Howdy—now you know it wouldn't be 2008 without some RIPs to start it off, so here goes. Firstly, RIP to Johnny "J" Jackson, the multiplatinum (if somehow slept-on) producer of many West Coast classics. While he first got his name out with "Knockin' Boots" by Candyman, Johnny is chiefly remembered for the large body of work he recorded with the late, great Tupac Shakur. Jackson died of an apparent suicide, in circumstances that make me scratch my head: While serving a sentence for a DUI charge in Los Angeles, Johnny allegedly leaped to his death from an upper tier of the Twin Towers Correctional Facility. Suspect it may be, but sad regardless; I'ma pop in "Stay True" off of Thug Life: Volume 1 in his honor.

The world has also lost Levi Stubbs, whose unmistakable muscular vocals led the Four Tops, one of the finest groups in Motown history (thus very high in the running for one of the best groups period). Stubbs was responsible for enduring hits like "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out (I'll Be There)." He died in his sleep, at home in Detroit, where Hitsville U.S.A. once changed the world. RIP. Right now, I'm tearing my spot apart looking for my Four Tops anthology so I can hear "Still Waters Run Deep"... damn.

I got to send a shout to my dude Candidt, who among other things (such as wrapping up his long-awaited album Sweatsuit & Churchshoes) has been doing his monthly, the Corner, at the Rendezvous for the past six months with great success, not only featuring some of the best sets I've seen from a lot of your favorite locals, but with a consistently great house-party vibe. The next edition, going down October 24 at the Rendezvous, should be no different; it'll feature Akrish, Wizdom, and (super conflict of interest alert) Bruce Illest and Gatsby (herewith to be known collectively as They Live!) performing their free- download-only EP, The Dro Bots Saga— and it's all headlined by The Only Forgotten Son, Sportn' Life's own Fatal Lucciauno. I just hope the sprinklers are up to spec.

I see that Bermuda's illest white boy, Collie Buddz, is doing his thing at Nectar on October 28 and 29—I haven't really fucked with too much new reggae or dancehall since those "Wicked & Wild" nights at the Baltic Room from years past (it's at the War Room now, FYI), but damn I loved last year's Buddz single "Come Around" like cornbread. Both dates also feature DJ Collage aka Mr. Chatman, whose upcoming Marathon Man is a (blood and) fire slab of pounding dancehall with trace elements of bhangra, dub, and electronica that'll all collude to sound divine with a couple Red Stripes in ya, seen? And those bitches better be ice-cold, I hate warm Stripes, damn!