Spread Love is a haven for dancers and lovers of good music, art and culture. We love Soul Classics and House, but we also groove to Broken, Afrobeat, Afro-Latin, and anything else that feels good. We feature up and coming and world-renowned musicians, visual artists, designers, writers, filmmakers and more. Go where the music takes you. Spread Love! Spread Love presents Atlanta's monthly music/art/dance retrospective - featuring the best in Soul Classics, Soulful House, Afrobeat, Latin Funk, and Old School Hip Hop! Each month DJ KEMIT and special guests take hundreds of music lovers on a musical journey!
DJ Kemit is CEO of Kemit Muzik, Inc. Kemit divides his time between DJing, music production and being a family man.
A graduate of Howard University and once a member of the Grammy award winning Hip Hop group, Arrested Development, Kemit is world-renowned for his work with production partner (Justin Chapman aka Just One) as one half of KemeticJust.
Kemit is famous for his incredibly funky and diverse deejay sets at the legendary Funk Jazz Kafe series and he's sought-after for private deejay sets by the likes of Prince, Janet Jackson, Steve Harvey, Jane Fonda, Jermaine Dupree, and Bryan Michael Cox.
As a Grammy-nominated producer for his work on Arrested Development’s second Lp, Anthony David's #1 Hit "4evermore" and various remixes state side and internationally, Kemit now looks forward to making a monumental difference in the shape and promotion of soulful, meaningful music across the globe.
FOR BOOKINGS - send email to djkemit@gmail.com
For information on Kemit:
Below, read the CREATIVE LOAFING articles about DJ KEMIT and SPREAD LOVE.
Best DJ to free your soul: DJ Kemit
Creative Loafing 'Best of Atlanta' Staff Pick
You already know: Nowadays everybody's a damn DJ. But DJ KEMIT is so much more. A former founding member of early '90s alt/hip-hop group Arrested Development, Kemit's ascent has come by force of nature rather than cult of personality. His musical palette runs the gamut from deep house to hip-hop to global soul, and his breakbeat production work as one-half of KemeticJust is world-renowned. But locals love him for more selfish reasons. In the last year, his Atlanta rotation has grown to include residencies at the Sound Table, Halo, and, of course, his monthly Spread Love dance parties at 595 North, where the ancestral funk he spins is so thick, you'll lose your mind trying to find your soul. www.experiencespreadlove.com
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Spread Love, not hate
Lost soul finds nu groove at DJ Kemit’s monthly
by Sha Stimuli
I don't know how I missed the memo that patrons dressed as their favorite soul icon would receive free admission to DJ Kemit's soul power-themed event, Spread Love.
Since I'd already paid my way into 595 North, I rushed back to the front door and told them that my garb was a tribute to Lionel Richie and they owed me a few dollars. Sure I was missing the wavy shag, but other than that I thought I was dead on. They disagreed. I tried Jeffrey Osborne, then Jermaine Jackson; I think they caught on to me. Oh well, back to the party.
For those unfamiliar with the event, it's described as a monthly music, art and dance retrospective with bazaar noir vendors. Yeah, I was confused, too. But as someone who's used to roped-off VIP sections with multiple bouncers and bottle service, I was invigorated to see African-American artists, designers and entrepreneurs using the party to generate income.
Well, that was my first thought, until I began to run a price check.
The petite masseuse with the massage chair in the darkest corner of the club was alluring, but she was charging $1 per minute for her services. On the side of the dance floor, a gifted artist named Corey Whitehead was painting a curvy, black woman on a canvas and easel. When he told me what the prices were for each painting, I wondered who would pay a thousand dollars for hand-created images of Ray Charles, Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye. Then I scolded myself for failing to ask that question when it comes to overpriced bottles of Cristal and Veuve Clicquot champagne in the club.
The insatiable hypocrite in me couldn't even focus on Monica Smith's beautiful, handcrafted jewelry and accessories without noticing her photographs of the famous folks modeling her product. India.Arie and Erykah Badu looked stunning in her stones, but a picture of the fake celebrity/VH1 basketball ex-wife to Shaquille, Shaunie O'Neal, made me chuckle.
There I was at Spread Love, spreading hate.
I joked with friends that I might order a healthy green tea instead of a Long Island iced tea. But I decided to go with the latter upon receiving a text from my boy asking if any "bitches" were at the party. After gazing around the room, I hit him back: "No bitches, earthy queens tho." Had it been the typical nightspot, I would've written my usual "hell yeah" or something crass, while gawking at overexposed cleavage and cheeks. Instead, women were rocking three-fourths of cloth and natural hairdos, while dudes wore dashikis, sans the iced-out pendants.
At Spread Love, guys didn't "holla" at ladies, they addressed them: "Excuse me, sister" replaced "What up, shawty?" If you got bumped you responded, "Pardon me, brother" — whether it was your fault or not.
DJ Kemit wasn't shouting out regions of the country to find out who was in the house. He was blending Wham with Stevie Wonder, and no one was requesting Jay-Z or Lil Wayne. People were losing control to the congo-driven, house-fusion sound fittingly labeled global soul. They didn't care that Kemit played only about 20 songs in three hours, with each selection lasting an epic eight minutes or more.
But don't let my cynicism misguide you. Spread Love is about an atmosphere of uplift more than Afrocentric wears and paintings symbolic of black love. My usual nightlife woes revolve around long lines, bias dress codes, unnecessary bathroom attendants and obnoxious people. Yet even in the absence of those things, I still sarcastically smirk at a good time.
