Bringing It Old-School: (((SHAKE))) Thursdays at The Vagabond

October 15, 2008 5:28 PM
by Marcos Colón

There’s one characteristic that many nightlife venues across the nation share; the weekly hip-hop party. It’s fair to say that at least 70% of clubs, lounges or bars have a hip-hop night. It’s a must. For Miami there’s Flash Fridays at Cameo, We Rock Hip Hop at Mansion and the many performances and events at SoBe Live. This Thursday, The Vagabond will be added to that list, but intends to offer an alternative hybrid of hip hop party that many Miami residents may have been waiting for. Teaming up with Sweat Records and Que Pasa M.I.A.?, this week The Vagabond presents (((SHAKE))) Thursdays.

“(((SHAKE))) Thursdays is a celebration of hip hop and the musical movements that took part in its conception,” says The Vagabond Marketing Director Nicole Chipi. “While I can’t speak for the hip hop parties that are dominating the scene presently, (((SHAKE))) will be bringing it with live acts, creative antics and a homegrown vibe that will be welcoming to everyone.”

Instead of offering the same tracks that anyone could tune into on the radio, (((SHAKE))) will have DJ’s in the main room digging for old school tracks and Miami classics just like back in the day. For those that need a little fresh breath of air, the patio garden will be switching up themes and genres every week. From funk and afro-Cuban to reggae, each is an inspiration to the hip-hop community.

“It’s not going to be backpack hip hop, but at the same time it’s not all going to be Power 96 type music,” says Dominic Sirianni, a.k.a. Slim Biscayne of Que Pasa M.I.A.? “We’ll play anything that makes your ass move. The night will be full of tons of surprises.”

After Que Pasa M.I.A.?, a Miami based production company consisting of Slim Biscayne, AHOLSNIFFSGLUE and Jose el Rey, and Sweat Records approached The Vagabond with the idea of a hip hop weekly that brought in the positive energy of hip hop, the seed for (((SHAKE))) Thursdays was planted.

“(((SHAKE))) hopes to revive that vibe and breathe new life into a scene that seems to have dissipated in recent years,” Chipi says. “We feel the void along with other hip hop heads who miss the weekly parties they used to call home…rather than the over-capitalized mainstream posing that we hear played in most nightclubs today.”

It’s evident that (((SHAKE))) Thursdays will differ from other hip hop weeklies in the city as far as track selection goes, however, it’s the extra touches in the patio garden that will ultimately make the difference.

“The back is going to be a rotating format with a straight-up party vibe,” Sirianni says. “The first week is going to be R&B. Another week we’re going to have a Cuban theme, while on another night we’ll have reggae and dub. We’ll also have food back there so the food will be changing with the format of the party. For the Cuban theme we’ll have ‘pan con bistec’ and for the reggae night we’ll offer up some jerk chicken.”

In a way, (((SHAKE))) Thursdays is the perfect getaway for any hip-hop enthusiast who doesn’t necessarily want to throw on the button-down and pop the collar, instead, put on some comfortable gear and be prepared to just enjoy the night that’s devoid of exclusivity. Seems like this may be the only hip hop weekly around that offers good music, a relaxed atmosphere and the opportunity to eat and dance in the same place.

“A big part of the night is our format that’s pretty wide open,” Sirianni says. “I feel like a lot of the hip hop parties out there are either strictly bling or strictly backpack. Our format is coming straight at the middle. It’s going to make your ass move and it’s not going to be whack.”

Be sure to stay tuned to CoolJunkie to get the latest news and events at The Vagabond.