Crib Notes

From world turntablist champ (DMC 2000-’01) to internationally-renowned club DJ, Klever’s been there done that. But can he make the switch from mixing and scratching to tracking his own beats?

We tour his Atlanta digs to find out:

Along with Atlanta DJs Rob Wonder and Treasure Fingers, Scion A/V contracted Klever to produce a remix of “Hot” by Big Gipp of Goodie Mob. All three versions dropped last month:

Klever’s remix
Rob Wonder’s remix
Treasure Fingers’ remix

(Video shot and edited by W. Hassan Marsh)

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T.I. has revealed the cover art for Paper Trail — his new album due Sept. 9 — and it’s actually, um, artistic.

The conceptual cover bears the rapper’s image designed from paper scraps.

“We didn’t want to just do a typical cover, especially for my sixth album,” T.I. told MTV News via email. “I wanted to try something a little more different. The illustration for Paper Trail pays an obvious homage to my rekindled affinity for writing my lyrics down as well as displays my commitment to keep my art slanted towards the abstract.”

He’s also leaked two new songs from Paper Trail. “Swing Your Rag” and “What Up” are decidedly more club/street-worthy tunes than his first single, “No Matter What” — which addresses his legal issues and mild-mannered beef with Bankhead representative Shawty Lo. Despite production from his long-time collaborator D.J. Toomp, the bluesy triumph over tragedy song hasn’t gained much traction on radio. (See video after the jump.)

But it’s nothing a club remix from DJ Klever couldn’t fix.
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(Illustration taken from Klever’s MySpace page)

Turntablist extraordinaire DJ Klever has just unveiled a fresh 30-minute workout, “The Ski Mask Way.” Living up to its title, Klever takes a Serato-strength hacksaw to dance floor favorites such as Lil Jon’s “Snap Yo Fingers,” Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” — yikes — and sundry electro-house beats. You can download it at www.myspace.com/kleverbeats.

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DJ KLEVER (LEFT) AND TITTSWORTH: Don’t stop believin’.

(photos copyright the Midnight Socialite)

After turning the Royal from a second-string contestant for celebrity photo-ops into a favored hangout for Atlanta’s ’80s babies, Sloppy Seconds has moved to MJQ, and will now happen there the second Saturday of every month. Last Saturday, Dec. 8, event svengali Caleb Gauge brought his star client, DJ Klever (whom he manages), and Washington, D.C.’s Tittsworth for the first installment. The two turntablists party rocked on four Serato-powered turntables, and flew from Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” to Three 6 Mafia’s “Stay Fly.”

Freelance party photographer the Midnight Socialite, whom Rodney Carmichael spoke to for CL’s Oct. 4 issue, took a few photos of the party. Check out the flicks below, and then visit the Midnight Socialite’s website for an extended look at his work.

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