Lookout Phoenix here we come....



The HipJoint is Arizona's original Funk party, launched in early 1995 by local artist Luis Gutierrez, who had just returned from a year-long stinch in London, England. Inspired by the hip club culture of the European Acid Jazz scene, which fused the sounds of oldschool Funk, Soul and Jazz with modern influences from House and Hip Hop, Luis decided to bring this concept to Arziona. The Hip Joint was the first clubnight in the state dedicated exclusively to these genres. It began at the Full House, a small bar in downtown Phoenix.

Resident DJs Essential and DJ Pari (from Germany) were the first to cook up a mix of all sounds of black music, inviting local guest DJs. The HipJoint soon attracted a crowd of devoted followers - rave kids, b-boys, Hip Hoppers and alternative thinkers - and in the summer of '95 moved to Jamaican Blue and finally the Congo in Scottsdale, next door to the Swell Records shop. At that time, The HipJoint was one of Arizona's most progressive party nights, featuring top notch DJs and live jam sessions with the HipJoint houseband Swift. Among the regulars who would hang out at The HipJoint were DJs Emile and Z-Trip. In early 1996, Luis retired from the HipJoint, DJ Pari moved to Los Angeles and the remaining members of the HipJoint family went separate ways. But in 2009, almost 15 years after Luis brought Arizona's first Funk party to Phoenix.

The HipJoint will return as a monthly party format, bringing back the sounds and vibes from back in the day and featuring some of the original HipJoint DJs, including DJ Essential and DJ Pari, who has made it to international fame in the Funk scene, constantly touring in the U.S., Europe and Japan (he now lives in Richmond, VA).

Whether you used to hang with us in '95, or are new on the block, as long as you are devoted to the Funk, you'll have a funky good time. It'll be like The HipJoint never left!
[Edited 3/14/09 10:23am]
[Edited 4/5/09 15:26pm]

WTF!!!! This is so short notice. I'm gonna kill you and Pari.

Vendetta1 said:

Lmao we'll see how this goes over i am sure that me and Pari will dj together more after this

Boo!!!!

Vendetta1 said:

I am excited we're gonna have alot of fun

Freaking cool flyer brotha ! Have a ball

*anti-love song with bass in ya face*

IAintTheOne said:

Yeah bro, it's gonna be cool. I haven't been to AZ since '99, so it's gonna be really cool to re-connect with many people ... and meeting Finess for the first time.

For those of you in AZ, please make friends - www.myspace.com/hipjointaz

MrSoulpower said:

it'll be pretty righteous

IAintTheOne said:

It would be even more righteous if my flight back home wouldn't depart at 6 a.m. the next day.

MrSoulpower said:

damn

IAintTheOne said:

That's what I said when Luis sent me the ticket. But it's all good, I'll get in town two days before the gig, so I'll have enough time to hook up with friends and go diggin'. There are serious spots to dig in Phx, did you know that?

MrSoulpower said:

yup. it looks like we go on a dig

IAintTheOne said:

My spots used to be Trax in Wax on Central Ave downtown and Memory Lane in Tempe. Is the latter still around? They used to have 1000s of 45s, but I was more into 12"s back in the day .. I'd love to revisit that spot.

MrSoulpower said:

Dude Memory lane is gone we went by there last weekend. Trax n wax is still there, Stinkweeds is east side I think still is.. so yeah

IAintTheOne said:

That's a shame about Memory Lane .. damn! I wonder where all the vinyl went. I know Trax in Wax is still there .. is it still the two sweaty, heroin shootin' brothers who run that joint? Man, I bought so much shit there.

Never been to Stinkweeds. Let's check that out.

MrSoulpower said:

Vinyl, that is.

MrSoulpower said:

done deal

Vendetta1 said:

Don't. Wait until we hit Chicago.

MrSoulpower said:

whoa oh
[Edited 3/14/09 14:28pm]

IAintTheOne said:

Detroit April 24. Close enough.

MrSoulpower said:

damn

IAintTheOne said:

Yeah. With Marva Whitney. At America's largest Funk party. Detroit is happening.

MrSoulpower said:

sounds like a gas

IAintTheOne said:

I had no idea until I heard from these guys. They got 1,500 people every month. The Hip Joint has a long way to go.

MrSoulpower said:

yeah but we'll make it happen I do have people comin' to the hip joint so word of mouth. we'll get it together

IAintTheOne said:

Sure thing. We chose a rather small venue for the reunion. If we pack it, we'll move to a bigger one. That's the law of nature. Phoenix has no Funk scene but the need is there. A year from now, it will be big.

MrSoulpower said:

im with y'all man

IAintTheOne said:

Let's light this candle


Dig it,

If you've never been to PHX better come on down the Hip joint is ready to smoke Phoenix out with some Super dynamite soul. your all-star dj line up

Dj Pari
Yours Truly Finess
Meaty Ogre
Earwig
STBL3
Dj Essential

We start gettin hip at 10 pm so come on in "Let ya hair down or put it down on the seat next to ya ain't no body gonna take it" - Bar Kays Wattstax

We promise we will be good your earhole

MrSoulpower said: