Peeps,
Let me introduce you to our bodyguard:

Her name is AMANDINE ROMERO,
She’s always on point.

You guys don’t wanna mess with her,
She’s mean as hell.

She’s no joke,
Ask anybody in the business—

Put it this way, would  you want to upset her?
I wouldn’t.

Ask Fafi!

Just trying to get your attention.

Music+Internet+Lists.
If you’re like me, you gotta love a time like this.

To conclude these TOP LOVE/HATE posts, some random bits I wanted to share and argue you with:

DECADE’S BEST DJ: Sorry guys, I can’t choose one. I tried. I can’t.

DECADE’S BEST PRODUCER: See above.

DECADE’S BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Nas.

DECADE’S BEST MUSICIAN: Jack White.

Attention!

NEXT DECADE’S MOST LOOKED FORWARD:

Albums by SEBASTIAN and SURKIN.
New albums by THE MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUGHTS and GLASS CANDY.
The rise and rise of SANTIGOLD.
And the return of JACKSON AND HIS COMPUTER BAND.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, this wonderful album by COMMON that I forgot in my list the other day. I was so influenced by that record back in 2001. It brings back the best memories of the time I was meeting up with Pedro, kicking it “around the world” style, taking the MPC to the craziest places and just making beats all day with my crew the 113, Manu Key and Karlito. It was an amazing ride of a decade. I had so much fun, met many great peoples and saw some beautiful places. I got married and had a son. I had success and failures. I was in Mafia K’1Fry AND in Ed Banger. I was there. I am the 2000’s.

Mehdi.

No matter how much the industry changed this decade, albums were always the best thing about this music game. The feeling of getting it, ripping the cellophane off, opening the booklet, pressing play, and reading the credits, I simply can’t compare it to anything else. It’s a standard for absolute pleasure.

According to my iTunes count, here are the 5 albums I listened to the most this decade:

1. THE BLUEPRINT Jay-Z. (Roc-A-Fella) 2001
Rap music in the 2000’s doesn’t get any better than this, point blank.

2. VOODOO D’Angelo. (Virgin) 2001
Perfect record, start to finish, no wonder why D never dared to release another one.

3. L’INCROYABLE VERITE Sebastien Tellier. (Record Makers) 2001
Best french album of the decade, please don’t argue.

4. LATE REGISTRATION Kanye West. (Roc-A-Fella) 2005
In confidence, this is the Hip-hop album I wish I produced. I love this record.

5. SPEAKERBOXXX/THE LOVE BELOW Outkast. (La-Face) 2003
Still trying to get over the initial knock-out.  The definition of creativity in music.

HONORABLE MENTION: SO FAR GONE Drake. (Young Money) 2009
It’s still early to say if it will go down as one of the best ever, but it sure is the one I listened to the most this year.

——-
OTHER PERSONAL FAVS OF THE NAUGHTS:

QUALITY by Talib Kweli.
† by Justice.
SHE’S IN CONTROL by Chromeo.
ORACULAR SPECTACULAR by MGMT.
THE RECESSION by Young Jeezy.

——-
BONUS TRACK: MOST UNDERRATED ALBUMS

TOUCH by Amerie.
SO MUCH FOR THE CITY by The Thrills.
ANY SOUNDTRACK by Jon Brion. (especially HUCKABEES)
FABRICLIVE #36 by James Murphy and Pat Mahoney.
UNDERGROUND KINGZ by UGK.

It ain’t over yet!

Mehdi.

I love this video; I swear I had this idea floating around a long time, ask Pedro, I always wanted to dance in my videos (see I AM SOMEBODY for example).
Dave, you fox, you did it!
Congrats to Jeremy Rozan from Surface2Air as well, great job guys—

Mehdi.

Parties this year, we had a lot. Some good, some bad, some GREAT. It is what it is:

——-
LOVED:
——-

1. ED BANGER’S 6 1/2 BIRTHDAY @CORONET, LONDON. (JULY 10)

We make these Ed birtday parties every year, but this one was really special. Everybody down, great atmosphere,  line around the block, thanks again London (and you’re welcome).
——-
2. ED ALL STARS @CINESPACE , LOS ANGELES. (APRIL 21)

It was Busy P’s birthday bash, the whole crew was here, plus KAVINSKY, A-TRAK and CHRIS HOLMES as our special guests. Then Thomas Bangalter told me “give me your CD case, I want to play a couple of tunes”. And the rest is history.
——-
3. RITON’S “WHO’S THERE” RELEASE PARTY @PLASTIC PEOPLE, LONDON. (APRIL 23)

Riton is one of my favourite DJ’s and Plastic People my favorite venue in the UK. Small but beautiful.
——-
4. BUSY P @SONAR BY DAY, BARCELONA. (JUNE 20)

I don’t think Pedro is getting enough credit for how good a DJ he is. That afternoon, he was untouchable.
——-
5. A-TRAK’S “INFINITY+1″ PARTY @STUDIO B, NEW YORK CITY. (MARCH 14)

Every year I take a 3 months break from touring, usually from January to March. This party was my ‘back in business’ gig, new CD case, a lot of tunes to test out, A-Trak on stage and, well, New York motherfuckin’ City in the house.
——-
6. FORMA-T @FUSE, BRUSSELS. (SEPTEMBER 11)

After a rather long string of summer festival shows, it feels good to get back to the down and dirty club gigs, where you can actually touch peeps with your bare hands on AND off the decks. One of the best clubs in the world, sound-system unrivalled, great crowd. One of those nights.
——-
7. GRAND PRIX D’ASIE MINI TOUR, BANGKOK/SINGAPOUR/JAKARTA (OCTOBER)

When Fafi and I went club-hopping in Asia this Autumn, we simply had no clue. Now, we know. And can’t wait to go back. (Peace to Dave, the wonderful peeps from ZOUK, and Arief for letting me destroy the BUDDAH BAR).
——-
8. ANNIE MAC PRESENTS @WAX-ON, LEEDS. (APRIL 25) + HALLOWEEN PARTY @LET IT BLEED, ABERDEEN. (OCTOBER 31)

There’s something about DJing very tired and very drunk in the UK, and I love it.
——-
9.  DJ MEHDI @NEIDKLUB, HAMBURG. (JUNE 27)

When I told my agent I wanted to do more ‘Old School House Music’ parties now, this was the one I was referring to. (See also, FOUFOUNES ELECTRIQUES in Montreal, Canada.)
——-
10. POCKET PIANO RELEASE PARTY (DEC 10), HAPPY ENDINGS @CHEZ MOUNE (JUNE 4), CLUB75 @SOCIAL CLUB (OCT 8), PARIS.

Feels good to be home sometimes. Peace to Club75, the A-Team, the Paydays, the Ed Rec Party Crüe, and a special one to my partners BUSY P and SO-ME.

——-
HATED:
——-

1. VICE PARTY @HEAVEN, LONDON. (JUNE 10)
2. FOOL’S GOLD PARTY @SXSW, AUSTIN. (MARCH 19)
3. BUGGED OUT@PARK, MILANO. (JULY 3)
4. NUIT ROUGE @HALLE DE MARTIGUES. (SEPT 12)
5. ED BANGER @4SANS, BORDEAUX. (JUNE 5)

Sometimes it just doesn’t work.

More TOP and WORST soon soon,

Mehdi.