friend bought a pair of LED gloves from EmazingLights. “I thought they looked sick, so I checked out their YouTube videos, which featured popular dubstep tracks at the >> p19 Tape B is ready for his homecoming during Miami Music Week. Photo by Natalia Martinez/@nataliamarttinez