Apparently, I just need more love spread in my direction.
MORE DJ KEMIT
2nd Saturday, monthly. $5. Kicking Up Dust: a deep house lounge set. The Sound Table, 483 Edgewood Ave. 404-835-2534. www.thesoundtable.com.
1st and 3rd Saturdays. $10. Kemit & Doc present MOVE at Mingles Martini Bar.
4th Saturday, monthly. $10-$15. 10 p.m. Spread Love with deejays, global soul, live art, classic film, vocalists. 595 North, 595 North Ave. 404-835-2329. experiencespreadlove.com.
Thursdays. Free. Sound Proof w/ Rasta Root, Kemit & Mafioso spinning hip hop, reggae, dance classics, and sample clearance at Cloud IX.
1st and 3rd Thursdays. Kemit and Salah Ananse at Halo spinning soulful, deep house.
This was interesting. I could just picture you walkin around the club lost like, "WTF?" I've seen plenty of people holdin up the walls with drinks in their hands... and I always wondered to myself, "what are yall doing here?" But that's coming from someone who expects this atmosphere when Kemit spins on a Saturday night.
I've always walked away from his joints with a new female friend. It's never been my intention but, the dancing seems to do all of the hollarin'. And I'm not the most "peace brotha" type either, the "N" word flies outta my mouth more than anyone's real name. So it's good to hear your take on things cuz maybe I've been hatin on you guys as well. The next time i see one of yall, I'll say whassup and introduce you to some cool chicks.
I've always walked away from his joints with a new female friend. It's never been my intention but, the dancing seems to do all of the hollarin'. And I'm not the most "peace brotha" type either, the "N" word flies outta my mouth more than anyone's real name. So it's good to hear your take on things cuz maybe I've been hatin on you guys as well. The next time i see one of yall, I'll say whassup and introduce you to some cool chicks.
I don't think it was hate so much as skepticism. Like you said you were out of your element and your natural coping mechanism is cynicism and sarcasm.. I wouldn't expect anything less from you. The important thing is you are opening yourself to new experiences.
Keep up the good work :-)
xxMTR
Keep up the good work :-)
xxMTR
I am a HUGE Kemit fan and have been to my share of "Spread Love"s. I really only attend if it is themed for an artist I like (i.e. Fela), coupled with a DJ (i.e. DJ Mafioso), or I've just had a hellish week and need to dance like my feet are allergic to the floor. :) I can see how someone's who interest doesn't fall in one of said categories (or isn't into world/house music) might feel a bit lost. Your perspective is wonderful - and I think it's the fact that there are sooo many different TYPES of people attending Spread Love that makes it so "lovely".
Wait, wait, wait...I almost forgot...Kemit DID play "You Can't Win" by Michael Jackson from The Wiz Soundtrack...MUCH props for that!
I thought it was a good piece. You were out of your comfort zone and trying to adjust. Sometimes we fear what we don't understand. It took you a while to get into it, but you showed us that we do long for a good, natural vibe and not just fake, plastic people at elaborate parties.
The Sound Table was literally HOT AS FUCK this Saturday...and I didn't misuse "literally." Am I the only one that found the lack of AC unbearable? No one else really seemed to notice. Is expectation of climate control just too Buckhead?
That was my first time there. Could someone please tell me if that's the norm? If so, I won't be going back until December.
That was my first time there. Could someone please tell me if that's the norm? If so, I won't be going back until December.
I really enjoyed this piece. You painted a clear picture of the event and made me wish i was there, or at the very least, wish they had an event like that up here in NYC. The "dirty backpack crew" has the right attitude about partying and being respectful towards women. Im glad you were able to adapt to the enviroment, and hope that you can somehow influence your friend to adopt the "excuse me, miss" approach. Thanks for the cool read, it was a great break from reading these work documents and emails. Looking forward to the next piece!! Keep them coming.
Spread Love is music and atmosphere at its best. Its non stop fun, even if you don't have rhythm the music will make you move. The music is soooo soulful. It is a breath of fresh air from the typical club scene in ATL. I will support the brother (DJ Kemit) and the Spread Love Experience.
I'm a HUGE house music fan and loved this story. Two years in Atlanta and I thought I had to fly home to NYC to enjoy foot stomping house music. Looking forward to the next story!
To Chucki- house music is best enjoyed in a HOT club!
To Chucki- house music is best enjoyed in a HOT club!
This was hilarious to me. I could def relate. Good job. I feel you on having to tone down the inner critic and just have a good time.
Interesting piece. You should give it another chance. I was a Spread Love a few weeks ago and danced like tomorrow wasn't coming. It's a great place to go to just let loose - leave everything that’s stressing you on the dance for and WORK IT OUT. After years and years of being in the entertainment biz and attending hundreds of those pretentious parties, I'm elated that Kemit is providing a space to just groove and go. The incredible music & relaxed & respectful atmosphere is appreciated. I feel safe and loved there - so I continue to spread love myself!
@ lex uno, HELLZ yes it was HOT, I spent some of my time resting the Toes and trying to cool off they had 2 fans spinning and I spent some of my time at both, but the AC was on and as things heated up so did the floor, maybe it was Kemit who had it HOT, I'm ready for HITP, people be there or miss the Extravaganza of the year
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