For those unfamiliar with New York duo Camp Lo, they swept the mid-'90s hip-hop scene
up in nostalgic hype with a sound that utilized funky soundtrack
samples and a unique brand of indecipherable jive talk, self-described
as "black Dadaist slang." Encompassing all that was cool, black and
'70s, Camp Lo essentially did for Blaxploitation films what Wu Tang Clan
did for kung-fu flicks. Their debut album Uptown Saturday Night
remains a classic period piece of jazz-funk-soul party rap molded in a
cohesive likeness to blaxploitative '70s era New York City.
While this all might seem fascinating it still doesn't explain what
Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede are doing performing at a Fort Lauderdale
venue frequented almost exclusively by downtown regulars and rock
enthusiasts Saturday night. While it sounds like it could be an Art Of Moving Butts
reunion (it's not), it comes at the hard-hustling efforts of South
Florida "Rebelsoulrock" band Community Property. Another gig is planned for Sunday evening at Bardot in Miami.
A long time ago Camp Lo put out a press release stating they would be releasing a slang dictionary due to popular demand for explanations to song lyrics. Since this never happened, I will attempt to partially transcribe. Watch the video for "Luchini (AKA This Is It)" and read along!
Luchini - a slang term for all things encompassing the representation of wealth, though namely American Federal Reserve Notes. Most likely appropriated from a particularly expensive brand of premium select extra virgin olive oil, named "Lucini," available in the Bronx during the '80s and '90s.
Vines - Particularly stylish clothes or jewelry.
Suga Dimes - Exceptionally sweet and attractive females rated 10 or above on a quantitative scale of beauty ranging from 1 to 10.
Belafonte Vigga - Possessing the physical strength, good health and all around positive attributes of singer, social activist and blaxploitation actor Harry Belafonte.
Levitatin' - The mood altering effects achieve after smoking or ingesting Cannbis Sativa, Cannabis Indica, or Marijuana.
Car 54 - Any form of law enforcement, especially concerning those involved in motor vehicle pursuits.
Sugashack - A reference to the famous Ernie Barnes painting of the same name used for Marvin Gaye's I Want You album and readapted for Camp Lo's Uptown Saturday Night, in this case meaning "an extremely hype party."
Harlem River Quiver - Dancing wildly, most likely while intoxicated. Taken from the 1927 smash hit Duke Ellington song of the same name.
Sippin Armaretta - The ceremonial consumption of any drink made with the almond-flavored liqueur Armaretto, an alcoholic mixer of which the Lo is particularly fond of.
Camp Lo. With Community Property & Brad Minto B-Day Bash
9 p.m. Saturday, July 9 at
Poor House, 110 SW 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost ?. RSVP at [email protected].
Camp Lo. With Daniel Bombaata, and Keen One. 10 p.m. Sunday, July 10 at Bardot, 3456 N. Miami Ave., Miami. Tickets cost $10 to $15 via Showclix. Click here.
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