LA Weekly

Located in downtown Cerritos, owned and operated by legendary DJ Icy Ice, Stacks the Vinyl Authority caters to hip-hop DJs and specializes in R&B, underground hip-hop and Top 40 hip-hop vinyl. Customers can also buy used turntables, special-order DJ gear and peep the vast music collection. You won’t find commercial shiz, only underground hip-hop records are sold here. Aspiring DJs can learn to scratch and mix during Stacks’ clinics, which are held twice a month, or by making an appointment for a one-on-one DJ lesson. Stacks also holds DJ workshops: Past sessions have addressed such topics as “Table Manners: A 101 in DJ Etiquette” and “Production Clinic With Babu,” wherein hip-hop lovers learned production skills from Babu of the Beat Junkies and Dialated Peoples. Not only can you learn to spin, but Stacks also has in-store performances — Kev Brown, the Dilated Peoples, Tha Alkaholiks, Supernatural, Deux Process and Redman have all thrown down beats here. Next in-house show is the Stacks and Grey One DJ Battle Prelim, Sun., Aug. 19, 3 p.m. Stacks the Vinyl Authority, 18300 Gridley Road, Cerritos. (562) 809-8560 or www.stacksvinyl.com.


Fil-Am hip-hop inebriates the night at these Hollywood hotspots, hand picked by club kid Jep Martinez of the Braveharts street team. These clubs go balls out and have the sickest hip-hop beats in town. Jep digs DJ PJ and DJ Ren Jams, regulars at his top four picks. More DJs to look out for are DJ Refresh, DJ Twist, DJ Buzz and DJ Spee, among others. For all the clubs, guest list is $10 and $20 for general admission. How do you get in on the VIP action? Put your name on the list at www.mindsexentertainment.com.

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Jep’s Hit List
Fil-Am club nights you don’t want to miss


Phat Thursdays

Bring all yo’ home skillets to Jep’s favorite spot, Cinespace, where the only thing wilder than the line to get in is what’s going on inside. It’s Jep’s fave cuz of the kick-ass elegant ambience and diverse crowd — all types of people come out, bringing the community closer together. Tonight the theme is Mardi Gras, so bust out the beads and be prepared to party N’awlins style. Thursdays are 18+. Cinespace, 6356 Hollywood Blvd., second level, Hlywd., (323) 817-3456 or www.cinespace.info.


Freaky Fridays

Facade is crackin’ on Fridays and has more of a chill factor, with an upbeat, upscale crowd that makes this joint a good spot to meet new peeps. Upstairs is the place to be, with an all-glass-aquarium VIP lounge. Jep recommends getting there early; there hasn’t been one week where the crowd’s been down. Fridays are 21+. Facade, 6356 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd., (323) 465-4827.


Sick Saturdays

Get your groove on at The Highland. Jep calls this spot a “nice-ass venue.” Besides its plush, leather furniture, it is an indoor/outdoor club with terraces looking out over the city. The joint is live, with nonstop action and partying. Dress to impress, because the club is known for having a sexy crowd and even sexier go-go dancers. Saturdays are 21+. The Highlands Hollywood, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 433, Hlywd., (323) 461-9800 or www.thehighlandshollywood.com.


Located between Gower and El Centro, Larchmont is fresh. The crowd is younger, fun and flirty. It’s one of the smaller clubs, fitting around 500 to 600, but that doesn’t put a damper on the fun. Check out the killer patio, with deejaying under the stars. Saturdays are 18+. Larchmont, 5657 Melrose Ave., Hlywd., (323) 360-8431.

Also, some of Jep's music picks at the moment:
A'z - Stoopid


Diligentz - Punk Rock Remix ft. the Pack


Federation ft. Keak Da Sneak, E-40, Turf Talk & San Quinn - Hyphy Remix


A'z - Yadadamean


E-40 ft. Federation - Go Hard Or Go Home



Also read The Fil-Am Invasion: Embedded with the hip-hop movement that’s taking over Hollywood by Sam Slovick