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RAJ

RAJ

tenacious local

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  • Introducing... The Soul Strut Music Archive

    RAJRAJ
    For the past few years, it's been extremely quite around here.  While the web site hasn't seen much activity (other than the mixes page), I have been extremely active behind the scenes meticulously combing a vast archive of discussion threads from 2001-2007 documenting the eclectic and diverse musical tastes and trends of the Soul Strut community.

    I have amassed around 17,000 albums and singles (and that is up until 2007.)  

    I've made a life time decision to review and collect the most relevant recordings discussed on here in order to inform music lovers for years to come of how great this place really was is.

    I'm going alphabetical.  So with an average of 5 reviews a day, it will take me YEARS to complete.

    So, without further, here is the soft opening of THE ARCHIVE.
    ppadilhaDORDuderonomyklezmer electro-thug beatsdeezleeJimsterketandj_cityboybillbradleyThe BizarreYaga.Reactions.RecordLimit.Plural

  • Soul Strut 25: We're Not Done Yet Edition

    RAJRAJ
    Hey folks.  Alot of isht has gone down in the 10 months since I made that whimsical announcement that I was pulling the plug on soulstrut on Oct 31.   It's been a crazy challenging year for me and my mind has been on other things.  The outpouring of support from faithful strutters has put a lot of things in perspective.  So, much to the chagrin to the people at the-breaks.com and Weird-Records-that-Suck.org, I will be keeping the lights on at soulstrut for the near future.  I'm hoping I can circle back when the smoke clears and spend more time delving into the rich history of this place.  Thank you all for your support and understanding.   
    billbradleyklezmer electro-thug beatsketanpinoJimsteralieNDN2mistermayoElectrodeYemskydj_cityboyYaga.Reactions.RecordLimit.Plural

  • Catching up with Soul Strut (NRR)...

    RAJRAJ
    I live soul strut nostalgia on a daily basis.  I currently comb old threads and make play lists, want lists, and write about the records here.  I'm extremely proud to still have access to 13 years of threads on here (2005-2018).  2 years of threads on my hard drive (2001-2003) and regretful, I did not back up 2004.  The thread subjects are still on Wayback Machine, but the posts themselves were never archived.

    That being said, I'm blown away by the knowledge every one shared and the sense of community. I'm proud that records like Stark Reality, East of Underground, and others were hyped here before they were ever reissued. After 2004, I missed a lot of threads, dedicating a lot of my time to fatherhood, building my father-in-laws startup, exida, and maintaining this site.  The activity was so intense, I couldn't keep up.  

    And then... the smoke cleared and I had a lot more time on my hands, but by that time, everyone was gone!  LOL.  I still wish this place would ramp up again, but that ship has sailed.  I miss the community.  Supporting DJs, producers, record dealers, etc.  It would be a lot more fun today as I have a lot more disposable income at 42!  Social media is not the same.  People are a lot more narcissistic and desensitized.  

    Regardless, I'm here for the long run.  There are millions of posts to explore and expand upon.

    Viva La Strut!
    DuderonomyRhythmGJdeezleeJuniorsticky_dojahbillbradleyketanwaxjunkySatchelmouthTheodore_RucksYaga.Reactions.RecordLimit.Plural

  • Why So Quiet Around Here?

    RAJRAJ
    yuichi said:
    RAJ said:
    yuichi said:
    Hey guys.  To be completely blunt, the last format/layout change I think completely turned off most
    remaining OG members. 
    I noticed that.. Harvey Canal, Batmon, Laserwolf, DB Cooper all jumped shipped after the "upgrade".  I will admit that the latest upgrade was a last ditch attempt to be "relevant" as it features a lot of more social media stylings.  It does have it's benefits (like a better search engine), but then again, if you are living in 2016 and still using message board technology, it's probably the last thing you care about.  

    I guess I am....

     

    In all honesty, though, I miss the community.  I miss being able to support people's new releases, hear about their new mixes, get excited about a new record store someone is opening up, a movie review.  All that is gone.  I'm friends with a lot of the same people on Facebook and it's not the same.  In fact, I unfollowed a lot of them because of the same stupid daily narcissism.  

    Also, I haven't been on Waxidermy in years, but props to them for keeping it simple and retaining their audience.  That was not a healthy place for me, though.  The last few times I was on there, it was filled with ex pats reveling in this place's demise.  

    Nonetheless, I am fully dedicated to having this place still up and running for more years to come!  The archives are one of my children and I hope people get the same value out of them as I do.


