Copyright Criminals

Is sampling recorded music to create new works a form of artistic expression or, quite simply, a crime? Slayers Club and The Hub of the JCCSF present three events in one – a film screening, expert discussion panel and live musical performance – all happening on Thursday, September 23rd at Mighty (119 Utah St, San Francisco, CA).

As seen on PBS’s Independent Lens and at the Toronto International Film Festival, Copyright Criminals takes a close look at the creative and legal implications of sampling music in the digital age through the eyes of well-known artists, activists and industry insiders. Featuring interviews with Clyde Stubblefield (“The Funky Drummer”), Chuck D of Public Enemy, DJ Shadow and many more.

Steve Stein, aka Steinski, originally from Newark, New Jersey, rode the pulse of the New York City underground in the early 80’s and emerged as a cult hip-hop hero. Stein co-produced the series of records known as The Lessons for the Tommy Boy label. These analog tape cut-and-paste collages, still widely bootlegged (and wildly illegal), are generally acknowledged as three of the most influential works in the world of hip-hop and dance music production. Steinski has been cited as a definitive influence by music luminaries including DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist and Fatboy Slim.

The night will also feature live music performances by Amp Live, the Zion I producer who was recently entangled in a legal battle over his bootlegged Radiohead remix work, The Polish Ambassador, who has been called "the West Coast, more sophisticated version of Girl Talk" and local favorites Kid Kameleon (XLR8R, Surya Dub), prolific MC/DJ/Producer Joe Mousepad, Rich DDT (LoveTechSF) and the eclectic Slayers Club DJ's.

The film screening will be followed by an expert speakers panel including Steinski, Amp Live, hip-hop historian, Jeff Chang, Tim Jones of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and entertainment lawyer Tony Berman.The panel will be moderated by ethnomusicologist Larisa Mann (aka DJ Ripley).

Fresh from appearances at Nightlife at the Academy of Science and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is a fresh interactive music technology workshop by LoveTech SF, including a multi-player, MIDI-controlled sampler system. Think Rock Band on steroids!

Also performing are local favorites Kid Kameleon (XLR8R Magazine, Surya Dub), MC/DJ/producer Joe Mousepad and, of course, the Slayers Club DJ's.

Local artist Nick Fregosi will paint live artwork outside the venue and b-boy collectives will perform intermittently on the dance floor.

Doors at 7pm
Film Screening at 8:30pm
Panel Discussion at 9:30pm
Steinski plays at 10:30pm to be followed by Amp Live, Polish Ambassador and Slayers Club DJ's

$8 in advance / $10 at the door
Advance Tickets available on September 1st