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WMC 2009 Incident Steve Angello/Swedish House Mafia vs. Paris Hilton/Doug Reinhardt
By: Michael A. Rabban
There was an unfortunate event during the Winter Music Conference 2009 in Miami, Florida at the Fountainbleu Hotel/LIV nightclub.
Steve Angello is a highly reputable “House” music DJ from Sweden, Europe. The Swedish House Mafia is a combination of genius minds whom include Steve Angello, Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso. Other famous Swedish DJ’s and well known DJ’s include others such as Eric Pydz and John Dahlback.
Ms. Hilton must realize that the Winter Music Conference is Electronic music orientated. There are still people in cities such as Los Angeles that know any such music as “techno.” As a famous hip hop artist, Eminem once quoted, “Nobody listens to techno.” The quote has some truth to it. Barely anyone still calls this genre of music “techno” but most Hip Hop fanatics know it all as “techno”
Los Angeles and a couple other cities in the United States are still hip-hop dominated. You will here hip hop as a default genre in almost every nightclub in Hollywood. Venues such as Vanguard and Avalon Saturday nights are massive venues which play Electronic Dance Music and bring International DJ’s on a weekly basis.
Popular hip hop and pop producers have realized that music has progressed more towards Electronic beats rather than a basic hip hop 80-100 beat per minute, while house music is faster (around 120-128 beats per minute) Will I Am from the Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Roland from Destiny’s Child and Chris Willis all sang at the F*** Me I’m Famous Event in Miami (Paris, France production) Any person willing to Travel to party Island Ibiza, Spain this summer sometime between June and September should check out the F*** Me I’m Famous event on a Thursday night @ the Pacha nighclub. Steve Angello and The Swedish House Mafia play @ Pacha Ibiza as well on Monday nights. In my opinion, Pacha Ibiza is the best nightclub in the world. Another favorite house DJ of mine, Erick Morillo plays on Wednesday nights @ Pacha. DJ’s Armin Van Buuren and Roger Sanchez are other top notch Electronic DJ’s that will be playing Wednesday nights In Ibiza @ Amnesia nightclub.
Just for the record, there are many types of Electronic music. DJ’s such as DJ Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Eddie Halliwell, Paul Van Dyk and AVB are famous and well known “trance” DJ’s. “House” is another popular Electronic genre. Popular House DJ’s include David Guetta, Erick Morillo, Sander Kleinenberg and newer up and coming DJ’s such as Amsterdam’s Laidback Luke are all DJ’s to check out any chance you get.
There are more Electronic genres such as Progressive House, Progressive Trance, Drum and Bass, funky house, hard house and minimal. A simple www.wikipedia.org search will inform you of all the different kinds of Electronic Dance Music (EDM).
Los Angeles and the minority of other Hip Hop dominated cities will soon catch on to the rest of the world, EDM and house music are the default genres played at venues throughout the world (outside the Los Angeles bubble) Boojie clubs in Hollywood such as Lex Deux, Goa (now Bar Deluxe across the street), Coco De Ville, Crown Bar, Kress, My House, Area, Foxtail and the rest of the to go to places are now catching on and playing house music. In Los Angeles, “Mashup” DJ’s play a house music beat mixed in with a hip hop track. The house fans love the beat, and the Hip Hop fans don’t even realize that a house track is being played in the background.
It is deeply saddening that Ms. Hilton’s boyfriend Doug Reinhardt had to be Captain Save a Ho’ and get taken down by Steve Angello and nightclub security. Any lawyer can explain that a person has a self-defense claim when a like force is used. No weapons were used on either side. A bystander is allowed, to “step in the shoes” of another person who is being attacked by an aggressor. Even a slap counts. Miami Beach police checked out the incident, however no charges were filed since no crime was committed. Fights happen all the time (a little bit more prevalent @ Hip Hop clubs) however, all parties have fights here and there and it happens. With bottles of alcohol all over the place, some people just do not act rational, sober or clear minded. Another reason why security is a necessary party of a nightclub. Slapping a highly reputable Swedish DJ is a slap in the face to all house/EDM fans throughout the world
If Ms. Hilton wanted to hear hip hop during the Winter Music Conference, why didn’t she host a party at a Hilton venue. Miami Beach and other major cities have numerous Hilton Hotels. The artists that were requested by Ms. Hilton, “Bob Sinclar” and “Daft Punk” are great DJ’s and producers, however WMC patrons want to hear new, upcoming music that hasn’t been released and not outdated music such as “World Hold On” by Bob Sinclar or “Around the World” by Daft Punk.
Understandably Ms. Hilton may not have been completely sober and may have had substances in her system. Alcohol and other substances are readily available in the Miami area, however what she intakes in her system is her prerogative. However, in the future, please do not go to a party (especially during WMC) and ask for Hip Hop unless YOU are the one throwing the event!
It was a misunderstanding by both sides. EDM and house music is about love and togetherness. It is respectable what Ms. Hilton’s family has done, but she should think twice before she thinks she “owns” every party she shows her face at. Unfortunately, or fortunately w/ House or Electronic Music one does not have to bump and grind, or freak another person. One can enjoy the music, lighting, production on the dance floor, table or at an elevated spot. One should enjoy the visuals, the dj, the flat screens, huge projector screens and beautiful dancers and people all over the place that look beautiful and dance eloquently. Unfortunately, at all events worldwide, not all eyes MUST be on Paris Hilton. So she should not take it personally when she is being treated like every other person in the venue.
This controversy should be put behind us, and lessons should be learned from it. I understand Paris Hilton’s position and I hope by now she understands Steve Angello’s. Steve Angello even showed the crowd a “I heart Paris” T-shirt (similar to the I heart NY T-shirts sold everywhere in Manhattan) at his last appearance at the National Hotel in Miami Beach to show his compassion and to be the bigger and better individual.
Michael A. Rabban J.D. a.k.a. Mikey Mike
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www.rabbanlaw.com
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