I ended off my summer with a 2 week string of shows in the Old Continent, which I guess could qualify as the European (and final) leg of the Sunglasses Is A Must tour. My first show was a the Hip Hop Kemp festival in what I thought was going to be Prague. In fact it was 2 hours away, in rural Czech Republic. I don’t remember the name of the city but I couldn’t really pronounce it anyway, in all honesty. Really, I was picturing going to Prague and recreating the “Diamonds from Sierra Leone” video by myself. Instead I had a driver who blasted a Tiesto live mix in the car while dropping such jewels as “I stop at petrol station to roll joint with other driver, OK? You want sandwich?” The show itself was dope, though. 20,000 people in a field. The next day I did the Lowlands festival outside of Amsterdam, which had a great lineup but I didn’t get to see much because of heavy rain.

I had 2 days off in London so I went and stayed with the homie DJ Yoda and took possession of his turntables while enjoying the company of his dog Shirley. Then I played two shows that could be best described by the epithet “buck”. I played in Belfast and in Lisbon, and the energy was ridiculous at both shows. Lisbon is super pretty too. I had seen it quickly last month on the Kanye tour but this time I had a day off and got to visit a bit more. Quite lovely. Oh and in Belfast I ate a really big steak. But like, really big.

I came back to London and played at the TDK Festival, where I got to catch up with some amigos like Money Mark, Trevor Jackson and my boy Gil, the Spankrock posse, Hot Chip and my kick-ass euro agent Belinda. That night was the first normal night’s sleep that I got since I had arrived in Europe. That wasn’t enough, but appreciated nonetheless.

After that, my last 2 days in London (in Europe, for that matter) were spent in style at the Notting Hill Carnival with the Yo-Yo posse. This was my first time at the Carnival… Honestly it’s unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. Thousands, if not millions, of people out in the street, huge sound systems bumping boogie disco, dancehall, hip hop, old school house… The best damn curry goat I’ve ever eaten. And lots of beer everywhere. There were these two middle-aged, middle-eastern men who were selling Fosters beer who came up with this Tae-Bo-meets-rave dance, while fisting cans of brew, seemingly to attract customers. It was one of the funniest displays I’ve seen in eons. I think I’m gonna learn how to post a video on youtube just so I can share this with the world. And on the 2nd day I played at Yo-Yo’s night with Mark Ronson, and Lily Allen, jungle legend Top Cat and the usual suspects Seb Chew and Leo Greenslade. As expected the night was legendary, and as if the party vibe and funky fresh music weren’t enough, I also discovered my new favorite drink that night: a jamaican mule. It’s basically ginger beer and rum, with some bitter, lime and sugar. So yummy!

Then I flew straight to New York for a Kanye show at the Nokia Theatre, with special guests Pharrell, John Legend and Common. Having John Legend there, we performed “Heard Em Say” the same way that we had done at the Abbey Road concert almost a year ago (except this time without rehearsing): John plays the piano part, I bring in Adam Levine’s parts in the chorus on Serato; the strings play on top of that, and on the 2nd verse I bring in the drum loop too. It’s my favorite arrangement that we’ve ever done for a live rendition… Then I went home for two days and caught up a bit with my brother, whom I barely saw all summer and who’s moving to Paris in 2 weeks. (And I’m moving to New York!) Yesterday I flew to San Francisco and played at the finals of the Guitar Center Spin-Off DJ battle, which was hosted by none other than the incomparable Michael Rappaport! My performance was part of a Stones Throw showcase that also included a J Dilla tribute, so I was really glad to be there. It was an awesome event. Shout out to Trackademicks who came and kicked it.

This morning I flew to Aspen, Colorado for a Kanye show at the foot of the mountains. It was real pretty and all, but the best part is that I’m about to sleep for the first time in 3 days (these flights were retarded)…. Tomorrow we’re playing at a festival in Seattle with A Tribe Called Quest! Still no word on Jarobi.