Named for the bogeyman dreamed up by an ex-girlfriend's little brother, Peanut Butter Wolf (Chris Manak to his friends) has conjured an enviable existence from his own wild childhood visions. As sole proprietor of Stones Throw, one of the most vital independent hip-hop labels around, the lifelong vinyl junkie has made his dream of running his own record company a soul-satisfying reality. He calls all the shots: signing new artists, securing star-studded collaborations and circulating the prodigious talents of Rob Swift, DJ A-Trak, Quasimoto, Rasco and Lootpack through the greater populace. Bay Area DJ
collects a di-vinyl stashBy Shawn "Speedy" Lopes
slopes@starbulletin.comIt's not a bad way to make a living. He works from home, spends much of the day on the phone and, when hired as a DJ, is jetted off to exotic destinations to play records for people who share his passion for the urban art form.
"Everywhere I go there always seems to be a dedicated core of people who go the extra mile to seek out underground hip hop," he says in a phone interview from his home and office in San Francisco. "It's good to be appreciated."
Timing and geography have also been good to Manak. In the past decade, San Francisco and its surrounding areas have cultivated a bustling hip hop community, independent of the once-exclusive rap bastions of New York and Los Angeles. Whereas once the region was represented by the simplistic intonations of Oakland playa-rapper Too Short and the chintzy sequined spectacle formerly known as M.C. Hammer, it now boasts some of the most sublime talents in turtablism (Invisibl Skratch Piklz, Finger Bangerz, etc.) and emceeing (Hieroglyphics, SoleSides crew, et al.).
This Halloween, the Bay Area bogeyman makes the transformation to Waikiki boogie man at All Star Hawaii. But the first matter of business will be the obligatory record-hunting expedition through Honolulu.
"Whatever city I'm in, record stores are always on my list, even on top of the tourist attractions," he admits.
If the pickings are particularly plentiful, as they were during a recent trip to Japan, he may even delay a flight or two.
"I had to extend my stay a week there because there were so many great record stores with all this rare old school funk and stuff I didn't even know existed."
Ever see a solo disc by MC Jalil, pre-Whodini? The Wolf has. Snatched it up on the spot, too.
"People don't realize how crazy it is in Japan," he says. "People there take record collecting so seriously and come here to buy so much vinyl that you almost have to go there to find the really good, rare records."
His own fascination with music can be traced back to the fourth grade when Manak saved his lunch money to purchase funky platters by the Gap Band, Cameo, and the Sugarhill Gang. His collection is now so extensive that he believes counting each piece would be pointless. He's content to know it numbers "in the thousands."
"It's just completely random," says Manak of his collection, which reportedly takes up most of his home studio. "The ones I use most are on the top shelf, the best ones are all over the floor and the ones I don't listen to are in boxes."
Even a quick gander at the liner notes to his 1998 album "My Vinyl Weighs A Ton" reveals a long-standing dedication to hip hop. It features a respectful chronological list of influences beginning with 1979 and culminating with a register of eminent, up-to-the-moment DJs and wordsmiths. Peanut Butter Wolf never forgets the people he owes, not even the kid he'd taken his name from.
"He must be 16 or 17 now," Manak laughs. "I should call his mom and see what he's up to."
Where: All Star Hawaii, 2080 Kalakaua Ave. Peanut Butter Wolf
When: Halloween party starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets: Over 21 $13 in advance and $15 at
the door; 18 to 21 $15 in advance and $20 at the door
Call: 955-8326
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calendars and events.
