Fatgums' Favorites: RECORD SHOP - Jelly's, Oahu

Aloha from my Grandma's house! I am awfully lucky to have family in Hawaii. I say this not only because I get to visit the most beautiful place on earth, but because I get to visit the most beautiful record store on earth as well. Jelly's, which has two locations on Oahu, is my favorite record store in the world, hands down. It's simply "da besshest braddah!"

Normally, it's considered sacrilegious for a record digger to tell other folks about their vinyl sanctuaries. I'm going to make an exception here because:
1) I only get to come here about every other year, and
2) We gotta keep places like Jelly's in business in these hard economic times! Us deejays and producers need to drop our "anti-blow-up-the-spot" attitude when it comes to these mom and pop record shops that we all love so dearly.

I can proudly say that the majority of ...A PEACEFUL RIOT... was born in the ridiculously hot outdoor fifty-cent section in front of Jelly's Honolulu (shown above). The sample for Gunslinger Iwas definitely one of the more unique finds from this section. It was on this comedy record, probably from the 1950's, that had a bunch of wise-ass-looking white dudes on the cover. Who knows why I even put it aside to listen to, but that's just the type of shit you do at Jelly's. See usually, especially in LA, I feel this weird pressure while record shopping. I always feel like I'm in someone's way or that I'm taking too long at the listening station. It's the worst when there aren't any listening stations and the only way to hear a record is to ask a clerk to play it. I can't tell you how many times these too-cool record snobs have made me feel like a hip hop amateur. How the hell am I supposed to know what's on every record in their shop - especially back when I was only like 15 years old! Jelly's is the opposite. Everyone is super nice, and there's always an open turntable.

So when in Hawaii, go to the beach, eat plate lunch, and visit Jelly's!

Jelly's Honolulu
670 Auahi Street (Entrance on Coral Street)
Honolulu, HI 96819
Phone: (808) 587-7001

Jelly's Aiea
Harbor Center Shopping Plaza
98-023 Hekaha St. Suite B1-9
Aiea, Hawaii 96701
Phone: (808) 484-4413

Fatgums' Favorites: LA Breakfast Spots

I love eating breakfast. I especially love eating breakfast at these coffee shops. I've been lucky to have lived in various neighborhoods throughout LA, each having it's own all star spot. So here they are, my favorite breakfast spots in LA:

Tak's Coffee Shop
3870 Crenshaw Blvd # 101

Los Angeles, CA 90008
(323) 295-0195‎

My partner Brandon Walker first introduced me to Tak's. Brandon was a fan, but it was his mom who was the true regular. The Walker household is right around the corner from Tak's, maybe 3 blocks away. Since he was a youngin, his mom would drag him there to eat. This probably helped mold Brandon's eclectic taste and overall open-minded perspective on life. See, Tak's has to be one of the only spots in LA where you might see an El Salvadorian waitress serving saimin and spam-musubi to an African American deacon! The menu is a mix of Hawaiian-style breakfast food (portuguese sausage, chashu, fried rice, etc.) and local Crenshaw fare (fried chicken, waffles, cornbread, etc.). The clientele reflects the diverse menu, ranging from grumpy old Japanese men in sweatsuits to suited and booted church folk from West Angeles Church of God in Christ. Make it there. I recommend the saimin and the chicken wings.

CJ's Cafe

5501 W Pico Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90019

(323) 936-3216

This was Venise and my Mid-City breakfast spot when I lived on Hauser with ET, Roel, and Dallas. CJ's has to have the best fresh squeezed orange juice I've ever had. Venise would always get a cheeseburger and I'd get the corned beef hash and eggs. On nice days they set up sidewalk tables right on Pico. Plus, for all of the people watchers out there, if you are into multiethnic 20-30 year-olds who aren't too Hollywood yet better kempt than the average joe/jane, this is the spot to find them.

Tokyo 7-7

3839 Main St # B

Culver City, CA 90232

(310) 204-5728

Tokyo 7-7 is relatively new to me, but I feel more at home at this spot than at any of the others. The familiarity is provided by a team of small, elderly Japanese waitresses who all remind me of my grandma. Finding this place is pretty tough, but finding it for the first time makes it all the more special. The prices are hella good. You can get eggs, bacon/sausage, toast, and homefries for $2.35!

A New Favorite: "Hold On John" by Johnson & Jonson

I must have listened to this like 50 times this week...

"Hold On John" by Johnson & Jonson (Blu and Mainframe)

Fatgums' Favorites - Part 3

CMC Videos:

All About My Fetti - by Young Lay, Ray Luv, and Mac Mall (from the New Jersey Drive Soundtrack). Remember Rickey Waters was in this shit?! That's a damn good trivia question right there.

Bounce To This - by RBL Posse (R.I.P. Mr. Cee and Hitman). Look at good ol' Sway in there. I didn't know there was an uncensored version - cover your eyes kids!

Ghetto Theme - by Mac Mall. Pac's directorial debut?

For those folks not from The Bay, CMC (California Music Channel) was the main source for Bay Area Hip Hop videos for little knuckleheads like me back in the day. Big-Ups to Chuy Gomez, Trace DOG and Franzen!

-Fatgums

Fatgums' Favorites - Part 2

Action Figures: Blaster and Soundwave

I love these, love 'em!...and find myself obsessed with getting all of their little homie cassette tapes. Don't have them all yet, but I'm getting close!

According to T-Know, the creation of the character Blaster was inspired by a letter from a young b-boy in Wilmington, California. The boy wrote that the Autobots should have their own version of Soundwave, and that instead of a Walkman, it should be a Ghetto Blaster. So thanks to young Florentino, who grew up to be a pretty good rapper, my favorite action figure was created. Thanks T! I sure hope you get some royalties one day.



Did you know they make Soundwave MP3 players in Japan?! Those crazy, crazy Japanese...

-Fatgums

Fatgums' Favorites - Part 1

Sneakers:

Nike Air Raid II "Peace" colorway. Please, PLEASE retro the black ones of these Mr. Nike!

-Gums