Chairman Mao
Soul / Funk
Historically, the name Chairman Mao is associated with the late revolutionary leader of communist China a bad dude who ran shit with an iron fist. But in the world of hip hop and DJ culture another figure known as Chairman Mao has attained great respect in a far more benevolent way. Armed with endless crates of vinyl goodies, DJ Chairman Mao (government name: Jeff Mao) spreads his passion for grand grooves every other Saturday as he has for past four years rocking tastemakers, dancing fools, and assorted other party people at New York City hotspot APT. Mao's mix CD collaborations with DJ Citizen Kane, 2000's Selects 001 and 2002's The Greatest Part, have won accolades from funk, soul and disco fans worldwide. Now with his latest solo effort, Mao fully exhibits his vast knowledge of soulful music and his smooth mixing skills. Entitled Run For Cover, it is a mix composed entirely of rare versions of classic songs from everyone from Curtis Mayfield to Marvin Gaye to Kool & the Gang to the Mary Jane Girls, and many others. While the artists doing these songs may be unfamiliar to most listeners, the material still sounds as tight as ever.
Not bad for a part-time DJ! Despite his long-running New York party, celebrated gigs with DJ Cash Money, 45 King, Peanut Butter Wolf, and Keb Darge, and well received mix CDs, Chairman Mao spends most of his time working as a music journalist, author, and TV producer. A big supporter of underground hip hop, he gives exposure to up-and-coming artists every month in Chairman's Choice his column for top rap publication XXL. In addition, Mao has co-authored two books with his creative collective, ego trip. The first, ego trip's Book of Rap Lists (St. Martin's Press, 1999), is widely acknowledged as one of the best books ever written on hip hop. The second, ego trip's Big Book of Racism! (ReganBooks, 2002), is an acclaimed satire of race relations in the US. Mao and ego trip have also developed the TV mini-series ego trip's Race O Rama for the VH1 network. Man, he stays busy!
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