    Raj, you are CLEARLY disconnected son.　The last thing, anybody cares about is poasting from their smartphone.
    Only thing I do that is close is listen to some mixes on Soundcloud on my phone.

    And the fact that the OG dudes still come back to this site and type in "soulstrut.com" like a junkie looking for one last hit,
    speaks on how there is still a need.  I for one still wanna talk about the NBA, but couldn't even find the damn thread.

    Someone mentioned "vibe".  You can't revive a site by "ghostbumping" or everyone pitching in a music-related thread.
    That shit is corny and has failed every time.

    Another thing Raj.  I don't think anyone has the time or wherewithal to go through achived msg board poasts.  or cares for that matter.
    Most of the pics you can't even view anymore.

    Waxi I think has slowed down a bit too.

    Youichi, I swear this will be my last "why must I cry" moment.  I'm sure others agree with your sentiments.  I'm not disagreeing.  I've made some last ditch efforts that have been perceived as failures.   I'm just doing what feels right for me 17 years after I started this site.  It feels right for me to revisit and restore threads I missed because I was busy being a father.  It feels right bumping those threads because I want others to see how great they were.  If any one can see these threads and be inspired, my job is done.  This will be the site's legacy,

      
    para11axThe_NondeezleeBig_Stackssticky_dojahJimsterfoeasstroPossum SlimDORYaga.Reactions.RecordLimit.Single

  • Why So Quiet Around Here?

    RAJRAJ
    yuichi said:
    Hey guys.  To be completely blunt, the last format/layout change I think completely turned off most
    remaining OG members. 
    I noticed that.. Harvey Canal, Batmon, Laserwolf, DB Cooper all jumped shipped after the "upgrade".  I will admit that the latest upgrade was a last ditch attempt to be "relevant" as it features a lot of more social media stylings.  It does have it's benefits (like a better search engine), but then again, if you are living in 2016 and still using message board technology, it's probably the last thing you care about.  

    I guess I am....

     

    In all honesty, though, I miss the community.  I miss being able to support people's new releases, hear about their new mixes, get excited about a new record store someone is opening up, a movie review.  All that is gone.  I'm friends with a lot of the same people on Facebook and it's not the same.  In fact, I unfollowed a lot of them because of the same stupid daily narcissism.  

    Also, I haven't been on Waxidermy in years, but props to them for keeping it simple and retaining their audience.  That was not a healthy place for me, though.  The last few times I was on there, it was filled with ex pats reveling in this place's demise.  

    Nonetheless, I am fully dedicated to having this place still up and running for more years to come!  The archives are one of my children and I hope people get the same value out of them as I do.


    para11axketanDORJimstercoveBig_StacksOtis_Funkmeyerdollar_binbennyboyfinelikewine

  • Why So Quiet Around Here?

    RAJRAJ
    @tripledouble 

    Nice to see you check in.  I think there were a series of missteps that eventually encouraged a lot of the older heads to move on (changing of board software, too much political bullshit, the rise of social media). There are still some OGs on here, though.  

    Any attempts to revitalize has been short-lived because at this point in my life a) I have a demanding career b) I'm older and lazier, and c) I don't live and breathe records like I used to.

    I'm still committed to keep this place up for a few more years and may plan to archive it so that it is accessible for a long time.

    Soulstrut por vida

      
    finelikewineDuderonomytrzakhstanMek_JaggertripledoubleJimsterpara11axstratasphere

  • Moderator?

    RAJRAJ
    Thanks Bill.  You now have the power.

      
    billbradleyageJimsterfoeDuderonomyppadilhacove

  • DOUBLE K REST IN POWER

    RAJRAJ
    What a tribute last night.  I was emotional just as much as anyone.  I wish I had one of those 10%er New World Ales to sip along with Thes.

    Unfortunately, the Twitch video was pulled (probably for a few reasons.)  I managed to DL the audio feed before he pulled the plug.

    Sharing it here for Strutters to enjoy privately.




    billbradleyJimsterDuderonomyklezmer electro-thug beatsketanstaxwax

  • I WANT YOU MF's TO SEE SOMETHIN

    RAJRAJ
    Can't forget this classic

    billbradleyDORElectrodeDuderonomyketan

  • The Soul Strut "Raer" Live Stream

    RAJRAJ


    New custom built DJ console that will hopefully get me inspired.

      
    ketanklezmer electro-thug beatsDuderonomyJimster