8 Tracks: Songs I’ve Loved Since I Was 8 with Sharif Laffrey

 
Music

Sharif Laffrey is a true lynchpin of the Detroit underground. He's been DJing internationally for over 20 years, having started out organising loft parties during the Motor City's early rave scene. Not only that, but he used to work on the Chrysler assembly line checking camshafts, and also for Mike Banks' Submerge label/distribution hub. A Detroit man through and through.

Having previously recorded under aliases such as Quadrant and Maersk, Sharif has been releasing under his own name for the last five years, on labels such as ESP Institute and Discos Capablanca, as well as his own Special Forces imprint. Today, he presents the 8 tracks he's loved since the age of 8, which you can listen to below.

Sharif is headlining The Date & Nibiru Sound's 'Murder She Wrote' Halloween party on 27th October at London's Sedition club, with Sean P and Terry Childs also on the lineup. Advance tickets are available here.


 

Dazz Band - Let It Whip

Absolutely fucking killer. Still at 110%.

  • Dazz Band - Let It Whip

    Absolutely fucking killer. Still at 110%.

  • Queen - Another One Bites The Dust

    One of the very first songs I remember hearing on the radio and really falling in love with.

  • The Gap Band - You Dropped A Bomb On Me

    This blew my little mind. Especially the little synthesized sound of the bomb dropping.

  • Torch Song - Prepare To Energize

    I first heard this song while watching the movie ‘Bachelor Party’ in 1983 – it was the song playing during the donkey/belly dance scene. Strangely it was not part of the official movie soundtrack.

  • Rick James - Give It To Me Baby

    This was on Detroit radio so often that it was more of a theme song to life.

  • Alexander Robotnick - Problemes D'Amour

    This song was used as a bumper track for WJLB radio advertisements and I became completely obsessed with its sound. My search for its creator continued into adulthood and I actually managed to invite Maurizio Dami to Detroit for a live performance for what I believe was his first performance in America, and had Carl Craig as a surprise opener.

  • The Egyptian Lover - Egypt, Egypt

    I had no idea what was making the sound but it sounded like real magic to me.

  • Newcleus - Jam On It

    I had the idea that this was about peanut butter & jelly.