For anyone who didn't make it down to the Bumpshop 4-Year Anniversary party a couple weeks back - which featured yet another sterling appearance (his fifth, if you can believe it) from the one and only Kenny Dope - well... you're in luck. It just so happens that we recorded Kenny's set from that night and my peoples over at Red Bull Music Academy Radio are streaming it exclusively for your listening pleasure. That's right, you lucky bastards: two hours of Dope Man in the mix on the funk, soul and Latin 45 tip that you'll never hear anywhere else. (Well, unless you personally know either myself, Griffiths, Fine Wine or Jared; or if you spend any time hanging out at Jared's shop, Big City Records, where it's been in heavy rotation of late.)
You know what, though? In actuality, you're not the only lucky bastards in this situation. We at Bumpshop are. That's because four years ago when we started this party (with the encouragement of APT's invaluable first music director, the homie Alec DeRuggiero), we weren't necessarily sure that a deep funk and soul thing could succeed on a Saturday night in the Meatpacking District (and this was actually before "Meatpacking District" became synonymous with "Hell on Earth").
Fortunately, Bumpshop was legitimized from jump when Kenny said "yes" to being our inaugural guest. He didn't have to do it. But he wanted to support the night. He, like us, believed that NYC could (and should) sustain a party (like other cities did - e.g. "Sheer Magic" in Chicago, "Funk Night" in Detroit, "Funky Sole" in L.A. etc.) where great but seldom heard OG 45s could be enjoyed alongside classics; where purist and party aesthetics weren't mutually exclusive. And for that we, and I personally, will be forever grateful to him. Dude was Mr. Dream Merchant for us. Now, of course, it's become tradition that Kenny joins us every January when it's time to celebrate our anniversary. We wouldn't have it any other way.
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