Music

DJ Assault with Bitch Ass Darius

Friday, February 14; Lo

By Randall Roberts 

Minimalism in music has had its day: Classical minimalism has been examined by Steve Reich, Philip Glass and Gavin Bryars, among others; minimal techno and minimal house pare down the beats to a simple, quiet essence. Rock has toyed with minimalism, as has jazz. But lyrical minimalism is an aesthetic that's yet to be fully examined. The exception is Detroit's DJ Assault, one of the main originators of Ghetto Tech, a bawdy brand of fast, bass-heavy techno.

Take his composition, "Ass and Titties." The entire lyric is powerful in the simple precision of his words: "Ass and titties. Ass and titties. Ass, ass, ass, ass, titties, titties, titties, titties. Ass and titties, ass ass and titties." Where scholarly freaks are still laboring to this day about the underlying meaning of, say, Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," DJ Assault's concentrated celebration leaves few questions unanswered. What's the underlying meaning of "Ass and Titties"? "Well, the song's about -- we think -- ass. It may have something to do with titties as well, but we're still debating that." Or take his magnum opus, rumored to have been labored over for years in a candlelit study, a mound of wadded-up rough drafts in the corner: "Drop Dem Panties." Again, three words: "Drop dem panties, drop drop dem panties, drop, dem panties, drop drop dem panties." But within, countless possible meanings: Is this someone wearing said panties, and Assault would like for this person to pull them down? Or, possibly, is the recipient of this plea a panty thief, and Assault has caught him in the act? "Drop dem panties!"

Assault's been making his music since the mid-'90s and is considered one of the most important figures of the third (or fourth) wave of Detroit techno. Along with DJ Godfather, he has created a strong style that draws inspiration from Miami bass, Southern rap, bounce and techno -- amazing party music, tailor-made for dancing at a small club such as Lo. This should be a great show for anyone not easily offended by a celebration of sexuality. You'll hear naughty words, lots of them, and hear some sex talk, that's for sure -- and, yes, perhaps a little misogyny, unfortunately. But rise above it, and you'll experience the joy of celebration, with any luck in the form of "Dick by the Pound," "Shake It Baby," "Sex on the Beach" (a techno classic) and "Bitch I Ain't Yo Man" (the perfect Valentine's Day sentiment, yes?) Opening for Assault is Bitch Ass Darius (a.k.a. Kenny Kingston, a.k.a. Cougar Shuttle), whose first twelve-inch release on DJ Godfather's Twilight 76 label will come out shortly.