Vinyl Sunday: "Change Up the Groove"

Happy "Vinyl Sunday" folks! Last week, Gemini 5ive was kind enough to tackle the survey. If you haven't checked out his post, be sure to do so. Next up, we have instrumental musician, hip hop producer, and blogger IV the Polymath. I can tell by his survey that he's definitely a vinyl junkie, so let's talk records!

Name: IV the Polymath

Hometown: Grew up in Saginaw, MI & Potsdam, NY, but currently reside in Muncie, Indiana.

Right now I’m listening to a lot of: Jazz! Always jazz & funk for me. Some hip hop as well – I really enjoy the instrumental stuff. As far as names go: Lonnie Liston Smith, Grover Washington Jr., The Meters, Damu The Fudgemunk, RJD2, Dorothy Ashby, Fela Kuti, Quincy Jones, A Tribe Called Quest, Cymande, etc.

Why vinyl? Because you can’t drop the needle on a CD haha. I think every wax lover would agree that you just can’t reproduce the sonic beauty, dynamic range, & rugged crackle that vinyl provides. The artwork always looks better on a 12”, the liner notes are fun to read, & there is just an overall dopeness records possess that other formats can’t even come close to. And yo, let’s not forget the smell! I love the smell of vinyl records.

What was your first album? How did you get it? My mom had an ill collection when I was growing up & my first vinyl experiences came thru her. She let me bring her Herbie Hancock records up to my room & that started my love for both vinyl & jazz.

What prompted you to start collecting? I started making beats & bought a couple of turntables so naturally I needed to get some records. It progressively became an uncontrollable addiction.

Favorite spots to get records: Philadelphia Record Exchange is my favorite. It’s 3 stories tall & the upstairs has an extensive collection of jazz. A local spot called Dan’s Downtown Records also has excellent records for mad cheap.

Tell me about a record you still regret not picking up: Ah you know I really don’t have any regrets. If I can’t afford the records I want I usually hide them in the country section & come back to grab them when I get the loot haha.

Tell me about your Vinyl Sunday selection: "Fikisha (To Help Someone To Arrive)" is one of my all-time favorite grooves with plenty of energy. I usually do laundry & clean the crib on Sundays, so I need something upbeat, but still laid back enough to be consistent with that lazy Sunday vibe. "Change Up The Groove"  fits that description perfectly. Also, this particular record has a classic break on it making it even more special.

James Brown or Al Green: Got plenty of love for Al Green, but it’s JB no contest.

Old Mary J. (Blige) or New Mary J: Definitely old Mary J. The beats were better back then if nothing else.

Where can people find you? You can find me @ www.ivthepolymath.com. Aside from my own music, I’ve got vinyl mixes & podcasts up there for free DL that are jazz, funk, & hip hop based. I’m also on Twitter (@ivthepolymath) so hit me up & let’s talk music!