BUZZ BUILDING FOR SOUND KREW CD

Nocturnal Sound Krew is releasing a CD, "Can't Noc the Hustle," on Friday — a mix that works over tracks by notables Mark Ronson and Lily Allen, Common and Talib Kweli.

Buzz is building about the recording, which includes an exclusive track with Ho-nolulu MC Emirc. They're calling it Vol. 1 of a planned series. Find the CD locally at Kicks/HI, In4mation, DIG lifestyle, Stussy and other great local boutiques.

Krew members Jami and Compose, there since the beginning, are out on a national tour now, playing in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta and New York. We talked with Jonathan Ablan, aka Compose, who put this CD together.

Q. Where did you get your DJ name?

A. Being influenced by a lot of the original turntablists, one thing that caught my ear was not so much all the tricks of the DJ, but the actual manipulating and creating of sounds using the turntable ... somewhat like a composer for an orchestra ... thus "DJ Compose."

Q. And the name of your new CD?

A. "Can't Noc the Hustle" is derived from a classic song from Jay-Z by the same name. "Hustle" could mean anything — to me, it means to stay busy and stay hungry ... to get anywhere in this world, you have to stay hungry. You have to always want more and also think of new and fresh ways to do it; that is my hustle.

Q. What inspired you to produce this mix?

A. Coming up, mix tapes were my "Internet" — it was the way to get in the loop ... in music, clothes, styles, everything. Nowadays, it seems as if there are new DJs popping up every day with the same style they see on the latest blog on MySpace. I wanted to stay away from all the trends — mash-ups, '80s — and come with a real soulful mix of joints I like right now. Mainly hip-hop, but infused with other great music. No frills.

Q. What are you listening to?

A. Man, that Chicago sound is absolutely killing it right now! Kid Sister, Cool Kids, Kanye (West), Lupe (Fiasco), Common; it's pretty ridiculous. I listen to everything, really, there is a time and place for everything. ... so I get my Souljah boy on as much as I get my Daft Punk on.

Q. Where are you spinning?

A. I am pretty much all over the place on the weekends (The W, Living Room, Indigo, Tsukiji's). I want to big up to all the promoters paying my rent. All you young DJs, there is a difference between "keeping it real" and "keeping it broke" — make money!

— Lacy Matsumoto

RELEASES

CELEBRITY FORCE

Former Fugee Wyclef Jean is either a visionary internationalist who sees a world without musical borders or a shamelessly starstruck showoff whose albums exist to demonstrate just how big his Rolodex is. Or both. How else to explain "Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs Of An Immigrant" (Columbia), a sequel to a 1997 album of the same name? The staggering guest list includes Shakira, Norah Jones, Mary J. Blige, Paul Simon, Serj Tankian, rappers Lil' Wayne, T.I. and Will.i.am, and, of course, noted percussionist Louis Farrakhan. (I kid you not.) The multiculti lounge lizard deserves props for maintaining an ebullient party vibe throughout a jam-packed effort that attempts to make sense of the immigrant experience.

— Dan DeLuca, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

HAPPENING

PARTY LIKE A ROCK STAR

What would happen if two of Honolulu's hottest promoters had the keys to the W Hotel? Party madness — and it's happening tomorrow night.

Flash and Matty Boy are putting on a party called Season Finale at the chic Waikiki W on New Year's Eve. Expect gorgeous guests at this event, along with fashionable entertainment: Adam Saaks will slice and dice Ed Hardy T-shirts into provocative designs and hipster DJ Jacob Marshall will be on the turntables.

Individual tickets may be available at the door, but a reserved table for six, including dinner at the W, a bottle of your favorite beverage and access to the hotel's VIP penthouse — a branch of the party — can be had for $1,700. For reservations, go to www.flashandmattyboypresent.com.

— Lacy Matsumoto

BIZARRE LINKS

Here's a grab bag of Internet oddities that deserve notice before the year is out:

INSIDER TIPS: C'EST CHIC

The Web site Lei Chic is like a private conversation in the locker room or a secret shared over pau-hana cocktails. It's insider information, offered up online in a breezy, reader-friendly and well-written format. It's all about fashion, home, beauty and events — right here in the Islands.

The site (www.leichic.com) was developed by Web programmer George Helwagen and his wife, Alyson, a public-relations professional. "We wanted to take the magazine model and roll out 20 stories on a daily basis, Monday through Friday," Helwagen explained. "It just takes 30 seconds or a minute to read every day." Lei Chic is written by freelance writer Christine Thomas, left, who also writes the What I'm Reading Now column for The Advertiser. Thomas, a local girl and Kalaheo graduate, is always looking for new, interesting things to write about. Readers can subscribe and receive Lei Chic in their in box every day. Comments and tips for new leads are welcomed.

— Paula Rath

WHAT'S ON YOUR IPOD?

DJ Zacharijah, resident at the Living Room's Redda Fire party on Thursdays

1. "Far Away," Tarrus Riley

2. "What I'm Gonna Do," Bugle

3. "More Ital," Ras Mikey & Lion Fiyah

4. "Hammer," Rootz Underground

5. "Mad World," Shaggy feat. Sizzla & Collie Budd

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